The Royal Opening 1975

How the Gladstone Museum became a reality

The museum's 'First Phase' was officially opened by the Duke of Gloucester -  24 April 1975

Personal recollections from the mid 1970s by David Malkin

Our task was to advertise for a director who would be responsible for planning and running the museum. Of the many applicants interviewed the most outstanding was David Sekers who was not only a ceramic enthusiast but also very interested in industrial archaeology. The progress he made working on our basic plan was astonishing and the museum opened for a trial period during the 1974 August Bank Holiday. Our first visitors were children representing many schools in the district. Their obvious enjoyment and interest assured us that we were creating a very useful additional attraction to North Staffordshire.

We then closed the museum until Easter 1975 when it was officially opened by Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester*. He expressed great interest in our enterprise. 

Later, at lunch, Derek Johnson presented the deeds of Gladstone to the Trust, as we had obtained the initial £250,000 through the generosity of many pottery firms, both large and small, and the involvement of the Manifold Trust.

In its first few years the museum won the Business and Industry Award for Conservation (1975), the Come to Britain Trophy (1975), the highly-prestigious Museum of the Year Award (1976), the Institute of Chartered Surveyors Award for Conservation (1978) and the Sir Mark Henig Award for Tourism (1982) more>

David Malkin

24th April 1975  An Invitation to the Royal Opening

The Invitation to the Royal Opening
The First Phase of Gladstone Pottery Museum 1975

David Sekers, Gladstone Museum Director, talks to The Duke of Gloucester
in the cobbled yard on Opening Day 24 April 1975

David Sekers, Gladstone Museum Director, shows The Duke of Gloucester
around the museum and finally The Duke unveils the plaque - 24 April 1975

Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, shakes hands with Pam Bott,
one of the museum staff, at a formal reception
at the Potters Club, Federation House, Stoke. 24 April 1975
Left to right: Pam Bott, Sally Cole, Ken Williams, [unknown]
  Alma Scarratt, and far right, David Sekers, Museum Director.

Gladstone Pottery Museum - staff and guests group photo
 Potters Club, Federation House, Stoke.  24 April 1975
Left to right: Pam Bott, David Sekers, Sally Cole,
Ken Williams, Hilda Morris (with cigarette),
Joan Johnson, Lord Mayor, Alma Scarratt,
Audrey Taylor, [unknown] and Mary (Muffi) Fox.

The opening day photos - Why and how they were taken

A recollection by Pam Woolliscroft (nee Bott)

There was great excitement when the staff at Gladstone Pottery Museum heard that Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was going to open the first phase of this new and ground breaking working pottery museum in 1975.

A lot of work went in to getting the museum looking perfect for the event. And after last minute touches everyone was prepared to welcome this special visitor. In our best clothes (1970s style!) the team of staff waited its turn to be presented, as rehearsed, to the Duke. But he spent so much time looking around the museum that the event ran late. He left for his special lunch, in the Potter's Club in Federation House in Stoke, without us even meeting him.

We had missed out on our special handshake and meeting with the Duke. Seeing our disappointment, after all our hard work and anticipation, our boss, David Sekers, the Museum Director, was not accepting this. In a moment a plan was devised and we were swiftly transported to Stoke from the museum. On arrival at Federation House we were lined up to be introduced and shake hands with a slightly bewildered Duke who was then allowed to go for his lunch!

1975 What the museum is all about

David Sekers talks about the museum and how it came about in the early 1970s. He describes what the museum was designed to do - showing the buildings, the crafts, the local language and the six towns. He wanted the museum to show the arduous and anxious life of the people working in the Staffordshire Potteries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe1WRnwyxT0

1975 The Souvenir Brochure - The First Edition

The museum's first souvenir brochure was designed by John Bedford MSIA and printed by Wood, Mitchell and Co Ltd, Hanley

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Download the Souvenir Brochure 1975 here>

*Prince Richard, The Duke of Gloucester, is the late Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin and a full-time working member of the Royal Family. He attends national and international events in support of The King and his duties as Head of State, as well as undertaking extensive public duties and engagements every year reflecting his own interests and charities.