7191-31PENFRIENDS who live 10,000 miles apart met up in Swindon after 50 years of writing.

In an age dominated by emails, phone calls and text messages, the art of letter writing is in decline.

But Sheila Woodman, 64, from Wroughton, remains a firm believer in putting pen to paper.

She's still faithfully corresponding to her Australian penfriend Jenette Cram to whom she's been writing for more than half a century ago.

So when Jenette, 64, turned up on Sheila's doorstep yesterday they had lots to talk about.

Sheila said: "Despite living on opposite sides of the world, we are close as can be. We already know everything about each other. But it's nice to meet in person."

Over the years they have exchanged hundreds of letters, describing anything from the weather to boyfriends, marriage to becoming a grandmother.

Their friendship began in 1952, when Sheila's history teacher at Calne Secondary School gave out addresses for penfriends.

She said: "It was very fashionable at the time. Jenette and I just clicked, so we carried on writing."

Jenette lived in Dungog, a small town near Sydney, with a population of 2,000. She recalls being impressed when Sheila said she lived in a "a very small place called Calne, with 34,000 residents."

Jenette, who now lives in Canberra, said: "Sheila loved talking about boys. I lost count of them all."

But at 18, she met her future husband, John. Jenette said: "I could tell he was the one. She kept talking about him and was particularly impressed by his motorbike."

Aged 22, Jenette also fell in love with an Englishman Ian, whom she met while he was a scout leader in Australia.

They both went on to have two children, but still found time to keep each other up to date on their fledgling families.

After 17 years Jenette separated from Ian and later remarried a man called Laurie. In 1975 they arranged to meet for the first time but tragedy struck when Laurie died of a heart condition, aged 46.

Jenette said: "It was a very tough time and Sheila proved supportive as ever. She has always been there for me, even when we're apart."

Jenette still came to see Sheila and John in Wroughton and this is her second visit. Now international calls are cheaper, they also chat on the phone. But writing letters still forms a major part of their friendship.

Jenette has since wed Malcolm, 60. Both their respective husbands are familiar with the handwriting of their spouses' pen friends.

Victoria Tagg