Owner fights flames as pottery fire rages (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Owner fights flames as pottery fire rages

FIRE swept through the world-famous Whichford Pottery last Saturday, causing damage that is likely to run into tens of thousands of pounds.

Owner Jim Keeling, who lives next door to the pottery, which has made pots for Prince Charles' garden at Highgrove, was alerted to the fire by alarms going off around midnight.

He and son Adam, aged 24, an apprentice potter, called the fire service before tackling the blaze themselves, using six fire extinguishers. Neighbours also helped fight the fire.

"We managed to contain it just enough before the fire brigade came," said Mr Keeling, who has run the pottery for 21 years.

"We've lost quite a lot of production and it will take a while to clear up. It's a relatively small amount of damage to the building but we've lost quite a lot of pots due to water damage.

"We are essentially going to lose two weeks' production at a time when we are stocking up for the spring," said Mr Keeling.

"It's likely to cost us between £30,000 and £40,000." Fire crews from Hook Norton, Shipston and Chipping Norton arrived within 10 minutes and quickly managed to bring the fire under control.

"By the time the fire brigade arrived we had been forced to give up fighting it because it was too smoky. It was lucky it was near the top of an external staircase or we wouldn't have been able to get to it at all," said Mr Keeling.

Fortunately for the pottery a £27,000 order for pots had been dispatched to Japan the previous day.

The fire started above an electrical kiln and caused damage to the ceiling and surrounding floor.

Pottery office manager Jane Lancier stressed that the pottery remains open to customers.

"We need their support more than ever," she added.