Christian The Lion Cub~Circa 1969

Introducing John Rendall and Anthony Bourke ~1969

These two young gents owned a Fine Furniture shop on The Kings Road In London. They sold tables,chairs and desks. But anyone peering through the window would undoubtedly do a double take. Amid all the furniture, stretched out on a bench, there was a lion Cub. Yes, a live Lion Cub.

According to John Randell his owner,Christian the lion, had a very good sense of humor. He would see people staring at him through the window, just when they were convinced he was a stuffed toy, he would slowly turn his head and freak them out!!

John and Anthony had purchased the Lion Cub At Harrods Department store.

According to John " A friend had been to the exotic animals department at Harrods and announced, rather grandly, that she wanted a camel." says Randell.

"To which the manager coolly replied:'One Hump or two, madame?'

John and Anthony had to check this department out. They went there on a whim. In the department they noticed a gorgeous little Lion Cub, in a small cage. They were shocked and agreed that something had to be done. They bought the Lion for 250.00 guineas. And so Christian began his life in London.

Christian was given his own living Quarters(According To John And Anthony it included a Huge Litter Box that he used unfailingly) in the basement of the appropriately named the Sophistocat Furniture Shop.

For his daily exercise Anthony approached a vicar of the Moravian Chapel and got permission to have him run the graveyard and play with a soccer ball.

He was a lot of work recalls Randell. "It took all four of us-me, my then girlfriend Jennifer Mary, Ace Berg(Anthony Bourke) and an actress called Unity Jones - to look after him." He also ate a lot. Randell recalls " He ate four meals a day(two solid and Two liquid) plus supplements every day, which cost about 30 GBP per week."(thats $60.00 USD at Today's Exchange rate)

After the year had past Christian grew from the 35lbs when they first acquired him to a rather more serious 185lbs. and he was beginning to acquire a mane that made him look more fearsome..He was growing into a full Lion.. What a shock..

He clearly could not stay with his two owners for ever. As chance would have it. (One of The mysteries of life .You Get what you need .. When You Need it)

The actors Bill Travers and Virgina Mc Kenna came into the shop to buy a pine desk(Norwegian Wood as John Lennon Called it A few years before) They were in the film Born Free. A true story about the conservationist George Adamson and His wife Joy, who raised a lion cub called Elsa in Kenya (Not London big difference) and rehabilitated it into the wild. They immediately suggested that Adamson might be able to help.

Adamson was intrigued by the challenge of introducing a Urban Lion from London back into the wild of Africa. He warned that this might not work. A British Born Lion is not an African Lion by any means. Christian was flown into Kenya Africa. John and Anthony went with him.

Christian was driven to the Tana River, where there was no human habitation.

The plan was to slowly introduce Christian into the wild with Boy, one of the tame beasts who had starred in Born Free. Together they would be the start of a new pride-the whole project was funded by a TV program Rendall recalled that along the way he noticed his Cat had to go to the loo.(thats english for bathroom folks FYI) He said he turned to Adamson and Stated "Mr. Adamson,he needs to go to the loo."

Adamson replied "We are miles from anywhere. If we stop and he runs away, we will never, ever catch him"

Rendall promised that is not going to happen.

Adamson pulled over and watched in astonishment. Christian jumped out to take his first steps on African soil. According to Rendall he didn't like it one bit. "He went tip-toeing along and went to the loo." When he was finished I said "OK, come on, back in the car~ I pointed to the car and he jumped in."

Adamson turned around and said to Randell, "That was quite remarkable. You may call me George."

A detailed explain of how the rehabiliation was accomplised is going to be in John Rendall book. But it was successful and I am going to fast forward to a year later, Rendall and Bourke were informed that the Lion Christian had finally adapted to the wild and had a litter of cubs.

"We were determined to see him again in hope of being able to say goodbye." Stated Rendall."So we Called George Adamson."

Adamson warned them it would be a wasted mission. "Christian hasn't been in the area for nine months. We have no reason to think he is dead- there have been no reports of lions poached or killed. He may never come back, he is a wild lion now!"

Rendall recalls,"We said:OK. We understand, but we will come and see you anyway."

George Adamson and His Wife Believed Lions are Possessed with A Six Sense And Here, it seemed was the proof!

When John And Anthony arrived in Nairobi, they took a small plane to camp Kora, where Adamson came out to meet them. He simply stated "Christian arrived last night . He's here with his lionesses and his cubs. He's outside the camp on his favourite rock. he's waiting for you."

The rest is in the Video. Grab the tissues..It a real tear Jerker!!

Self serving Bio Box Nothing to do with this lovely story:

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