Times have changed! The signpost to Pooh Bridge. (Shirley Harrison)
Christopher Milne’s daughter, Clare, launches a boat named after her at the Echo Centre for the Handicapped, Cornwall. (c. The Echo Centre, Liskeard)
The World Poohsticks Championships, Oxford.
The Downs Crematorium in Brighton: the Upper Memorial Garden where A.A. Milne’s ashes are now known to have been scattered. There is no plaque to commemorate his cremation.
Newly discovered entries from the Downs Crematorium ledgers: cremation number 21667 on 3rd February 1956.
Names and addresses of persons signing certificates: Doctors Hardy and Steel.
Name of deceased: Alan Alexander Milne.
Christopher Milne stands alone, overlooking the Forest of his childhood and the plaque unveiled in honour of his father, E.H. Shepard and Winnie-the-Pooh. (c. Mike Champion)
The end of the story. Growing up – Christopher Robin off to school, kicking Pooh out of his life. (c. Punch Library)
A Pooh Lifeline
1868: Charles Henry Harrod opens a shop in Kensington.
1871: Joseph Farnell founds the family business in Acton.
1879: Margarete Steiff makes toy stuffed elephant called ‘Elefante’.
1882: Alan Alexander Milne born on January 18 in Hampstead.
1891: Joseph.
dies leaving the business to his three daughters and son.
1893-1900: Alan Alexander Milne at Westminster School.
1894: Gebruder Sussenguth in Germany produce the first stuffed toy bear.
1900–1903: Alan Alexander Milne at Trinity College, Cambridge, on a mathematics scholarship.
1901: Queen Victoria dies.
1902: President Theodore Roosevelt refuses to shoot a bear cub and Maurice Michtom begins selling ‘Teddy’s bears.’.
1903: Steiff in Germany sells toy bears at Leipzig Toy Fair and teddy bear fever grips Europe.
1906: A.A. Milne becomes Assistant Editor of Punch.
1907: First advertisement for a ‘Teddy Bear’ appears in Playthings magazine.
1908: The Teddy Bears’ Picnic used as the music for Roosevelt’s Presidential Campaign. Animal skins being replaced by mohair as a softer more durable fabric for toy teddy bears.
Farnell produces the first British teddy bears in mohair.
1910: A.A. Milne meets Daphne (originally Dorothy) de Selincourt.
1912: Harrods catalogue cover shows a Farnell bear.
1913: A.A. Milne (known later as Blue) marries Daphne de Selincourt (known later as Daff).
1914: Lieutenant Colebourn buys a bear in Canada and names her Winnie. Lieutenant Colebourn posted to fight in Europe and takes Winnie with him to England. Presents Winnie to London Zoo.
1915–1919: A.A. Milne a signals officer and instructor in Army. Invalided out.
1917: A.A. Milne’s first play Wurzel-Flummery performed in London.
1919: A.A. Milne resigns from Punch .
His most famous play, Mr. Pim Passes By, produced in London.
Daff and Blue move to Mallord Street, Chelsea.
Anne Darlington born.
1920: Christopher Robin (known as Moon) born.
1921: Olive Rand (known as Nou) joins the family as Nanny.
Moon’s first birthday. Daff buys the bear destined to become Winnie-the-Pooh from Harrods.
1923: A.A. Milne writes the poem Vespers for Daphne, published first in Vanity Fair. The family holidays in Wales.
1924: Moon meets a swan while on holiday at Poling, Sussex and calls it Pooh.
Blue meets artist, Ernest Shepard (known as Kipper).
When We Were Very Young published, illustrated by Shepard. Milne launched as a children’s writer. Moon’s teddy bear made his first appearance as ‘Edward’ bear.
The Milnes discover Cotchford Farm on Ashdown Forest in Hartfield, Sussex.
1925: The family moves in to Cotchford for weekends and holidays.
Ernest Shepard and his wife Florence and son, Graham, visit Cotchford Farm.
‘Edward’ bear becomes ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’, explores the Forest and plays Poohsticks with Moon and Nou. Discovers the 100 Aker Wood and Owl’s tree. On 24 December, the London Evening News publish the story Winnie-the-Pooh and Some Bees. Illustrations by J.H. Dowd.
1926: Eeyore has a Birthday published in the August edition of the Royal Magazine and Winnie- the-Pooh, the best-selling of Milne’s books, published in London on 14 October and in New York on 21 October.
Pooh becomes world famous.
