Bookstein

The appellant (father) appeals from orders of the superior court granting certain specified visitation privileges to the respondents (grandparents) of the minor child.

Custody of the minor child, Benjamin, had been awarded jointly to the parents and the actual physical custody to the maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Curl, at the time of the divorce in February 1964. The mother of the child had suffered from a mental illness for some time and was unable to care for the child. Benjamin had been residing with the grandparents since September 1961, and continued to do so until November 1966.

In August 1966 appellant filed a petition for change of custody of the minor child. A stipulation was entered into between the appellant (father) and defendant (mother) and the respondents (grandparents), through their attorneys, whereby it was agreed that the actual physical custody would be in the appellant, with rights of reasonable visitation to the grandparents.

In October 1966 an order modifying the judgment pursuant to this stipulation was entered. On June 3, 1968 on motion of the grandparents, the trial court entered an order granting the grandparents the right “to a…