A man who spent years making people smile is doing it once again.

This summer, visitors to Bluewater Shopping Centre will meet Magic Ken – a giant bear created in memory of former Events Manager Ken Francis, whose kindness, humour and legendary magic tricks made him one of the centre’s most-loved characters.

After being cared for by ellenor at the end of his life, Ken’s family, friends and former colleagues wanted to celebrate his remarkable legacy in a way that would continue helping other families.

The sculpture is one of more than 80 bears featured in Dartford and ellenor’s first-ever We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Art Trail, a free public art event raising funds for local hospice care.

Every bear on the trail has its own story, but together they’ll help raise funds so more local families can receive the support Ken and his family experienced through ellenor.

Inspired by the animated television adaptation of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, produced by Lupus Films, Dartford and ellenor’s first-ever We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Art Trail will bring more than 80 beautifully decorated bears to Dartford town centre and Bluewater this summer before the sculptures are auctioned to raise vital funds for local hospice care.

Ken worked at Bluewater from the day it opened more than 25 years ago and became affectionately known as “Mr Bluewater”. Whether entertaining shoppers with magic tricks, helping retailers or welcoming celebrity visitors, he was someone people never forgot.

His family, friends and colleagues were heartbroken when he died at ellenor’s hospice in Northfleet a few years ago, shortly after retiring.

His toolkit still sits beneath the desk of Bluewater’s Community Manager, Angie Liddell.

Angie said: “He was one of those people everybody knew – all the retailers and all the staff. Outside of Bluewater he was a well-known local Magician and performed at weddings and other events. He did at least three of my children’s birthday parties and he was just amazing.

“He always had a trick he would do, or a game, a silly noise or a squeaky walk. He was just one of those characters. He was known as Mr Bluewater. If guests came in for a coffee he would take them to Nero and sit with them, and he would often escort celebrities.

“When Victoria Beckham arrived, he would meet her in the car park and carry her bags for her – real VIP treatment.

“You could ring him up and say, ‘I need this’ or ‘I need that’, and that would be all you needed to say. He was one of those people you could really rely on.”

Speaking about Bluewater’s support for the trail, Angie added: “ellenor was where Ken went at the end of his life, so they were the charity the Bluewater team chose to support. Lots of us have experience of the hospice and there is already a memorial sculpture dedicated to Ken in the hospice gardens.

“Ken loved working with children, so the Bear Hunt would have been right up his street.”

The trail will bring more than 80 individually decorated bears to Dartford town centre and Bluewater this summer before the sculptures are auctioned to raise vital funds for ellenor.

Claire Dunn, Deputy Centre Director at Bluewater, said: “When we heard about the Bear Hunt we wanted to sponsor a bear, and we wanted it to be in memory of Ken – it was a no-brainer.

“Bluewater is part of the community and when a charity comes to us needing help with promoting something, we try our best to help. What ellenor does is amazing. It’s not just about a hospice. It’s about providing support in people’s homes and helping families who are grieving.

“ellenor shines a different light on hospice care. The people who work there and the volunteers are amazing. I can honestly say this is the most any charity has engaged with us.

“Seeing all the bears in the centre is going to be wonderful. They’ll bring Dartford and Bluewater together. They’re all so different and so beautiful, each with their own character.”

Working at Bluewater was Ken’s second career after running a butcher’s shop in the village of Plaxtol. He and his wife Sally had three children, Lisa, Danielle and Martin, and later became proud grandparents.

Those grandchildren played an important role in designing Magic Ken alongside artist Natelle Quek.

Natelle, whose children’s illustrations have been published by Walker Books, was one of the artists invited to paint a bear live at Bluewater while shoppers watched through paw-shaped viewing windows.

She said: “The bear has been an important piece for me. I came up with a couple of magical-themed designs and the family chose the one they liked. There is also a bear cub for Ken’s family to keep.

“A lot of the design came from Ken’s grandchildren and their pictures of rabbits being pulled out of hats and magic wands. His grandson also designed an ace of hearts playing card with Ken’s initials.

“The family came to see the work in progress a couple of times and took pictures. Ken sounds like a wonderful person who touched a lot of people’s lives.”

Originally from Malaysia, Natelle has also lived in New Zealand and Florida before settling in Rochester with her husband James.

She said: “My father-in-law always told me that if you love what you do, you never do a day’s work in your life.”

Once the trail comes to an end, Magic Ken will remain at Bluewater overlooking the lakes – a lasting tribute to a man who brought joy to so many people, and whose kindness will continue helping local families for years to come through ellenor.