Shoppers and visitors to Grayshott Pottery and its gift shop were caught up in a surprise presentation this week. On Wednesday, Gift Shop Manager, Sue Fisher, was presented with a specially iced cake and a huge bouquet of flowers, by Managing Director Ed Snell, in the middle of the store in front of staff and friends at Grayshott Pottery to celebrate her 40th year at the Pottery.

'It's a lovely surprise! ', admitted Sue, ' I guess it is strange these days to find people staying so long in just one job, but there are a few of us around, especially here at the Pottery and what makes us stay is the wonderful people we work with and the lovely customers who come here!'

Sue who joined Grayshott Pottery in 1968 straight from completing her 'Art & Design' diploma course at Farnham Art School, now Farnham Creative Arts, started her career as a decorator, painting slipware, casting and fettling but then as a good team player, she found herself trying new skills and moving around the growing business.

'As the company grew, the factory moved from the middle of the building to one side and David Real who was the Managing Director then, decided to expand the gift shop business that was selling coffee sets made at the Pottery into new areas like tea cloths and trays', Sue explained.

As the gift shop started to grow Sue then moved from the factory in 1978 to the gift shop and eventually became joint gift shop manager with Sylvia Williams. David Real retired in 1993 and local boy Phil Bates then became the new Managing Director.

'The gift shop and stoneware side of the business then continued to go from strength to strength', continued Sue, 'until it became the business it is today. We sell more unusual gifts really, from toys for children to jewellery and even wall art. At the same time the success of the stoneware business has meant that the company has continued to thrive even through difficult times. We now provide plates and dishes to many High Street brands, famous TV Chefs as well as to the businesses like the Fox & Pelican pub round the corner and even to Grayshott's Spa. In the interim years Sylvia who had became my best friend then retired, and I then I became Gift Shop Manager in my own right!

When asked why she has stayed all this time, gift shop manager, Sue explained, 'Well, it has been such a happy place to work and I have seen children grow up and then have children of their own. I have had good customers who have become friends. We have even been known to check up on people if they haven't been seen for some time! But on the business side we know it is hard out there and things have changed over the years making it even tougher. This means that you have to try even harder to look after your customers and make them feel special. I hope we do that!'

Sue joins a long list of 'long-term employees' at Grayshott Pottery, the longest serving being John Spicer, from Farncombe, whose family too has lots of Pottery links. John's Great Uncle, Ralph Lindsey, worked for Mary Watts in Compton Pottery, which in its day was located at Watts Gallery in Compton, near Guildford.


For further information about Grayshott Pottery please call 01428 604404.
(Flowers by Flower Vogue, Headley Road, Grayshott.)