A very optimistic bear

As ideas for a book goes, this one was pretty fanciful. A bear from “darkest” Peru with a penchant for marmalade gets sent to England by his Aunt Lucy where he is befriended at Paddington Station by the Brown family who name him after the railway terminus. Michael Bond, the author of this unlikely tale, died yesterday aged 91 having entertained children and adults alike for over 50 years with the adventures of his charming creation. The Paddington series sold more than 35 million books, translated into 40 languages. With his blue duffel coat, bush hat and wellies, Paddington is instantly identifiable, quintessentially British and eternally optimistic. He is found bearing the label “Please look after this bear. Thank you”. As with Milne’s Winnie the Pooh, generations to come will do just that.