'No regrets' for foster mum who's cared for 40 children

'It's a challenging but brilliant job'

- GEORGE LYTHGOE

ALMOST two decades ago, Jennifer Nash was just a mother of three, working in a post office. Then one day she came across a banner that changed her life.

It was a catalyst that steered her next career step, just over half a century into her life, but the signs were always there.

Jennifer admitted that during her time at the post office, she would see children coming in who looked 'neglected, and think to herself 'I could take them in and look after them'.

Now, 18 years on, Jennifer has cared for more than 40 children from the Tameside area as a foster mother, including twin girls for an 11-year period something she reflects on as hard work, but rewarding.

The 73-year-old believes it is 'a natural thing' to be a mother, and 'a brilliant job' to take care of a child. When casting her mind back to that day, seeing the banner advertising fostering, it is safe to say she has no regrets.

Even though she has looked after dozens of children, she still keeps in touch with many of them.

Jennifer admitted she thinks about all those she has cared for on a regular basis, wondering what they are up to and what they are doing now.

"Very often it depends how long you've known them, how well you get on with the parents or the adoptive parents, whether they stay in touch," the Oldham resident explained. "A child I picked up who was three hours old, who is 11 now, always says that she has three mums, her birth mum, her adopted mum and me - which is nice.

"It is difficult (seeing them go). We are only human. I have looked after a baby that went on to adoption and I never saw them again.