British Billy meets Pudsey Bear

  • Published
  • By British Billy
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  We all have role models whose values and lifestyle we admire. Pudsey Bear is mine.

Cats don't naturally revere others; we tend to regard ourselves as the pinnacle of creation. Pudsey, however, is a remarkable bear. With his trademark polka-dot handkerchief bandaging his right eye, he serves as the mascot for the annual British Broadcasting Corporation Children in Need Appeal. It's the biggest fund-raising event for children in the U.K.

Pudsey is busy all year round helping to make sure the money raised goes to those who need it the most, but at this time of year his activities reach fever pitch as we near Nov. 19 and the BBC Children in Need annual telethon. The 2009 appeal raised an amazing £39 million.

Children in Need is one of the highs of the BBC calendar and all manner of madness takes place across the U.K. around this time to help raise those crucial pennies to help improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people. People go to work dressed as potatoes, sit in baths of baked beans and have a full body wax - though not all necessarily at the same time. Excuse me while I shudder at the thought.

In 2007, RAF Lakenheath was able to add a little extra excitement to Pudsey's life as he was flown in an F-15E Strike Eagle courtesy of the 494th Fighter Squadron. As a trailblazer in the history of bears in flight, Pudsey showed remarkable fortitude and never once used the sick bag.

In the two decades since Pudsey assumed his role as mascot, countless cuddly bears have been sold to raise money for the charity, while Pudsey himself has received letters, drawings and e-mails from youngsters all over the U.K. and been photographed with more famous names than he can remember. Being a celebrity myself, I know the strain this can cause, but each year Pudsey returns with more bounce and energy than before to raise those vital funds.

You'll probably see Pudsey and his friends turning up at events in the local community, in the newspapers and on the BBC. Check out his website at www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey and even if British television isn't your normal taste, try to catch some of the show on the evening of Nov. 19 for Pudsey's biggest night of the year.