What is June Gibbons doing today? This question continues to intrigue people worldwide as the story of the Silent Twins remains one of the most haunting psychological cases in modern history.
June Gibbons, now 62 years old in 2026, lives a quiet, private life in West Wales, far removed from the isolation and tragedy that defined her early years.
Born on April 11, 1963, June and her identical twin Jennifer became known as “The Silent Twins” for communicating only with each other.
After Jennifer’s mysterious death in 1993, June began speaking and gradually integrated into society, seeking normalcy after decades of confinement.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts About June Gibbons
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | June Alison Gibbons |
| Date of Birth | April 11, 1963 |
| Age in 2026 | 62 years old |
| Birthplace | Military Hospital, Aden, Yemen |
| Nationality | Welsh (British) |
| Ethnicity | Barbadian descent |
| Known As | One of “The Silent Twins” |
| Twin Sister | Jennifer Gibbons (deceased March 9, 1993) |
| Occupation | Writer, Outsider Artist |
| Famous Novel | The Pepsi-Cola Addict (1982) |
| Current Residence | West Wales, United Kingdom |
| Current Status | Living independently, no psychiatric care |
Who Is June Gibbons?
June Gibbons is a Welsh writer and one half of the infamous “Silent Twins.” She gained international attention for her extraordinary bond with her identical twin sister Jennifer.
Early Life and Background
June was born at a British Royal Air Force hospital in Aden, Yemen, just ten minutes before her twin. Her parents, Gloria and Aubrey Gibbons, were immigrants from Barbados who moved to the UK as part of the Windrush generation.
The family settled in Haverfordwest, Wales, in 1974. June and Jennifer were the only Black children in their predominantly white community, which contributed significantly to their isolation.
The Silent Twins Phenomenon
The twins developed a unique form of communication that others couldn’t understand. Initially thought to be a secret twin language (cryptophasia), June later clarified it was fast-spoken Bajan Creole combined with a severe speech impediment.
Their parents and teachers struggled to comprehend their words. Eventually, the twins stopped communicating with anyone except each other and occasionally their younger sister Rose.
June Gibbons’ Childhood and Education
School Years and Bullying
The twins faced relentless bullying at school. They were targeted for both their race and their unusual behavior, including synchronized movements and selective mutism.
School administrators eventually allowed them to leave early each day to avoid harassment. This well-intentioned measure further isolated them from their peers.
Creative World Behind Closed Doors
Despite their silence in public, June and Jennifer created an incredibly rich imaginative world. They wrote elaborate stories, performed plays with handmade dolls, and even ran a radio show called “Radio Gibbons.”
In 1979, inspired by Christmas gift diaries, they began writing seriously. They completed a mail-order creative writing course and produced numerous novels, short stories, and poems.
The Writing Career of June Gibbons
The Pepsi-Cola Addict
June’s most famous work is “The Pepsi-Cola Addict,” published in 1982. The novel tells the dark story of a high school student seduced by his teacher and later sent to a reformatory.
The twins pooled their unemployment benefits (£700) to publish the book through a vanity press. For decades, it remained one of the rarest books, found in only 89 libraries worldwide.
Modern Republication
In October 2022, “The Pepsi-Cola Addict” was republished by Cashen’s Gap as a limited edition. Strange Attractor Press released a paperback version in May 2023, making it accessible to new audiences.
June is recognized as an “outsider writer” – someone who creates unique art outside traditional literary conventions. Publishers have plans to release more works by both June and Jennifer.
The Crime Spree and Broadmoor Hospital
Teenage Rebellion Turned Criminal
In their late teens, the twins experimented with drugs and alcohol. They became fixated on two American brothers living nearby, which marked their first significant social interaction outside their family.
In 1981, during a five-week period, June and Jennifer committed arson, vandalism, and petty theft. They caused hundreds of thousands of pounds in damage to buildings around Haverfordwest.
Indefinite Detention at Broadmoor
At age 19, they became the youngest women ever sent to Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security psychiatric facility. They were sentenced to indefinite detention under the Mental Health Act 1983.
They spent eleven years at Broadmoor, alongside some of Britain’s most dangerous criminals, including the Yorkshire Ripper and Ronnie Kray. June later described it as “twelve years of hell.”
