'Oldest identical twins in UK' celebrate turning 95 in Tipton
Identical twins who have never lived more than a few doors apart have shared a major birthday milestone.
Lilian Cox and Doris Hobday are now hoping to enter the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest identical twins in the country.
The birthday girls celebrated turning 95 with a party in Tipton thrown by their family – with singer Joe Longthorne making a guest appearance.
WATCH: Lilian and Doris still cheeky aged 95
The popular performer, who rose to fame through TV talent show Search For A Star, played a special set at Brooke Street community centre in Tipton for the twins, two of his biggest fans.
The appearance was arranged by Lilian's granddaughter Kerry Clarke, of Hagley – five years after she first tried to get the star to sing to her 'nans'.
Kerry, 34, originally booked him for the twins' 90th birthday party but the singer had to cancel at the last minute due to illness.
However there were no such hitches this time round, and the popular crooner serenaded the birthday girls with their favourite song Say It With Flowers. Kerry said: "They loved it."
The sisters were brought up in Tipton and lived in the same street, Cotterills Road, just a few doors apart, after getting married.
And they continue to be close, now living next door to each other in sheltered accommodation in Walker Grange, Central Avenue.
Asked what the secret to their longevity is, Lilian answered: "No sex and plenty of Guinness."
The pair, who worked in factories in Birmingham when they were younger, have always had fun together – once having to walk all the way back to Tipton after spending their bus fare. They also recall getting kicked off the bus for singing.
Although similar in so many ways, Doris, who was married for 65 years, did not have children, while Lilian had five, producing 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, although Kerry says she considers both women as her nan.
She said: "They're lovely. They enjoy playing bingo and going to the theatre. For their 90th birthday, I took them to France to visit the war grave of their uncle, Corporal Joseph Davies, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for outstanding bravery during action in the First World War.
"They're very independent. They live in a warden-controlled block but they've never pressed the button for help in two years.
"They catch the bus to do their own shopping and don't even use walking sticks."
