MICHAEL BOND, the creator of Paddington bear, died at home aged 91 on Tuesday following a short illness, his publisher HarperCollins said.
Today is a very sad day. Michael Bond CBE will be missed by many. pic.twitter.com/ZoCb5sU2V9
— Paddington (@paddingtonbear) June 28, 2017
They said: “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 aged 91 following a short illness.”
Bond wrote his first Paddington book in 1958 when working as a BBC cameraman.
The beloved bear became a popular character, with more than 35 million books sold worldwide.
A sequel to the 2014 feature length Paddington film is due to be released later this year.
Ann-Janine Murtagh, executive publisher of HarperCollins Children’s Books, said: “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.”
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