Our outing for October was to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. We once again had the use of Hull City’s first-team coach. On arrival, we had refreshments and then had time to look around the gift shop before boarding the land train. The journey on the train lasted about an hour and took us around the 150-acre woodland landscape. The journey took us past some of the 400-plus memorials and had a running commentary telling us about the memorials we passed. The memorials honour the fallen in recognition of service and sacrifice from the British Armed Forces and the civilian community. Before leaving we had time to wander around some of the grounds.
Following the Arboretum visit, we travelled to Barlaston near Stoke-on-Trent to the World of Wedgwood. We enjoyed our packed lunches while travelling there.
We had a guided walking tour of the factory at the World of Wedgwood. We were told about its history and how the founder Josiah Wedgwood 1st started the pottery business in 1759. We saw the potters applying the relief designs to Jasperware. Jasperware is Wedgwood’s iconic stoneware and is recognised by most of us by its Wedgwood blue with white relief. We watched a lady skillfully hand-finish the design on a bone china teapot. We were told that at one time everything in the factory was made by hand now even the patterns on the tableware are applied by transfer and then finished by hand. The relief work on the Jasperware is made from a mould and we saw these reliefs applied to vases. The reliefs would have also been made by hand at one time. They make their moulds on-site and we met a young man training to make them. We were all stunned at the prices for some of the Jasperware and bone chinaware, some of which run into the tens of thousands just for a single piece. The guide who took us around was informative and told us some interesting facts. One of which took us by surprise was the botanical designs on the bone china were created by Charles Darwin the Naturalist who was the grandson of Josiah Wedgwood.
Following the tour, we had time to browse the shop. Some of us took refreshments in the café and drank out of Wedgewood’s bone china teacups.
The outing was very enjoyable and interesting.
Shirley Cormack
NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM STEPS TO THE ARMED FORCES MEMORIAL
MEMORIAL TO BRITISH ARMED FORCES KILLED ON DUTY SHOWMAN’S MEMORIAL
STATUE OF JOSIAH WEDGWOOD
