Mari Jones

Julia told us Ted’s story. “Ted was made in England during World War 2. He was handmade, probably by someone in the village in Devon where my mum was living. He was given to my brother when he was a toddler, and when he later rejected him, I inherited him in 1946, when I was […]

Ian said: “I first met The Bear with No  Name when I was about seven. He belonged to my mum, who was given him as a birthday present in the 1950s. When we were children, my brother and sister and I were allowed to play with him and listen to his music, or to his

In 1957, my dad was on National Service in Cyprus. He was given compassionate leave to come home when I was born. He brought me a very special present: a little teddy, which contained a musical box that played the tune ‘Mary had a little lamb’. Teddy cost £5, which was a lot of money

Wendy said: “When she was a child in the 1950s, my mum was given a doll for Christmas. Dollie was the last doll in the shop: Mum’s two sisters never got a moving doll of their own! When I was little, I was occasionally allowed to see Dollie and wind her up once or twice,

Pamela said: “I was given Stewart on the day I was born,  2 days before Christmas in 1957. Most of my childhood toys are long gone, but I still have two special ones: Stewart the teddy and a doll called Iris, who has a pink dress and brown eyes like me. She needs repairing too,

I was given Bobtail for my 5th birthday more than thirty years ago. He came from a card shop called ‘Birthdays’, I believe. I remember how yellow and soft he was. Straight away he became my favourite, and no other toy has ever been able to come close. I have been through many difficult times

My parents bought Big Ted from Jenners, and gave him to me on the day I was born, so we have always been together. We are 60 now! Ted is in quite good shape for his age, and has never needed repairs before, but since he became a little the worse for wear, I sent

My big brother John was given Ted for his first Christmas, in 1956. John is seven years older than me.  He always allowed me to play with his Ted. One day I decided that he needed underwear, hence the knitted knickers! Ted has spent most of my life in my parents’ bedroom, sitting on top

Qianling said “In 2019 I was travelling across the UK on a road trip, just  after graduating, when I spotted Macaron in a shop near a petrol station in the Peak District. He’s a Jellycat tiger. I bought him as a present for my Mum, because her Zodiac animal is a tiger, and she loves

Ted is well over a hundred now. He first belonged to Molly, who was born in 1904, I think. Molly eventually passed him on to her cousin, who was my Mum. One day in 1954, when I was six, my Mum took Ted off her bed and handed him to me. She said “You might