County Durham Grandma shortlisted for Grandparet of the year

To mark National Grandparents Day in October, Ambassador Cruise Line launched its nationwide search for the Great British Grandparent 2025 – an accolade conceived as a heartfelt tribute to the unsung heroes who give so much of their time, consideration, emotional and, in some cases, financial support to their nearest and dearest, day in, day out.

Following the preliminary round of judging nominations received from friend and family members nationwide, Janet Dinsdale, a grandma from County Durham has been shortlisted for consideration for this year’s Grandparent of the Year. Ambassador’s Grandparent of the Year, which is set to be announced on 14 February, will be treated to a week-long, full-board Ambassador sailing for two to enjoy at a time of their choosing.

Christian Verhounig, CEO of Ambassador Cruise Line, says: “Grandparents are the heart of families across the country, offering emotional support, wisdom and generosity to those around them. At Ambassador Cruise Line, we want to provide a platform for people to recognise how important and truly remarkable this generation is. We received an overwhelming number of nominations from County Durham and Tyne and Wear, making the judging process both inspiring and challenging. Congratulations to Janet on being named as one of the top ten finalists for the prestigious title of Great British Grandparent 2025. From all of us at Ambassador – thank you for everything you do.”  

The full list of grandparents selected as finalists are:

• Janet Dinsdale from County Durham
• Tracy Sacree from Hampshire
• Wendy Hignell from Bristol
• Jonathan Westwood from Shropshire
• Eleanor & Peter Gibbs from the West Midlands
• Karen Darcy from East Sussex
• Brian Shaw from Burntisland, Scotland
• TBA*
• TBA*
• TBA*

All those who were nominated in the search will receive a signed certificate from Ambassador, to recognise the unwavering support they provide.

Founded in 2021, Ambassador offers the UK market authentic no-fly cruise experiences primarily aimed at the over-50s complete with outstanding cuisine, amazing entertainment and exceptional service. With more departures than any other cruise line from ports across the UK including Newcastle Tyne, Ambassador offers guests amazing entertainment, outstanding cuisine and exceptional service on board two ships, Ambience and Ambition.

 

The affordable quality cruise line is proud to champion the grandparent generation across the country. The company recently commissioned a survey that looked at the intergenerational dynamic, with findings suggesting that grandparents remain the backbone of the family unit. One in five Brits say they rely on grandparents to babysit so they can enjoy time with friends or a partner. Others depend on them for everyday support, including cooking meals (18%), providing childcare while parents are at work (18%) and helping with school pick-ups (16%)

But their role doesn’t end with practical help: grandparents are also stepping in financially. The research found that over a quarter (27%) of Brits have turned to their grandparents for money, often to cover essentials like rent, education or buying a car. While many receive this support with deep gratitude, the emotional weight is clear: 28% say they feel embarrassed but grateful, 20% feel guilty knowing their grandparents are making sacrifices, and a further 18% try to pay them back – with 82% saying they never will!

Now in its third year, Ambassador is proud to be championing the silver generation through its successful Great British Grandparent initiative. Raymond Pearson, a grandfather of five from Essex, was named Great British Grandparent 2023, followed by Jeanette Townsend from West Sussex, a grandmother to eight grandchildren and another eight great-grandchildren, received the honour in 2024.