Two 24-year-olds who grew up together are celebrating their ‘sixth’ birthdays with a special leap year party.
Lifelong pals, Cara Fowles and Siobhan McMillan, were both born on February 29, 1996.
Today is only the sixth time the friends from Kilbarchan have celebrated on their actual birthday.
Cara, who has recently graduated in design for textiles from Heriot Watt University and Siobhan, who is studying data analytics at the University of Strathclyde decided a visit to Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow would be the perfect way to celebrate their big day.
Cara said: “Sharing such an unusual birthday with someone who lived just down the road didn’t seem so special when we were kids.
“But now we realise just how unusual and special it actually is.”
Siobhan added: “We’ve both got siblings who celebrate their birthdays on the same day every year but we couldn’t, so each leap year is extra special for us. The fact that, in birthday terms, we’re officially only six is pretty funny.”
The two girls were born at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, in Paisley, and started at Kilbarchan Primary on the same day before moving up to Johnstone High in later years.
jCara said they fancied a trip down memory lane to mark the special birthday.
She added: “When we were growing up we always loved a shopping trip to Glasgow and Buchanan Galleries was always a must-visit when we got into the city centre.
“It’s great to be spending time here again.”
Kathy Murdoch, centre manager at Buchanan Galleries, was delighted to have the girls along to mark turning six.
She said: “What an amazing coincidence that two pals who have grown up together share such an unusual birthday.
“When we heard Cara and Siobhan were both regular shoppers at Buchanan Galleries and were planning to pop in, we decided it was the perfect opportunity to give them a birthday treat.”
