God chooses our family and we choose our friends, friendship is the most beautiful relation in this world.
We believe that true friends can help you overcome any problems and adversity in life. But, there are few lucky people who can live with their friends all their life.
Two elderly best friends staying together after almost 80 years of friendship they moved into the same care home.
Olive Woodward and Kathleen Saville, both 89, are so close to each other since they first met at school when they were 11 and lived down the road from each other.
Their husbands both worked at the Coal Board and they also lived on the same road in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, all their lives. It’s amazing.
Kathleen’s husband Leonard died in 1989 after a 35-year marriage, and she moved into Berry Hill Park care home in Mansfield last year.
Olive, who lost her husband Roy back in 2004, has been living alone after his death. But, now she has joined her pal in the care home and even has a room down the hall.
Both are spending a good time together and say the secret to their long friendship is never arguing.
Kathleen, who was a supervisor at Mansfield Telephone Exchange, said: “We are 89 but we look 63. We have been good friends and never fallen out.
“We are still good looking. We have never argued over anything. She’s a good friend.
“We don’t cause any trouble in the home, but we sometimes have to knock the staff into shape.
“I just raced one of the managers down the hallway for a laugh.
“I’m so glad Olive is here now, we’re like giggling schoolgirls and we still put on our lippy and get dressed up.
“We always say to each other ‘if you’ve got it, flaunt it.”
Their friendship started when they both sat next to each other at Ravenshead School in Nottingham, back in 1941.
Kathleen married Leonard in 1954, and Olive tied the knot two years later and went on to have two daughters, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Kathleen and Olive are two of the oldest residents at their care home.
Kathleen does not have any children, she said: “I just knew we would always be friends when I met Olive.
“She means a lot to me.
“We’ve stayed friends by telling each other what we think and never arguing.
“If Olive goes first she’ll come back to fetch me. We’re going to be friends in heaven.”
Olive, who worked as a typist, moved into a room opposite Kathleen in the 66-room complex last month.
She said of her good friend: “She is jolly and a good laugh and we don’t argue.
“We are still capable of looking after ourselves and each other.
“We lived around the corner from each other all our lives so living down the hall seemed an obvious thing to do.
“I feel very lucky to have my best friend down the hall. We’ve built many memories together and we’re making more every day.
“When Kathleen moved into the home I missed her and I used to go and see her every Saturday for lunch. Then I thought, why don’t I move in too?
“If I’m unhappy or in trouble, I only have to go to Kathleen and we’ll always end up laughing.”
The staff of the care home is a big fan of this duo, and manager Sally says: “The sparkle is still there. They are full of mischief.
“Kathleen is a proper flirt and has her lippy on every day. She says ‘If you have got it, flaunt it.’
“Olive is a bit more reserved but they egg each other on.
“We always love to see friendships blossoming amongst residents, so it was even more special that our care home reunited such dear friends.
“They never stop chatting and giggling. It’s so endearing, they genuinely love each other and you can see that.
“Since they have been reunited, Kathleen and Olive have been inseparable, causing just as much mischief in the home as they used to when they became friends 78 years ago.”
They are friendship goals!
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