The Pooh Story (This is the true story of how Winnie The Pooh came to be)

The history of "Winnie The Pooh" is just such a story.

A true tale of how an orphaned black bear cub from Ontario's north woods takes a most unlikely journey that sees it become the toast of England, a small boy's inspiration, one of the most enduring literacy legacies of this century, and an international film, television and theme park star.

The journey begins in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the home of Harry Colebourn, a skilled young veterinarian. Born in England, Harry immigrated to Canada when he was eighteen, and received his veterinary education in Ontario.

When World War I breaks out in August 1914, Harry, enlists as a regular in the Canadian Army. On August 23, Harry leaves Winnipeg aboard a troop train bound for Valcartier, Quebec, and the ocean transport that will take Canadian soldiers overseas to England for eventual assignment to France and the fighting.

The next day, the train carrying Harry stops in White River, Ontario. As Harry strolls along the station platform, he buys a small black bear cub from a local hunter for twenty dollars.

Back on the train, Harry and his regiment proclaim the bear as their official mascot, and Harry name it Winnie, after his hometown. Arriving in England, Harry's regiment is posted to the Salisbury Plain. Winnie by this time has become the darling of the soldiers, as tame as any house pet. In December 1914, the call to France comes, and Harry takes Winnie to the London Zoo for temporary safekeeping. Winnie thrives in the care of the zoo. Docile and playful, the little bear from Canada enjoys virtual freedom of the grounds, and soon becomes one of the zoo's most popular attractions. Harry survives the war, and returns to London in 1918. He initially intended to take Winnie home to Canada upon his return to England. However, seeing Winnie as the sources of such delight to the people of London, Harry promptly changes his mind and donates Winnie permanently to the London Zoo. Harry goes home to Winnipeg in 1919. Winnie spends the next 15 years entertaining London's children.

Including one Christopher Robin Milne, born in 1920 to English author and playwright A.A. Milne and his wife Daphne. For his first birthday, the young Milne receives a stuffed toy bear named Edward from his mother, which she purchased from Harrods, London's exclusive department store. Christopher and his toy bear become inseparable.

The zoo becomes a favorite spot for Milne family outings. At the age of five, Christopher Robin makes his first trip to the zoo, and fatefully meets Winnie the live bear from Canada. He takes a liking not only to the playful bear, but to the name Winnie, and renames his own Edward the stuffed bear Winnie The Pooh. The name "Pooh" was borrowed from a swan that Christopher had befriended, and so named, while on holiday with his family in the English countryside.

Christopher's father, A.A. Milne, already a successful writer, begins crafting children's stories inspired by Christopher and his exploits with Winnie. The first book of Pooh stories, Winnie The Pooh, is published in 1926, and features illustrations by E.H. Shepard, a working colleague and close friend of the author. That book, and its follow-up volume, The House House at Pooh Corner (published in 1928), are instantly successful with children young and old around the world. Especially for a not-so-young child named Walt Disney.

By 1961, Walt Disney has been reading Winnie The Pooh stories to his own children for years, and decides to bring the stories of Christopher Robin's stuffed bear and his animal friends to North American movie goers. Obtaining the right from the Milne Estate, Disney Studios transforms the stories into a series of short "featurette" movies.

The first Disney short, "Winnie The Pooh and the Honey Tree", appears in theatres in 1966 to enthusiastic popular acclaim. "Winnie The Pooh and the Blustery Day" follows shortly after, winning an Academy Award ®. "Winnie The Pooh and Tigger Too" becomes the third Winnie Pooh short. By now, Winnie The Pooh is a household name around the world.

In 1977, Disney collects the three Winnie The Pooh featurettes into one feature length movie, "The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh."

As part of an ever-growing cast of characters that Walt Disney and his followers have introduced to the big screen, Winnie The Pooh is now second only to Mickey Mouse as Disney's most popular and best-loved single personality. Having started life in Canada, Pooh's current home is the Disney Theme Parks, including Walt Disney World in Florida, where even impromptu Pooh appearances draw very large crowds of very small admirers.

Today there are four statues commemorating the legacy of Winnie The Pooh. In Winnipeg, there is a life-size bronze of Harry Colebourn and the original Winnie. A replica of this statue, along with a single bronze portrait of the Canadian bear, reside at the London Zoo. And the fourth, designed by Disney artists, stand in Winnie's hometown of White River, Ontario.

For a bear, it has been a long and wonderful journey. From a train station in a tiny Ontario town to international stardom, it is a journey that still continues...

This story was written by Scott Richardson and appeared as part of the Canadian Post World of stamps in 1996.