We used to be dressed the same and we are not twins

I’m guessing I was about 10 when this photo was taken – around the mid-1970s. I’m with my sister and you can probably pick the non family member – she was a family friend and I am envious of the pink trousers.

Notice how myself and my sister are dressed the same? This used to drive me insane when I was younger.

Mum used to do a lot of sewing and I guess once you’ve churned out one particular pattern it’s so much easier to make another one the same, even if it is a different size.

We would go to the pub or the football club for dinner fairly regularly and I would get dressed for the occasion and then my sister, usually the one next down from me (I have two sisters) would put on her similar outfit.

I would then have to change mine which usually meant wearing something that I didn’t really want to wear.

When this photo was taken I hadn’t yet realised that I wanted to look a bit different to my siblings but I remember when I was an adolescent I know I didn’t want to be dressed the same as my sisters. I know they say that when someone copies you it’s a form of flattery but for me it was just damned annoying.