For 29 years June and Jennifer Gibbons only spoke to each other, but their closeness would ultimately be their downfall
Two sisters from the UK, June and Jennifer Gibbons, became famously known as the ‘silent twins’ after making a chilling pact that would shape their lives in a dramatic and tragic way.
For an astonishing 29 years, June and Jennifer only spoke to each other.
They had speech impediments that made it difficult for their family to understand them, so they eventually gave up trying to communicate with anyone else outside their unique bond.
These twins were more than just close; they were inseparable.
They developed their own fast-paced version of Bajan Creole, a language native to Barbados, the country their parents were from before they moved to England and later settled in Wales.
Their closeness, however, became their undoing.
June and Jennifer Gibbons in elementary schoolFamily handout
June and Jennifer embarked on a series of criminal activities together, ranging from vandalism and theft to the more serious crime of arson.
The UK judicial system deemed their actions serious enough to warrant sending them to Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security mental health institute, at the young age of just 19.
Life at Broadmoor was challenging for the twins.
After spending 11 years there, it was decided that they would be transferred to another facility.
However, during the transfer process, unexpected complications arose. Jennifer suddenly became unresponsive and tragically died due to inflammation of the heart.
This tragic event occurred in 1993 and marked a turning point in June’s life.
Strangely, following her sister’s death, June began to speak again, a behavior she has continued ever since.
For the past 31 years, June has navigated the world alone, except for the support of Marjorie Wallace, an investigative journalist who dedicated years to understanding the twins.
Marjorie’s deep connection with the twins began five years into their time at Broadmoor when she published a book titled “The Silent Twins”.
June and Jennifer Gibbons refused to speak to their parents, siblings or anyone in authorityCredit: BBC
This book delved into the complex and tragic lives of June and Jennifer and was later adapted into a screenplay for a 2022 thriller/drama film called “The Silent Twins“, starring Letitia Wright.
Marjorie Wallace offered significant insights into the lives of the twins, revealing her belief that they had made a pact.
She explained, “The real story came from their diaries, 3,000 words a day each about each other and their love-hate relationship.”
“Through reading their diaries, I got to know the story of their pact and what was, finally, the tragedy of their lives.”
Marjorie believes that the twins felt one of them had to die for the other to live a normal life.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, she said, “One of the girls had to die, to sacrifice themselves so the other would be truly liberated, and they decided it would be Jennifer.”
According to Marjorie, June was caught between the extremes of grief and liberation.
“They could not have gone on together. She accepts that with a wonderful sense of resolution, and I find June to be the most wonderful, comforting friend,” she said.
Marjorie continued, “I have never really left the story, because I met June and Jennifer when they were 18 years old and have remained with them ever since.”
A still from the movie “The Silent Twins”Prime Video
“In a way, their story has been my story, we have had our lives intertwined for 40 years.”
Marjorie’s relationship with the twins brought her both joy and sadness.
“There were times when the visits were quite sad, but most of the time they were really enjoyable because the twins, despite all their complexities, had the most wonderful sense of humour. Still today, June has this infectious laugh.”
