The family of a nan who believes she has "the biggest family in Merseyside" gathered to celebrate her amazing life.
Eleanor 'Nellie' Dougherty is approaching her 91st birthday later this year and has long-joked no one in Merseyside has a bigger family. The ECHO previously covered Nellie's incredible tale of having over 150 family members including 93 great-grandchildren and 15 great great-grandchildren.
ECHO readers were quick to shower the 90-year-old matriarch with praise for her incredible life. One reader said her family were "lucky" to have such a "lovely, inspirational matriarch" while another called her the epitome of a "true scouse nan".
READ MORE: Nan, 90, with 'biggest family in Merseyside' still buys presents for them all
The ECHO previously spoke with Nellie's granddaughter's, Julie Gibbons, who said all the family would be gathering on July 30 to celebrate her incredible life. Her family is so large they rarely manage to get all together at the same time - but everyone was given strict instructions not to miss the surprise party where they gathered to "celebrate a life time dedicated to looking after her family".
Nellie's family recounted how she always buys presents for all members of her family on their birthdays and at Christmas, despite how many there are. Julie previously told the ECHO her nan is "the most loving and caring person you could ever meet".
Nellie's family gathered together in Kirkby last night, Saturday, July 30 to celebrate her 91st birthday several months early. Julie told the ECHO: "My nan had a fantastic night with all her family, plus her own brother and sister, nieces and nephews."
Nellie posed for photos with her eight surviving children - Christine, Norma, Margaret, Dorothy, Ann, Angela, Tony and Pauline. Sadly Marie and Teddy had already passed away - nor could Nellie's "one love" Ted, who died in 1981.
The 90-year-old has lived a full life, from being one of the first to live on the new Southdene estate in Kirkby to regularly mixing with celebrities including Jimmy Tarbuck and Tom O'Connor when she worked at the Hippodrome.
But the family has always been Nellie's main focus and she's at her happiest when spending time with any of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren or great great-children.
Nellie's family paid tribute to her, calling her the "most kind-hearted and caring person" with a "great sense of humour". They added: "She has always put other people's interests before her own."
Nellie will turn 91 in November this year.
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