Friends reunited after decades apart

A group of friends who remained in touch throughout the generations have met for the first time in decades.
Old school friends reunite, left to right, Ann Lewis, Marilyn Carter, Adrienne Young, June Brewis, Elizabeth Eke, and Marjorie Barnes, seated, reunited at the Sea Hotel, South Shields.Old school friends reunite, left to right, Ann Lewis, Marilyn Carter, Adrienne Young, June Brewis, Elizabeth Eke, and Marjorie Barnes, seated, reunited at the Sea Hotel, South Shields.
Old school friends reunite, left to right, Ann Lewis, Marilyn Carter, Adrienne Young, June Brewis, Elizabeth Eke, and Marjorie Barnes, seated, reunited at the Sea Hotel, South Shields.

Former pupils of Westoe Infant School in South Shields travelled from destinations as far away as Canada and France to catch up with one another.

The group had been friends throughout their school life only departing company when they become older and life led them in different directions.

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The special lunch was organised by former South Tyneside resident Marilyn Carter who was also part of the Gazette’s Smiler’s Club.

The club, formed in the early 1930s, was run by the newspaper and encouraged children to kind to one another.

The special lunch was held at the Sea Hotel in South Shields with the group of friends sharing stories of times gone by to the present day.

It was attended by Ann Lewis (nee Phillips Tatum) Marilyn Carter (nee Peacock) Adrienne Young (nee Keen) June Brewis (nee Slight) and Elizabeth Eke (Nee Thirlwall Wyatt)

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Mrs Carter who travelled from Newton Ayecliffe to meet with the group said: “It was lovely to catch up with everyone.

“We sat and chatted and we learned things about each other growing up that we didn’t know before.

“Everyone really enjoyed themselves. It’s been at least 20 years since we have seen each other, if not longer.”

The girls, now in their 80s, had attended Westoe Infact School where they all met before before moving onto Mowbray Junior School then the Girls High School.

They had remained in contact over the years despite some living in other parts of the world.