Latest news with #EmmaBridgewater
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Lioness and pottery owner among honour recipients
A footballer and ceramics industry leader have been named among the Staffordshire recipients in the King's Birthday Honours list. Lioness Rachel Daly, from Tamworth, and Emma Bridgewater, owner of the eponymous Stoke-on-Trent-based pottery firm, were appointed MBE and DBE respectively. Daly, who currently plays for Aston Villa, received the honour for services to Association Football, having been part of England's victorious Euro 2022 campaign. The striker has 84 international appearances and also holds the Women's Super League's joint record for the most goals in a season with 22. Ms Bridgewater was honoured for her services to ceramics having founded Emma Bridgewater Pottery in 1985. The firm currently employs about 230 people at its factory on Lichfield Street, in Hanley, and the company produces 1.9 million pieces of pottery every year. She was previously appointed CBE in 2013 for services to British industry. Other Staffordshire honours include British Empire Medals (BEMs) for foster parents Elisabeth and Gavin Brownlees, an MBE for ice hockey player Saffron Lane and a BEM for volunteer fireman Andrew Buttery. Councillor Ian Cooper, leader of Staffordshire County Council, congratulated the county's recipients and thanked them for their contributions. "Staffordshire is a county rich in human talent and I am delighted to see residents' abilities, hard work and achievement recognised in this way," he added. Emma Mary Bridgewater, founder of Emma Bridgewater Pottery, is appointed a DBE for services to ceramics Sean Allen Whinray, of Stafford, senior support officer at the Staffordshire Lieutenancy, is appointed an MVO (Member of the Royal Victorian Order) for services to the Crown Michael Charles Mellor, of Cannock, coordinator of the Miners Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, is appointed an OBE for services to heritage and to recognition of the mining community Dr Diane Swift, of Burton upon Trent, a trustee of The Creative Learning Partnership Trust, is appointed an OBE for services to education Prof Sharon Arkell, of Burntwood, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing at the University of Wolverhampton, is appointed an MBE for for services to higher education Rachel Daly, of Tamworth, is appointed an MBE for services to association football John Ian Davies, of Stafford, Associate Professor of Biomedical Science Practice at Staffordshire University, is appointed an MBE for services to the NHS diagnostic pathology service and biomedical science education Saffron Fern Lane, of Pattingham, lately captain of the GB Women's Ice Hockey team, is appointed an MBE for services to sport Graham Lee, of Tamworth, Chair of the Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust Ltd, is appointed an MBE for services to heritage railway preservation and charity Gareth Brian Moss, of Alrewas, Chair of Trustees for the John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust, is appointed an MBE for services to education Elisabeth Brownlees, of Tamworth, a foster carer for the Birmingham Children's Trust, is awarded a BEM for services to foster care Gavin Brownlees, of Tamworth, a foster carer for the Birmingham Children's Trust, is awarded a BEM for services to foster care Andrew David Buttery, of High Offley, a volunteer for Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Staffordshire Valerie Neale, of Stonnall, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Stonnall Tracey O'Flaherty, of Stafford, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Staffordshire Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. 'Saving the ocean is all I've ever wanted to do' Keele professors among New Year Honours recipients Foster couple thought New Year Honours a wind-up King's Birthday Honours: How does the UK honours system work? Staffordshire County Council
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Rachel Daly and Emma Bridgewater named in King's Birthday Honours
A footballer and ceramics industry leader have been named among the Staffordshire recipients in the King's Birthday Honours Rachel Daly, from Tamworth, and Emma Bridgewater, owner of the eponymous Stoke-on-Trent-based pottery firm, were appointed MBE and DBE who currently plays for Aston Villa, received the honour for services to Association Football, having been part of England's victorious Euro 2022 striker has 84 international appearances and also holds the Women's Super League's joint record for the most goals in a season with 22. Ms Bridgewater was honoured for her services to ceramics having founded Emma Bridgewater Pottery in firm currently employs about 230 people at its factory on Lichfield Street, in Hanley, and the company produces 1.9 million pieces of pottery every was previously appointed CBE in 2013 for services to British industry. Other Staffordshire honours include British Empire Medals (BEMs) for foster parents Elisabeth and Gavin Brownlees, an MBE for ice hockey player Saffron Lane and a BEM for volunteer fireman Andrew Ian Cooper, leader of Staffordshire County Council, congratulated the county's recipients and thanked them for their contributions."Staffordshire is a county rich in human talent and I am delighted to see residents' abilities, hard work and achievement recognised in this way," he added. List of Staffordshire recipients Emma Mary Bridgewater, founder of Emma Bridgewater Pottery, is appointed a DBE for services to ceramicsSean Allen Whinray, of Stafford, senior support officer at the Staffordshire Lieutenancy, is appointed an MVO (Member of the Royal Victorian Order) for services to the CrownMichael Charles Mellor, of