| As we are all very much aware, teddy bears | | | | Sir John derived great comfort from his teddy |
| have been owned and loved by thousands of | | | | bear who he called 'Archibald'. Sir John even wrote |
| people the entire world over, regardless of their | | | | Archibald into his poetry (Summoned By Bells). |
| age, nationality or gender and by both rich and | | | | When he died, Archibald was in his arms. |
| poor, but do we realise just how many famous | | | | Teddy Bears have also been quite active in |
| people have owned a teddy bear? | | | | Parliament. Edwina Currie's bear called 'Omar' |
| Politicians, Members of the Royal Family, | | | | would often sit on her desk at the House of |
| Sportsmen and women, Pop Stars and Film Stars | | | | Commons, as her lucky mascot. Sometimes, |
| have all been known to own a special teddy | | | | Edwina would practice her speeches on him and |
| bear. Many celebrities have finally come clean to | | | | not once did he moan or answer back. |
| admitting they have owned a teddy bear who | | | | The late Dr. Marjorie (Mo) Mowlan had a big and, |
| they have loved, even though, it is only during the | | | | as she called him, 'rather ugly' teddy bear which |
| past few decades that owning and loving a teddy | | | | her Father bought for her when she was a small |
| bear has not had a stigma attached to it. | | | | child, he bought him from the local tobacconist, |
| Previously, loving a teddy bear was thought of as | | | | she called him 'Growler'. |
| being a bit childish or you were looked upon as | | | | Ex Prime Minster, Margaret Thatcher, had a large |
| being a bit eccentric. Thankfully, however, we | | | | teddy bear who she called 'Humphrey' who was |
| can all now shout it from the roof-tops that we | | | | made of sheepskin with brown leather paws, he |
| love teddy bears! | | | | was born around 1930. During the 1980's he |
| Alexis Tarnoff, the famous dancer, was given a | | | | lived with the Prime Minister at No.10 Downing |
| teddy bear when he was just five years old (he | | | | Street, London, of course, that was when he was |
| was born in 1901 - just before the teddy bear | | | | not away from office doing important charity |
| made his appearance). His teddy bear had black | | | | work. Humphrey was a large bear too at 22 |
| painted boot-button eyes and he is made of | | | | inches tall. Sadly, poor old Humphrey went to |
| mohair. He is quite an unusual kind of teddy | | | | teddy bear heaven in 1988 after he was put in |
| bear, his arms and legs are rather narrow and | | | | the washing machine. |
| they are attached to his body with exterior metal | | | | The late Earl Mountbatten of Burman (1900 - |
| fastenings, which look like large metal buttons, | | | | 1979), grew up to become first sea lord. He |
| which carry the tradename 'Shield'. Actually, this | | | | owned a beautiful and much loved Steiff Bear |
| bear does look a lot like the early French teddy | | | | (circa 1904). Presumably, his teddy bear was |
| bears, dating back to the 1920's - 1930's, as these | | | | given to him by one of his German relatives. |
| bears had external jointing just like his. The | | | | BBC's famous gardener, Alan Titchmarsh has a |
| problem is, if this were the case, the dates, etc. | | | | bear who he calls 'Teddy', who sits on a chair |
| do not match up, so I suppose his teddy bear will | | | | outside his bedroom door. Unfortunately, the |
| always be a bit of a mystery. Unfortunately | | | | bear has lost most of his stuffing from his |
| Alexis Tarnoff died in 1989, so we cannot ask | | | | hands. Although his head is still quite firmly |
| him more about his old bear's history. However, | | | | attached, it does seem to 'lean' a bit to one side. |
| trying to work out a teddy bear's history is often | | | | Poor old Teddy smiles a friendly biro smile which |
| very exciting and interesting and really does add | | | | Alan put on him to replace his black stitched one. |
| to the excitement of collecting teddy bears. | | | | The Late Dusty Springfield owned a beautiful |
| The Late Dame Barbara Cartland, who was | | | | Merrythought 'Cheeky' Teddy Bear who she called |
| famous for writing romantic novels, had a teddy | | | | Mr Einstein. |
| bear who she called The Prince of Love. She | | | | Prince Charles is also very well known for his love |
| said that he epitomised the teddy bear version of | | | | of teddy bears and was photographed taking his |
| her romantic heroes. The Prince of Love was | | | | teddy bear to school with him. The Late Queen |
| adorned all over by an array of jewels which | | | | Mother too, loved teddy bears and has been |
| were bestowed upon him by Ms Cartland. He | | | | photographed on many occasions holding teddy |
| had earrings sewn up and down his arms and in | | | | bears and, when Sarah Ferguson married Prince |
| one ear and he wore a beautiful pink ribbon | | | | Andrew, Prince Edward gave them both a big |
| around his neck (Ms Cartland was always famous | | | | Merrythought Teddy Bear. |
| for wearing pink herself). She dressed her teddy | | | | Elvis Presley had many teddy bears, although he |
| bear to look, as she said, like an indian prince. | | | | did have a special teddy bear who he called |
| Barbara even wrote a special poem for her | | | | Mabel. Mabel went to teddy heaven when, after |
| beloved teddy bear. | | | | visiting England, she had a confrontation with a |
| Dame Judy Dench, the famous actress who | | | | dog. Elvis had a hit with his song Teddy Bear |
| amongst many other roles, is famous for playing | | | | and was later bombarded with teddy bears on |
| 'M' in the recent James Bond films, she has been | | | | stage by his fans every time he sang the song. |
| an avid teddy bear collector for many years. | | | | Shirley Temple sang the beautiful song Me And |
| She now has over 100 teddy bears in her | | | | My Teddy Bear and later the song was covered |
| collection, her favourite teddy bear is her first | | | | by many artists including Peter Gabriel, Sharron |
| bear who she calls 'Gray'. Gray is dressed in | | | | Corr and Rosemary Clooney. |
| lovely green trousers. | | | | There really are so many Pop Stars, Film Stars |
| Ringo Starr (drummer with The Beatles) has a | | | | and Show biz people who have owned teddy |
| very large Panda which was given to him in 1976 | | | | bears, far too many to mention in this article and |
| by Keith Moon (the famous drummer with The | | | | lots of other famous poeple too, such as Donald |
| Who). It was obviously love at first sight, as the | | | | Campbell (the land speed and water record |
| two became almost inseparable. Ringo called his | | | | breaker). Amy Johnson (who flew solo from |
| Panda 'Chairman of the Board', as he now resides | | | | England to Australia), Willie Carson (the jokey), |
| over all of Ringo's business meetings. The | | | | Jimmy Hill (the sports commentator) and so on |
| Chairman of the Board was given a pair of white | | | | and so on..... |
| gloves which once belonged to Marc Bolan (of | | | | It is therefore extremely clear to us all that even |
| T-Rex fame). | | | | the rich and famous need the love, support and |
| The late and great poet, Sir John Betjeman (1906 | | | | comfort of a teddy bear. Is there really no end |
| - 1984) had a beloved teddy bear who was made | | | | to his love ? |
| by the famous German firm Steiff (circa 1910). | | | | |