Happy Thought for 24 February 2023
Have a Happy Thought: Winnie the Pooh, the beloved children’s book character, was based on a real bear! Here’s the story, as inscribed on a plaque in the city of Ontario: “On August 24, 1914 Lieutenant Harry Colebourn, V.S., of the 34th Fort Garry Horse & Canadian Army Veterinary Corps, purchased a black bear cub at WHITE RIVER, Ontario, while enroute overseas. He named her WINNIE after his hometown, Winnipeg. WINNIE became the soldiers’ mascot, and was left in the care of the London Zoo on December 9th, 1914, while Lieutenant Colebourn served in France. In 1919, he gave her to the Zoo for permanent keeping where she was watched and loved by many, including author A.A. Milne and his son Christopher.” Winnie accompanied Harry to England ,became the Brigade’s mascot and found a home in the London Zoo. Here, staff said that Winnie was the most popular animal at the zoo and she earned a reputation with her keepers as the most tame and gentle bear the zoo had ever had. (Pho...