FRIENDS THROUGH THICK AND THIN

It’s been said that friends are the family we choose and that is definitely true for the readers we interview here, in a glorious celebration of female friendship

Readers celebrate the friendships that mean a lot to them

‘She’s one of the few people I can truly be myself with’ Jo Rusden and Rachel Peru have shared a special bond since they started school together in Ilkley in West Yorkshire. JO, 51, SAYS:

Rachel and I have been best friends since we met aged four at primary school. We were given wax crayons and a couple of mine went missing. I had no idea where they’d gone until I saw Rachel grinning – and she had crayons all over her teeth in different colours! We became friends after that. Growing up, we were so close it was like having another sister. I remember doing gymnastic routines in my bedroom and putting on plays for the neighbours. Rachel has never taken herself too seriously; she was always just good fun to be with.

I was keen to travel, so, aged 17, I went to Israel to work as an au pair. I met and fell in love with Yehuda. We settled in Israel, got married and had a daughter, Mai. Rachel and I always kept in touch. It was before mobile phones, so we wrote letters.

When I was 27 and pregnant with my second child, Yehuda was seriously injured in a motorbike accident. He suffered internal injuries and died in hospital three weeks later. I received many phone calls from my friends in the UK and I told them all that I was fine, but when Rachel called, I couldn’t speak. I didn’t have to put on a strong front with her and pretend I was okay, I could just be my true, raw self and I sobbed.

It was a heartbreaking time – Mai was only 18 months old. When I returned to Ilkley with her, and gave birth to my son, Matan, Rachel was there for me, as were my loving family.

We had brilliant times when our children were young; holidaying at her house in France, picnics and barbecues on the moors and camping trips together. Despite it being a sad time, life felt good and a lot of that was down to Rachel. I couldn’t have got through those few years without her.

My family adores her, too, and even now when my mum tells me a secret she’ll say, ‘Don’t tell anyone, not even Rachel!’ Because she knows she’s the one person I’ll always talk to.

I never thought I’d find true love again until I met Alex and fell head over heels for him. We married in 2015 and Rachel gave the most beautiful speech about growing together and how we’ve become each other’s family. She knows me better than I know myself. She’s one of the few people I can truly be myself with – and she will forever be my soul sister.

She knows me better than I know myself

‘I cherish the fact we know one another so well’ RACHEL, 51, SAYS:

Growing up, Jo and I were a double act. We even shared our birthday celebrations; Jo’s birthday is 20 March and mine is 20 May, so, in April, we’d have a joint party. She was part of my family and I was part of hers. We’ve always had the other’s back.

I always admired Jo’s adventurous spirit. While she moved to Israel, I got a job in retail management, working for the famous Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms. We wrote to one another and our friendship was strong enough that when she visited, we’d pick up where we left off. She even came back for our 21st birthdays and we had a party in the town hall. It was quite an event!

Jo married Yehuda and had her daughter, Mai. I married, too, and in 1997, I discovered I was pregnant. Of course, I told Jo and was delighted to find out she was having her second child – and we had the same due date. Her whole life turned upside down when Yehuda died. There were heart-wrenching conversations over the phone. I wanted to support her any way I could.

Three months after being widowed, Jo came back to Ilkley with Mai. She was eight months pregnant by then. We gave birth 10 days apart. It was an incredibly tough time, but we saw one another most days. It was lovely seeing our children growing up together as we had done.

Jo was an absolute rock for me a few years later when I got divorced at 40. It was a rollercoaster of emotions and she helped me set up a new home with my three children.

We’ve been there for one another through thick and thin. When I married again in 2014, Jo was my bridesmaid. I think what makes our friendship so special is that it has stood the test of time; it would have been easy to have lost touch. But we didn’t. I cherish the fact we know each other so well.

Jo is very determined and has a lot of courage. She’s very competitive, too. We used to go to aerobics together and it always became a competition to see who could get their legs higher or who could do one step level more!

Last year, we both turned 50 and we’d planned to go to New York together to celebrate. Our plans were put on hold, of course. As soon as we can travel again, that’s where we’ll both be heading to celebrate this milestone together. I couldn’t imagine doing it with anyone else.

• Find out more at rachelperu.co.uk

It would have been easy to lose touch. But we didn’t