Two elderly friends who lost touch with one another have been unexpectedly reunited at a Christmas afternoon tea event held by local home care provider, Bluebird Care Gravesham and Dartford.
 
The event was hosted at Gravesend Library Community Room on 29th November, where the venue was transformed with Christmas-themed decor and gifts for every guest.
 
Bluebird Care Gravesham and Dartford customers Doreen Kennett (85) and Iris May (89), who were close friends before they lost contact nine years ago, were unexpectedly reunited at the event. The pair met in 1985 through their husbands, who were members of a Catholic men's association. 
 
Doreen said: "Meeting Iris again was such a happy coincidence. I was sitting on the opposite side of the room but didn't even recognise her at first. Then I saw her properly and it just clicked. We were great friends for over 20 years and we used to travel together on holiday every year to places like Malta, France and Austria.
 
"We fell out of contact about nine years ago, so we're both absolutely thrilled to have had the opportunity to get back in touch again. The event is lovely and it is nice to get out to meet people in the same boat as me, but it was incredible to meet Iris again after so long and it's all thanks to Bluebird Care."
 
Denise Dadswell, Care Manager at Bluebird Care Gravesham and Dartford, said: "We wanted to do something for our customers so we recently held a Christmas-themed afternoon tea in Gravesend. We never expected the event would help to reunite two long-lost friends but we're all absolutely delighted.
 
"The event was really well attended and gave our customers the opportunity to do something a little different. For some, it is difficult for them to get out and about and do things like this and it was lovely to see such a great turnout!
 
"We had more than 20 customers join us and it was wonderful to meet some whom I had spoken to on the phone, but not managed to meet in person yet. We are certainly all getting into the Christmas spirit now and looking forward to the New Year."

http://www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/gravesham-dartford/home