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Man devoted to fostering given surprise of lifetime

Steve Huntley/BBC Bill Adams sits in the driver's seat of his Rolls Royce. He has one hand on the steering wheel and is facing the camera to his left and smiling. He wears a navy coat and glasses. He has short grey hair and a grey beard.Steve Huntley/BBC
Bill Adams and his late wife were gifted a Rolls Royce after they finished fostering children

A man who helped foster over 70 children with his late wife said he was left in "shock" after his beloved Rolls Royce was restored.

Bill Adams, from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, devoted his life to giving others a safe and caring home for over 30 years with his wife Pam who died last December.

The only thing that kept Mr Adams going after her death was their Rolls Royce, but in August the car needed fixing and no garage was able to help.

The Worshipful Company of Carmen, a not-for-profit City Livery Company, took Mr Adams' car to help and, along with some of the children the couple had fostered, surprised him with the restored car.

Steve Huntley/BBC The blue Rolls Royce sits on display in the museum. An exhibition to its right with books and pictures can be seen as well as a dummy wearing an old bus driver uniform.Steve Huntley/BBC
The Rolls Royce was repaired by The Worshipful Company of Carmen

When the time came for Mr and Mrs Adams to stop fostering, their family took out loans and remortgaged their house to buy them a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow - a car they had both dreamed of owning.

In October this year, the car was rusting away on Mr Adams' driveway.

Robert Lodge, a member of The Worshipful Company of Carmen and of Lodge Coaches, took the car to his garage and museum in High Easter, Chelmsford, to bring it back to life.

Mr Adams believed the car was still being worked on, but was surprised with it on display at the museum.

Steve Huntley/BBC Mr Adams stands in front of his Rolls Royce. He shakes hands with Stephen Britt was he passes over the vehicle's keys in the other hand. The men smile as they pose for a photo. Mr Britt wears a blue uniform and has short grey hair with glasses.Steve Huntley/BBC
Stephen Britt (right), a past master of the Worshipful Company of Carmen, attended the event to help surprise Mr Adams

"I'm in shock, I don't think I deserve any of this," he said after the surprise.

"My wife loved the Rolls Royce, it was one of the last conversations [we had]: 'We'll take the Rolls Royce tomorrow,' but we never did it.

"She loved it. I can't wait to drive it home, it's beautiful.

"I have just got to thank everybody, I can't believe it. I didn't even fancy coming here today with my son, but I am very pleased I did to see all my friends, family, foster children and childminding children."

Mr Adams added that it was fantastic to see the children he had helped support and he would "do it again" for them all.

Steve Huntley/BBC Mr Adams stands in front of his Rolls Royce surrounded by his family and the grown up children he had previously fostered, some of which have their own children with them.Steve Huntley/BBC
Mr Adams along with the children he looked after posed for photos after the surprise

The Rolls Royce still requires some restoration work and repairs to its body.

However Mr Adams was able to give it a short drive in front of his loved ones.

Stephen Britt, a past master of the Worshipful Company of Carmen, explained the ancient livery company wanted to get involved because its members knew they could help.

"A few of our liverymen banded together, bashed their brains together and decided let's do something," he said prior to the surprise.

"I should imagine [Bill] will be quite shocked and emotional.

"When he gets used to it I expect the biggest shock will be seeing all of the former foster children that him and his wife Pam had in their care over the years.

"Thanks to his son Darren making contact and making us aware of this project, and what Bill has done over the past 30 years or so for over 70 foster children, it's a fantastic story."

Steve Huntley/BBC Kethry Heather looks slightly away from the camera, half smiling. She stands in front of a bus in the museum. She has long black hair and is wearing a dark grey jumper with a lighter grey turtle neck top underneath. She also has glasses.Steve Huntley/BBC
Kethry Heather believes she is one of the children Mr and Mrs Adams childminded for the longest period

Kethry Heather was childminded by Mr and Mrs Adams from when she was just three months old to the age of 11.

She attended the museum to help surprise Mr Adams.

"They were the second set of parents, they were the adults I went to when I was in trouble," she said.

"When my mum got hurt badly they were the ones I had the hospital call because I knew they'd pick up and they'd come and get me.

"They looked after me as if I was one of their children. I can't imagine who I would be without them, I would be a completely different person.

"Their house was full of love. He deserves the world and I only wish I could give Pammy a hug as well."

Steve Huntley/BBC The blue Rolls Royce is parked in a car park in front of two larger buses.Steve Huntley/BBC
Mr Adams' Rolls Royce needs some more work before it is completely restored

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