We’re very sad to hear that our founder and honorary member, Elaine Holland, passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 91. She was a former Treasurer of the Society and a dedicated environmental campaigner. Our thoughts are with her family and friends.

The Guardian view on public spending: governments should invest in people as well as things | Editorial theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Another interesting workshop with Habitats & Heritage in Richmond, this time prioritising potential uses against different criteria, with Simon Revill of Cymes Conservation illustrating how they might be accommodated in Grove Gardens Chapel.

Please join us at the belated launch of my book Essential Urban Design (RIBA Publishing) at the Urban Design Group, 70 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6EJ at 18.00 on Monday, 11 March.

Book your tickets here: eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-launch-…

A pleasure to work with Habitats & Heritage and colleagues in Richmond at the first of our workshops exploring sustainable options for Grove Gardens Chapel. Many thanks to all who took part and my teammate Simon Revill of Cymes Conservation.

Yes, this

Orb Rope Access Potteries Bottle Oven Owners Club moorland pottery #moorlandpottery @moorlandpottery Middleport Pottery Gladstone P Museum VAST Services (1920) Etruria Industrial Museum Heron Cross Pottery Phoenix Works Lawrence Davis It was a chance meeting with Matt from Orb Rope Access at the 2022 Heritage Trust Network Conference in Caernarfon and an introduction to Potteries Bottle Oven Owners Club members that has brought maintenance costs down to manageable levels for local owners.👏🏻

A real pleasure to see Steve Wood settling into his new home, Iris Abbott, with Bream moored faithfully alongside. Happy boating and barging (or small shipping?).

Great example being set by the Scottish in transferring ownerless land to community organisations - theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/f… Bona Vacantia solicitors in the Treasury and the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster should do the same. We're Right Here: the campaign for community power

Freshly made pikelets for breakfast 😋

30 years ago today I went to my first Potteries Heritage Society meeting at Longton Town Hall. By the end of the following year I was the Chair of the Society and had started a job in regeneration. I’ve worked with civic societies, community and heritage trusts all over the UK ever since.

The Tories starved councils, thinking no one cared. Now they’re bust – and we care very much | Will Hutton theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Lots of possibilities and opportunities for Grove Gardens Chapel in Richmond. Looking forward to working on an options appraisal for Habitats & Heritage with Simon Revill and Cymes Conservation.

A pleasure to join in with Highlife Centre Cov’s board away-day in Coventry today. They could put together a cracking Governance Blockbusters team and take on the world!

Appetising intro to IHBC Context magazine. #Heritage #conservation from sustainable solutions to good practice, latest publications. No 178's rural theme including tithe barns, vernacular surveys, designation and exploring by bike! Dip in ihbconline.co.uk/context/178/

Worth pondering… theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2…

Merry Christmas!

A very Merry Christmas to all from the Potteries Bottle Oven Owners Club