Pen-pal friends since 1981 in Newark and Newark, Ohio
From Newark, Nottinghamshire, to Newark, Ohio, a friendship has grown from a single letter sent 40 years ago.
Back in 1981 the Mayor of Newark selected a school to exchange letters with another Newark across the ocean.
The class of Helen Watt, then a 12-year-old at what is now Kings Primary Academy, was the one chosen.
She sent her letter to an Amy Tritt Bowyer, who was 13, in Newark, Ohio, and then had to wait to see if she would reply.
“It was an exchange of letters and then it was up to each person to keep this going, which obviously me and Amy have,” said Helen.
“What I didn’t know until a couple years ago is that my letter didn’t originally get to Amy — it went to her friend, but they swapped letters.
“If they never swapped, we would’ve never known each other.”
Through the years, the duo has exchanged presents and letters, with subjects ranging from toys and boys to flings and rings.
Today, they also swap texts and chat over the internet — yet, they have never met in person.
Helen lived in Newark, Nottingham and Amy lived in Newark, Ohio, they were 3,759 miles apart, but not even the distance could separate them.
Helen said: “I have never met her face to face. I nearly did once.
“When we were still in school, Amy had a field trip in London. This was before the internet, it was purely letters and her letter arrived on the last day of her being in London so I couldn’t arrange to see her.
“We keep saying we’ll meet up one day but due to finances and life it hasn’t happened yet.”
They haven’t even Facetimed each other.
“It’s weird because when you write a letter you picture the person,” said Helen.
“I keep thinking what will she think if she sees me, will she not be disappointed. It’s just over-thinking it.”
In one of the very first letters Amy sent to Helen, on November 1st, 1981, ends with: “I really hope that someday we’ll meet each other in person and I am very glad that we are friends.”
She has kept every letter, picture and present that Amy sent her over 42 years of friendship.
Mrs Watt added: “I do love my letters. Every Christmas I said to Amy that I will never not write a letter. No matter how tired or busy I am, I will sit down and I will write that letter.”
From the trivial, like talking about Princess Diana’s wedding, to supporting each other through personal trauma, they have always been there for each other.
Helen is now a mum of three and Amy has adopted four children whose ages are similar to Helen’s.
Helen described her friendship with Amy as special, because talking to someone for all those years without physically meeting is an achievement
Her favourite thing about her Newarker friend from the other side of the world is her kindness.
“She is the kind of person who would take someone off the street, she just has so much love to give.
“I always tell her that I’ll pick up the phone at early hours whenever she needs someone to talk to.
“I’m here, miles away, but always here. I can’t imagine her not being a part of my life, she’ll always be there.”