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Teddy bears made of old combat clothes helping forces families Teddy bears made of old combat clothes helping forces families
(1 day later)
When an Army wife made teddy bears out of her husband's old combat trousers to cheer-up her children while he was deployed to Afghanistan they were an instant hit.When an Army wife made teddy bears out of her husband's old combat trousers to cheer-up her children while he was deployed to Afghanistan they were an instant hit.
Now Leah Beckett, of Upavon, near Tidworth, Wiltshire, is making bears for hundreds of children from forces families separated by tours of duty - and even those who have lost a family member in conflict. Now Leah Buckett, of Upavon, near Tidworth, Wiltshire, is making bears for hundreds of children from forces families separated by tours of duty - and even those who have lost a family member in conflict.
So far, the mother-of-three has made more than 160 bears each personalised with its recipient's rank or regiment, regimental colours and messages such as "my daddy - my hero".So far, the mother-of-three has made more than 160 bears each personalised with its recipient's rank or regiment, regimental colours and messages such as "my daddy - my hero".
And Mrs Beckett has been inundated with requests for 'Army Barmy Bears' from Afghanistan, Germany and across the UK. And Mrs Buckett has been inundated with requests for 'Army Barmy Bears' from Afghanistan, Germany and across the UK.
"The response has been amazing," she said."The response has been amazing," she said.
"I had a lady who'd had a baby and sent me the first baby grow to make a teddy out of to send out to her husband."I had a lady who'd had a baby and sent me the first baby grow to make a teddy out of to send out to her husband.
"And some of the guys in Afghanistan have sent me their shirts asking me to make up teddies for their children."And some of the guys in Afghanistan have sent me their shirts asking me to make up teddies for their children.
"And yes, I've had some pretty honking ones - the washing facilities out there aren't great - so the majority of them ask me to whip it through the wash first.""And yes, I've had some pretty honking ones - the washing facilities out there aren't great - so the majority of them ask me to whip it through the wash first."
'Huggable memory''Huggable memory'
She has also had requests for bears to be made from the clothing of those killed in conflict.She has also had requests for bears to be made from the clothing of those killed in conflict.
"That's quite a difficult thing to do," she said."That's quite a difficult thing to do," she said.
"They've sent shirts and clothing from the partners that they've lost and I've made teddy bears out of those, but it's a huge, huge pressure."They've sent shirts and clothing from the partners that they've lost and I've made teddy bears out of those, but it's a huge, huge pressure.
"Someone said it was like a huggable memory, and if it gives them just a little bit of comfort then it makes my job all the more worthwhile.""Someone said it was like a huggable memory, and if it gives them just a little bit of comfort then it makes my job all the more worthwhile."
Last week, more than 50 bears were dispatched to forces families for Christmas and another 50 are in the process of being made for the new year.Last week, more than 50 bears were dispatched to forces families for Christmas and another 50 are in the process of being made for the new year.
"My two children really struggled with their daddy being away for so long and the bears were so they would feel closer to him. It was just that little comfort blanket for them," she said."My two children really struggled with their daddy being away for so long and the bears were so they would feel closer to him. It was just that little comfort blanket for them," she said.
"But I didn't think it would take off like this."But I didn't think it would take off like this.
"All the bears are handmade by myself and I only charge for materials but the response has been so amazing - I've had to draft in friends and family."All the bears are handmade by myself and I only charge for materials but the response has been so amazing - I've had to draft in friends and family.
"I am taking orders for the new year, but at the moment there will be a long wait.""I am taking orders for the new year, but at the moment there will be a long wait."
Catherine Spencer, from the Army Families Federation, said: "Faced with the challenge of deployment, the creation of these lovely bears demonstrate the perpetual resilience and resourcefulness of our Army spouses."Catherine Spencer, from the Army Families Federation, said: "Faced with the challenge of deployment, the creation of these lovely bears demonstrate the perpetual resilience and resourcefulness of our Army spouses."