Tag Archives: problem solver

Petra the Party Maker

Judy, ,

Plot

Petra Dawson is  junior partner in her father’s firm, “James Dawson & Daughter, Party Makers”. It is her job to arrange the children’s parties. She is a great problem-solver.

petra the party maker

Notes:

  • First printed as a text story later updated to picture story format

Appeared:

  • Petra the Party Maker (text story )- Judy:  #103 (30 December 1961) – #121 (05 May 1962)
  • Petra the Party Maker  – Judy: #158 (19 January 1963) – #183 (13 July 1963)
  • Petra the Party Maker  – Judy: #314 (15 January 1966) – (?)
  • Petra the Party Maker  – Judy: #766 (14 September 1974)
  • Reprints: Judy: #1220 (28 May 1983) –  #1235 (10 September 1983) [no episodes in issues #1222, #1229 and #1233)
  • Reprints: #1239 (08 October 1983) – #1240 (15 October 1983)
  • Reprints: #1253 (14 January 1984) – #1254 (21 January 1984)
  • Reprints: #1295 (3 November 1984) – #1299 (1 December 1984)

Other Appearances:

  • Petra the Party Maker (text story) – Judy Annual 1963
  • Petra the Party Maker – Judy Annual 1964
  • Petra the Party Maker – Judy Annual 1965
  • Petra the Party Maker – Judy Annual 1967
  • Petra the Party Maker – Judy Annual 1972
  • Petra the Party Maker – Judy Picture Story Library:  #21

Backstage Betty

Judy, , ,

Plot:

Betty Ramsden works behind the scenes with the Bluebird Dancing Troupe. Betty is always on hand to keep the show running smoothly. When she is unable to join the Troupe on tour she temporarily joins another theatre group. Things don’t run too smoothly when a fire breaks out and a dancer blames Betty because she broke her lucky charm.

backstage betty

Notes:

  • Artist: Don Walker

Appeared:

  • Backstage Betty – Judy:  #51 (31 December 1960) – #93 (21 October 1961)
    • Reprinted – Judy: #692 (14 April 1973) – #732 (19 January 1974) [no episodes in issues #720 or #721]
  • Backstage Betty – Judy:  #131 (14 July 1962) – #138 (1 September 1962)
  • Backstage Betty – Judy:  #187 (10 August 1963) – #203 (30 November 1963)
  • Backstage Betty – Judy:  #285 (03 July 1965) – ?
  • Backstage Betty – Judy:  #751 (1 June 1974) – #766 (14 September 1974)
  • Backstage Betty – Judy:  #777 (30 November 1974) – #782 (04 January 1975)
  • Backstage Betty – Judy:  #786 (01 February 1975)

Other Appearances:

Annual Appearances

  • Backstage Betty – Judy Annual 1962
  • Backstage Betty – Judy Annual 1963
  • Backstage Betty – Judy Annual 1964
  • Backstage Betty – Judy Annual 1965
  • Backstage Betty – Judy Annual 1975
  • Backstage Betty – Judy Annual 1976

Summer Specials

  • Backstage Betty – Bunty-Judy Summer Special 1975

Picture Story Library

  • Backstage Betty – Judy Picture Story Library #50

Polly Perkins

Judy

Plot

Polly Perkins lives in the pleasant seaside town of Portsea. Although she is a small girl, Polly has a big heart and is always ready to help anyone in trouble.  People she helps include,  two lodgers of different ages who disagree on music,  Jim, a flower grower when a rival florist opens.

polly Perkins

Notes

  • Each issue had a different title related to the plot that week e.g.  Polly Perkins and the Sad Gardener  or Polly Perkins and the Birthday Invitations

Appeared

  • Polly Perkins – Judy:  #17 (07 May 1960) – #39 (08 October 1960)

 

Anna Junior Miss / Girl with the Golden Smile

Judy,

Plot

Anna  Marshall also known as  the “Girl with the Golden Smile”, is a young trainee at Westerby’s department store. She enjoys working in the various department in the store. As she is young and small for her age, she often has trouble convincing people she can do a good job. But they are soon won over be her radiant smile, helpfulness and bright ideas.

anna junior miss(Anna Junior Miss – 1960s)

girl with golden smile(Girl with the Golden Smile – 1980s,  Art: Bert Hill)

