Dr Ann Parker has told The Ross Gazette about her amazing relatives - identical twins, Betty and Jenny, who have beaten odds of 700 million to one in reaching their 100th birthday. They were born half an hour apart in Manchester on New Years Day, 1908.

On New Year's Day a news item appeared in several National and local newspapers, on television and the Internet. I did not know that this was to happen, although it was about relatives of mine, Mrs Betty Richards and Mrs Jenny Pelmore, identical twins, celebrating their 100th Birthday. My father's mother, Annie, and the twins' mother, Sally, were sisters, the eldest and youngest of a family of five sisters. A gathering of 82 people, with family connections to the twins, met for a lunch party on Saturday, January 5th, at a sea-front hotel near St Mawes in Cornwall. Guests had come from Australia, Canada, Europe, and many places in Britain. Betty and Jenny were tireless in talking to all their guests from 12 noon, when champagne was served, until 4 pm. Entertainment included a brief address from Betty's son Peter, inviting us to congratulate 'two young people', there were twin relatives from Australia who played the guitar and sang, with some choruses sung by all the guests, a witty specially- written poem which earned great applause, and impromptu dancing in the aisle by two small great- grandchildren. The twins live independently, still drive locally, love entertaining, and always give a warm welcome to visitors. They are having a second party soon for all their local friends. The above picture was taken on their 21st Birthday, on January 1st, 1929. I would have been 12 days old! If anyone has a newspaper left with the news item from January 1st, I would be pleased to have a cutting.

Ann Parker 01989-563995.