A NEWBORN Halesowen child will not be short of Christmas presents this year as all eight of his great grandparents are alive and well.

Throw into the mix little Oliver Hayward’s parents and four grandparents and the little lad will be never short of a helping hand in life.

Father Rob, a music teacher aged 26, said: “It was amazing when he was born, all the grandparents and great grandparents were doing relay runs back and forward to Russells Hall Hospital so they could all see him.

“It is wonderful that everyone gets along so well and we will certainly never be short of a babysitter or two.”

And everyone in the picture postcard of family happiness has put down the longevity of the seven marriages down to one thing - The Salvation Army.

Oliver’s mother Edwina, a primary teacher aged 28, said: “What is lovely is that the different sets of great grandparents will regularly see Oliver at The Salvation Army most Sundays.”

The four sets of great grandparents are all over the moon because Oliver is the first great grandchild for all of them.

Edwin, aged 84, and Dorothy Cox, 81, from Halesowen, Vincent, 76, and Catherine Hayward, 77, from Sutton Coldfield, Graham, 70, and Sheila Hinsley, 71, from Sutton Coldfield and Thomas, 86, and Kathleen Wilkinson, 83 from Cradley Heath all converged on little Oliver’s home for the historic family picture taken by the Halesowen News.

Great grandparent Sheila Hinsley said: “This is so lovely to be together and Oliver is a lovely little lad and he will not be short of love from all his family.”

Great grandparent Vincent Hayward added: “It is such a lovely moment because Oliver is the first male in the family for a long time on one side and he is a great little boy.”

And fellow great grandparent Graham Hinsley added: “All the great grandparents get along well as we all met each other at the wedding a few years ago and we are all members of the Salvation Army, with two sets going to Birmingham Citadel and the other two sets attending Cradley Heath.”

Proud dad Rob, as he looked at the countless cards sent to mark his son’s birth, said: “I just dont know where we are going to put all the presents when it’s Christmas time, we will be swamped by them.”