Norfolk and transatlantic pen pal link is celebrated

In 1947, 11-year-old Yvonne Drew, from Wells-next-the-Sea in north Norfolk, drew the name of American schoolgirl Eleanor Lipton out of a hat to write to as her pen pal.

The pair exchanged hundreds of letters, phone calls and faxes over the years, and after decades of friendship they met for the first time when Eleanor made the trip across the Atlantic to visit Yvonne in Norfolk in 1987.

READ MORE: North Norfolk chippy offers exotic new menu to mark 50th anniversary

When they both married their friendship continued, and they even named each of their three children Steven, David and Lisa in the same order.

Yvonne passed away in 2009, aged 72, but her children remain close to Eleanor, now 87, who visited them at their father Ted Everitt’s Wells home to mark the 75th anniversary of the friendship.

Celebrating 75 years of friendship: Will Tuffs, Ted Everitt, Ellie Silverman and Margaret Tuffs (Image: Supplied)

READ MORE: Threats to close Swanton Morley's waterfall meadow

“We consider her family – we’ll always call her Auntie Ellie,” Lisa Caley, Yvonne’s daughter, said.

“She always tells people she’s coming over to see her family in the UK.

“If I could be like her when I’m 87 I would be happy. She’s still full of beans and takes an interest in everyone. She likes to stay connected with us and the people she’s met here.

“Mum would love it that we’re still close to her. Ellie will always mention mum and say how proud she would be.”

Ellie outside Yvonne's old family home in Wells (Image: Supplied)

There have always been parallels between the lives of Yvonne and Ellie despite the hundreds of miles of ocean between them.

Yvonne called her first son Steven and four years later Ellie named her firstborn Steven as well.

She later called her next son David and once again Ellie followed suit.

Ellie then had Lisa, so it was only right that Yvonne named her daughter Lisa too.

Ellie at Wells beach (Image: Supplied)