The Jill Byron Teddy Bear Collection

Jill Byron was a familiar face and name on the teddy bear circuit since the 1980?s.

Born in October 1944 in South London, Jill led an eventful and fulfilling life. In her teens and early twenties she loved to travel, eventually settling down on a farm with her husband John. She has several passions, but the one that stayed with her was her love of teddy bears in particular musical and coloured bears.

Jill selflessly shared her vast wisdom with others either in person, writing for teddy bear magazines, contributing to books or to antique websites. Helping others by identifying their teds or sharing her mistakes to help others avoid them, she lived and breathed to help people around her.

For over four decades, Jill found herself rooting around in boxes of plush or mixed toys to unearth that special lost bear.  Her first old bruin, found whilst visiting a local general auction house, was described as an ?Early Chad Valley Bear wearing a vintage kitted scarf?. Jill fell in love and paid what she considered a huge amount of ?120 at auction for him, although she later commented that she would have gone further.

Jill was always a collector, never a dealer; each new addition was given a name (unless they already had one) and assured they would be staying with the family.

The collection grew exponentially and eclectically, it did not matter where the bear came from, who the manufacturer was or how old.  Each had to appeal in a different way, like the unusual 1940?s ? 1950?s open mouth black bear which was dismissed by many a collector until Jill saw the potential his laughing disposition would bring to her hug.

Over the years these early acquisitions were joined by Chad?s, Chilterns, Merrythoughts, Terry?s, Omegas and others.  Coloured and musical bears became a magnet for Jill and British bears always proved the hardest to walk away from. The odd elephant, dog, cat or animal managed to be rehomed too. Always with an eye to the correct value of an item Jill was mindful of not getting carried away, ever the optimist she had held the mantra there will always be another day and another bear.

Sadly, Jill lost her battle with cancer last year and she will be missed enormously by John, her son Kevin and Grandchildren Jesse, Tom and Scott. In typical Jill fashion it was her wish to share her collection.  The joy and happiness that bears bring to others would be the legacy that Jill wanted and her family will take comfort in upholding her wishes in the knowledge that they will be loved and cared for as much as they were by Jill.

This wonderful collection is to be sold on Thursday 24th February 2022. For more information contact Joanne McDonald on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Kathy Taylor on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.