Grandparent/s of the Year: Mike Chapple

MIKE CHAPPLE has been nominated for Grandparent/s of the Year, sponsored by the Channel Islands Co-operative Society.

Nominator and daughter Clare Chapple said: ‘Mike became a grandad to Zara in November 2020 and for him this was a very happy and sad moment as he lost his wife, who would have loved to be a grandma, in 2009.

‘Neither of Zara’s grandmas are alive and with her other grandad off island, Mike is the only grandparent she has ever met.

‘I had to return to work when Zara was five months old and Mike stepped in to help with childcare.

‘He is the best grandad to her. When she is with him Zara is the centre of his world and he takes her sailing on the pond and to football, swimming, gymnastics, sign language, the park and every soft play. They are always out and about exploring, they do multiple activities a day and he immerses himself in everything she does and goes on all the slides with her over and over again.

‘He is always exhausted after looking after her but never complains and he is a massive reason she is a chatty, active, independent and confident 20 month old.

‘We are a very lucky family to have Mike, who does the job of four grandparents.’