A TEDDY STORY

During my work as an Old Teddy Bear Dealer and writer, I obviously come across many stories about people and their Old Bears that touch me, but there was one story recently that I must admit fetched a tear to my eye, although at the same time it was just that little bit beautiful.

Thought you may like to hear it, so I will tell it to you as it was told to me….

‘An unmarried lady named Marjorie Feltham who was aged 85 had seen her wealthy family and friends die one by one, until she was almost alone, that is, apart from her Old Teddy Bear who was named Edward and who had been living with her since she was just two years old.

When Miss Feltham died in a Nursing Home, the staff there discovered that her last request was that Edward Bear should be cremated with her.  During her eight year stay at the Nursing Home in Bristol, she never once received a visitor, Edward Bear being her only comforter and friend and they all recall how worried she was as to what would happen to Edward when she passed on.

So, the pair were placed in an eternal embrace by the nurses who worked there, as they were determined to carry out her last request.  Later their ashes were scattered on a rose garden that was situated nearby.

Miss Feltham’s life was actually shrouded in mystery as she never ever talked to anyone about her life, all the nurses knew was Edward Bear was given to her by a Great Aunt.

Eighty three years of love had worn away the fur of the lovely old German Teddy Bear and he was rather tattered and torn but like most of us, Miss Feltham never worried about that.

The owner of the home where she lived said ‘It’s a tragic story.  Margaroie was a lovely old lady but she had no partner other than her bear.  She could never be parted from it and the nursing staff knew that she wanted Teddy Edward by her side when she went.  She was kindly and would help anyone, but she would never discuss her past.  By the end she had very little money left but I know she came from a very wealthy family and was the last in the line.’

Edward Bear….her partner in both life and in death.

So there you have it…I hope you enjoy this wonderful story and are touched by it as much as I was.

LORRAINE AND SOOTY TEDDY BEAR

Sorting through some old photographs recently, Lorraine and I stumbled across one that she particularly liked, of herself and Sooty Teddy Bear (who she actually calls ‘King Of Bears’).

It was taken when she was 7 in one of very favourite places….Dorset.

She said she remembers it really well because that day she was allowed to wear her favourite dress (a dress she told me she wishes she had today).  It was taken not long after her 7th birthday and it was on a trip to a very special place called The Blue Pool.

Sooty Bear (who was then a pure white Teddy Bear and who now is a rather grey Old Teddy Bear) was always with her, whether it was on her birthday, at Christmas or on special days out and vacations.

When Lorraine first pulled out this photograph – and I was sitting next to her – she said it brought back so many memories and that she could even smell the sea air.

My Old Teddy Bear and Me.

By the way, Sooty Bear is still living with us,  He spends most of his time sitting on a very old chair (nearly as old as he is) as he is much too old to travel and have adventures any more.

Written by…….Gino Bear

 

Vintage Teddy Bear Called James

James is a very Old Teddy Bear who, without a shadow of a doubt, must have tons of wonderful memories from his past life.

I fell in love with James as soon as I saw him, even though he had lost most of his fur coat and he was half blind.  He called out to me and luckily for us both, I think, I was there.

Recently, I took James to Gloucester Cathedral, the reason being, there is an exhibition of sculpture going on.  Many of the pieces exhibited were modern art sculptures and I wanted to take some interesting photographs of new and old (of course, poor old James Bear was the ‘old’  bit, but I don’t think he minded one bit).

James poses for a photograph at Gloucester Cathedral

At the front of the Cathedral was this very interesting piece of sculpture.  I loved the way Old James Bear looked.

Old Teddy Bear / Modern Sculptures

As he was having his photograph taken, many people came up to him and asked if they too could take his photograph, so I think there could be a lot of James photos around right now.  Of course, they couldn’t leave without giving him a cuddle.

James meets a hog.

Inside the Cathedral we came across the Cathedral gardens and we found some very delightful pieces of art work there. Again, Old James Teddy Bear met loads of people.

We both had a very good day there and hopefully, we are hoping to return during the next week or two to take a look at some of the other pieces of art work.

James is already waiting to go !!!!