THEY WERE born on the same day in 1941, lived just half a mile apart in the Mearns and started playing together as soon as they could toddle.

But Ena Wilkie, now of Laurencekirk, and Rose Tindal, now of Brechin, were separated at age seven and have only just been reunited some 60 years later through the drop-in computer class at the Angus college outreach centre in Brechin.

Mrs Wilkie (nee Clark) grew up at Auchcairnie, near Fettercairn, while home for Mrs Tindal (nee Riddoch) was at Muttonhole at West Cairnbeg.

But their families soon moved in different directions, then came the demands and distractions of their own married lives.

“We were inseparable,” said Mrs Tindal. “We could have been twins.”

“After all this time, who would believe that we would once again find ourselves sitting at our desks next to each other as we used to do in class at primary school,” Mrs Wilkie added.

She returned to the Mearns 20 years ago from Dorset. She had no idea her childhood friend had married and settled in Brechin.

She said, “I could hardly believe it when I discovered she was living just along the road. It was wonderful. The years have just rolled away. We’re just back to where we were, with no strangeness, no awkwardness. But we’ve lots of catching up to do.”

She decided to attend the computer class hoping it would help with her voluntary work with the Caledonian Railway as publicity officer. Similarly determined to master modern technology, Mrs Tindal is interested in family history.

Course tutor Mags Kilcullen said, “We’re delighted the ladies have found each other after such a long time and it shows that the computer drop-in class is just as sociable as it is a good opportunity to learn.”