Middleport Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent, is the last venue in a regional tour before the Weeping Window of poppies moves to its final resting place in London’s Imperial War Museum.

Made up of over one million poppies this is an inspiring installation. It’s quite emotional to stand next to it: Each hand made poppy has six petals, to represent the specific charities chosen by the artist (Paul Cummins) and each poppy represents the life of a lost soldier and was planted individually by volunteers - including a soldier remembering his fallen regiment.

The artist chose ceramics as in itself ceramics are fragile. This final exhibition of the Weeping Window is close to my heart as it is close to my home. The Potteries is the unrivalled capital of Ceramics and Middleport Pottery in Stoke-on-Trent has been operation in the pottery industry since 1889. It’s is perhaps most famous for the distinguished Burleigh pottery, and in more recent years the TV programme, The Great Pottery Throw Down.

I share with you, in picture and video form, the time I spent in remembrance, in contemplation and also the joy of the artistic installation. I also share my pride of the Potteries heritage with a demonstration of the beautiful Burleigh range with a refreshing cup of tea.