Cambridge Coincidences Collection

I was born on my mother’s 21st birthday – 12th February 1968. A few years ago I was chatting with the elderly gentleman who lived opposite us (he has since died), and I mentioned that it was my birthday next week. “Oh really,” he said. “Which day?” “On Wednesday the 12th.” “Oh, that’s my birthday too,” he said. “Really?” I said. “What a coincidence! It’s always been a special day in our family, because it’s my Mum’s birthday as well.” “Ah yes,” he said.

In 1980 (age 15) I took a holiday job in newport - a tiny town in west wales (I'm from Cardiff). One of the locals who worked in the same cafe was called Topsy (similar age) (an unusual name). At the end of the holiday I returned to Cardiff and embarked on education and a career which took me all over the country. In 1998 I attended a theological college in Durham and found myself sharing a study with Chris (I'd never met him before); he was married to the same Topsy.

I am one of four sisters. Three of us have the same birthday - 19th May. There's 6 years between me and my older sister and 9 years between me and my younger sister. My other sister's birthday is 19th October.

One Christmas in Cambridge we invited a lonely student to have lunch with us. I asked him where he came from. Later I asked him about his family. I asked him his age. Something prompted me to ask his place of birth and then his month of birth and finally the date. I then said," I've met you before" When my middle son was born in Zambia in 1968 I worried that I may be given the wrong baby. Having looked intently at all the other babies in the nursery. I was reassured. My baby was the only white one.Our Christmas guest was one of the black ones.