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My great grandfather was the inspiration for Grand Breaks, so it’s a family business spanning four generations!
Early last century he lived half the world away from my mother and his other grandchildren, but he was determined to be a part of their young lives. He taught himself to draw and sent illustrated cards and letters to each grandchild every week for years.
Some of them included imaginary outings to the zoo, park or seaside – places which he longed to visit with them, but rarely could. When my uncle was old and a grandfather himself, his memories of his grandfather were so special that he still described him as “the best friend I ever had”…
I discovered over 850 letters and cards (including the ones I am holding, which were to my mother) and apparently they are the world’s largest known collection of illustrated letters. They have been compared to the drawings of Beatrix Potter and AA Milne and Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, kindly wrote a foreword for a book containing some of them.
Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales very kindly wrote a moving celebration of his beloved grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother in our second charity book entitled “False Teeth and a Smoking Mermaid”.
This book included over 80 fascinating, often hilarious and always poignant memories by famous British personalities of their special grandparents. You can see some of my great grandfather's original illustrated letters on www.ultimategrandparent.com. You can also email his cards with your own messages and we have special limited edition collectors’ sets of postcards and posters that you can purchase from our gifts collection along with copies of "False Teeth and a Smoking Mermaid".
 So perhaps it is no surprise that we started Grand Breaks, to create opportunities to share special time together in a way that my great grandfather dreamt of doing, but rarely could.
We have carefully picked attractions and hotels that are equally welcoming and fun for all ages and will hopefully help to make those special memories that can last in your family for generations.
Have a great Grand Break…
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