Cannock, coordinator of the Miners Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, is appointed an OBE for services to heritage and to recognition of the mining community Dr Diane Swift, of Burton upon Trent, a trustee of The Creative Learning Partnership Trust, is appointed an OBE for services to educationProf Sharon Arkell, of Burntwood, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing at the University of Wolverhampton, is appointed an MBE for for services to higher educationRachel Daly, of Tamworth, is appointed an MBE for services to association footballJohn Ian Davies, of Stafford, Associate Professor of Biomedical Science Practice at Staffordshire University, is appointed an MBE for services to the NHS diagnostic pathology service and biomedical science educationSaffron Fern Lane, of Pattingham, lately captain of the GB Women's Ice Hockey team, is appointed an MBE for services to sportGraham Lee, of Tamworth, Chair of the Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust Ltd, is appointed an MBE for services to heritage railway preservation and charityGareth Brian Moss, of Alrewas, Chair of Trustees for the John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust, is appointed an MBE for services to educationElisabeth Brownlees, of Tamworth, a foster carer for the Birmingham Children's Trust, is awarded a BEM for services to foster careGavin Brownlees, of Tamworth, a foster carer for the Birmingham Children's Trust, is awarded a BEM for services to foster careAndrew David Buttery, of High Offley, a volunteer for Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in StaffordshireValerie Neale, of Stonnall, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in StonnallTracey O'Flaherty, of Stafford, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Staffordshire Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Emma Bridgewater calls for Rachel Reeves to rethink tax rise
Emma Bridgewater has called on Rachel Reeves to rethink the increase in employers' national insurance contributions, warning that the tax rise would have 'a very, very, poor effect' on British businesses. Bridgewater, known as Britain's queen of pottery, told Times Radio that the 'huge extra contribution' required from firms as a result of the chancellor's budget in October made creating jobs 'significantly harder'. Operating out of Stoke-on-Trent as a proudly homegrown manufacturer, Bridgewater, 64, and her self-titled company gained notoriety for creating colourful ceramic homeware which has been praised by the King and the Princess of Wales and given by prime ministers to several US presidents. • In depth: can companies absorb the national insurance increase? She said she had not seen 'any' government 'lean
Telegraph
09-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
At 150 years old, this beloved British department store is still a joy to shop
Every customer has their favourite Liberty memory. Mine is taking my then-four-year-old daughter to look at the toys, and her randomly exclaiming 'Tudor building!' as it loomed into view. She didn't go on to become an architect, but she did remain a Liberty fan. For my friend Jane, a visit to the Liberty Christmas Shop remains a family ritual, even though her daughters are now 21 and 18. 'We always buy a bauble for the tree,' she says. 'Liberty is Christmas – it really is the most magical place.' This week, that 'magical place' turns 150, and is marking the occasion by releasing a commemorative coin. Struck by the Royal Mint, it features a striking polychromatic design that is guaranteed to become a collector's item. It's one of a plethora of creative ideas dreamed up by the venerable department store. In honour of its 150-year legacy of artistic innovation, it's also released a 150th anniversary collection celebrating the best of its fashion, homeware and accessories, including a commemorative Emma Bridgewater mug, an 'All You Need Is Love' cushion, and a selection of silk pjyamas, scarves and umbrellas in two new iterations of its famous prints. Like many customers, I first encountered Liberty through these prints, falling in love with Tana Lawn in the haberdashery department of John Lewis in Edinburgh as a schoolgirl. I made a dirndl skirt. It didn't go well. After moving to London to go to university, Liberty's fabric department became a salve for my soul, a place of wonder and beauty whose wares were all the more compelling for being so unaffordable. I longed to swing one of its distinctive gold-embossed purple carrier bags. To shop at Liberty was to aspire to success. To buy from Liberty was to achieve it. For those with little to spend, Liberty is still one of the most browsable stores in the world; a labyrinthine pleasure palace where time stands still and disappears all too quickly. Founded by Arthur Lasenby Liberty in 1875, his original concept – an emporium laden with luxuries, curios and fabrics from distant lands – is still very much adhered to today. While other department stores have streamlined, modernised and in many cases sacrificed their original character in favour of being quick and easy to navigate, Liberty has retained the same quirky, bazaar-like quality that its founder first created, and once described as 'a voyage of discovery' on a metaphorical ship. In fact, the store is quite literally made from two three-decker battle ships – according to Liberty's website, the shop's construction used more than 24,000 cubic feet of oak and teak timber from the the HMS Impregnable and the HMS Hindustan. Every customer will fondly recall the details of their own journey. Some may remember waiting patiently in line for Manolo Blahnik's book signing in 2010, joining a queue that snaked around the store (he also did another, in 2015). Others