Rutland midwife and Wheatsheaf in Langham landlady celebrates her leap year birthday and wedding anniversary

Being a leap year baby never felt like something to celebrate when Marva Kilby was a child – but that didn’t stop her from growing up to become a leap year bride.

Born in Birmingham on February 29, 1972, Marva always wanted to celebrate her birthday on the 28th so it was at least in the right month. Her mum had other ideas though.

“She always said to me that because I wasn’t here on the 28th, we had to celebrate a day later instead,” said Marva. “It sometimes felt like I didn’t really have a proper birthday.”

Every four years Marva was able to celebrate on the correct day and this year she turns 13. There is an upside to being a 52-year-old teenager though – the ability to celebrate with a luxury spa day and dinner.

Marva met her husband Mike in Birmingham and when it came to planning their wedding day, there was no question about the date. They married in Reading on February 29, 1996.

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Traditionally the couple should be celebrating their 28 years of marriage with orchids. Under the law of the leap year, it’s copper.

Marva said: “I’m a bit quirky and when it came to picking a date, I thought the 29th would be unique. Plus I only have to celebrate every four years!”

Marva and Mike run the Wheatsheaf pub together in Langham while Marva also works as a midwife at Peterborough City Hospital. She has never delivered a leap year baby but one of her close friends has leap year twins.

She added: “When I was younger I enjoyed celebrating other people’s birthdays more than my own, but I’m embracing it more now I’m older.”