British Bobby Ducky from London

Name: British Bobby Ducky

Interests: Eating fish and chips and touring the British museum with my kids on the weekend.
Where to Find: Tourist Shop in London
Brand: Yarto
Price: $6.00 Euro

Nice hat.

In case you were wondering like I was, British police officers are called “Bobbies” änd “peelers” (which I had never heard of until now) because Robert Peel started the police force in 1829. The “ER”on the British Bobby Ducky’s hat stands for Elizabeth Regina and Regina is Latin for Queen. British Bobby Ducky enjoys visiting the museum with his ducklings. He is quite proud of his job. However, he has a weakness for fish and chips and malt vinegar, so he needs to get back into running. If you look closely at the picture, you can see that the buttons on his jacket are a bit crooked because his belly is stretching them.

Royal Guard Ducky from bud

Name: Royal Guard Ducky

Interests: Getting in a bubble bath after a long shift of standing up and enjoying a good pint.
Where to Find: Chicken Scratch
Brand: Bud
Price: $7.95 Cdn

 “God save the Queen” 

Royal Guard Ducky loves when it is time to change guards. He is often involved in the huge ceremony for the changing of the guards. He is proud to say he has never even once blinked while on duty. Many tourist duckies who visit Buckingham Palace try to get him to blink and madly wave their arms in front of him. One ducky even ran up to him and gave him such a forceful hug that he almost fell right over. It was a close call. It takes a lot of stamina and concentration to stand that still. While on duty, he has also written entire stories in his head (he has a good memory).

Rubber Duck from the Great British Duck Race

Name: Win Win Ducky
Interests: Floating down rivers and getting stuck in rip tides.
Where to Find:  http://www.thegreatbritishduckrace.co.uk/
Brand: Unknown 
Price: $2 Euros

I won’t get lost in the race.

While traveling around the world in 2009, my husband and I spent two weeks in London and 1 week in Nuneaton with my relatives. We were hoping to catch a rubber ducky river race but it wasn't taking place for the dates that we were in England. This duck is the second I have purchased for a charity duck race. However, I bought my first charity race duck at Sunridge mall in Calgary with my best friend when we were in high school. Usually the ducks are entered in the race but we wanted to keep a duck for our collections. Therefore, I contacted the organization doing the London duck race and they mailed me two rubber ducks from the race to my relatives house in Nuneaton. They arrived at their house the day after we arrived (Aug 09, 2009).

The race ducks are a basic rubber duck with yellow bodies and orange beaks. However, there are many basic rubber ducks available and each one is a little bit different. Blue or black eyes seem to be the standard.

British Rubber Duck from London

Name: British Guard Ducky
Interests: Strolling through Harrods and minding the gap on the tube.
Where to Find: Tourist shop in London, England
Brand: Unknown
Price: $6.00 Euro

Royalty rubber ducks need protecting too.

I must not be the only tourist that collects rubber ducks. While my husband and I were geocaching the streets of London, we entered a tourist shop. Amongst the typical fare of the " Underground" T-shirts and candy tins with the "Mind the gap" slogan, I found 3 rubber ducks - royalty, a British bobby and a guard. It was a tough choice but I picked the royal guard. I couldn't resist his black pouffy guard hat and his perfect British coat with large gold buttons.

Looking back on it now, I wish I would have bought all three rubber ducks but it was our first stop on our 6 month trip around the world and there are always more ducks to be had. It also gives me a good excuse to go back to London. Although, if you live in London and are willing to buy them and ship them to me, I will pay you back.