Joy Laurey - Stuart Woodhead

Joy Laurey, one of the pioneers of puppeteering, is forgotten today amongst her contemporaries despite her profound influence and presence in the TV puppetry field.

This book is a celebration of the life of Joy Laurey amid the seventy-first anniversary of BBC's Whirligig, in which she starred alongside her beloved Mr Turnip. She created many other nostalgic characters in her collaborations with Disney (Mickey Mouse Weekly), Gerry Anderson (Thunderbirds), Peter Ling (Doctor Who, Crossroads) and Peter Hawkins (Bill & Ben), though Mr Turnip - her TV debut - is by far her most recognised creation.

Prolific watercolour artist, WWII troop entertainer WWII, successful businesswoman, international puppetry representative of Great Britain, and of course "the girl who pulled the strings" on BBC's Whirligig.

For the past twenty years, Stuart Woodhead has been a Mr Turnip superfan. A lifelong collector of puppets and vintage toys, over the years he has amassed a wealth of original items, artwork, photographs, theatre programmes, professional stage puppets and other ephemera, and is now founder of 'The Joy Laurey Archive'.

Many of the photographs within this book are exclusive and never before seen by the public, including behind-the-scenes images on the set of Whirligig, taken by Joy herself at BBC's Lime Grove Studios, London. There are also archived personal photographs of her trip to Romania for the very first International Puppet Festival in 1958, as well as rare portrait work by Baron, the official Royal photographer.

Stuart Woodhead is passionate about preserving Joy Laurey's life work and legacy, showcasing what a pivotal figure she was in the world of puppetry, and ensuring that the nation's favourite and admiring vegetable Mr Turnip will live forever in the hearts and minds of generations to come.