Two special days have helped to mark the contribution of older people to our society. Kieran Davey catches up with events around the county

Older people are being celebrated across Oxfordshire as two special days highlight how much their generation means to us.

Tomorrow marks National Grandparents’ Day, designed to honour their contribution to their grandchildren’s lives and encourage families to consider just how much they do for everyone.

And, in a bumper few days for those in their golden years, Thursday marked Older People’s Day – a catch-all celebration for OAPs.

Support groups and care homes across Oxfordshire took the chance to do something special for our senior citizens.

Visitors to Abingdon Health and Wellbeing Centre in Crabtree Place enjoyed a trip back to the 1940s with a tea dance. Pensioners took to the floor to prove you’re never too old to bust some moves.

Resident Ray Betterton said: “A lot has gone into this event and I think it’s a good idea. It’s not old and fuddy-duddy but just fun.”

At Yarnton Residential and Nursing Home in Rutten Lane, Yarnton, staff and residents held a knitathon to make squares to donate to the Oxfam Nepal appeal.

The home’s activities leader Becca Tudor-Price said: “It’s fantastic to give our lovely residents the recognition they deserve for Older People’s Day and instead of sitting back and relaxing they are busy giving something back by knitting away to support the appeal.”

Margaret MacDonald appreciated the special effort put in to stage the knitathon.

She added: “I quite like knitting, depending on what wool you’ve got, and everyone here is nice and friendly – so it was a good day”.

In Witney, pensioners at older people’s support group Chatterbox marked Older People’s Day with a bit of light music and a good old-fashioned cup of tea.

And St John’s Home, in St Mary’s Road, Oxford, hosted a mini Olympics – with all sorts of games and sports adapted so everyone – no matter how old – could join in.

National Grandparents’ Day tomorrow also gives folk the chance to reflect at the growing importance the older generations are playing in society.

Retired great-grandfather David Holgate, from Witney, said that since his family expanded he has taken on a much greater role in looking after his grandchildren.

He has three daughters – Emily, Naomi and Rebecca – eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Another daughter, Louisa, died of breast cancer in 2002 aged 28.

Mr Holgate, 70, said: “It can be difficult to connect with family but I’ve always been happy to help out and do any jobs that need doing. This may involve going to pick the children up from school or taking them to hospital appointments.

“I’ll always call up the children and ask if anything needs doing, and they always know I’m here if I’m needed.”

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In honour of National Grandparents’ Day, charities are encouraging people to appreciate just what our grannies, grandads, nans and grandpas do for us – as well as highlighting how we can support them.

Age UK Oxfordshire deputy chief executive Penny Thewils said: “We do find that grandparents have a greater part in childcare nowadays.

“If there are situations when marriages have broken down then they are always happy to step into the breach, although this may cause extra pressure for them in terms of the time spent looking after the children.

“We provide people with basic information to do with financial matters and welfare benefits, and we also work to help bring younger people together with the older generation.”

Support groups are available for older people who also want the chance to meet others from their own generation.

Doreen Fillman, 82, has run a group for grandparents in Abingdon for the last eight years.

She said: “We meet once a month to talk amongst ourselves and learn from one another. It’s a nice social event.”

“We find it’s very important for grandparents who have to take on more of a parental role when it comes to their grandchildren.”