Right where we stand, beneath the station clock, is a heartwarming tribute. It is the statue of Paddington Bear at London Paddington station. Have you ever wondered how this charming bear became such an icon?
Michael Bond gifted Paddington Bear to the world in 1958. He was inspired after buying a teddy bear for his wife. They lived near Paddington Station. Bond imagined a bear arriving at the station in his first novel. It was called A Bear Called Paddington.
Paddington journeys to London from Lima, Peru. He is in a lifeboat on a transatlantic ship. He has a small suitcase and marmalade sandwiches. A note on his coat reads “Please look after this bear. Thank you”. The Brown family adopts him and his adventures begin. Fourteen books followed between 1958 and 2018. The last book, Paddington’s Finest Hour, was published after Bond’s death in 2017. He was 91.
Paddington Station itself is significant. It opened in 1854. It was the London terminus for the Great Western Railway. Isambard Kingdom Brunel designed it. He was assisted by Matthew Digby Wyatt. Brunel drew inspiration from the Crystal Palace’s glazed roofs. The station is now a Grade I listed building.
Marcus Cornish created this bronze statue in 2000. Michael Bond unveiled it on February 24, 2000. The Paddingtonscape Statue originally stood at the foot of the escalators. It was moved due to renovations. The Guardian called it “one of the few memorials in London to inspire real affection”.
Today, the Paddingtonscape Statue is more than just a sculpture. It marks the spot where fiction became reality. It links a beloved bear to the station that gave him his name. Take a moment to appreciate this bronze Paddington. Remember the story of a small bear. He arrived with big dreams and a love for marmalade. He found a home and a family in London.