A long-time friend of John Rendall, the socialite famous for purchasing a lion cub from Harrods in the 1960s, has paid tribute to his dedication to wildlife conservation following his passing at age 76.
Rendall became widely known after he and his friend Anthony “Ace” Bourke bought a lion named Christian and took him for walks around London.
The pair had purchased the cub from the exclusive Knightsbridge store’s pet department, which sold exotic animals at the time.
Christian was a familiar sight in Chelsea, often walking along King’s Road or riding in Rendall and Bourke’s Mercedes convertible.
Christian, bought for 250 guineas in 1969, lived with Rendall for a year before being sent to Kenya in 1970.
Rendall, who became a passionate conservationist, later shared a heartwarming reunion with the lion in the wild, captured in a video that has since gained over 100 million views on YouTube.
Rendall, who was previously married to TV personality Liz Brewer, was found dead at his desk on Sunday by his son, Maximillian, a magician and his child from his second marriage to Melanie.
Bourke, now an art curator in Sydney, reflected on his friend’s commitment to protecting wildlife, particularly lions. “John fought tirelessly all these years for the preservation of wildlife,” Bourke said. “He would want us to continue this vital work on behalf of animals.”
Ms. Brewer, who had a close relationship with Rendall, also expressed her sadness, noting that his sons and daughter, Tallulah, had lost him too soon.
She recalled how Christian changed their lives. Tallulah added that her father brought joy to everyone he met and was deeply loved.
In a 2013 article for the Daily Mail, Rendall recounted how he and Bourke had stumbled upon Christian in Harrods.
He described how they were struck by the sight of two lion cubs for sale and felt compelled to provide a better life for the male cub, even if only for a short time.
Christian lived with them for a year in their flat on King’s Road, where he was well-cared for, enjoying walks and even trips to the seaside.
Eventually, the decision to send Christian to Kenya was influenced by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, stars of Born Free and advocates for wildlife conservation.
Christian’s release into the wild was unprecedented, as he was a fifth-generation zoo-bred lion, but it was a success. George Adamson, a renowned conservationist, helped Christian adapt by forming a pride around him.
One year after releasing Christian, Rendall and Bourke returned to Kenya, hoping to reunite with the lion.
Wildlife cameraman Simon Trevor captured the emotional reunion, and the footage later became the subject of a documentary.
In 2008, the video resurfaced on YouTube, where it went viral after an American girl posted it with added subtitles and Whitney Houston’s song “I Will Always Love You.”
Reflecting on the video’s enduring impact, Rendall noted, “Adults seem to find it very difficult to watch without crying. It touches on themes of separation, loss, and the joy of being reunited.”
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