Parian Chatter

Volume 8, Number 2

Sunshine Chapter, Belleek Collector’s International Society

May, 2007

Serving 39 members in the United States, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom

KITTY P. HARWOOD, 86 Homemaker and Musician LAKELAND - Kitty P. Harwood, 86, of Lakeland died of heart failure Friday, April 13, 2007 at her home. She was a resident of the Tampa, Florida area since the age of 6 months, and moved to Lakeland in 1948 with her beloved husband, William W. Harwood, Sr. Mrs. Harwood is survived by her daughter, Dr. Ann Harwood of St. Ignatius, Montana; son, William "Billy" Harwood, Jr., of Lakeland; granddaughter Dr. Ashley E. Maynard of Honolulu, Hawaii; grandsons, Ryan Harwood and wife Sheila, Travis Harwood and wife Jill; and great-granddaughter Hailee Harwood. Mrs. Harwood was a member of First Methodist Church in Lakeland for over 60 years, where she was the volunteer Primary Children's Choir Director for several years. She was a founding member of the Homebuilders' Sunday school class. Visitation will be at Mrs. Harwood's Fairview Ave. residence on Monday, April 16, 2007 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Graveside service will be held at the Garden of Memories Cemetery, 4207 E. Lake Ave., Tampa, Florida on Tuesday, April 17, at 2:00 p.m. Funeral arrangements by Garden of Memories Funeral Home.

We would like to extend our condolences to the Kitty Harwood Family. We will miss her winning smile and her personality. Right up to the end she was an avid Belleek collector. She even asked a friend who was coming to the Convention if she could be hidden in their suitcase so she could attend. She will be missed and remembered by a great number of people.

Our thanks go out to the Northern Ireland Chapter of the B.C.I.S. and the Belleek Pottery that hosted our convention. They did a lot of preparation and work so that we could enjoy ourselves. The speakers were informative and the places of interest that we went to were enlightening. The food was superb and plenty of tea and scones was to be had in the pottery cafeteria.

We'd like to thank all the Pottery workers also who gave their time and efforts so we could enjoy learning more about our addiction. They had plenty of patience while we fettled, painted and tried to make flowers.

John Healy Coaches were very caring and considerate, waiting for lost members that missed their rides. The drivers were helpful, courteous, and very pleasant. The seats were comfortable.

I've heard from everybody in our chapter that attended the convention. They all enjoyed themselves and many came home with or had sent home more Belleek than they had before the trip.

Thanks Again,

Victoria Pearce

Secretary, Sunshine Chapter B.C.I.S.

Next meeting is at the Pearce’s on July 14^th. It is the annual R.K. Degenhardt Scholarship Fund Auction so don’t forget your check books. Directions will follow.

Belleek’s 150^th Year, Convention

Seventeen plus one Sunshine Chapter members converged on Belleek for the 150^th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Belleek Pottery on Wednesday April 18^th 2007.

In this issue we will try to cover some of the many activities that we participated in over the three and one half days of celebration.

Hotel Carlton on Main St. Belleek.

One of many Rathmore cottages.

Most of the chapter members were able to stay together between the Hotel Carlton and the Rath-more cottages.

Wednesday evening started with a gathering at the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen where we registered and were provided with a convention bag of all sorts of Belleek related memorabilia

Then it was off to socialize with other collectors.

Left to right: John, Paul, Fergus and Pat.

The group was divided between Thursday and Friday so here is a synopsis of the 2 days.

Some of us went to Devenish Island

and saw the ruins of a monastic settlement there.

Then off to Castle Coole, but we were not allowed to take pictures inside. But it was very impressive.

Some of us went to the pottery.

photo by Leann Dolan

We went on a tour where we allowed to take pictures.

The new carpet.

The kilns used for firing the pottery.

Mold making.

Pouring slip into the molds.

Getting the fine details about the many processes that go into the making of fine Belleek Parian china.

Assembling handles on the new Trademark Mugs that will be for sale later this year.

Extruding “rod” that is used to make those lovely baskets that we are all very fond of.

The start of another basket.

The size of a piece of pottery shrinks about 20 percent during the first firing due to the loss of water.

Pottery is dipped in glaze and fired before it is painted.

Shamrocks are hand painted on the piece. No two are alike.

After the firing the piece is inspected for flaws.

Only then does it get the back-stamp of approval and becomes Belleek Parian china.

Now it was our turn.

Basket decorating with hand made flowers.

Which way do I turn it?

Roll it into a worm like creature?

Maybe we should leave this to the professional.

After the pottery tour we went to the dedication of the William Henshall plaque at the church of Ireland, Belleek.

Helen Rankin, This year’s Honoree at the William Henshall dedication..

Judy was here but was unable to attend the convention.

We also saw the Enniskillen Fort and museum.

Thursday evening was the American wake.

Mummers dance.

An evening filled with story telling and dance.

Saturday at the Killyhevlin was filled with speakers, a banquet and good-byes.

John Cunningham spoke on early Belleek (1857)

Sarah McHugh spoke about Belleek’s connection with Stoke-on-Trent. (Ed Murphy on the left)

Articles for auction brought in 4000 pounds to help defray the costs of the 2009 convention and the Richard K. Degenhardt scholarship fund.

Trevor Rankin spoke about Belleek baskets.

Dr George Moore spoke to us about the state of the business which is doing very well since the upgrades to the pottery manufacturing equipment and the new lines of design.

After lunch we all traveled to Belleek for the honoree induction ceremony, a group photo and some of that good, Ticky Moo Fermanagh Ice Cream.

Later on, 7:00pm, We went back to the Killyhevlin Hotel for the banquet.

Table set-ups before we got there.

150^th Anniversary cake.

We had a very enjoyable time and the food was great.