TWO old friends from Oxford who lost touch for 40 years have been reunited by a magazine article.

Glynis Parsons, 82, and Ruby Medley, 90, were friends when they both lived on the Horspath caravan site in the 1960s.

Along with their husbands, Jim Clarke and Colin Medley, they helped set up the Rose Hill Motor Club, but were separated when Mrs Parsons moved to Wheatley in 1972.

But when Mrs Medley’s name was included in an article about the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, in Oxford City Council’s Tenants in Touch magazine, Mrs Parsons recognised it immediately.

Soon-to-be great-grandmother Mrs Parsons said: “I couldn’t believe it. I just saw her name and I thought to myself ‘I know that name’.

“I gave my number to the council, and they passed it on to her, and then the phone rang. I couldn’t believe it, it was wonderful.

“We had been great friends in the 1960s after I invited her for a cup of tea in my caravan.

“But then we ended up living in two different places and we didn’t talk.”

Mrs Medley said: “I have no idea why, I suppose in life these things just happen. Now I look forward to our Wednesday visits.”

Mrs Parsons added: “She comes over every week. We share all sorts of memories – we’re like sisters really.”

During their time apart, the two women – who are both widowed – moved several times.

Mrs Parsons moved to Wheatley, then Sandford, before returning to Oxford to live in Littlemore.

Mrs Medley lived in George Moore Close, and then moved to Azors Court where, unbeknown to her, the pair were living only a few hundred yards from each other. Mrs Parsons, who lives in Singletree, Rose Hill, said: “I’ve been here for about five years and at one point she lived in Azores Court, which is just down the road.”

Now Mrs Medley lives at Cardinal House, Littlemore, and is keen for more reunions as she tries to get former members of the Rose Hill Motor Club back together.

She said: “I was thinking about a reunion of the club.

“I don’t think there are many of us still around, but I think it would be nice for us to go back to The Oval to have afternoon tea or something like that.”

  • Anyone interested in attending a reunion of the Rose Hill Motor Club should call Mrs Medley on 01865 747582.