Happy Winson Green twins Edna Robinson and Kitty Dodwell reach 90
Jun 9 2009 by Rebekah Oruye, Birmingham Post
From spotting German bombers from the rooftop of a Birmingham brewery to sharing a wedding day, twin sisters Edna Robinson and Kitty Dodwell have experienced a lot together in 90 years.
The pair from Winson Green, who claim they have never exchanged a crossed word, celebrate their 90th birthday looking back on some of their fondest memories.
Mrs Dodwell, described by neices Sheila and Sandra as the more outgoing of the two, said: “We’d always be together when we were growing up and have never rowed or argued in our lives.”
As youngsters they attended City Road School, in Handsworth, where they shared many friends and plenty of fond memories. “Our family was so poor, a girl who’s parents were better off would come to school every day with an apple and we’d take it in turns to eat the apples’ core,” Mrs Robinson said.
Despite humble beginnings, the twins enjoyed their childhood and went on to work together at a number of Birmingham-based businesses, including brewery Mitchells and Butlers during the Second World War. Mrs Dodwell said: “When the war started we would get sent to the roof to look out for German bombers. There were a fair few spotted over the brewery; it could be quite frightening.”
It was also in wartime that the girls met their future husbands – on a mystery coach trip. Mrs Dodwell said: “Two boys at the back of the coach came over and started talking to us. Later they told us they knew we would get married from that day.”
Their marriage to Wally Dodwell and Howard Robinson fulfilled a dying wish made by their mum, who died from a hole in her heart aged only 52.
“Mum told us to stay together, love each other and have a double wedding – which we did,” Mrs Robinson said.
The happy couples married at Christ Church, in Handsworth, on August 28, 1943, but the day did not quite go according to plan as Mrs Robinson recalled, “The vicar got confused when we walked down the aisle together and we’d each stood beside the wrong man. We nearly married each others’ husband.”
Once married the foursome continued to go on seaside holidays together and shared hobbies from ice skating to dancing, until their husbands died a few years ago.
Mrs Robinson soon had two children, but her sister was told by doctors she could never have children. “Seeing Edna with the girls was very upsetting knowing I could not have kids of my own,” she said. Then one day on holiday in Torquay, she fell ill and on returning home was told by mother-in-law she could be pregnant. “I said ‘I can’t be’, thankfully it was true. Having Gary was a miracle.”
Over the years the families always celebrated major birthdays and anniversaries together. Their 90th birthday party was held at Norwood Hotel in Northfield, where a lavish afternoon buffet was laid on. Guests included Mrs Robinson’s daughters, four grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren, joined by Mrs Dodwell’s son and step granddaughter. The pair are looking forward to their 100th birthday together and were full of compliments for each other.
Mrs Robinson said: “She’s always been lovely and we always got on very well together. All our lives we have been close, I love her very much. Kitty is the nicest sister I could ever have.”
