BIRMINGHAM TWINS MARK 82 YEARS OF MATCHING CLOTHES AND SHARED LIFE

Bill and John Bowdler, identical twins from Birmingham, have lived together and worn matching clothes for 82 years since their birth on 21 March 1944. The pair have remained unmarried throughout their lives and have undertaken the same employment roles. They have also taken holidays together and attribute their good health to their close relationship. Both twins underwent cataract surgery on the same eye at the same time.

The twins left school in 1960 and initially joined the same wholesale distribution business in Birmingham. When that business ceased trading, they retrained together as postmen, a position they held for more than 17 years whilst working in adjacent areas. John selects their matching outfits on most days, continuing a practice that originated with their mother, Agnes. According to John, he was born 20 minutes before Bill and the pair have been inseparable since birth.

John stated that he and Bill do everything together and cannot imagine their lives otherwise. He noted that the twins are so alike that they cannot distinguish themselves from one another in old photographs. The twins' experience demonstrates a pattern of shared decision-making and lifestyle choices maintained across eight decades. Their case has been described as representing the UK's oldest identical twins.