When in 2006 Hugh Thompson (59-64) and his wife with their children grown up down sized into a terraced house near the river in Putney they had no idea an adventure was to begin. For they had moved into the house where cartoonist David McKee(1935-2022) had started all his famous Mr Benn adventures. The series features bowler hated Mr Benn going into a dressing up shop and entering into various worlds and adventures. So popular was the BBC series that 60 year later pilgrims come to Festing Road to have their picture taken next to Mr Benn's old home. 

Very quickly Hugh Thompson realised that he was living in part of the national culture and contacted David Mckee and got a memorial stone placed at the top of the street which reads "Festive Road home of David McKee and his creation Mr Benn". McKee came over from France for the unveiling and a friendship was struck. Every year he would send Hugh a hand drawn New Year card.McKee famously said "They always said I was stoned when I wrote the stories now I am". For the series McKee changed the street's name to Festive as he didn't like a name close to "Festering". In the meantime Hugh got a special pack of letters and Mr Benn ephemera ready for the pilgrims who he regularly met outside his house. 

In 2017 Hugh decided to call an adjoining walkway Festive Walk and to encourage the Council McKee wrote."Of all the places I have lived Festing Road was the best. Friendly, quiet and humane in proportions...to have a place named Festive Walk is an honour for Mr Benn and myself, we are both very flattered." A sentiment with which, our OC agrees. Hugh Thompson says " It makes me proud to be the keeper of the Mr Benn flame. Even on Boxing Day we had three pilgrims who were delighted when I gave them photos and letters of David McKee ".