Paddington Bear Still Has the Touch

A number of news pieces caught our attention here this week which prove the ongoing appeal of Paddington Bear.

First of all, everyone’s favourite immigrant from Peru, is back in the advertising world. A manufacturer of marmalade is using him as the face of their brand. They hope his legendary love for the stuff will propel their company into the stratosphere.

On another note a special exhibition dedicated to Paddington and his creator, Michael Bond, opened this month at Reading Museum. Entitled The Life and Times of Paddington Bear, visitors will learn how Bond came up with the idea one Christmas in 1956 and follow his progression from the first book, A Bear Called Paddington in 1958 to his most recent incarnation in 2008.

The exhibition runs until July and you can find more details on the Reading Museum website.

More than anything else this has to be a tribute to the wonderful affect these stories have had on our world. Could Michael Bond ever have imagined how long his story would endure? It continues to this day in books, cartoons and of course the cuddly toys which we stock here.

Our Paddington Bear toys demonstrate his enduring popularity for a new generation of children. From the trade mark hat to the bright duffel blue coat it is remarkable to see how much he has stayed true to his original image throughout the decades.

So, let’s hear it for Paddington Bear a favourite for children in the past, present and future.