Twin sisters separated after seeing each other daily for 90 years reunite in care home

Twin sisters, who were separated after seeing each other every day for 90 years, have been reunited at a Northwich care home and are now determined they will never be “separated again”.

Twins Winifred “Winnie” Chirnside and Margaret McHugh who were born 18 December 1931 in Salford spent their whole lives together every day for over 90 years but found themselves in different care homes after Winnie was diagnosed with dementia in 2021 and Margaret in 2022.

Then in April 2022, Winnie was moved to Acorn Meadow Care Home where she started to miss her sister Margaret and this heartbreak did not stop when Winnie’s daughter took her to see Margaret in her care home in Salford every week.

Steve McCarthy, Acorn Meadow home manager said: “Winnie used to come back heartbroken that she couldn’t be with Margaret.”

Both their families approached Acorn Meadow and asked if there was anything that could be done to bring the twins back together.

Staff at Acorn Meadow then set their sights on reuniting the twins for good and started the process of contacting social workers.

Mr McCarthy said: “It was such a long process because of the paperwork and contracts having to be sorted.

“When we went to see Margaret for an assessment at her care home, we saw that she was grief stricken and had anxiety.

“That was when we decided to move her quickly to Acorn Meadow.”

Margaret arrived at the care home on 13 September.

Even after the twins left school, they both took a job in the same factory in Salford and when the factory closed, they both carried on the trade at home.

“We are delighted that they are finally reunited,” says Mr McCarthy. “Throughout their lives, they have done everything together”.

The siblings have rooms next to each other and can see each other as often as they want.

Winnie said: "We will not be separated again."

Margaret added: "Oh, it’s just the best!"

All the staff at the home were over the moon to see the sisters reunited and the family is equally pleased.

Margaret’s daughter said she was so “happy to see her mum so settled.”

Winnie’s daughter Angela Riding, who lives in Weaverham, said: “We are so grateful for the lengths you have gone to in bringing Winnie and Margaret back together and we can’t thank them enough!”

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