Winnie the Pooh Day this Monday

Winnie the Pooh Day is celebrated on the birthday of author A A Milne, whose son Christopher Robin Milne was the star of his books and later in real life ran a bookshop in Dartmouth.

Winnie the Pooh first appeared on the printed page in 1926, together with friends Piglet, Tigger and Eeyore. All of them were based on toys owned by Christopher Robin.

In 1951, Christopher Robin Milne and his wife moved to Dartmouth to found the Harbour Bookshop. He had grown to dislike the stories of his childhood, which had led him to be taunted at school. He was also reported to have been angry that his father had exploited his childhood, and he did not approve of Winnie the Pooh being commercialised.