Notes

  • Artist: Bert Hill (1980s)
  • First appeared as a text story.
  • It was later reprinted as a picture story.
  • The picture story was reprinted again with updated art by Bert Hill.
  • The character appeared as Wendy Marshall instead of Anna Marshall, in the Debbie Picture story library book: Wendy’s World

Appeared

  • Anna Junior Miss (text story) –  Judy:  #1 (16 January 1960) – #20 (28 May 1960)
  • Reprinted as picture story – Judy:  #86 (2 September 1961) – #106 (20 January 1962)
  • Reprinted (new art) as Girl with the Golden Smile  –  Judy:  #1085 (25 October 1980) – #1101 (14 February 1981)
  • Reprinted Girl with the Golden Smile  – Judy:  #1571 (17 February 1990) – #1581 (28 April 1990)

Other Appearances:

  • Anna Junior Miss (text story) – Judy Annual 1962
  • Anna Junior Miss – Judy Annual 1963
  • The Honest Thief – Judy Annual 1982
  • Girl with the Golden Smile  – Judy Annual 1983
  • Girl with the Golden Smile  – Judy Annual 1985
  • Girl with the Golden Smile  – Judy Annual 1986
  • The Girl with the Golden Smile  – Judy Annual 1992
  • The Girl with the Golden Smile  – Bunty Picture Story Library #344
  • Wendy’s World  – Debbie Picture Story Library #180

 

 

Nanette of the North

Judy, ,

Plot

While her father recovers from his broken leg, Nanette Gordon is in charge of their trading store  which stands on the shore of Moose Lake in Canada.  This includes taking charge of deliveries.

nanette of the north

Notes

  • Art: Claude Berridge (Judy Annual 1963)

Appeared

  • Nanette of the North –  Judy:  #01 (16 January 1960) – #16 (30 April 1960)

Other Appearances

  • Nanette of the North – Judy Annual 1963
  • Nanette of the North – Judy Picture Story Library #04

 

Big Sister

Judy,

Plot

Jane Masters has a job with Universal Escort who provide an escort for anyone to anywhere. For Jane this usually means escorting children around the world, but sometimes she has had more unusual charges like pets, a doll or even a watermelon! She is a good problem solver and often helps her charges with other problems they may have.

Big Sister(text)

(Big Sister 1960s)

 

big sister

(Big Sister 1970s)

Notes:

  • First appeared as a text story, it was later updated into picture story format.

Appeared:

  • Big Sister (text story) –  Judy:  #1 (16 January 1960) – #27 (16 July 1960)
  • Big Sister (picture story) –  Judy:  #116 (31  March 1962) – #130 (07 July 1962)
  • Big Sister (picture story) –  Judy:  #154 (22  December 1962) – #157?
  • Big Sister  (text story) –  Judy:  circa #215 (1964) – #231 (13 June 1964)
  • Big Sister  (text story) –  Judy:  #244 (12 September 1964) – (?)
  • Big Sister (picture story) –  Judy: #799 (3 May 1975) – #815 (23 August 1975)
  • Big Sister (picture story)-  Judy:  #867 (21 August 1976) – #886 (01 January 1977)

Other Appearances:

  • Big Sister (text story) – Judy Annual 1962
  • Big Sister  – Judy Annual 1964
  • Big Sister  – Judy Annual 1965
  • Big Sister  – Judy Annual 1977
  • Big Sister  – Judy Annual 1979
  • Big Sister – Judy Picture Story Library #06
  • Big Sister – Bunty Picture Story Library #221
  • The Return of Big Sister – Bunty Picture Story Library #264
  • Big Sister – Mandy Picture Story Library #136

 

 

Animal Nurse

Debbie, Judy, ,

Plot

Jill Harris was training to qualify as a registered Animal Nursing Auxiliary at a Dispensary for Sick Animals. She solves a lot of different problems.

animal-nurse

(Animal Nurse – 1960s)

animal nurse

(Animal Nurse – 1980s)

Notes

  • First appeared as a text story in Judy comic later updated to a picture story and appeared in Debbie.
  • The first 2 series in Debbie each story had their own title.
  • Debbie Annual 1983, Art: Pamela Chapeau
  • Debbie Annual 1984, Art: Tony Hudson
  • The story “Swan Song” from Debbie Annual 1980 was reprinted translated into Dutch as “Zwanezang” –  Groot Tina Lenteboek #1/1981 (1981).

