Not on display

We don’t have an image of this object online yet.

More about images

V&A Images may have a photograph that we can’t show online, but it may be possible to supply one to you. Email us at vaimages@vam.ac.uk for guidance about fees and timescales, quoting the accession number: B.110:1 to 6-2011

Craft Pattern

1980s (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This craft pattern to create soft toys of Mrs. Fluffytail and Tufty was manufactured by by the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), featuring their road safety characters. 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 craft pattern would have been produced to capitalise on the Tufty club phenomenon, 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
Parts
This object consists of 6 parts.

  • Packet for Craft Pattern
  • Craft Pattern
  • Craft Pattern
  • Craft Pattern
  • Craft Pattern
  • Craft Pattern
Brief description
Craft pattern printed on newsprint and tissue paper in paper envelope, 1980s.
Production typeMass produced
Credit line
Given by J M Harvey on behalf of the Theydon Bois Tufty Club
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceTufty & Mrs Fluffytail created by Elsie Mills MBE
Summary
This craft pattern to create soft toys of Mrs. Fluffytail and Tufty was manufactured by by the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), featuring their road safety characters. 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 craft pattern would have been produced to capitalise on the Tufty club phenomenon, 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.
Other number
TC 146 - Pattern number
Collection
Accession number
B.110:1 to 6-2011

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJanuary 5, 2012
Record URL
Download as: JSON