John Macrae, President of Dutton Publishing in New York, visits Milnes.
Moon starts morning school at Miss Walters in Chelsea.
1927: Now We Are Six, a second collection of children’s verse published in October.
Florence Shepard dies.
1928: Moon records Pooh Hums, Vespers and Buckingham Palace for HMV. The House at Pooh Corner published in October introducing Tigger.
1929: Moon starts boys’ school and Pooh is left at home.
Two plays produced, The Ivory Door and Toad of Toad Hall, an adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows.
Blue’s favourite brother, Ken dies in May.
Pooh takes part in The Pageant of Ashdown Forest attended by the Duchess of York (future Queen and mother of Queen Elizabeth II).
1930: Christopher starts boarding school. Nou leaves.
Stephen Slesinger visits Milnes and recognises Pooh’s potential for his marketing empire. Milne sells merchandising rights to him.
The Depression in Britain and uSA.
1931: Pooh has become a 50 million-dollar-a-year bear.
He stays in England while Daff and Blue visit the uSA.
1932: He is pictured in colour for the first time.
1933: Slesinger launches a Winnie-the-Pooh game.
1935: Pooh is earning more money for A.A. Milne than his serious plays or novels.
1939: A.A. Milne’s autobiography It’s Too Late Now published and dedicated to his brother, Ken.
Pooh probably first in Mallord Street, then in Sussex during the War years.
1941–1946: Christopher Milne in the Royal Engineers.
1947: Christopher graduates from Cambridge.
Elliott Macrae visits Cotchford Farm to arrange the toys’ visit to New York.
Pooh and the toys arrive in America on board Queen Elizabeth.
Elliott Graham becomes their guardian and Pooh is introduced to Dutton’s staff.
In June Pooh and the animals visit Detroit. Start tour of seven cities including Boston.
1948: Christopher Milne marries his cousin, Lesley de Selincourt, in July.
1951: A.A. Milne publishes his last play, Before the Flood.
Christopher Robin’s animals are now touring the united States.
E.P. Dutton, Milne’s American publisher, insures them for $50,000.
1952: Pooh in Miami and District Columbia.
A.A. Milne has a stroke in October and undergoes an operation in December that leaves him partially paralysed.
1953: Pooh’s first television appearance on Fred Waring Show .
1956: A.A. Milne dies 31 January aged 74. His four children’s books had already been translated into a dozen languages and sold more than seven million copies. Milne memorial service in London.
Daff offers the animals for sale to Dutton.
Clare Milne born to Christopher and Lesley.
1960: Winnie Ille Pu published and reaches New York best-seller list. Shirley Slesinger sells merchandising rights to Disney.
1966: Walt Disney launches Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree.
Walt Disney dies.
1969: Pooh returns to England for V&A exhibition and meets Peter Dennis.
1971: Daphne dies.
1976: Pooh returns to Hartfield.
E.H. Shepard dies.
1978: Mike Ridley opens Pooh Corner shop in Hartfield. Nou dies.
1979: Christopher Milne opens restored P
ooh Bridge.
Plaque to A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard unveiled on Ashdown Forest by Christopher Milne.
1981: Pooh in Chicago and at the Fifth Avenue Book Fair.
1982: The Tao of Pooh published.
1983: Pooh flies to England on Concorde with American author Nancy Winters.
Appears on Today programme.
1986: Pooh and friends offered to The Children’s Room, New York Public Library.
1987: Party hosted by the Mayor of New York to celebrate their new home.
British Petroleum applies to sink a bore hole on Ashdown Forest. Protest led by Christopher Milne.
1988: Elliott Graham dies
1996: Christopher Milne dies.
1998: Gwynneth Dunwoody MP launches ‘Bring back Pooh’ campaign.
2000: Newly-restored Pooh Bridge reopened with funds from Disney.
2011: Pooh’s 90th birthday; an appeal launched to commemorate his life.
Acknowledgements
As ever, thanks go to: my agent Doreen Montgomery for her unstinting support and encouragement over so many years and her understanding about my ‘wobbly’ spelling; Sally Evemy, my ‘collaborator’ for all the extra research and editing I have again thrown at her; Judy Henry, who looked after us so well in America and for her introduction to the diaries of her Uncle, Elliott Graham; Alastair, Harriet and Alex Johns of Cotchford Farm, who allowed us to intrude on their privacy with much good humour and practical help; Mike Parcell, Hartfield historian, without whose acreage of archives we would have been lost; Duncan Field, my husband for allowing me to escape.
