Hugmee teddy bear with golden mohair plush, made in England by Chiltern Toys, 1940s/1950s

Large dark golden/brown plush stiff jointed teddy bear, stuffed with wood wool. The original golden coloured plush is visible inside the ears and at the neck and limb joints. Amber and black glass eyes attached by wires and secured by thread stitch at the back of the head; shield-shaped nose and mouth embroidered with black thread. Brown Rexine feet and paw pads; the Rexine is worn on the proper left paw. Four black claw stitches on paws; two sets of two black claw stitches on feet.

Given by Gillian Munrow in memory of her husband David Munrow

Chiltern Toys first started making teddy bears in 1915, beginning production with the Master Teddy. The Hugmee range of bears were introduced in 1923 and featured jointed arms and legs, glass eyes and embroidered noses. They were made in a variety of patterns until the 1960s, with some designs influenced by post-war fabric shortages. The original toy factory was based in Chesham, at the base of the Chiltern Hills, from where the company got its name.

David Munrow, the owner of this bear, was born in Birmingham on 12th August 1942, the only child of academic parents. He attended King Edward's School in Edgbaston, where he excelled both academically and musically. After attending Cambridge University, then studying for a Masters at the University of Birmingham, David became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company's wind band, providing incidental music at their performances between 1966 and 1968. David founded the Early Music Consort of London during this time, an ensemble with which he would be associated for the rest of his life. He also taught at the University of Leicester and the Royal College of Music. Beginning in 1971 David Munrow presented the BBC Radio 3 series Pied Piper, Tales and Music for Younger Listeners. Through the show David introduced children to a wide variety of musical genres, and during his five years broadcasting the series he attracted large audiences of child and adult listeners. In addition to his broadcasting and academic careers, David performed on more than fifty recordings of early music.

This golden coloured mohair plush teddy bear is a Hugmee bear made by the English company Chiltern Toys in the 1940s or early 1950s. It is one of three bears belonging to David Munrow when he was a child and is part of a group of objects relating to the imaginary world that David created around his beloved bears. David wrote four plays for ‘Humph’, ‘Ginge’ and ‘Eddy’, casting the bears as some of the principle ‘actors’ in his plays; he also wrote a series of affectionate, newsy letters to them whilst on holiday with his family in Cornwall. Of the three named bears it isn't known which bear is which, though it is clear that David was extremely attached to all his bears and soft toys.

The three teddy bears, along with the plays and letters, provide a wonderful insight into the early interests and imagination of a child who went on to become a well-known musician and broadcaster.

B.43-2016