Christopher Robin Milne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christopher Robin Milne
|
|
|---|---|
Milne in 1928
|
|
| Born | 21 August 1920 Chelsea, London, England
|
| Died | 20 April 1996 (aged 75) Totnes, Devon, England
|
| Other names | Billy Moon (childhood nickname) |
| Education | Gibbs School Boxgrove Preparatory School Stowe School |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
| Known for | Giving his name to Christopher Robin in Winnie-the-Pooh |
| Spouse(s) |
Lesley de Sélincourt
(m. 1948) |
| Children | Clare Milne (1956–2012) |
| Parent(s) | A. A. Milne Daphne de Sélincourt |
| Relatives | Aubrey de Sélincourt (uncle) |
Christopher Robin Milne (born August 21, 1920 – died April 20, 1996) was an English writer and bookseller. He was the only child of the famous author A. A. Milne. When Christopher was a boy, his father used him as the inspiration for the character Christopher Robin in the beloved Winnie-the-Pooh stories and some poetry books.
Contents
Christopher Robin's Early Life
Christopher Robin Milne was born in Chelsea, London, England, on August 21, 1920. His parents were Alan Alexander Milne and Daphne Milne. Christopher was an only child.
From a very young age, Christopher was cared for by his nanny, Olive "Nou" Brockwell. He called her Nou. Christopher said they were almost always together until he went to boarding school in 1930.
His Childhood Nickname
Christopher's parents had planned to name their first child Rosemary if it was a girl. Since it was a boy, they chose Christopher Robin. His family called him Billy Moon. This was a mix of a nickname and how he used to say "Milne" when he was little. Later, he preferred to be called just Christopher. He felt this was "The only name I feel to be really mine."
The Real Pooh Toys
On his first birthday in 1921, Christopher received a teddy bear he named Edward. This bear, along with a real black bear named Winnipeg that Christopher saw at London Zoo, inspired the famous Winnie the Pooh character.
Other toys that became characters in the stories included Eeyore (a Christmas gift in 1921) and Piglet. Later, his parents gave him Kanga, Roo, and Tigger.
Christopher described himself as being "good with his hands." He also said he was "very shy."
Cotchford Farm and Inspiration
In 1925, Christopher's father bought Cotchford Farm near the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex. The family spent weekends and holidays there. This farm and the surrounding area became the inspiration for the Hundred Acre Wood in the Winnie-the-Pooh stories.
Places like Gill's Lap became Galleon's Lap, and a bridge over a river became Pooh-sticks Bridge. Christopher's toys, along with characters like Owl and Rabbit (who were invented), came to life through Christopher and his mother. This helped his father write the famous stories.
Christopher said he loved his Nanny and Cotchford Farm. He also "quite liked being Christopher Robin and being famous." When his nanny left when he was nine, Christopher's relationship with his father grew stronger.
Christopher Robin's School Life
At age six, Christopher attended Miss Walters' school. In 1929, he started at Gibbs, a boys' day school in London. In May 1930, he began boarding school at Boxgrove School.
Being the real Christopher Robin made him famous, but it also caused problems. He later said that his schoolmates often teased him because of his father's popular books. One poem, "Vespers," about a young Christopher Robin saying his prayers, caused him a lot of embarrassment.
Christopher earned a scholarship to Stowe School. There, he felt that his father had become famous by using his childhood. He felt his father had taken his "good name" and left him with only the fame of being his son. After Stowe, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1939.
Adult Life and Career
When World War II began, Christopher left his studies to join the British Army. He joined the Royal Engineers and served in the Middle East and Italy. He was wounded during the war. After the war, he returned to Cambridge and finished his degree in English.
On July 24, 1948, Christopher married Lesley de Sélincourt, who was his first cousin on his mother's side.
In 1951, Christopher and Lesley moved to Dartmouth and opened a bookshop called The Harbour Bookshop. It was a successful business. His mother thought it was an unusual choice because Christopher didn't seem to like "business." Also, as a bookseller, he would meet many fans of his father's work. The shop closed in 2011.
Christopher visited his father when he became ill. After his father died in 1956, Christopher never returned to Cotchford Farm. His mother later sold the farm. Christopher did not want any money from his father's books. He decided to write his own book about his childhood, called The Enchanted Places. He said this book helped him step out of the shadow of his father and the character Christopher Robin.
Christopher's mother, Daphne Milne, had little contact with him after her husband's death. She did not see him for the last 15 years of her life.
A few months after his father's death, Christopher's daughter, Clare, was born. She was diagnosed with severe cerebral palsy.
Christopher gave the original stuffed animals that inspired the Pooh characters to the books' editor. The editor then donated them to the New York Public Library. Christopher did not like the idea of Winnie-the-Pooh being used for too much commercial advertising.
Later Life and Passing
Christopher Robin Milne lived with a condition called myasthenia gravis for several years. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 20, 1996, in Totnes, Devon, at the age of 75.
Family Life
Christopher Robin Milne had one daughter, Clare. She had cerebral palsy. As an adult, she worked on many charity campaigns for people with this condition, including the Clare Milne Trust. Clare passed away in 2012 at age 56 due to a heart problem.
Portrayal in Film
Christopher Robin Milne is played by Will Tilston and Alex Lawther in the 2017 film Goodbye Christopher Robin. This movie tells a story inspired by his relationship with his famous father.
Images for kids
-
Milne in 1928
-
The real stuffed toys which were owned by Christopher Robin Milne and featured in the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. They have been on display in the New York Public Library in New York City since 1987, with the exception of Roo, who was lost when Christopher Robin was 9 years old. According to the New York Public Library's web site, the items have been on display in the Children's Center at 42nd Street, in the "main branch" of the library (the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street), since early 2009.
Sources
- Thwaite, Ann (1990). A.A. Milne: His Life London: Faber & Faber, ISBN: 0571161685
- BBC News article 27 November 2001: Christopher Robin revealed (describes the discovery in 2001 of images of Christopher Robin Milne captured on a 1929 film of a school pageant held in Ashdown Forest, East Sussex).
See also
In Spanish: Christopher Robin Milne para niños
