Christine Miles - Brenda 1939

best friends

What makes a friendship last for over five decades? In this heartwarming conversation, I sit down with Brenda—once known to me as "Auntie Brenda"—to explore the remarkable 50-year friendship between her and my aunt Chrissie.

Their journey began in 1967 at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in London, where the two women worked as midwives, sharing accommodations and forming bonds that would withstand the test of time. Brenda recounts their early adventures with infectious joy, from misadventures in Chrissie's grey Austin A40 van to joining the Twickenham Ladies League of Health and Beauty (complete with mandatory navy shorts).

Our conversation takes us through their evolution from young professionals navigating 1960s London to seasoned travellers exploring France, Italy, and Egypt. Their stories are filled with charming details—finding £600 hidden around Chrissie's parents' house to fund a Cornwall holiday, transporting elderly relatives to a French wedding, and sailing down the Nile where the landscape resembled "the days of the Bible."

Beyond the adventures, we discover the secret ingredients to their enduring friendship. As Brenda reflects, "You don't live on top of each other... you don't get fed up with each other." Their connection survived career changes, geographic distance, and the passage of time because they created space for meaningful reunions and genuine support.

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