Following in the footsteps of Winnie-the-Pooh has been a happy and rewarding journey encouraged by the support and enthusiasm of almost all We hope we have forgotten no one.
In England we met or spoke to:
Sally Ackroyd, St. Albans Museum.
Gary Batt, Dukes Auctions.
Bill Belton of Hartfield.
Dick Belton of Crowborough.
Tom Belton of Hartfield.
Dawn Boakes of Withyham.
Mrs Stephen Bradley of Mallord Street.
Gyles Brandreth for permission to quote from his interview with Mrs Lesley Milne.
William Brooks, Cambridge university.
Michael Brown, The Milne Trustees.
Dru Butterfield, Dartmoor Ponies Heritage Trust.
Mike Champion.
Anna Clark, Teddy Bear Doctor.
Sheri Coates, The Institute of Cemetery and Crematoria Management.
Pauline Cockrill, Teddy Bear Encyclopedia.
Renata Colley, CEDA.
Helen Cruikshank, Lodsworth.
11th Earl De La Warr.
Susan Derry, Buckhurst Park.
Dr. Patti Darke, Surrey university.
Laura Dawkins, Dictionary of National Biography.
Tamsin Dunwoody.
Michael Fletcher, London Zoo.
Rosemary Foster (nee Weaver).
John Foster.
Andre Galiani, Punch Archive.
Rose Glover of Hartfield.
Gareth Goodwin, Archivist Guards Museum.
Leigh Gotch, Toy director, Bonhams.
David Graham, Hartfield Parish Magazine .
Davina Griffiths, Plas Brondanw.
Les Hallett of Hartfield.
Karen Halls of The Decoy, Poling.
Kate Harmer and Catherine Howell, Museum of Childhood.
Alex Harrison.
Hartfield Playschool parents and children.
Nancy Holmes of Hartfield.
Ailsa Holmes, Trevor Trench, Tamara van Manen and Michael Hall School.
Jenny Hudson of Hartfield.
Minette and Roger Hunt.
Peter Janson Smith.
Gareth Johnson of Hartfield.
Richard Jones Perrott.
Irene Jones of Lodsworth.
David Kelsall, St Albans Cathedral Archives.
David Knights, Acton History Group.
Vikki Langridge and team, Downs Crematorium.
Robin Llewellyn, Portmeirion.
Bob Low, The Garrick Club.
Kim Lyons, The Milne Trust.
Adrian McConnell.
Laura Medhurst of Hartfield.
Molly Millington, Evelyn Clarke House Forest Row.
Tommy Mitchell of Hartfield.
Erik, Elizabeth and Mark Nielsen.
Dr. Jonathan Oates, Acton Library archives.
Peter Old for generous use of archive photographs.
Trish Oliver and Audrey Duck, Good Bears of the World.
Michael Palmer, London Zoo.
Andy Parker, Wildlife and Wetlands Trust.
James and Michael Pitt-Payne for personal memories.
Polly Pumphrey for much needed computer help.
Philip Pople of Bishopstone.
Mike and June Ridley of Hartfield.
Caroline Roche.
Tim Rooth.
Hannah Rooth (nee Symons).
Jo Rothery, McBears.
Julian Roup, Bonhams;.
Katie and Julia Ryde, daughters of Anne Darlington.
Ian Scott, Deans.
Brian Sibley, author and broadcaster.
Chris Silcock, Westminster School.
Carol South, Lodsworth.
Alison Stokes, Hero Bear .
Jane Stoneham, The Sensory Trust.
Rev. Brian Strange of Georgeham.
James Sutton, Victoria and Albert Museum Archive.
Janice Swanson and Stephanie Thwaites, Curtis Brown.
Pete Tasker formerly of Hartfield.
Mary, Simon and Peter Taylor of Hartfield.
The Polka Theatre Wimbledon Teddy Bear Museum.
The Royal Literary Fund for Authors.
Mary Thompson, daughter of Mary Hillier.
Ann Thwaite, biographer of A.A. Milne.
Tour Guides International.
Roger Trayhurn, Swindon Library.
Ann Treneman, journalist.
Johnny Turnbull, Estate Agent for Mallord Street.
Nigel urwin, Clare Milne Trustees.
Ailsa Walsh, great niece of Sybil Kempe.
Lyn Welch, The Twyford Church of England High School, Acton.
Dr. Elizabeth Williamson of Oxford.
Helen Winchurch, The Echo Centre.
