“Time just goes by so quickly. It only felt like yesterday we were working together as teenagers.”
16:47, 12 Apr 2026
Thomas (right) and Harry Baguley (left) celebrating their 100th birthday together(Image: Submitted)
Thomas and Harry Baguley have done so much together over their long lives. They grew up together, worked together, even lived on the same street. So it was only fitting they celebrated their 100th birthday together.
The brothers from Stockport joined an elite club of centenarian twins when they both reached the milestone late last month.
The chances of twins currently both surviving to reach three figures is said to be more than one in a million, and there are believed to be only a handful of other examples in the UK.
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The pair were the last of 11 siblings when they were born to their parents Matilda and Randolph Baguley on March 25, 1926. Thomas is the older, being born around half an hour before his brother.
They are not identical but look very alike and are often mistaken for each other, they say.
Harry and Thomas pictured gardening on their allotment together, aged 75(Image: Submitted)
They were raised in a small cottage close to a farm near Goyt Hall in Romiley, which had no running water or electricity and an outside toilet.
They went on to work at the farm together. In 1944, when they reached 18, they were both called up to join the Home Guard during the Second World War, and would patrol the streets in military uniform.
Thomas married his wife of 53 years, Irene who died in 1999, in his early 20s, and has three daughters, Susan, Janice and Sharon. He also has seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Not long after Thomas got hitched, Harry married his wife Gwen, who died in 2016. They had eight children, Philip, Steve, Kathleen, who sadly died in 2000, Carol, David, Graham, Janet and Lisa. He also has a large number of grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The pair both received cards from the King and Queen(Image: Submitted)
After they both married, Thomas and Harry both lived on the same street, Highfield Avenue in Romiley, for many years and also worked together, albeit in different departments, at the Schofield dye works, whilst in their 40s.
The pair both liked motorbikes and they would go riding together and would also go for a drink together. In later life they also had an allotment which they worked together.
Thomas said: “We have always got on. We have always lived close by. Even in later years when we haven’t met up as much, we phone each other up regularly and have a good laugh and a talk.”
The monarch passed on his congratulations at the joint milestone(Image: Submitted)
Harry said: “We have always been very close and got on great. We have always done things together. And our families are very close.”
Thomas said in his elder years he gave up smoking and drinking completely to safeguard his health.
He said: “I am very fortunate. I have always lived well and looked after myself. I don’t drink anymore, I don’t smoke, and I am careful with what I eat. I eat a lot of vegetables. I always eat my greens. But I never thought I would reach 100.”
Harry said he put their long lives down to their mother’s home cooking and the fresh water that they drank from a spring at the farm where they grew up.
Thomas (pictured) said he and his brother had always been close(Image: Submitted)
“I think it was the water. We had a very good well,” he said. “My mother looked after us very well. She was a very good cook and made everything fresh. I’ve always bought organic vegetables and eaten fresh food.”
“I’ve never been much of a smoker or a drinker,” he added .”But I never could have imagined we’d both still be living and reach this age though. It’s a great age. I’m really pleased with my life. It’s been a dream life. Our parents would have been so pleased.”
The pair both received a card from King Charles and Queen Camilla which said: “We are so pleased to know that you and your brother are celebrating your 100th birthdays on March 25. This brings our warmest congratulations and heartfelt wishes for a wonderful day.”
The pair celebrated their birthday together with a meal with their family at the Spread Eagle pub in Romiley.
Harry spent a few days in hospital but was discharged on the morning of his birthday meaning he could join the celebrations. “I was very pleased” he said. “It wouldn’t have been the same celebrating without Thomas.”
“It was champion,” Thomas said. “Very good. We have done so much together over the years, it was lovely to be able to celebrate together. It was really special.”
“We said to each other we both just couldn’t believe we were both there,” he added. “Time just goes by so quickly. It only felt like yesterday we were working together as teenagers.”