A Surprise To End Clarice's Centenary Year!

Clarice’s Bizarre ‘girls’ thought the presentation to them at Wedgwood at the end of the Centenary Exhibition was the final event of the year. However, shortly after this they received an invitation from the club to a private event in the Lord Mayor’s parlour in Stoke-on-Trent on October 22^nd!

For over two years before this, plans had been afoot to have a very personal presentation to them. Michael Lowe, the son of Mary Brown, a Bizarre ‘girl’ from 1928 to 1964, wanted to give the ‘girls a commemorative gift. He decided to model a cameo of Clarice Cliff. It took over a year to perfect the model, but the fine detail was superb and he careful mounted the piece on gold velvet framed in real wood. As you can see, the image of Clarice is modelled to a high standard in a traditional Staffordshire style, in matte finish.

Michael asked the club to help organise the actual presentation which he wanted to be a surprise. We were delighted when the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Reg Booth agreed to invite ALL the ‘girls’ to his parlour!

On the day there were even more surprises. We had arranged that the ‘girls’ were joined by two co-workers they had not seen since 1940! Michael Lowe brought along Annie Jackson (pictured on a motorbike in Art of Bizarre) and club member Terry Abbotts persuaded Rosa Rigby to join us. Rosa has been featured in the Review but was shy of meeting everyone. The re-union was very special, as after this surprise the ‘girls’ were welcomed to the parlour by the Lord Mayor, and the presentation began.

The ‘girls were clearly moved when they saw the plaque Michael had so lovingly made, and each received it personally from him and the Lord Mayor. It was the largest turn out of the ‘girls’ and ex-Newport workers all year. As well as Annie and Rosa we had Alice Andrews, Rene Dale, Jim Hall, Elsie ‘Delecia’ Nixon, Jessie McKenzie, Phyllis Woodhead, Phyllis Tharme, Annie Beresford (celebrating her 87 birthday!) May Booth, Doris Johnson, and the oldest ‘girl’ Ethel ‘Crocus’ Barrow. Ethel is pictured with her plaque, Alice Andrews, modeller Michael Lowe and the Lord Mayor.

Rene had a surprise for the Mayor, as she had met him when she and Alice unveiled the Clarice Cliff commemorative plaque by the canal at Newport. He had hinted he would love a hand-painted plate. Rene obliged, she and Jim had produced a vivid Gayday plate for him.

Michael Lowe had invited Sharon Gater of the Wedgwood Museum and Leonard Griffin of the C.C.C.C. and they were also presented with plaques to recognise their special contributions to Centenary year.

As the ‘girls finally left after wine ,tea and biscuits, we had already decided to organise a 90^th birthday party for Ethel in 2000, and the ‘girls had eagerly noted the dates of the club’s Convention 2000 June 24^th and 25^th. They look forward to seeing you there!

22nd October 1999