Plea for happy childhood memories

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A campaign to collect cherished childhood memories has been launched by a children's charity.

The Children's Society wants "hundreds of thousands" of people across the UK to contribute favourite recollections.

The charity aims to build a picture of what makes for happy early years for its Good Childhood report.

Singers Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Sir Cliff Richard and TV host Chris Tarrant have already contributed to Hundreds and Thousands of Childhood Memories.

'Fantastic memories'

Ellis-Bextor's memory involves the day her little brother was born on 10 August 1987.

She said: "I'm delighted to support the Children's Society's campaign to make childhood better for all children in the UK today. As a mum, I want my children to have some fantastic memories."

Memories help to shape us and we want to take the nation's good childhood memories and make a positive change for children Martin FieldChildren's Society

Sir Cliff's memory is of receiving a bicycle as a Christmas present in India, and Tarrant's recollection is of his grandfather taking him fishing for the first time.

Other celebrities involved in the campaign include actresses Tracy-Ann Oberman and Bernie Nolan and celebrity photographer Rankin.

The charity says the Good Childhood inquiry is the UK's first independent investigation into what makes childhood years happy ones.

Children's Society campaigns director Martin Field said: "Hundreds and Thousands of Childhood Memories is a chance for everyone in the UK to contribute towards making childhood better.

"Memories help to shape us and we want to take the nation's good childhood memories and make a positive change for children.

"We all have a memory to share and so we can all get involved to make a real difference for children today."