Name any subject and chances are someone has written a song about it.

The family has always been a popular subject with both songwriters and singers.

The Beverley Sisters, appropriately enough, did well with Sisters while The Hollies reached number three in 1969 with He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother and reached number one with the same song when it was re-issued in 1988.

Max Miller had fond memories of his mother when he sang My Old Mum and many singers have recorded O My Beloved Father.

However, probably the best known of all songs written about family members are Grandad and There's No-one Quite Like Grandma.

Clive Dunn, as Corporal Jones in Dad's Army, is probably the best known granddad of them all and everyone replied "granted" when he requested: "Permission to sing".

Grandad took the number one spot on November 28, 1970 and stayed in the charts for an incredible 28 weeks.

It is often said the best is saved until last and it was not until 1980 that Grandma had her rightful place on record.

The choir of St Winifred's School in Stockport first came to our notice when they greatly impressed everyone with their choral backing on Bryan and Michael's Matchstick Men and Matchstick Cats and Dogs which reached number one in 1978.

With around 80 junior members, St Winifred's, with their natural and unaffected style of singing, were the perfect choice for There's No-one Quite Like Grandma.

Just like Clive Dunn a decade earlier, the children of St Winifred's took over the charts, becoming number one, Top of the Pops, and grandmas everywhere were delighted and so were we all.

-Michael Parker, Brighton