Other staff members said that they would communicate between each other using eye movements when other people were present. While staff members have said that they could sense the relationship was “controlling” or “possessive”, they often could not decipher which twin held the power. They even stopped speaking to their parents and only occasionally wrote to their younger sister Rose. Their behaviour showed no sign of changing as they reached adolescence and, after being reunited, they retreated further into themselves. When it was clear that they were worse off separated, they were finally reunited at Eastgate and were shipped between various institutions. June was reported to have stopped moving altogether, lying in bed uncommunicative for weeks on end, unable to function without her twin at her side. SeparationĮventually, it was decided that the girls would be better off separated with the hope that it would allow them to develop as individuals- which only made matters worse and highlighted the extent of their dependency. Ann reported that the thoughts crossed her mind that June was possessed by her twin. This presented an unusual dynamic between the girls where Ann had the sense that June wished to speak out freely but was compelled not to by Jennifer. The girls consented to Treharne recording their dialogue while they were left alone together. However, in February of 1977, a speech therapist named Ann Treharne was able to gain an insight into their world for the first time. The girls were referred to countless child psychologists but no one was able to break their mysterious silence.Īfter visiting the specialists, the girls were transferred to the Eastgate Centre for Special Education - but the new school made little difference and they remained silent during therapy sessions. Natasha Gordon (Jennifer) and Demi Oyediran (June) playing the sisters in a 2011 play called Speechlessĭespite their strange habits, it wasn’t until a medic named John Rees visited the school in 1974 that anyone seemed interested in addressing the problems behind their behaviour.Īdministering a TB vaccination, he reported the girls to be unusually non-reactive, going so far as to describe their behaviour as “doll-like”. They also developed other peculiarities such as mirroring each other’s behaviour. Such struggles only deepened their dependency on each other and, in rebellion, they refused to read or write. However, this proved to be no respite and the bullying continued. However, it wasn’t only their speech difficulties that drew attention, but as the only black children in their primary school they were the target of relentless harassment.īy 1974, when the twins were 11, the family moved once again to Pembrokeshire for Aubrey's job. School proved to create further difficulties for the twins who were bullied for their odd behaviour. This dynamic deepened as a private language cemented their inseparable bond.īelieved to be a sped-up version of Bajan Creole, not even their close family or friends could make sense of the intelligible dialect.

While their early months passed happily enough, the new parents developed concerns when the girls failed to meet the language milestones expected at their age.Īs time went on, they communicated freely with each other, and their dolls, but would refuse to speak to outsiders. Shortly after they were born, the family moved to the RAF base in Linton, Yorkshire, where the girls were raised. June and Jennifer were born in a military hospital in Yemen in 1963 to parents Aubrey and Gloria, who were originally from Barbados.

Lgoin the silent age