New Year's twin sisters turn 100

The sisters do everything together

Twin sisters who have lived through five royal reigns are celebrating their 100th birthdays in Cornwall.

The doctor who delivered Betty Richards and Jenny Pelmore arrived on horseback in Manchester in 1908.

The sisters, who now live one mile apart in Truro, are heading to Budapest to mark their centenaries.

Mrs Pelmore said: "We have so many memories. I don't think I would change anything. The only horrible part was the last World War."

Stay optimistic

The twins grew up in Kent with their three siblings and moved to Cornwall 52 years ago.

Both were married but are now widows. Mrs Richards, who trained as a teacher and later became a beekeeper, has two children, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The twins were delivered by a doctor who arrived on horseback

Mrs Pelmore trained as a secretary and took up painting later in life.

The sisters each received a message from the Queen for their New Year's Day birthday.

Mrs Pelmore said: "We do everything together now. We have lived through five reigns.

"There's so many things happening so quickly now whereas everything was on bicycle, horseback or on foot when we were young. The doctor who came for our birth came on horseback."

On turning 100, Mrs Pelmore said she still looked forward to a lot of things and stayed optimistic.

"I think it is very necessary to keep going in life, to do things that are interesting, always have a hobby.

"There are lots of things to enjoy, the countryside and beauty everywhere. Live from day to day."