Cambridge Coincidences Collection

As of the 23rd May 2022 this website is archived and will receive no further updates.

understandinguncertainty.org was produced by the Winton programme for the public understanding of risk based in the Statistical Laboratory in the University of Cambridge. The aim was to help improve the way that uncertainty and risk are discussed in society, and show how probability and statistics can be both useful and entertaining.

Many of the animations were produced using Flash and will no longer work.

Well I Never!

Professor David Spiegelhalter of Cambridge University wants to know about your coincidences!

Student House

My husband was staying overnight with a friend's parents in Suffolk as he was working in the area and needed a bed for the night. He had known the friend for around 10 years and met her parents a few times. At breakfast time, the friend's mum, who is very chatty, was out. My husband was forced to make conversation with her far more taciturn husband. During the stilted smalltalk it emerged that the student house my husband had lived in 20 years before (in Chichester) had previously been the family home of his host. Not only that, but they had used the same bedroom.

Awkward moment!

My partner Phil, was working in New Mexico for 10 weeks many years ago. (we live in the UK). He is a glider pilot and decided to take a flight whilst over there. He went to Hobbs which is the International Gliding Centre and because he only had a UK licence he had to go up with another US glider pilot. Whilst flying the two of them were chatting; the pilot was English and turned out to be the guy who's garden backed onto Phil's parents garden when Phil was a kid and had lived at home in Worthing. Phil had being shooting a target in the garden with an air rifle under the supervision of his uncle. A knock at the door revealed the police who had been called by the guy sitting in the glider with him flying over New Mexico because unknown to Phil and his uncle they had broken through the fence and shot straight through this guys greenhouse. They hadn't met since Phil was 11 and Phil had no idea that he was a glider pilot .. so no influence there. Not only that this guy turned out to be really famous in the Gliding world having written many books and holding many records. He'd moved to the US years earlier.

Cabbage patch dolls

I was friends with two girls who all met at university - three of us with names Caroline Marie, Rachel Lynn and Monique. As children Rachel had a cabbage patch doll called Caroline Marie and Monique had a cabbage patch doll called Rachel Lynn. I unfortunately did not have a cabbage patch doll called Monique - that would have been too freaky!!

My perfect partner

In 1981 I met a man at an International event. We connected and began a relationship. When he visited my home he remarked on the unusual old teaset on my dresser which I had purchased many years before from junk shop. It was only half of the original set (that was all the shop had). He had the other half which he had inherited from an old relative. Our homes then were 40 miles apart. In addition.., he was born in 'The Woodman' pub which his parents ran.., (my married name).., and the previous owner of the pub was called Morgan.., (my maiden name).. A perfect match we thought. But no.. after 3 years I couldn't stand the sight of him... Jenny Morgan

Birthday village

Hello, Just want to tell you of a small hamlet of 16 houses were we lived. Alcaig, Blackisle Ross-shire Scotland. My husband aged now 54 shares a bithday with 2 neighbours in the same village and are all one year apart. All have arrived to this village from various area, scottish borders, nairnshire, northern Ireland. Last year another lady moved to the village and guess what she has the same Birthday too.

Christmas present duplicated

Many years ago my now husband and I bought each other the same expensive book on The Impressionists for Christmas from different bookshops. We have also brought home the same brand and flavour of jam on the same evening.

African Surprise

My niece was on holiday in Africa at a Game Reserve. Standing in the bar overlooking the landscape one evening she got talking to a young man. He asked where she was from and she replied 'Banstead' and asked where he lived. He said he came from Dunstable which is where I was living with my two children, my nieces cousins. She jokingly asked if he knew her cousins and was amazed when he said that he had gone to school with the elder boy.

same birthdays 02/02/1998

I was in a prep school class of 20 and 3 of us shared the same birthday being born on the 2nd of February, 1998 being born at 6 hour intervals (6:00,12:00,18:00)

coincidences between my husband and myself

both first married in the same year first to each of us child born in the same year same blood group RH Neg O my son getting married on day my husband first got married granddaughter same birthday as my youngest son 3rd marriage for both of us my middle sister has same birthday as my husband's son my eldest sister has same birthday as my husbands ex sister-in-law my niece's birthday has same birthday as my husband's daughter's partner

Old Record

Recently mum cleared out her loft, so that it could be insulated. It was mainly full of stuff that belonged to me. Amongst that stuff was a record case that contained vinyl LPs and singles, and I would say had not seen the light of day for 25 years. I knew that there was the soundtrack for Star Wars in there, which my son was interested in, so we opened up the case. I emptied all the records out, or so I thought. When we had gone through them all, I noticed that there was still a single record still in the case. It was "Dancing in the City" by Marshall Hain. I put it on the table - 10 seconds later Radio Derby played the very same single. I dont think my son believed me until the presenter announced the name and title of the single at the end of the track, and it was then that I showed him the print on the single. This is the weirdest coincidence of my life, and I doubt I will ever forget it!

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