Worcestershire Twins Celebrate 102nd Birthday With Cheese Sandwich

Dorcas Tobin Edith Dumbleton Twin Sisters Celebrate 102nd Birthdays

By Joel Brussels , Parent Herald Jul 07, 02:40 pm

Photo: (Photo : Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)

Twin sisters believed to be among the oldest in the United Kingdom have celebrated their 102nd birthdays with a cheese sandwich. Dorcas Tobin and Edith Dumbleton were born 45 minutes apart in Banbury, Oxfordshire, on June 28, 1920, according to Stroud News & Journal.

Dumbleton, who lives in Leysters, Herefordshire, and Tobin, who resides in Banbury, got together for the pre-birthday sarnie. Dumbleton's daughter, Chris Bemand, said that further festivities are planned in the form of a teacake.

She added that as the twin sisters lived 76 miles (128 kilometers) apart, the family tried to ensure the siblings saw each other regularly. Bemand said they spend a lot of time thinking about each other, and she thinks there is that thought-bond there.

Twin sisters have lived through 25 UK prime ministers

According to Yahoo, the non-identical pair are believed to be the third oldest twins in the world and the joint oldest in Great Britain. The sisters have lived through 25 British prime ministers and four monarchs.

Bemand added that the sisters have both been a little bit unwell and decided to get them down to see each other on Sunday. The meeting worked wonders as they are both incredibly different now that they have seen each other. Bemand branded the meet-up as very low-key, with the twin sisters having a cheese sandwich and a reminisce.

Bemand explained that as for the big day itself, Dorcas' great-great-granddaughter would be visiting her. She said they are just having a quiet day at home, and they will perhaps go out to have a toasted teacake at a local tea house, which will be enough for her mother.

She added that it was unbelievable to note the changes the pair had witnessed during their lifetimes. When asked about her mother's secret to reaching such an old age, Bemand revealed her mom always said the same thing: they did not have a lot, but what they had, they really appreciated.

Twins pride themselves on leading frugal lives

Bemand thinks it is that bit about a slightly simpler life that has made the twins survive this long, where they value what they have and don't fret about the things they do not have. A year has already passed since the twins celebrated their delayed 100th birthday party. The twins could not meet indoors for their milestone celebration in 2020 because of coronavirus restrictions.

Family and friends joined them at a country pub as the twins celebrated their 100th and 101st birthdays. According to Dubmbleton's daughter, Christine, nothing seems to faze the pair. They both went to work at 14 years old, and Tobin joined the Land Army, but Dumbleton said she did not enjoy working outdoors.

The sisters, whose maiden name was Love, now have five children, 13 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren between them, according to BBC. Christine added everything is just part of life that you live through and get out the other end of it. She said that the twins don't do stress and nothing touches them.