RIP Mr. Paddington Bear

[doversoul1]

Michael Bond, the creator of beloved children's character Paddington Bear, has died at the age of 91.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-40432946

[Tevot]

Michael Bond, the creator of beloved children's character Paddington Bear, has died at the age of 91.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-40432946

A long life well lived... and his daughter Karen Jankel gave a lovely tribute. Paddington will indeed live on - and indeed Paddington 2 will soon be released. I remember the original TV series narrated by Michael Hordern.... Still equivocal about Marmalade though :-)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

And I was giving ahinton a "hard stare" only last week.

Sad news, but, yes - "a long life well-lived"

[Lat-Literal]

Very sad news.

I knew the books rather than television or film. They were very funny in places. I can recall a period when I had a very sore throat for several days. My mother read the book to me and we laughed so much that it physically hurt. The following day I woke up and the sore throat had gone. The author always seemed to me to be a bit of a miracle cure. I think too that it is worthwhile mentioning what has been mentioned in the news that Paddington was a refugee and partially for this reason was able to move into the modern world. I am struck by some similarities in character between Michael Bond and the MP and campaigner Lord Dubs who was so affected by the kinder transport that it has shaped his moral outlook throughout life.

RIP Michael Bond.

[johncorrigan]

I know Paddington was well loved by millions, but for me Michael Bond will be remembered for that very friendly lion called Parsley. Herbidaceous!

[richardfinegold]

We bought a Paddington bear that was sold with one of the books at Paddington Station a few years ago, six months after the birth of my grandson. He is almost 5 now and he started to play with bear, which displaced his other favorite toys, a few months ago. I had forgotten about it. We babysat he and his two year old sister a few weeks ago and found the accompanying book in their collection and read it to the two of them, who were absolutely transfixed. I had to repeat the story several times for them

[Nick Armstrong]

Very sad news.

I knew the books rather than television or film.

Ditto - I've still got my much-read complete set of the original "Young Puffin" series from the '60s e.g.





I loved the stories so much when I was small, and they are still rewarding, beautiful economic writing and deft humour, with unforgettable line drawings by Peggy Fortnum.

RIP

[Nick Armstrong]

Rather touching, at Paddington Station this morning:

[Lat-Literal]

Nice - I too was keen on The Herbs - and luckily Paddington himself lives on.

[Ferretfancy]

Paddington stands,in his red wellies, on my living room floor, just by my left front loudspeaker. He's been there for many years and is now free from the attempts at seduction made by my dog Emma the Lakeland Terrier. Emma never understood when he rejected her advances, but his hat has suffered a bit in the tussles.

It's nice to have Paddington on guard, but sadly Emma is long gone.

[vinteuil]

Rather touching, at Paddington Station this morning:

.

... there is sometimes a sentimentality in the British sensibility that makes me queasy.

Caliban's photo sums it up.

The books were quite nice as children's books.