Twin sister Elsie celebrates her 100th birthday
A twin who lives near Bath has celebrated her 100th birthday.
Elsie Amelia Youngman was born alongside her sister Edna on July 19, 1921 to Annie and Ernest Jones in Romsey, Hampshire.
Starting school aged three, the twins had to wear name boards to tell them apart. When they were 11 the family moved to the Dorset market town Blandford Forum where Elsie spent her teenage years and had her first job as a scullery maid in a posh house.
In 1940 Elsie joined the NAAFI and was posted at Blandford camp. She served tea and sandwiches to many men just before the crossing to Dunkirk.
Elsie met her husband John at a youth rally in Bournemouth after the war. She said: “It was a dark November night. I had gone by bus and John had driven down in his dad’s Austin 7.
“We were sat together so I said ‘hello’ and on hearing I had gone by bus he said ‘we have a spare seat and will take you home if you like’.”
The next month Elsie received an invitation to go with him to another rally.
She said: “We took a walk through Bournemouth gardens and he said ‘Miss Jones, the reason I have brought you here tonight is to ask if you would consider walking out with me?’.
“I took a look at this six foot thin man in a trilby hat and dark suit and said, ‘Mr Youngman I must go home and pray about it’.”
The pair were married for 73 years before he passed away. They had a son, Paul, who died aged 19, then two daughters, Ruth and Joy. She said that spending time with my children was the happiest time of all.
The pair were also registered foster parents and were privileged to have John come into their lives at 11 weeks old. He was with them for 7 years and to this day is considered a dearly loved son.
Once the children had grown up Elsie went to college and qualified as a nursery school teacher and started her own pre-school playgroup.
In 1971 the family travelled to India as missionaries. They were in Coonoor in the mountains among the tea gardens for five years and spent a further five years in Bangalore. They then returned to the UK where John was Pastor of churches in Calne and Frome.
Edna died in 2012. She never married but spent her life looking after children in Barnardo’s homes, was a school matron in India and on return to the UK looked after a family of four children whose mum had died.
“Elsie and Edna were extemely close,” said Ruth.
Elsie now has four grandchildren and five great grandchildren and lives in Saltford near Bath. Her daughter Joy lives with her husband, Peter, in Bath and Ruth lives in Cape Town, South Africa.
Elsie said: “I thank God every day for my long life and the many blessings he has given me.”