Gyles Brandreth checks in with CMT.

‘Winnie-the-Pooh’s gentle goodness lives on, still spreading kindness and care through The Clare Milne Trust.’

It was a pleasure to catch up recently with Gyles Brandreth, a valued friend of The Clare Milne Trust. His deep and enduring passion for Winnie-the-Pooh is truly authentic. He recalled, ‘I was lucky enough to be a friend of Christopher Milne (Christopher Robin) and to have known Christopher and Lesley’s lovely daughter Clare.’

Gyles is a real authority on the Milne’s. ‘I have written about Clare and her family in my biography of A A Milne and Winnie-the-Pooh, “Somewhere, a Boy and a Bear: A. A. Milne and the Creation of “Winnie-the-Pooh”. I think it’s just wonderful that Clare’s legacy is the valuable ongoing work of The Clare Milne Trust, continuing to help people with a variety of challenges living in the part of the country that Clare and her parents knew and loved.’

‘Thanks to the genius of Clare’s grandfather, A A Milne, and the generosity and forward-thinking of Christopher and Lesley Milne, the spirit of Clare – a special person with a wonderfully positive nature – lives on.  For those who need its help, The Clare Milne Trust is the honeypot at the end of the rainbow.  It’s a very special charity named after a very special person and one I’m proud to support.’

Gyles loves hearing of the work of The Clare Milne Trust, which represents the final connection to the Milne family, ensuring that the success of Winnie-the-Pooh continues to bring lasting benefit.

Our trustees are committed to preserving Clare’s valuable and important legacy which focuses on supporting charities and not-for-profit organisations that assist individuals with disabilities in Devon and Cornwall. We recognise that some organisations may not yet be aware of the opportunity to apply for grants, and we warmly encourage them to reach out. We welcome applications where genuine benefit and meaningful impact can be achieved. Visit The Clare Milne Trust for more information.