Heartbroken nan 'emotional' after postwoman knocked at her door

Marilyn Taylor wanted to make a sentimental gift for her children in memory of their dad Alastair
-Credit: (Image: Marilyn Taylor)


A nan was left emotional after a Royal Mail postwoman turned up at her door. Marilyn Taylor wanted to make sentimental Christmas presents for her children after their dad and her husband, Alastair, died.

The 75-year-old sent 20 of Alastair’s ties away to be made into memory bears for her son, Alex, 44, and daughter, Lucy, 41. Some of the accessories were from his professional career as an accountant and a secretary, whereas others were just for recreational use.

After being made into bears, the ties were posted back to Marilyn in Devon from St Helens depot on Friday, October 11. However, weeks had passed, and she had yet to receive them. It quickly became clear to the mum-of-two that Royal Mail had misplaced them.

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She previously told the ECHO: “The trail has gone cold. They were tracked items, but they have gone missing, and I will probably never get them, it seems. It was devastating when I found out they were lost. The bears were going to be Christmas presents, so it was heartbreaking.”

Alastair died from prostate cancer in November 2022. Ten of his ties were sent for each bear, costing Marilyn £150. She added: "Alastair was a great family man and a grandad. He was so generous, kind, and considerate, and he had a lovely Scottish accent.

Alastair Taylor died from cancer
Alastair Taylor died from cancer -Credit:Marilyn Taylor

"He was a hard-working man. Now, nothing is coming back - not the ties or the bears. They have just been lost, and there doesn’t seem to be an explanation. When I rang up the Royal Mail, a gentleman told me trying to find them would be like finding a needle in a haystack."

However, on Monday, October 11, after nearly a month of the ties being missing, they were successfully returned to Marilyn. She said: “It was an amazing day. It’s been a whole month since they went missing, and I was giving up home. I didn’t think I was going to see them again.

The bears in question
The bears in question -Credit:Marilyn Taylor

“The lady, Julia Fairclough, who made them and Chris O'Keeffe from the Warrington depot, never gave up. The bears were found in Scotland. They were in Glasgow in an Amazon bag, so they have been about.

“When they were delivered on Monday, it was quite emotional. The post lady was so happy I was in, and she was able to give me the bears directly. They were completely irreplaceable, so it was an amazing day."