A LOVING husband and wife who were born on the same day have been celebrating their 85th birthdays.

Both Pat and Mike Olive from Basingstoke, who have been married for 64 years, were born on the same day on January 15, 1937.

And it is not just the birthdays that this wonderful couple shares.

One of Pat’s first names is Olive, which also became her last name after marrying Mike.

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The coincidences don’t end here. Both Pat and Mike’s mum had the same maiden name – Watson.

“So, my father and I both married a Watson,” Mike said, as he explained why he and Pat were meant for each other.

He grew up in Hanworth in Middlesex, while Pat’s family was evacuated to Awbridge in Hampshire during the war.

After several moves after the war, the two families finished up in Portsmouth.

Both Pat and Mike were pupils at Portsmouth Northern Grammar School when they met at a gathering, and they instantly fell in love.

“Pat was the Akela at age 16, of the 49th Portsmouth H.M.S. Bellerophon’s Own Reserve Fleet Wolf Cub Pack and I helped her after we met,” Mike said.

He added that the Queen has also made a cameo role in their sweet love story.

“Prior to our marriage, my future mother-in-law didn’t allow me into her house. I was standing on the pavement in Northern Parade, Portsmouth in early 1957, waiting for her, when a large black limousine came from Twyford Avenue and stopped alongside of me.

“To my great surprise and thrill, inside were Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and Her Mother! We exchanged smiles and waves after I did the expected bow and the car drove away. There was no one else around and no escort, which surprised me.”

The duo got married on December 7, 1957, in Portsmouth. They had four children – two were born in Portsmouth and two in the United States, where they lived from 1963 to 1970 when Mike was working for NASA.

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They have six grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and are expecting their third great-great-grandchild in April.

After they returned from America, the family finished up in Basingstoke. Pat took up the job of child care officer, while Mike worked for Vicker’s Medical before getting a Bed degree. He completed his career as a male nurse after training as an SRN student at Basingstoke Hospital.

Pat and Mike are planning to have a celebrating lunch at the Harvester today (Saturday, January 14) with their children and partners.

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