Politics
How family-of-24 the Radfords mark birthdays with balloon-filled teepees in the garden & expensive gifts for the kids
WITH 22 kids in their massive brood, it would be easy for Britain’s biggest family, the Radfords, to forget their children’s birthdays.
But mum Sue, 45, and Noel Radford, 48, make sure no family member is left behind, spoiling every family member with presents, cake and treats on their big day – as Ellie’s 16th proved this week.
The Radford family posted on their Instagram page about how Ellie had celebrated the milestone birthday.
“It was Ellie’s 16th birthday yesterday so today we surprised her with this. Happy birthday Ellie we hope you have the best night sweetheart.”
Accompanying the caption, they pictured a teepee in the garden with cosy throws, cushions and hampers full of sweet treats. It looked like she was having an outdoor sleepover.
Meanwhile, there were also films on offer.
Just days earlier Tillie turned 11 – and received a guitar which she proudly posed with on the same Instagram apge.
But how do they do it? Proud parents Noel and Sue have shared a number of tips over the years which help ensure each of their 22 kids’ birthdays are a day to remember
A typical birthday will begin by family members assembling in the living room of the Radfords’ family home, a former care home in Morecambe, Lancs.
Mum and Dad, Sue and Noel, live with most of their kids in a former care home in Morecambe [/caption]
The kids are often spoiled with balloons [/caption]
That’s exactly what the parents did for eight-year-old Casper, who recently celebrated his birthday, which Sue and Noel documented on their YouTube channel.
The children receive a pile of presents from the whole family, rather than 21 different gifts from each sibling.
Sue and Noel carefully select gifts for their brood, giving 17-year-old Katie a pair of fresh white Nike Air Force 1s and clothes, while four-year-old Phoebe had LOL Surprise gifts, a new Barbie, and a life-size doll.
Little Casper was thrilled to unwrap a scooter on his big day[/caption]
45-year-old Sue fancies herself as a “demon wrapper” and is the one in charge of wrapping and hiding the kids’ pressies.
The couple spend an estimated £30,000 a year of their own money bringing up their children – including birthdays with a reported budget of £100 per child and Christmas at £100 to £250 per child.
CrissiCupcake recently made this amazing LOL Surprise themed cake for one of the kids[/caption]
Phoebe’s birthday cake was this posh fruity number[/caption]
Millie recently said the place is like a constant ‘kids party’ from the amount of children running around, and the family have proven they know how to put on an impressive spread.
When it comes to birthday cakes, every child gets their own bumper-sized cake to dine out on.
Noel is a professional baker and runs his own bakery, so he knows how to whip up the perfect dessert at home, although the family do sometimes buy extra-special cakes.
The family welcomed its latest addition after Millie gave birth to daughter Ophelia in September[/caption]
Sue and Noel fork out for 22 gifts each year, and that’s not including Christmas [/caption]
Before lockdown the supersized-family enjoyed birthday meals in restaurants, cocktails and even holidays while celebrating their milestones.
The weekly food bill for the family usually comes in at around £300 but they splash out even more for birthdays, treating the kids to a meal out or ordering a huge takeaway for everyone.
As well as having 22 kids Sue and Noel also have six grandchildren [/caption]
Sue and Noel used to enjoy restaurant meals and trips away for birthdays before lockdown [/caption]
Each member of the Radford clan gets an Instagram post dedicated to them, posted by mum Sue.
For son Casper, Sue shared a trio of snaps over the years, as the lad turned eight earlier this month.
She wrote: “He said to me this morning ‘I can’t believe I’m 6 that means I can make myself a drink and make my breakfast because I’m a big boy’.”
But it’s not just the little kids who get a shout from mum, as Sue also shared snaps from her older children’s special days.
The older kids have a more grown up party – including alcohol [/caption]
They looked a little different to the kids’ parties, though, with Chloe sipping on cocktails
Sue wrote: “Massive happy birthday to @millieeradfordd 19 today. Have a brilliant day sweetheart.
“Enjoying a cocktail with @itschloeradford_makeup for her birthday tomorrow.”
Sue is experienced in birthday parties after throwing more than 20 first birthday bashes [/caption]
The mum also visits the grave of her 17th child, Alfie, who was sadly stillborn in 2014, every year.
Sue tragically wrote: “Happy 5th birthday to our beautiful boy Alfie. I know you’ll be having a lovely party with your grandad up in the cloud.
“I would give anything to hold you again and kiss your beautiful lips. We love you Alfie always and forever.”
The year in Radford birthdays
March
3rd Daniel (22)
22nd Sue (46)
April
3rd Heidie (1)
9th Jack (24)
21st Aimee (15)
May
2nd Tillie (11)
6th Ellie (16)
7th Christopher (32)
June
3rd Hallie (6)
July
3rd Josh (14)
24th Phoebe (5)
31st Chloe (26)
August
29th Millie (20)
September
18th Archie (4)
October
1st Luke (21)
3rd Casper (9)
16th James (18)
22nd Oscar (10)
November
6th Bonnie (2)
14th Katie (18)
December
11th Max (12)
13th Sophie (27)
24th Noel (50)
The Radford’s are Britain’s biggest family, and are parents to Chris, 31, Sophie, 25, Chloe, 24, Jack, 22, Daniel, 20, Luke, 19, Katie, 17, James, 16, Ellie, 15, Aimee, 14, Josh, 12, Max, 11, Tillie, nine, Oscar, eight, Casper, eight, Hallie, four, Phoebe, three, Archie, three, and Bonnie, one, and Heidie – who was born in April.
The parents famously don’t claim benefits and rely on Noel’s bakery business to make ends meet.
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Meanwhile mum-of-22 Sue Radford shares her kids’ first day back at school with tears & piles of uniforms everywhere.
And Sue reveals she hoovers her LAWN with £600 cordless Dyson to keep it pristine.
Plus these are the first snaps of Ophelia as Britain’s biggest family gets even bigger as Millie Radford, 19, gives birth to baby daughter.
