IT IS rare to be able to boast you have sat with five generations of your family, but for these two families it is a regular occurrence.

The Pratt-Harrison- Simmonds family includes 94-year-old Edith Pratt, of Abingdon, her son Gordon Harrison, 64, from nearby Wootton, his daughter Tina Simmonds, 42, her 21-year-son Dean Simmonds, and the latest addition, six-month-old Ella-Mae.

The family meet up as often as they possibly can, with their next get-together planned for Mr Harrison’s 65th birthday, on June 13, although the details of what is being planned are being kept secret from Gordon.

Mr Harrison said: “I’m not sure what we’ll be doing as it’s a surprise but I imagine it will involve the whole family.

“She (Edith) is beside herself at being able to say she has five generations of family who are all together.”

Grandson Dean Simmonds, from Blackbird Leys, added: “We get together as much as we can.

“It’s really nice to be able to sit my daughter with her great-great-grandmother.

“Not many people can say they’ve done that.”

Another lady who can boast having five living generations is Evelyn Whelan.

Mrs Whelan’s 99th birthday present came in the form of a great-great-granddaughter, six-week-old Sophie Bull.

Mrs Whelan, of Wood Farm, celebrated her birthday on Tuesday with her family including daughter Sylvia Webb, granddaughter Karen Long, and great granddaughter Katherine Bull, who all travelled from Cambridge.

Her daughter Irene Dyer, of Kidlington, who took this photo (right), said her mother had always wanted a large family and was overjoyed at spending the day with five generations. Mrs Dyer said: “She didn’t want a big fuss for her birthday so we all spent the day with her at home.

“She loves having a big family and being in the middle of everything.

“We’ve worked out she has 23 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“It’s lovely to be able to say you have five generations of your family.”