A surprise celebration was the order of the day, as Oxfordshire triplets marked their half-century.

James, John and Gerald Fazackerley were born in Oxford's Radcliffe Infirmary on February 1, 1949, and were lucky to get through the first few weeks of life at a time when few sets of triplets survived.

And to celebrate the boys reaching their half-century, their mother, Mrs Frances Fazackerley, 67, organised a surprise get-together for family and friends at Forester's Hall, Kidlington, on Saturday (Jan 30).

Mrs Fazackerley, who lives near Bognor Regis in Dorset, said: "At the time the boys were born they only weighed two-and-a-half pounds, so for them to get through the first days was a great achievement. The nursing staff at the hospital were brilliant."

She added: "We organised the party as a special treat because reaching 50 is quite a big occasion."

All three boys still live in Oxfordshire, James in Mill Street, Kidlington, Gerald in Compton Court, Long Compton, near Chipping Norton and John in Colwell Drive, Witney.

Gerald said: "The party was a big surprise and all three of us thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a lovely idea and we are grateful to Mum for organising it."

Mrs Fazackerley said the three boys had always been very close and telling them apart had never been easy.

She said: "They have always been very attached to one another and very similar in looks and personality. At school they were confused all the time - and even now people get them mixed up."

Story date: Wednesday 03 February

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