RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

November 18, 1998
EVERYONE’S FAVOURITE SQUIRREL IMMORTALISED

Tufty the road safety RoSPA squirrel, who was a favourite for millions of children in the sixties and seventies, is to be immortalised in a limited edition range of ceramic figures.

The models of Tufty and his friends are being created by Cotswold Collectables, whose founder members, Stuart Mitchell and Caroline Murray, were both in the Tufty Club in the seventies - Stuart still has his club badge to prove it.

They approached RoSPA with the idea of producing the range of Furryfolk Friends. Wade Ceramics based in Stoke-on-Trent, have been commissioned to produce the first figure which is, of course, Tufty himself.

Tufty Fluffytail was born in 1953, as a creation of the late Elsie Mills MBE. Original stories for The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents featured the squirrel and his friends to introduce clear and simple safety messages to children.

Tufty was joined in his adventures by Minnie Mole and the naughty Willy Weasel along with Mrs Owl the teacher and Policeman Badger, who always popped up in the nick of time to save the children.

In 1961, the Tufty Club was set up as a nationwide network of local groups. At its peak there were 24,500 registered Tufty Clubs. The characters’ images were changed to keep up with the times in 1979 and again in 1993.

Martin Gomberg, RoSPA’s Safety Education Adviser, said: “Tufty has been an important character in road safety over many years and it is good to see he is still helping the cause.”

The first models of Tufty will be launched at the Wade Collectors’ Fair at Alton Towers on November 22 and Tufty will still be helping the road safety cause as a royalty will be paid to RoSPA for every model sold.

Tufty figures can be ordered for £39.95 from Cotswold Collectables, 16 Foxes Close, Bussage, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL6 8JZ. Tel: 01452 741151. E-mail: cotswoldcollectables@lineone.net.

RoSPA still produces a range of Tufty educational materials for use by children’s groups, teachers and road safety professionals.