A GRANDFATHER has said he how proud he was to watch his young grand-daughters on stage this Christmas, possibly for the last time.

Leslie Silver, 65, from Cumnor Hill, was diagnosed with terminal cancer in October and doctors have said he may not live until Christmas next year.

So, watching grand-daughters Rose Stratford and Rebecca Copelin, both nine, appearing in this year’s Oxford Playhouse pantomime, Cinderella, has special poignance.

He said: “It’s fantastic to see them on stage and so important.

“It’s important for me and it’s important for them, though they might not realise it now.”

Rose and Rebecca are members of the chorus for the panto and, despite auditioning at separate times, are sharing the same role.

Grandmother Pat Silver, 62, said: “They’re both completely different sizes, and different types of girl. So it was quite something for them to both get the same role in the chorus.”

It means the couple have now been to see the pantomime twice, once to see Rose perform and the second time to see Rebecca tread the boards.

Mrs Silver said: “We wanted to say we’re so proud of them.

“They were round here the night before the auditions and decided they would help each other practise, so they stood on the high wall outside singing.

“They would then give each other a piece of praise and a piece of criticism – so they’re taking it very seriously.”

Mr Silver, a retired contact lense maker, is currently undergoing his first course of chemotherapy for cancer of the oesophagus and lungs.

He said: “We’re just so lucky to have all our family so close really. We’re just concentrating on making Christmas a really special occasion.”

This year, the Silvers will be spending a quiet Christmas together, before sharing a larger celebration with the rest of their family.

Rose and her parents, Kate and Graham, from Marston, and Rebecca and her parents, Nicki and Marcus, from Cassington, and their son Ben, will all spend Christmas Day together.

Mrs Silver said: “We always make a big fuss at Christmas and this year will be no different.

“It’s lovely to have our children and grandchildren all around us.

“It’s things like this that make you realise how important they are.”