Appeared

  • Animal Nurse (text story) – Judy: circa #489 (24 May 1969) – (?)
  • Animal Nurse (text story) – Judy: circa #538 (2 May 1970) – (?)
  • Animal Nurse –  Debbie:  #336 (21 July 1979) – #345 (22 September 1979)
  • Animal Nurse –  Debbie:  #423 (21 March 1981) – #435 (13 June 1981) [no episode #434]
  • Animal Nurse –  Debbie: #485 (29 May 1982), #490 (3 Jul 1982), #497 (21 Aug 1982)
  • Animal Nurse –  Debbie:  #505 (06 October 1982) – #510 (20 November 1982)

Other Appearances:

  • Swan Song – Debbie Annual 1980
  • It Hurts to Say Goodbye – Debbie Annual 1981
  • All Because of Perky… – Debbie Annual 1982
  • Animal Nurse – Debbie Annual 1983
  • A Boy and His Dog! – Debbie Annual 1984

List of Stories

  • “Walk Before You Can Run…”  – Debbie #336
  • The Gentle Giant – Debbie #337
  • “Don’t Make Rash Promises…” – Debbie #338
  • Mary Had a Little Lamb… – Debbie #339
  • Rufus the Rascal – Debbie #340
  • Monkey Business – Debbie #341
  • A New Home for Belle – Debbie #342
  • Hello Dolly! – Debbie #343
  • Goodbye Sammy!– Debbie #344
  • “I Don’t Need Anyone!” – Debbie #345
  • A Friend in Need – Debbie: #423
  • Sam the Spitfire – Debbie: #424
  • A Job to Do – Debbie: #425
  • Comfort for Ricky  – Debbie: #426
  • Charlie the Chimp – Debbie: #427
  • Billy the Kid – Debbie: #428
  • A Guilty Conscience – Debbie: #429
  • A Fear of Dogs – Debbie: #430
  • The Gentle Giant – Debbie: #431
  • Penny the Pinning Pig – Debbie: #432
  • The Best of Friends – Debbie: #433
  • Never Give Up – Debbie: #435

 

Bobby’s Girl

Debbie,

Plot

Christine Roberts kept house for her father, the village policeman in Ashmead. She was a good problem-solver, helping people around the village.

Bobby’s Girl

Notes

Appeared

  • Bobby’s Girl –  Debbie:  #1 (17 February 1973) – #10 (21 April 1973)
  • Bobby’s Girl –  Debbie:  #31 (15 September 1973) – #32 (22 September 1973)
  • Bobby’s Girl –  Debbie:  #37 (27 October 1973)

The Laird of Hee-Haw

Bunty, , ,

Plot:

Roderick MacCoe of Coe, Chief of Clan Coe and Laird of High Hall, known in Scotland as Hee-Haw, was completely penniless. His daughter, Shona, acted as the Laird’s housekeeper, cook and maid-of-all things!

laird of hee haw

Notes:

  • Art:  Robert MacGillivray

Appeared:

  • The Laird of Hee-Haw –  Bunty: #1143 (18 December 1979) – #1156 (08 March 1980)

Other Appearances

Annual Appearances

  • The Laird of Hee-Haw –  Bunty Annual 1981 [Art: Robert MacGillivray]

Summer Specials

  • The Laird of Hee-Haw –  Bunty-Judy Summer Special 1980 [Art: Robert MacGillivray]

 

Friendly Frances

Bunty,

Plot:

Frances Thornton worked for the “Can We Help U Agency”. She gets sent on a variety of assignments such as being an extra assistant at a modelling shoot.  Her boss Mr Forrest was pleased with her success on her various jobs.

Friendly Frances

Notes:

  • Text Story
  • Reprinted as picture story

Appeared:

  • Friendly Frances (text) –  Bunty:  #91 (10 October 1959) – #104 (9 January 1960)
    • Reprinted as picture story – Bunty: #869 (7 September 1974) – #875 (19 October 1974)
  • Friendly Frances (text) –  Bunty: #121 (7 May 1960)

Other Appearances:

  • Friendly Frances (text) –  Bunty Annual 1962