Meet Walker Bear

He was present from Husband. Now Husband may be many things including kind and generous and lovely, but he is not prone to impromptu gift-giving, so I wondered if teddy had come free (especially as he bore the name of the hotel in which Husband was staying while he was working in Winchester); he did.

The Wessex Hotel was part of the MacDonald chain and was one of those sold to another chain, hence the need for them to rid themselves of merchandise indicting their previous owners. Husband being a regular guest - so regular the barman had his order waiting for him each evening - was one to benefit. And so, thus, was I.

I have no complaints: he is a very lovely bear. With an interesting story to tell.

He is named after William Walker, the diver who, according to King George V saved Winchester Cathedral "with his own two hands".

In 1905 several cracks appeared in the south and east sides of Winchester Cathedral and it was feared that, in time, the building might collapse unless major underpinning of the foundations was carried out. The task was made difficult because of high water levels preventing access to the 11th century timber rafts. William Walker was employed to work up to six hours a day, often in 20ft (6m) of water, and in total darkness for a period of some six years.

After the 50th anniversary celebrations of this event a statue of Walker was commissioned for the Cathedral. Unfortunately the sculptor, working from a group photo, gave him the wrong face.

It was 2001 before a new statue – with the right face - was unveiled (thanks to the efforts of the Historical Diving Society).

This is the statue with the wrong face.