“It is a pity he does not spend some of his ill gotten gains on making his mansion secure, CCTV, alarms, dogs, patrols and the list goes on, Not a mention of any thing like that at the time, strange. but of course he would not get the publicity that he thrives on, like this stunt, and we the poor punter pays increased premiums to take care of his greed.
Go back under your stone, Wedgwood don't need your dosh.”

“The Wedgwood and Doulton workers' pension are all protected. Whether the collection is sold or not will not make a penny difference to what they receive.”

“@ Tranmere1971:

Correct.”

“@ tommie2333:

You're not including me in your broad brush strokes I hope tommie.”

“@ BAMStoker:

Mr reference to the rich pottery owners -who did the runner, was as a reminder that they should have secured it in the first place, and now, not having secured it, should be the first to put their hands into their very deep pockets -collectively -for a whip round. Not sit in their ivory towers -watching from afar at the goings-on with the aftermath of their shabby withdrawal.”

“Lets look at this offer clearly, JC is not offering to purchase the stock so it remains in the City, but as an investment which will give great return later on in life. When the time comes to sell on (and he will) he will not be giving heritage a second thought. This is a win win situation for him.”

“I don't even understand these comments in relation to the story. What is wrong with you all? Why do you use this space to constantly attack each other like bickering brats?

GROW UP! FOR GOD'S SAKE.

Mr Caudwell's offer should be welcomed if there is no other solution to this mess.”

“These downtrodden, disease ridden, slaves as some have put it on this thread, created some of the most beautiful and wonderful art of the last few hundred years. I would say that it would be a lasting shame on us and their memory for this collection to go abroad.

The collection does not celebrate a rich family who owned many factories in the potteries and lived elsewhere whilst their employees worked hard for them. It celebrates the skills, hard work and pride of our descendents from the city of Stoke on Trent.

As for John Caudwell's reasons for pledge to keep the collection in Stoke on Trent. People do many things for many reasons and always have done. If he wishes to use his money and/or any power he may sway with others to do so then I think we should be happy that he is doing so. In another 200 years or so, people will only care that the Wedgwood collection is still here and part of our city and not the reason that it is still here.”

“@ Redpitlad (toady)

Toadies like the one who refers to people who criticise -legitimately, those with obscene wealth, gained by ruthless employment ethics, as 'jealous' or 'envious', or described as a 'bitter and twisted person' -use such descriptions to keep their own heads firmly in the sand -sucking up to success, wallowing in the 'mire of money'.
If anyone is 'twisted' and bitter -it is you my friend -you sound like it anyway. Horrified that any one dare criticise 'his Lordship'. Why don't you apply to be his butler -but then that could be a dangerous thing to do, given that his 'swaggering' around the county -flaunting himself upon the local peasants -attracted other 'like-minded' money grabbers and hit him over the head to get at some of it.
No me old mate -nowt do with bitterness, just someone who respects genuine success, gained with a degree of morality such as the Rowntree family for example. And good luck to anyone such as the latter. Personally, but you are not going to believe this, I'm happy with my bus pass, my library ticket and this computer .... oh, and the garden. ....simple, -and safer.”

“by NOONESHOME

AND NEEDS REPEATING.....
'It amazes me why people are so proud of an industry of people used as low paid slaves,and left with diseases which killed them early,and when they found cheaper labour elsewhere they dumped the hard working, honest Stokies without so much as a hint of regret, and took their manufacturing to third world countries,and reduced this area to a ghost city."

And, I'd like to add to that -as a reminder, that all the ancestors of these Potteries Slave Drivers -who were responsible for that which is stated above -left us in the sh*t to move to London -living a life of luxury -or to France or Switzerland. And still they hang on to their fortunes left to them by those callous pottery owners.
No marl-holes or **** heaps and shardrucks to greet them in the morning as they pulled their curtains open overlooking Hyde Park from their Mayfair windows -of gazed across at Lake Geneva.”