When Catie joined her local junior lawyers division, which helps young people in the legal profession to connect, she had no idea she would meet her best friend. “I was living in Leeds and had just moved in with my now husband,” she says. “I was training to be a solicitor and having a great time. But, as so many friends had moved to London, I was a bit at sea having to meet new people.”
In August 2013, she helped to arrange an event for the division on a canal boat. There, she met Delia, who was also living in Leeds and training as a solicitor. “I’d moved from Newcastle a couple of years before, but it still felt like a bit of a new start,” Delia says. “One of my goals was to get to know more people.” When she was invited on a “booze cruise”, she jumped at the chance. “It wasn’t as glamorous as they’d made out – more like a kid’s party with wine,” she says. “I remember lots of sausage rolls.”
She soon spotted Catie, who was in charge of the music: “She was taking it very seriously. There was a lot of Fleetwood Mac and she wouldn’t let anyone make a request.” Delia found it funny, so she went over to chat to her. They clicked instantly: “Catie was hilarious and we ended up chatting for most of the evening.” They found they had lots in common and exchanged numbers at the end of the night. “It was friendship love at first sight,” says Catie. “I went home and told my husband I was going on a friend-date.”
Callout
The next week, they met up for burgers and wine at a pub. “We got on like a house on fire and there were no lulls in the conversation,” says Catie. They continued to meet up regularly, going out for drinks or to the theatre, or spending the day together at a spa.
In 2015, Catie got married. Delia was one of her bridesmaids. Although they hadn’t known each other long, she “couldn’t imagine the day without her being part of it”. A year later, Delia moved to North Yorkshire, but they still see each other every week. “I used to host new year parties when I was living in Leeds,” says Delia. “We agreed I’d still host the parties, but in the afternoon, so that Catie could come and still get the train back.”
Two years after moving, Delia had a daughter. “Catie was one of the first people who knew I was pregnant,” she says. “My daughter was born prematurely, which was quite a shock. She’s fine now, but it was stressful at the time – and Catie was magnificent. She was always there when I was in hospital and constantly checking in on me.” Catie also supported her friend when her relationship broke down. “She texted me saying she was sending a care package, which was really sweet – but the deliveries got split up. I was getting individual sheet masks through the post for weeks. It was chaotic, but perfect at the same time.”
Catie loves that they understand each other. “Being a lawyer is really hard, but because Delia works in the same profession, she knows the demands on your time,” she says. “If I’ve had a hard day at court, it’s nice to speak to someone who gets it. She also read through many drafts of my application for my latest promotion.” Catie is now a partner in the firm where she started out, while Delia works as an in-house solicitor for a consumer goods business.
They say they are in constant contact and ask each other’s opinion on everything. “We’re honest and we never sugarcoat anything,” says Delia. “Catie knows when I’m stressed and how to lighten the mood.” Catie appreciates her friend’s generosity. “Delia is intelligent, empathic, kind and an excellent dresser. We don’t stop laughing when we’re together,” she says. “Lots of things in life are hard, but our friendship has always been so easy.”
