A pair of pals who lost touch for almost 80 years have been reunited after moving into the same nursing home.
Peggy Rouse, 97 and Beryl Goodburn, 95, could not believe their eyes when they saw each other at the home – for the first time since they were teenagers.
Despite the huge number of years that have lapsed since they last saw each other as teenagers, they recognised each other instantly – and are now catching up on many lost years.
The pair, who now live in The Hollies Residential Care Home in Gravesend, Kent, said it was “wonderful” to be reunited.
Peggy said: “I couldn’t believe it when I walked in here and just recognised her so well.
“I was absolutely gobsmacked when I saw her sitting here. I thought ‘I can’t believe it, after all these years’. It was like a miracle.”
Equally stunned Beryl said: “I thought to myself ‘I know that lady’.
“Then she turned around, she looked at me and said ‘Beryl?’ and I said ‘Peggy?’.
“It was wonderful.”
The two women, now both great-grandmothers, first met when they started working at the age of 14 at cable manufacturer Henley’s in Northfleet, Kent.
The pair took holidays together, but the onset of the Second World War saw them go their separate ways, and sadly they lost touch – until now.
Peggy said: “We had wonderful days at Henley’s, but we lost touch because of the war and we never met again.
“I married in 1941 and left to have my first child. Our lives were so totally different during the war we just lost touch.”
Peggy’s husband was Ted Rouse, the first leader of Gravesham council who became known as Mr Northfleet. He also commanded a unit during the Normandy landings.
The couple had three children, although their first-born sadly died, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Beryl, whose maiden name was Snelling, married Harold Goodburn and had two children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Since being reunited, the two have picked up exactly where they left off, filling their days with plenty of chat and laughter.
Peggy said: “If I hadn’t walked in here I might never have seen her again.
“I think it’s terrific we instantly recognised each other.”
Beryl added that they couldn’t have changed a bit – but was affectionately rebuked by Peggy who said they had definitely aged a little.
Having shared a past, the two women are now looking forward to sharing a future together at The Hollies.
Peggy said: “There can’t be many of us still around who are in their 90s and worked at that time at Henley’s.
“But life is busy enough that we don’t want to talk just about Henley’s.
