BOGART: "What is this place with the wonderful little houses, Paddy?"
PADDY: "Well, it's a miniature Tudor village that was given to the people of Melbourne by a very grateful man in England for the food parcels that were sent to people in England during and after the Second World War when there were food shortages."
BOGART: "Food shortages?"
JAGO: "Yes Bogart. Things were very hard for everyday London citzens during the War. They had food rationing. Mummy June remembers rationing as a little girl."
BOGART: "Food rationing Jago? What's that?"
JAGO: "Well during the War in England Bogart, everyone was given an equal, but small portion of food to make sure that what food managed to reach England was evenly shared amongst everyone. However it wasn't all that much food."
BOGART: "That gives me a grumbly tummy just thinking about it!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*
SCOUT: "Me too, Jago! Grumbly tummy Jago! Grumbly tummy Paddy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*
PADDY: "There was even sweet rationing, if indeed there were chocolates and sweets to be had."
SCOUT: "Sweet rationing! No chocolates! Oh Paddy, I've definitely got a grumbly tummy now!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.* "
BOGART: "I'm glad that I didn't grow up during the War, Paddy and Jago. It doesn't sound like very much fun."
PADDY: "I suppose that depends upon your point of view Bogart, however I'm glad you didn't either, because then we would never have known one another, and you wouldn't know Daddy, Scout or Jago either."
SCOUT: "Well I don't want that Paddy! I love you so much Bogart! I would never not want to know you!"
BOGART: "I love you too Scout, and Paddy, and Jago and Daddy too."
PADDY: "Well, I know that Daddy loves you very much too, Bogart Don't you Daddy?"
DADDY: "Yes I do Paddy! I love you very much Bogart, and Jago, Paddy and Scout. I love you all to the moon and back."
SCOUT: "Enough to buy me some chocolate Daddy?" *Bats eyelashes hopefully.* "All that talk of food rationing and no chocolate has given me an attack of the grumby tummies!"
DADDY: "Yes Scout, but first I would like to get a photograph or two of you in front of the model Tudor village. Alright?"
SCOUT: "Jago? Jago, may I sit on your knee please?." *Blushes pink beneath woollen fur.*
JAGO: "Oh yes you may, Scout! I should be very honoured if you would sit on my knee."
DADDY: "Now, on three say ‘grumbly tummies’, alright? One... two... three!"
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART and JAGO: "Grumbly tummies!"
*Camera clicks and whirrs.*
My Paddington Bear came to live with me in London when I was two years old (many, many years ago). He was hand made by my Great Aunt and he has a chocolate coloured felt hat, the brim of which had to be pinned up by a safety pin to stop it getting in his eyes. The collar of his mackintosh is made of the same felt. He wears wellington boots made from the same red leather used to make the toggles on his mackintosh.
He has travelled with me across the world and he and I have had many adventures together over the years. He is a very precious member of my small family.
Scout was a gift to Paddy from my friend. He is a Fair Trade Bear hand knitted in Africa. His name comes from the shop my friend found him in: Scout House. He tells me that life was very different where he came from, and Paddy is helping introduce him to many new experiences. Scout catches on quickly, and has proven to be a cheeky, but very lovable member of our closely knit family.
Jago is a recent addition to my ever-growing family. A gift from a dear friend in England, he is made of English mohair with suede paw pads and glass eyes. He is a gentle bear, kind and patient who carries an air of calm about him. He is already fitting in with everyone else very nicely.
Bogart has travelled all the way from Georgia, via Alabama as a gift to me from a friend. He has lovely Southern manners and seems to be a fun and gentle soul with an inquisitive nature.
Just on the edge of the Melbourne Central Business District's formal grid of streets, you will find the beautiful Fitzroy Gardens. A haven of green with avenues of elms, lush rolling lawns and beautiful seasonal plantings the gardens are populated with various buildings and points of interest.
One of the latter which divides opinion is the Model Tudor Village. Presented to the people of the city of Melbourne by the grateful citizens of Lambeth in England in 1948, in appreciation of gifts of food dispatched from Victoria to England during the Second World War and in the severe food shortages immediately after the war, the village is either loved and admired, or considered twee. I happen to be one of the former, and I love visiting it several times a year, where I will often spend an hour or more. It never ceases to give me great pleasure, and I often discover new details I have not noticed before as the village sits in its own landscaped miniature countryside.
The Miniature Tudor Village which is situated in the centre of the Fitzroy Gardens, was modelled in cement in 1943 by Mr. Edgar Wilson, a 77 year old pensioner who lived in Hamilton Road, Norwood, London, who carried out the task as a hobby. He built three such villages during his lifetime.
The one he presented to the citizens of Melbourne was officially opened by the Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Councillor Sir Raymond Connelly, on 21st May, 1948. The model buildings represent a typical Kentish village built during the Tudor period of English history. The village is composed of various thatched cottages, a village church complete with stained glass windows made from colourful ornamental tile scraps, a village school, two oast houses used for kilning (drying) hops as part of the brewing process, the Oast Inn, the Pilgrim's Rest, a Toll House, a mill complete with water wheel, barns, stocks, pump, and all public buildings which make up one of the delightful villages. Also included is a scale model of Shakespeare's home and Anne Hathaway’s cottage. The whole village is set amid a miniature sculpted landscape populated with dwarf varieties of trees growing around paths and roads, a babbling brook, a village green and the houses of the village themselves.
Of the three villages presented by Mr. Wilson, the Melbourne village is the only one still complete. Six houses were presented to the Lambeth Council on 27th October 1948 for Vauxhall Park. They were subsequently located on the site laid out by the Borough Engineer, but were damaged and vandalised over the years and they fell into disrepair and were almost lost. Luckily in more recent years they have been restored and are now a treasured part of Vauxhall Park. A set of houses was also given to Lambeth for Brockwell Park. Sadly only one of these remains.
The Fitzroy Gardens was named after Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy (1796-1858), Governor of New South Wales (1846-1851) and Governor-General of the Australian Colonies (1851-1855). The Gardens have a long history of over 150 years, few other capital cities can boast such a significant garden so close to the City's centre. As crown land the City of Melbourne are the custodians to preserve and oversee this magnificent garden, visited by over 2 million local, interstate and international visitors each year, it is one of the major attractions in Melbourne. It features many beautiful statues, a bandstand, the Temple of the Winds, a conservatory and Captain Cook's Cottage.