The Icing on the Cake

I was delighted to unexpectedly move back to Cornwall in the winter of 2018.  I knew a downsized garden and house was inevitable, but never in my wildest dreams did I really think a return to Cornwall would be on the cards after leaving Truro in 1974 for Devon and beyond to the North West of England.  

Returning to Cornwall later in life, and after retirement is not easy, leaving family, friends and work colleagues behind is the price you pay. Although places and roads are familiar, it takes time to get to know new people and join local activities.  The small village we had moved into and its area, were not familiar to me, so we would have to explore and find our way around. On my every visit to Truro, I looked for faces that I might recognize from school, but I never saw any. Then along came the Covid lockdowns, and the new acquaintances made previously, all disappeared inside their homes.  

After Covid, we resumed travelling, and it was in India during December 2022 I received The Foundation’s Newsletter on my phone.  Although the photo was small, I thought I recognised the faces of some of my classmates.  It was a memorable moment, friends from school did exist, I just had the proof! 

On returning home, I contacted Sarah Lillicrap about the article, naming the ladies in the group photo and enclosing a school photo of myself.  Sarah confirmed the photo was of my class mates, who had met to celebrate their birthdays. Sarah kindly passed on my contact details to the group, and in the next few months we were back in contact with each other.

Although a long time has passed, the strong foundations of our friendships made at Truro High are still there and have held up well for over 55 years. When we meet, its as though time has stood still - we reminisce, laugh, share stories, and make more plans together. 

Sarah Lillicrap was delighted to hear that The Foundation had brought people back together, and I am so grateful as well.

Helen Stringer (nee Kent)