Betty's Bear
Recently, my son Martin picked me up so we could go for a coffee and to catch up on the weeks events. As I settled into my seat, I noticed that we had another passenger. Sitting behind him was an old brown teddy bear, which he immediately gave me to hold. During our journey, Martin spoke animatedly about his latest acquisition, referring to it as a "Blitz Bear." I had never heard this phrase before but Martin went on to explain its provenance. The bear had been reconditioned, it had no identifying label, but judging by his shape, coarse coat, and fixed limbs and head, it is thought to be 90 - 100 years old. What seemed like a simple toy immediately became much more interesting as Martin shared the story behind it. Martin has a keen interest in aviation and wartime history. Through his popular Instagram page, " flying_with_martin ", he regularly shares photographs, research, and stories from the world of historic aviation with a large and enthusiastic following. Our...