We've been transatlantic pen pals for 70 years and are now more like sisters

Two women who became transatlantic pen pals when they were in the Brownies say they now feel "more like family", having written to each other regularly for 70 years.

Kathleen Bonthron (now Wilson) from Drumchapel in Glasgow was 10 when her group leader gave her the Wisconsin address for 11-year-old Shirley Hedtke (now Yaeger) in 1956.

The pair - now 80 and 81 - began writing to each other and soon built up a rapport, with regular letters going back and forth between Scotland and the United States.

The girls kept in touch throughout their childhood, then their teenage years, and as they settled down and had families - and are still in contact now they are pensioners.

In the 50s, the only way they could communicate was by writing letters through Air Mail but this later progressed to emails and now their method of choice is WhatsApp.

The bond between the two women is so strong that 55 years ago Kathleen named her daughter after Shirley. They are now known in their families as Shirley America and Shirley Scotland.

"When Shirley was born, as I had a friend in America I just thought we'll have Shirley," Kathleen said. "And her dad was quite happy with that.

"Shirley was chuffed to bits."

Her daughter Shirley added: "Shirley has actually gifted me her childhood mug with her name on it."

Speaking from her home in Wisconsin, Shirley (America) said: "My mother named me after Shirley Temple and I was so honoured that Shirley was named after me. It was just wonderful, especially once I met her."

Shirley, a former nurse, recalled being given Kathleen's address in 1956.

"My Brownie leader came in with a cigar box full of names and asked if anyone would like a pen pal from Scotland," she said. "I grabbed a name and it was Kathleen Bonthron.

"We just wrote a few times a year at first but then we started writing more and it just got to be fun.

"I got to learn about her culture and she learned about ours. And I learned new words. I loved her from the minute I started writing to her.

"We told each other about our families, Brownies and school and then later, of course, we got into the dating which was exciting."

Kathleen, who now lives in Lenzie, said: "You didn't know what America was at that age. I think we just used to write about school and going out with our mums and dads.

"It was just all chit chat, as it is now. It's just bigger chit chat now."

Worldwide:

• The Suez Crisis - Egypt nationalised the Suez Canal, threatening British shipping and economic interests, leading to British and French forces invading Egypt to retake the canal, alongside Israel. Facing severe financial pressure and opposition from the US, British troops withdrew in defeat

In the USA:

• Rock 'n' Roll is on the rise with Elvis Presley releasing Heartbreak Hotel and Bill Haley and His Comets starring in Rock Around the Clock
• The US Supreme Court ruled that Alabama laws requiring segregated buses were unconstitutional, officially ending a historic boycott
• Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe married playwright Arthur Miller in White Plains, New York

In the UK:

• Queen Elizabeth II opened the world's first full-scale commercial nuclear power station at Calder Hall in Cumberland
• The Duke of Edinburgh's Award was launched to help young people build life skills
• The beginnings of homegrown rock and pop, with artists like Tommy Steele beginning to chart, while Skiffle bands inspired teenagers to pick up washboards and tea chest basses

In Scotland:

• Dundee Corporation Tramways and Edinburgh Corporation Tramways operated their final tram services, ending an era of streetcar transit in those cities
• The National Library of Scotland opened its first purpose-built premises on George IV Bridge in Edinburgh
• Scotland's first commercial ski centre opened in Glencoe

Kathleen and Shirley have met three times - twice in Scotland in 2007 and 2019 and then once in the US a few weeks ago.

"The first time we met, Shirley was just what she is," Kathleen said. "She's as friendly as me and can talk. We both can talk.

"It just felt natural. We just slotted right in with each other.

"I'm quite happy now that I've seen her in her house. I feel a bit closer to her, she's more like family now.

"But we don't stop talking. We do not stop talking. We never get to the end of the stories because we're talking so much.

"We will never not be in touch."

Kathleen, who was formerly a punch card operator at IBM and then a doctor's receptionist, added: "She's just a good friend now, more like family. I mean, it's been 70 years. We speak on the phone every now and then but mostly message on WhatsApp."

Shirley said: "When we were in Scotland we only got to see Kathleen for a few hours because we had a schedule but when they came to the US we lived together and really got to know each other.

"It was just wonderful. She's like a sister to me. We have discussed everything, our pregnancies, our kids when they were little - she was always there for me."

Both women have a son and a daughter.

As well as Shirley, Kathleen had her son Andrew with her late husband Eric and now has two grandchildren.

Shirley has been married to Daniel for 61 years and has a daughter Christine and son Jon.

And now the women's children have vowed to keep in touch with each other.

"The plan is for Christine and I, Shirley's daughter, to keep in touch," Shirley (Scotland) said. "So we can be the next pen pals."

Shirley (America) said: "I'm so glad. My daughter has heard about Kathleen's family her whole life and when they met they hit it off right away."

Speaking about her friendship with Kathleen, she added: "Kathleen is always such a happy person. She was such a great pen pal to have.

"None of my friends kept up with their pen pals. We were the only ones."