These doting sisters – who turned 83 yesterday – are believed to be Britain’s oldest living triplets.
Margaret, Mary and Muriel Beal were delivered naturally in only 13 minutes in 1936 and have remained close ever since, including in the years they all worked at the same sweet factory.
Identical twins Margaret and Mary still live together – and jokingly describe Muriel as the “odd one out”.
Muriel said: “We’ve always got on very well, although as the oldest Margaret can be bossy and thinks she’s in charge.
“There is definitely a special bond – Mary always seemed to know when I was pregnant before I even did. We would be lost without each other.”
Multiple births were rare in 1936 so it was considered very fortunate all three survived. Margaret was 5lb 10oz, Mary was 4lb 10oz and Muriel was 5lb 8oz.
Their mum Eva, who had three other children, dressed the girls in identical outfits as they grew up.
Their nephew Alan Burley, 60, said: “We call Margaret and Mary ‘M and M’ because Muriel lives away.
“They are all kind-hearted, will help anybody and have good characters.”
(Ladun Liadi))
