Oxford pals reunited

This month’s STAR STORY comes from Wales in the UK and once again we have another happy reunion. Friends since the age of thirteen, Patricia Clements, now nearly 70, explains how she lost then found her good friend Joe.

“I first met Joe when he went to work in the same furniture store as my mother, Lilly Benham, in Oxford’s Cowley Road. I was thirteen at the time and still at school.

Over the years Joe went on to work for the Oxford Ambulance Service and I went on to become a teacher, teaching Geography and Art in Oxford, London, Iran and North Africa.

I never strayed too far for too long and returned to Oxford in 1980 following the revolution in Iran, and began writing freelance for Oxford & County Newspapers, Oxon Magazine and Cat World.

All this time Joe and I kept in close touch; we both married and had families of our own, Joe had three children and me two, but we often saw each other.

I continued to write and at the same time, became involved in animal rescue.

This resulted in a book about the animals and in 1996 I moved from Oxford to Wales to obtain more land to expand the animal sanctuary, but unfortunately Joe and I lost contact.

When I registered my details with Who-Remembers-Me.com he didn’t appear to be a member and so I wasn’t all too optimistic of ever finding him, but within minutes a mutual friend came back to me with an address.

Directory enquiries didn’t have a number for him so I decided to write.

In my letter I gave details that only he would know; I mentioned my mother and the old furniture store in Oxford, and two days later I received a phone call!

I spoke to his wife Rena first, and then to my dear friend Joe. It had been about 10 years since our last chat and it was amazing to hear his voice again!

Of course we had an awful lot to catch up on and we didn’t waste any time. He and Rena drove from their home in Northamptonshire to Wales to see me and we had a lovely day! We met half way for lunch and talked for hours catching up on old times and pouring over old photos.

I’ve since returned to Oxford too; the last time was in September 2006; a very brief meeting arranged between Rena and me as a surprise for Joe's birthday. That’s Joe and I together in a recent photo.

We are both absolutely delighted to have regular contact and talk at least once a week on the telephone.

It’s brilliant to be able to reminisce about Oxford; the places and people we both once knew. Joe knew both of my parents for example who are now no longer with us and so it’s nice for me to be able to chat about them.

Thank you WRM for putting us back in touch – it means so much!”