When Paddington first went to live with the Brown family at 32 Windsor Gardens, they didn’t really know much about him at all, apart from the fact that he originally came from Darkest Peru.
Paddington bear was created almost half a century ago by the English writer, Michael Bond.
Michael Bond recalls in his own words how Paddington first came into being:
"I bought a small toy bear on Christmas Eve 1956. I saw it left on a shelf in a London store and felt sorry for it. I took it home as a present for my wife Brenda and named it Paddington as we were living near Paddington Station at the time. I wrote some stories about the bear, more for fun than with the idea of having them published. After ten days I found that I had a book on my hands. It wasn’t written specifically for children, but I think I put into it the kind things I liked reading about when I was young."
Michael Bond sent the book to his agent, Harvey Unna, who liked it and after sending to to several publishers it was eventually accepted by William Collins & Sons (now Harper Collins). The publishers commissioned an illustrator, Peggy Fortnum, and the very first Paddington book "A Bear Called Paddington" was published on 13th October 1958.
In 1965, after writing several Paddington titles Michael Bond retired from his job as a cameraman with the BBC, a job he held for many years, in order to write full time.
Of Paddington himself Michael Bond says:
"The great advantage of having a bear as a central character is that he can combine the innocence of a child with the sophistication of an adult. Paddington is not the sort of bear that would ever go to the moon - he has his paws too firmly on the ground for that. He gets involved in everyday situations. He has a strong sense of right and wrong and doesn't take kindly to the red tape bureaucracy of the sillier rules and regulations with which we humans surround ourselves. As a bear he gets away with things. Paddington is humanised, but he couldn't possibly be 'human'. It just wouldn't work."
The Paddington books have sold more than thirty million copies worldwide and have been translated into thirty languages.
Michael Bond continues:
"I am constantly surprised by all the translations because I thought that Paddington was essentially an English character. Obviously Paddington-type situations happen all over the world."
As Michael Bond once recorded Paddington as saying: "Things happen to me. I'm that sort of bear".
In fact, so many things have happened to Paddington in the last 45 years, that it would be hard to remember them all.
lthough Paddington now lives in London, England, he originally came from Darkest Peru where he was brought up by his Aunt Lucy after he was orphaned following an earthquake when he was just a few weeks old.
When Aunt Lucy went to live in the Home for Retired Bears in Lima, she decided to send him to England to live. After teaching him to speak English she arranged for him to stow away in a ship’s lifeboat.
Eventually, Paddington arrived on Paddington Station in London which is where the very first story begins with the words:
“Mr. and Mrs. Brown first met Paddington on a railway platform. In fact, that was how he came to have such an unusual name for a bear for Paddington was the name of the station.”
The Browns were at the station to meet their daughter Judy when Mr. Brown spotted a bear sitting all alone on a suitcase, behind a pile of mail bags, close to the lost property office. The bear was wearing nothing but a hat and he had a label round his neck bearing the words “Please Look After This Bear. Thank You.”
Unable to resist such a simple request, Mr. and Mrs. Brown took Paddington home to live with them at 32 Windsor Gardens with their two children, Jonathan and Judy and their housekeeper, Mrs. Bird.
The Browns decided to name their new member of the family Paddington, after the place where he was found, although we later learn that in Peru his name was Pastuso.
When he was found, Paddington wasn’t too sure how old he was so the Browns decided to start again at one. They also decided that he should have two birthdays a year (just like the Queen!) and so he celebrates these on 25th June and 25th December.
Paddington lives with the Brown family and their housekeeper, Mrs. Bird.
Mr. Brown works in the City of London. Little did he realise what lay in store for him the day he invited Paddington into his home. Redecorating nightmares, kitchen catastrophes, gardening mishaps – there’s no end to the messes his house guest gets into. To Mr. Brown’s credit, however, he never loses his temper with Paddington, treating him as one of his own family and even giving him a weekly allowance.
