New Paddington Bear exhibition opens in Reading

On Christmas Eve 1956, Michael Bond spotted a toy bear in a London shop and 'felt sorry for it'. He took it home as a present for his wife, and christened it Paddington, after the railway station near which they then lived. 'For fun,' he began writing some stories about the furry foundling
Photograph: Vagner Vidal/INS News Agency

By the time the first book – A Bear Called Paddington – appeared in 1958, Bond had sketched in the bear's history. Born in Darkest Peru, and orphaned as a very young cub, Paddington was brought up by his Aunt Lucy. However, when she moved into the Home for Retired Bears she was forced to make alternative arrangements for Paddington. With what some might argue was criminal negligence, Aunt Lucy despatched him as a stowaway on a ship bound for England
Photograph: INS News Agency

Abandoned to the kindness of strangers on Paddington station concourse, the young bear is fortunate to run into Mr and Mrs Bond, who take pity on him, and bring him back to their west London home
Photograph: Vagner Vidal/INS News Agency

Author Michael Bond's original typewriter, which he used to write the Paddington Bear stories. It is shown along with his spectacles and Paddington's notebook
Photograph: Spencer Gale/INS News Agency

He may at first appear a vulnerable little thing, but his Aunt Lucy did teach Paddington one useful means of defending himself: a special 'hard stare', which (as above) forces its target to become embarrassed and awkward
Photograph: Spencer Gale/INS News Agency

The Life and Times of Paddington Bear continues at the Museum of Reading until 4 July 2010
Photograph: Spencer Gale/INS News Agency