They were born before man had conquered the South Pole, back in the days when Mark Twain and Florence Nightingdale were still alive. Aged 102, Edith Ritchie and Evelyn ‘Evie’ Middleton (nee Rennie) have now been named the world’s oldest living twins.
Luckily the sisters are still full of vitality, as they have 37 great-grandchildren to keep up with between them. They were born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on 15 November 1909, when Edward VII was on the throne.
Although the twosome are not identical, their mother always dressed them the same, with bows in their matching long brown plaits.
The country girls worked on farms after school, before each started their own family. Evie married William Middleton and had four children, 12 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
Edith, married Nathaniel Ritchie after meeting him at a dance, and the couple had four children, nine grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and three-great-great grandchildren. The twins have always remained close, and now live together at Bonnyton House care home in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Neither of the pair has ever travelled out of the UK.
Mrs Ritchie says the secret to a long, healthy life is ‘simple living, hard work and a good husband.’ ‘Edith and Evelyn are a remarkable pair,’ said Guinness World Records editor-in-chief Craig Glenday.
‘They’re not just the oldest in the UK, they hold the world title. They’ve clearly benefitted from good genes, and a solid life-long friendship that only twins can truly understand.’
Mrs Middleton’s daughter Eveline Smith, 81, said: ‘My mum and her sister are both very unassuming. ‘They’re both doing pretty well considering they’re 102,’ she added as she toasted their birthday in November.
‘It’s a grand age. We’re very proud of them. ‘Mum remembers both world wars as if they were yesterday, and she keeps saying she doesn’t want to see another one.’