Triplets born 15 minutes apart in Chesterfield celebrate their 50th birthdays

Alistair, Gareth and Rebecca Cox were born just 15 minutes apart at the town’s Scarsdale Hospital on March 20, 1970.

Rebecca, now Walters, was born first followed by identical twins Alistair and Gareth.

Their first day at school, 18th, 21st, 30th and 40th milestone birthdays were also reported by the Derbyshire Times.

Sadly, the triplets' parents Brian and Pauline Cox, from Alfreton Road, Newton, have both passed away.

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But the trio also have an older sister Rachel Hammond, 52, who lives in North Wingfield.

The triplets remember mum Pauline often being asked how she coped with three babies and a 23-month-old daughter – and the answer was always the same: "A strict routine and hard work."

Rebecca said: "There was never a dull moment and we were never sure what would happen next. We look back over the years and wonder how mum and dad coped. We see each other regularly now and the boys are especially close.”

On March 15 the family celebrated at the Lotus Lounge Chinese Restaurant in Alfreton.

The triplets grew up in Newton and attended Blackwell Primary School and then Tupton Hall Secondary School.

Rebecca is married to Phil and lives in Alfreton. Alistair and wife Marie live in West Hallam with their three children: Lauren, 20, and twin sons Luke and Daniel, 17.

Gareth lives in Newton with Katie and they have three children: Zac, nine, Lemmie, eight, and Grace, six.