Retired ladies enjoy Sunday dinner in pop-up tents on Milton Common due to lockdown restrictions

Black and orange pop-up tents appeared at the edge of Milton Common on Sunday as Angela Barnes and her friend Janice Burkinshaw set up camp to enjoy a two-course meal.

The pair, who have been friends for 45 years and are both widows, have been enjoying dinners together in Janice’s garden every Sunday come rain or shine throughout the pandemic.

When the second lockdown was announced and people could no longer meet in private gardens, Angela and Janice took matters into their own hands to be able to enjoy a safe, socially-distanced dinner together.

Angela, 69, said: ‘We made lots of people laugh - some cars stopped and asked what we were doing.

‘All the mist came down and it was quite spooky. It was good fun and we plan to do it regularly.’

Armed with hot water bottles, blankets and fairy lights, the duo dined two metres apart on beef stir fry cooked by Janice, followed by Angela’s signature chocolate, orange and ginger dessert.

On Janice’s love for this particular treat, Angela said: ‘I always take her a spare one for the next day and she always texts me before bed time to say it’s evaporated.’

Living a couple of minutes’ walk from each other, the friends have kept each other going this year by going for walks and meeting up at Janice’s allotment.

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They are unable to form a bubble with each other as both want to see their children, so they are trying to follow the rules as closely as possible.

Janice said: ‘Now that we live alone it’s been vital. We couldn’t have visitors throughout the lockdown unless they just came to the front door.

‘We made sure we could go for a walk together and exchange food and ideas and have a good chat and maintain our friendship.’

The pair met through the Milton Young Wives’ Club more than four decades ago, and their late husbands knew each other well.

Angela said: ‘We keep each other going, we understand each other. I’m the mad one really but Janice goes along with it - we’re different in some ways but that’s good.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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