"Friends with the Gibbs" have been found, thanks to Where Are They Now? and relatives living in south Essex.

Sadly, we lost touch with our friends Avril and Gerry after we moved from the Army Apprentices College in 1960. They had several phone calls from people who knew us.

My husband's name is Alan Gibbs (known in the Army as Phillip). He went to Southend High School for Boys until he signed up.

We phoned our long-lost friends when a reader put us in touch and they were speechless at the speed we contacted them - we were excited too!

We went to Chepstow to meet them and had a wonderful, nostalgic reunion. It seemed like we had last met only yesterday, not 45 years ago, as we talked about the times we had together when we were younger.

It has been wonderful and we plan to meet again soon.

Thank you so much for helping us keep in touch with friends - it has been something very special.

Sheila and Alan Gibbs, Lexden, Colchester