A memoir, written by Master Potter Christopher Pan Charman, who with his wife Kate has run the well-known Godshill pottery in the New Forest for over 60 years, has been published by local independent publisher Millersford Press.
In the Spirit of Godshill captures the idyllic childhood of Christopher and his sister Danae, with their parents Tom Charman, woodcarver, ventriloquist and spiritualist, and mother, Margaret Westlake, the daughter of the famous geologist and founder of the Woodcraft Order of Chivalry and Forest School at Sandy Balls in Godshill, Ernest Westlake.
Margaret had set up the pottery with Tom in the fashionable Arts and Crafts tradition of the 1920s and Chris has continued the simple philosophy of ‘pots made to be used’ ever since, just as many New Forest potters had 2,000 years ago.
Educated at Sidcot, the Quaker boarding school in Somerset, Chris describes his passion for the countryside, farming and the New Forest and talks frankly of his journey to find individuality and of the characters with whom he shared his experiences.
Heritage event
Tom Charman’s curious carvings, often from holly found in the Forest, will be on show at a special event (7pm on 2 October 2019) at the New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst when copies of the book will also be available, priced £20.00.
Contact: office@newforestheritage.org.uk or call 023 8028 3444 for more details.
In the Spirit of Godshill will also be available in the shop at the New Forest Heritage Centre or direct from Millersford Press at www.millersford.co.uk.