Personality of the Month

Yootha Rose – Toy Maker

Yootha was born in Australia in 1899 when her father, the singer Charles Rose, was touring with Nellie Melba. Afterwards the family returned to England. When she was 18, Yootha joined a concert party and entertained troops during the First World War. She then went on to design sets for various West End musicals.

During the Second World War, Yootha taught at a school in Dorset and it was here that she began making toys. She was a success, making 16 toys for the 'Britain Can Make It' exhibition and received orders for 40,000 more.

She also provided toys for royalty, including a roundabout for Prince Charles and dolls for Princess Anne.

Using pottery, wood, paper and fabrics, she created a wide range of toys, from carved wooden balloonists to tinsel angels.

In 1952, Yootha was appointed a trustee of the National Toy Museum. Seven years later she became its Honorary Curator. The Museum moved to the Grange in Rottingdean in 1959 and the collection was taken over by the Brighton Corporation in 1971.

It finally moved to Hove Museum & Art Gallery where many items from the collection are on display in the Wizard’s Attic gallery.