[dropcap]B[/dropcap]RITAIN’S Prince George is to receive a book about an air ambulance teddy bear named after his mother and another about a sea-faring bear named for his father.
The 12-month-old prince - whose father Prince William will join the East Anglian Air Ambulance crew later this year - will be one of the first people to receive a collection of stories about Katie the Bear, who was created by Lesley Harrison of Cassop Vale Bears and joins the North Air Ambulance Service on their missions.
Katie - who is named after Duchess Catherine - is the girlfriend of William, another of Lesley’s creations who went to sea with HMS Bulwark three years ago and had his escapades turned into a book, ‘The Nautical Adventures of William The Bear’, to raise money for charity following a brainwave by then-chairman of Durham County Council Dennis Morgan.
And current chairman, Councillor John Robinson, thought a book about Katie was a great way to raise money for charity again.
He said: “I thought it would be a fantastic way to raise funds the Great North Air Ambulance.
“We hope to send a copy of both books to William and Kate for Prince George. I am sure they will love it given the royal family’s links to the air ambulance and the names of the bears.”
The air ambulance crew love having their furry team member with them.
Paul Burnage, a Great North Air Ambulance Service paramedic, told the Northern Echo newspaper: “Lesley is so talented. Katie is fantastic. She has been all over with us; Newcastle, Cumbria and we hope to take her a little further afield too.
“We made her a uniform, as dresses aren’t really suitable in the helicopter.”
