The memories and experiences we share with grandparents can have a lasting influence on our lives.
Ahead of Grandparents Day on 6 October, Age UK staff reflect on the much-loved older people that continue to inspire them, and the special bonds they shared.
Valerie
By Molly, Delivery Manager
My Grandma, Valerie, was very special, generous and supportive. Born and raised in Whitby in Yorkshire, she was a strong northern lady who taught me to live life to the fullest.
If there was ever the opportunity to get some fresh air, Grandma was the first up and out the door. A couple of years ago we were in Cornwall together and it was a very chilly day on Porthcurnick Beach. My siblings and I were layered up and huddled together on the beach, with absolutely no intentions of braving the sea; Grandma was straight in, splashing in the waves and having the best time.
My Grandma was also my biggest cheerleader. In 2018 I ran the London Marathon for Age UK and one of my main inspirations for signing up to run for the charity was because of my Grandma's love of adventure and of giving things a go.
Grandma supported me throughout the lead-up to the marathon by baking cakes for my fundraising bake sale and checking in on my training. And when the big day came, Grandma came down to London on the train, sporting an Age UK top and rushing to multiple locations across the city to cheer me on. It really meant the world to me to have her there and I will never forget how special and supported she made me feel. I was so inspired that I decided to apply for a job within the Digital & Technology team at Age UK and a month or so later I began my new job.
My Grandma sadly passed away in January this year, which is something I have really struggled to grapple with. I miss her terribly and think about her every day, but I take comfort in my 30 years of wonderful memories. And whenever I am near the sea, I always brave it for my Grandma – you truly never regret taking the plunge!
Carmen
By Louie, Digital Marketing Specialist
I called my grandmother Carmen “Inang” – it’s the respectable way of saying grandmother in the Philippine dialect. She was the only one of my grandparents that I got to meet, so my memories of her are very special and I miss her dearly.
My mother and father helped Inang move to the UK when I was 12. She came from a big family in the Philippines – many of whom moved all over the world.
Inang was such a character and loved all her family, and after she moved to the UK I got to know her very well. Religion was important to her, and she used to wake me up every Sunday so I could go to Mass with her. Afterwards, I used to walk her home and we’d have a chat. I still miss those times together, but the memories give me joy.
While my Mum and Dad were working night shifts as nurses, Inang also used to look after me and my little brother. She would tell us about life back in the Philippines, about what little her family had and the basic lifestyle they’d experienced. Inang would also share stories about the Second World War and when the Japanese invaded. She always reminded us how lucky we were, which I’m still grateful for today.
Elsie and Derek
By Jemma, Senior Brand Designer
My Nannie and Grandad, Elsie and Derek, meant the world to me. They had so much time for me as a child, which was worth its weight in gold. When the school holidays came around, they would look after me while Mum and Dad worked. We had so much fun – from making ‘perfume’ from rose petals in the garden to hours spent at local parks.
Grandad loved making something from nothing, so the shed was his favourite place to be. We used to do a project together every summer – I think this is where my love of DIY started. He also had a deep love of cycling, and we would bike all over Norfolk together. He was most famous for biking home from Tesco with a full French stick shoved down his jumper!
Nannie was most happy at home after suffering from a stroke and heart attack when I was very little, but we still spent plenty of time together baking. As I grew up, I would walk past their bungalow on my way to high school and Nannie would often be stood at the lounge window waiting to wave at me. There were many evenings when I’d call in to see them on the way back home.
After Nannie passed away, it was just me and Grandad. I taught him how to cook a few meals and we continued to spend lots of time together. Grandad continued to stay active too, but after a series of mini-strokes, he spent his final few years in a nursing home. I continued to visit regularly with my Dad, even when we weren’t sure if Grandad knew we were there or not.
The memories of a playful childhood with my Nannie and Grandad will stay with me forever.
Doreen
By Sophie, Senior Brand Marketing Manager
Growing up, I was always jealous of friends whose grandparents lived round the corner. My Grandma Doreen lived hundreds of miles away, so we couldn’t just pop around. But looking back, I realise this wasn’t a bad thing – it made our visits up north all the more special.
As kids, my sister and I would count down the days until we could visit her and go on our favourite girls day out – a bus ride to McDonalds, followed by a spin on the merry-go-round. To us, that was the best day ever.
You also can’t talk about my Grandma without mentioning her incredibly strong-willed streak, which we loved. This trait was best exemplified when, very soon after suffering a heart attack, she insisted that we went ten pin bowling. She won, of course.
When the pandemic hit, our already long-distance relationship felt even longer and, like most, we went months without seeing each other. By this point, dementia was setting in for my grandma and I wasn’t sure what it would be like when I saw her again.
I needn’t have worried. When we were finally able to meet up, she was just as caring and keen to see us as ever. And just as sassy.
For our post-lockdown reunion, I decided that it was my turn to return the favour for all those childhood memories, so I treated her to our very own day out. Off we went to McDonalds, where we happily tucked into a box of our favourite: chicken nuggets. Despite the dementia, she could still remember doing exactly the same with us, all those years ago.
Sadly, she’s not with us anymore, but I’m so grateful that we never took our time together for granted. It’s the happy memories of those times spent together that inspired me to become an Age UK telephone friend. Building a friendship and connection with someone from an older generation is really special.
