After more than 60 years of exchanging letters, pictures, and making audio tapes, two lifelong pen pals — a Sun City resident and an English woman from Stockport — were able to once again reunite in person, rekindling a friendship that began in 1964. Though this isn’t their first face-to-face meeting, it marks a meaningful new chapter in a bond that has withstood the test of time and distance.
Sun City resident Jane Conley and Marlene Middleton of Stockport, England began their correspondence as teenagers. What started as simple exchanges about music, school life, boyfriends, and their future aspirations gradually grew into a deep and lasting friendship.
Sun City resident Jane Conley (Left) has known her pen pal Marlene Middleton (Right) from Stockport, England since 1964. (Photo provided)
According to Conley, in 1981, Middleton, alongside her husband, George, and their two children, Lee and Kerry, made their way to America to finally meet in person. While both women initially worried about whether their spouses would get along or not, it turned out they too had much in common.
“[We] had a speed boat and George loved being in the sun, something England doesn’t always have a lot of. The two men became great friends,” Conley told My Sun Day News via email correspondence.
In 1983, the two women arranged to meet again only this time Conely, her husband, Ron, and their two children, Jason and Sarah, made the trip to England. The two families enjoyed exploring the U.K., which included seeing a lot of castles in England and Wales.
“[We] also saw Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London. It was fascinating to see how old the buildings and homes were. What made all the visits special was that the families stayed in each other’s homes. This gave a real insight into what life was like in each other’s country,” said Conley.
Throughout the 60 years, the Conleys and the Middletons have traveled across the western U.S. together, making sure to stop at well-known locations such as Mount Rushmore, the Bad Lands, and the Rocky Mountains. The families also took some time to explore Las Vegas, Nevada.
On one of their trips to the U.K., the Conleys traveled to the Greek island of Corfu, one of the Middleton family’s favorite vacation destinations.
Now in their golden years, both women agree that their friendship is stronger than ever. Both Conley and Middleton never could have imagined 60 years ago that they would continue to communicate with one another. They both describe themselves as being more like family than friends and have promised to continue to keep in touch until they meet again soon.
