Yorkshire pensioner, 76, reunited with childhood teddy bear after more than 60 years

Elizabeth Briggs was just five years old when she had the pioneering operation to repair a duct in her heart, which was carried out by an American surgeon at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London.

Her grandmother bought her a new teddy bear at a church sale called George, who remained with her for her six-week stay in hospital. Elizabeth went on to make a full recovery and live a healthy life, but George was packed away lost after she returned to her family home in Enfield, north London.

York church that appeared in Gentleman Jack closes after huge tree falls down in the graveyardThe bear was recently found in the attic during a clearance of the house by her brother, Trevor Briggs, and returned to Elizabeth at the Aden Court care home in Huddersfield, where she is currently recovering from a stroke.

“The operation was quite scary when I was five years old and George helped me through it all. He had every bandage, bedpan and injection that I also had when in hospital. The nurses and doctors got him a small bedpan too.

This Georgian townhouse in Hull is open to the public for just one day each year“I am so happy to have him back and now he can help me recover again like he did all those years ago.”

Aden Court manager Lisa Boyd said:-

“Elizabeth was overjoyed to be reunited with her bear, George.

This is the best barn conversion in the North York Moors National Park“We believe it’s so important for residents to bring their personal belongings and treasures with them when they move in and we encourage them to personalise their rooms and make them feel like home.

“Elizabeth hasn’t been with us very long but she’s already so settled and George was the icing on the cake for her. He has pride of place in her room and we’re sure he will provide comfort as she continues her recovery from her stroke.”