Britain’s oldest surviving triplets, who surprised their mum, who was only expecting one child, are now 80 years old.
Mary Bloxham, Margaret Coleman and Georgina Leech, were born on May 20, 1937, shocking their mother, Mabel Bloxham, who only expected one child, and the chances of triplets surviving in the 1930’s were very slim.
“When we were born, only one baby was expected and then obviously three arrived. When my mum asked the doctor, he said he thought there was two of us, possibly three. My mum asked him why he wouldn’t tell her that and he said there was no point because it would have only made her scared,” Mary said.
Mary was born first, weighing four and a quarter pounds, followed by Margaret, who weighed four and three quarter pounds and Georgina was last at four pounds.
The three girls were born in their mother’s bedroom, where a piece of coloured wool was wrapped around each of their wrists, pink for Mary, green for Margaret and yellow for Georgina.
Since then, their mother made them clothes which included each of those colours.
The girls grew up together in the Hall Green area of Birmingham in the UK.
Growing up, Mary described how their playtime went. “We always had company and friends and if one of us was playing with a toy, the others wanted it,” she said.
Mary got married in 1965 and moved to Coventry where she lived for 52 years. She lived in the family home until 2010 and she now lives next-door to Margaret and Michael.
She said that as kids, people find it difficult to tell them apart unlike now that they are older. “People can tell us apart more easily today because we haven’t lived together for a while. But when we were younger and when we dressed the same it was a lot more difficult,” Mary said, although she added that some people still get confused now.
They have an older brother, Eric, who was four years old when they were born.
When the triplets were born, their parents were given the King’s Bounty, which was a royal donation awarded to parents who gave birth to three or more children at one time.
“It was started by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and my mum applied for it when we were born. We received a letter from Buckingham Palace along with a cheque for three pounds,” Margaret said.
Mary said that they also have their own misunderstandings, but they are just like any other family. “We used to squabble and argue a bit but all families do,” she said.
“A lot of people say we are alike. We are the same size and our hands and fingers are the same, that sort of thing. We have never ever fallen out,” she said.
Source: Dailymail.co.uk
