Yesterday was Grandparents’ Day, and we’re remembering how the occasion was marked in Cumbria – and how important grandparents are to us.


The day is an annual event dedicated to celebrating and honouring the love, wisdom, and contributions of grandparents and older adults in our lives. It’s a day to show appreciation for the unique role that they play in families and communities, offering care, guidance, and support across generations.
All grandparents are recognised, whether they are grandparents by blood, or grandparents by love.
Grandparents’ Day was first introduced in the United States in 1978, thanks to the efforts of Marian McQuade, a West Virginia housewife who sought to highlight the importance of grandparents to the fabric of society.
The day quickly gained popularity and spread to other countries, including the UK.
It has often been marked in schools and our main picture shows children and their grandparents enjoying assembly together at Hunter Hall School, Penrith.

(Image: Joe Riley) (Image: Newsquest)

Above, Peter Jacobs reads to his grandson Dan Low during Grandparents’ Day at Low Furness School in 2011, and at the same school in 2015, Elliot Rushton shows his grandparents Keith and Heather his classroom.

(Image: Newsquest)
When grandparents were invited to spend the day at Shap School, more than 100 took up the offer.

(Image: Newsquest)

Similarly, in 2014, they were only too keen to attend Allonby School. Glen Ousby is pictured in class with his granddaughter Natasha Green.

(Image: Newsquest)
Grasslot Infant School in Maryport invited parents, grandparents and friends of the school to enjoy a ‘buy one, get one free' lunch and grandma Linda Harrison went along with her granddaughter Emily Wilson.

(Image: Newsquest)
Parents and grandparents were invited to a phonetics day at St Bridget’s School, Egremont.

(Image: Newsquest)
When Millom Police Station held an open day as part of the town’s heritage festival, grandparents Fred and Elaine Needham found themselves locked up with PC Helen Whelan and grandchildren Rhaya Murning, nine, and Tahlia, two, and Leon Cummings, five.

(Image: Newsquest)
Our final picture shows Jim and Carol Wynne being presented with a bouquet of flowers with their daughter Dianne, right, and grandson Reece after winning the Evening Mail’s Grandparents’ Day competition.