Living out a childhood dream.

Whether you love or hate them, Facebook memories have a magical way of reminding us of past times. Today, they triggered a memory of living out a childhood dream precisely 8 years ago.

As a child, I couldn’t resist the allure of climbing into my wardrobe and pushing through the clothes, hoping to find myself in an enchanted world like Narnia. Unfortunately, the wardrobe always had its stiff wooden back, dampening my excitement. To pass the time, I’d sit under the torchlight, my imagination running wild as I read books from the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis to the classics of Charles Dickens. But my favourite was always J.M. Barrie’s tale of Peter Pan.

Barrie’s story of the boy who never grew up resonated with me on a deeper level. It offered an escape from the dysfunctional family I was raised in, a chance to fly away to a magical island where I could never grow up. I’d often lie awake at night, leaving my window ajar, eagerly waiting for Peter Pan to fly in and take me away to the magical world of Neverland. I still tend to leave my window open, a reminder of that childhood dream.

After all these years, my love for Barrie’s story of Peter Pan and his other works has only grown stronger. I’ve become fascinated by the story’s history and legacy, especially its connection to Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. This has made me feel a deep calling to London, particularly Kensington Gardens, where I’ve always dreamed of getting a photo with the iconic Peter Pan statue. And in January 2017, my childhood dream finally came true.

While most associate Peter Pan with the enchanting island of Neverland, his first adventures took place in the real-world location of Kensington Gardens. J.M. Barrie first introduced the character in his book, The Little White Bird, published in 1902. Later, the chapters featuring Peter were published separately as a children’s book, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens.

In the story, Peter is a seven-day-old infant who overhears discussions about his future adult life. Escaping from his bedroom window, he flees to Kensington Gardens, where he secretly lives with the birds and mischievous fairies. Barrie skillfully captures elements of Victorian life in the gardens, referencing several popular locations that still exist today. The Long Water and the Serpentine are among the most prominent features, referring to historical figures like a baby Queen Victoria and the young poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.

A bronze statue stands next to the Serpentine, where most of Peter’s fictional adventures unfolded, as a timeless reminder of the boy who never grew up. Barrie commissioned the statue to be crafted by Sir George Frampton and had it installed in secret overnight. The following morning, on May 1, 1912, Barrie unveiled the statue in a notice published in The Times newspaper, simply stating:

“This morning, the children who venture to Kensington Gardens to feed the ducks in the Serpentine will be delighted to discover a surprise gift from Mr. J.M. Barrie. Nestled by the small bay on the southwestern side of the Serpentine’s tail, they’ll find a magnificent May-day gift—a bronze figure of Peter Pan, perched on a tree stump, blowing his pipe. Surrounding him are fairies, mice, and squirrels, all captured in Sir George Frampton’s exquisite work. The boy who would never grow up stands tall, his image delightfully conceived.”

As I rounded the bend and caught sight of the figure, standing proudly in the open on a circular cobblestone base, I was filled with awe. Peter towers above, standing on what looks like a tall tree stump and blowing on a thin pipe. On closer inspection, the stump is decorated with small figures of squirrels, rabbits, mice and fairies. Despite the passing of time, the bronze statue had remarkably endured weathering, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship that went into its creation.

Standing at the statue for the first time, I was overwhelmed with emotion. At the age of 34, I had finally achieved a childhood dream that had eluded me for so long. A triumph that my younger self would have been proud of.

Today’s trip down memory lane definitely hit me harder than I expected. While it comes with its fair share of nostalgia, it also serves as a wake-up call. It’s a reminder I’ve been neglecting a creative project I feel passionately about. The cruel reality is I’ve been letting it sit idle, gathering dust as the clock clicks forward. I’d tell myself there’s always tomorrow, but that’s not entirely true. I’m not the boy who never grew up. Life does not wait for any of us. The years are sipping by even faster than I’d like to admit. It’s time to stop letting fear and procrastination hold me back. Our dreams deserve to see the light of day, and we owe it to ourselves to make that happen.