A letter from Josephine Stenersen to her life time friend Geraldine Cooper while she was at Dorset House.

Dear Gerry,

I want to thank you for being such a dear friend and the sister my mother meant I needed. I have known you all my life, except for a few years when you were very small. We all accepted that you were part of our family. And although today distance separates us physically we are still in continual contact. Who else would have listened to all my woes, and come with good ideas about how to tackle things? We were able to be totally honest with each other, and if we did disagree we soon forgot that. Such is what good friends do.

We had many adventures together. We were Brownies, Guides and Rangers. We tackled camping together. You insisted that I went to square dancing with you, and to Young Farmer's dances. I think you thought I ought to marry a farmer and settle down in the Knightwick area. That was never my plan! We cycled to lots of places. I think the longest was to Eardisland to visit a friend of my mother's. You came with us to Wales to visit family friends, and Betty and Mary were especially glad to see you.

You were always active and wanting to help people. When you got your car you took others with you to work. Do you remember going down the hill from Crown East and seeing a wheel from your car rolling down in front of you? You managed the disaster so well, and no one was hurt.

When I left to study in London and then took a job in Leicester. you always managed to make an effort to visit me. You too moved from your work at the hospital in Worcester and took a similar job in a hospital in Bristol. There you became part of another family, and have enjoyed following the lives of the children that grew up while you were there.

You have always been an active member and helper of Knightwick Church. We went to Sunday School, and sang in the choir. You continued to support the Church for many years and you and Brian helped a lot with looking after the Knightwick Chapel, now a church, and its grounds.

You loved organising things for family and friends. Actually you did try organising me whenever I came home. It was not always a success!! But our friendship never ended! There are many who have been your close friends for year, and many of them have visited you at the hospital or Dorset House or contacted you in some way.

You were my bridesmaid when I married Gunvald. We went to Birmingham to the Lewis Store to buy dresses. I always loved yours and would have preferred to use that, but conventionality was important! When we went on a short honeymoon, you helped to look after Gunvald's parents and brother and showed them around. They never forgot your kindness and help. For Gunvald you were also automatically part of our family.

It is impossible to write down everything we did together. It is strange to see how the world has developed since we lived in Knightwick, and went to the Point-to-Point horse races at Horsham. Letter writing, and Christmas and Birthday cards were what we communicated with. We rarely used the telephone, as it was so expensive. Travel too cost a lot. Even so the close contact was always there. A great support for me, who experienced a new life in two foreign countries.

When our son, Jan, arrived you came to Denmark to see him, when he was Christened in Norway and you were his godmother, although you could not attend the service in Øverbygd, the village Gunvald grew up in. You had Jackie with you on one visit to Denmark. Then Gunvald and I planned a visit to his parents in Northern Norway, 1,563 miles away. You joined us, plus another friend and together we drove that long distance, starting in Copenhagen, with caravan and trailer tent on tow. It was quite an experience. In fact you joined us on many of our tours.

Then you married Brian. You not only got married you became a stepmother for three of Brian and Joan's children. You were kept busy, but you loved and cared for the three children, who had lost their mother, and your close friend of many years. You and Brian had many happy years together. You both travelled a lot and saw the world, Both of you also came to Tromsø. The last years of Brian's life you were always there for him, helping him and cheering him on.

From the time we grew up together in Knightwick the world has changed quite dramatically. Technology has made great developments. Nowadays we are able to communicate by using FaceTime. It has been wonderful to see you when we talked together. It made the world closer. It has also been great that Philip has been there for you, and kept your technological equipment up-to-date and has been able to let me know how you are.

There is so much I would like to say, Gerry, but you are always in my mind. I am always thinking of you, and reliving all the times we spent together. The support you have given me over the years has been fantastic. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

All my love is with you. God bless you, Jo.

Jo & Gerry [Lifetime Friends]	Gerry, Jo's bridesmaid, at her wedding to Gunvald Stenersen, Saturday, 23rd July, 1966. At Knightwick
Gerry with Jo & Gunvald

Jo and Gerry [Relaxing by the river]

Jo and Gerry, on the Swedish Guides Trip, August, 1962.

Josephine & Graham Holland [Knightwick Choir]

Jo, in Denmark, with Gerry holding her son Jan Stenersen, who she was godmother to.

Gerry at Knightwick Chapel.

Gerry and Brian Cooper
Married at: St. Mary's Church, Knightwick.
On: 18th August, 1979.