Bill and John Bowdler, 82, from Birmingham, England, are believed to be the UK's oldest identical twins and have shared nearly their entire lives in unison.
Born on March 21, 1944, the twins have been inseparable, living together, wearing matching outfits, and holding the same jobs for 82 years. Their lifelong bond has extended to holidays, shopping trips, and even medical procedures.
Shared Careers
After leaving school in 1960, both twins began working at the same wholesale distribution business in Birmingham. When the company ceased trading, they retrained as postmen, a profession they pursued for over 17 years, often working adjacent delivery routes. They retired on the same day in 2009.
Lifelong Traditions
The matching outfits, a tradition initiated by their mother Agnes, continue in their retirement, with John typically selecting the day's attire for both. This synchronized lifestyle extends to other activities, including shopping, attending bingo, watching their favored Aston Villa football club, and taking holidays together. The twins have also experienced similar medical events, including needing cataract operations on the same eye at the same time.
Close Bond
John Bowdler noted that they finish each other's sentences and attribute their good health to their close relationship and active lifestyle. The longest period they have spent apart was when John was hospitalized for appendicitis and subsequently took extended time off work.
"We do literally everything together and I couldn't imagine it any other way," John stated. "We're that alike we can't even tell ourselves apart in old photographs."
While they share most aspects of their lives, John humorously mentioned that the only notable difference between them is Bill's preference for brown sauce, which John dislikes. Despite their shared existence, neither twin has married, citing their close relationship and other family care responsibilities as reasons for not pursuing romantic relationships.