PADDINGTON Bear’s first visit to Didcot Railway Centre this month was a success.

More than 1,000 people came to meet the famous bear, eating marmalade sandwiches and marmalade ice cream, and ride the trains on Saturday, July 23.

Herald Series: Paddington walking to meet his admirers. He made a 40-minute personal appearance every hour from 11 till 3. Picture by Frank DumbletonPaddington walking to meet his admirers. He made a 40-minute personal appearance every hour from 11 till 3. Picture by Frank Dumbleton

He helped celebrate children’s birthdays and took a tour of the trains.

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Herald Series: Paddington with a family group from Didcot who had come to celebrate a birthday at the railway centre, as well as meeting him. Picture by Frank DumbletonPaddington with a family group from Didcot who had come to celebrate a birthday at the railway centre, as well as meeting him. Picture by Frank Dumbleton

Families were invited to meet Paddington Bear as well as tour the newly restored small locomotive, King George.

There were also unlimited steam train rides which aimed to allow guests to “travel back in time to the golden age of the Great Western Railway” with trains dating back to the Sixties.

Herald Series: Paddington with some of his young admirers. The newly-restored locomotive ‘King George’ is on the turntable behind them. Picture by Frank DumbletonPaddington with some of his young admirers. The newly-restored locomotive ‘King George’ is on the turntable behind them. Picture by Frank Dumbleton

The 21-acre living museum was open for families to explore with opportunities to see the original 1932 Engine Shed and see some of the surviving track from Brunel’s Broad Gauge.

Herald Series: Paddington with Chrissy Crisp of the railway centre’s visitor services team and locomotive No 1340 Trojan. Chrissy is holding an original train destination board lettered Paddington, from Didcot's museum collection. Picture by Frank DumbletonPaddington with Chrissy Crisp of the railway centre’s visitor services team and locomotive No 1340 Trojan. Chrissy is holding an original train destination board lettered Paddington, from Didcot's museum collection. Picture by Frank Dumbleton

Herald Series: The ice cream stall, with marmalade among its unusual flavours. Picture by Frank DumbletonThe ice cream stall, with marmalade among its unusual flavours. Picture by Frank Dumbleton

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This story was written by Gee Harland, she joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.

Gee covers Wallingford, Wantage and Didcot.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @Geeharland

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