Keep calm and cardie on my old friend

Photo: Darren Robinson

ETERNAL FRIENDS ... Ronnie Howarth (right) with his friend Arthur Bowskill.

AN INCREDIBLE twist of fate - and some very natty matching knitwear - brought old pals Arthur Bowskill and Ronnie Howarth together after 60 years apart.

But sadly just months after their heart-warming reunion was told in the Chronicle, Ronnie (88) has passed away.

The pair astounded thousands when they hit the headlines - and appeared on regional news - when they stumbled on each other by chance at Medlock Court residential home, in Lees. Not only did they share many years of friendship, they were also wearing exactly the same cardigans.

Neither staff nor their families could believe how their amazing story unfolded, being best men at each other's weddings after forming a firm bond as apprentices at Jackson & Ogden, in Chadderton, when they were teenagers.

Soon after their meeting Arthur went to live at Royley House Care Home, in Royton, and Ronnie to Coppice Nursing Home.

Ronnie's son, Gary, said his father died in Royal Oldham Hospital on June 2 after being admitted two weeks earlier.

"My dad was getting very frail and died of old age really," said Gary.

"He was so chuffed to meet up with Arthur again after all those years and he talked about it a lot. None of us could believe it especially the fact they were both wearing the same cardigans."

"Unfortunately they didn't manage to meet up once they went to live in different care homes. My dad didn't really want to venture out after he became so frail.

"We've contacted Arthur's family and hopefully he'll be able to come to dad's funeral."

The pair only met when Arthur (86) invited a struggling Ronnie to sit down and catch his breath.

As they got chatting it dawned on them who they both were and Arthur even dug out his wedding album from 1955 and there was the photograph of them together when he married his wife Maureen at St Aidan and Oswalds RC Church, in Royton.

They drifted apart after having families and moving house.

Back in January Arthur told us: "I can't believe after all these years we would meet up. If I hadn't asked Ronnie to sit down next to me to get his breath, we'd never have met up again. It's incredible."

Family from South Africa are travelling to Oldham to attend Ronnie's funeral which will be held at Oldham Crematorium, on June 17, at 11am.