The Quaker bears exploring the children's programmes at Yearly Meeting. Photo: Alison Meaton.
Eye - 7 June 2019
Quaker bears explore Yearly Meeting
If you went down to Friends House last week, you were in for a big surprise… from two furry Friends in ‘plain dress’.
They explored Yearly Meeting and shared their journey on Twitter, via #QuakerBears, wearing tiny outfits in the fashion of early Friends, who strove, to quote William Penn, to wear clothes that were ‘simple and plain… neither unshapely, nor fantastical’.
Alison Meaton, who provided the duo with their simple yet stylish attire, is from Penzance Meeting and told Eye their tale.
She was part of the volunteer team working with the children’s programme at Yearly Meeting and some generous Friends from her Local Meeting gave her a bag of teddy bears for younger Friends to enjoy. This charismatic pair were in the bag but ‘as they have too many small pieces for the babies and toddlers, I decided to keep them for something else’.
Alison told Eye: ‘It was only once I arrived at Yearly Meeting that I had the idea of documenting what the Quaker bears got up to.
‘They could visit the children’s programme, which most Friends don’t have access to, and could also comment on those small things that in our busy lives can be missed but can bring joy if we notice them.’
The Quaker bears stretched their paws after ‘a long arduous journey in a suitcase’, and padded off to see what the children were up to.
During the weekend they also snaffled seats at the Swarthmore Lecture, spoke to a member of the Book of Discipline Revision Committee, and feasted on fruit.
As they settled into their seats for the journey home they tweeted: ‘Thanks @ymevent_britain and @FHhospitality for a challenging, inspirational and enjoyable #ym2019…’
Alison reflected on how making time to appreciate small things, like a satsuma in the sunshine, was inspired by one of her close friends, ‘who carries the emotional scars of a significant bereavement’.
She shared that: ‘When I first met her she told me she took photographs as she isn’t able, at the moment, to do anything else. I asked her what she photographed. Her reply has stayed with me “something I didn’t notice yesterday”.’
