E-GALLERY

The Railways Photo's

Paddington Bear

The wellington boots and jam sandwiches set this bear apart from the rest and the bears were created in Doncaster by no less than Jeremy Clarkson's mother at Adwick/Woodlands, in the building that became known as the Bear Garden.

Gabrielle Designs was founded by Shirley Clarkson, who made her first bear for her son Jeremy - now the presenter of BBC TV's Top Gear - and daughter Joanna.

She said: "I designed the first Paddington Bear for their Christmas present in 1971. It's very sad. Paddington was British from top to toe."

Mrs Clarkson sold the firm - the only UK business licensed to make Paddington Bears - in March 1995 to businessman Stephen Beaumont and his wife Lorraine.

The company went into liquidation in early 1998.

We're looking for new features, articles, and news stories written by budding Doncastrians - send to us here.