We’ve had 95 years of Winnie the Pooh!
We often walk past the house where the author A.A. Milne lived with his family. And where his son, the real Christopher Robin was born.
Christopher Robin had a teddy bear from Harrods that he named Winnie – after the Canadian black bear in the London Zoo. And Pooh, the swan that he had named.
The characters in the Winnie-the-Poo series were modelled on Christopher Robin’s toys. Besides Pooh there was Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo and Tigger.
When the London Evening News asked AA Milne to write a story for them in Christmas 1925, he wrote them a bedtime story about the bear that he had told his son. It became the first chapter of the book Winnie-the-Pooh.
The story collection Winnie-the-Pooh was first published in October 1926. This year we celebrate it’s 95th anniversary.
But it is not just Winnie the Pooh who is celebrating a glorious 95 years! The Queen of England also turns 95 this year – and today is her state official birthday. To celebrate their both turning 95, Disney has released a special animation titled ‘Winnie the Pooh and the Royal Adventure”.
The 45-second animation features Winnie the Pooh and friends Christopher Robin, Piglet, Tigger and Eeyore embarking on an adventure, taking them on a journey from the Hundred Acre Wood all the way to Windsor Castle to deliver a special gift to Her Majesty, The Queen. And guess what they delivered?
A giant pot of honey attached to 95 colourful balloons. But of course.
May’s comment: Whenever we walk past the house where A.A. Milne lived on Mallord Street, I always imagine how Christopher Robin would come and go in this house. And it was there where Pooh was created.
The author and his family lived at that house during the most creative years of his life, from 1919 until about 1940. He wrote both Winnie-the-Pooh books and two collections of poetry.
He also wrote about the house in which they lived:
Any of you may find himself some day in our quiet street, and stop a moment to look at our house; at the blue door with its jolly knocker, at the little trees in their blue tubs… at the bright-coloured curtains. We have the pleasure of feeling that we are contributing something to London.
Since 1979, it has the English Heritage blue plaque. It celebrates the links between notable figures of the past and the buildings in which they lived and worked.
The animation was created by Disney appointed artist, Kim Raymond, who drew the bespoke illustrations getting inspiration from the classic style of E.H. Shepard.
One Response
Thank you for sharing this beautiful bit of history. The video is so sweet! Winnie the Pooh was our older daughter’s favorite growing up! She had a Winnie the Pooh cake on her first birthday.
Happy 95th Birthday to Queen Elizabeth and Winnie the Pooh! 🎈🎉🎈🎂