Grandfather of the year named

James Dunlop has put his grandchild first

A 76-year-old man who has looked after his granddaughter since the death of her mother has been named grandparent of the year.

Widower James Dunlop, from Coleraine, in Northern Ireland, has brought up nine-year-old Kimberley since her mother Linda died three years ago.

He has been the sole carer since his wife died two years ago.

Mr Dunlop said he had never won anything in his life as he was presented with his prize worth £2,000 at a ceremony in London on Thursday.

"I'm just an ordinary fellow," he said.

Nine sets of regional finalists competed for the prize worth £2000 in the competition organised by the charity Age Concern.

The award recognises the role grandparents play in the lives of their grandchildren and their contribution to their local community.

Grief-stricken

Mr Dunlop, who served as a part-time firefighter for 27 years, spoke of the difficult times following the death of his daughter and wife.

"Of course it was hard when my daughter Linda died so young, from a heart condition, and then I lost my wife, but you have to carry on," he said.

But Mr Dunlop, who was in the Home Guard during the second world war, said he was proud of his granddaughter.

"She's my life now. I'm the only granddad she's got. She's a good youngster."

And Kimberley described him as "absolutely wonderful".

"He encourages me with my school work and although he is quite strict in some ways he is also very kind-hearted."

The event at the Magic Circle headquarters was hosted by GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips.

Nominees praised

A grandmother from Manchester, who chaperones her granddaughter while she stars in a television soap, was also been nominated for the award.

Maureen Cain, better known as Grandma Mo to the stars of Coronation Street, accompanies her nine-year-old granddaughter Emma while she plays Sally and Kevin Webster's daughter Sophie.

The finalists also included:

Ruth and John Bone, from Henley-on-Thames, Berkshire, nominated by their 21-year-old granddaughter Rachel for supporting her through a difficult time.

Andrea Finn and Jim Madge, from Hampshire, who have seven grandchildren, nominated for community project work and their care of grandchildren Rosanna, 10, and Jacob, who has learning difficulties.

Major George and Di Thom, from Scotland, who helped grandson Morgan, 25, after a serious car crash.

The pair also do community work and George teaches the bagpipes.

June and Brian Flint, from Derbyshire, who cared for wheelchair-bound grandson Bradley, nine, and granddaughter Abbey, four, while their three-year-old brother Ethan was in hospital with Leukaemia.

Jack and Mavis Bramble, from the Anglia region, who learnt how to text message and use e-mail to support their 12 other grandchildren.

Henry Curnow, from Cornwall, who is a charity worker and takes six-year-old granddaughter Cally and her sister Georgina to and from school.

Molly and David Squires, from Yorkshire, let their 19-year-old granddaughter Helen and her boyfriend live with them rent-free while she saved to go to New Zealand.