Nancy Winters, author and arctophile.
Victoria Wood, Victoria and Albert Museum.
Sebastian Wormell, Harrods Archives.
Paul Yerrell of Amber Computers who was always there when needed.
In America and Canada:
Jenny Boylan, author, Maine.
Wanda Chow of Burnaby.
Scott Byers, Renata Colley, Mercedes Diaz and Holly Thomas, Macy New York.
Gord Crossley, Fort Garry Horse Museum, Winnipeg.
Peter and Diane Dennis.
John Dyson, Millbank Capital Management.
Dr Vartan Gregorian, President of The Carnegie Corporation.
Humanities Research Centre, Austin, The Milne Archives.
Michael Inman and William Stinger, New York Public Library.
Joe Kanon, former President of Dutton.
Mimi Kayden, also formerly of Dutton.
Marleen Lee of Boston.
Diane Loughran, Silverdale Vineyards, California.
Richard Marek, President of Dutton.
Judy Morse, Penguin.
Debbie Olsen, Researcher.
Stephanie Owing-Lurie.
Amber Paranick, The Library of Congress.
John Peters, New York Children’s Library.
Bob Sadler of Detroit.
Carole Scheele.
Nicole Steeves, Chicago Public Library.
Michael Willis, formerly of Dutton.
Index
A.A. Milne. His Life, (biography), see Thwaite, Ann
Acton, 13-18, 19, 21, 127, 147
America, 34, 36-9, 49, 73, 76, 81-9, 90-101, 107-19, 127, 131, 144-7
arctophile, 108-10, 127, 136
As
hdown Forest, 9, 10, 25, 37, 55-8, 77-80, 90-2, 98, 103, 123-6, 146-7
At Home, 10
Barrie, J.M., 25, 48, 52
BBC, 35, 71, 107, 119, 121, 134
Benedictus, David, 104, 106, 111, 121
‘Blue’, see Milne, (A.A.) Alan Alexander ‘Blue’
Blyton, Enid, 72
Boakes, Mrs. Dawn, 10, 62-3, 78, 120
BP, 123-4
Brandreth, Gyles, 136-8
Brilliant Career of Winnie-the-Pooh, The, see Thwaite, Ann
Buckingham Palace, 22, 52, 55, 90, 143
Buckingham Palace, 51, 76
Cambridge university, 25, 86, 88, 95, 128
CEDA, 138
Chandler, Arthur R. (biographer of E.H. Shepard), 69
Changing the Guard, 51
Chauffeur, 55, 63, 80: see also 59, 78-80
Chestnuts, The, 67
Christopher Robin, see Milne, Christopher Robin, ‘Moon’
Churchill, Winston, 71, 142
Clare Milne Trust, The, 136, 138, 140
Colebourn, Lieutenant Harry, 43-6
Cotchford, 10-11, 55, 58-66, 70, 77-8, 85-9, 98-9, 102, 108
‘Daff’, see Milne,Daphne, ‘Daff’, (born Dorothy de Selincourt)
Darlington, Anne (later Ryde), 48, 49, 50, 63, 74, 86, 100, 145
Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust, The, 139-40
De La Warr, Earl, and family, 57, 63, 66, 77, 125
Dennis, Peter (Voice of Pooh, the), 105, 109, 117, 123,146
Depression, 34, 82
Disney, 10, 12, 42, 81, 101-3, 122, 125, 127, 129-30, 134, 136
Dormouse and the Doctor, The, 38
Dowd, J.H., 42
Downs Crematorium, 146-7
Dunwoody, Gwynneth, 144
Dutton, E.P. & Co (uS publisher), 10, 36, 38-9, 71, 83, 89, 91-9, 110-18
Dyson, 112, 114–16
Echo Centre, Liskeard, 139
Eeyore, 9, 10, 27, 31, 32, 58, 62, 64, 66, 67, 68, 70, 76, 89, 93, 95, 99, 101-5, 119, 129, 146
Eeyore’s Birthday, 76, 119
Eeyore Loses a Tail, 67
Enchanted Place (Galleons, or Gills, Lap), 10, 13, 58, 65, 66, 70, 107, 108, 123-4, 147
Enchanted Places, The (Christopher Milne’s autobiography), 23, 33, 67, 74, 89, 146
‘expotition’, 34, 67, 70, 121
Farnell, Joseph Kirby, 14, 15, 21, 28
The Life and Times of the Real Winnie-the-Pooh Page 16