Please meet Reginald, a Chiltern Hugmee Teddy bear from England.   I believe he's from the 1940's.   He has some loose claw stitching on his feet, but he doesn't care.   He is especially proud of the bald spot above his right eye.   It means he's had many kisses during his long life.  He's made from mohair, and his press squeaker even works!  He has the remains of his tag under his arm, but you can't read it anymore.  It was damaged in the war he says.   He's just over ten inches tall and weighs just over ten ounces, so he's a chunky little bear.

I bought Reginald on Ruby Lane last year, and the woman who sold him didn't realize what a rich history he has.  I was lucky to find him.

Reginald was born in the Chiltern Hills, now designated an Area of Outstanding Beauty.  He lived in London for a while, but with the advent of the war, he and his family moved to Plymouth.   It wasn't much safer there, but he does have lovely memories of stomping about Saltram Woods.   He remembers the difficult times when there was rationing of petrol, coffee and sugar, but he also reflects fondly on the sense of community.   He wished he could have signed up to serve in The Royal Air Force, but there wasn't much need in the military for a Teddy bear.  Instead, whenever there was an air raid, he would comfort the children in the lorries as they were evacuated to the outskirts of Dartmoor.  He considered that a very important job, and indeed, it was.

Many years later, he lived in a flat above a bakery in the center of Plymouth, where he would help serve cream teas.   People were surprised to discover him there, and sometimes offered him a bite (or two) of a sweet, and he would never refuse such a delight.   He's retained his chunkiness around his waistline,  and he's proud of that, too.