Grandad, 94, builds shed for his 1,000 teddy bears
'Somebody has put an awful lot of effort into making these teddies and I think they're masterpieces.'
A grandad-of-five has built a shed to house his lifetime collection of 1,000 stuffed toys, ornaments and plushies – at the age of 94.
Dennis Adelsberg began work on his shed a year ago at the age of 93, and has built ‘99% of it by himself’ – with only a small helping hand installing the double-glazed window.
He used old conservatory roofing from his daughter, Gill, for the roof, built the shelves and fencing for the structure and decorated the outside with artificial flowers.
Dennis has collected die-cast collectible toy cars and planes throughout his life and has since developed an appreciation for bears.
He now has around 1,000 – including fluffy bears, pottery bears, door stops and pictures – and estimates his collection to be worth around £3,000.
He entered his shed into the ‘unexpected/unique’ category for Shed of the Year 2024 but unfortunately didn’t make the final shortlist.
Dennis, from Lathom, Lancashire, said: ‘It’s entirely different – no one has one of these. I just like it, I sit in there and have my dinner in there and sometimes fall asleep.
‘I’ve been working flat out on it alongside my garden and I’m chuffed with it. I have a big tree at the back that has to come down but I thought I’d make the space.
‘The garden is about 60ft long so I thought I’d put a little seat in there and it developed into a fencing area and suddenly I was making a shed.
‘When I was 14, my old fella said to me, never start a job if you can’t do it properly.’
Dennis collects the teddies from charity shops before finding a place for them on one of his shed’s busy shelves.
He said: ‘Somebody has put an awful lot of effort into making these [teddies] and I think they’re masterpieces.
‘I estimate there must be at least 1,000 teddy bears in there by now. I’m a collector of die-cast so I’m always looking for more space to put things.
‘I needed more shelf space. I’ve written a book about the teddies coming to life at night with a little song to go with it for children.
‘I’ve only collected the bears for just over two years. As soon as I see them in the charity shops that’s where I get them from – I’ve even got a King and Queen.
‘It’s not about what they cost for me, I see it as a hobby and I love the engineering side that someone somewhere thought of each one and made them.
‘It’s the detail and the skill and other people’s imagination to make each one. I study them all when I buy them and I’m fascinated with the engineering.’
As well as the mass amount of teddy bears, Dennis’ shed also has a TV unit, lighting, a heater and a brand-new blue carpet.
He said: ‘I went to B&M and bought some flowery arrangements to go on the outside too – It’s a lovely garden, if I say so myself.’
Dennis made headlines last year when he took part in the ninth annual Run for the 97 Hillsborough Victims in Liverpool.
He finished the 5k race by drinking a cup of tea from his own bone China tea cup – which he takes everywhere with him.
Dennis, then 93, told ITV: ‘In the light of what happened in the past and all the people who lost their lives, it’s very important to take part.
‘I only found out about it last year so I’m going to try and do it every year from now if I can. It’s just a privilege to be here.’
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