Bexhill family celebrates arrival of fifth generation

A CLOSE-KNIT Bexhill family held a champagne party to celebrate the arrival of a special fifth generation addition to their family, Millie Charlotte Gurr, and to welcome her into their fold.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Apr 2009, 14:40 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:14 BST

Millie was born on at the Conquest hospital on 7th April, weighing in at 6lb 2oz, and proud great grandmother Vee Beal, along with husband John, said the family decided to throw a party as, apart from their delight at Millies birth, not many people could boast five generations of living relatives.

Vee said: " Millie is absolutely gorgeous; families with five generations aren't that common, and we think we're privileged to have survived."

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The first generation of the family began back in 1936 with a Boxing Day wedding held at Heathfield's old church, between Leslie John Beal and Lillian Mary Baker.

Leslie worked as a motor mechanic and Lillian, along with identical twin Elsie, known as the 'Baker Twins', played both Stoolball for Sussex, and cricket for the Sussex ladies team.

Leslie and Lillian had three boys, John, Clive and Leslie.

In 1962 John married Vee (so named as she was born on VE day) and they had daughter Jackie and son Anthony.

Jackie married Martin Gurr in 1982 at St Lawrence's church, Catsfield, and they subsequently had three children, Nicholas, Lucie and Russell.

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In June 2008 Nicholas married Teresa Lake at the same church that mum and dad married at twenty six years earlier, and they are now the proud parents of new arrival Millie.

Keeping up the family tradition that Lillian and Aunt Elsie started back in the thirties, John, Martin and Nicholas have all played cricket for Catsfield.

Vee said the entire family have always lived within fifteen miles of Bexhill and although Lillian sadly died in 1994, Millie's great, great granddad is still going strong living at his home in Collington, and in July the family have another celebration to look forward to.

She said: "Dad will be 96 in July '“ it's amazing to think there is nearly 96 years between the five generations."

She added: "We're all very proud; we are a close family and we see a lot of each other, the party was a lovely day for us all to be together and to welcome Millie '“ our family are our life."

Related topics:Bexhill