Apart for the first time on their birthday - Lancashire's oldest triplets to mark 70th milestone via phone and video call

Instead of a party for more than 100 family members from as far away as New Zealand, Pauline Yeowart, Teresa Ashcroft and John Wareing will all be celebrating today in isolation with their respective hubsands and wife.

“We’re absolutely gutted, but we accept it due to the circumstances”, said Pauline, a retired midwife from Abbott’s Meadow, Penwortham.

“We do a big party every 10 years because we have a massive family and we’d been planning this one since last year. Everything was booked for people coming from all over the world.”

John, from Lostock Hall said: “It’s disappointing, you’re only 70 once, and we’ve been doing these big parties since we were 21, for every big milestone.

“We have family all over the place and this would have been the first time we’d had the full compliment of family all together. It would have been the first time most people would have met my four-month-old great-grandaughter Lilah too.

“But there’s nothing we can do, and we understand that. A lot of people are in the same boat with weddings and other special occasions.

“My wife and I will still have champagne and a birthday cake and make the most of it. It will be lovely anyhow.”

For John, his 70th birthday also means he will temporarily have to cease as a volunteer First Responder to 999 calls for the St John’s Ambulance.

He said: “At 70 you’re deemed high risk in the current pandemic. That’s disappointing too because one day I’m 69 and fit and healthy, then the very next day I’m 70 and deemed vulnerable. It’s a bit of a shame because it’s something I like doing and I’ve volunteered for 47 years.”

Teresa a retired carer, who is married to John and lives in Leyland, said: “We’ll probably have a very quiet day, there’s nothing we can do.

“This will be the second Monday in a row we’ve not been able to celebrate something big because last week it was our Golden Wedding anniversary too.

“It’s a real shame as all the family were looking forward to getting together, all the cousins from all over the world, but I’m sure we’ll sort something out for later in the year.

“We’re all very close and have similar interests. We think it’s important to meet regularly and we meet every year for our birthday.”

The triplets, who all live within five miles of one another have all posted birthday cards to each other and will be video calling during the day.

Pauline, married to Peter, said: “When this is all over, later in the year, hopefully we’ll be able to arrange something, but we won’t be able to get everybody there. This was ideal timing really with the Easter holidays.

“I think we’ll have to do another big party before our 80th though - maybe for our 75!”

Between them they have nine children, 20 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Parents Agnes and Jack, brother Wilf and sister Joan have all passed away but big sister Dorothy, 76, regularly sees the triplets .

The surprise triplets that doubled a family overnight

Triplets Teresa, John and Pauline arrived by natural birth just 10 minutes apart.

Teresa was born at 3am weighing 5lb 14oz, John was born at 3.05am weighing 4lb 3oz and Pauline was born at 3.10am weighing 5lb 6oz.

The trio’s arrival was much to the surprise of dad Jack, a painter and decorator, who only found out that wife Agnes had actually doubled their brood after she gave birth. Agnes had told him they were having twins in case one of them didn’t make it.

Life was difficult for Agnes bringing up six children at their home in Longridge Road, Preston, as she had no washing machine and relied on donations from the Salvation Army and Sharoe Green Hospital.

The trio shared a bedroom when they were young, but John eventually moved into a room with his brother Wilf and the girls joined elder sisters Joan and Dorothy.

The triplets went to St Movia Goretti Primary in Ribbleton and Blessed John Southworth Secondary School in Longridge.