18/06/2026
This isn’t floristry related, but it’s something I feel I need to say.
Like many people, I’ve been following the heartbreaking news surrounding little Preston. I am absolutely shocked, saddened, and disgusted by what this poor child endured. As a father myself, it genuinely brings me to tears thinking about what he must have gone through.
There’s been a lot of discussion in the media and on social media about adoption and, in particular, gay people adopting children. If you don’t know me personally, I’m a gay man, and my partner and I adopted three children. One of our daughters is now 22 years old, a wonderful mother herself, and we’ve been blessed with a beautiful grandson.
When we went through the adoption process, the checks were incredibly thorough. There were background checks, deep dives into our lives, social media reviews, family interviews, friends being spoken to, and countless assessments. The process was rightly rigorous.
Where I believe the system falls short is after the adoption has been completed.
Yes, social workers carry out visits and checks initially, but once a child is considered settled and safe, services often have to step back. I don’t believe that’s because they don’t care. I believe it’s because social services are desperately underfunded and many social workers are carrying impossible workloads.
There are good and bad people in every walk of life. There are good and bad adopters. There are good and bad social workers. There are good and bad gay people, and good and bad straight people. What happened to this poor little boy has absolutely nothing to do with sexuality. Blaming an entire group of people for the actions of individuals helps nobody.
What this case does highlight is the need for better support and monitoring. I genuinely believe there should be regular welfare checks for at least two to three years after an adoption, particularly for children who have already experienced difficult starts in life. Many children may be frightened to speak out or may not know how to ask for help.
Social workers need the funding, resources, and time to do their jobs properly. They need support so that warning signs are not missed and vulnerable children remain protected.
Most importantly, this little boy was failed. Failed by the adults who should have loved and protected him. Failed by a system that should have kept him safe.
Tonight, I simply ask that you spare a thought for baby Preston and the unimaginable suffering he endured.
Rest in peace, little man. You deserved so much better.
And I sincerely hope that lessons are learned from this tragedy, that improvements are made, and that no other child has to suffer in the same way again.
God bless, Preston. 💙
