![\"\"](\"https:\/\/armenia23.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/DDF7BE48-CFA1-4A15-8457-AF49596049E9.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nThe two oldest pen pals in the world, who have been exchanging letters for 80 years, have turned 100. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
An educational initiative that aimed to link British and American pupils put them in contact, and 84 years later they are still in touch.<\/p>\n
Geoff told SWNS news, \u2018Somehow I ended up with this letter from an American girl, and we just started communicating ever since.\u2019<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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 \u2018struggled to keep in touch because of the conflict.\u2019<\/p>\n
To give Geoff a break from writing by hand, which became difficult, they started using email a while back. <\/p>\n
Most recently, they made their first Zoom call.I included a copy of one of my earliest letters to her.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/armenia23.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/3D46FB30-7DF2-42F1-8C38-EE429CD41689.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
She’s a really fascinating individual. Even if it was simply Christmas and birthday cards, she has always been available to receive correspondence.<\/p>\n
The elderly couple met for the first time in 2002 when Geoff traveled to New York City for Christmas at the age of 80, <\/p>\n
despite having corresponded for decades (6 years longer than the current Guinness World Record pen pal relationship of 78 years). <\/p>\n
Two years later, when Celesta invited the tourist to her New Jersey home for lunch, they also crossed paths again. <\/p>\n
Even when Geoff’s wife passed away eleven years ago, the two never developed a romantic relationship despite their unusual friendship. <\/p>\n