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Paddington Bear, seen in this April 1997 photo, who starred in dozens of BBC television programmes about the mischievous little orphan. Paddington, one of Britain's best-loved bears, is due for a double celebration marking his birthday and a 25-year-long association with a leading medical charity, Monday June 25, 2001. The character first appeared in the book A Bear Called Paddington in 1958, written by Michael Bond, which was declared best children's book for that year. The inspiration behind Paddington was a small toy left on the shelf of Selfridges toy department in 1956 which Bond bought for his wife, calling it Paddington after the area of London in which he lived. (KEYSTONE/AP Photo/Str)