Mum in a million writes book
Mavis Humby and her husband, Patrick, spend four decades as foster carers, looking after more than 100 children, from babies to teenagers.
Now Mrs Humby has written a book about her life caring for 'Other People's Children'.
The couple's first foster child stepped over their threshold, when their own son and daughter were just three and four years old.
There then followed 40 years of welcoming children into their home, many of them frightened and needing reassurance.
Some stayed a few months, some stayed many years, all given a loving family home.
Mrs Humby, 77, said there could be up to five foster children at one time, growing up with their own two children.
Speaking when they retired from foster caring in 2013 she said: "We have been really fortunate in seeing many of them grow up to be parents themselves.
“If I had a chance I would do it all over again. Fostering is incredibly rewarding and we have had many, many happy memories of the children who have come to stay – including all the holidays in our caravan over the years. But it could sometimes be extremely hard work.
“You do have to accept that they will not be with you for ever, and that finding a permanent home is the very best thing that can happen,” said Mavis. “But you are bound to get a little attached.
“All you can hope is that – for the time you have them – you’ve given them care and security, a firm foundation, and that this will stay with them. We’re so proud of all the children who’ve been with us for what they’ve achieved and for who they are.”
In 1996 Mrs Humby was crowned Mum in a Million in a national competition, nominated by one of her foster children.
The book ‘Other People’s Children is available from Amazon.
