FIVE generations of a family on Oxford’s Blackbird Leys estate celebrated the 50th birthday of twins, Sally Ann Bailey and her sister Clare, together.

From tiny tots to a beaming great-great grandmother, the Baileys gathered for the celebration.

David Bailey, a former joiner who moved from Blackbird Leys to Barton, was proud to see his mother Peggy Bailey, 97, five daughters, 17 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren all attend the party at Blackbird Leys Bowls Club in Cuddesdon Way on Saturday night.

The brood is set to grow even more this year with the addition of two new great-grandchildren.

Mr Bailey, 74, said: “We are a close family and I couldn’t wait to see everyone at the party.”

He met his former wife Diane, who was at the party, while they were working for Minty Furniture Company in Oxford.

He said: “I moved to Blackbird Leys when I first met my wife. She got a job at Minty’s and we got married. She lived in Rose Hill at the time. We were allocated a council house in Blackbird Leys in 1965.”

Oxford Mail:

  • The extended family at the party

David married Diane at Iffley Church on March 23, 1963 and their twin daughters were born exactly a year later in 1964.

The couple went on to have three more daughters, Helen Bailey, 44, Nicola Karen Bockett, 42 and Katie Crooks, 41.

All of Mr Bailey’s daughters still live in Blackbird Leys, and he said: “I’ve found nothing wrong at all here.

“All of my daughters love living there – there is a lot going on.

“When we moved in, it was a new estate so it was nice.”

Oxford Mail:

  • Clare

Surrounded by girls, Mr Bailey has fond memories of them growing up in Blackbird Leys.

He said: “I’m very proud of them all.”

Mr Bailey has two brothers, Tony, 71, and Norman, 69, and a sister Muriel Quarterman, 65.

Oxford Mail:

  • Sally Ann Bailey

Birthday girl Sally Bailey, who works as a chef at Linacre College, Oxford, was thrilled with the event.

She said: “The party was absolutely fantastic and it was nice to see people that we haven’t seen in a long time.

She said she had fond memories of growing up on Field Avenue: “We all still live in Blackbird Leys. If you go away from the area, you always want to come back.

“I moved away for about a year and I just had to come back.

“It is a great community and we haven’t had any problems here.”