MBEs for fostering Moray couple
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When the Royal official first rang Joyce and Ronnie Loveland to say they had been made MBEs they put the phone down on him.
He called back and the very same thing happened again.
Recalling the shock moment a fortnight ago, Joyce said: "I just thought it was a crank call – you get so many of them these days.
"But the man rang back once more and said, 'please don't hang up Mrs Loveland'."
The news has now been made public that the kind-hearted Mosstodloch couple have been honoured for their incredible efforts over the last 41 years.
During that long stretch of time they have fostered about a hundred children in total.
Joyce said: "Many of those who we fostered still keep in touch with us. In fact, we've already had several calls this morning to congratulate us.
"We're not people who like a lot of fuss, but it's an honour to be recognised like this."
Joyce and Ronnie, a retired Moray Council worker, have four children of their own, plus 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Added to that, they also adopted a pair of twin girls who first came to them as nine-week-old babies.
Both aged 32 now, Deline lives in Mosstodloch, while Dorothy is a teacher at Buckie High School.
Due to the pandemic the couple will not be able to travel to St James's Palace to meet the Queen.
Instead they are likely to be officially handed their honour some time during the summer at a ceremony in Moray.
Although in their 70s, Joyce and Ronnie still continue to foster.
Joyce said: "It's a lot of hard work but we both love children – and it's so rewarding."
Last year the pair were given a long service award by the Moray Placement Services.
At the time a spokesperson for the services spoke of the high regard in which the couple are held for their skills and experience.
They added: "All of this is done with humility, a genuine warmth and sense of humour, and an obvious love of what they continue to do."
