WITH more than 36,000 days separating their ages, there was an emotional first meeting for a great-grandmother and great-grandson when he was just two weeks old.

When little Rhys Atkinson was born on March 20 he became great-grandma Georgina Atkinson’s third great-grandchild but she had never got the chance to meet any of them at such a young age before.

Last week, four generations of the Atkinson family came together for the first meeting of Mrs Atkinson, aged 101, and Rhys who was just two weeks old.

Rhys’ grandfather Franz Atkinson, headteacher at the Greenford School in Dorchester, explained the reason for the trip to Bournemouth to introduce Georgina and Rhys.

He said: “She’s quite elderly but my son wanted to make sure they got to meet as soon as they could and she was really taken with him.

“It’s actually her third great-grandchild but the first she has met at that age.

“It is really nice for her to meet him at her age.”

Rhys’ dad John, was born and raised in Dorchester and attended the Thomas Hardye School and now lives in Yeovil with Rhys whilst grandma Mrs Atkinson lives in Bournemouth.

Their ages are separated by 36,500 days.

Mrs Atkinson was born in Trieste, Italy in 1914 at the start of WW1 and served as a full-time Salvation Army officer throughout the UK and Italy and still lives independently, regularly attending the Boscombe Salvation Army Corps.

Rhys’ birth didn’t just bring great-grandson and great-grandmother together but also the whole family.

Mr Atkinson said: “It was just nice that we got to get together, there were four generations of the Atkinson family there, my mother, myself, my son and of course Rhys.

“We don’t see each other much but since the baby came in to it, we’ve got together more often so she can meet him.”

Georgina has lived through both World Wars, 19 Prime Ministers and King George V was on the throne when she was born.

Mr Atkinson said: “She had quite a tough life during the war. She lives on her own and does her own shopping. She’s very aware of everything, she doesn’t miss a trick.”

The family wanted to unite the two to help celebrate the big role that Georgina played in the lives of both her children and her grandchildren.