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Michael Bond dead: Paddington Bear author dies aged 91

Mastermind behind the world's most cherished bear, who produced more than 150 titles about Paddington, passed away at his home after a short illness

Maya Oppenheim
Wednesday 28 June 2017 13:52 BST
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Bond was a prolific writer in his time and kept writing up until his death
Bond was a prolific writer in his time and kept writing up until his death (AFP/Getty Images)

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Michael Bond, the creator of Paddington Bear, has died at the age of 91.

The mastermind behind Britain's best-loved children's character passed away at his home on Tuesday after a short illness.

The author, who published over 200 books for children in his career, put out his first-ever book about the duffle-coat-wearing Peruvian bear in 1958. Now more than 35 million Paddington books have been sold worldwide.

Harper Collins, who published Bond's works for almost 60 years, said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that we announce that Michael Bond, CBE, the creator of one of Britain's best-loved children's characters, Paddington, died at home yesterday."

Bond was a prolific writer in his time and kept writing up until his death - his most recent Paddington story, Paddington's Finest Hour, was published in April.

In his lifetime he produced more than 150 titles about Paddington which were in turn translated into more than 40 different languages.

Born in Newbury in Berkshire, Bond got the inspiration to create world's most cherished bear after seeing a teddy in a shop window on his way home from work in 1956.

In a recent interview with The Guardian, he compared the marmalade-loving wellington-boot-wearing bear, who is based on the spectacled bear, to his father, saying: "My father, always a stickler for the right way to do things, would wear his hat in the sea - much like Paddington."

He also said: "My daughter Karen was born the same year that the first Paddington story was published, so they have grown up together - like siblings."

The fictional character, a bear from the darkest depths of Peru who comes to live in London, also went on to inspire an animated TV series and a successful 2014 film.

But Paddington was by no means Bond's only character, his other creations included Olga da Polga and A Mouse Called Thursday, and he also penned a series of adult novels, featuring the detective Monsieur Pamplemousse.

Bond, who didn't enjoy school and left at 14, began his career at the BBC and worked on Blue Peter as a cameraman.

The esteemed author, who lived in a comfortable but un-showy home in West London alongside two free range guinea pigs Oskana and Olga, who was bestowed with a CBE in 2015.

Ann-Janine Murtagh, Executive Publisher of HarperCollins Children's Books expressed her sadness at the news of his passing in a statement: "I feel privileged to have been Michael Bond's publisher - he was a true gentleman, a bon viveur, the most entertaining company and the most enchanting of writers.

"He will be forever remembered for his creation of the iconic Paddington, with his duffle coat and wellington boots, which touched my own heart as a child and will live on in the hearts of future generations. My thoughts and love are with his wife, Sue and his children Karen and Anthony."

Charlie Redmayne, HarperCollins CEO said: 'Michael Bond was one of the great children's writers and at HarperCollins, we are immensely fortunate to have published him and to have known him. He was a wonderful man and leaves behind one of the great literary legacies of our time."

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