“A Little Piece of My Heart Goes With Them”: Christine Lunn’s Lifetime of Love Through Fostering

When Christine Lunn talks about fostering, she doesn’t speak about awards or achievements. Instead, she talks about love and care.

For more than five decades, Christine has opened her home to over 200 babies and children from across Rotherham, providing short-term and emergency fostering while plans for their long-term future were being made. During some of the most uncertain moments in their young lives, her home became a place of safety, stability and care. In recognition of this remarkable contribution, Christine received the Freedom of the Borough at a ceremony at Rotherham Town Hall on Friday 13th March.

But for Christine, recognition has never been the reason she fostered.

“I was totally shocked when they told me,” she says.

“I said ‘why?’ I’ve always felt the children have given me far more than I’ve given them. It’s been a privilege to be trusted to look after them.” 

Despite the recognition, Christine remains characteristically humble about the honour.

In fact, when asked about receiving the Freedom of the Borough, she was quick to turn the spotlight back onto others.

“There are many, many foster carers in Rotherham doing the same job I am,” she says. “They’re all doing an exceptional job for children. I do feel a little strange being singled out, to be honest, because we’re all doing this for the same reason.”

For Christine, the award is less about personal recognition and more about shining a light on the wider fostering community across the borough.

“We’ve got such a wonderful group of foster carers here in Rotherham,” she says. “They all deserve recognition for what they do.” For Christine, fostering has always been about something very simple: making children feel loved. “I hope they remember how much they were loved,” she says. “All we wanted was the best we could give them.”

How it all began

Christine and her late husband Peter began fostering in 1975, when their daughter was just six years old. The idea first came from the playgroup Christine helped at in her local community.

“I’d always loved children and wanted to do something with them,” she explains. “Someone suggested fostering and we thought we’d find out more about it.”

More than five decades later, she often reflects on that moment as the beginning of a journey that would change the lives of hundreds of children.

A family commitment

Fostering was never just Christine’s role. It became part of everyday life for the whole family. Her daughter grew up in a home where new babies and children regularly arrived needing care and reassurance. Later, when Christine’s son was born, he too grew up in a household where fostering was simply part of family life.

“Our children were amazing,” Christine says. “They welcomed the children just like we did.” She remembers feeling grateful that her children never showed jealousy about the attention the foster children needed. “They just accepted them as part of the family.”

Over time, the house became a place where children returned years later to visit, where old photographs covered the walls, and where Christine’s own children saw first-hand how love and stability could change a child’s life.

“It made them very socially aware,” she says. “They understood that some children needed extra support.”

And Peter, she says, was at the heart of it all. “He used to say he was the ‘bottle washer’,” Christine recalls with a smile. “That was his job. But he did everything. We really did it together as a family.” 

Peter would spend time feeding babies, playing with the children, and helping them develop confidence. Christine remembers one little boy with special needs who doctors believed would never walk. “But before he left us he was riding a bike and kicking a football,” she says. “Peter spent so much time encouraging him.” Peter sadly passed away several years ago, but Christine continues fostering today. “I couldn’t have done it without him. But I think he would be proud that I carried on.”

A home full of memories

Christine’s house today is filled with memories of the children she has cared for. There are photographs everywhere, on the walls, in albums, and in boxes carefully stored away. And when a child moves on from her home, Christine always gives them something special: a memory album. Inside every album she writes the same message. “A child is like a butterfly flying in the wind. Some can fly higher than others. But each one flies the best it can. Why compare one against another? Each one is different. Each one is special. Each one is beautiful.” 

“To me,” she says, “that’s exactly how it is.”

The albums contain photos from birthdays, Christmases, trips out and everyday moments that matter.

“They love looking at them,” Christine says. “And when they grow up, those memories belong to them.”

Letting children fly

One of the hardest parts of fostering is saying goodbye. Christine doesn’t pretend it ever becomes easy.

“It breaks my heart every time,” she says. “But if it didn’t hurt, you’ve not done it right.” 

Children move on to their forever families, or sometimes back to their birth parents when circumstances improve.

“You’re happy because they’re going on to a better future,” she says. “That’s what we’re all in it for.”

Many of the children she cared for come back years later to visit. Some bring their own families. Others still send Christmas cards or messages to let her know how they’re doing.

Some of the very first children she fostered are now grandparents themselves. 

“It’s lovely to see them grow up and be happy,” she says. “What more could you ask for?”

Why Rotherham has always been home

Despite more than five decades of fostering, Christine has never considered fostering anywhere else.

“I’ve never been tempted to go anywhere else,” she says. “The fostering team at Rotherham has always supported me.”

For Christine, the support from Fostering Rotherham and the wider fostering community has made all the difference.

“The social workers and fostering team are fantastic,” she says. “There’s always someone there when you need them.” 

Over the years she has also been part of the local fostering community, attending coffee mornings, training sessions and support groups where carers share experiences and advice.

“Everyone helps each other,” she says. “It really feels like a community.”

For Christine, fostering locally has always been important too.

“Looking after children from your own community means they can stay close to their schools, their families and the places they know,” she says.

The heart of fostering

When asked what makes a good foster carer, Christine’s answer is simple.

“Empathy. Kindness. And being able to love and then let go.”

“You never stop loving them though,” she adds. “Every single one of them is still inside my heart.” 

After more than 50 years, Christine still feels the same way she did when she first started.

“If I could turn the clock back, I would do exactly the same,” she says. “To know that you’ve helped children feel safe, loved and able to thrive… that’s the most wonderful feeling.”

Could you make a difference too?

Across Rotherham today, there are still children who need the same care and stability that Christine has provided for so many years.

Christine’s message to anyone thinking about fostering is simple.

“If you have love in your heart, time, patience and the space, I would say go ahead and do it,” she says. 

If Christine’s story has inspired you, Fostering Rotherham would love to hear from you. You don’t need to be perfect, just someone willing to offer a safe, caring home to a child who needs it.

Visit www.fosteringrotherham.co.uk or call 01709 357370 for an informal chat about becoming a foster carer.

Because sometimes, the biggest difference in a child’s life starts with opening your door, just as Christine did all those years ago.

You can also read the BBC News article on Christine's civic honour here.