A beloved teddy bear, a fixture in a Tunbridge Wells park-facing window, has found a new home after years of delighting visitors.
Children waved at the friendly-looking bear. Its faded fur was a welcome sight, and people called the house “the teddy bear house,” while one person called it “let me out Ted” house.
The bear disappeared for some years before reappearing in the window. The bear’s return thrilled park visitors. It was a final appearance.
Jess Butcher used to live in that house, and her parents owned the bear. They placed it in the window, which faced the park on Sutherland Road.
Her dad purchased the bear around 1997 from a shop in Windsor after his wedding. Reportedly, he drove it home in his Morris Minor.
He put it in the window because friends wanted to see the teddy. Children pointed, saying, “Look, there’s the teddy!” The house even hosted a picnic.
Her dad brought the bear to school events some years. In 2010, they took it down due to sun damage and teenage embarrassment, so it stayed inside the house.
Jess’s parents died in 2018 and 2019, and the house sold in late 2022. The family wanted one last window appearance. The teddy reappeared to great joy.
They gave the bear one final send-off. People thanked Jess in the park, and they said the bear’s return meant a lot, as it was a staple in their lives.
The bear now has a new home nearby, and someone will give him a new life.