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Sue Radford reveals 22nd baby’s name and says family get death stares on the street as they exercise during lockdown


SHE is the most experienced mum in Britain — but Sue Radford was more terrified about the birth of the 22nd child than she was her first.

This time, after leaving isolation with husband Noel to go the hospital, Sue was only allowed to enter the maternity ward after she had been screened for Covid-19.

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 Britain's biggest family, the Radfords, welcomed their newest member Heidie Rose last Friday
Britain's biggest family, the Radfords, welcomed their newest member Heidie Rose last Friday

But once there she felt an overwhelming sense of calm — and after midwives lavished her with care and attention, the couple welcomed a beautiful 7lb girl into the world at 10.01pm a week last Friday.

And The Sun can reveal that over the weekend the family named their new arrival Heidie Rose.

Now 44-year-old Sue — whose other kids range in age from 17 months to 30 years — is facing the new challenge of weeks in lockdown at the family’s ten-bed house in Morecambe, Lancs.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun the supermum said: “The ten-hour labour was hard. But now we have weeks of isolation with a newborn baby. Let the crazy times begin.

“Only two of the kids have flown the nest, so we are all home now for the foreseeable.”

 The beautiful 7lb girl has been named Heidie Rose
The beautiful 7lb girl has been named Heidie RoseCredit: @theradfordfamily

‘THIS REALLY WILL BE LAST’

Shopping for Britain’s biggest family means Sue’s shopping list already included 100 nappies, 16 loaves of bread, 114 pints of milk, 48 large eggs, 3kg of pasta, 24 chicken breasts and 28 toilet rolls.

So it was inevitable that she would hit problems once supermarkets began clamping down last month on shoppers emptying their shelves.

Sue said: “I am the original panic buyer. All the shopping I ever do looks like I am clearing the shelves of toilet roll.

“When I walk out of a supermarket I am like the people you see on the news.

 Supermum Sue Radford shared a picture of all the Easter eggs she bought her brood
Supermum Sue Radford shared a picture of all the Easter eggs she bought her broodCredit: Instagram

“There are limits now on the amount I can buy of each thing but it is pointless for me to buy two packets of chicken breast or 12 eggs. That wouldn’t even feed everyone for a light lunch.

“We managed to get one delivery before the baby was born but it is already running low and I can’t get another slot.

“The older kids have to run to the shops to get the essentials.

“They go to the corner shop for one packet of four toilet rolls and it only lasts us one day.”

 The family also filled their lounge with a Domino’s delivery after Sue gave birth
The family also filled their lounge with a Domino’s delivery after Sue gave birthCredit: Instagram/Radford Family

Noel, 49, and Sue live with 19 of their kids. Christopher, their eldest, lives with his girlfriend and is dad to Masie, two, and Jacob, eight months.

The couple’s second child Sophie has also left home. She has a partner and is mum to Daisy, seven, Ayprill, five and Leo, four.

Tragically, one of Sue’s children, named Alfie, was stillborn in 2014. Sue and Noel, who are both adopted, support their family by running their own successful pie delivery service and only claim standard child benefits.

Sue added: “We know suppliers through the bakery who we can get meat from, so I think we will have to start looking into getting our food that way soon.

“Buying nappies will be a problem if I can’t get any. Archie and Bonnie are still in nappies and now I need newborn ones for the baby.”

Her shop

Includes...

100 nappies

16 loaves of bread

114 pints of milk

48 large eggs

3kg of pasta

24 chicken breasts

28 toilet rolls

4kg minced beef

80 chicken nuggets

20 boxes of cereal

14 litres juice

But the pair remain relatively unfazed by the impact of the global health pandemic and say they are used to working together as a team.

They got hitched when Sue was 17 and say their marriage has never had any serious difficulties, despite the constant stream of children.

Noel underwent a vasectomy during the ninth pregnancy but then had it reversed. The couple have claimed “this is the last” after their past four pregnancies.

But Sue, who has spent around 6,000 days of her life pregnant, said: “We are so glad to have the baby here with us now. And I really do think this will be the last.

