Joy Laurey – The Girl who pulled the strings – 2nd Edition

FOREWORD by Ted Coney

I am delighted ton introduce the second edition of Stuart’s book about Joy Laurey. Since acquiring the archive, he has worked tirelessly to promote the life and work of this gifted woman through the organisation of the blue plaque on her former home, the centenary exhibition in Colchester, and this wonderful book.

I first met Joy and Mr. Turnip in Scarborough when I was about eight years old, in large department store. Joy was appearing at the Floral Hall and had come in to demonstrate the Pelham puppet version of her famous character.

Something must have gone wrong with the publicity, because my mother and I were the only people there! I even told Joy – rather tactlessly – that I already had a Mr. Turnip, so I wouldn’t be buying one. However, Joy was always the consummate professional and carried on giving me a wonderful demonstration as if she had been performing to a vast audience.

How we laughed about it when I met her again some thirty years later, when Joy kindly invited me to lunch while I was researching a painting about my childhood. It was then that I realised that I was meeting the real Mr. Turnip for the first time, as my earlier encounter had been with a larger stage version all those years before.

Ted Coney with Mr Turnip replicaOver the next fifteen years I met Joy on several occasions. She was always a source of great encouragement to me in my work and took a keen interest in my wife and family. She even unveiled my painint Diamonds and my three children all got to meet Mr. Turnip – the real one this time!

Ted Coney

Artist and Mr. Turnip super fan