Our much loved ‘Olly’ mascot bear was sadly discontinued by the manufacturers - after much searching we have replaced Olly with a new Classic Teddy who needs a name!
We asked members at the Rally for suggestions of a name with a chance to win a very special customised bear named and wow we got a lot ! I have listed all the names and we already have a few with several votes already.
and now we’d like your help! place a vote for your favourite !
While I’m all for the idea of having the bear named after Tom Matano, it does cause a small problem for all those who gave names in the hope of winning the prize through their bear name being chosen.
However, MX-5s have two seats, so why not two mascots, one from this vote and one in rememberance of Tom Matano.
As many of you know, for a number of years the Club has had a little plush bear, fondly known as Ollie. He has been hugely popular with members young and old, and when the manufacturer discontinued him, I was gutted and I did my best to secure all the remaining UK stock so we could keep Ollie available for as long as possible. Sadly the supplies are exhausted.
In anticipation of this I had been researching alternatives and recently found a lovely, traditional articulated bear to succeed Ollie. At the National Rally a few weeks ago in looking to find a new name for this bear - members were asked and suggested a wide range of great names, which I compiled into an online poll so more of you could take part in choosing the most popular one.
Since then, of course, we’ve all received the sad news of Tom’s passing. It’s completely understandable that members may want to add a name to honour Tom. Before we decide, I wanted to share a few of my own considerations:
Having been lucky to know Tom a little, I’m sure if I’d asked him, “Shall we name a bear after you?” he would have laughed a lot and enjoyed the thought — then told us to name it after someone else.
We are still in a time where his family is grieving, and I feel strongly that we should avoid rushing into something that might feel insensitive so soon.
Most importantly, as we saw with Ollie (and a few other bears before him), the manufacturer can withdraw the product at any time. I think it would be much better that anything we do in Tom’s memory is something we control fully and can continue without risk of it disappearing.
On a practical point, once a poll has gone live and votes have been being cast, I can’t amend it. The only option would be to stop it, record the results, and publish a new poll, but that is simple and just a bit of admin.
These are just my thoughts and not meant to put myself or thoughts before the wishes of members. If the consensus is to proceed with adding Tom’s name, then of course we will. I only wanted to share any reasons for hesitation, so that whatever we do, we do it thoughtfully and in the right spirit.
There is of course the flip-side to that in which they may find it a comfort at such a time to know how well respected etc. he was through this dedication.
I do note that one of the places he was heavily involved with career-wise have not done any form of memorial/tribute to him, possibly down to your exact reason.
Make all the Club National Committee members have to take a bear making course, that way there’ll always be someone ready to create a new one
Of course if there is any danger of appearing insensitive at this sad and difficult time for the family, then we need to think again and find a less “frivolous” way of honouring Mr Matano.
