This is the heart-warming moment a pair of previously inseparable twins were able to share a warm hug for the first time in over a year.
Minnie Walsh and Patrick Speed, 94, had spent their entire lives together until the pandemic struck.
The siblings said they were ‘always together’ and were left heartbroken when they realised they would no longer be able to share a cup of tea.
They were shielding in their own homes until Minnie moved into the Meaux unit at Saltshouse Haven care home in Hull, East Yorks., in March this year.
Patrick moved into a different unit at the care home a couple of months later, but sadly they were not able to see each other due to the risk of Covid infection.
But they were surprised by staff who organised for them to meet for the first time in over a year after they were both fully vaccinated.
Patrick, dressed smartly in a flat cap, shirt and jacket, can be seen welling up in the video as he walks towards Minnie who was waiting for him at a table outside.
In the emotional video, Patrick tells Minnie: “I haven’t seen you in ages,” and Minnie clutches his hand and replies “I know.”
Patrick said he wants to spend ‘every moment’ with his twin sister now they are together again.
Prior to the pandemic, the only time they had spent apart was when Patrick served in India during WWII.
He said: “It wasn’t very good at all. But it was one of those things that can happen in life. Like when I went to India.
“We spent a lot of our life together.
“We never expected anything like this to happen, but you have to accept it.
“It was so good to see Minnie. It made me so happy.
“We’re spending every moment together now, I make sure she’s got everything she needs.
“We were born together, we’re back together, and we’ll die together.
“We can’t be without each other. We’ve always been together.”
Patrick and Minnie both married but never had children, and said they lived close to each other their entire lives.
Widower Minnie, who is a couple minutes older, said she has always looked after her brother and fought his battles as he was ‘too skinny’. when they were children.
She recalled how they would hide together in the Anderson bomb shelters during the blitz in the second world war.
Minnie said: “It was very upsetting because we couldn’t see each other. It’s one of those things where you can’t do anything about it.
“I used to fight his battles, because he was too skinny. I’m a few minutes older than him so I have to take care of him.
“We’ve always been together.
“We used to hear the bombs banging, mum used to put us in the Anderson bomb shelter. We were always together.”
But she said that being reunited with her brother was ‘pure joy’.
She added: “I was upset because it had been such a long time, but I was elated and it made me so happy inside to see him.
“It was so lovely. It was pure joy.”
The siblings were brought up in Short Street, in Hull’s city centre, and have always lived just a few streets apart.
Both married and lived close together, and they even worked together at a paint manufacturers in Hull for over 40 years.
They described themselves as ‘ordinary working people’, and Minnie said she labelled the tins, while Patrick used to make the paint.
The pair are now looking forward to spending time together, and are hoping to enjoy a little tipple in the sunshine.
Mandy said she loves a glass of brandy, while Patrick enjoys a glass of crisp white wine.
Sarah Patrick, activities coordinator at the home, said: “It was the most emotional thing I’ve seen in a long time.
“There were three of us staff there and we were all crying. It was just a lovely moment full of joy and happiness.
Minnie and Patrick clasp hands after being reunited at the care home after a long period apart due to Covid
“Minnie and Patrick are very alike, both are very loving and caring and always look out for everybody else before themselves, and Patrick is always trying to help the staff, they’re both lovely.”
Liza Beukes, Managing Director of We Care Group said: “Minnie and Patrick’s reunion was a very emotional moment that has left all those watching with tears in their eyes.
“As soon as we learned that Minnie and Patrick were twins living in the same Home but separate units, we decided to move them together.
“A very much needed moment of joy after such a long and difficult year for our residents”
