A double act for more than 90 years

Frank (top) and Cecil Coutts turn 91 soon. Picture / Otago Daily Times

When Frank and Cecil Coutts were born, they came home in a shoe box and were not expected to last a week.

But about 4730 weeks later, the two sprightly 90-year-olds have well and truly defied that medical advice.

Born in Riverton on March 28, 1915, (Frank came out first) the identical twins are looking forward to their 91st birthday.

"Cecil weighed a pound and a half when they got home and I was about two pounds," Frank said.

"They talked about us being put in a dark room and being forgotten."

But the twins have defied the predictions and outlived all but one of their six brothers and sisters.

"I don't know whether we were premature births. You didn't ask those sort of questions in those days," said Frank.

The twins grew up in various South Island towns and followed their father to spend their working lives on the railways.

Cecil, who marked his 67th wedding anniversary to wife Jean last month, is now a patient at Mossbrae Healthcare, Dunedin.

Frank, widowed twice, is just over the hill, in Green Island.

The duo do not have anything special planned for their 91st birthdays. Just getting there is a celebration in itself.

"We've always got on well as twins; had a few laughs," Frank said.

"It's been a hard life, but we've kept out of trouble."

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES