An RAF Veteran in his 80s is now helping vulnerable young people to spread their wings and achieve their true potential as a Somerset foster carer.

"I'm probably one of the oldest, single foster carers in the country I would think," said Nigel, an 88 year old carer who has been fostering with Somerset Council for four years.

''I went to fostering because I lost my wife around 5 or 6 years ago now; we'd been married for 50 years and I didn't want to spend the rest of my life just sitting in front of a television doing nothing. I wanted to do something worthwhile, and not only that, I didn't want to be alone and wanted to stay young."

Born in the 1930s, Nigel experienced first-hand a number of momentous historical events during his childhood, including Winston Churchill's time in office and the Second World War.

"I was an Air Cadet as a boy and had a marvellous time doing that. In those days you could have a flying scholarship, and they'd teach you to fly in the school holidays. I had a flying licence when I was still a schoolboy, long before I had a driving licence''

''I never intended to go into the Air Force as a career. I wanted to be a surgeon but had no chance of that as I couldn't afford University. I only joined the RAF for National Service."

Britain's National Service conscription was introduced in 1949, with more than 2 million men aged between 18-21 'called up' to serve in the Army, Royal Navy or Royal Air Force.

"I got a ground commission as a secretarial officer looking after new recruits. After a year or so I decided I might stay in if I could switch to flying, and luckily I did get on to flying training.''

"I managed to collar a lot of flying trophies and things like that, and when I emerged from training I was offered a permanent flying commission which was uncommon. Normally you'd have to go to Cramwell for that. So there I was, ready to go off to my first squadron."

Once qualified, Nigel defied the odds and took an untraditional path to become the British fighter jet pilot he'd aspired to be, having initially been told there would be no further opportunities to train on the single seat jets.

"When I got my wings I wanted to fly fighters, but I was told by our Station Commander, the famous Airman Johnny Johnson, to forget it and choose something else, but that's a whole other story," Nigel said.

"I only ever got on to fighters by breaking every rule in the book. I'd already been in trouble during initial training and warned I'd be thrown out of the Air Force if I did anything else, and then at our OCU my two chums and I were caught having a hoolie at 10,000 feet when this Vampire Fighter appeared out of the blue. We landed and waited for the axe to fall but it never did. Several weeks later all three of us received the shock news we'd been posted to train on fighter jets at a time when they were cutting back furiously. Some years later I learned it was Johnny Johnson in that Vampire Fighter. But it was different back then, and it's an amazing thing that I even got onto them in the first place."

Though Nigel is no longer thrill-seeking from the seat of an aircraft, he is certainly living life to the full and enjoying the special moments fostering has brought to his life. 

"My foster son and I both like cars and I still like fast things. We went go karting at Haynes Motor Museum a while ago which was fun.

"One of my favourite memories with my foster son was standing at the front of the Pyramid Stage watching Coldplay headline Glastonbury Festival this year. Stewards helped us make it to the front where my daughter had been waiting all day, so we were all there together. It was absolutely fantastic, best thing they've ever done there and my foster son loved it too."

Foster carers need to be aged 21 or over with a spare room in their home, but there is no upper age limit. Wisdom and experience is a bonus, with full training and ongoing support provided including weekly payments to help support you financially.

"When my foster child first came to me I didn't know if it would work. There aren't many teenagers that would want to live with an 80-something old man. I could well understand if he'd said 'you've got to be joking'. But I am so glad it worked out because he is a wonderful kid. Wonderful'.''

"Fostering is quite a thing. I foster teenagers and it certainly keeps me busy. It might be too much for some people, but it has great advantages. Being retired I have 24 hours a day I can devote to this child, and I have grown-up children and grandchildren who are all really supportive. It's a family here they are joining, not just a house and a home. From the day my foster child arrived I said 'my family are yours now'."

Cllr Heather Shearer, Lead Member for Children, Families and Education said ''As we approach Remembrance Day, I'd very much like to thank Nigel for the many ways he has and continues to dedicate his life to others, as an RAF Veteran and as a Somerset Council foster carer. We absolutely need more people like Nigel to provide nurturing homes for local children, where they too can be inspired to achieve their dreams."

Though there is a particular need for full-time carers to provide long-term homes for children, you don't have to foster full time. There are flexible options available to suit carers' lifestyles and the level of commitment they can offer, such as occasional care of a child just one weekend a month or during school holidays.

For more information on fostering, visit www.fosteringinsomerset.org.uk or call 0800 587 9900 and speak to our friendly team. You're not committing to anything by getting in touch to find out more, and you could change a child's story.