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Love from Paddington – Fenwick’s Window 2017

Nobody knew for sure what the theme of Fenwick’s window 2017 would be until the official unveiling on Friday, but with the death of Michael Bond, Paddington’s creator in June of this year many guessed right. Love from Paddington is the official title, bringing to life the tale and history of Paddington Bear. The windows begin at Paddington station, with Paddington sat on his suitcase, complete with a note around his neck saying ‘Please look after this bear, Thank you.’

 

Love from Paddington

 

Paddington was sent to London from Peru by his Aunt Lucy, when she was too old to care for him anymore. He was found at Paddington Station by Mr & Mrs Brown.  Michael Bond created Paddington after buying the last bear on the shelf at a shop in London one Christmas Eve. He named him Paddington as he lived near to the station with his wife, and there is even a life size bronze statue of Paddington at the real Paddington Station.

 

Love from Paddington

 

Paddington Bear was taken in by the Brown’s and their two children Jonathan and Judy. They looked after him, bought him his signature outfit, the duffel coat and wellington boots to go with his uncles old red hat, and they all lived together on Windsor Gardens in Notting Hill. The address isn’t a real address, but nevertheless you can imagine the type of house they lived in – take a look at more on the real Notting Hill.

 

Love from Paddington

 

The books written by Michael Bond follow Paddington on his adventures around London, and all of the scrapes he manages to get himself into. I spotted some of the books in Fenwick’s to buy, but the windows bring out some of the best.

Trying his paws at decorating…

 

Love from Paddington

 

carpentry…

 

Love from Paddington

 

and even hairdressing.

 

Love from Paddington

 

We also see him on an adventure in London, stood next to the Queen’s guard. Like the Queen, Paddington Bear has two birthdays, as he wasn’t sure when his was. His birthdays are 25th June and 25th December. How nice and fitting that these two months are so important to his author – the month he began writing Paddington’s adventures, and the month he passed away.

 

 

My favourite of the windows is of Paddington visiting his friend Mr Gruber, who owns an antique store on Portobello Road. You can see them enjoying a gossip over a cuppa and lots of cake.

 

Love from Paddington

Love from Paddington

 

The last couple of windows of course turn to Christmas. The one titled ‘Paddington has a habit of bringing people closer together’ shows him playing in the snow with Jonathan and Judy.

 

Love from Paddington

Love from Paddington

 

And finally, ‘It’s nice to have a bear about the house’ is a typical Christmas scene, decorating the tree by the fire, with Paddington in the middle with his signature jar of marmalade.

 

Love from Paddington

 

One last scene, at the very end in the small corner window shows Paddington posting his Christmas card to Aunt Lucy. Love from Paddington.

 

Love from Paddington

 

The windows are one of the highlights of Christmas in Newcastle, and when I was seeing them today I think some of the parents were more excited than the kids. A few people were saying their relatives are coming from all over to see them, like they do every year, and like I said last year for me it just reminds me of being a kid and getting the bus up to Newcastle with my cousins and little nana to see them.

 

Love from Paddington

Love from Paddington

 

I did really enjoy the Beatrix Potter windows last year, but this one is by far my favourite. The windows were obviously as busy as ever, so expect a queue, and you have to visit the Marmalade Bar on the first floor in Fenwick’s to warm up when you’ve seen the windows.

 

Love from Paddington

 

The Marmalade Bar is a pop up cafe in the middle of the Christmas shop, and fully done out with blue checked tablecloths, and a giant cake table it is very cute. The menu fully get’s into the Paddington spirit, and I had the marmalade on toast for breakfast.

 

Love from Paddington

 

There’s also a lunch menu and an afternoon tea option as well. With table service, and tables both in and outside the pop up it there’s plenty room and is a great way to round off your Fenwick’s window experience.

 

Love from Paddington

 

There are Paddington Bears for sale all over Fenwick’s too, but I bet there isn’t one left on the shelf this year.

 

Other posts you might like:

Fenwick’s Window 2016 – Beatrix Potter

Portobello Road

An Early Morning Stroll Through Notting Hill

A Winter Grotto at The Botanist

 

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Love from Paddington - Fenwick's Window 2017

Love from Paddington – Fenwick’s Window 2017

  1. Chloe - New Girl in Toon

    5th November 2017 at 5:19 pm

    I am SO happy with this year’s theme and I can’t wait to go and check it out for myself, Paddington looks so cute! I tend to have a little stroll past first thing in the morning on my way to work, it’s the best time to go as there’s no one else about! Really want to get up to the cafe as well, love all the marmalade dishes on the menu.

  2. Katie Jane

    7th November 2017 at 4:30 pm

    I love this years theme, although I have no idea why Fenwick try and keep it a secret? Paddington was everywhere in store! I love how you had Marmalade on toast for breakfast!! Katie x

  3. Barry Stephen

    21st November 2017 at 5:04 pm

    I’m sure my niece will be thrilled to see the window. Taking her is a way of satisfying my own curiosity about whats displayed!

  4. November Round Up | Stephanie Fox Blog

    4th December 2017 at 10:43 am

    […] biggest Christmas event in Newcastle obviously happened in November too, the Fenwick’s window big reveal. I didn’t go on the evening, but I got to see it early the next morning before the […]

  5. Fenwick's Window 2018 - The Snowman | Stephanie Fox Blog

    3rd November 2018 at 2:24 pm

    […] Fenwick’s Window 2017 – Love from Paddington […]

  6. Fenwick's Window 2020 - Wind In The Willows | Stephanie Fox Blog

    10th November 2020 at 12:44 pm

    […] stream was very well done, and I loved the trip down memory lane looking at past years windows, (Paddington is still my favourite), the elves dancing in the upper floor windows of Fenwick’s, and finally the […]

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