FOR the past year, pupils at More House School in Frensham have been writing to residents at five local care homes as part of an inter-generational pen friend project.

More House literacy tutors Karen Wane and Jackie Smith approached Abbeyfield Wey Valley Society last year and a number of residents across all three of the society’s homes in Farnham – Hatch Mill, Ridgway Court and Wey Valley House – were quite happy to join in.

The project set out with ten students and now totals 20, and has helped the boys develop their letter-writing skills as well as finding out about life in the ‘olden days’.

The residents enjoy hearing snippets of the boy’s news and interests.

They then reply answering the boy’s questions along with some of their own news.

Many of the correspondents have found that they have something in common with their pen pal and have enjoyed sharing their stories and experiences.

Both parties look forward to receiving their letters, and the residents were keen to meet with the students so invited them to visit Hatch Mill Care Home in Farnham for a chat and a couple of games of bingo.

Fourteen boys came to meet their pen pals and everyone got on really well, helped on with drinks and cake.

A spokesman for More House said: “It has been great to see them developing their community spirit and it is hoped that the project will continue for a long time to come.”

The society presented all the boys with a pen and pencil set to encourage them to continue writing.