The twins were placed on high doses of antipsychotic medications, which severely impaired their concentration. Jennifer developed tardive dyskinesia, a neurological disorder causing involuntary movements.
Jennifer’s Mysterious Death
The Pact Between Sisters
According to journalist Marjorie Wallace, who befriended the twins, they believed one of them had to die for the other to live normally. After years of discussion, Jennifer agreed to make the sacrifice.
The Tragic Day
On March 9, 1993, the twins were transferred from Broadmoor to Caswell Clinic in Bridgend, Wales. Jennifer had been acting strangely the day before, telling people she was going to die.
During the transfer, Jennifer fell into a deep sleep in June’s lap, with her eyes open. Upon arrival at Caswell, she couldn’t be roused.
Jennifer died at the hospital shortly after from acute myocarditis – sudden inflammation of the heart. Medical examinations found no drugs, poison, or prior heart condition. Her death remains unexplained.
What Is June Gibbons Doing Today in 2026?
Life After Jennifer’s Death
Immediately after Jennifer’s death, June told Marjorie Wallace: “I’m free at last, liberated, and at last Jennifer has given up her life for me.” The change was instantaneous.
June began speaking to others as if she had been doing so her entire life. The selective mutism that defined her for three decades vanished overnight.
Current Living Situation
As of 2026, June Gibbons is 62 years old and lives independently near her parents in West Wales. She is no longer under psychiatric care or monitoring.
By 2008, she had fully integrated into her local community. She lives a quiet, private life and has actively sought to put her traumatic past behind her.
Recent Public Appearances
June largely avoided the spotlight for 30 years after her release. However, in 2023, she participated in the BBC podcast “June: Voice of a Silent Twin,” telling her story in her own words for the first time.
She also maintains an official Instagram account (@june.alison.gibbons) managed by friends David Tibet of Current 93 and Ania Goszczynska, with her approval. The account shares her artwork and writing.
Relationship with Family
June’s sister Greta revealed in 2016 that the family remains deeply affected by what happened to the twins. Greta blamed Broadmoor for ruining their lives and neglecting Jennifer’s health.
Their parents, Aubrey and Gloria, decided not to pursue legal action against Broadmoor, believing it wouldn’t bring Jennifer back. June visits Jennifer’s grave regularly, which features a poem she wrote.
The Silent Twins in Popular Culture
Books and Documentaries
Marjorie Wallace’s 1986 book “The Silent Twins” brought their story to international attention. Multiple documentaries have explored their lives, including “Silent Twin – Without My Shadow” (BBC, 1994).
The 2022 Film
“The Silent Twins,” directed by Agnieszka Smoczyńska and starring Letitia Wright (June) and Tamara Lawrence (Jennifer), premiered in 2022. The film uses animation and fantasy sequences to portray their creative inner world.
Wright and Lawrence won the BIFA award for Best Joint Lead Performance for their powerful portrayals of the twins.
BBC Podcast Series
The 2023 BBC Radio Wales podcast “June: Voice of a Silent Twin” features June’s first-hand account. It provides unprecedented insight into her perspective on childhood, Broadmoor, and life after Jennifer’s death.
June Gibbons’ Age and Personal Life
How Old Is June Gibbons in 2026?
June Gibbons was born on April 11, 1963, making her 62 years old in 2026. She has now lived longer without Jennifer (33 years) than she lived with her (29 years).
Relationship Status
June has maintained her privacy regarding romantic relationships. Public records indicate she is single and has no children.
She appears to have chosen solitude over intimate relationships, perhaps as a lasting effect of her intense twin bond or her years of institutionalization.
Daily Life and Interests
June lives independently in an apartment in West Wales. She is described by those who have met her as a normal woman living a quiet life.
She continues to write and create art, though she rarely publishes. Her artistic output remains an important part of her identity as an outsider artist.
Visits to Jennifer’s Grave
June regularly visits her sister’s grave at St Martin’s Cemetery in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. The gravestone bears a touching poem June wrote:
“We once were two
We two made one
We no more two
Through life be one
Rest in peace.”
The Psychological Mystery of the Silent Twins
Was It a Secret Language?
