Merry memories

WRITER LAURA SILVERMAN ON THE MERRYTHOUGHT BEARS HER FAMILY HAVE KNOWN AND LOVED The Merrythought toys in my family have always been treated like favourite relatives. Grandpa Teddy (left) is 67, and my father has had him since he was born. He now lives on my parents’ bed, rather bare-chested. Continuing the tradition, my parents gave me a Merrythought bear when I was born in 1980. Mr Snook was named after the toyshop where they bought him – Eric Snook in Covent Garden – and starred in the films I used to make as a teenager. (Many a Spielberg film could be improved with a bear.) Two years later, when my sister Anna was born, Mr Snook was joined by Growly, a limited edition from Harrods, known for his moo-like cry when you patted him on the back. As a baby, Anna would howl in terror when he came close – yet they soon became inseparable. Aged seven, Growly lost his voice, and Merrythought offered to examine him at their Shropshire factory [these days they refer patients to a specialist company called Bear It In Mind, which repairs and preserves them for future generations]. We even spent our Christmas in Ludlow in order to hand-deliver him, but when the bear surgeon couldn’t be sure Growly would sound the same post op, we decided not to risk it. Another bear, Coffee Bean, joined the family on Anna’s 18th birthday, joining a gang that’s been part of the family for as long as we can remember. We wouldn’t be without them.