Quite by chance I heard a snippet about this movie on Newstalk's 'The Home Show' this morning and as I have more than a passing interest in the Clarice Cliff story my ears pricked up. Clarice Cliff worked her way up from humble beginnings to become one of the most famous Art Deco designers of the 1930's. She went onto to marry Colley Shorter the owner of both A.J.Wilkinson's and Newport potteries and the rest is history as they say.
My grandfather's sister Elsie Lett married Guy Shorter (Uncle Guy) - Colley Shorter's brother - and that's where my interest in Clarice Cliff comes from. Growing up with my grandparents I knew something of the personalities involved but was far too young to be interested in the details so I'm looking forward to the warts and all tale from Sky!
My grandparents had a wonderful collection of special Clarice Cliff ceramics including a Crocus pattern tea service which was a wedding present from the Shorters. The tea service, long since sold off by me, was my grandmother's pride and joy and only used on special occasions. By strange coincidence, the last time that I can remember the set being used was when Father Micheál MacGréil, SJ, (Western Rail Corridor) campaigner, came to tea in the early 1980s. It is truly a very small world! I wonder what secrets the movie will reveal?
