Paddington author Michael Bond dies

Published on 28/06/2017 - 15:35

Bond, who created the beloved bear with a hard stare, died following a short illness.

Michael Bond, the author of the Paddington series of books, has died at the age of 91, following a short illness.

He turned his hand to writing in the 1950s after a spur-of-the-moment teddy bear purchase for his wife one Christmas Eve. They named it Paddington, as the couple lived near the London station of the same name.

The typewriter came out, the idea for the first book was born and the beloved bear with a hard stare became a household name.

It is with much sadness that we confirm the death of beloved author and creator of Paddington Bear, Michael Bond CBE https://t.co/GknPRQxMaB pic.twitter.com/w4ZmKJuu7I
— HarperCollinsUK (@HarperCollinsUK) June 28, 2017

Numerous books followed, with the latest – Paddington’s Finest Hour – published last April. They were turned into a television series and an award-winning, internationally-acclaimed film. A second film is due to be released later in 2017.

It seems particularly poignant that we should learn of dear Michael Bond's death on the last day of shooting our second film about his unique, loveable creation. In Paddington, Michael created a character whose enthusiasm and optimism has given pleasure to millions across the generations. Michael will be greatly missed by his legions of fans and especially by his wife Sue, his family and of course by his beloved guinea pigs. He leaves a special legacy: long live the bear from darkest Peru. #michaelbond #paddington
A post shared by Hugh Bonneville (@bonhughbon) on Jun 28, 2017 at 6:15am PDT

Paddington’s enduring popularity, according to his creator, is “simply the joy of a little bear who is an outsider getting into scrapes and mishaps – always with the best of intentions – and coming out on top every time.”

Bond is survived by his wife, Sue, two children and four grandchildren.

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