The search for a British Army Veteran has come to a happy end 43 years after two friends lost contact.
Keith Nixon has made contact with his fellow ex-soldier, Geoff Reed, following an appeal which was launched through getwestlondon.
Mr Nixon, who grew up in Kenton , near Harrow , began his journey from civilian to solider when he joined the army in 1974 at the age of 16.
Training in Aldershot in Hampshire, along with 158 others, Mr Nixon met Mr Reed, who described their time as "an important transitional period in our lives, boys to men."
Mr Reed said: "This is why we all mean so much to each other now."
However, after Mr Nixon was posted elsewhere following two years of training, the pair lost contact and now, years later, Mr Reed is organising a reunion.
After Mr Reed contacted getwestlondon , we posted an appeal on January 29, just days later, the article was shared on the Veterans ' Foundation Facebook page and was seen by Mr Nixon's brother, Tim Nixon.
Keith Nixon does not have a profile on Facebook and so contact was made via email and following a number of exchanges he provided Mr Reed with his contact number.
"On my phone was an email from Keith with his home phone number 'give us a ring if you fancy a chat, I'm in all evening'," Mr Reed said.
"I was like an excited kid at Christmas."
After calling him up, Mr Reed said: "40 minutes went like 40 seconds and to be honest, we could have chatted all evening. It was absolutely fabulous."
Mr Nixon has yet to make a decision on whether to attend the reunion next year.
Mr Reed told getwestlondon that he did not want to bombard his fellow ex-comrade with too much information.
"It's difficult to put it into words" he said.
"All of a sudden, 42 years of memories come flying back at you.
"To be honest, I am utterly delighted, so whether he comes to the reunion or not, I think Keith and I, we were such good buddies then, we are going to just be mates in contact.
"We're going to meet up for a few beers next time I'm down that way."
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