A friend alerted me to an obituary that appeared in The Guardian yesterday. Forty three years ago we lived in a tiny hamlet, Stoneshill, in Devon. One of the four houses was designed, built and occupied by two very special people and they became friends as well as neighbours. Heather, wife and mother, was kind and clever and resourceful and enabled her creative and talented husband to become an internationally renowned ceramacist. Heather left this world in 2007 and her husband John Maltby, joined her in January. I only learnt this news yesterday. The Maltby home housed a studio and kiln which allowed John to work in a place that gave him peace and inspiration. I was privileged to see his work regularly when I would visit Heather for a cup of tea and a chat. I was young and a new mother and my own mother was far away. I was always made welcome. John used to sell his “seconds” from a small area at the front of the house. I bought many pots as did my mother when she visited us. We thought they were perfect pieces but they did not live up to John’s standards so we benefitted from these treasures.

The Maltby’s had their own two children and the daughter became our son’s babysitter as well as our young friend. When we moved to London I stayed in touch with Heather via twice yearly telephone calls and Christmas cards designed and printed by John. When my parents celebrated significant anniversaries I commissioned John to make them pieces and Jeremy was the recipient of two further works

Our son was rightly proud of the little boat that John made us when our baby was born

There is so much more that I could write. Take a look at John Maltby on wiki or read the obituary or appreciate his works online. His passing has allowed me to renew contact with John and Heather’s daughter. I am sure that we will, in months and years ahead, share many happy and special memories.