SWIPE! ⬅️ In the early 1970s, Jeremy Clarkson’s mother, Shirley Clarkson, designed and created the very first Paddington Bear stuffed toy. She originally handcrafted two of them—one for Jeremy and one for his sister, Joanna—as Christmas gifts. At the time, no plush version of the beloved storybook character existed, so Shirley made her own interpretation of Paddington, complete with his signature duffle coat and hat. Her design captured the character’s charm so well that friends and others began requesting their own bears. Realizing the potential, Shirley and her husband Edward started producing the toys under their family-run business, Gabrielle Designs. The Clarksons reached out to Paddington’s creator, Michael Bond, and secured a formal licensing agreement in 1972, making their bear the first official Paddington Bear toy. Its popularity soared, and Gabrielle Designs became the exclusive manufacturer for many years, even exporting the toys internationally. The design remained a clas...