Foster couple thought New Year Honours a wind-up

A foster couple recognised in the New Year Honours list were so taken aback they initially assumed it was a wind-up.

Michelle and Simon Hawkins from Burntwood, in Staffordshire, each received a letter in November stating they were to be conferred with a British Empire Medal (BEM).

The medals honoured their longstanding services to foster care, having provided homes to about 20 children over 12 years.

"It was an absolute shock and an absolute privilege that someone has felt that we do such a fantastic job for the children we look after," Ms Hawkins said.

Her husband added: "I thought it was a wind-up, to be honest, because I do play a few tricks."

He said the couple's social worker was also sceptical at first and thought he was "winding her up".

The pair described how their birth children had helped over the years with settling other young people into the busy household.

Their daughter, currently studying at university, has been inspired by the experience to become a social worker when she graduates.

Ms Hawkins said she loved to watch successive young people go on to thrive, including a mother and baby they once fostered.

"That was absolutely rewarding and lovely to see her flourish and keep the baby and move on," she said.

Once they verified and digested the news of the BEMs, the couple managed to keep it a secret for weeks until the formal announcements on Monday.

But, they remain baffled over who nominated them.

"It would be lovely to know who thinks so highly of us," Ms Hawkins said. "I'd love to know who it was, just to say thank you."

"It's just something that I've never expected," her husband added. "It's a job that we do, and a job that we love to do, to be honest - really rewarding."

Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [email protected]