Type=image;ImageID=9386;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Alan and Jackie Bennett;TitleClass=strong;
Type=image;ImageID=9384;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Kath and Roy Shayler;TitleClass=strong;
Alan and Jackie Bennett and Kath and Roy Shayler, who between them have fostered nearly 330 children over the last 4 decades, were awarded their MBEs for services to children and families in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.
And they were invited to formally receive them at special investiture ceremonies at Buckingham Palace earlier this month.
Kath and Roy Shayler, who have looked after more than 150 children and young people over the last 43 years, received their MBEs from the Queen.
Kath said: "The Queen talked to us for quite a time, asking us about fostering, how many children had we had, whether they came from difficult backgrounds and so on.
"She also asked how long we had fostered for and I told her 40 years but that we are hoping to go on for 60 - this made her smile and she said 'I do hope so'."
Roy added: "To say it was a wonderful experience is quite an understatement, and we can't thank the Fostering for Wolverhampton team at the City of Wolverhampton Council enough for putting our names forward for the award."
Alan and Jackie Bennett, who have fostered 179 children over the last 40 years, received their MBEs from Prince William.
Alan said: "Prince William talked to us in some detail about our fostering experiences. We took some of our adopted children with us and we all had a wonderful time at the Palace and sightseeing in London."
Jackie added: "It was an honour and a fantastic experience which we will never forget."
Emma Bennett, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Service Director for Children and Young People, said: "We are delighted that the remarkable dedication and commitment to the children and young people of Wolverhampton shown by Alan and Jackie Bennett and Kath and Roy Shayler was recognised in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.
"As they have discovered over the last 40 years, fostering is an incredibly rewarding experience, both for them and the hundreds of children and young people they have cared for, and we'd be delighted to hear from anyone else who is interested in becoming a foster carer with the City of Wolverhampton Council."
For more information about fostering, please visit Type=articles;Articleid=3758;Title=Fostering; or call the Fostering for Wolverhampton team on 01902 551133.
- released: Wednesday 30 March, 2016