Paddington is coming to Macclesfield

Children’s favourite Paddington Bear will be heading to Macclesfield’s next month to meet young fans.

The star of Michael Bond’s classic tales about the bear from darkest Peru who loves marmalade sandwiches, Paddington has also starred in TV adaptions and in a film.

He will be at the Grosvenor Centre on August 6 at intervals between 11am and 3.30pm to meet fans.  There will be photo opportunities so shoppers are reminded to bring their cameras.

Grosvenor Centre manager Ed Kennedy said: “I’m sure the children of Macclesfield will be excited to come and meet Paddington.

“It is important to us as a community to make sure even our youngest visitors are kept entertained and I know he will be a hit with shoppers of all ages.”

“We have been overwhelmed by the response when we’ve had visits from TV favourites such as Ben and Holly and Postman Pat, and I’m sure this event will be every bit as successful.”

It was while Michael Bond was working as a television cameraman for the BBC that he first came up with the idea for a lost bear Paddington, named after the London railway station.

The first book was published in 1958, and since then the small stowaway from South America has enchanted successive generations of children.

His latest outing, in Paddington: The Movie, saw the bear voiced by Bond star Ben Whishaw, with special effects by the team behind Oscar-winning movie Gravity.

It also featured Dr Who’s Peter Capaldi, Harry Potter stars Michael Gambon and Julie Walters, plus Downton Abbey’s Lord Grantham Hugh Bonneville, with a sequel now on the cards.

Macclesfield’s Grosvenor Centre, open daily, is home to 36 stores from fashion, health and beauty to services and food and drink. More details at www.grosvenorshopping.co.uk