A Hemel Hempstead couple is reflecting on the amazing work they have done through fostering children for 40 years.
Joan and Reg East, who are both aged 78, first started fostering for Hertfordshire County Council when Joan worked as a secretary to a health visitor and heard about a baby girl in hospital who needed someone to foster her.
Four decades later, they have never looked back.
Reg said: “We have never been empty in our house; we’ve never been without a foster child. We still keep in touch with so many of our foster children. In fact, we went to the wedding of one of our foster children last year!”
Joan said: “Seeing the children bloom is such a lovely feeling. You take them in and they don’t really understand love, but by the time they leave, they’ve started to give love back. It’s a wonderful feeling.”
Despite having three sons of their own, the family has embraced every foster child that has walked through the door, which the couple believes has helped both their sons and the foster children learn about tolerance towards other children.
Councillor Fiona Thomson, Hertfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “It’s truly wonderful that Joan and Reg have given so much of their life to helping so many children.
“We are very grateful to them, as are the many children whose lives they have touched.
To find out more visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/fostering, text FOSTERING to 62277, email fostering.recruitment@hertfordshire.gov.uk or call 0800 917 0925.
Photo credit: Hertfordshire County Council
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