With nearly twenty dates, this year’s Life, Clay & Everything tour ends on 24th June. Keith and Marj started back in February, and have criss-crossed the country since then - from Aylesbury to Aberdeen, Canterbury to Cardiff and (finally) Cornwall.
There are just five dates left to catch Life, Clay & Everything -
16th June Kendal Leisure Centre
17th June Perth Concert Hall
18th June Music Hall, Aberdeen
22nd June The Great Hall, Exeter
24th June Hall For Cornwall
It’s been a wonderful experience. As Marj says, “We’ve played to packed houses, met some wonderful people and received some extraordinary gifts.”
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In between dates, there have been trips to China, Clay Gulgong in Australia, Buckingham Palace, Scotland, and of course there was Our Welsh Chapel Dream. Oh, and Keith released a single with Lunatraktors.
So a few days break in touring this week was much-needed, and Keith and Marj got to see the sea (from Norfolk this time, a different view from Whitstable or Pwllheli or Margate!). And, staying in what Marj described as a hotel with “an Agatha Christie vibe - salve for the soul!”, a chance to visit the National Trust’s Blickling Estate. This Jacobean mansion was built for Sir Henry Hobart on the ruins of the Tudor building where Anne Boleyn was born, and was designed by Robert Lyminge. Construction started in 1616. It comes with ha-ha (and who doesn’t love one of them?), the obligatory Doric Temple in the grounds, and a remarkable pyramid-shaped mausoleum by Joseph Bonomi.
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Keith and Marj are long-time admirers of the National Trust, and a few years ago Keith made work for Standen House in Sussex. It was for an exhibition called ‘Joy is in the Making’, that looked behind the scenes of the crafter, sharing not only their works but also the inspirations, emotions and deep sense of wellbeing that comes with the creative process. Keith made a large table-set with a heritage crackle glaze, and said at the time, “Is there a strong link between doing something creative and emotions? I would say that was the definition of creativity. It’s not even a strong link. They run together.”
And - of course - Keith also designed a popular range of mugs, a special shape with glazes inspired by National Trust places. Anybody have a set?
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