I became a nan aged 34 & now I’m part of the UK’s BIGGEST family – I love my 64 grandkids but there’s a major downside
A NAN of 67 has told how there is one major downside to being part of the UK’s biggest family.
Nicknamed ‘Big Nanna’, Pearl Carless, 82, also has 46 great-grandkids and eight great-great-grandkids after first becoming a gran at age 34.
She had her five kids after moving to Birmingham from Kent nearly five years ago.
She now lives alone with her two dogs – but constantly has family members dropping in and is never short of someone to talk to.
She told Birmingham Live: “I Facetime all day long, I am always on Facebook.
“It’s how I get company, I just put the laptop on and call someone.”
Pearl’s eldest daughter Dawn, 65, explained: “We’ve got a really big family, it is special and we embrace it.”
Dawn has three kids including Kerry, 47, who has six of her own.
One of Kerry’s daughters, mum-of-two Courtney gave birth to the youngest of the family, Sapphire, just 10 weeks ago.
However, Pearl said there is one downside to having such a big family – organising Christmas.
She said: “It is very lively most of the time.
“If it’s not one family having problems, or excitement, it’s the other. Hopefully the babies will stop for a while!”
Last year Dawn cooked Christmas dinner for 26 people.
She says the family is “busy but fun” – and she has to start writing her Christmas cards months in advance.
Dawn explained: “Christmas and birthdays, very manic. Christmas especially, trying to remember all the names.”
She added: “Near enough every day we are making calls to wish someone a happy birthday.
“Most years its been doubles or trebles, a baby boom!”
Pearl added: “One year I knitted 94 baby blankets. I’ve given it up!”