Winnie the Pooh, the fictional bear created by children's author A. A. Milne and one of several stuffed toys belonging to Christopher Robin, was actually named after the Canadian city of Winnipeg.
Hope the Trivia is a new feature that's here to stay, David!
Winnie was indeed named after the city of Winnipeg, in Manitoba, but she (yes, she) was actually from White River, Ontario. White River is a small town on the achingly beautiful northern shore of Lake Superior.
The troop train of an Infantry Brigade from Winnipeg headed for England to join in the Commonwealth's efforts in the First World War had stopped in the town, and while there a young lieutenant named Harry Colebourn became quite taken with a bear cub in the care of a hunter who had shot the cub's mother. He bought the cub for $20 (a princely sum in 1918), named her "Winnie" after his hometown, and she became the Brigade's mascot on their long journey to Britain.
When the Brigade had finished their training and were posted to France, Colebourn (a captain now) donated her to the London Zoo, where she quite contentedly lived to the ripe old age of 26.
Raised by humans from a young age, she had imprinted and was very docile and friendly, and a popular denizen at the Zoo. She was certainly a favourite of a certain young Christopher Robin Milne, son of writer A.A. Milne. It is reported that Christopher even spent time inside her cage, playing and cuddling with her. He even renamed his stuffed bear at home from Edward Bear to Winnie the Pooh in her honour.
Many thanks for sharing that with us. I was fascinated by all that, because I had no idea about the Canadian connection until yesterday - and thought I would include a regular trivia segment.
So, in answer to your question, yes, the feature will appear at least four or five times a week. And thank you for your encouragement.
Winnie the Pooh, the fictional bear created by children's author A. A. Milne and one of several stuffed toys belonging to Christopher Robin, was actually named after the Canadian city of Winnipeg.
3 comments:
Hi Gopal and Lotus Reads,
Maybe you might have some info to add to this. If you do, feel free.
Cheers
David
Hope the Trivia is a new feature that's here to stay, David!
Winnie was indeed named after the city of Winnipeg, in Manitoba, but she (yes, she) was actually from White River, Ontario. White River is a small town on the achingly beautiful northern shore of Lake Superior.
The troop train of an Infantry Brigade from Winnipeg headed for England to join in the Commonwealth's efforts in the First World War had stopped in the town, and while there a young lieutenant named Harry Colebourn became quite taken with a bear cub in the care of a hunter who had shot the cub's mother. He bought the cub for $20 (a princely sum in 1918), named her "Winnie" after his hometown, and she became the Brigade's mascot on their long journey to Britain.
When the Brigade had finished their training and were posted to France, Colebourn (a captain now) donated her to the London Zoo, where she quite contentedly lived to the ripe old age of 26.
Raised by humans from a young age, she had imprinted and was very docile and friendly, and a popular denizen at the Zoo. She was certainly a favourite of a certain young Christopher Robin Milne, son of writer A.A. Milne. It is reported that Christopher even spent time inside her cage, playing and cuddling with her. He even renamed his stuffed bear at home from Edward Bear to Winnie the Pooh in her honour.
And the rest, as they say, is history...
Great explanation, Allan,
Many thanks for sharing that with us. I was fascinated by all that, because I had no idea about the Canadian connection until yesterday - and thought I would include a regular trivia segment.
So, in answer to your question, yes, the feature will appear at least four or five times a week.
And thank you for your encouragement.
Cheers
David
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