Knowing that I’m a big Fan of Pooh, imagine my delight when I was asked to write a story for a new book to celebrate his birthday. It gave me the perfect excuse to revisit the characters I’d grown up with and loved, but curiously it wasn’t just Pooh’s friends and Rabbit’s relations who turned up – it was mine.

It was as if all the Willis’s past and present had gathered together for a grand reunion; there was Dad, the scholarly Latin teacher, a little bit Owl, a little bit Eeyore. There was Mum, the firm but fair Kanga who fed me extract of malt like Roo and there was Piglet, my diminutive sister who somehow put the fear of Heffalumps in me. As for dear old Grandad, he always had the starring role. He played Pooh to my Christopher and a better companion no child could ever wish for.

On that jolly note, I’m off to play Pooh Sticks.

Why we will always love Winnie the Pooh, as told by the bear's new author