Annie Clark

Annie Clark can make a strong case for being one of the most enthusiastic Emma Bridgewater fans in the land, after amassing hundreds of much loved pieces.

Annie, 53, is now planning to transform a room in her Edwardian home in Nottingham to accommodate and display her favourite pottery designer’s wares to maximum effect.

She admits she has “a passion” for Emma Bridgewater pottery, and even finds the amount of cupboard space for food she can store is limited, to make room for her collection.

The mother-of-two from Nottingham said: “The biggest problem we have is the lack of space to store and display it all properly.

“Our kitchen cupboards are bursting at the seams now. We’ve got more than a few boxes and bags of Emma Bridgewater not yet unpacked, and sometimes it is difficult to find what we’re looking for in the kitchen, it’s packed in so tightly.”

“We are planning to reorganise, create a new living area where we can showcase the Emma Bridgewater collection to full advantage, see it, enjoy it, and use it so much more!”

Annie’s love affair with Bridgewater began in 1995 with a chance encounter with Emma Bridgewater’s Toast and Marmalade range in John Lewis. “I immediately began a serious commitment to collect… lots. Probably around a thousand pieces by now. I used to like playing with dolls and teddies, with tea sets, cups and saucers as a child, and I think Emma Bridgewater re-kindled that all over again.

“I love inviting people to dinner, having them all around my table, and serving off the pieces and it’s also been used for fancy dress parties and special occasions such as my daughter Lizzie’s 21st birthday in 2006, when we used our Hearts Collection, and before that my son Owen’s 21st when Blue Stars and Starry Skies were order of the day. Recently we had lots of Union Jack pieces out for Election Night…just great for any Great British National Event!”

“The pottery is so different, quirky, and individual, so English and mildly eccentric. I especially love the Hearts and Stars ranges, and the collection brings me a lot of happiness.”

“My passion for it has accelerated in the past few years although I can’t name a favourite item because I love it all for a lot of different reasons, different associations.”

Even husband Chris, 56, has become a fan. Annie said: “He thinks it’s all slightly mad, but enjoys coming to shop with me…almost as much as I do! We go to the Stoke factory every two or three months, and went to the Open Day for the first time last year.”

“We met the staff, and know many of them well now. They are lovely, welcoming, and helpful. I went to the company’s 25th birthday celebrations in Stoke and realised my desire to meet Emma herself. I was absolutely thrilled to be able to thank her in person for the pleasure and enjoyment that using her lovely pieces brings to our home, family and friends. She was absolutely charming and amazingly humble, really lovely and warm.”

Despite her vast collection, Annie’s urge to snap up more Emma Bridgewater items shows no sign of abating.

She said: “I am constantly on the Emma Bridgewater website, or on eBay looking for pieces. I have bought a few pieces there, but have never ever sold any, I don’t think I could bear to! I suppose there will come a point when I will have to stop because we simply won’t have the room to house all the pieces. Storage space is at a premium and plates and saucers are wedged in cupboards and boxes when I’d really like to display them properly. But there’s always room for more!! It is used every day, with love. It really is at the very Heart of our Home.”