ROSLYN Lawrence loves Dart­mouth. She fell under its spell as a young girl, spending her holidays with her grandparents, Mr and Mrs Marshall, who lived in the town all their lives.

When Roslyn married Malcolm Lawrence, now a retired Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander, the couple continued a love affair with their 'favourite place' and often celebrated their wedding anniversary on the river.

You could be forgiven for thinking they have passed on their love for Dartmouth through their genes.

For their two daughters, Jane and Karen, and their husbands and children, have carried on the family tradition of coming to Dartmouth for regatta week for many years.

So when they were looking to do something special for their mum's 80th birthday – what better could they do than contact the Chronicle?

'I wanted to do something special for mum on her 80th birthday on Wednesday, May 13, and remembered that she receives the Dart­mouth Chronicle every week,' said younger daughter Karen Shepherd, who lives in Woking.

'She has it posted to her home in Eastergate, West Sussex, as she loves to read all the news from her favourite place.

'I thought it would be very special as she read through her birthday week issue if she came across an article to celebrate her special 80th birthday in memory of all the wonderful times she has spent in Dartmouth.

'These include many special family birthdays, the music festival and mum and dad's golden wedding on a boat on the River Dart with all their friends who travelled miles to be with them on their special day.'

Karen said her mum would be celebrating her birthday with all her family at a restaurant near their home before travelling to Dart­mouth the next day for the music festival, which they enjoy and have supported for many years.

Karen's sister Jane Folkard and her husband Chris have two children. Rachel, 31, is due to be married this August and Gareth, 29, lives and works in London.

Karen and her husband Nicholas have two sons, Joe, 19, and Chris, 16, who are both still in education.

'All of us have carried on the family tradition of spending regatta week in Dartmouth together for many years, my sons only missing two weeks since they were born,' said Karen.

'We even managed to join the family when Chris was just six weeks old, staying in the very top flat on Newcomen Road.'

When Karen's eldest son was 10, he wrote a list: 56 Reasons Why I Love Dartmouth, which she still treasures.

They are: 1, our flat every year is different; 2, mini golf; 3, watching the tennis; 4, ice creams; 5, crab fishing; 6, boat rides; 7, visiting the villages near Dartmouth; 8, the beaches; 9, going up to the Castle Cafe; 10, the cool newsagents; 11, souvenir shops; 12, long walks; 13, swimming; 14, regatta opening ceremony; 15, fighter planes; 16, the boats that come in; 17, spot the oddity; 18, seeing the family; 19, late nights; 20, fantastic chips; 21, treats; 22, the helter skelter; 23, hook a duck; 24, the inflatable slides; 25 all of the fair; 26 the cheapjacks; 27, the Red Arrows; 28, the salty sea air; 29, the Dartside flats; 30, postcards; 31, the fireworks; 32, the cool shops; 33, drinking too much lemonade; 34, the sounds at night; 35, all the races; 36, having fun 24/7; 37, new things each year; 38, the boat race bets; 39, different places to eat; 40, the sweet stall at the cheapjacks; 41, spending money; 42, changing weather; 43, the cafe next to the Dart; 44, sea­gulls waking me up; 45, Sugary Cove; 46, the beer and trolley race; 47, the very hard spot the oddities that I need help with; 48, colouring competitions; 49, the pavement art; 50, the spooky house at the fair; 51, Grandma's balcony; 52, being by the sea; 53, the meal we have with Grandma and Grandpa; 54, meeting new people; 55, candy floss; 56, the bandstand.

* Do you have a long-standing family tradition of visiting Dartmouth? Reporter Karen Perrow would like to hear from you. Call 01803 832049 or email [email protected]">[email protected].