Close friends of more than 40 years, Stan and Fred now both live at Royal Star & Garter in Solihull, where their relationship continues.

Stan Pell lives at Royal Star & Garter, where Fred Mosley is also a resident. They are related through marriage, after Fred’s son Pete and Stan’s daughter Jayne got married.

They met through their children in 1980, and went on to develop a close friendship which has been able to continue at Royal Star & Garter, a care home which provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia.

The International Day of Friendship takes place on Saturday 30 July.

Fred and his wife Dot, who passed away in 2016, and Stan and Maureen, who also lives at Royal Star & Garter, became firm friends after meeting through Pete and Jayne. They regularly went on family holidays, including two visits to Australia. Keen anglers Fred and Stan also loved going fishing, and had other shared hobbies, such as DIY and gardening.

Fred, 96, moved to Royal Star & Garter in 2020, and Stan, 91, joined him there the following year. Fred joined the Army in 1944, and served in the Royal Pioneer Corps until 1954. Stan was in the Army for two years to complete his National Service between 1949-1951, serving in the Royal Signals.

Fred lives with dementia, while Stan receives general nursing care. The pair spend lots of time with each other in the Home and on outings. They are thrilled that their friendship is able to continue, according to Jayne. “Our parents met 42 years ago and have been friends ever since,” she said. “It’s amazing that their friendship has been able to carry on at Royal Star & Garter. Fred moved in first and said my mum and dad should move in too. It’s quite amazing and it’s lovely to see them still together. It’s great that this long and beautiful friendship is carrying on – they’re so happy at the Home.”

‘They’re more like brothers’

Royal Star & Garter Wellness Coordinator Mary Rogers says it’s an “absolute joy” to see the two together. She said: “You can see there’s a genuine friendship there, they’re more like brothers. They share a very close bond and its lovely to watch. They have so much in common, and they like to sit and reminisce about the old days. They enjoy taking part in activities, such as bowling and curling, and they also love going on outings.”

Royal Star & Garter offers meaningful activities and outings as part of its varied Wellbeing Programme, which includes music groups, arts and crafts, gardening and much more.

The Solihull Home is welcoming new residents. For more information on this, or to work at the Home, go to www.starandgarter.org/solihull