// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Blue plaque unveiled at home of Paddington creator
Haslemere mayor Jacquie Keen (pictured on the left) with Bond's daughter, Karen Jankel, at Saturday's unveiling
The unveiling of a blue plaque at the former Surrey home of Paddington Bear creator Michael Bond was a "lovely" occasion with an unexpected surprise, the organiser has said.
Bond, who died in 2017 at the age of 91, moved to Fairacre in Haslemere in 1968, where he spent the next 10 years writing several Paddington books alongside the scripts for the original television series.
The unveiling on Saturday took place with the permission of current owners, Steph and Neil Stephenson, and was attended by Bond's daughter, Karen Jankel, who presented them with a special gift.
"It was the [Paddington] Bear that was Karen's as a child," Haslemere Society chairman Chris Harrison said.
The Haslemere Society, including chairman Chris Harrison, organised the unveiling
Harrison said about 25 guests were invited but "the same [number] again" turned up to see the unveiling.
A number of those were "people who remembered the family" living there, including Jankel.
"Quite a few friends were reunited today," Harrison said.
Also among the attendees were the owners before the Stephensons, who Harrison said had travelled all the way from Exeter in Devon.