Oldest siblings: Dorothy Richards and Marjorie Ruddle set world record (Video)
LONDON, UK -- Marjorie Ruddle, who recently celebrated her 105th birthday at the Park House nursing home in Park Crescent, and her 108-year-old sister Dorrie Richards, who lives at White Friars nursing home in Stamford, have the 'highest combined age of two living siblings' - 213 years, three months and 27 days, setting the world record for the Oldest siblings,
according to the World Record Academy: www.worldrecordacademy.com/. Photo: World's Oldest Sisters: Marjorie Ruddle, 105, and Dorothy Richards, 108. (enlarge photo)
The aggregate age of the World's Oldest Sisters is 213 years, three months, and 27 days.
The Guinness world record for the most siblings to complete a marathon is 16 and was set by the Kapral siblings: Chris, Vince, Steve, Tony, Joe, Doug, Angela, Allison, Theresa, Phil, Michelle, Mary, Nick, Mike, David and Sarah (all USA) who ran the Community First Fox City Marathon, Appleton, Wisconsin, USA.
Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the first recorded case of four siblings being centenarians; it occurred on 2 April 1984 when Lily Beatrice Parsons (née Andrews) (UK) reached her 100th birthday, following her three sisters: Florence Eliza White (1874-1979), Maud Annie Spencer (1876-1978) and Eleanor Newton Webber (1880-1983). The family came from Teignmouth, Devon, UK.
Marjorie and Dorothy were born in Northampton where their father ran a shoe factory. The pair now live apart, in Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire.
Dorothy was born in 1904 - which was the year the American band leader Glenn Miller was born as was the ukulele-playing film star George Formby and Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali.
Marjorie was born in 1907. Also born that year was the actor Laurence Olivier, footballer Dixie Dean and the American actor John Wayne - famous for his roles in Western films.
Marjorie, who was born in Northampton back in 1907, has three children, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Marjorie previously told the Telegraph that she has never smoked a cigarette and enjoyed a number of hobbies including playing bridge, gardening, tennis and embroidery.
Marjorie's daughter Pat Comber, from Rutland, said: "It is a remarkable achievement and my family and I are very proud of them.
"Both Marjorie and Dorothy are very active and on the ball for their ages. They certainly know what's going on.
"I'm not sure if they have secrets for living for so long but just that they've tried to stay fit and active."
The sisters celebrated their record with a tea party at the Peterborough nursing home where Mrs Ruddle lives.
