Here we all are in 1994 at the convention venue in Stoke... Marion Lady Langham seated signing our contract with the hotel.

Greeting delegates when they arrived were UK Group members dressed as Mr and Mrs Armstrong, John Caldwell Bloomfield and David McBirney. The 1997 convention was officially opened on Thursday 11 September at 5.45. Along with Angela Moore our invited guest Doug Brown Lord Mayor of Stoke welcomed everyone to the convention. His speech follows "as Lord Mayor it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to Stoke on Trent. We are very proud and honoured to have the 1997 International Belleek convention taking place here in the City. I am sure that during your stay you will experience the warmth and friendship that generates through the potteries (Max and Jean Norman from the Degenhardt chapter experienced this when a local restaurant owner personally returned them to the hotel after an evening out). you have taken a major step this year taking your convention out of the USA for the first time. we hope that this trend will continue and through contacts made this year future friendship links and partnerships can be followed through. Later that evening, the shopping malls opened which included dealer displays, a silent auction where delegate could bid for and buy pieces entered into the auction, Belleek pottery sale area and displays with John Doogan. Also opened on Thursday evening was the exhibition 'Belleek in all its Glory'. Never before and since has such a comprehensive collection of antique Belleek been brought together for everyone to enjoy. (The whole exhibition was filmed and released on video and later transferred to DVD.)

The exhibition was a major event at our convention and it was a wonderful gathering of Belleek from UK and International Collections all in one place for everyone to enjoy. The idea was to display an example of everything that Belleek made in their early years. we did not fully succeed, but we did get a great representation of tea ware, vases, baskets and many other areas.

At the centre of our display was a 'Tea Garden'..a grotto filled with flowers and Tea Sets with Cabaret Trays with a back drop of a large hand painted cloth screen depicting the Belleek Pottery. There was also a major display of Belleek Earthyenware set in a traditional kitchen scene

Jan Golaszewski, our Chairman and Convention co-ordinator reminises.

"I can recall as if it was yesterday, the preparations for the exhibition room. There were a total of 50 lit display cabinets (each 1m x 0.5m) assembled in the Earl Granville Room. Those large glass cabinets had to be brought up from the ground floor in the lift and manouvered into place. Also, we boroowed large antique furniture and cabinets to create a natural environment to show off the many earthenware pieces that were brought along for display. Moving our exhibition display cabinets and furniture into position was a large and demanding task. Soon, members started arriveing by car and rail from across the UK with their boxes of rare and fascinating Belleek to unpack and create the biggest ever display of Belleek. Helping with the whole exhibition were UK members Ray Parsons, Brian Scott and Marion Langham.

I can still feel that energy and feeling of comradeship, anticipation and excitement as the cabinets began to fill with their display items. Before the exhibition opened, we all gathered to present Marion with some gifts and a toast to the success of the exhibition and convention. A real 'family' gathering" Below...some of the cabinets full of amazing Belleek

On Saturday we all gathered for a group photo then set out by coach in various groups to visit local potteries including Wedgwood, Spode and a visit to the Gladstone Pottery Museum. Later that evening our gala banquet entertainment was a show called Ar Drean presented by the Solent Set Dancers from Portsmouth. On Sunday morning an inter denominational morning service was held. This was followed by more delegate slides, then a talk on earthenware by UK Member and Belleek Author, Neville Maguire. Tony Fox also from the UK Group followed this with a discussion on Belleek Tea Ware. Tony was 'ambushed' during his talk by Angela Moore to present him with our very own UK Group honoree award for 1997. After lunch we all sat down to enjoy a victorian Tea Party play acted out in the form of a radio show by members of the UK Group. After this the closing address was given following with the traditional breaking of the Convention Plate mould. Our final gala banquet was held in the evening and everyone arrived in fancy dress. Below Lauressa and Liz Stillwell came as Belgian Hawkers complete with canes

Following the convention, the UK group received many letters of appreciation.

Here are extracts from some received.

'Well done UK Group  -  the Convention was an outstanding success!!!  We all had a great time and appreciate the massive amount of work that went into the planning. The meals and tours were excellent'.

Helen and Trevor Rankin
and the Northern Ireland Belleek Collectors Group.
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'You did a fantastic job on the Convention, we enjoyed every minute'.

Bill and Evelyn Twiss

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Three weeks ago today we left the Moat House and we're still excited about the wonderful time we had at the Belleek Convention. The decorating for each of the three dinners was exceptional. How festive each night was.
We do cherish the Lotus Blossom Vase we were awarded for our 'costumes'.
Most of all, we value the new friends we made at the Convention, as well as renewing friendships from previous Belleek fun times'.
Thanks and regards,
Jeanne Chartier
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'What a memorable experience it was to have been delegates to the 1997 Convention. We enjoyed every minute spent with old and new friends and surrounded by such a spectacular display of Belleek. Please accept our gratitude and a well deserved thank you'.

Suzanne and Gene Krach
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'To the UK group, applause, applause for a wonderful convention. You made it so interesting and so memorable. I loved the auction, the Potteries and the after-dinner speaker. Your exhition hall was gorgeous - thank you to all'.

Yours truly
Joan Crowe
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'Hi we want to pass on our appreciation for such a great convention'.
We had such a great time

Max and Jean Norman
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'It was great to meet all at the convention. We did enjoy ourselves very much and met so many nice people. We still talk about it'.

Dave and Phyllis Clark
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'Thank you for all the long hours and hard work you did to make the 1997 Convention such a success. We all enjoyed it so much and think it was outstanding'.

Dorothy and Maurice Wheeler
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'Our deepest and heartfelt gratitude go out to all of you for the wonderful hospitality...this was our first trip to England and Ireland and will remain special to us'

Mike and Chris Smith
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'Dear Lady Marion I want to congratulate you and the UK members on a wonderful convention. I'll never get over the lovely display of Belleek which was a once in a lifetime experience'

Delight Svacina
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'On behalf of the San Diego Chapter I would like to thank you, Marion, Jan and Christine as well as the entire UK team. It was an outstanding programme and the planning, co-ordination and very hard work was appreciated by San Diego members who attended'.

George Unzelman
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And finally....

If you were there...Thank you for  attending and making 1997 such a special year for the UK Group

The Uk Group would like to thank every one involved with the Convention
there are too many names to mention individually
but we would like to especially acknowledge here the endless assistance,
good-will and support from the Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

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