The two oldest pen pals in the world, who have been exchanging letters for 80 years, have turned 100.

In 1938, when they were both just 16 years old, Geoff Banks from Devon, England, and Celesta Byrne from New Jersey began writing to one another.

An educational initiative that aimed to link British and American pupils put them in contact, and 84 years later they are still in touch.

Geoff told SWNS news, ‘Somehow I ended up with this letter from an American girl, and we just started communicating ever since.’

Even though he was working as a mechanic on the British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in the Pacific during World War II, former engineer Geoff stayed in touch.

He said that some of his letters sent during the war were finally forwarded to her after it finished, adding that there were a few years when we ‘struggled to keep in touch because of the conflict.’

To give Geoff a break from writing by hand, which became difficult, they started using email a while back.

Most recently, they made their first Zoom call.I included a copy of one of my earliest letters to her.

She’s a really fascinating individual. Even if it was simply Christmas and birthday cards, she has always been available to receive correspondence.

The elderly couple met for the first time in 2002 when Geoff traveled to New York City for Christmas at the age of 80,

despite having corresponded for decades (6 years longer than the current Guinness World Record pen pal relationship of 78 years).

Two years later, when Celesta invited the tourist to her New Jersey home for lunch, they also crossed paths again.

Even when Geoff’s wife passed away eleven years ago, the two never developed a romantic relationship despite their unusual friendship.

‘No, we’re simply pals, like people who live next door,’ Celesta responded in agreement.Geoff now relies on young people to help him.