WEDGWOOD FESTIVAL.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19971, 4 July 1930, Page 8

WEDGWOOD FESTIVAL.

PRINCESS MARY TO VISIT STOKE. WORLD TRIBUTES TO MASTER POTTER. (rKOlf OVJt OWH COBKISPOXDEh'T.) LONDON, May 30. Princess Mary Countess of Harewood will visit the Potteries to inaugurate at Stoke-on-Trent the bicentenary festival of Josiah Wedgwood. The birth of the great master potter will have no unworthy commemoration in the county which is peculiarly his own. a county proud still to admit the debt it owes to his genius and to his character. The bicentenary week will consummate a fine effort of civic organisation and community planning, in which every local interest from th© British Pottery Manufacturers' Federation downwards has played a partThere are exhibitions which will deal adequately with the triumphant art of Wedgwood himself, and those who have followed him, until th© present day. There will bo a daily pageanti-y conceived magnificently on a broader historical basis, but with local colour applied again, by local hands. There are evening displays in tho open-air, a nightly tattoo, luncheons, dinners, and flying displays, and everywhere already the "Five Towns, which are now one, have given their streets over to tho gaiety of carnival time. Queen Mary's Exhibit.

Many evidences are present of the world's desire to share in this tribute of admiration for Wedgwood and his work. One of the most notable is the presence of a number of exquisite ceramic oxhibits in the Hanley Museum from the personal collection of Queen Mary. They include a cup and saucer in lilac jasper, n pair of tea caddies by Wedgwood, a box of ribbed ivory and tortoiseshell with two Wedgwood cameos, one designed by Lady Templetown. a sucrier and cover, in greyblue and white jasper, with a Flaxman design, "Cupids at Play," aud framed portraits in blue and white jasper of George 111., and Queen Charlotte, by Wedgwood, of about tho date !790. ' , m , Many other fine examples of Wedgwood's virtuosity have been lent by Lord Tweedmouth, Sir Cecil HarcourtSmith, the trustees of the Lady Lever and Nottingham Art Galleries, and other collectors This exhibition, together with another of singular beauty, representative of the present craftsmanship of the Potteries, and mounted in the King's Hall, Stoke, will be opened by Princess Mary on Monday. Distinguished Visitors.

interest in the celebrations is not confined to this country. Visitors to England from all parts of the world have signified their intention to visit the exhibitions, so that one effect of the festival may well be to enhance the success of Potteries' manufactures in markets abroad. Among the distinguished guests or the City during the week will be the Princess Conti, Lady Bailey, the Bishop ot Winchester, the Brazilian Ambassador, the High Commissioners of Australia, New Zealand, and the Irish Free State, Sir Oliver Lodge, the Bight Hon. 8. M. Bruce, Sir Henry Maybury, Sir Josiah Stamp, Sir Balph Wedgwood, Sir Herbert Austin, and,! Mr Ben Tillett, M.P.

Historical Pageant. In Hanley Park tho historical pageant, rehearsed amid natural surroundings admirably adapted to the purpose of massed pictorial effects, was yesterday given a triumphant tion by many thousands of children and privileged guests. , , On this occasion the Royal box, which forms part of the special grand stand, was occupied by the Lord Mayor of Stoke (Aid. G. H. Barber), Sir Francis Joseph (president of tno North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Bi-Centen-ary Committee), Lady Joseph, who takes the part of the Quoen of y® r ® r mics in the pageant, and other leading representatives of local life. The pageant is presented by 5000 performers, many of them pottery workers, who have made their own costumes at 5s each. They participate with great effect in the prologue, "Ode to Art," which has been specially composed and written by Dr. F. A. Challinor. From early British scenes tlio story passes on through the early Christian times and the Middle Ages, each episode a fresh turn in the potter's wheel of historv, until the golden era of Josiah Wedgwood is reached. Hero the episode is partly written by a descendant. Colonel Josiah Wedgwood, M.P., who has sketched in succeeding scenes tho main features of his career. Then succeeds a Chartist episode, with Mr Andrew MacLaren, M.P. for Burslem, in the part of the orator, Thomas Cooper. A novel feature of the pageant has been the preparation of each episode bv different sections of the community. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Free Churches, the Labour Movement, Welsh residents, and the co-operative movement are among those who have shouldered this effort. The oldest participant is Alderman E. Hughes, aged 77, and the youngest a baby boy of seventeen months.

club, in the library on Wednesday, was largely attended. Prizes for competition were won by Mrs W. McClimont and Mr G. Nell, jun., consolation prizes being "awarded to Miss 0. Tinker and Mr G. L. Hood.

RAKAIA. At the Kakaia Football Club's weekly social on Wednesday evening there was a large attendance. Competitions ■were won by Mrs H. Smith, Miss K. Slaney, and Messrs J. Lawler and A. Turton. On Wednesday evening in tho Methodist Church, a social was hold to welcome the new home missionary, Mr O. B. Fawcett. Mr H. Hopwood, who presided over a large attendance, welcomed Mr Fawcett to the district, and wished him a successful ministry. Mr J. England, circuit steward, Mr A. Allan, president of the Y.P.C.T.U., Mr L. Hopwood, on behalf of the Men's Bible Class, and Miss B. E. Hight, for the Mutual Improvement Society, also extended a welcome to Mr Fawcett. Mr Fawcett thanked the speakers for their kindness. Afterwards a very enjoyable social evening was spent in games and competitions. A recitation waß given by Mr Fawcett.