NEWS: Four in 25,000

By Mark McLaughlin
Edinburgh Evening News
March 6, 2008

THE odds of having twins are generally quoted to be about 33-1.

But the chances of a twin having twins of his own, with both generations born on the same date, are mind-boggling.

Nevertheless, that is exactly what happened to Edinburgh-born twins Graham and Stephen Porteous. The brothers celebrate their 35th birthday today, alongside Graham's own twins Scott and Kara, who turn one.

For the record, bookmaker William Hill calculated the odds of a twin having twins on their own birthday as 25,000-1.

The babies come from a long line of multiple births, with their grandfather the surviving brother of stillborn triplets.

Graham said: "When my wife Karyn was pregnant, Stephen and I used to joke that it would be funny if she had them on our birthday.

"Her due date was around March 12, but because she was having twins we didn't even expect her to make it to the sixth because twins normally arrive early, but sure enough out they came just in time for our 34th birthday."

Graham, Stephen and older brother Michael, 35, spent their early years at Watson Crescent, just off Fountainbridge, but when they were toddlers the family moved to Australia.

However, in 1996 the brothers all decided to move back to Scotland together and now live in Musselburgh. With the exception of furniture salesman Stephen, they all work for the family gifts, jewellery and picture-framing business.

Stephen said: "I think Scott and Kara have got a lot to look forward to. It's great being a twin because you've got friend for life.

"It eases the pain of the hard times that most kids go through on their own, such as the first day at school. When we went to school we always knew that we'd have our best mate close by."

The elder twins have stayed close throughout their lives.

When Graham and Karyn got married, Stephen was joint best man with Michael, and they've always tried to celebrate their birthdays together.

Graham said: "It's really difficult being apart from Stephen. I went back to Australia for a year and we missed celebrating our 30th birthday together, which was really strange. We definitely won't be doing that again, and now that I've got the twins it's made our birthday extra special."

When they were growing up their dad William, now 57, enrolled the three brothers in a local rugby team.

Graham has already been giving Scott and Kara some early training, and one of their favourite pastimes is knocking their own mini rugby ball around the living room floor.