Chance encounter at a party leads to army pals being reunited after 60 years
TWO army veterans, one who has dementia, were reunited after 60 years in a chance encounter at a Christmas party.
John Stacey, 83, and John Halloran, 81, were demobbed from their British Army regiment in 1959 after being posted to Cyprus, but the best friends lost touch shortly afterwards, despite both returning to their home town of Cardiff.
The pair, who served in the infantry of the Welch Regiment during a conflict between Greek Cypriot guerrillas and the British Army, experienced their reunion on Dec 9, an encounter that was described as “an early Christmas present”.
Mr Stacey, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s six years ago, was at a Christmas tea party for veterans suffering with dementia when his long-lost friend Mr Halloran walked past on his way back from a pub.
Roger Lees, who helps support Mr Stacey, linked the two veterans and set up a reunion on the spot, which he says became emotional when Mr Stacey recognised his old friend, despite suffering from memory problems.
Mr Lees, who works for Change Step, a charity in which peer mentors support fellow veterans, said: “I said to Halloran: ‘Do you know John Stacey?’ and he said they were best mates out in Cyprus.
“I told him he was inside if he wanted to meet him.
“The bit that gets me going is Stacey’s emotion when he saw his mate.
“Halloran tapped him on the shoulder, he turned around and he said: ‘Blimey O’riley’.
“They sat down holding hands. It was like they didn’t want to be parted.”
He added: “If you saw the way it happened, at the distance they were to each other and didn’t know the other was there ... emotions were flying.
“They started hugging and that was the most beautiful thing I’d seen, as an ex-soldier talking.”
Mr Halloran, a widower who had worked as a steelworker, said: “We were in the same company, and John was a character around the camp.
“He was always laughing and joking, playing jokes on people including me.
“We talked about our days in Kyrenia, about the boys we served with and lost.
“I got emotional when I saw him. He’s a character and he hasn’t changed.”
Mr Stacey, who worked as a carpenter and joiner, said: “When I saw him I felt like going round the back of him and kicking him.
“I recognised him straight away. His stomach is looking better.”
Mr Stacey’s wife, Judy, 76, said: “I was surprised he remembered John. I thought it was wonderful.
“It was like an early Christmas present. It was lovely.”