Look, A Bunch Of Fives! Family's Generations Of Women Meet For First Time

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Feb 20, 2009

Byline: By JOANNE BUTCHER

THEY may be related s and live just doors f apart, but this is the g. first time these five j? generations of women have all been g in the same place at the same time.

It took a very special lady to bring the female contingent of this close clan to together for the very first time.

But having all her family around her was the perfect 60th birthday present for great-grandmother Vicky pounds Straughan.

From the ripe old age of 85 right down to just one-month-old, the whole family gathered to help her celebrate six decades of life yesterday.

Vicky, from Bensham, Gateshead, celebrated the her big day with daughters Mandy Gray, 40, Gillian Murray, 29, and Jodie Straughan, 24.

Grandchildren Ryan Laidler, 19, Tori Murray, 8, Jordan Murray, 9 and Alese Morris, 3, also joined the party Ryan and his girlfriend Siobhan French, 19, brought along the newest addition to the family - little Ellie Mae, who was born on January 18.

And head of the family, great-great-grandmother Doreen Harrison, 85, was there to make sure everything went smoothly.

The close-knit clan, who all live in the Bensham area, grouped together at Doreen's house to surprise Vicky on her milestone birthday.

They celebrated with a meal in Newcastle, enjoying some of Vicky's favourite food - Chinese.

Mandy said: "We are a very close family - my mother and my grandmother live four doors apart on the same street - and the rest of us all live nearby.

"But there are so many of us that it is difficult to gather everyone together in one room at the same time.

"I don't know of many other people who can gather five generations together."

The new grandmother added: "Since Ellie Mae was born, we have been saying how lovely it would be to get all the generations in the same place at once, before it is too late.

"It was what my mam really wanted for her birthday."

Meet the family

Great-great-grandmother Doreen Harrison, 85.

Great-grandmother Vicky Straughan, 60.

Mandy Gray, 40, mum of Ryan Laidler, 19, and Tori Murray, eight; Gillian Murray, 29, mum of Jordan Murray, nine; and Jodie Straughan, 24, mum of Alese Morris, three.

Ryan Laidler and girlfriend Siobhan French, 19, parents of Ellie Mae Laidler, one month.

CAPTION(S):

CELEBRATION: Vicky with a photo of herself as a young girl; HAPPY FAMILY: From left, Mandy Gray, Tori Murray, Ryan Laidler with his daughter Ellie-Mae, birthday girl Vicky Straughan with Alese Morris, Doreen Harrison, Jordin Murray, Gillian Murray and Jodie Staughan; below, great-great-grandma Doreen with the latest addition, Ellie-Mae PICTURES: TONY HALL www.chroniclelive.co.uk/buyaphoto ref: 01416738