From Guests to Grandchildren
When Lesley and her husband, Ian, first opened their home to international students on New Years Eve 2005, they couldn’t have known how far those connections would reach. Over the next fourteen years, she and Ian welcomed more than a hundred and seventy student visits through their doors. Each brought their own stories, cultures and experiences. One visit would leave a lasting imprint on their lives.
Seventeen years ago, a young Sri Lankan woman named Tharindu and her husband came to stay with them over the Easter holidays. What began as a short cultural exchange quickly grew into something far deeper. Their time together was easy and natural — shared meals, gentle conversations, and attending church over the Easter weekend. It was the kind of connection that doesn’t need effort; it simply unfolds. And then, it didn’t end.
While many hosting experiences are cherished in the moment, few continue to flourish years later. But for Lesley and Ian, Tharindu never truly left. What started as a hosting placement gradually became a lifelong bond — one that has only grown richer with time, now the family lives less than twenty miles away.
This April has marked a particularly special milestone. Tharindu’s twins turned sixteen. For Lesley and Ian, it’s a celebration felt from the heart. Over the years, they’ve watched the children grow up, sharing in milestones, messages and memories. In many ways, they’ve stepped into the role of ‘honorary grandparents’ — a title they hold with pride.
That’s the true beauty of hosting. You never quite know where it will lead.
Tharindu herself has built an inspiring life. Despite being pregnant with the twins during her studies, she completed her PhD on time — a remarkable achievement and has gone on to carve out a path in online learning, sharing her voice and experiences with a wider audience, gaining various professional awards along the way. Now, she is stepping into an important new role, focusing on promoting accessibility, diversity and representation. It’s the kind of work that shapes futures — and it’s no surprise to Lesley, who always saw in her intelligence, determination and warmth.
Tharindu, Lesley and Ian are also featured in the Reading University Centenary Windows Trail.
And perhaps that’s the true beauty of hosting. You never quite know where it will lead.
Their story is just one thread in a much larger tapestry of hosting memories. Over the years, Lesley and Ian have welcomed students from across the globe, each leaving behind a unique mark. One student, from China, went on to become an interpreter who worked alongside Prime Minister Theresa Mayduring an official visit to Wuhan. Today, she has built a career as a diplomat, representing her country on the global stage.
Neither has the traffic been all one way. Lesley and Ian attended the wedding of one of their earliest students in Nanjing and, on another occasion, visited students and their families in Shanghai and Hangzhou.
Experiences like these are a powerful reminder that hosting is more than providing a room – it’s about opening a door to cultures, to friendships, and sometimes, to lifelong family connections that cross continents and generations.
For Lesley and Ian, hosting — laughter around the dinner table, the shared celebrations, the quiet moments of understanding — they’ve all become part of a story that continues.
