Lifelong friends Mollie Clapham, left, and Jean Nilon, who have been reunited

Two lifelong friends have been reunited.

Jean Nilon (nee Parker) and Mollie Clapham (nee Shuttleworth) became firm friends while both were pupils at the former Highfield School, in Keighley, in the 1930s and they moved up to Keighley Girls’ Grammar School together.

But after each later married they drifted apart — Jean settled in Australia following a spell living in New Zealand, while Mollie moved to Shipley. They regained contact by chance in the early 1980s and the women — both now widowed — met up recently when Jean visited the UK, with her son, Roger, and daughter Barbara, as part of her 80th birthday celebrations.

Mollie, who with her son, Tim, attended a reunion meal, had celebrated her 80th birthday just months earlier. Jean is now back in Perth but she and Mollie are keeping in touch via email, courtesy of their sons.

By Keighley News reporter

Source: keighleynews.co.uk