Stamp of approval for Paddington with release of Royal Mail collection
Creator Michael Bond's tales of the marmalade loving Bear from Peru were inspired by Jewish refugee children in World War II
The iconic Paddington Bear is being immortalised in a new set of ten Royal Mail stamps.
Beloved of millions of adults and children alike, Paddington is the marmalade loving bear from Peru and the creation of writer Michael Bond who died in 2017 at the age of 91.
He was inspired by the stories of Jewish refugee children arriving at Reading train station during the second world war.
As reported by Jewish News, an interview with The Telegraph in 2014 saw Bond recall “their labels round their necks and then I remember going to the cinema and seeing on the newsreel that Hitler had moved into some new country and seeing footage of elderly people pushing prams with all their belongings in them. Refugees are the saddest sight, I still think that.”
The release of the stamps coincides with the 80th anniversary year of the Kindertransport, the British scheme which saved the lives of more than 10,000 German and Austrian Jewish children fleeing Nazi persecution.
It also marks the 65th anniversary of the publication of ‘A Bear Called Paddington’ in 1958.
Six stamps include images from Ivor Wood’s cartoon strips of Paddington from the late 1970s, while a further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet capture moments from the 1970s BBC TV series, Paddington.
David Gold, director of external affairs and policy, Royal Mail, said: “Paddington continues to bring cheer to generations of children worldwide. These delightful stamps will brighten up the day of anyone receiving mail with a touch of Paddington’s charm.”
The stamps are available to pre-order from today (24 August) at www.royalmail.com/paddington and by telephone on 03457 641 641
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
