Thank you so much for all of your questions for my grandad about his teddy. As there were so many, I couldn’t choose them all but I made sure that I asked him at least one of the questions that each of you sent me. Find his answers below:
How old is your teddy?
“He is 85 years old in August.”
Where did you get it from?
“My mother’s friend got it for me as a present when I was one week old.”
What is its name?
“I just call it Teddy.”
What does it feel like?
“It’s quite hard but soft in places.”
Does it go everywhere with you?
“Not anymore – it just stays in my house. It used to when I was a little boy. I moved around a lot, especially when I younger during the Second World War.”
Why is it so unfluffy?
“It used to have lots of fur but it has become worn over the years. My mother had to repair it a few times.
Does it have other clothes?
“No. It has another suit but it got damaged during the war so my mum had to make it this shirt. It’s worn this shirt since around 1941.”
Have you ever lost your teddy?
“Yes – once. I left it on a train in Lincolnshire around 1944. Luckily, someone noticed I had left it and gave to the train porter who left it at the next station. My mother sent a letter to the train company to see if anywhere had it. They sent a letter back, telling her it was waiting for us at Lincoln station and we went and picked it up.”
Do you still love your teddy?
“Of course I do. I once watched a television show where you could send in your old toys to be restored. I never wanted to do that as then it wouldn’t be my teddy.
When my mum went to drop some things round at my grandad’s house, he had this little message for you.
He’s hoping that when we get back to school, he will be able to come and visit you all so that you can meet him and his teddy.