Meet the 100-year-old identical Sunderland twins believed to be the second oldest in country
“Fresh fruit and vegetables and a belief in God” - the secret of a long and healthy life according to Sunderland twins Vera Prest and Iris Boys who both celebrated their 100th birthday yesterday (November 25).
The milestone means the sisters are the second oldest identical twins in the country and according to their family the chance of them both becoming centenarians is a one in 700 million chance.
Iris and Vera were both born on Fulwell Road on November 25, 1925 and attended St Columbus School in Southwick. The twins world literally was blown apart in 1939 when their Fulwell home was destroyed during a German air raid, leading to the sisters being evacuated to Driffield in Yorkshire where they lived on a farm.
After turning 18, the twins returned to Sunderland where they worked in Sunderland Central Laundry as well as volunteering as Fire Watchers. During one particular air raid near Redby School Iris recalled “I could see the German pilot through the cockpit window”.
After marrying, Iris moved to Manchester before returning to Sunderland in the mid 1980s to live with Vera and her husband Tommy. After the passing of their husbands the sisters founded the Sunderland Spiritualists Church.
The pair remained living independently well into their 90s and have now been reunited in Marquis Court Residential Home in Silksworth, where they were joined by family to celebrate their birthdays.
When asked about the secret to their long lives Iris said: “I think it’s good living.”
Vera pointed to the sky and added: “I’m a very spiritual person and and I think it’s my belief in God. I also used to go to keep fit classes when I was younger.”
On receiving her birthday card from the King, Vera added “is that from the King and Queen”, before putting both thumbs up in the air.
Commenting on his mum and aunt’s long lives, Vera’s son Norman Prest, 76, said: “I think it must be in the genes - or at least I hope it is. My mother and aunt used to always eat fresh fruit and vegetables and used to walk everywhere, and so maybe this has helped.”
His brother Paul, 64, added: “Both my mam’s family and my aunt’s family would regularly go camping in the Lake District and they loved the outdoors. They are both very spiritual and became known around Sunderland as the ‘Evergreen Twins’.”
The twins family members had travelled from across the country and from as far afield as the USA to celebrate the sisters’ birthday, which saw the care home provide an afternoon tea with cakes and sandwiches as well as a tipple of choice to toast this remarkable achievement.