Arthur Mackie of Old Halkerton Road, couldn't believe his ears when he received a call from down south asking how he was keeping.

It was from Ron Ladds, a man he had last seen in the mid-1940s, during RAF service in Durban, South Africa.

The call led to an emotional re-union at Arthur's house just the other week - an opportunity for a right old chinwag before Ron, who hails from Radlett in Hertfordshire, left with family members to continue a pre-arranged round-Britain tour.

Arthur (aged 83) and looking forward to he and wife Margaret's diamond wedding anniversary celebrations later this month, called in to the "Forfar Dispatch" office in Castle Street, to talk of the day he choked up on clapping eyes on the colleague he hadn't seen for 63 years.

"Ron was instantly recognisable, with his handlebar moustache, and we spent a good few hours catching up, before going to the Castle Club for a meal," explained Arthur.

The former RAF servicemen recalled their days in Durban, South Africa, in the closing year of the second world war, and left with promises to continue to keep in touch by letter.

It was away back in 1944 when the duo got to know each other.

"We were posted to Durban and Ron, being a little older than us, and quite tall, was known as the sheriff," explained Arthur. "He was tasked with looking after the younger personnel when we were bring shuttled about, and, if you got lost, you just looked for Ron and that handlebar moustache.

"After about 18 months we went our separate ways, and I ended up serving in the Middle East and in the Mediterranean, before returning to Forfar in 1947.

"When I left Durban, that was the last I heard of Ron until, three years ago, I received a telephone call out of the blue.

"Ron was trying to get in touch with former RAF colleagues, and was put in touch with me by Eddie Evans, who hails from Wales, and who was my best friend during my time in service.

"When I heard the English accent on the phone I knew right away who it was, and blurted out "hello sheriff, how are you."

"He replied by stating that he hadn't been called by that nickname since 1944.

"After catching up on the phone, we started to write to each other, and promised to try and meet up one day."

Time passed, and it looked as if the two wouldn't have the opportunity to meet face-to-face, until Ron's daughter decided to pull the family together for a round-Britain trip in a people carrier.

Ron kept in touch by phone, informing Arthur where he was, and, it was when the round-Britain trip stopped off at Inverness that final arrangements were made for a re-union in Forfar.

That led to the people carrier calling in at Old Halkerton Road - and that first meeting since the RAF days of the mid-forties.

"It was great to see him and I was a wee bit choked. He hadn't changed all that much, and still had his moustache. We spent a great few hours catching up, and enjoyed a meal before Ron and his wife left to meet up with the rest of the family in Broughty Ferry and continue their holiday."