My late Father made me a Golly doll when he was in the army fighting for his country during the 2nd World war.He lived through 2 World wars & there isn't a snowballs chance that I would destroy something I've cherished for more than 67 years
Neither would I if this Golly had any memories for me. He was just a charity shop buy at some point in the past , given to my child , and he just never caught my offsprings attention.
Your story lincle reminded me of a gorgeous Teddy we had here for many years ,made from old sheepskin gloves. He was only about 8" high and just one of items made by my uncle during the years following his exit from a prison camp (where crafts became a sanity saving habit for so many starving,damaged, long term inmates) .
The uncle had an estranged ex wife and young daughter whom he didnt see after the post war divorce , through no fault of his own. Previous gifts sent to the child didnt get passed on. Contact was lost. The bear sat in his house unplayed with .
Roll forward 30 years , the bear came to me . I kept it as a treasured 'ornament' allowing only supervised 'loving' from little hands in my house.
Roll forward another 30yrs - Im helping my aged mother contribute to an online project on 1920's daily life in a mining village .A couple of years later , I get an email from a lady who is helping her friend get in touch with her lost fathers family , and my mothers maiden name and history,found on the site, 'fits'.
We exchange information to make sure , before her friend is told. The outcome was that her friend, my first cousin, made contact with me , and I was delighted to be able to give her the only physical links she ever had with her father, some photos, a recording of his voice , and one beautiful as new teddy bear , which got the hugging of his life ,and got taken to his true home , at last.
THE END