TWO best friends have been reunited after 30 years apart thanks to The Mail's Celebrations page.

Royal Navy veteran Gary Allen contacted The Mail in his search for his pal and former colleague from years ago.

The pair both served onboard the Royal Navy's flagship HMS Hermes during the Falklands War.

Mr Allen was searching for a delivery address in Ulverston and realised the town was close to Barrow where his friend Paul Fitzsimmons hailed from.

"Paul and I both served onboard HMS Hermes during the Falklands Crisis and he was my best man at my wedding," Mr Allen said.

"Unfortunately, we lost touch around 1986 and I have not been able to trace him.

"It would be great to catch up after all these years as we shared quite a bond through our time in the Royal Navy."

Mr Allen shared a series of photographs with The Mail in a bid to find Mr Fitzsimmons and we shared his appeal online.

"The trophy picture was from the Summer of 1981 after we had won the deck five-a-side tournament.

"The balls were made of rags wrapped in masking tape due to being frequently kicked off the side of the ship!

"The second one is of the Hermes the day we returned from the Falklands.

"We had to wait until HMS Illustrious had relieved us at the Falklands before we could return home, a two week sail back to Blighty then anchored off the Isle of Wight the evening before we came into Portsmouth.

"That homecoming was one the most memorable days in my life and shared with Paul Fitzsimmons throughout."

Four weeks after our online appeal Mr Fitzsimmons has now got in touch and the pair have been reunited.

Mr Fitzsimmons, who was originally from Barrow but now lives away, said in an email to The Mail: "I'm the guy you're looking for.

"Gary and I were good mates way back then."

The two friends now have each other's contact details and have promised to update The Mail on their reunion.