The world’s oldest surviving twins will celebrate another landmark birthday this week when they reach a staggering 104 years old.
But sadly Scotland’s grand old ladies, avid Sunday Post readers Evelyn Middleton and Edith Ritchie, may not be spending the big day together.
Edith, who entered the world 90 minutes after her big sister on November 15, 1909 when King Edward VIII was on the throne and Apache warrior Geronimo was still alive is recovering in hospital in Peterhead after a hip operation at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary a few weeks ago.
Her son Nathaniel Ritchie explained that major celebrations at the Bonnyton Care Home in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, where the twins live together, are on hold until his mother returns there.
Nathaniel, from nearby Mintlaw, told The Sunday Post: “My mum is doing really well. We were worried when she broke her hip. The doctors said there was no choice but to operate but we were told there were risks for someone of her age.
“Others younger than her had been refused the procedure because their hearts were not strong enough. Obviously hers is.
“She is just waiting for a special bed to be delivered to Bonnyton so that she can go back there.
“If it doesn’t arrive before the birthday, we’ll be taking a cake with ‘Happy 104th birthday’ on it into hospital.”
The twins came into the world when literary lions like Leo Tolstoy, Mark Twain and Thomas Hardy were still penning the stories that have enthralled generations.
They’ve witnessed two world wars, watched men walk on the moon and read excitedly about the discovery of penicillin.
And though the twins were born five years before The Sunday Post was founded, they have come to love it.
In latter years as Evelyn’s eyesight began to fail, Edith who puts her longevity down to “hard work, a bowl of porridge every morning and a simple life” read the paper to her. And despite breaking her hip, she still checked our headlines throughout her stay in hospital.
The Guinness Book Of Records-recognised grannies are the pride of their families.
Evelyn married William Middleton and had four children, 12 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
Edith married Nathaniel Ritchie and had four children, nine grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandkids.
Evelyn’s daughter Eveline, 83, from Cruden Bay, said: “My mum and her sister just get on with life. They really are amazing.”
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