Chance meeting

During the mid fifties I at about the age of about eighteen I was visiting Sydney an was on shore leave from a P&O Liner which I was a crew member of. I had gone into the town and decided to see a film in the then St James Cinema. At the time of the intermission when it is custom for almost all full blooded Australians to evacuate the cinema and have a cigarette and a quick drink, however I remained seated as did the friend with me. I saw that the two people two rows in front of us also remained seated and somehow one seemed to be familiar to me. I waited until the auditorium lights were fully on when I was sure I knew the person in question. I leaned forward and touched him on the shoulder and my suspicions were correct the chap was a school friend who had attended the same village school but when still in his early teens he had travelled to Australia an joined a young farmers scheme. I have always wondered what was the chance of meeting someone thirteen thousand miles away under such circumstances. I have experienced at least one other such incident.