Inseparable best friends of 80 years move into same care home

By Jack Evans via SWNS

Two best friends who have been inseparable for almost 80 years were so desperate to stay together they moved into the same CARE HOME.

Olive Woodward and Kathleen Saville, both 89, first met at school when they were 11 and lived down the road from each other.

“I just knew we would always be friends when I met Olive,” said Kathleen, who worked as a supervisor at Mansfield Telephone Exchange.

“She means a lot to me. We’ve stayed friends by telling each other what we think and never arguing.”

Both their husbands worked at the Coal Board and they lived on the same road in Mansfield, England all their lives.

Kathleen’s husband Leonard died in 1989 after a 35-year marriage and she moved into Berry Hill Park care home last year.

Olive, who has two daughters, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, lost her husband Roy in 2004. She lived on her own following Roy’s death but last month joined Kathleen in the 66-room complex with a room down the hall.

“When Kathleen moved into the home I missed her and I used to go and see her every Saturday for lunch. Then I thought, why don’t I move in too?,” said Olive.

“We lived around the corner from each other all our lives so living down the hall seemed an obvious thing to do.”

The pair, who are two of the oldest residents at the home, now spend all their time together and say the secret to their long friendship is never arguing.

“I’m so glad Olive is here now, we’re like giggling schoolgirls and we still put on our
lippy and get dressed up. We always say to each other ‘if you’ve got it, flaunt it,” said Kathleen, who doesn't have children.

“We are 89 but we look 63. We have been good friends and never fallen out. We are still good looking. We have never argued over anything. She's a good friend. If I needed her, she would always be there. 

“We used to get dates and not turn up. I also used to give them the wrong address just in case I didn't like them or want them anymore.

“We don’t cause any trouble in the home, but we sometimes have to knock the staff into shape. I just raced one of the managers down the hallway for a laugh.”

The pals met when they sat next to each other at Ravenshead School in 1941.

"She is jolly and a good laugh and we don't argue,” said Olive, who worked as a typist.

“We are still capable of looking after ourselves and each other. I feel very lucky to have my best friend down the hall. We’ve built many memories together and we’re making more every day.

“If I'm unhappy or in trouble I only have to go to Kathleen and we'll always end up laughing."

Paying tribute to the Kathleen and Olive, care home manager Sally Tebbett said: "The sparkle is still there. They are full of mischief.

"Kathleen is a proper flirt and has her lippy on every day. She says, 'if you have got it, flaunt it.' Olive is a bit more reserved, but they egg each other on.”

"We always love to see friendships blossoming amongst residents, so it was even more
special that our care home reunited such dear friends. They never stop chatting and giggling. It's so endearing, they genuinely love each other, and you can see that.”

Kathleen added: "If Olive goes first she'll come back to fetch me. We're going to be friends in heaven.”