Asnippet of Queen Victoria’s dress and the cap badge of a greatuncle killed in WW1 are just two of the remarkable family history treasures revealed in a national competition.
The competition, which was commissioned by self-storage company Space Station, sought to find the most heartwarming items people had kept hold of over the years, and uncovered some incredible stories.
Katy Galloway, from Edinburgh, was chosen as overall winner for the story of her grandmother’s jewellery box. She said: ‘It’s an important keepsake to me as my nan now has dementia.
However, when she hears the music box tune, it reminds her of her childhood and she can talk about it for hours, although the rest of the time she isn’t really herself anymore.’ Katy’s entry wasn’t the only one that tugged at the judges’ heart strings.
Natalie Russell, from Torquay, submitted a photograph of a travel souvenir, stating: ‘This wonderful wooden doll was given to me by my late grandma and was a souvenir from her very first trip abroad to Austria with her best friend in 1948. They had saved so hard for their trip, and it was very unusual for two unmarried ladies of that era to travel alone. I cannot part with this little lady, who reminds me so much of my irreplaceable grandma and her wonderful sense of adventure.’