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Time to celebrate leap year date

Gemma Rathbone
27/ 2/2008

A QUIRK in the calendar means a High Lane mum will be the same age as her daughter this year.

Both Heather and Kayleigh Illingworth are celebrating their 11th birthdays this year, despite being born 33 years apart.

The unusual double celebration has occurred because Heather was born on February 29, 1964, making this Friday only the 11th time she has been able to mark her official birthday.

She will actually be 44-years-old and in three out of every four years celebrates her birthday a day early on February 28.

"It’s quite nice being able to say I’m only 11. Nicer than saying I'm 44!" Heather said.

"Being born on February 29 is a good excuse to get my cards and presents a day early!

"When I was 12 I was really only having my third birthday, so all my friends bought me cards, balloons and badges saying I was three! I thought that was great."

Over the years Heather’s birthday has thrown up the occasional problem - many computerised systems won’t accept her date of birth - but she always makes sure she has a proper celebration, even if it is an unofficial birthday.

"It can cause problems with applications for things - computer systems won’t accept my birthday.

"I had difficulty getting travel insurance once, but it’s not happened for a while - they seem to have got round it now." Heather will be older than Kayleigh until she turns 11 in November. But next year, when Kayleigh celebrates her 12th birthday, Heather will only be 11 and a quarter.

"Kayleigh is finding the whole thing quite funny. I will be wearing my 11 badges with pride!"

Another landmark birthday was Heather's 40th in 2004, when she celebrated only her 10th official date of birth with a big party.

Heather, and husband Barry, are marking her birthday this year by going out for a meal with their friends.