Grandparent’s win national award for being family’s rock

Grandparents from Castle Hall in Hull have won Grandparent’s of the Year award. 

Dot and Tam Macdonald, 67 and 70 years old, who live at Anchor’s EAC Gold Award Winning Castle Hall in Hull, was nominated by the Scheme Manager for always putting their grandchildren first.

Almost 200 nominations were sent in for the Happy Living Awards run by Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit care and housing provider. The awards were launched in August with six categories: Green Fingered Customer, Best Neighbour, Extraordinary Talent, Grandparent of the Year, Community Champion and Best Pet.

Dot and Tam Macdonald, who have lived at Castle Hall for 6 years, is thrilled to receive the Grandparent of the Year Award. Tam said: “It’s lovely to know someone has noticed what we do. We didn’t think what we was doing was out of the ordinary we just wanted our grandchildren and children to feel supported and loved.”

Jo-anne Davie, Castle Hall Scheme Manager, who nominated Dot and Tam Macdonald for the incredible impact they have on their 3 grandchildren’s` lives, said: “The couple are originally from Scotland and first came to Hull 6 years ago when their daughter decided to have a baby. Since then they have become Chairman and Secretary of the Castle Hall Social Committee and regularly organise party nights, weekly bingo, weekly coffee mornings, kids xmas parties, summer fetes, auctions, karaoke nights, talent nights and weekly breakfast clubs.  As well as do the school run and care for 6 year old Stephen and his baby brother. They have him to sleepover several nights a week whilst their parents are at work, nothing is too much trouble for them.”