Michael Bond, the creator of marmalade-loving children's favourite Paddington Bear, has died. He was 91. His publisher, HarperCollins said he died at home after a short illness.
The furry adventurer first appeared in “A Bear Called Paddington” in 1958 - a stowaway from “Darkest Peru” who arrived at London's Paddington train station wearing a sign saying “Please look after this bear. Thank you.”
Adopted by the Brown family, the misadventure-prone bear went on to star in about 20 books, a television series and a feature film. The books have sold 35 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 40 languages, including Latin (“Ursus Nomine Paddington”).
Bond said he based the character on a teddy bear that he bought for his wife as a stocking-filler, and named him after the station he used for daily commutes.
Today, countless stuffed Paddingtons are for sale in toy stores and souvenir stands around Britain, and a statue of the iconic bear stands at the station.
Explaining the character's enduring appeal in 2008, Bond said “there's something about bears which sets them apart from the other toys”.