Rupert Bear was created Here

The the author and illustrator of Rupert Bear lived here

Location: 58 Cranes Park, KT5 8AS

Description: Alfred Edmeades 'Fred' Bestall, MBE, born in Mandalay, Burma, on the 14 December 1892, was the author and illustrator of 'Rupert Bear' for the London Daily Express, from 1935 to 1965.

He won a scholarship to the Birmingham Central School (later College) of Art and later attended the LCC Central School of Arts and Crafts in Camden. He served in World War I in the British Army in 1915 in Flanders, where he transported troops in red, double-decker London buses.

Following the war, Bestall finished his studies at the LCC Central School of Art and was hired to illustrate books by Enid Blyton. He also began doing paintings for The Amalgamated Press and did illustrations for Punch and Tatler, as well as for over 50 books.

In 1935, Bestall was selected to take over the Daily Express's Rupert Bear stories from Mary Tourtel. Bestall improved the stories and plots of Rupert, but more importantly, he created the most beautifully crafted illustrations in the Rupert Bear Annual publications.

Bestall produced his last Rupert story on 22 July 1965. He retired from the Daily Express in July 1965, but continued creating Annual publication covers until 1973.

He lived at this address from 1936 to 1966, a blue plaque marks the spot.

This wonderful artist passed away on the 15 January 1986 in Porthmadog, Wales.