Apologies for my Grogg Blogg neglect, only two years has passed since the last one, whoops! The problem seems to be the speed of life these days. As you get older time just whizzes by. Things are also getting busier on the Grogg front and in the rugby world. This year in particular we were still recovering from the Six Nations and domestic and European competitions, both compelling and dramatic, when the British and Irish Lions tour gripped us and had me coming into work late scratching my head!
In the end I thought the result was a fair reflection even though it must have been frustrating for the players. I thought the Lions were magnificent and I don’t think anyone could have predicted the end result. Most pundits had us losing the series three nil, so a drawn series has at least shown that northern hemisphere rugby is on the up once more.
On the Grogg front it has been difficult to keep up with all this activity. No sooner would an idea for a new figure come to me than some rugby incident would change all that and a rethink was in order. As regular visitors to my studio will testify there are many pieces “under wraps” waiting for circumstances to change enabling me to finish them. I can remember in the seventies and eighties in what seemed like vast periods of time through the summer being encouraged by Dad to diversify and make different things. This produced some weird and wonderful pieces which I am sometimes reacquainted with by their lucky owners.
We have been fortunate recently to acquire some figures which have particular relevance to the development of the Groggs. Simon has a good eye for these rare things and I was particularly pleased when he found an old Celt, made by me in my early teens. We only have one surviving piece like this in the museum which is an unusual double figure of a dead Roman and a victorious Celt. The one Simon found is also unusual in two ways. The first is that there is some coloured glaze on it for decoration… something that we stopped using in late seventies preferring to use paint. The second notable feature is the cheeky R before the “Hughes Wales” signature… something which obviously got past my father which didn’t happen very often. It’s funny to think I made a variety of these Celts for 50p a piece in the seventies for extra pocket money but loved every minute of it. I didn’t do it for the money at all, if only dad had realised!
The other piece I was delighted to be reunited with, if only for a little while, is a very large handmade JPR belonging to the great man himself. It was one of the earliest figures I was allowed to work on independently and as a result is slightly leaning forward, characteristic of some of my early figures. Up to this point Dad would start a figure and I would model the face and hands, my favourite bits! Dad didn’t trust me to make a complete piece as I would impetuously rush to the interesting face and hands neglecting that the legs were often too thin and soft to support themselves. This resulted in an inevitable collapse and a lot of wasted work on my part. This figure did make it – just! I like to think the slight leaning shows some of JPRs brooding intent… well that’s my excuse anyway. He has returned for some TLC in the form of a red paint makeover. As collectors know we don’t do repairs but for my favourite subject we have made an exception. We heard the paint was so faded on JPR’s back people thought he was wearing an English shirt!
‘Holding back the years’ Richard reunited with his JPR made aged 17 ~ Cathy starts the restoration.
Back to the future and I have many interesting ideas for next year. Some are already in production and can be seen in my workroom, some just in my head. As always these will change as events unfold throughout the Autumn Internationals and into the Six Nations. Some however are set in stone, or should that be clay! I am determined to make at least two things which are long overdue and should have been made in a timelier fashion. More of that in the New Year… For now, we have the little task of Christmas, the Southern Hemisphere giants and the mighty Georgians to contemplate. Good luck to Wales and all the new talent – I already have my eye on a few new faces so let’s hope they get a chance to shine. It’s going to be a hectic few months but win or lose I’m determined to enjoy every minute of it -something else that comes with age!
I hope I won’t take this long again giving you an update from my studio,
🎅Have a Groggy Christmas and New Year🎄
Best wishes,
Richard
The Old Celt is on display in the museum for Christmas, please pop in to visit him!
