It’s one huge family affair

OH BROTHER . . . The 10-strong Siddall family got together to celebrate the ‘baby’s’ 65th. Pictured, from left: Alan Siddall (72) Joyce Williams (70) David Siddall (65) Ann Newton (68) Edith Bryan (83) Ron Siddall (85) Frank Siddall (69) Florrie Marland (87) Mary Macdonald (79) and Jean Probert (76)

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GETTING old can be a lonely business, but that shouldn’t be a problem for David Siddall — he’s got nine siblings to keep him company.

As David celebrated his 65th birthday recently, he became the last of his 10 brothers and sisters to pick up his bus pass.

And to mark the family’s extraordinary achievement, David’s sister, Joyce Williams, from Royton, arranged a good old knees up at the Printer’s Arms in Denshaw.

Joyce (70), who was the seventh child of Mary and Fred Siddall, said: “It was after we all reached 60 that we started to think we might all make it to pensioner age.

“It’s such a wonderful achievement, we thought we should mark it in some way. The night was marvellous and we were all just like children again, laughing and joking together.”

The siblings, who range in age from 65 to 87, were brought up in Honeywell Lane, Hathershaw, and Joyce, of Savoy Drive, says they loved every minute of it: “It was the usual sleeping more than one person to a bed and all that, but although we never had much money we absolutely loved our childhood.

“Our house was always very noisy, but we loved it. My parents were incredible and they worked really hard. My mum was always doing things to make money. She used to make big vats of soup and sell it to the mill workers.”

Mary Siddall Senior lived to 99, their father to 83. At the time of her death, mary had 22 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and a great-great grandchild.

Joyce’s sisters all stayed in Oldham, but the brothers moved all over the UK.

She added: “I don’t know what our secret is — I think maybe it’s working hard and being happy with what you’ve got.”