THE world’s oldest quads are all smiles as they toast their 80th birthday.

    Ann Browning and brothers Ernest, Paul and Michael Miles set records from the start.

    They were the first British quadruplets to survive and have now overtaken the German Ottmans, the oldest quadruplets until one died aged 79. Their birthday Saturday was followed by a public appearance Sunday at St. Neots Museum in Cambridgeshire, Britain, just a few minutes’ walk from where they were born.

    The foursome became famous the moment they arrived, seven weeks premature, on Nov. 28, 1935.

    Pregnancy scans were yet to be invented and doctors confidently told parents Walter and Doris to expect triplets.

    Hardy Doris gave birth at home with almost no pain relief, and kept her energy up by drinking a cup of tea between each delivery.

    Ann was delivered first, Ernest followed, then Paul and finally Michael. The family was mailed a £4 (US$6) note from King George V.

    Cow & Gate became sponsors and daily supplies of breast milk were ferried hundreds of miles to their home in St. Neots, Cambs.

    To make ends meet, lorry driver Walter and Doris charged the curious a shilling to peer into their nursery.

    They did not initially choose names, referring to their little wonders as 1, 2, 3 and 4.

    Walter and Doris, who already had son Gordon, signed lucrative deals which allowed them to move from their council home.

    Ann recalled, “I was boss as I was eldest. The boys still call me ‘the boss’ now.

    “Our birthday parties were huge — with 20 or 30 kids.

    “I’ve great memories of growing up but we just wanted to be the same as our friends.”

    Ann explained, “We all left home within six months and that was a shock to my mum. But she felt we ought to have our own way of life.”

    School assistant Ann stayed the closest to St. Neots and had three children with husband Bob Browning.

    The boys served in the Army and the RAF before going their own ways.

    Dad-of-five Ernest settled in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

    Dad-of-three Paul stayed in Cambridgeshire and dad-of-two Michael settled in South Africa.

    Ann said, “I’m very proud we have reached 80.”

    Ernest added, “We are very close and in contact at least once a week. We’ll try to reach 90.”

    Michael added, “The last time we were all together was 12 years ago. But we’ve a special bond.”

    They have 13 children, 23 grandchildren, and three great-grandkids.(SD-Agencies)