2004 – 2013
2004
17th January: Social Lunch at Dartington Hall
28th February: studio visit to Gilda Westermann
27th March: workshop visit to Philip Simmonds
17th April: AGM at Kenton Village Hall with demonstrator Jennie Hale
19th May: workshop visit to Shakspeare Glass
5th – 26th June: WPA summer exhibition at The Meeting House, Ilminster
12th – 13th June: the WPA had a stand at the inaugural Contemporary Craft Fair, Bovey Tracey
26th June: Exeter Potters’ Market on the Quay, organised by Eric Saxby
10th July: photographic workshop by Alan Wynn, Delta Centre, Exeter
25th September: workshop visit to Tim Gee
23rd October: workshop visit to Ama Menec
13th – 14th November: mould-making weekend course with Rod Hare, Bickleigh
10th – 11th December: WPA Christmas Pottery Fair, Exeter Central Library
2005
29th January: Social Lunch at Devon Guild, Bovey Tracey
26th February: Stoneware glaze workshop with Mike Bailey at Bickleigh Village Hall
12th March: AGM at Kenton Village Hall with guest demonstrator Peter Beard
3rd – 5th June: The WPA had a stand and individual members exhibited at The Contemporary Craft Fair, Bovey Tracey
17th June: Imerys Wheal Martin clay pit visit, St. Austell
18th June: second workshop visit to Tim Gee by popular request
25th June: Exeter Potters’ Market on the Quay, organised by Eric Saxby
16th July: Raku Social Event at Peter and Vera Stride’s home
10th September: workshop visit to Amanda PophamOctober: WPA exhibition at Pierrepoint Gallery, Bridport
21st October: visit to Imery’s calcining plant, Parkandillick
22nd October: workshop visit to Paul Jackson
12th November: workshop visit to Maggie Curtis
2006
29th January: Social Lunch at the Devon Guild, Bovey Tracey
18th February: demonstration day with Kevin de Choisy at Bickleigh Village Hall
26th March: AGM at Kenton Village Hall with guest demonstrator Blandine Anderson
April 2006: Doreen Gardner returns as WPA Chair
29th April: studio visit to Frank Martin
April/May: Issue 80 saw the first introduction of colour photographs inside the newsletter
20th May: studio visit to Michael Gaitskell
9th – 11th June: WPA stand and individual members exhibiting at The Contemporary Craft Fair, Bovey Tracey
24th – 25th June: social firing weekend at South Pool, Devon, organised by Karen Edwards, with firings led by Tim Gee, Kati Vamos, Sue Rouillard, Jo Duggan and Anita Peach
1st July: Exeter Potters’ Market on the Quay, organised by Eric Saxby
29th July: studio visit to Tim Hurn
August 2006: Issue 82 saw the introduction of a coloured newsletter cover, featuring Richard Godfrey. Liz Challis, who was handling the advertising, worked on getting a whole page of colour adverts, which would pay for a cover in colour. This she succeeded in doing and our first colour Newsletter featured a preview of Jo Connell’s demonstration to Members, plus a visit to John Harlow
16th September: studio visit to Jenny Beavan
7th October: studio visit to John Harlow
4th November: demonstration by Jo Connell at Bickleigh Village Hall
25th November – 3rd December: WPA exhibition at Red Earth Gallery
2007
28th January: Social Lunch at Broomhill Art Hotel
24th February: demonstration day with RAMP (Roop and Al Make Pots), Silverton, Devon
24th March: AGM at Plymouth College of Art with guest demonstrator Wally Keeler
13 – 29th April: WPA Spring exhibition, Bishopswood Barn Gallery, Somerset
28th April: Plymouth Museum and Art Gallery visit to Reserve Collection/pot handling
19th May: demonstration day with Geoffrey Swindell at Bickleigh Village Hall
8th – 10th June: WPA stand and individual members exhibiting at The Contemporary Craft Fair, Bovey Tracey
30th June: Exeter Potters’ Market on the Quay, organised by Eric Saxby
