Michael Bond was born in Newbury, Berkshire on 13 January 1926 and attended Presentation College, Reading. He served in the Royal Air Force and the British Army before working as a cameraman for BBC TV for 19 years. In 1997 he was awarded the OBE for his services to children's literature.
Praise for the Paddington series: ‘I’ve always had great respect for Paddington…He is a British institution.’ Stephen Fry ‘Paddington has joined Pooh as one of the great bears of English children’s literature.’ The Teacher ‘Michael Bond’s accident-prone bear…has become one of the most enduring of children’s characters.’ The Bookseller