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Saturday, 14 February 2009
Emma Darwin "A Secret Alchemy"
Thursday, 12 February 2009
Google Darwin
Search http://www.google.com/ on February 12th and see the Darwin tribute logo.
(Thanks to Dan Mills of Worcester of this one).
Charles Darwin Day!
Charles Darwin (1809-1882) the son of Robert Darwin and Susannah Wedgwood, daughter of Josiah Wedgwood I was born today, two hundred years ago. Readers may find the following links interesting:
Charles Darwin - Wikipedia article
The Wedgwood - Darwin Family - comprehensive article detailing most of the famous descendants of the Wedgwood-Darwin family.
Darwin Online - complete collection of his papers and correspondence.
BBC Darwin - BBC sub0site dedicated to Darwin coverage.
NHM Darwin Exhibition - Natural History Museum Exhibition site.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
The Wedgwood Spirit
Text from a piece by Alison Wedgwood for The Staffordshire Sentinel:
Darwin's and Stoke – Our Heritage
A wonderful new book Darwin's Sacred Cause (Adrian Desmond and James Moore) gives a fascinating incite into the relationship between the Darwin's and the Wedgwood's. The book reveals that the Wedgwood/Darwin family played an enormous role over 70 years, fighting for the abolition of slavery and suggests that this had a profound influence on Charles Darwin's thinking. The Wedgwood/Darwin grandparents, aunts, uncles and his wife were his "moral anchorage". Charles Darwin, Josiah's grandson, spent many happy years growing up with the Wedgwood cousins at Maer Hall. He watched Uncle Jos Wedgwood sell the London Wedgwood showroom and give the proceeds to the abolition cause; he knew that Aunty Sarah Wedgwood gave more to anti-slavery causes than any other female. He grew up within an anti-slavery axis stretching from Shrewsbury to the Wedgwood's in Staffordshire"
Darwin's thesis on evolution traced all life to one common ancestor. Darwin detested slavery, the slavers desire to "make the black man sub-human", he believed in racial unity and brotherhood. Josiah Wedgwood was one of the first on the Committee for the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade founded in 1787. He produced the iconic slave medallion, "Am I not a Man and a Brother". It was produced in its thousands at Josiah's expense, it wasn't for sale, but became a must have item, worn as hair pins, broaches, mounted on snuff boxes. The medallions are generally seen as instrumental in the swing of popular feeling against slavery and in favour of the Abolition movement. They were an 18th century version of the campaign bracelets worn today, Josiah funded the leaflets which led to the global consumer boycott of slave plantation sugar. Josiah funded Thomas Clarkson and worked closely with Wilberforce who described the Wedgwood's as "a fine, sensible, spirited family, intelligent and manly in behaviour". Interesting.
As suggested in the many book reviews of "Darwin's Sacred Cause" the Darwin's and the Wedgwood's did spend generations interbreeding. I am happy to report that although I come from Stoke on Trent, my meeting and subsequent marriage to Tom Wedgwood (direct descendant) was purely coincidental, we were not related, although I believe my husband was related to his Grandmother Sally Wedgwood in three different ways. We met at University and our shared passion for skiing was the starting point. We also share a passion for pottery and for ensuring manufacturing of the iconic and ethical brand stays in Stoke On Trent, England. We are working hard to save Wedgwood from those who believe it can be produced in Indonesia and back-stamped with Wedgwood. Consumers in Asia, the US and Europe are not gullible. They will only buy Wedgwood fine bone china if it's made in England. Wedgwood cannot continue it's slow death, lost in the reaches of Indonesia, to inept design, manufacturing and marketing by people who are not passionate about the original values set out by its founder.
The Wedgwood family come from a long line of freethinking, spirited, individuals and we're not giving up – it's a David and Goliath battle against big US private equity firms – but our sense of passion for a cause that drove the Wedgwood's to fight for 70 years against slavery is the driving force behind our battle to keep Wedgwood alive. Tom hasn't had a day off since the 5th January. Wedgwood must be made in England, it must represent exquisite design, exemplary manufacturing and a modern ethical brand that consumers aspire to. Something that will last another 250 years.
