UPDATE 17th March 2025: Paddington statue undergoing repairs ahead of reinstallation in Newbury town centre
In the early hours of Sunday 2nd March, Newbury’s much-loved Paddington statue was vandalised and forcibly removed from its bench on Northbrook Street.
Newbury Business Improvement District (BID) brought Paddington to Newbury in October 2024, in partnership with STUDIOCANAL as part of its national Paddington Visits trail.
Paddington’s installation was particularly meaningful as Newbury is the birthplace of Paddington’s creator, Michael Bond – a connection that made the statue an even more cherished landmark.
Trish Willetts, CEO at Newbury BID says: “Our thoughts today echo the overwhelming response from the public – we are shocked and heartbroken to see such a senseless act of vandalism has taken place in our charming market town. While this is a truly sad moment for Newbury, the outpouring of support seen online really highlights the strong community spirit that defines our town.”
Newbury BID is actively working with all parties involved on the next steps.
The incident is already being investigated by Thames Valley Police, and Newbury BID encourages anyone who may have information or dashcam footage to contact them – you can do this anonymously via CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111 or by calling 101 with TVP ref 43250102626.
For all press enquiries, please contact info@newburybid.com.
