The sixties were a different time, in some ways a different planet. Swinging London was in full swing, the city was full of characters and personalities who wanted to live their own life – free from the restrictions of small minded suburban tastes and boring politicians.

In Paris there were full scale riots led by students. In London there were “happenings” often led by eccentrics.

So against this background it wasn’t so unusual for the top London store of Harrods – which prided itself on being able to provide almost anything – to have a cute Lion cub for sale in the store. If you had asked for an elephant they wouldn’t have one in stock – but they’d soon get you one! If you had the money they had the goods. That was their philosophy.

When two young Australians, John Rendall and Ace Bourke, saw the lion cub in the store – they bought it. Both were animal lovers and didn’t like the idea of a young lion cub being caged in a store.

They bought more than a pet. They bought a lifestyle. The two of them had to devote huge amounts of time to the cub they called Christian. He in turn gave them an interest that remained with them forever.

John Rendall likened their lives to parents, bringing up a child. “Christian needed what every child needs, food, shelter and love.”

Christian went out with in the back of an open top Mercedes. He was fed steak from restaurants, taken to parties and played with local children in the walled garden of churchyard.

The lion was irresistible, the two men and their circle of friends could not resist giving him attention. Christian was never alone. As a pack animal he would be miserable alone so he was completely integrated into their “pack”. He was never violent or threatening and knew when his owners wanted him to calm down and be quiet. That’s because he was brought up like a child.

Dress fell off

He could be too playful. Once at a party he jumped on someone he hadn’t seen for a while, to say hello to her. But his paw get entangled in her dress, it pulled at strap and her dress fell off! 

Of course they realised that he couldn’t stay with them forever. They met Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers who starred in the film Born Free about a lion returned to the wild. They decided that was what should happen to Christian and they flew him to Kenya.

He was placed in the care of lion conservationist George Adamson who gradually introduced him to the wild and a natural life – for a lion.

The beautiful ending to the story is that John and Ace went to Africa and met up with George Adamson. One night in the bush Christian came strolling into their camp - went wild with joy when he saw the two men. He even tried to sit on their lap, just as he had as a cub – even though he was fully grown and weighed 500lbs.

Christian had adapted to life in the bush perfectly, he had his own pride and two lionesses. He was happy.

From Harrods – to the jungle. Once he was King of a flat in Chelsea, London. Now he was King of the Jungle. 

Yes – our home and native land is turning 142 years old this year. How will you be celebrating?

My family and I will be braving the onslaught of the first national airborne league of mosquitoes (Canada’s military budget is a little tight) to watch the fireworks display. We live just half a block from a river that glides lazily through our small city, and the fireworks are set off from the bridge. The effect of fireworks in the sky reflecting off the calm waters is spectacular!

Image by Loimere via Flickr

I’ve got steaks marinating for the BBQ, and I think I can rustle up some potato salad for a great Canadian summer feast to share with the in-laws who are expected to arrive sometime soon.

Image via Wikipedia

To all of my confused American friends, yes, our national holiday is July 1, not July 4. Do we have a July 4 here in Canada? Of course we do. We just don’t celebrate anything on July 4. (Unless it is someone’s birthday or anniversary or something on July 4, then you should go ahead and celebrate no matter what country you live in!)

So Happy Canada Day, and I hope those of you in other countries have a great national celebration on your day. How about writing a Triond article about your national holiday? It would be great to hear what customs and traditions you have.