CREATOR and author of the Paddington Bear books Michael Bond has had a new GWR Class 800 IET named after him.
The names Paddington Bear/Michael Bond were unveiled at each end of set No. 800010 by his daughter Karen Jankel at a ceremony at Paddington on January 10 that was also attended by Mr Bond’s widow, Sue.
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Mr Bond died aged 91 last June and the naming event was three days before what would have been his 92nd birthday.
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The famous bear dates from 1956 when Mr Bond saw a small bear alone on a shelf in a department store near Paddington station.
Alongside the names is an illustration of the bear from Peggy Fortnum, who drew the original Paddington images. PICTURE: JACK BOSKETT
Read more News and Features in February’s issue of The RM – on sale now!