‘We eat what we want and we’re still going strong’: UK’s oldest twins celebrate birthday

‘We never had a lot so we couldn’t lose a lot and it has left us quite stress free,’ says Edith Dumbleton

The pair credit their longevity to a frugal approach (Christine Bemand/SWNS)

Britain’s oldest twins who pride themselves on leading “frugal lives” have celebrated their 102nd birthdays.

Edith Dumbleton and Dorcas Tobin were born 45 minutes apart on 28 June, 1920 at their family home in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

The non-identical pair are believed to be the third-oldest twins in the world and the joint oldest in Britain, having lived through 25 prime ministers and four monarchs.

The sisters, who live 76 miles apart, are still inseparable and Dorcas travels two hours each way from Banbury, Oxon, every Tuesday to see Edith in Leominster, Herefordshire.

Between them they have five children, nine grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

To mark their 102nd birthday this week, the siblings met up for a lunch of cheese sandwiches and teacakes.

Ms Dumbleton, the oldest, said: “It’s marvellous we’ve got to this age because we don’t know anyone else near 100, so for us it’s been incredible.

“We’re still going strong and get the best out of it we can.

“We never had a lot so we couldn’t lose a lot and it has left us quite stress free.

“What things we did have we appreciate and got the most out of.”

Edith Dumbleton, right, and Dorcas Tobin (Fred Dumbleton/SWNS)

Ms Tobin added: “I’m very thankful that although we’ve had frugal lives there’s been a lot to enjoy throughout it.

“We have had bad times but we’ve managed to get plenty of good times in and enjoy our lives.

“I’ve got a little greenhouse and do a bit of gardening that keeps me happy.”

Ms Dumbleton’s daughter Christine Bemand, 68, who lives with her mother, said: “They spend a lot of time thinking about each other and I think there is that thought-bond there.

“And they have both been a little bit unwell and we made the decision to get them down to see each other on Sunday and they are both incredibly different having seen each other.

“It was very low key, they had a cheese sandwich and a reminisce.”

Ms Bemand said the secret of the twins’ incredible longevity has been enjoying a “simpler life.”

She added: “Mum always says the same thing when I ask her – they didn’t have a lot, but what they had they really appreciated.

“And I think it is that bit about a slightly simpler life, where you value what you have got and you don’t fret for the things you haven’t got.”

Edith Dumbleton and Dorcas Tobin aged 16 with their siblings, Fred, Muriel and Edna (Christine Bemand / SWNS)

Ms Dumbleton was married to Frederick for 50 years until he died aged 89, in 2006. They had two sons, Frederick and Kenneth, and Christine.

She was the youngest and worked with children with learning difficulties before retiring to care full-time for her mother.

Ms Tobin had two sons with her husband of 33 years, Horace, a career firefighter, who died aged 80.

She said: “Edith and I are both very well actually for our age, but my sister is losing her sight some. I’ve always been active. I’ve just got on with life. You know you have your ups and downs, but you just get on with it.

“I don’t eat anything special. We eat what we want, and we eat when we’re hungry.”

SWNS