Twins celebrate their 80th birthday in style surrounded by family and friends

TWINS Elsie Nobbs and Sidney Wallis celebrated their 80th birthday on Boxing Day.

The pair were brought together earlier for a surprise party so they could celebrate in style with family and friends.

Despite the freezing weather guests travelled from far and wide to the Black Bear at Walsoken to wish the pair a very happy birthday.

Elsie and Sidney were born on December 26 1929 to Arthur and Elizabeth Wallis of Railway Road, Wisbech, and are the only surviving members of a family of eight.. The family later moved to Opportune Road and the twins both attended St Augustine's Primary School and later the Queen's School.

After leaving school Elsie worked for Smith's Fruit Growers. She met Arthur Nobbs and they married in 1949 and went on to have two children, Jacqueline and Stephen.

When the couple first married they lived with Arthur's dad Ben Nobbs in a cottage in Pigeon Street, Walpole St Andrew, before setting up home in Chalk Road, Walpole St Peter. They later moved to a bungalow in Church Close, Walpole St Andrew.

Elsie worked mainly on the land for Reg and John Betts when her children were young before going to Nene Fruit and Veg Preparation where she stayed for 31 years before retiring at the age of 65.

Now a widow, Elsie has four grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. She enjoys knitting and reading.

Sidney's first job was with English Brothers in Nene Quay until it was burned out during the Second World War. He then joined the RAF as a chef.

After leaving the RAF he worked as a milkman for the Co-op from the old yard in Norwich Road. He also spent some years working in Derby and on his return to Wisbech worked at Walker's Wood Yard at Crab Marsh as a forklift truck driver.

Sidney has two daughters, Jeanette and Diane, five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. A widower, Sidney who lives at Marshland Smeeth, enjoys gardening and socialising.