Opening speech made by Terry Woolliscroft, representing the main sponsors Twyford Bathrooms, Armitage Shanks and Thomas Crapper.
"Thank you, Mr Bill Austin - my Lord Mayor. Well, what a fantastic day this is! There were times, some years ago when we were in the planning stages, when we thought today might never happen. But here we are! It is happening. Excellent!
And thank you also, Hamish Wood, the Museum Manager, for asking me to say a few words.
And what better place to say them than here on the balcony just outside the new Sanitaryware Gallery ‘Flushed with Pride.’
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| Gladstone Pottery Museum Story - March 2002 Terry Woolliscroft represents the Sanitaryware Industry during the opening speeches |
I'm here to represent the sanitaryware industry. There are two main players in sanitaryware production in the UK - that's Twyford Bathrooms and Armitage Shanks - there is also a smaller company called the Thomas Crapper Company, and these three companies have been major sponsors in the development of the new toilet galleries.
Did you know that together they've contributed almost £100,000 in artifacts, cash and sheer hard work. And I can safely say, on behalf of the industry, we're delighted to see the results here today.
Twyford Bathrooms was one of the very first industrial sponsors of Gladstone Pottery Museum when it opened way back in April 1975. In those early days the original sanitaryware gallery consisted almost entirely of the Twyford's Collection.
25 years ago that original sanitaryware gallery was put together for about £200 - a touch less than the £21.5 million affair we see today! And rather than the army of people that has worked on today's galleries, the original was assembled and curated almost single handedly by a very big friend of mine. She laid the foundations for the galleries and for today's event. Where is she? My big friend - the wife! Pam.
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| Gladstone Pottery Museum Story Original Toilet Display 1980 Curated by Pam Woolliscroft |
The new galleries really are really worth every penny, though, aren't they? Excellently designed and displayed it’s great to see how the sanitaryware industry has grown. How sanitation originated from its humble beginnings. And it wasn’t so long ago was it? Just 120 years, its nothing in the history of mankind!
And we know we can put down the development of sanitation to just a few Victorian men. Here in Staffordshire, Thomas Twyford was one of them. A local chap, Potteries born and bred! And we can be proud of him.
His factory is still a major producer and employer in the Potteries. Around 3 million pieces of pottery go from our local factory every year. You know, I really do think it’s about time we created a statue of him in the City!
So today we open the excellent new sanitaryware gallery and congratulations to the Gladstone team for putting it all together.
It remains for me to say that it really has been a delight working with the team. The industry has cooperated like never before and I must thank Sam Woodberry of Armitage Shanks and Simon Kirby of the Thomas Crapper Company. It’s been a pleasure working with them. And many thanks go to Hamish Wood, and Angela Lee and the team here at Gladstone, and to Munroe Blair the local sanitaryware historian who did the "sense" checking.
And of course we shouldn't forget our Australian friend, Kellene Paull, who did much of the ground work for the displays.
So here we are the great day did arrive and we've now got the Official Civic Opening we longed for and we really can be Flushed with Pride! Thank you."
