Smiles say it all as friends are reunited

BOYHOOD PALS IN ZIMBABWE ARE DELIGHTED BY SURPRISE MEETING

- By JOHN ROGAN

A SURPRISE reunion took place at a care home between two childhood friends - 28 years and over 5,000 miles from their last time together.

Care assistant Taffy Mutengwa, 41, had just transferred to the Hill Care Group's Ingleby Care Home, Ingleby Barwick, from Mandale House Care Home, in Thornaby, when he visited to speak with the manager.

During the meeting, he was stunned to see his former school friend, Dereck Mhone, 42, for the first time in almost three decades when he popped in to say goodbye following the end of his shift in the kitchen.

The pair hadn't seen each other since 1997, when Dereck moved to the UK from Zimbabwe.

They first met in 1990, on the first day of Grade One at Avondale Primary School in Harare - and were inseparable throughout their childhood.

Taffy, who had the nickname "Beefy" at school, said: "At first I was in complete shock. Then suddenly the shock turned into pure joy. We both burst out laughing and hugged each other loudly.