A PHOTOGRAPH in the Okehampton Times has brought two old friends together again after 70 years.

Octogenarians Fred Brooks and George Cutland were very good chums in 1929/30 at Okehampton Senior Council School but lost touch two years later and never renewed their contact.

That was until George was scanning the Times one day when a picture jumped out at him from the pages

?It was in the ?Those Were The Days? feature which showed a photo of the Star Supply Store in Okehampton in 1932 and who should be in the picture but my old mate Fred who used to sit behind me in class,? he said.

?I remembered that he used to work for the stores and by one means or another I managed to track down his telephone number and address.?

It was not long before the two were back in each other?s company, sharing a beer in the Royal Standard at Mary Tavy and chatting about old times.

?Both of us are no longer very mobile so when Fred said his son was coming to visit him, we made the most of the opportunity and Fred was driven down from his home in Exeter to meet me,? said George.

?It was wonderful to see him and I recognised him from all those years ago ? we were 16 the last time we saw each other.?

Fred left school and worked at the Star Supply Stores before joining the police in what was then called the Devon Constabulary. For most of his service he was a detective constable but his talent for photography did not go unnoticed by the chief constable at the time who asked him to be the force?s forensic photographer which he was for the last ten years with the constabulary.

George , who now lives at Mary Tavy, worked as an office boy with the Okehampton Electric Light Company after leaving school and progressed there until his transfer to the head office in Tavistock in 1937. He worked in the electricity industry for just over 46 years, retiring in 1976 and served in the Devonshire Regiment during World War Two.

Meeting up again after seven decades, all those years slipped away as they reminisced about school days, their teachers and life in general back in the 20s.

?It seemed like yesterday and the time went so fast we did not have chance to find out that much about what happened to each other after our school days,? added George. ?One thing is for sure we will be keeping in regular contact now.?

Fred still enjoys his photography and George likes pottering around the garden and apparently makes a mean roast dinner.

?Despite both being a bit crippled we still keep active and to stay mentally and physically fit is the key ? it?s no good rusting away in a chair,? said George.

George is keen to catch up with any other old classmates: ?Sadly many have died but if there is anyone out there who remembers me and Fred, we would love to hear from them,? he said.

Contact the Okehampton Times Newsdesk on 01837 53640 and we can put you in touch.