We all have those special items that we can’t bear to part with, whether it’s a memento from a loved one who has passed away or a trinket from childhood.
Now some of the moving stories behind people’s special keepsakes have been revealed in a competition to find the UK’s most heart warming treasured items.
Entries for the competition, which was commissioned by self-storage company Space Station, included a snippet of Queen Victoria’s wedding dress found at Claremont, the home of the Duke of Newcastle.
The overall winner was Katy Galloway from Edinburgh who shared the story behind her grandmother’s jewellery box, which comforts her as she battles dementia.
The winning entry if a competition to find the most moving story behind a memento came from Katy Galloway from Edinburgh who revealed how an old jewellery box comforts her grandmother who has dementia
The jewellery box
‘My nan’s jewellery box was passed down to me from my mother,’ Katy from Edinburgh explained.
‘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.’
The wooden doll
Natalie Russell, from Torquay, submitted a photograph of a tiny travel souvenir, which belonged to her grandmother.
‘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,’ she said.
‘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.’
This wooden doll reminds Natalie Russell, from Torquay of her grandmother’s wonderful sense of adventure
A piece of Queen Victoria’s wedding dress
One of the more unusual entries was a piece of Queen Victoria’s dress, submitted by Katherine Conlon, from Bristol.
She said: ‘This trimming is from Queen Victoria’s gown, caught in the gate at Claremont in 1883.
‘My great-great-grandmother found this snippet of Victoria’s dress at Claremont mansion where Victoria used to visit frequently.
‘After Albert’s death in 1861, Victoria wore black for the rest of her life. My great-great-grandmother put it in this tiny round frame and it has been in the female side of my family ever since.’
One of the more unusual entries was a piece of Queen Victoria’s dress, submitted by Katherine Conlon, from Bristol, which has been treasured by family since her grandmother found it in 1883
The mysterious family photos
Jess Howard-Armitage from London has been keeping hold of a set of photos in the hope she might one day be able to return them.
She explained: ‘I found these photographs years ago near the bins of a communal flat in Hackney and I’ve taken them with me every time I’ve moved.
‘My hope is one day I might be able to reunite them with their rightful owners. In the meantime, I think of them as my adopted family.’
Jess Howard-Armitage from London has been keeping these family photos safe in the hope she can one day reunite them with their owners
The mug with memories
A humble cup that’s been turned into a toothbrush holder holds special significance for Louise Comb, 57, from Bridlington.
‘It was given to my mum by a medical rep around 50 years ago,’ she said.
‘She used to run a medical centre and, as a child, I would sometimes help her there by stuffing letters into envelopes and similar easy tasks.
‘The sticky out ears on the mug made me laugh, so she gave it to me. I lost both parents in 1997. The mug still makes me smile, and remember very happy times. I wouldn’t part with it for anything.’
Louise Comb, 57, from Bridlington treasures a simple mug that was given to her mother around 50 years ago
The Austrian fireman’s cap
Christine Monk, from Derby, treasures this memento of a trip to Austria more than 40 years ago.
‘I was given it as a souvenir, although I’m not sure if the owner knew,’ she recalled.
‘I was in Tresbesing after being invited to a village party to celebrate a new fire engine, and I remember an oompah band and Austrian dancing.’
Christine Monk, from Derby is still treasuring a pilfered fireman’s cap from a trip to Austria more than 40 years ago
The nursing watch
Zoe Murray, from Glasgow said the nursing watch her grandmother received on her 18th birthday is one of her favourite possessions.
‘You can see the date along with the inscription “To Betty from Daddy” on the back, which I just love, but unfortunately it doesn’t tick anymore,’ she said.
‘I now work as a theatre nurse and have a few nurse’s watches, but this one will always be my favourite.’
An engraved nurse’s watch given to Zoe Murray’s grandmother is one of her most treasured possessions
The recipe cards
Beverly Cousins, from Gwent, shared fond childhood memories of spending time in the kitchen with her family.
She said: ‘As a child, I can remember many weekends staying with my grandmother while my mother and father were out entertaining on the club circuit.
‘Every weekend, like clockwork, I would learn the art of cooking with my nan from her recipe book, costing sixpence, which led to my passion for homemade cooking.
To many people it looks old and tatty, but to me it’s the memory of my childhood and no amount of money would get me to part with this fabulous book – it’s part of my DNA.’
Beverly Cousins, from Gwent will never be parted from these old recipe cards that her grandmother used to teach her cooking
The soldier’s cap badge
Anna Cheetham, from Buckingham shared the cap badge belonging to her great uncle Arthur.
‘He was killed in the third battle of Ypres, the battle of Passchendaele, during WW1 on 1/08/1917. It has inspired me to find out more about him.’
Anna Cheetham, from Buckingham shared the cap badge belonging to her great uncle Arthur who was killed at Ypres
The teddy and toy pram
Toys passed down through two generations are especially precious to Hilda Wright from Derbyshire.
‘This is Dad’s teddy and Granny’s toy pram,’ Hilda said.
They weren’t new when they had them as children and, over time, they have been battered with love.’
A toy pram and teddy ‘battered by love’ meant the world to Hilda Wright from Derbyshire