There was no social firing during this summer, due to unforeseen circumstances
30th August: workshop visit to Doug Fitch
29th September: workshop visit to Richard Godfrey
13th October: workshop visit to Roger Cockram
16th November – 2nd December: WPA exhibition at Stawley Wood Gallery, Wellington, Somerset
17th November: workshop visit to Russell Coates
2008
27th January: Social Lunch at Dartington Hall
23rd February: extruding workshop with Paul Stubbs
8th March: AGM at Plymouth College of Art with guest demonstrator Elaine Peto
26th April: workshop visit to Claire Murray
15th May: workshop visit to Arwyn Jones
5th – 8th June: WPA stand and individual members exhibiting at The Contemporary Craft Fair, Bovey Tracey
18th June: Ballclay Quarry visit, Peters Marland, Devon
28th June: Exeter Potters’ Market on the Quay, organised by Eric Saxby
12th – 13th July: Kilnbuilding Weekend Workshop with Steve Mills, organised by Karen Edwards at Frank Martin’s home, Staithe, Bridgwater. Building and firing a wood kiln, paper kiln and sawdust firings
28th September: demonstration day with Paul Young at Frank Martin’s Pottery, Burrowbridge
11th October: workshop visit to Douglas Phillips
15th November: workshop visit to Elizabeth Smith
2009
25th January: Social Lunch at Burton Art Gallery with guest speaker Harry Juniper
14th March: AGM at Plymouth College of Art with guest demonstrator Billy Adams
25th April: visit to Eeles Family Pottery
15th May: demonstration day with David and Margaret Frith at South Devon College
5th – 7th June: WPA marquee and individual members exhibiting at The Contemporary Craft Fair, Bovey Tracey
18th June: visit to British Ceramic Tile Ltd, Newton Abbot
4th July: Exeter Potters’ Market on the Quay, organised by John Mather
10th July: social firing at Sally Charteris’ home, Backswood Farm, Bickleigh organised by Karen Edwards and comprising paper kiln, sawdust, cow pat and raku firings. Firings led by Claire Murray, Sue Rouillard, Douglas Phillips, Sally Charteris, John Watson, Elaine Hughes.
7th – 16th August: WPA Open Exhibition at Red Earth Gallery, Bickleigh
September: special 100th edition of the WPA newsletter featuring `Early Days of the WPA’ by Elizabeth Smith plus photographs from 16 years of WPA activities
19th September: demonstration day with Sasha Wardell at Belstone Village Hall, Okehampton
10th October: studio visit to Ross Emerson
19th November: demonstration day with Françoise Dufayard at Rattery Village Hall
2010
31st January: Social Lunch at The Devon Guild, Bovey Tracey
20th March: AGM at Plymouth College of Art with guest demonstrator Jack Doherty. Tim Andrews announced as new Honorary President of the WPA
2nd April – 9th May: WPA exhibition at Duchy Square, Princetown, Devon
17th April: studio visit to Penny Simpson
22nd May: demonstration day with Tim Andrews at Woodbury Village Hall
11th – 13th June: WPA Marquee and individual Members exhibiting at The Contemporary Craft Fair, Bovey Tracey
3rd June – 26th September: WPA Open Exhibition at Saltram House, Plymouth
June: New WPA website www.westcountrypotters.co.uk launched, including a Members’ Gallery. Website officer Elise Ruffell
5th June to 26th September: WPA Summer Selling Exhibition at Saltram House, Plympton, Devon
3rd July: Exeter Potters’ Market on the Quay, organised by John Mather
28th July: Dustbin Kiln Making Day led by Elaine Hughes, with Claire and Gordon Murray, Ashreigney, Devon
13th -23rd August: WPA Open Exhibition at Red Earth Gallery
17th August: annual social firing at Backswood Farm, Bickleigh, organised by Karen Edwards, featuring raku, smoke and newspaper firings. Sally Charteris, John Watson, Sue Rouillard, Jo Duggan, and Elaine Hughes presided.
