Pair who dedicated lives to fostering get MBEs
Published: June 17, 2006
A FOSTER carer in Yorkshire is celebrating his 64th birthday today with the news that he has been made an MBE for looking after more than 300 children over almost three decades.
Keith Cranmer, from Irton near Scarborough, has been honoured along with his wife Audrey for the fostering work with North Yorkshire County Council’s social services department which they began 28 years ago.
The couple, who have four children of their own, have lost track of the exact number of youngsters they have fostered, but they estimate that it could be as many as 350.
They have treasured albums containing photographs of all the children they have looked after, except for a handful they took in for short periods, but Mr and Mrs Cranmer have yet to count up an exact total.
They have both been made MBEs for services to children and families for their epic fostering career, which has seen them look after youngsters for as little as one night, when the child needed to be cared for in an emergency, to as long as nine years.
Mr and Mrs Cranmer have adopted two children from those they have cared for.
But Mr Cranmer was adamant that he should not have been singled out for the honour, and maintained it should recognise the efforts of the whole of his family.
He said: “You have your ups and downs, but it is such a rewarding thing to do. We decided to start fostering because the early part of my life had not been the most harmonious and we wanted to give help to children who were also having difficulties.
“It is tough to let them go especially if you have looked after them for a long period of time. Their parents are often ill or going through a difficult time, and we are here to help.
“A lot of the time the children do go back to their parents, or they find a new home with another family. That decision is nothing to do with us, our job is to care for them while they are with us.
“I really didn’t want to receive the award myself, I prefer to stay in the background. But it is nice for my wife and the rest of the family. We would not have been able to carry on fostering as long as have if it hadn’t been for the help of our own children.
“We have no plans to stop now, we will carry on as long as we can.”
Mr Cranmer, a semi-retired mechanic, and his wife celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in March. They are currently fostering a two-and-a-half-year-old girl they have looked after since she was six days old.
Despite the honour, Mr Cranmer is planning to mark his 64th birthday with only a small party with his family and friends tonight.
Mrs Cranmer said: “It is lovely to be honoured in this way and to think that we are thought of this highly. A lot of the children we have looked after have had a lot of problems, and it is wonderful to see them start smiling again during their stay with us.
“It is so rewarding, and it is so sad to see them go.”
Another foster carer from Yorkshire has also been honoured. Wendy Daykin from Sheffield was recognised for services to children and families.
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