Prestatyn Mum, Eileen De Bont, who Changed Name to Pudsey Bear Unable to Obtain Passport
A mum from Prestatyn, Eileen De Bont, 53, has found herself in a bureaucratic nightmare after attempting to obtain a passport under her chosen name of Mrs P Bear. Sixteen years ago, Eileen changed her name to Pudsey Bear to honour the Children In Need mascot after raising £4,000 in an online eBay auction for the charity in 2009. Despite being known as ‘Mama Bear’ by her daughters and holding identification like a driver’s licence and bank card bearing her chosen name, she has faced repeated rejections from the Passport Office, which deemed her name change “frivolous.”
Eileen, who runs a tarot reading business named Northern Light Tarot, with a substantial subscriber base on YouTube, has been caught in a Catch-22 situation. While various government agencies have accepted her name change, the Passport Office has remained steadfast in its refusal, citing copyright concerns. The Passport Office warned Eileen of potential copyright infringement issues due to her chosen moniker. Eileen expressed her frustration, stating, “All my bills, my bank details, the GP, my local health trust – everywhere else has accepted my new name. Everywhere except the Passport Office.”
Despite her legal name change, Eileen has been asked by the Passport Office to revert to her birth name. However, she remains attached to her chosen identity as Mrs P Bear. The UK Deed Poll Service, which facilitated her name change, highlighted the inconsistency in the Passport Office’s decisions, particularly regarding trademark and copyright issues. They clarified that individuals using a name on a passport do not infringe on trademarks as businesses would. Eileen was advised to seek permission from the copyright owner, the BBC, before proceeding with her application.
With her driving privileges revoked due to medical reasons, Eileen finds herself without valid photographic identification. The Home Office has signalled openness to considering a new passport application from Eileen. A representative stated, “All passport applications are considered on their individual merits and assessed in line with official guidance.” Mrs Pudsey Bear’s case underscores the complexities individuals can face when their chosen name deviates from conventional norms. Eileen remains hopeful for a positive outcome as she navigates the bureaucratic hurdles impeding her passport application.
This article highlights the challenges faced by Eileen De Bont, who took a charitable step by changing her name to honour a fundraising effort for Children In Need. Her struggle to obtain a passport under her chosen name sheds light on the rigid application of trademark and copyright laws in official documentation processes. As Eileen perseveres in her quest to secure a passport bearing her beloved moniker, her story underscores the importance of flexibility and sensitivity in administrative procedures.