MORE than 50 years since their last correspondence, two pen pals, one from Tetcott the other from the Netherlands, have met.

Celia Knight (neé Cox), who lives in Launceston but originates from Tetcott, organised a small get together in Launceston Town Hall recently, and was delighted to finally greet her former pen pal Annie Geilgens of Kerkrade, in the Netherlands, for the first time.

The pair became pen pals in the mid-1950s when they were around 12 and 14 years old. Celia was studying at Holsworthy College at the time and the pair were ‘assigned’ one another by their respective schools. They would write often, informing the other about their family, the weather etcetera.

They corresponded for many years, helping enhance Annie’s English whilst cementing a firm friendship. However, as is often the case life got in the way and sometime around 1963, after both ladies had married and started their own families, the letters stopped.

They lost touch and didn’t hear from each other for more than 50 years — that was, until Peter Williams and his wife Gill came along.

Peter said: “My wife Gill and I lived in the Netherlands for many years — we were both NATO employees at a nearby military headquarters — and our house was opposite Annie Geilgens.

“We returned to England in 1997 on retirement and now live in Sticklepath, Devon. About ten years ago, I joined Launceston Male Voice Choir.

“When speaking to Annie she said ‘I know about Devon Holsworthy, once I had a pen friend there’. We went around and thanks to Brian Jennings and his wife Celia (that was another coincidence) from the choir we found Celia, who is also a loyal and enthusiastic supporter of the choir.”

It was all very coincidental and Peter and Gill were in attendance at the special get together in the town hall and were delighted to see Celia and Annie meet at last.

During the get together, the Post spoke to Annie, with help from Peter.

She said: “We became pen friends in the mid 50s. My English teacher allocated us to various people in England and I got Celia from Holsworthy school.

“We wrote letters until I got married and had children, we still had contact for a while but we suddenly drifted and lost contact, in about 1963 I think, possibly because we were both married and had other priorities — the usual.

“My friend Piet [Meisters] travels a lot and encouraged me to just do it and come to England and I’m so happy I did.”

Annie had with her two photographs of Celia, including an old school photograph, that she had kept all these years and the two were pleased to have the opportunity to reminisce.

Annie said: “I have a picture of Celia. She sent it in one of her letters. She was a young girl then but she hasn’t altered a bit in the face.”

She added: “Of course both of us were really excited to see each other today, we never expected it. Now we are old ladies, we were very young when we started writing letters.”

When asked what her and Celia would correspond about, Annie said: “Family, the weather, just nonsense really.

“I said she must have a computer so you can send pictures, but she doesn’t like it. For me to write English, I’m not sure it’s right and I don’t like to have to use the dictionary all the time — Celia says its ok but I don’t agree! I can read English and I think Celia can understand mine!”

The mayor of Launceston Cllr Dave Gordon also attended the get together and presented Annie with the town’s crest. Annie was over the moon with her gift, was thankful for the warm welcome she had received and said she hopes she can keep in contact with her former pen pal Celia in the future.

Celia shared this sentiment, adding: “I am absolutely thrilled, it was such a surprise having not met Annie at all — today has really been fantastic. We will definitely keep in touch from now on!”