Yvonne

[DSJ]

We were paired up by our respective schools as penfriends in 1950. Yvonne was a young schoolgirl from Stockholm in Sweden & I was a Gloucestershire schoolgirl. The idea was that the exchange of letters would help the Swedish girls with their English.

I was invited to spend a holiday with Yvonne & her family in 1959. It was a wonderful experience for me but must have been something of an ordeal for Yvonne as she had to speak English for the duration of the holiday. Two years later, Yvonne, her fiance & her parents came to England for my wedding.

Yvonne & I met several times in the intervening years when she came to London with her husband on his numerous business trips. We wrote hundreds of letters over the years.

Yvonne died suddenly on Sunday.

[dothawkes31]

You've done very well to have kept in touch with Yvonne all this time, you were obviously great friends and it must be a shock for you. You will miss her very much. Will you be able to travel to be with her family for her funeral?

[David Black]

Sorry to hear of your sadness.

1959 was a long time ago, 50 years a friend is a pretty good run so I think you have been blessed.

[China Doll]

That's a shame, I'm sorry to hear that. What a marvellous friendship you had.

[DSJ]

Yes, we had a wonderful friendship. Yvonne spoke perfect English so perhaps our long correspondence helped her. Sadly, we will not be able to travel to Sweden for the funeral.

[dothawkes31]

that's a shame, do you intend to stay in touch with her family? Your friendship must have been important to her.

[DSJ]

Yes, I hope to stay in touch with John, their three children, and the grandchildren. Because my birthday is at the end of |October, Yvonne always sent my birthday & Christmas presents together in one large parcel. I opened my birthday gift on the correct day & put the Christmas parcel aside for opening on Christmas Day. When I come to unwrap it, it will be a poignant reminder of the dear friend that I have lost.

Thank you for your sympathy.