101st birthday for the oldest twins

Cornwall, UK, January 1: The twin sisters Betty Richards and Jenny Pelmore have accomplished a rare feat of celebrating their 101st birthday in Cornwall. It was a double bonanza, and the icing on the cake was the queen wishing them on the joyous occasion.

The twins were delivered by a doctor who arrived on horse back in Manchester in 1908 on the first of January. They were born just half an hour apart and share a strong bond since childhood. Presently, they live a short drive from one another in Truro, and rarely leave each others’ side.

They were born in the year when Edward VII was king and Henry Ford had produced his first model T car. In the span of hundred years, they have witnessed the reign of monarchs. Jenny Pelmore said: "We have so many memories. I don't think I would change anything. The only horrible part was the last World War."

The early years were spent in Kent with their three siblings. They later moved to Cornwall. Though presently both are widowed, the twins were married. Betty trained as a teacher but later on became a bee maker. She married Brandon Richard in 1936.

Jenny was a professional secretary and pursued painting in her free time as a hobby. She married Hugh Pelmore in 1947.

Their zest for life is commendable. They are celebrating their birthday in Budapest in Hungary. Jenny said: "We do everything together now. We have lived through five reigns. There's so many things happening so quickly now whereas everything was on bicycle, horseback or on foot when we were young.”

On turning 100 the twins declared that “We never think about our age much – it’s other people that make the fuss.”

They have an optimistic approach to life, to keep going on, indulging in interesting hobbies. They enjoy an occasional drink of gin, brandy and ginger but the champagne they tried on their twenty first birthday did not appeal to their taste.

Reminiscing about the days gone by, Betty shared an experience of how she was petrified on seeing two planes in World War I and hid under a table. She added that
“Life is much faster now but the only thing I don’t understand is computers.”

Divulging some personal information, the twins declared that the secret of their long life was “leading an active life.” They both learnt Spanish as a language at the age of 97 years, and to date love traveling. Like Jenny says "There are lots of things to enjoy, the countryside and beauty everywhere. Live from day to day."