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She's a Paige in the history books

21/ 8/2002

THE BIRTH of little Paige McCulloch eight weeks ago was a special moment for her family for more than one reason.

For it means that the ladies of the Middleton and Heywood-based family can now boast five generations.

Paige's great-great grandmother is 86-year old Bertha Knox, the widow of Bob Knox, a well-known figure in the Middleton area, who was the bottling manager at the John Willie Lees brewery in Middleton Junction.

Bertha, the mother of five children, lives with her daughters Barbara and Christine in Cheetham Avenue and is proud to be the matriarch of a large but close-knit family.

Barbara's only child is Cathy, who at 38, has just become a grandmother for the first time. Cathy is also the cousin of Coronation Street actress Suranne Jones.

Cathy's 18-year old daughter Rachelle, who lives with her partner Kieron in Durham Walk, Heywood gave birth to Paige on 25 June.

Cathy, from Derwent Walk in Heywood, was thrilled at becoming a grandmother, and said: "She's a gorgeous baby and we're all delighted. We're a very close family and we get together just about every week. My gran's taking it all in her stride. She's the head of a large tribe, so it's another child to borrow extra pocket money from her."