Great-gran is simply the greatest

Joyce Crawshaw is a "great" grandmother in more ways than one.

Despite suffering badly with arthritis, the 76-year-old spends much of her time caring for her grandson's children. Joyce, of Great Wyrley, is a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She plays a hands-on role in helping look after great-grandchildren Ben, aged nine, and his four-year-old brother Connor.

Both their parents, Christopher and Jenny Nelson, of Walsall, work full-time as does their grandmother Dawn Macmillan, who is Joyce's daughter and Christopher's mother, so Joyce was happy to help.

Dawn, who also lives in Great Wyrley, was one of many readers who contacted the Express & Star following a series of articles about grandparents helping more and more with childcare as the credit crunch bites.

The 58-year-old describes her mother as "amazing" for the role she plays.

"She gives the boys breakfast before school, gets them ready for school and then drives them to school," says Dawn.

"She then collects them in the afternoon, gives them their tea and cares for them until my son can collect them after work.

"And because my son, who works in the building trade, and his wife, an administrator, find it difficult to have time off work to go to school functions, Mum often goes in their place. She is an absolute star to do this for her great-grandchildren at 76 years of age, especially in view of her arthritis which is very bad. She really is great."

But Joyce says she wouldn't have it any other way. "I love helping Christopher and Jenny out with the boys. They drop the boys off at 7.30am and then pick them up around 5pm," says Joyce, who worked as a supervisor in the rag trade until the age of 66.

"I've looked after Ben since he was a baby and I'm thrilled to still be able to help now. I love spending time with them. I think it makes me feel younger and I certainly have a close bond with them," she says.