Congratulations to the ‘twins of New Mill’ Mair and Megan who will celebrate their 90th birthday today (Friday).

The twins were born on May 24, 1929 in the little cottage named Dan-y-Coed near New Mill, St Clears, with Mair arriving first, followed by Megan - the tot of the two!

Along with Mair and Meg, their parents Dai and Patty Phillips (nee Evans) had three other girls Peggy, Betty and Olive.

When the twins were six months old they moved from Dan-y-Coed to New Mill (the Evans family home) to live with grandfather Evans and uncle Tommy Evans. Dai taking on much of the farmwork, alongside his roadmans task.

At the age of five Mair and Meg attended Llanddowror school. With no school bus, they walked about a mile across the fields via Pen-y-Graig Farm.

“They refuse to tell us how good as scholars they were, but they both left school at 14 years old,” said Megan’s son David, with Mair he states being the comic of the two saying ‘you had to work or starve!’

Both girls, being well used to farm work at home, took their first job milking cows and feeding calves on the farms of relatives near Haverfordwest.

Mair worked at Dredgeman’s Hill, and Meg at North Johnston. They were there for about a year. Mair then got a job in the kitchen at St David’s hospital Carmarthen, staying there for 4 years. Megan also got a kitchen job, this was at her beloved Llanddowror school helping with the dinners.

“The good looking twins were 19 now, having one eye on the local farmers’ sons,” continued David.

Meg the first to find love, married Tommy Shanklin, of Upper Castle Ely, Red Roses on October 8, 1949. Tommy and Meg farmed Castle Ely for 21 years before moving to Cuckoo’s Wood, Jeffreston in 1970. They farmed there until retirement, moving to Pentlepoir in 1979. Sadly Tommy passed away in Feb 2003, having had 53 happy years of marriage. Meg still lives independently in Pentlepoir.

Mair took a little longer to find the love of her life, married Eddie Reynolds on Boxing day 1953. They started their married life in The Blacksmiths cottage (now Argoed), just 100 yards from New Mill.

Sadly on May 2, 1958 Dai passed away suddenly, this was one of the families darkest days as he was only 63. Eddie and Mair took on the farm and eventually moved into New Mill, farming there until retirement.

“On retirement Eddie and Mair renovated a stone building at New Mill, (Mair says the small cowshed) and had happy times there until Eddie’s death in April 2008. Mair still lives independently in her beloved small cowshed,” said David.

“Mair and Meg’s family have grown considerably, between them they have three children, eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

“They have both enjoyed the outdoors, working on the land, growing their own fresh garden veg that has kept them busy and healthy….along with their faith is the secret to a long and healthy life.

“They have always been, and always will be known as the ‘Twins of New Mill’.

“Many happy returns on your 90th birthday Mair and Megan,” he added.

A family celebration will take place at Wiseman’s Bridge Inn to celebrate these two remarkable special ladies 90th birthday.