Friends reunite after 35 year gap thanks to Hanover Housing Association

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities

Two old friends were celebrating today after they met for the first time in 35 years thanks to their landlord Hanover Housing Association.

60 year old Josafina Valero from Lillian Hind Court in Bulwell and 77 year old Margarita Martin first met in the year 1977 while Josephina was studying English and working as a part time interpreter in Bradford.

To help support her studies Josephina also took a part  time job in a Bradford sewing factory; there she met Margarita who taught her how to cross stitch and make alterations to garments.

During their time at the factory the two ladies became great friends and used to meet up regularly for family get togethers and to catch up on the latest gossip.

In 1980 Josephina decided to move back to Spain and set up her own language school, a short time afterwards the two friends lost touch. 

Several years later Josephina moved back to the England. A few years later she was diagnosed with cancer and due to her condition was struggling to find a suitable place to live. The housing management team from Hanover Housing Association came to her aide and offered Josephina and her husband a flat.

Josephina wrote a letter to Hanover’s in house resident magazine, Hanover News, thanking Hanover staff for the support and kindness they had shown her.

Unbeknown to Josephina, Margarita was living at another Hanover property in Bradford, saw the article and recognised her old friend. Immediately she contacted her through Lillian Hind Court Estate Manager Pamela Rowland-Pearce.

Josephina said: “I was really excited when I heard that Margareta called.  I called her back immediately and invited her to stay.

Since arriving at Lillian Hind Court the ladies have been inseparable.
Margareta added: “It’s been wonderful seeing Josephina again after all this time. She’d even kept up her cross-stitching.

“If it wasn’t for Hanover News I may never have seen my old friend again. Thank you Hanover.”

Hanover news is a twice yearly residents news paper written and edited by Hanover’s Internal Communications team.

Magazine editor Laura Budden said: “This is a wonderful ending to a remarkable story It is one of the reasons I do what I do."