Alan

We found Alan at Sutton Green about a year. A proper Build-a-Bear, brown and fluffy, with embroidered eyes and a little stitched mouth.

He needed clothes, so we made him some from bits around the house. His floral shirt came from one of my son’s old work shirts, cut down and sewn to fit. The denim jeans were made from a pair my nephew had grown out of.

There’s something lovely about dressing a bear in cloth that’s already had a life. Every stitch carries a bit of family with it.

Alan came along to the Royal British Legion VE Day Fete and sat on the stall looking very pleased with himself. He went home with someone in Farnham about a year, shirt, jeans and all.