The first Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, earned his stripes on the battlefield, commanding the cavalry to victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and returning to England a war hero. The defeat of Napoleon aside, we also have him to thank for bringing us wellies. Presumably dissatisfied with the tassled boot popular in the 18^th century, Wellington commissioned his shoemaker to design a style fit for the battle - and the wellington boot was born!

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While there’s no evidence to suggest this beefy pastry parcel was named after the Duke of Wellington, some say its golden surface and oblong shape resemble one of his brown boots – hence the name ‘Wellington’. What we do know is that Beef Wellington – a slab of fillet steak wrapped in puff pastry – has the ability to strike the fear of God into the most confident of cooks. Heaven forbid the fillet should overcook or that there should be a soggy bottom. Our beef wellington recipe shows you how to avoid disaster!

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Perhaps the most popular welly wearer of all is Paddington Bear. And, of course, you’ll soon be able to catch Michael Bond’s creation in ‘Paddington’ the movie – he’s voiced by Ben Whishaw and joined by the seriously starry cast of Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Nicole Kidman and Peter Capaldi In the meantime you can find Paddington Bear statues dotted in a trail around London. None of them seem to wear wellies - which is very strange for one of the most famous welly wearers of all time - but they're great fun!

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Welly wanging originated in Holmfirth, Yorkshire where the Welly Wanging World Championships are held annually. But there is also the Rubber Boot Throwing World Championship - the chap pictured is competing in the Rubber Boot Throwing World Championship in Berlin. Yes, this is now an international sport!

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Glastonbury festival is famous for its welly moments - and lots of celebs are caught at the festival wearing the must-have festival footgear. What's best for fending off UK mud? It is, of course, the ever practical wellington boot. And doesn't model Kate Moss wear hers well!

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Michel Roux Jr is not beyond putting on a pair of wellies and squatting in the mud to get at some delicious vegetables. He is seen here at an allotment in St James' Park, London, wearing a fine pair of wellies and keeping the famous welly flag flying! Well done Monsieur Roux! We wonder if you found any potatoes on your allotment to make your duck confit?

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Billy Connolly’s song 'If it wisnae fur yer wellies' has had thousands of hits on Youtube. includes the sage words: ‘Wellies they’re wonderful, wellies they’re swell. Cause they keep out the water, and they keep in the smell.' From their famous beginnings, wellies continue to inspire the influential folk of our times!

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David Cameron was famously forced into wellies to visit Somerset during the UK floods. The hard hat and hi-vis jacket all added to his air of gravitas but without those wellington boots we wonder if anyone would have taken him seriously.

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Wellington College in Berkshire was built as a monument to the Duke of Wellington, and alumni of the school are known as ‘Wellingtonians’. We will henceforth refer to 'Wellingtonians' as wellies, and can tell you that famous ‘wellies’ include George Orwell, Christopher Lee and Will Young (left).

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Stylish wellies for winter 

Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker is seen here doing mothering rather than dating. And what better footwear for mothering in unpredictable NYC than a pair of sturdy and, yes, sexy, wellington boots!

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Royal wallies in wellies!

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Stylish wellies for winter