Alison Wedgwood
Stoke on Trent
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
"Save Wedgwood" Latest
Following a segment on last night’s BBC Midlands Today New programme, which followed up on earlier reports, today has been one of intense activity as Thomas R and Thomas D Wedgwood as they continue discussions with potential investors and make a formal expression of interest for Wedgwood with the Administrators, Deloitte.
There has been considerable press coverage in the media:
Staffordshire Sentinel: “Wedgwood family: We'll create pottery jobs”
“Tom D Wedgwood and cousin Tom R Wedgwood are talking to investors in Asia, the Middle East and the UK to raise the money they need to buy both Wedgwood and Royal Doulton. If they clinch the deal with administrator Deloitte they will:
- Call a halt to redundancies at the Barlaston plant
- Start recruiting within a year
- Move all Wedgwood production from Indonesia to Stoke-on-Trent
- Keep the Indonesian factory to make Royal Doulton china and ware for other companies
- Introduce a training scheme in North Staffordshire to stop unique skills dying out
- Stop trying to compete with low-cost imports.
They will also focus on the Japanese, Chinese and Asian markets because customers there want products made in Stoke-on-Trent.
Tom D Wedgwood, said: "Bringing Wedgwood back is clearly a key part of the business plan and there is a very rosy picture for people on the shop floor....There will certainly be no more job losses and over the next year there will be significant job gains...."People demand a country of origin so you have to bring volume manufacture.”
BBC: “Family Members bid for Wedgwood”
Daily Telegraph: “Wedgwood family make approach for firm”
The Times: “Wedgwood family lodges offer to save business”
Wedgwood family make formal approach for firm
Members of the Wedgwood family have officially approached administrators about acquiring the collapsed pottery company. For more information follows these links:
Monday, 2 February 2009
BBC NEWS: Family members bid for Wedgwood
BBC NEWS Business Family members bid for Wedgwood
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7864731.stm
Screen clipping taken: 02/02/2009, 12:19
Monday, 19 January 2009
Wedgwood Family Bid Latest
Thomas R. Wedgwood, is heading up a consortium which plans to save Wedgwood and keep it British and true to its tradition of craftsmanship. See this Times story.
Keep up with this fast moving story through Google News.
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Save Wedgwood!
Josiah Wedgwood and Sons was founded in 1759 by the "Father of English Pottery" Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795). Josiah came from a long line of Potters and founded a branch of the family steeped in a tradition of philanthropy, which excelled in art and science and many other fields. Meanwhile Wedgwood became established as a quintessentially English brand known the world over.
In 1986 Wedgwood, in order to thwart the approaches of London International Group – a conglomerate which already owned Royal Worcester Spode, perceived the Waterford Glass Group as a White Knight and merged with them. That year Wedgwood made a profit and Waterford made a loss – a trend that would continue down to the present day which now sees much of the Group fall into Administration.
Now in its 250th year, we await news of its ultimate fate – American Private Equity firms are circling, seeking the brands and planning to take production overseas. However, members of the Wedgwood Family, determined to keep the Wedgwood going as a Staffordshire company are, according to press reports, seeking funding to do just that, demerge Wedgwood and save it. Three Cheers for them, I held shares in Waterford Wedgwood, now worthless – I would jump at the chance of investing in a reinvigorated Wedgwood company, I wish them well.
John Wedgwood Pound
Sunday, 27 January 2008
2007- Wedgwoods Departed
Of those lost to us in the last year, the following members of the Wedgwood Family were the subjects of Obituaries in the English Broadsheet Press:
Dr John Wedgwood CBE, (1919-2007) heir presumptive to the Wedgwood Barony, and noted British Physician,
Hugh Montgomery Massingberd, (1946-2007), genealogist, writer and for many years the Editor of the Daily Telegraph, Obituaries.
- Daily Telegraph
Obituary. - Wikipedia
entry. - Publications – from the British Library Catalogue.
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