THE Tele is today launching a search to find Inverclyde’s greatest grannies and grandpas.

Our fabulous new competition is looking for those inspirational people who always bring a smile to their loved ones’ faces.

And who better to launch the contest than one of the area’s oldest senior citizens, remarkable 102-year-old Robert Hutchison, who’s known as Bertie.

His granddaughter Roxanne Bell is especially fond of her special grandfather.

She said: “I’m so proud of him.

“We’ve always been close.

“He’s been like a father to me and my brother Jeff.

“My mum was widowed when I was born and he’s been there for us from day one.

“I still remember him walking us to school.”

Bertie was born in Greenock on January 12 in 1914 before moving to Port Glasgow to raise his family of four children with his late wife Annie.

He has three daughters - Roxanne’s mum Anne, who sadly passed away aged 59 last year, Frances McIntyre, Agnes Hutchison - and one son, Robert.
Bertie served in France during the Second World War before securing a job in the sugarhouse refinery and was later employed by Scottish Power, laying electricity cables.

He has six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and lived independently in his home in Kilmory Terrace until he was ninety-nine. 

Bertie now lives in Bellaire Court Nursing Home and enjoys regular visits from all his family, including grandson Jeff Winslow who lives in New York.

Roxanne, 33, who lives with her husband Graeme, and their daughter Rebeka in Brisbane Street, said: “He was in and out of hospital just before he was 100 and we didn’t think he was going to make it but he always pulls through.

“I’ll think he live until he’s 110! He always been very strong.

“He’s always been very active, he worked all his days and had a motorbike and he loved walking.”

Roxanne, a staff nurse at Inverclyde Royal Hospital, thinks our worthy new competition is a great idea.

She said: “I think it’s nice to get a chance to praise grandparents. They’re the link to your past and where you are from.”

Our new competition is looking for those inspirational people who always bring a smile to their loved ones’ faces.

You can put your grandparent forward for whatever reason, anything from their glamorous appearance to their caring nature – whatever makes them special to you.

Our winning grandad will walk off with £250 in cash and a Connoisseurs Choice Single Malt from Gordon & MacPhail while our top gran will receive £250 in cash and a one-to-one make-up lesson with celebrity make-up artist Terri Craig at her new make-up school, YOU, in Glasgow’s West End. Both will also receive a VIP night at the bingo, courtesy of our friends at Mecca in Greenock.

To put your grandparent forward, see today's Tele for full details.

Feel free to include the reason why you are entering them for the competition.
Entries are now open.