this morning - paddington bear's 50th birthday

Paddington Bear is celebrating his 50th birthday

Paddington Bear's 50th birthday

Paddington, the bear who’s fond of marmalade and is loved the world over, is celebrating his 50th birthday.

Paddington Bear was brought to life by author Michael Bond, but it was none other that Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson’s mother, Shirley, who would bring fame and fortune to the polite immigrant bear from Darkest Peru.

Shirley, 73, made her name as the founder of Gabrielle Designs, a tiny spare room business that started by selling tea cosies in Doncaster and grew into an international business shipping Paddington Bears all over the world.

What initially began with Shirley creating teddies (from the illustrations by Peggy Fortnum) for her children soon escalated into a million pound business. However, things didn’t always run smoothly for Shirley and husband Eddie.

Without being credited as the creator of Paddington, there was the small issue of copyright infringement. However, this which was easily resolved in a meeting with Michael Bond himself, as Shirley reveals: "Michael opened the proceedings by saying that he wanted to make it clear that he had no intention of stopping us making Paddington; it was indeed the finest bear he had ever seen, he loved the whole concept.”

With worldwide rights to distribute Paddington, everything seemed to be working out for the couple. But workforce strikes, recalled products and a slowing down of interest for the teddy meant that the tide went out on Paddington as fast as it had come in.

Shirley, however, looks back fondly on her role in Paddington’s success: "Paddington Bear is now a world-wide icon and I feel proud to have played a part in his story.”

Bearly Believable - My Part in the Paddington Bear Story – Out Now RRP £16.99

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