Category: West
TV
Date: 31.01.2005
Printable version
TV personality and mother of three Melinda Messenger
decides she wants more children after looking after one of the biggest
families in Britain for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE's Inside Out.
Inside Out, on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE West (Monday
31 January), follows Melinda as she meets the Povey family from Swindon
who have a staggering 15 children.
Melinda, 33, had always wanted a large family. She gave up this dream
after suffering from severe post-natal depression with her last child.
She considered fostering - having vowed never to have more children
of her own - but, after spending just 24 hours with the Poveys, Melinda
reveals: "I did tell Wayne last night, 'That's it, we're going to have
another baby' and he said, 'Oh no, can't we just wait a few more years'
and I said, 'No, eggs are ticking!'"
From sweeping the floors to reading bedtime stories, Inside Out sees
Melinda mucking in with all of the daily household tasks.
Each day brings nine separate loads of washing, so it's Melinda's job
to find enough radiator space to dry it all on.
Melinda learns what a mammoth task looking after 15 children really
is.
The children range from 22 months to 24 years and all live under one
roof, with the exception of the eldest son who studies at university.
Incredibly, it doesn't phase Melinda. In fact, it has the opposite
effect.
"It's been such an eye-opener, not like anything I thought it would
be. I thought you would not have a minute's rest or peace, but the reality
is I've found the opposite.
"I've got three children and it's harder work than being here
with Sue and all her family because the older ones help out the younger
ones.
"Everyone is helping one another and with that order, that structure,
life is easier," Melinda explains.
"Large families are a lot of love, a lot of good times, lots of fun
- a bit of hard work - but nothing a cup of tea and a rest won't cure,"
she adds.
Sue and the family were very impressed with the way Melinda embraced
their regimented routine.
Sue compliments Melinda: "You've done really well. You've always had
a lot of patience, and a smile on your face, which is really important."
Sue and Ian Povey live in a detached house in Swindon. They have eight
girls and seven boys and Sue has been pregnant for 11 years of her life.
In the programme Melinda discovers how this huge family is run with
military precision, but with a great sense of fun too.
Each week the family get through: 96 pints of milk; 16 loaves of bread;
14 litres of squash; 10 packets of cereal; and 60 loo rolls.
When going on holiday, it takes an hour to put suncream on, they take
up three chalets at Butlins and have to hire a minibus to get there.
A routine trip to the dentist closes the surgery for an afternoon
and even the local hospital, where the children were born, now has a
ward called The Povey Ward.
Inside Out, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE West, Monday 31 January, 7.30pm