 Sue says she was more terrified about the birth of her 22nd child than she was her first due to Covid-19
Sue says she was more terrified about the birth of her 22nd child than she was her first due to Covid-19Credit: Radford Family

“I am actually looking forward to having a lot of time at home with all the kids around me and the baby. Everyone gets on well. We have the odd fight, like all families, but it is always best to be together when hard times happen like this.

“One thing we won’t be is bored.”

The years of experience running a household packed to the rafters with kids has meant the Radfords are certainly well equipped to stay entertained during the lockdown.

They own seven bikes, six scooters, 15 balls, four Xboxes, two gaming computers, six tablets, 40 soft toys, five board games, ten dolls and 60 toy cars.

They also have two swings, a slide and a 150sq metre garden to play with their four sets of tennis rackets.

Sue, who has been home tutoring her huge brood since schools closed last month, said:

“The timing worked quite well because I had the baby when the school Easter holidays had started, so I don’t feel like they are missing out on classwork.

 Sue, 44, shared this adorable picture of her newest baby, who was born during lockdown
Sue, 44, shared this adorable picture of her newest baby, who was born during lockdownCredit: Instagram

‘WE GET DEATH STARES’

“I basically became a full-time teacher for the kids before the baby came. I had 18 of my own children in my makeshift classroom. That is bigger in terms of headcount than some primary school classes.

“The older kids do help me out a lot so that makes things easier.

“Apart from that, it is a lot of paint, a lot of paper, a lot of games and lots of tears and tantrums. We have lots of laughs as well and distractions from boredom come in thick and fast, believe me. I feel like at the moment we have our own lovely bubble and we can all get to know the baby.

“We have bought extra board games and downloaded some quizzes.

 The family say they get 'death stares' during their daily exercise as people think they are breaking the lockdown
The family say they get 'death stares' during their daily exercise as people think they are breaking the lockdownCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

“The kids are good and play together so that takes pressure off.”

But going for walks, along with shopping, is causing a problem for the Radfords. The family are getting “death stares” for taking their daily exercise together.

Sue added: “It is funny really. People who don’t know we are a family think we are breaking the law by having a social gathering.

“We are getting death stares from people. They think we are having a kids’ birthday party or something.

“When we take the baby on her first walk in the pram all of the children will want to come. So that will mean 21 of us walking down the street to the fields nearby.

“It looks like a small parade. I understand why people might give us looks, but there is nothing we can do.

“I guess you don’t get 21 people that live in the same household in many places.”

Her brood

Chris, 30

Sophie, 26

Chloe, 24

Jack, 22

Daniel, 21

Luke, 19

Millie, 18

Katie, 17

James, 16

Ellie, 14

Aimee, 13

Josh, 12

Max, 11

Tillie, nine

Oscar, eight

Casper, seven

Hallie, four

Phoebe, three

Archie, two

Bonnie, 17 months

Heidie Rose, 10 days

And, of course, at the well-prepared Radford residence there is already a procedure in place if a member of the brood does develop Covid-19 symptoms.

Sue said: “We made a plan weeks ago as a family.

“We spoke to the children about how important it is to keep away from people and wash their hands.

“But we said if someone does get it then they will isolate themselves in the basement.

“It’s self-contained and has a bathroom and two bedrooms.

“Millie, Jack and Daniel are down there at the moment and they would come up and share with the other boys. Millie could go in with Chloe, who has a room of her own.

“Then we could leave food out, and I have paracetamol ready.”

For now, the symptom-free family are focused on their newest member.

Sue said: “She is the best distraction we could ask for.

“The kids are completely besotted with her.

“They all waited for a turn to have a cuddle with her when we first got home and they can’t put her down.

“We can’t register the birth because of coronavirus. The registry office is closed.

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“We had to have the name ending in an ‘e’, like the other Radford girls.

“We liked Heidie when I was expecting Bonnie so it was always on the cards.

“The kids loved it the most, though, and that’s why we’ve chosen it. It really suits her.”

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Supermum Sue Radford has given birth to baby number 22
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