Letters fuel 77-year pen pal bond

A world war, the death of husbands and a stroke have not stopped Joyce O’Sullivan and Jeane Wharton from keeping in touch.

The pair became pen pals in 1941 and although age has made it harder to communicate, the pair remain firm friends.

O’Sullivan, 93, lives in an Upper Hutt rest home after a stroke but still considers 91-yearold Wharton to be her closest friend.

Her son, Pat O’Sullivan, has to speak for her and is proud that his mum has kept the relationship with Wharton, who lives in Australia, going for so long.

Wharton started the relationship after seeing an ad in a local British paper for New Zealanders looking for pen pals.

She was already writing to about 20 British soldiers and was initially reluctant to respond to Joyce, Pat said. ‘‘She was a bit hesitant about writing to New Zealand because she could not afford the stamps and envelopes.’’

As well as letters, Joyce sent food parcels to her new friend’s English family.

Wharton’s husband died after the war and she resettled in Australia.

Unfortunately, Joyce has not kept the letters but Pat said his mum used to tell her friend all her news, including gossip of boyfriends.

The pair did not meet until 1974, when Joyce travelled to Sydney.

The Upper Hutt Leader published a short story at the time, noting how well the pair’s meeting went.

‘‘We were exactly as we thought. We did not feel like strangers at all,’’ Joyce said back then.

Pat said letter writing has become a forgotten art and it was remarkable how a simple request in a British paper had led to a lifelong friendship.

As a former soldier who served overseas in Southeast Asia and Sinai, he appreciated the art of writing letters.

‘‘I spent quite a bit of time overseas and I always loved getting letters from a friend.’’

He too had a pen pal but, in a sign of the times, they now keep in touch via email.

Two strokes have made it hard for Joyce to keep in touch with her Australian friend.

These days she relies on a son, John, who lives in Australia, to keep in contact with Jeane.

A spokeswoman for New Zealand Post said it was always nice to hear stories about people who maintained friendships though letters.

‘‘We know how much people enjoy using the post to connect with their families, friends and communities.’’

‘‘We did not feel like strangers at all.’’ Joyce O’Sullivan after meeting pen pal Jeane Wharton in 1974.