Woman In Kent England Searches For Former Santa Clarita Penpal

A woman from Kent, England is searching for a former Santa Clarita resident she met through penpal correspondence nearly 60 years ago.

After contacting the KHTS Newsroom staff on June 2, Kent, England resident Gillian Mallett expressed her wish to find a penpal from days gone by, a Newhall resident named Linda Smith. 

Nearly 60 years ago, a friendship was formed over the ocean and thousands of miles between two young women. Now 56 years later, Mallett is searching for her long lost penpal, hoping to reunite and continue their friendship.

Though the two friends never met in person, they shared a near decade-long correspondence, from 1965 to 1973. Through cross-world relocations and family changes, Mallet and Smith stayed in contact from ages 11-19 until Smith’s wedding in Los Angeles in 1973. 

Connected through the Girl Scouts and Girl Guides organizations, for those eight years, Mallett and Smith traded stories, experiences, and fun facts. They discussed Mallett’s family’s move to Singapore in 1967, Smith’s brother’s marriage, and numerous other exchanges between girl friends. 

Now, after decades and a lifetime apart, Mallett, 67, is in search of her grade school penpal once again. 

Smith attended Placerita Junior High School in Newhall, and had an artist father and a brother named Perry, according to Mallet. 

If you have any information regarding Linda Smith or would like to contact Gillian Mallett, contact KHTS Co-News Director Louie Diaz at info@hometownstation.com 

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