On 15 October the University of Bristol plays host to the latest study day from the Penguin Collectors Society. This time the focus is on Puffin books…

The day is set to involve three main areas: there will be presentations on the different eras of Puffin history; examples from the various Puffin series on display (each accompanied by a ‘subject expert’); and a round-table discussion on the making of a Puffin book and how this has changed over 70 years, which will be followed by an open forum.

Contributors to the study day will include Joe Pearson on Noel Carrington; Valerie Grove on Kaye Webb; former Puffin Editorial Director Liz Attenborough; current Puffin Managing Director Francesca Dow; Puffin Classics Editorial Director Elv Moody; author Joe Berger; artist Jan Pienkowski; Puffin designer Anna Billson; Ika Willis and Steve Hare. The day will be hosted by Phil Baines, author of Puffin by Design.

Tickets are £20 (£10 for students) and include coffee, tea and buffet lunch. Reservations can be made on penguincollectorssociety.org; by post to David Franks, 4 Links Avenue, Whitley Bay, NE26 1TG; or by email to davidjfranks4@gmail.com.

A full breakdown of the day is as follows:

10.30am – 4.30pm, Friday 15 October
Reception Room, Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol

10.00 – 10.30 Registration and coffee
10.30 – 11.00 Phil Baines Introduction
11.00 – 11.30 Joe Pearson on Noel Carrington and Puffin in the 1940s
11.30 – 12.00 Valerie Grove on Kaye Webb and Puffin in the 1960s and 1970s
12.00 – 12.30 Liz Attenborough on Puffin in the 1980s and 1990s
12.30 – 13.00 Francesca Dow on Puffin now
13.00 – 14.30 Lunch + viewing of displays and meeting ‘experts’ Puffin Picture Books (Joe Pearson), Porpoise Books (Steve Hare), Peacock Books (Ika Willis), Puffin Story Books (Steve Hare)
14.30 – 15.30 General panel discussion on the making of a Puffin book and how it has changed over 70 years (Puffin Managing Director Francesca Dow, Puffin Classics Editorial Director Elv Moody, Puffin designer Anna Billson, author Joe Berger, artist Jan Pienkowski)
15.30 Tea and chance to meet the panellists, examine specific series and buy books