Biography of Tabby

Tabby runs Rye Pottery with her brother. Rye Pottery goes back to 1793. Tabby's grandfather bought the pottery just after the war. Before the war he had been a studio potter, but he and his brother decided to go into producing tableware which was eventually sold all over Britain and the world, including Tiffanys and Heals.

After Tabby's grandfather retired in 1979 her parents took over the pottery. 

Tabby and her younger brother both had careers independently of the pottery. Tabby became a researcher and journalist, working in business journalism. She eventually also worked as a researcher for TV.

After Tabby's father suffered from ill health and her mother felt she could not continue the pottery alone, Tabby's brother persuaded Tabby to join him in running Rye pottery. Her brother had retail experience already. After the pottery was featured by the BBC in a programme, orders increased. Tabby ran the business side, and still does, while her brother is involved more in the making.

The pottery is fired in another kiln, the brought to Rye Pottery for decoration and re-firing. There used to be many people working there but now, in all, it is around eight to nine. It is mainly, thought not exclusively, women who do the painting and Rye Pottery has a flexible working practice which allows their employees to fit in work with their home lives. Eveyone, as Tabby says, is vital to the process.

As a young girl, Tabby and her brother spent their Saturday afternoons at the pottery with their grandparents learning about pottery and the business. Tabby says she was always 'a grafter.' At 13 she worked in the Tuck Shop in Rye and later she had other shop jobs, worked for Rye Art Gallery and did babysitting jobs. 

Audio of interview with Tabby