Badge thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Badge

1970s-1980s (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This badge was printed by the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), featuring the Tufty character created by Elsie Mills in 1953. Tufty featured in a number of books and safety instructions for the society and in 1961 the Tufty Club was set up as a nationwide network of local groups. At the club meetings, usually once a month, children were told stories, encouraged to join in games, read the Tufty books together and take home the message of road safety. This badge would have been produced to give to members of Tufty clubs which by 1973 had more than 10 000 affiliated clubs and over two million members.
Although Tufty was restylised in 1979, and again in 1993, his presence in RoSPA campaigns has much diminished over the ensuing years. Local Tufty clubs have been wound down and little merchandise is available on their website, but he is still used by the RoSPA in publications and educational packs for schools.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Printed laminated paper pressed on to plastic backing.
Brief description
Badge depicting the children's character Tufty the squirrel, with the slogan "Stop, Look, Listen" for the Tufty Club; laminated paper front pressed on to a plastic backing with metal safety pin, 1970s.
Physical description
Badge depicting the children's character Tufty the squirrel, with the slogan "Stop, Look, Listen" for the Tufty Club; laminated paper front pressed on to a plastic backing with metal safety pin.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 5.5cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'stop, look, listen'
  • 'The Tufty Club'
Credit line
Given by J M Harvey on behalf of the Theydon Bois Tufty Club
Subject depicted
Literary referenceTufty by Elsie Mills MBE
Summary
This badge was printed by the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), featuring the Tufty character created by Elsie Mills in 1953. Tufty featured in a number of books and safety instructions for the society and in 1961 the Tufty Club was set up as a nationwide network of local groups. At the club meetings, usually once a month, children were told stories, encouraged to join in games, read the Tufty books together and take home the message of road safety. This badge would have been produced to give to members of Tufty clubs which by 1973 had more than 10 000 affiliated clubs and over two million members.
Although Tufty was restylised in 1979, and again in 1993, his presence in RoSPA campaigns has much diminished over the ensuing years. Local Tufty clubs have been wound down and little merchandise is available on their website, but he is still used by the RoSPA in publications and educational packs for schools.
Collection
Accession number
B.112-2011

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Record createdJanuary 5, 2012
Record URL
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