A CHESTER family had a double cause for celebration as they welcomed the arrival of a fifth generation.

Lilly Griffiths, 91, of Chevron Close, Blacon, Chester, became the proud great-great-grandmother of her first great-great-grandchild, Sienna Marina Griffiths, in November.

Lilly was born Lilly Lavender in Crook Street, Chester, in 1916. She married her late husband Jim Chadwick in September 1937 and had four children.

Her eldest child, Elsie, was born in 1938.

Now 69, Elsie, also of Chevron Close, married twice and had five children, two of whom were adopted.

Her youngest son, Andrew, 41, of Hillside Road, Blacon, has two children and three stepchildren and is married to Maxine.

His eldest son, Scott, 19, and his girlfriend Gemma Roberts, 20, are Sienna’s parents.

Scott works as a sales assistant at City Gate Menswear, Bridge Street, Chester, and Gemma has been studying textiles at Birmingham University.

Sienna was born unexpectedly on November 17 when Scott and Gemma were eating out at a Chinese restaurant – and Gemma went into labour.

Gemma is still living with her parents in Lache until she and Scott set up home together.

Lilly has since welcomed the arrival of another great-great-granddaughter and now has:

Four children,

14 grandchildren,

26 great-grandchildren,

Two great-great-grandchildren.

Her family is made even larger because of adopted children and stepchildren.

Some of the family live abroad including nieces, nephews and grandchildren in South Africa and France.

Lilly leads a very active life and enjoys travelling, most recently to Benidorm in November.

She enjoys playing bingo and is well known to members of Mecca Bingo, where she goes up to three times a week.

She won £670 before Christmas, which came in handy for all the presents.

Lilly’s daughter and Sienna’s great-grandmother Elsie said: “Christmas is a very expensive affair in our family as you can imagine.

“We have at least one or two birthdays every month too – and five in April!

“But we love every one of them and wouldn’t have it any other way.”