Twins reach 90th birthday
Nancy Reeve and Sarah Preece are not your average set of twins.
They were the third set born to Sam and Harriet Green, grew up with nine brothers and sisters and have reached their 90th birthday.
The pair have just one wish for their special day – that they live another 10 years and get their telegram from the Queen. The sisters were brought up by their father Sam after the death of their mother in 1923 when she was 42, and have outlived all but two siblings.
Nancy, the eldest by an hour, and Sarah were born on January 15, 1919.
After Harriet's death, Sam, a roll turner at The District Iron and Steel in Rolfe Street, Smethwick, took on the role of full-time dad, assisted by older children May, Kate, twins Sam and Gwen, Olive and second set of twins Gladys and Jessie. They also have a sister Joan, 88, and brother Ted, 86.
They grew up in Green Street, West Bromwich, and attended Spon Lane School, the only years they were separated. Today they live a mile from each other – Nancy, who was a machinist at Nettlefolds, lives in Arthur Street, West Bromwich, while Sarah, who made landmines during the war, lives in Heronville Drive, Hill Top.
Nancy tied the knot with William Reeve, a moulder, in 1939 at Smethwick Old Church. They had one daughter Beryl. Nancy has four grand- children, eight greatgrandchildren and two great-greatgrandchildren. William passed away in 1994, aged 78.
Sarah married Bert, a miner, at Trinity Church, West Bromwich, in 1945. They had four children, six grandchildren, five greatgrandchildren and five great-greatgrandchildren. He died 16 years ago, aged 84.
The pair say they have no secret to a long life apart from "good genes".