Mrs. Brown is very good-natured. She takes Paddington’s mishaps in her stride, always looking on the bright side of his latest debacle. She does her best to familiarise him with his new surroundings, taking Paddington out shopping and even entrusting him with the odd errand. Occasionally, Mrs. Brown is struck by an ominous sense of foreboding just before Paddington lands himself in yet another spot of trouble.
Jonathan and Judy are the Browns’ two children. They are intelligent and well-behaved and so, unlike many parents, the Browns were spared the usual problems associated with bringing up a family … that is, until Paddington arrived on the scene! Jonathan and Judy love having a bear about the house and are often on hand to help Paddington with his latest project or out of his latest predicament.
Mrs. Bird runs the Brown household. She is strict and knowing but also compassionate and understanding when she needs to be – which is more often than not when it comes to Paddington. She is a housekeeper, cook and nanny all in one and it is difficult to imagine the Browns getting along without her. Unlike the rest of the family who may be genuinely mystified when they discover Paddington’s latest mishap, Mrs. Bird always knows who is responsible. She knows Paddington well and is usually the first to put two and two together. She is incisive, occasionally intimidating but ever-forgiving of Paddington’s frequent mistakes.
Mr. Gruber is Paddington’s close friend and confidant. He has an affinity with Paddington since they both emigrated to England, in Mr. Gruber’s case from his native Hungary. Mr. Gruber owns an antiques shop in the nearby Portobello Road and most days Paddington stops by at the baker’s shop to buy some buns before taking them to share with Mr. Gruber over a mug of cocoa for their “elevenses” (mid-morning snack). The two get along famously and the shy, soft-spoken Mr. Gruber treats Paddington as an equal, referring to him as Mr. Brown as they chat over cocoa and buns. He is the one Paddington turns to when in need of information, an explanation or, quite simply, pleasant company.
Paddington lives with the Brown family at 32 Windsor Gardens.
It is a large, semi-detached house with a garden at the back. It is in the Notting Hill area of London, not too far from Paddington Station. Paddington has his own bedroom at the top of the house.
The Browns' house is a short walk from the Portobello Road where his friend, Mr. Gruber owns an antiques shop. Paddington is a familiar face in the Portobello Road market where he has gained a reputation for having a very good eye for a bargain.
Mr. Curry is the Browns’ next-door-neighbour and he is a dour, humourless man, forever trying to take advantage of Paddington. A penny-pincher, he is always trying to get something for nothing – especially from Paddington. Mr. Curry’s trademark roar of Beeaar! is a common sound in Windsor Gardens as, once more, Paddington comes out on top!
Aunt Lucy is Paddington’s aunt and she lives in the Home for Retired Bears in Lima, Peru. Since she brought Paddington up he looks upon her as a mother figure and keeps in contact with her through a regular exchange of postcards. When she came over to England to stay with the Browns she left almost as much chaos in her wake as her young nephew!
Paddington wears an old bush hat which was handed down to him by his uncle in Peru and he is hardly ever seen without it.
When Paddington first went to live with the Browns they bought him a blue duffle coat. It has a hood and is fastened with wooden toggles.
Paddington sometimes completes his outfit with a pair of Wellington boots.
When Paddington was first found by Mr. and Mrs. Brown on Paddington Station, he was wearing a label round his neck on which his Aunt Lucy had written the words “Please look after this bear. Thank You.”
Paddington is rarely parted from his battered, brown, leather suitcase. It has his initials P.B. written on the side and a secret compartment in which he keeps all his important papers.
Paddington’s favourite food is marmalade. He always carries a jar in his suitcase and he often has a marmalade sandwich tucked under his hat “in case of emergencies”.
When Paddington goes shopping in the market he usually takes along his shopping basket on wheels.
One of Paddington’s most important possessions is his scrapbook where he likes to write about all his adventures. It is also full of mementoes and the regular postcards which he receives from his Aunt Lucy in Peru.