may remember the scrum when Liberty and Nike first joined forces to design a small collection of trainers in 2008. Like a fool, I didn't camp out hours in advance, and missed out, only to pay well over the odds for a pair a few years later on eBay. The new coin celebrating 150 years of Liberty The Liberty Stage Tana Lawn cotton pyjama set, £225, Liberty London Collaborations were in their nascence then, and queuing was yet to become the bizarre and time-consuming leisure activity that it is now. But Liberty was an early adopter of the selling power and cultural conversation sparked by an imaginative 'collab', and has a history of overseeing some memorable ones. A 2014 collaboration with Kenzo (featuring the store's iconic 1976 Tree of Life print) was followed by one with Swedish retail giant H&M, in 2015. In 2014, it collaborated with another Swedish brand, Acne, splashing its colourful paisley prints over the brand's signature leather motorcycle jackets. Emma Bridgewater Liberty 150 Anniversary mug, £35, Liberty London; All You Need Is Love velvet cushion, £135, Liberty London And then there was its homeware collection with J Crew, the US brand's first foray into the homeware market, launched in 2022. Liberty was a clever choice of partner: its impressive homeware department is one of its biggest draws. A longtime (and rare) stockist of Astier de Villatte, the cult Parisian ceramics brand whose distinctive all-white wares received a boost when Meghan Markle featured one of their £329 bowls in her cookery video, it's a treasure trove of beautiful things, from Avenida tablecloths and Bitossi dinner plates to Ortigia candles. Tudor patchwork silk scarf, £245, Liberty London Staging Liberty tea towel, £20, Liberty London With its fabric department being a genuine design institution (its 50,000-strong print archive is world renowned), the department store has probably inspired more customers to get crafting than it will ever know. Even those who've never sewn a stitch would find it hard not to be inspired. Print collaborations are another Liberty innovation, each one highly sought after as a collectible by the store's global fans. In 2018, it teamed up with a film studio for the first time, marking the release of Peter Rabbit with two limited edition prints. Last year, it collaborated with Universal Studios to create two fabrics marking the release of Wicked, using Art Nouveau themes, deco geometry and other symbols from the film, including emeralds, tulips and stars. To celebrate its 150th anniversary, it's also released a collection of archival fabric that pays homage to its legacy, drawing on heritage elements such as Tudor art. If you haven't watched Liberty of London, the 2013 documentary narrated by Tom Hollander and Hayley Atwell, it's worth catching up on Apple TV. Like 2021's documentary, Christmas At Liberty (Channel 4), it's a deep dive into the many qualities that make the store so special. How many stores fail to make you feel guilty or embarrassed for browsing for hours without purchasing a single thing? It's as much a testament to its staff as its stock that Liberty is so compelling. Here's to the next 150 years.
The Independent
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
9 ways to channel rosy décor for a romantic vibe
Aside from feel-good colour combinations, pimping up your pad with some TLC and a few quirky decos pulls at the heart strings… and adds an element of romance. Especially with little details such as coquettish crockery and playful floral prints, interior schemes can be brought to life with a sense of joie de vivre. Here's how to style up your space with some dreamy accents and pretty prints… 1. Smeg Pink Espresso Coffee Machine, £299.95 (was £399.95), Smeg UK Cute as candy, budding baristas will fall head over heels for this bubblegum pink espresso machine. Suitable for espresso, cappuccino, latte or latte macchiato, with the option for single or double shots… we're in. 2. Rockett St George Pink & Red First Bite Side Plates, Set of 4, £30, Next If you're serving up sweet treats, these skittish slogans will arouse an appetite. 3. Emma Bridgewater Love Hearts ½ Pint Mug, £25, Love Hearts Small Old Bowl, £21, Emma Bridgewater These little messages of affection make a loving statement – and sure to please every time you pour a cuppa. 4. OHS Marble Printed Rug, Blush (120 x 170cm), £12 (was £27), Online Home Shop One to sweep you off your feet, there's a sense of frivolity to this eye-catching rug. Fusing flair with function, it features an anti-slip backing and look of luxe marble design. 5. Young Hearts Ruffle Cushion in Groove Inn, £55, Weirdstock We've a crush on this striking scatter cushion with its flouncy fringe and retro-inspired print… groovy. 6. Multicoloured Cocktail Glasses, Set of 4, £48, Audenza Think happy hour and a cheeky cocktail is just the ticket. Fashioned in amethyst, zircon, opal and mandarin, these are tailor-made for a cosmo or raspberry gimlet. Cheers! 7. Mixed Bee Dark Blue Wallpaper By Lola Design, £139 per roll, Lola Design Pure nectar… imagine a beautiful feature wall to mirror a private rose garden, with showy petals and blooms so fragrant you'll sense bumble bees galore. Style with a contrasting colour for a funky update to your favourite room. 8. White & Pink Stripe Bud Vase, £16.80 (was £21), Rose & Grey Candy stripes and a shapely contour signals pink lilies, with their intoxicating fragrance and symbol of love and admiration. 9. Laura Ashley Baron Chenille Old Rose Pink Hanby Accent Chair, £449, Next Pretty as a picture, this buttoned back occasional chair is as attractive as it is comfy with plush padding, scroll arms and ornamental bobbin legs… think me-time with a romance novel, or time out with a much-loved podcast.
