GRANDMOTHER JILL Coombs from Dorchester was reunited with a lost friend of 53 years after seeing her on television.

She spotted Sheila Insch on Meridian Television news after she was badly burned by acid when a drain cleaner bottle exploded in her face.

Jill has spoken with Sheila – her bridesmaid and old H Samuels workmate – on the phone.

But Jill and husband Ernie also hope to meet with Sheila as soon as she is well enough.

Jill, aged 75, of Cromwell Road, Dorchester, said: “It took that terrible accident for me to see her on TV.

“I thought I know that name. There can’t be two people with the same name. I thought it has got to be her.

“Sheila was one of our bridesmaids. The most amazing thing was that it was on TV the day before our 55th wedding anniversary.

“The last time I saw her must have been 53 years ago.”

Jill, who has two sons, five granddaughters and five great-grandchildren, added: “We have spoken on the phone a few times.

“She wanted to know everything that had happened so I wrote her an epistle of eight or nine pages, doubled sided.

“When she is better we are going to arrange to meet.

“I was so shocked to find her after all these years.

“It is lovely and it will be even better to meet her face to face.”

Jill, who lived in Dorchester and had the maiden name of Knight, and Sheila, nee Prince, met when they worked at H Samuels in Weymouth.

Sheila, who now lives in Netley, Southampton, married a sailor and lost touch with Jill.

Sheila’s husband Bill died 15 years ago.

Ernie, aged 82, who is a member of the friendly society the Oddfellows, helped track down Sheila as he knew a freelance cameraman who did work for Meridian Television news – the programme she appeared on.

He said: “It was absolutely pure luck. The name Insch attracted my wife. It’s not a common name.

“They showed a small picture from before the accident. It didn’t half look like our Sheila.”

The Oddfellows is a friendly society which has been going for 200 years.

It has over 120,000 members nationwide and also provides care information and financial welfare support such as help with legal aid and funeral costs.