Baby Nyla arrival makes Scots woman nation's only great-great-great-gran

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A family from Edinburgh has become one of only a handful across the UK to have six generations alive at the same time.

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And thanks to the birth last month of the latest generation, Mary Marshall, 86, has become Scotland’s only great-great-great-gran.

The family, stretches from oldest member Mary to the youngest, newborn Nyla Ferguson.

Six in a row for Mary and her unique familySix in a row for Mary and her unique family
Six in a row for Mary and her unique family

Mother-of-eight Mary - who was born four years before the start of World War Two - boasts a whopping 90 grandchildren.

The women are all on the same side of the family - and all except new mum Toni-Leigh – work, or have worked, as carers for the NHS.

All women gave birth aged 18 or younger - resulting in this super-sized happy family - and live in or around the Capital.

Head of the family Mary has eight children including eldest daughter Rose.

Mary Marshall with her great great great granddaughter NylaMary Marshall with her great great great granddaughter Nyla
Mary Marshall with her great great great granddaughter Nyla

Rose Thorburn, 68, has four children including mum-of-three Chyrel Borthwick, 50.

Chyrel gave birth to mum-of-four Carrie Dow in 1986.

Carrie, 35, has four children, including new mum Toni-Leigh Aitken, 17.

And on 25 May 2021, Mary earned herself the title of Scotland's only great-great-great grandma with the birth of 6lb 14oz Nyla Ferguson.

Mary, 86, with Rose, 68, Chyrel, 50, Carrie, 35, Toni-Leigh, 17, - and two-week-old NylaMary, 86, with Rose, 68, Chyrel, 50, Carrie, 35, Toni-Leigh, 17, - and two-week-old Nyla
Mary, 86, with Rose, 68, Chyrel, 50, Carrie, 35, Toni-Leigh, 17, - and two-week-old Nyla

Due to the size of her family, Mary says she is forgiven for not buying each and every member a birthday and Christmas present as she'd spend "half the year doing so".

Mary said: "I'm a lucky woman to be honest with you. It's great to have such a big family. There's always someone there looking out for you. I'm incredibly happy."

New mum Toni-Leigh, who gave birth to the newest member of the family last month, said: "When we found out I was pregnant we did make a joke about us breaking some sort of record.

"Then we started looking into it and it doesn't look like anyone else has our family set-up.

"It's a bit too early to see a resemblance to her great-great-great-grandma but it was love at first sight when they met!

"We live no longer than a 10-15minute drive away from one another so we see each other.

"We haven't had a big do with the entire family since the pandemic but when we do it's great fun!

"There's 90 grandchildren now with Nyla so it's always pretty loud!"

Rose, 68, said: "It's great when you have a new baby. I'm one of eight so I've always had a big family in some sense.

"But now we're pretty big! I haven't heard of any other family of this size in Scotland.

"Whenever we get together there's always fun and laughs. There's always someone there for you."

The family are believed to be the only family in Scotland with six generations alive at the same time.

According to Guinness World Records the most generations alive in a single family has been seven.

The family comprises: Mary Marshall, 86, b.June 1935 Rose Thorburn, 68, b. October 1952 Chyrel Borthwick, 50, b. July 1970 Carrie Dow, 35, b. February 1986 Toni-Leigh Aitken, 17, b October 2003 Nyla Ferguson, b. May 2021.

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