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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Devon and USA pen pals still in touch after both reaching 100 | Devon and USA pen pals still in touch after both reaching 100 |
| (10 days later) | |
| Geoff Banks began writing to Celesta Byrne after getting her details in 1938 | Geoff Banks began writing to Celesta Byrne after getting her details in 1938 |
| Two people who have been pen pals since the 1930s are still corresponding and embracing technology to stay in touch having both turned 100. | Two people who have been pen pals since the 1930s are still corresponding and embracing technology to stay in touch having both turned 100. |
| Geoff Banks, from Devon, began writing to American Celesta Byrne after being given her details in 1938. | Geoff Banks, from Devon, began writing to American Celesta Byrne after being given her details in 1938. |
| Communication, which began in their 20s, is still going strong between Honiton and Texas. | Communication, which began in their 20s, is still going strong between Honiton and Texas. |
| They also both said they planned to keep the long-running friendship going for as long as possible. | They also both said they planned to keep the long-running friendship going for as long as possible. |
| The pen pals recently had their first video call after decades of correspondence | The pen pals recently had their first video call after decades of correspondence |
| The pen pals recently had their first video call after decades of correspondence | The pen pals recently had their first video call after decades of correspondence |
| Their correspondence began when they were in their 20s as part of an educational project to put British and American students in contact. | Their correspondence began when they were in their 20s as part of an educational project to put British and American students in contact. |
| Over the decades, the letters kept crossing the Atlantic. | Over the decades, the letters kept crossing the Atlantic. |
| Since then, pen and paper have given way to emails, with the help of their children, and now video calls. | Since then, pen and paper have given way to emails, with the help of their children, and now video calls. |
| They also met in person when Mr Banks visited New York in 2002. | They also met in person when Mr Banks visited New York in 2002. |
| Mr Banks said it was a "source of great satisfaction to write to her for over all these years". | Mr Banks said it was a "source of great satisfaction to write to her for over all these years". |
| Letters have gone between the pair since they were both in their 20s | Letters have gone between the pair since they were both in their 20s |
| He said: "She's a very interesting person. We exchange stories and she's very good to talk to." | He said: "She's a very interesting person. We exchange stories and she's very good to talk to." |
| But, with such a long-running friendship between the boy from England and the girl from the US, the question has been asked if there was any ever any romance. | But, with such a long-running friendship between the boy from England and the girl from the US, the question has been asked if there was any ever any romance. |
| Celesta Byrne swiftly put such questions to rest: "No, we're just friends, like people who live next door. | Celesta Byrne swiftly put such questions to rest: "No, we're just friends, like people who live next door. |
| "You ask how they're doing, you say a few words and then you both go to work. | "You ask how they're doing, you say a few words and then you both go to work. |
| "There wasn't 'glibbily globbally' stuff, it was just normal neighbour people." | "There wasn't 'glibbily globbally' stuff, it was just normal neighbour people." |
| Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Letters | Letters |
| Texas | Texas |
| Honiton | Honiton |