IN the news recently there have been two very unfortunate stories where in one instance it is alleged that a foster mum was stabbed to death by the foster son and in the latest an adopted daughter and her children have attempted to murder her father in order to gain their inheritance a bit sooner.

I am worried that this sort of publicity may cause some to question the wisdom of adoption or fostering so am giving an example of the good that can come from the vast majority of adoptions in the hope that not only will decent people not be put off, but that others who had not considered adoption or fostering will do so.

At the end of the 19th century a German couple fleeing persecution arrived in London where they lived happily and had a large family until tragically they both died within a short time span in the early 20th century. The whole family of children were taken in by Sam and Ada Kebbell. There were no benefits claimable in those days, in fact there is no trace of paperwork of adoption. The eldest children kept the surname Cushen, whilst the youngest were known by the new name. My grandfather’s birth certificate shows Harry Cushen and with no paperwork in between his marriage certificate shows Harry Kebbell. It was, it seems, just the done thing in those days.

More recently one of my sons adopted a girl who is, and always has been, one of the family and her children are all hyphenated ‘Kebbells’, as are the children of my other granddaughters. It is going to be a very long time before the wonderful Sam and Ada are forgotten by my family.

So please, please do not be put off adoption or fostering by the odd bad experience you may read about as most, like my own family’s experiences, are just brilliant.

ALAN KEBBELL, Southampton.