When Kay Fullerton popped into Emmaus Bolton, she didn’t expect to be reunited with her childhood teddy bear. But the stitching, evidence of repairs and the shape of the nose have convinced the 61-year-old from Leigh that she had found her long-lost childhood friend ‘Bimbo’.
Kay, from Leigh, made the amazing discovery in our preloved toys and games boutique off Fletcher Street.
All items at Emmaus Bolton are sold to raise money for the charity’s accommodation and personalised support for people who have been homeless, who also help behind the tills, developing their skills and gaining valuable work experience.
Her partner Graham had gone into the second-hand book shop, upstairs from the charity’s café, and Kay decided to explore the vintage toys and preloved games. That is when she stumbled across her long-lost friend.
Describing the moment, Kay said: “When you go up the stairs above the café you turn left for books, in the middle are records and DVDs, then you turn right and it’s just one room of all toys.
“My intention wasn’t to go into the toys, but as soon as I did, I came face-to-face with this teddy bear and, you know when you get a really weird flashback moment, that’s what happened.
“I remember Bimbo from when I was a kid. A funny feeling came over me and I just froze. When I saw this bear, I thought ‘oh my God’ I used to have this exact same bear when I was 10. My dad bought it for me.
“I walked up the stairs and he was just there in front of me. I didn’t have to dig him out or anything. I sat him on the corner of the shelf to take a photograph of him before I decided I was buying him.”
Emmaus Bolton vintage
When 10-year-old Kay was gifted the toy by her dad, she kept Bimbo safe at her family home in Leigh, which is where she believes he stayed until she moved out aged 26. Kay’s beloved bear even appeared on the very first photo she took with a camera she got for her birthday the following year.
“When we got home, I immediately got the album out,” Kay said.
“I have pictures of Bimbo in my very first photo album from 1974 and on the first page is the pictures of this bear. Everyone who has seen the pictures, says it’s got to be the same bear.
“I’ve tried Google Lens to search for others bears like him and can’t find any at all. There’s no other one like him.”
“For it to be there in Emmaus Bolton, when I didn’t even plan to be in the toy section, is very strange. You look at its nose, you look at its stitching, and you look at the pictures, and I’m saying ‘where have you been for 40 years?’”
“I really, really, totally think it’s the same bear. His eyes and everything. You can see where he’s been stitched up as well. It’s weird, really weird.”
A charity shop bargain
While she was shopping at Emmaus Bolton, Kay also bought three Buddas on a platform, a Russian doll and a blue glass swan. She snapped up a bargain, getting all the items and the teddy for under £9. Kay is now keen to hear from anyone who might be able to trace the whereabouts of her bear.
“I don’t know where he’s been. I left for America in ’92, my mother may have departed him. My partner and I cleared my dad’s house after he died, so he definitely wasn’t there. I don’t know where he’s been for the last 40 years.
“If someone actually donated him to Emmaus Bolton then they might see this and know where he’s been? I’ve been saying to him, ‘where have you been, to Peru like Paddington?’. He’s gone somewhere in 2000, when my parents moved out of their house. Perhaps he went to a charity shop then or another child that they knew.”
“If only this bear could talk and tell us where he’d been. Things are in people’s lives for such a long time. I’m very sentimental and would love to know.”
Kay has her own business passing on curiosities at KadiesCollectibles on Etsy and silver_lining_collectibles on Instagram, where she would love to hear from anyone who knows Bimbo’s last whereabouts.
Kay is often scouring charity shops and car boot sales for bargains, but she says Emmaus Bolton’s shops and services, and support for homeless people, are unique.
“I thought Emmaus Bolton was great. It felt safe because you can park in the middle and go into the different shops. It’s perfect for people with additional needs, who would need more support on the high street.
“I’ve been telling the learners at the day centre where I volunteer about the recycled arts and crafts store, which would have lots of things for them to do. It’s like an oldy worldy market type of place. It’s really cool how it’s set up. There were so many things I wanted to buy.
Great atmosphere at Emmaus
“Emmaus Bolton has a lovely atmosphere. The people who have been homeless and are supported there help in the shops. They were very chatty when I went to the till with my four items. Counting Bimbo as well, I got a bargain.”
Emmaus Bolton built its home from homelessness room-by-room inside a former army barracks used by cadets until it reached capacity to support up to 22 people with experience of homelessness. The charity has also grown its range of social enterprises to more than 10 outlets visitors can shop at to support its cause today.
“I didn’t know formerly homeless people live, get support and help at Emmaus Bolton. Everyone deserves a second chance, we don’t know what people have gone through to get where they are, and people are all too often to judge.
“I was a single parent for 17 years. I took my boys back on my own from America to England on my own in 1997 at 10 months and three years old, so I’ve had a second chance at life myself.
“You don’t want to be putting things in the landfill. This just makes mountains of stuff that can be given a second chance and be used in many different ways. You can repurpose things differently, just like they do at Emmaus Bolton. I’d definitely recommend a visit, who knows what you might find.”
You can browse all our charity shops and services here. What will you find?