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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Peter Pan
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or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up (1904) Play for children by J.M. *Barrie which has become a part of London theatrical tradition at Christmas time, with a long succession of famous actresses playing the part of Peter.
Peter arrives mysteriously in the night nursery of the three Darling children, teaches them to fly and takes them back with him to the Never Never Land. Here the characters include the pirate Captain Hook (pursued and eventually eaten by the crocodile which bit off his hand and so got a taste for the rest of him) and the fairy Tinker Bell, who will fade away unless the children in the audience clap and shout that they believe in fairies.
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Peter eventually brings the children back to their parents and their nursemaid (a huge dog, Nana). The name of the eldest Darling child, Wendy, has since become a popular name for girls. It was coined by Barrie because a small child always called him her 'wendy' when trying to say her 'friend'.
In 1929 Barrie gave the royalties of the play to the *Great Ormond Street Hospital. There is a very popular statue of Peter Pan in *Kensington Gardens.
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