WHEN Layla Whiteley is Christened in York next month, her gown will have a family connection going back 60 years and four generations.

It all started when Layla’s great grandmother Maureen Joy - a former Miss York and ballroom queen - was married at St Chad’s Church, South Bank, to Alan Smith in August 1956, wearing a traditional white wedding dress.

When her son Nigel was born in 1961, she made the dress into a Christening gown, with the help of one of her friends, for the ceremony at Holy Trinity Church, East Parade, Heworth.

Nigel’s brother David was the next to wear the gown in 1964, when he was Christened at Christ Church in Stockton Lane.

Nigel said his daughter Rachel was next to be Christened in the gown, again at Christ Church, in 1987, with David’s daughter Sophie next in line to wear the gown in 1993 at St Marks Church in Rawcliffe.

When Rachel had a daughter, Amelia in 2013, she became the first great granddaughter to be Christened in the gown - at St Olave’s Church in Marygate.

Now Rachel’s second daughter Layla is set to be Christened in the gown on December 11, again back at St Olave’s Church.

“The dress has been on a long journey and been worn by four generations for the past 60 years,” said Nigel.