Chance meeting sparks new friendship

West Midland soldier Gemma Leek went to serve in Afghanistan – and met a neighbour she had not seen for 13 years in the queue for lunch.

The 28-year-old Captain lived just yards away from Sally Mullen throughout their childhood and both went to the same school and Air Cadet unit before losing touch when she joined the army at the age of 15. She explained: "We just bumped into each other at the Camp Bastion cook house. I was waiting in line for lunch.

"Most women change their hair styles every five minutes but luckily ours have remained pretty much the same and we had no trouble recognising each other. It was an amazing moment and we have been catching up on the gossip ever since."