5th September: demonstration by Alan Foxley at Burrowbridge Village Hall, Bridgwater
16th October: workshop visit to Doug Fitch
5th November: demonstration day with Neil and Sally MacDonell at The Davis Hall, West Camel, Yeovil
2011
30th January: Social Lunch at Burton Art Gallery, Bideford
19th March: AGM at Plymouth College of Art with guest demonstrator Morgen Hall
13th April: Photography session with Paul Mounsey at Woodbury Village Hall
26th May: workshop visit to the John Leach Pottery and Peter Hayes exhibition
10th – 12th June: WPA marquee and individual members exhibiting at The Contemporary Craft Fair, Bovey Tracey
9th July: Exeter Potters’ Market on the Quay, organised by John Mather
23rd July – 29th August: WPA Selected Show at Duchy Square, Princetown, Devon
17th August: annual social firing day at Backswood Farm, Bickleigh, organised by John Watson, featuring raku, smoke and pit firings. Sally Charteris, John Watson, Tim Gee, Sue Rouillard, Elaine Hughes and Claire Murray led the firings.
3rd – 9th September: WPA Open Show at Red Earth Gallery, Bickleigh, Devon
6th October: studio visit to Jack Doherty, Leach Pottery, St. Ives, Cornwall
29th October: studio visit to Paul Jessop
3rd December: demonstration day with Tim Gee at Rattery Village Hall
2012
26th January 2012: studio visit to Philip Simmonds
12th February: Social Lunch at the Devon Guild, Bovey Tracey
17th March: AGM at Plymouth College of Art with guest demonstrator Richard Godfrey
1st April, `Discovery of the Real China’ , Cornwall Ceramics and Glass Group talk by Penny McBreen and Carol Scott, Belstone Village Hall, Okehampton
11th May: visit to Dennis Chinaworks, Shepston House, Somerset
15th – 17th June: WPA stand and individual members exhibiting at The Contemporary Craft Fair, Bovey Tracey
14th July: Exeter Potters’ Market on the Quay, organised by Kat Jenkins
19th July: studio visit to Sandy Brown
16th August: annual social firing day at the home of Rosie Edmonston-Low, Highfield Ceramics, Tiverton, organised by John Watson and featuring raku, smoke and pit firings by John Watson, Tim Gee, Sue Rouillard, Claire Murray and Jeanne Gimblett
21st September to 6th October: WPA Group Show at The Westall Art and Design Centre, Kelly College, Tavistock
30th September: studio visit to Nicola Werner
18th October: demonstration day with Jill Fanshawe Kato at Rattery Village Hall, Devon
25th October – 19th November: WPA Show at 45 Southside Gallery, The Barbican, Plymouth
14th November: Talk and Pot handling Visit at Somerset Heritage Centre, Taunton
2013
19th January: Social Lunch at Broomhill Art Hotel, Barnstaple
January: Issue 120 becomes the first full colour newsletter by Editor Adrian Bates, since taking over from Livia Germano who edited the newsletter for four years
16th March: AGM at Plymouth College of Art with guest demonstrator Taja
19th April: presentation talk by Gabrielle Koch at Woodbury Village Hall
10th – 11th May: WPA stand and individual Members exhibited at the first Ceramics Festival at Cockington Court, Torquay. Demonstrators included Tim Gee
25th May: studio visit to Jennie Hale
7th – 9th June: WPA stand and individual members exhibiting at The Contemporary Craft Festival, Bovey Tracey
17th July: studio visit to Carole Vincent
18th June: studio visit to David Winkley to celebrate his 50 years as a potter
13th July: Exeter Potters’ Market on the Quay, organised by Kat Jenkins
13th August: annual social firing day at the home of Rosie Edmondston-Low, Highfield Ceramics, Tiverton, organised by John Watson and featuring raku, smoke and pit firings. Kilns operated by John Watson, Elaine Hughes, Claire Murray, Jeanne Gimblett and Sue Rouillard.
8th September: demonstration day with Jitka Palmer at Cossington Village Hall, Somerset
7th – 23rd October: WPA 20th Anniversary exhibition at The Goodwin Gallery, Petroc, Barnstaple with Members exhibiting from all over the South West
10th November: WPA Film Showing at Belstone Village Hall, Okehampton
Acknowledgements are due to those Members of the WPA past and present, who have helped to compile this timeline and congratulations to all those who made it happen
1993 to the present day: The Westcountry Potters Timeline
Commencing in 1993, members of the Westcountry Potters Association have been meeting, making and firing for over two decades. Acknowledgements and thanks are due to everyone who has contributed to this ongoing history of the Association.