Collecting Character Bears

The actor Peter Bull owned a little Teddy Bear called Theodore who was his constant companion and always travelled in the actor's pocket. Peter wrote a book called 'Bear With Me' Theodore, as well as Peter became famous and he received many fan letters. Theodore has been reproduced by Bears of Witney, based near Oxford. He is just three and a half inches high, perfect for putting in your jacket pocket, and he comes complete with a tiny wooden chair and cushion.

When the TV series Brideshead revisited was filmed, a 'large and rumpled' bear was needed to be carried around by the actor Anthony Andrews. Peter owned a bear called 'Delicatessen', rescued from a grocer's shop, which he thought would be ideal for the part. He was re-christened 'Aloysius' and Delicatessen found fame and was reproduced in a limited edition by House of Nisbet, and more recently by Merrythought.

Merrythought's Aloysius a lovely mohair bear wearing a Daks Simpson lambswool scarf just like the original bear, who was given his by Anthony Andrew's wife, Georgina. Aloysius is exclusive to Teddy Bears of Witney in a limited edition of 5,000 and can be bought from them.

Teddy Edward was a much loved character in the 1970s on TV and before that he was the subject of several books, in which his adventures were told in a series of colour photographs. Teddy Edward travelled the world carrying a little suitcase and wearing the silver medal which he was awarded when he took part in a ski race. One of his best friends was Snowy Toes, the panda. When Teddy Edward was at the height of his fame, Burbank Toys made an excellent replica, complete with a colourful, fur-trimmed afghan style coat, suitcase and medal. Teddy Edward is difficult to find nowadays, but he would be lovely in any collection.

Mr Whoppit is another bear with sporty connections having belonged to the land-speed and water-speed champion Donald Campbell, who was tragically killed when his boat, Bluebird, crashed on Lake Coniston in January 1967. Mr Whoppit was in the cockpit and was thrown clear. He was found floating in the water and Donald's daughter, Gina, then kept him as a mascot when she attempted the women's world speed records. Originally Mr Whoppit's name was 'Woppit' and he was based on a character which appeared in the Robin comic for small children in the 1950s. Merrythought manufactured the bear and it was one of these which was given to Donald. Merrythought re-issued Mr Whoppit, a jaunty and distinctive bear with blue pointed ears and blue shoes, dressed in a red jacket with a Bluebird motif.

Not all bears are male and one of the most feminine of character bears is sweet little Tessie, who appears in the Noddy books written by Enid Blyton. Tessie is the niece of Mr and Mrs Tubby Bear and Noddy is very fond of her. Play-by-Play issued her in two sizes and they are both worth having. Tessie is made from fawn curly fur fabric and wears a pink and green satin skirt, green ribbon and a pretty pink bonnet trimmed with blue flowers. On the base of her feet her paw pads are clearly marked. She is also available as a Bean Bag from Golden Bear, in cream short-pile fur, wearing a blue spotted pink skirt and blue bonnet with a pink ribbon trim.

Tough Ted is a rough, weathered, retired Merchant Seabear, and he certainly looks the part with his stubbly chin, anchor tatooed arm, nicked ear and baggy white vest. According to Simon Bond who wrote the books, Tough Ted now runs a cafe on the south coast of England, and is much gentler than he appears. Tough Ted is made by Golden Bear, but he is very difficult to find because he has now been discontinued.

Blinky Bill is a koala bear from Australia and very popular there. He first appeared in 1938 in a children's book by Dorothy Wall, and over the years many different Blinkys have been made, including a sheepskin model by Bomba Ltd of Australia which wore smart blue cotton trousers and a blue bow. A few years ago Blinky featured in a series on BBC television and Golden Bear produced a lovely model of the little koala, eight inches tall, wearing red trousers and carrying a fabric stick with a spotted scarf tied to it.

If you want to start collecting character bears you need to be quick off the mark as they are never in the shops for long. As they are usually limited editions there are no more once they are gone. You might try antique and collectors fairs, auctions and, of course, there's always eBay.