The Clay Shack & Longfleet School Jubilee Globes

Through our Jubilee Project, The Power House and Lighthouse, Poole wanted to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s link to Poole, as Her Majesty opened the then Poole Arts Centre in 1979. During her time in Poole, the Queen visited our iconic Poole Pottery and was presented with a specially commissioned piece of Poole Pottery.

When Erica of The Clay Shack contacted The Power House in response to our shout out for a mosaic artist to work with a school, Alix very nearly said no. While writing a response to say that we’re already working with a school with a specific request for a mural, a connection was made … One of The Power House’s main aims is to connect the two communities of Poole Town and Hamworthy. As we are working with The Federation of Hamworthy Primary Schools by including Longfleet Primary School in the project then this would be a step towards that. And pottery art piece linking in with the Queen’s 1979 visit.

And that’s how the third of our Platinum Jubilee Legacy artworks was created.

As soon as the funding was awarded, Alix and Maureen visited The Clay Shack to meet the pupils working with Erica and Dawn and see their exquisite work. The children explored the Queen’s reign and all the things special and dear to her. Together they chose the elements that they would make together to decorate ceramic globes. Once assembled, these would then be painted, fired, glazed, and fired again.

For our second visit, we invited local residents Eddie Goodall and Jo Winzar. Eddie was a Poole Pottery Master Potter, and Jo a Paintress who worked at Poole Pottery at the same time as Eddie. They met through The Power House’s Celebrating the Old, Inspiring the New Exhibition installation last year. Trying to work out how they knew each other, the penny suddenly dropped.

The children loved hearing Eddie’s story of how he became a Master Potter, being taught by Guy Sydenham himself. Eddie’s journey from being told he wouldn’t amount to anything to his pottery career and beyond, touching hearts in The Clay Shack. Both Eddie and Jo brought examples of their work to show and inspire the children.

This has been a beautiful way to connect the community into our Jubilee project, set up especially for the community to come together, create, and celebrate Her Majesty in a beautiful way that connects with the Queen’s visit to open our wonderful Arts Centre.

The Jubilee Globes will be part of the Poole Britannia! Exhibition, opening with a Celebration Day on Saturday 25th June.