The joy of a lifelong friendship | Letter

Emma Beddington's article on the friends-for-life phenomenon ("It feels unconditional": the secrets of lifelong friendships - according to friends-for-life, March 8) , immediately struck a chord. Sue and I met while queuing for room keys when we arrived at York University in 1968. Fresh out of a year in the 1960s “swinging in London” and fresh (at least I thought so), I was completely overshadowed by his report of working in Italy (Rome certainly trumps London). Lost in awe, I dutifully groomed the lit cigarette which she quickly stuffed into my hand ("Hold, hold that!") as she was called into the Bursar's office ahead of me, and so began nearly 55 years of the dearest of friendships - longer than many marriages (mine included).

After two years of roommates, our careers have taken us to the antipodes of the country, but along the way we have made space for weekends, festivals and countless brilliant holidays at home and abroad - later with combined and multi-generational families (our daughters are now from good friends).

Despite regular texts and long phone calls, we still have enough left unsaid to unravel lives and ideas until 4 a.m. morning over a bottle of wine, much like we did when we were 18 - a joy I will forever cherish knowing. Anne Haynes Pocklingon, Yorkshire