For decades, experts believed June and Jennifer spoke a twin language (cryptophasia). However, June clarified in 2023 that they were speaking English.
Their severe speech impediment, combined with fast-paced Bajan Creole slang, made their words unintelligible to others. Even their parents couldn’t understand them, requiring the twins to point at objects they wanted.
The Phenomenon of Selective Mutism
The twins exhibited selective mutism – they could speak but chose not to in specific situations. This was likely triggered by bullying, racial isolation, and speech difficulties.
Their mirrored movements, refusing to read or write at school, and complete withdrawal from social interaction puzzled psychologists and educators.
The Twin Bond That Became Toxic
June and Jennifer’s relationship evolved from loving companionship to something darker. Their diaries reveal intense love mixed with hatred.
Jennifer wrote: “We have become fatal enemies in each other’s eyes. I say to myself, can I get rid of my own shadow?” June wrote: “She wants us to be equal. There is a murderous gleam in her eye… She is not normal.”
This toxic codependency made normal life impossible. They couldn’t live together or apart without extreme psychological distress.
Lessons from June Gibbons’ Story
The Impact of Racism and Bullying
The twins’ isolation began with racism. Being the only Black children in their Welsh community made them targets.
The education system’s failure to protect them from bullying and their decision to send them home early only deepened their withdrawal from society.
Mental Health System Failures
Sending two teenage girls to a maximum-security psychiatric hospital for eleven years over petty crimes highlights systemic failures.
June herself stated: “Juvenile delinquents get two years in prison. We got twelve years of hell because we didn’t speak. We lost hope.”
The heavy medication regimen and lack of appropriate therapeutic intervention likely worsened their condition rather than helping them integrate into society.
The Power of Creative Expression
Despite their trauma, both twins were incredibly creative. Their writing, plays, and storytelling provided them with emotional outlets and a sense of purpose.
June’s continued artistic work shows how creativity can be a tool for survival and healing, even in the most difficult circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is June Gibbons doing today?
June Gibbons lives independently in West Wales, near her parents. She is no longer under psychiatric care and leads a quiet, private life focused on her art and writing.
How old is June Gibbons in 2026?
June Gibbons is 62 years old in 2026, having been born on April 11, 1963. She shares the same birthday as her deceased twin sister Jennifer.
Did June Gibbons ever marry or have children?
There is no public information indicating June has married or had children. She appears to have chosen to live a solitary, private life.
Why did June and Jennifer only speak to each other?
The twins had a severe speech impediment that made their fast-spoken Bajan Creole unintelligible to others. Combined with bullying and racial isolation, they stopped trying to communicate with outsiders.
How did Jennifer Gibbons die?
Jennifer died on March 9, 1993, from acute myocarditis (sudden heart inflammation). No drugs, poison, or underlying condition were found. The death remains medically unexplained.
Is June Gibbons still writing?
While June continues to write and create art privately, she rarely publishes. Her famous novel “The Pepsi-Cola Addict” was republished in 2022 and 2023.
Where does June Gibbons live now?
June lives in West Wales, United Kingdom, near where her parents reside. She maintains privacy about her exact location.
Did the twins really have a secret language?
No. June clarified in 2023 that they spoke English with a severe speech impediment and Bajan Creole slang, which sounded like a secret language to listeners.
Why were June and Jennifer sent to Broadmoor?
After committing arson, vandalism, and theft in 1981, they were assessed by psychiatrists and deemed a danger. They were sent to Broadmoor for indefinite detention at age 19.
Has June Gibbons spoken publicly about her experiences?
After 30 years of silence, June participated in the 2023 BBC podcast “June: Voice of a Silent Twin,” sharing her story in her own words for the first time.
Conclusion
What is June Gibbons doing today? The answer reveals a remarkable story of survival and transformation. At 62 years old in 2026, June has built a peaceful, independent life in West Wales, far from the isolation and confinement that defined her youth.
After Jennifer’s mysterious death in 1993 freed her from their toxic bond, June began speaking and gradually integrated into society. She no longer requires psychiatric care and has been accepted by her community.
Though she maintains a low profile, June’s participation in the 2023 BBC podcast shows her willingness to reclaim her narrative after decades of being defined by others.
Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the devastating effects of racism, bullying, and systemic failures in mental health care.