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The Firing

Well, I did go back and with what seemed an endless summer of struggle and the total faith and enthusiasm of my tutor I began to make progress. I spent time watching Michael on his wheel turning out perfect mugs, jugs and various other decorative pieces. He could produce a whole set of six pots,Continue reading “The Firing”

Summer in the Garden cont.

As I worked, a little old Harrods van trundled up the narrow drive and the little lady of the house came and took a piece of meat and a wholemeal loaf. I worked on until I heard the sound of a bell calling us to lunch. Michael used to say, much later that when heContinue reading “Summer in the Garden cont.”

Summer in the Garden

I remember it as a rather damp, grey sort of summer in the mid sixties when I commenced my summer job working in the garden. I can remember listening to Simon and Garfunkel and Thunderclap Newman on the radio. Sometimes on good days I cycled all the way pedalling up and down the various hillsContinue reading “Summer in the Garden”

First Days continued

I can’t remember how many times I helped out, probably only a few times. I did meet some interesting characters, many who like me had just happened to be passing. One rather eccentric character who I do remember very well was an extremely tall slightly lugubrious fellow called Nicholas Rocke. Like many tall people heContinue reading “First Days continued”

My First Day

A Summer Sunday, I was waiting at the bus stop with a little trepidation, as this was my first visit to the little stall up the winding lane. I could smell the fresh grass cuttings and the wood scent of the bus shelter. It was warm with that clammy lazy feel of a summer’s day.Continue reading “My First Day”

Denis, Brief History (Pt 1) completed

In 1952, at the time of writing Pennies from Heaven and Earth, we find Denis working up in the City as a solicitor, having to try to make ends meet. It was while on the train back to East Horsley that he got into conversation with Michael Buckland. Michael was an unhappy soul, lacking inContinue reading “Denis, Brief History (Pt 1) completed”

Denis Moore, a Brief History (Part 1)

According to what I have gleaned from various sources. I will try and piece together some sort of timeline. Denis was born near the start of the twentieth century in 1908, possibly at Haigh near Wigan in Lancashire. At 13 he attended St Bede’s Catholic college in Manchester. There he studied History, Greek, Latin andContinue reading “Denis Moore, a Brief History (Part 1)”

My first encounter concluded

After some time talking, we headed off down the little winding path beneath the gnarled old apple trees and the magical cluster of cherry trees that held a fascination for me and of course the Chinese. We passed the greenhouses full of ripening tomatoes, passed the artichokes and the market garden veg. and arrivedContinue reading “My first encounter concluded”

First Encounter continued

We were invited up to the house, but my mother stayed with my grandmother by the car as she was wobbly on her pins. As we approached up the brick driveway I noticed a very small stooped figure leaning to feed the bantams that clucked and strutted round her ankles. They, in fact roamed theContinue reading “First Encounter continued”

First Encounter

View from the Window – From my ‘sketchbook This was the 60’s and what seems a million years ago. I was sitting in the back seat of my father’s car. Morose, is probably not the word, there may be a better one; I was 13 or 14 with issues. My grandmother, still, at that timeContinue reading “First Encounter”