UK's oldest mum to quads waves foursome off to school after escaping Travelodge

06 September 2023 , 10:33

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Quads heading for first day at school (Image: Spartacus / SplashNews.com)

These four-year-old quads skipped into school on their first day - 23 years after their half-siblings.

As Britain’s oldest mum of quads waved off her brood, she said: “It’s 23 years since I last sent my kids off for their first day of school. It’s so strange. I’m doing it all over again."

Tracey Britten, 55, was just 50 years old when she became the UK's oldest mother of quadruplets, and made headlines again earlier this year when it was revealed that she and her family were homeless and living out of two rooms in a Travelodge through no fault of their own. Fortunately, the Mirror exclusively revealed in July that the Brittens have settled into a new home not far away from their previous address in North London.

Speaking about sending the four off to class for the first time, the mum said: “But they were all happy to go - not as happy as me though! It’s nice to have some time to yourself, especially after the washout summer we’ve had.” Francesca, Frederica and Grace were all thrilled to go into St Andrew’s primary in Enfield, north London, on Monday but George had some last-minute nerves until his sisters comforted him.

Tracy said: “It’s a brand new school for them. They’ve got classes together but in some they’ve been split into two different classes. But they’ve dealt with it well, they’re only apart for an hour and a half each day. They’re loving it, happy as Larry.” The former drugs counsellor, gave birth in October 2018 aged 50.

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Tracey, Stephen and the quads (Lancashire Post / SWNS)

Tracey who has three children, aged 27 and upwards, and eight grandchildren, and husband Stephen, 43, travelled to Cyprus to have £7,000 IVF treatment. Of the four embryos she had implanted, three survived and one split into two giving her twin girls. The quads started school part-time but will go full-time from September 15.

George got cold feet as they neared the gates, suddenly trying to hide from his siblings. But Tracey believes he will settle in and even predicts he will become an architect. She said: "George loves playing with Lego and he loves a marble run. He loves building things so I think he's going to be an architect. The girls like dressing up and playing, doing role plays."

Dan Warburton