Nantwich couple’s three decades of being “mum and dad” to 60 children!

A Nantwich couple are celebrating three decades of being ‘mum and dad’ to 60 children – and the family is getting bigger by the day!

Over the years, Graham and Kerry Christopher have opened their home – and their hearts – to scores of foster children in need of care, guidance and the occasional reminder to tidy their room.

Their 5-bed house in Willaston has been a whirlwind of school runs and packed lunches to bedtime stories and teenage chats around the kitchen table.

Life in the Christopher household has been anything but dull.

It all began in 1996 when the couple signed up to become foster carers.

They already had two little girls at the time, Abi aged four and Beth, two, but for Kerry, who always wanted a big family and Graham, a former YMCA manager, it seemed natural to extend their care to children who needed a stable home.

More than 60 youngsters – they’ve lost count of the exact number – have enjoyed a warm Christopher family welcome since, some only staying for a few days, others well into adulthood.

To the long-stayers, the couple have not only played the role of parents but been called ‘mum and dad’ and sisters and brothers to their biological children.

Currently the couple have five foster kids, aged 13 to 20, which has involved some jiggery-pokery of the house layout to create an extra bedroom downstairs.

Indeed, when it comes to family gatherings the couple have to think big – Keele Hall is booked to celebrate their 30 years of foster care and their 40th wedding anniversary in June.

The brood attending will include their birth children, Abi and Beth, Abi’s son aged 10, former foster kids now in their 30s and 40s and their children.

With Kerry’s 60th birthday soon, there are also plans for a big family holiday in Devon – travel generally is by mini-bus.

With Beth expecting this summer, the family will grow again – but there’s plenty of love to go around.

For Kerry, who combines foster duties with being a social worker, reward is their happiness.

She said: “Fostering has been an immensely challenging yet deeply rewarding experience for our entire family.

“The true reward lies in watching the children and young people we have cared for overcome significant personal challenges, grow into adulthood, build their careers, and form healthy, successful relationships.

“Seeing them become loving, capable parents themselves—and knowing they are living full, happy, and fulfilling lives—is a great privilege, while continuing to be a part of their lives and their children’s lives brings us great joy.”

For Abi, now 34, growing up in a home where a child could turn up any time of the day or night, sharing the attention of mum and dad, was the norm.

She said: “My sister and I are grateful for our mum and dad’s choice to foster and the world that opened up for us.

“We’ve benefited from the people who’ve come into our lives both in a personal and professional way.

“We have a big family who support each other because they choose to rather than have to.

“Our mum and dad have fostered a family spirit so much so that it’s taught all of us what family is like when it’s done right.

“We have been able to witness our parents give children a chance to be safe and pursue their education, interests and a family of their own. It really does take a village!”

For Graham it meant lots of extra hands available to help partition off the lounge to make an extra bedroom.

Several former foster kids now have ‘trades’ – a plumber, joiner, painter and decorator included.

Another is training to become a mechanic, handy when it comes to maintaining the family vehicle – a people carrier!