An Eden grandmother is celebrating the arrival of the 100th member of her ever-expanding family.
The birth of George Albert Lamb last Monday means that 91-year-old Joyce Wilson has now got 12 children, 27 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren.
Little George Albert was born to Penrith parents Ricki and Nicola Lamb, at the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, on Monday, weighing in at 7lb 10oz.
Joyce, who lives at Raiselands Croft, Penrith, had the first of her 12 children when she was aged 16 and the last of her offspring aged 41.
Her husband, Albert, had to take a number of jobs to support his family and was employed by Walkers Taxis, Althams, Penrith railway station and sometimes used to help out at a bookmakers in town. He died when he was 54.
“I’m very proud of my family,” said Joyce, who has been at home since the start of the coronavirus crisis.
“Some of them come to my window to talk to me. The little ones call me Joycey.”
Asked how she coped with birthdays and Christmas, Joyce said: “You have got to cut back when you don’t have a lot of money.”
Her 10th daughter, Michelle, said Joyce was a great mother.
“She was always at home and when you came home from school she was always there.
“Dad had three jobs just to keep us all.”
Joyce’s children are Pauline Armstrong, Christine Bulga, Ian Wilson, Paul Wilson, Malcolm Wilson, Angela Fenton, the late Clive Wilson, Timothy Wilson, Sheena Lamb, Michelle Wilson, Shane Wilson and Christopher Wilson.
