The Green Cross Code Man emerged in 1976 in a bid to cut the number of road accidents involving children - and he was no stranger to the North East.
 David Prowse visited the region on several occasions before emerging on the big screen as one of Star Wars' greatest villains, Darth Vader. As Green Cross Code Man, 6ft 7in David attempted to save children - and as Darth Vader he had the very same children hiding under the bed covers. In the week when schools in the North East are taking part in a world-record-breaking "walking bus" to promote road safety for children we look back at earlier road safety icons, the Green Cross Code Man and Tufty, the squirrel. David Prowse was well known on the body-building circuit when, in 1976, his life was to change massively. After appearing in the cult film Clockwork Orange, he met George Lucas who offered him the role of Chewbacca in the Star Wars trilogy. But he ended the meeting as Darth Vader. Then he was invited for a photo-shoot which eventually led to him to his favourite role, the Green Cross Code Man. That campaign lasted 14 years and led to David visiting 700 cities worldwide, attending more than 2,000 schools and speaking to half a million school children. Road accident figures proved the Green Cross Code Man was getting the message through. From over 40,000 annually, accidents were cut to fewer than 20,000, an estimated total saving of around 250,000 children's lives over 14 years. As Darth Vader he was the sinister man in the black garb who was determined to take over the galaxy, and give every child nightmares. David Prowse also nearly became Superman, but his British accent stood in the way. Instead, he trained a skinny American actor called Christopher Reeve and built up his body until he was ready to become the ultimate superhero. Before the Green Cross Code Man we had a squirrel, Tufty, who came to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s. Apparently, in 1953, an employee of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents was having his lunch when he saw a small squirrel stop at the kerb, look both ways and then scamper across the road. It was the birth of a road safety icon, Tufty, the Traffic Safety Squirrel. By 1961 thousands of children had joined the Tufty Club. But roads are more dangerous than ever today, and it is thanks to such characters as the Green Cross Code Man and Tufty the Traffic Safety Squirrel that over the years many children have taken in the road safety message. NDo you have any memories of the Green Cross Code Man? Or maybe you were a member of the Tufty Club member. We'd love to hear your stories. Write to Remember When, Evening Chronicle, Groat Market, Newcastle NE1 1ED or e-mail ray.marshall@ ncjmedia.co.uk The green cross code First, find a safe place to cross, then stop. Stand near the kerb, not on it. Look all around for traffic and if traffic is coming let it pass. If there is NO traffic coming, walk straight across the road, looking and listening as you cross. | 
Tyne Bridge Publishing
