Our triple luck

Britain’s oldest triplets celebrate their 80th birthday

BRITAIN’S oldest triplets have defied the odds again – by celebrating their 80th birthday.

Identical sisters Mary Bloxham, Margaret Coleman and Georgina Leech were born on May 20, 1937, in a decade when few triplets survived the rigours of childbirth. In fact the doctor deliberately didn’t tell their mum Mabel Bloxham she was expecting more than one baby so as not to alarm her. But they arrived successfully in Mabel’s bedroom, with a nurse in attendance. Mary said: “I was born first at four and a quarter pounds, Margaret was next at four and three quarter pounds. Georgina was last at four pounds.” To tell them apart, Mabel tied coloured wool round their wrists. There was pink for Mary, green for Margaret and yellow for Georgina. Mabel carried on the tradition, using a bit of pink in clothes she made for Mary, green in clothes for Margaret and yellow for Georgina. Mabel also received a cheque for £3 from Buckingham Palace, the “King’s bounty,” under a scheme started by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to help parents of twins, triplets and quadruplets. Mary said: “My dad was George Edward Bloxham, he was a draughtsman. He died in 1990, my mum died in 1980. “We’ve never ever fallen out. We used to squabble and argue a bit, all families do.” When asked about hitting 80, Margaret added: “We are having the most fantastic time.” Council worker Mary did not marry and lived in the family home in Hall Green, Birmingham, until 2010. She stayed in the city and now lives next to Margaret. Margaret, who worked at Boots for 44 years, wed husband Michael in 1962. Georgina wed John in 1965 and moved to Coventry. The sisters, who have an older brother Eric, kept up the habit of doing things together by retiring simultaneously at the age of 60.

We’ve never ever fallen out but we used to squabble a bit SISTER MARY ON THEIR 80 YEARS TOGETHER

1937 Mabel with 12-hours-old sisters 1940 Wartime, but still smiling 2017 Triples all round, sisters celebrate their 80th 1955 Now almost grown-ups

WHO’S WHO Dad George’s memory aid from 1937 birth