Category Archives: Puffin Post

Puffin Club? Puffin Post? What’s the difference?

Kaye Webb, Puffin Club, Puffin diary, Puffin Post

I have to admit I’m a bit of a pedant when it comes to history – it comes from working in Film restoration and in the media. There’s a lot of revisionist thinking out there (re-writing of history).

So what was the ‘Puffin Club’ (not Puffin Post)? Well here’s a great little explanation by Kaye Webb herself, writing in the Puffin Diary of 1979:

The new club is called ‘Puffin Post’ – not the ‘Puffin Club’. The club is now the schools entity. I suppose this makes it easier to differentiate between the two. I can’t help feeling this may confuse a few of us older members, but I have to remind you – ‘It’s not for us! It’s for our kids!’

Another stamp

Jill McDonald, Kaye Webb, Puffin Club, Puffin Exhibition, Puffin Post

Yes indeedy, it’s one of the few autographs I have bothered to get in my life – and it’s a good one! This is one of three autographs I got from Kaye Webb – The other ones are in ‘The Puffin Joke Book’ and ‘I Like this Poem’. You can see this image used again in one of my earlier postings used as the cover of the ‘The most gigantic tiny notebook in the world’ (a new version of which will be included in the new club members pack – not by Jill McDonald though!)

Another stamp

Jill McDonald, Kaye Webb, Puffin Club, Puffin Exhibition, Puffin Post

Yes indeedy, it’s one of the few autographs I have bothered to get in my life – and it’s a good one! This is one of three autographs I got from Kaye Webb – The other ones are in ‘The Puffin Joke Book’ and ‘I Like this Poem’. You can see this image used again in one of my earlier postings used as the cover of the ‘The most gigantic tiny notebook in the world’ (a new version of which will be included in the new club members pack – not by Jill McDonald though!)

A Puffin Explorer

Jill McDonald, Puffin Club, Puffin Exhibition, Puffin Post

Goodness! What’s got into me, more than one post in a week! This was a lovely rubber stamp that I vaguely remember being stamped onto the back of the hand of visitors to the 12th exhibition. I asked nicely if I could have one stamped into my Puffin Thinkbook – and I got it!

This was one of a whole set of Jill McDonald designs that appeared on button badges that were also doled out – yes, you guessed it, I’m going to post these as well.

A Puffin Explorer

Jill McDonald, Puffin Club, Puffin Exhibition, Puffin Post

Goodness! What’s got into me, more than one post in a week! This was a lovely rubber stamp that I vaguely remember being stamped onto the back of the hand of visitors to the 12th exhibition. I asked nicely if I could have one stamped into my Puffin Thinkbook – and I got it!

This was one of a whole set of Jill McDonald designs that appeared on button badges that were also doled out – yes, you guessed it, I’m going to post these as well.

Nice new things….

Fat Puffin, Odway, Puffin Post, TOMCAT

Well folks, I have just received my preview copies of the new Puffin Post – It has a bit of the old and lots of the new.

Sad to say, Fat Puffin is now officially deceased – as is Odway! TOMCAT has lost his steam powered looks and is now a more conventional PC. To be philosophical about it, however fond I am of the old characters and style of the old, the new generation needs something to be theirs and theirs alone.

I think it will be nice to have the club back for a new batch of puffineers. For those of you who find your way here after the launch – I plan to continue my trawl through the old puffin club ephemera for old times sake.

Nice new things….

Fat Puffin, Odway, Puffin Post, TOMCAT

Well folks, I have just received my preview copies of the new Puffin Post – It has a bit of the old and lots of the new.

Sad to say, Fat Puffin is now officially deceased – as is Odway! TOMCAT has lost his steam powered looks and is now a more conventional PC. To be philosophical about it, however fond I am of the old characters and style of the old, the new generation needs something to be theirs and theirs alone.

I think it will be nice to have the club back for a new batch of puffineers. For those of you who find your way here after the launch – I plan to continue my trawl through the old puffin club ephemera for old times sake.

Puffin Thinkbook

Jill McDonald, Puffin Club, Puffin Exhibition, Puffin Post


How many of you have one of these? This is the full spread artwork of the Puffin Thinkbook – designed, as always, by Jill McDonald. These blank paperback books were given away as prizes for competitions, and more importantly, on sale to members at some of the Puffin Exhibitions. That’s where I bought my copies.

I must have had a premonition that I would need a pristine copy to use nearly a quarter of a century later, because I kept one copy back from scribbles.

The spine of the book is the fountain pen which wraps around nicely. I’ve been toying with the idea of laser printing the design onto Duralabels and sticking it onto my Moleskine notebook – I think it would look pretty smart!

Puffin Thinkbook

Jill McDonald, Puffin Club, Puffin Exhibition, Puffin Post


How many of you have one of these? This is the full spread artwork of the Puffin Thinkbook – designed, as always, by Jill McDonald. These blank paperback books were given away as prizes for competitions, and more importantly, on sale to members at some of the Puffin Exhibitions. That’s where I bought my copies.

I must have had a premonition that I would need a pristine copy to use nearly a quarter of a century later, because I kept one copy back from scribbles.

The spine of the book is the fountain pen which wraps around nicely. I’ve been toying with the idea of laser printing the design onto Duralabels and sticking it onto my Moleskine notebook – I think it would look pretty smart!

A little bit of news…

BBC, BBC Radio, Jeremy Strong, Puffin Club, Puffin Post

Not a picture this time, just news.

I’ve been asked to go on BBC Three Counties Radio on Ernie Almonds show (?) to talk about the Puffin Club and the the upcoming new club ‘Puffin Post’ – it looks like it might be fun! If I can wangle the listen again facility for local radio I’ll put the link up for those of you who may be interested. Also on the show will be the well known childrens author, Jeremy Strong (www.jeremystrong.co.uk – with a slightly annoying sound effect on every page, but worth visiting!)

It’s on Monday 22nd September 2008, at 14.05 (or 2.05pm in old money), which happens to coincide with the relaunch of Puffin Post in London that evening!