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Fosterers given Royal approval

Ailsa Cranna
12/ 6/2008

A COUPLE who have fostered more than 128 Salford children have received their MBEs in a double presentation at Buckingham Palace.

Jenny and Elvin Rose were awarded their gongs by the Queen and afterwards chatted to her about their work.

Jenny, 66, said: "She asked us whether we kept in touch with any of the children and then praised us for what she said was our ‘wonderful work’. It was a truly amazing experience meeting her."

It was 30 years ago the Roses, who live in Warrington, decided to foster after spotting an advert from Salford council in a local paper.

All their children have been from the Salford area. Some have stayed with them for a few months and others for years

Elvin, 63, a former accounts assistant, and Jenny, an ex-teacher even adopted two.

The couple, who have two grown-up daughters of their own, adopted Penny, who had learning difficulties, and Claire, who had spina bifida and was wheelchair-bound, days after they were born.

Sadly, Penny died aged three and Claire died when she was 12 on Christmas Day, from adult cot death syndrome.

Jenny went on to tell of their experiences in the book ‘Not a Cabbage Rose’, which she explained was named after Claire.

She said: "When we picked her up we were told she would never be anything but a cabbage, but in fact she did amazingly well.

"True, she was in a wheelchair but she went to normal school and was a bright, loving girl and a major part of our lives - as was Penny, and all the other children we have looked after over the years.

"The children often come to us in a disturbed state and it is enormously rewarding to help put them straight and give them a firm foundation for the future."

The couple, who currently have three foster children in their care, took time out for the trip to London, taking their daughters and partners, plus two members of Salford’s social services team.a