Past Events
UK Shelley Group 25th Anniversary
Following a brief bus ride from the hotel to the Gladstone Museum, the 25th Anniversary Celebration began promptly at 5PM on April 15th with a welcome by Gerry Pearce, the UK Shelley Group, Chairman. Among the honored guests were the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Robert and Richard Shelley (sons of Alan Shelley) and last, but certainly not least, Paul Atterbury of British Antiques Roadshow fame. Attendees were stunned by the diversity of Shelley exhibited in the more than twenty-five glass cabinets which were interspersed with story boards telling the history of Shelley. The following day conference attendees heard presentations from a local historian, Fred Hughes, who enlightened them on the small family based beginnings of the potteries. Mr. Hughes was followed by a presentation from Carole Lockyer who carried attendees back in time to a 1930’s afternoon tea. She also provided a glimpse of a period kitchen outfitted with whiteware and the obligatory ration book. Thereafter, Professor Ray Johnson of Staffordshire University debuted one of the high points of the conference, a black and white film of the Shelley factory made circa 1930-1940 which was narrated and later commented upon by Ray Reynolds, Shelley’s former Decorating Manager. Copies of the film are available from the UK club; unfortunately, the film is formatted for European DVR’s (PAL vs. the North American NTSC standard). Although the film will run on most computers, it will likely not run on US DVR’s.
Following the lunch break, attendees were divided into two groups: one going to the Gladstone Museum to view the Shelley exhibit and the other going to the Wedgwood Museum. At the Gladstone, attendees not only viewed the finest collection of Shelley ever to be assembled in recent memory but were also given an in-depth view of the potteries’ manufacturing process. For many, the high light of the exhibit was a showing of the actual pattern books used at the factory. At the Wedgwood Museum, a state of the art, multimillion dollar facility, attendees were treated to a historical review of the Wedgwood family’s influence on pottery making from the earliest times to modern days. Later that evening, guests were treated to a pot show, a silent auction, and the gala anniversary dinner which was punctuated by guests in period 1930’s attire accompanied by music of the time. The evening’s featured speaker was Paul Atterbury who regaled guests with stories of his youthful days of collecting and his current experience on the roadshow. Famed for his somewhat outlandish attire, Atterbury revealed that his sartorial flair is derived from local thrift shops. The evening concluded with the auction of a painting by the US club’s Warren Leenerts which produced a tidy sum for the British club. Attendees at the US national meeting to be held in Scottsdale in November 2011will have a similar opportunity to bid on one of Warren’s incomparable works of art.
The following day attendees heard a series of ten minute talks. Linda Ellis spoke on the “Silver Book,” a 1930’s catalogue which promoted the new Vogue and Mode shapes. Kay Rush described a series of handle-less coffees which were made as inserts to silver manufacturers’ coffee cup holders. Finally, Rick Hubbard described his new book on Vogue and Mode patterns.
California Regional Meeting
A beautiful sunny day greeted 17 Shelley club members on May 21 for the annual California regional meeting held in San Mateo, California. Club Treasurer Rochelle Hart traveled from Alaska to attend, and Board Member Jane Wood came from Delaware. Marie and Warren Leenerts and Lyle and Carolyn Keating served as hosts for the event, which included continental breakfast and potluck lunch, both served on Shelley china. Dessert was a cake with a picture of Shelley Maytime, apropos for our May gathering.
There were several sales tables of Shelley for all to find treasures, reports of the UK Shelley weekend and our upcoming national conference in Scottsdale, much sharing of Shelley finds and questions answered. The day flew by, we welcomed two new club members, conversations were animated and accompanied by lots of laughter. When we all said goodbye, we promised to gather again in Scottsdale in November and somewhere next year for our annual California meeting.
