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Tower poppies’ debt to the Potteries Tower poppies’ debt to the Potteries
(35 minutes later)
You are right to highlight the remarkable creative achievement of Paul Cummins and Tom Piper in delivering Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red at the Tower of London (Simple twists of fate that brought ceramic poppies to the Tower, 29 December). It was indeed the defining image of the 2014-1914 commemorations. But none of it would have happened without the assistance of the skilled potters of Stoke-on-Trent. All of the 497,000kg of clay used for the project – a slightly sanded, red earthenware – was supplied or sourced by the Etruria-based Potclays company. Help with the firing regime, kiln space, slab rollers, and production came from a range of Potteries businesses.You are right to highlight the remarkable creative achievement of Paul Cummins and Tom Piper in delivering Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red at the Tower of London (Simple twists of fate that brought ceramic poppies to the Tower, 29 December). It was indeed the defining image of the 2014-1914 commemorations. But none of it would have happened without the assistance of the skilled potters of Stoke-on-Trent. All of the 497,000kg of clay used for the project – a slightly sanded, red earthenware – was supplied or sourced by the Etruria-based Potclays company. Help with the firing regime, kiln space, slab rollers, and production came from a range of Potteries businesses.
Drawing on hundreds of years of ceramic skills, these world-class designers, technicians and manufacturers were honoured to work with Paul Cummins on his inspirational vision. It would be nice for this heroic contribution to the success of the Tower poppies to be acknowledged – and for Stoke-on-Trent now to work alongside Derby to bring the Weeping Willow and Wave installations to the Midlands on their upcoming UK tour.Tristram Hunt MPLab, Stoke-on-Trent Central Drawing on hundreds of years of ceramic skills, these world-class designers, technicians and manufacturers were honoured to work with Paul Cummins on his inspirational vision. It would be nice for this heroic contribution to the success of the Tower poppies to be acknowledged – and for Stoke-on-Trent now to work alongside Derby to bring the Weeping Window and Wave installations to the Midlands on their upcoming UK tour.Tristram Hunt MPLab, Stoke-on-Trent Central
• Whatever your views about war and religion (Sorry, Rev Davies – John Lennon was right about religion, Deborah Orr, 27 December), I feel that the following quote from my father’s first world war diary provides a nice comment on the way war and religion interact: “The beer was passed around, we drank each other’s healths, then toasted absent friends, pictured for a few brief seconds the homeland ... kindness and love, goodwill towards all men, returned with some dissatisfaction to our present surroundings, shook ourselves straight, and proceeded to gather what of fun we could from war on the birthday of the Prince of Peace.”Philip PenderedTonbridge, Kent• Whatever your views about war and religion (Sorry, Rev Davies – John Lennon was right about religion, Deborah Orr, 27 December), I feel that the following quote from my father’s first world war diary provides a nice comment on the way war and religion interact: “The beer was passed around, we drank each other’s healths, then toasted absent friends, pictured for a few brief seconds the homeland ... kindness and love, goodwill towards all men, returned with some dissatisfaction to our present surroundings, shook ourselves straight, and proceeded to gather what of fun we could from war on the birthday of the Prince of Peace.”Philip PenderedTonbridge, Kent