Twins living identical lives for 82 years

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Twins living identical lives for 82 yearsImage caption, The brothers are season ticket holders at Aston VillaByMegan JonesPublished24 June 2026For twins Bill and John Bowdler, it is not just their appearance which is identical, it is their entire lives. For the past 82 years, they have lived in the same Birmingham house where they were born, worked the same jobs, dressed alike every day and supported the same football team - Aston Villa. Now they have taken it one step further, by having the same eye surgery, on the same eye, at the same clinic.

They joked it was a case of "buy one, get one free", adding they had always been a "close family". Image caption, Twins who do everything together have had the same cataract surgeryThe brothers have spent almost their entire lives side by side, apart from an "unusual" period in secondary school where they were put in different classes. Their longest separation came when John Bowdler was in hospital for about 14 weeks, having his appendix removed.

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But other than those two occasions, they have been in sync. They left school "on a Friday" in 1960 and by Monday they had both started work, joining the same wholesale distribution business on Rothesey Street, Birmingham. They stayed there for 32 years but when the company went into liquidation they changed careers together, retraining as postmen, a job they did for more than 17 years, working adjacent areas.

Image caption, The brothers spend their days playing bingo and tenpin bowling, as well as watching football and televisionAway from work, their lives are just as closely linked, and have been since their mother started dressing them the same. "It has carried on from there," they added. Whoever is up earliest, usually John Bowdler, picks the outfit and the other brother will match it before they make their way downstairs to have a coffee with some toast.

As well as spending time with family members, they spend their days playing bingo and tenpin bowling, as well as watching football. It came as little surprise that when one needed cataract surgery on his right eye, the other also had the same operation on the same eye. John Bowdler said: "We've always been identical in most things we do, so I suppose it seemed natural to us that when one of us needed cataract surgery, the other would as well.

" As Bill Bowdle had the surgery first, it was he who stood by his brother's side once again to reassure him about what to expect. Professor Sai Kolli, consultant at Newmedica Birmingham, said: "They're the first twins we've had as patients here, and it must be such a rare occurrence to have them both have the same procedure on the same eyes. " Get in touchTell us which stories we should cover in Birmingham and the Black Country Contact form Contact formFollow Birmingham on Sounds, Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.