Penpals meet after more than 60 years

Penpals who have been sending letters across the Atlantic for more than 60 years have finally met.

Barbara Kent Cole, of Holbeach, first wrote to Madonna Anton, of Michigan, USA, in May 1947, when she was 12.

It was the first of many letters exchanged between the two girls and also led to a ten-year penpal relationship developing between Mrs Anton, who is known as Donna, and James Bullin, who was the headteacher of Gedney Drove End Primary School at that time.

Donna recently visited England to finally meet Barbara and see where she lives.

While in the country she visited the school and presented the children with the letters from Mr Bullin which she has kept all these years.

During her week-long visit she stayed at St Nicholas House in Deeping St Nicholas and took the opportunity to tour the area and do some sightseeing as well as meeting up with some more of her English friends.