Ken Bull remembers his time as an apprentice at Price, Powell & Co in the 1930s.

"Instruction in the "art" of throwing was virtually nil. As the journeymen were on "piece" rates and their wages were determined by output, none could afford to devote time to teaching. All that I could do was watch a particular potter, study the technique, then, using a vacant wheel, grab some clay and have a go. Sometimes the end result was recognisable. More often, it was disastrous. Gradually, and over a very long period, I became capable of "trueing" a ball fairly quickly and forming the ball into a ginger beer bottle, ink bottle, cream pot, rennet jar or whatever.

My father was a kiln man. The work he had to do was heavy and hard. In setting a kiln, the saggar was lifted onto his head, then he had to maintain the balance whilst he ducked through the doorway and then climbed a ladder inside the kiln in order to place the saggar. If he was chosen to be in charge of the actual firing, it meant that he would be required to work through, around 30 hours without a break. If the ware in the kiln was not brought to and maintained at the correct firing temperature, it could mean the lot could be spoiled and worthless, so there was lot of skill and responsibility involved."