7:00am Saturday 26th November 2011
By Paul Broome
A TINY Herefordshire village can lay claim to having the country’s top gran.
Isobel Hoare was handed the Grandparent of the Year accolade by a national magazine during a lavish award ceremony.
The 61-year-old from Garway was nominated by daughter Lucy for her role in acting as a parent to her five grandchildren, including five-year-old William who was recently diagnosed with leukaemia.
William and his four-year-old sister Felicity, along with their father, live with Isobel who gets up early every day to help them off to school, does their washing and cleaning, and takes them to after-school clubs.
She also manages to find time for her other grandchildren, Harriett, Freddie and Dulcie, whom she sees most weekends.
“My family is everything to me and to be recognised for something that I love doing is wonderful,” she said.
“It was such an honour to be shortlisted in the awards, let alone to win – I can’t quite believe it.”
The awards were run by Yours magazine and celebrated the value grandparents bring to families across the UK.
Former Blue Peter presenter and competition judge Janet Ellis said Isobel is “an inspiration”.
“Although the standard of entries was incredibly high, Isobel stood out as an exceptionally pro-active and selfless grandparent,” she added.
“She had taken over the role of parent when a family crisis meant she needed to, becoming the emotional as well as practical support to her children and grandchildren.
“As the family then had to deal with a precious grandchild’s life-threatening illness, Isobel held them together and never stopped smiling.”
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