There’s a tiny piece of the Paddington Bear stories that I share with his creator, Michael Bond, whose life was celebrated at St Paul’s Cathedral recently.

It’s the typewriter Bond used for the earliest Paddington books.

I came across the Olympia SM8 model at the Museum of London a couple of years back, and immediately recognised it.

Bond created the lovable Peruvian bear on the same make and model of typewriter that I learnt to type on back in the 1970s.

Bond bought the typewriter after he left his job as a BBC cameraman. My mum cashed an insurance policy to buy me the same model, so I could learn to type.

I used the machine in my first job at a west London newspaper. Bond created a magical character loved by millions around the world.

I recalled this ‘connection’ while enjoying the new movie in a packed local cinema. It was a wonderful shared experience, bringing all ages together.

Children and grown-ups are united in their love for the bear who made London his home and won himself a wide-ranging circle of friends.

One of the speakers at Bond’s memorial service said of Paddington, "We can all identify with him. We've all been a stranger in a strange place, trying to fit in."

And that resounded for me with one of Jesus Christ’s key concerns: caring for people who society has rejected and placed on its margins.

Maybe Paddington, on the typed page or on the big screen, has a message for everyone.

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here