JESSIE TAITRenowned designer Jessie Tait, of Trentham in North Staffordshire, who was well known for her work with Burslem-based Midwinter Pottery and later Wedgwood, died on 14 January, 2010, aged 81.The wife of train driver Albert Hazlehurst, whom she was married to for 11 years before his death in 1981, was born in Tunstall and studied at the Burslem School of Art.Her first job was as junior designer at Wood & Sons before she was offered the same position with Midwinter Pottery six months later.She became chief designer in the 1950s and stayed with the firm for 28 years until it was taken over by Wedgwood in 1970 and she was transferred to Johnson Brothers.She officially retired from Wedgwood in 1993, but continued to work on a freelance basis beyond 2000.Her brother Howard died when she was a child, and her elder brother, John, 10 years ago. She was survived by three nieces and a nephew.Her niece Henrietta Tait said: "Her designs and innovative use of shapes were able to reach a worldwide market, harnessing the post-war aspiration for new and fresh ideas, with many mass-produced within the Midwinter range."She also created more individual Jessie Tait vases and beakers."Her most well known designs from this period include Zambesi and Red Domino."In this era they were hand-painted, but her designs were successfully adapted to printed techniques, with her later and most well known ranges, including Spanish Garden and Stonehenge shapes from 1970s."Her passionate interest in design remained with her until the end of her life."She will always be remembered by her family and friends as a warm, modest and very generous lady."Close family friend Heather Mitchell, of Deansway, Trentham, said Jessie developed cancer of the lining of the lungs which spread to the brain over the last year.She said: "She was a very dignified lady and always immaculately presented. She had a positive attitude even when things got tough."Over the last year she had been in and out of hospital but she never grumbled or gave in."After giving up work a few years ago she had a circle of friends in the Trentham community who she would meet up with for coffee mornings."She would also go to Ladies Fellowship meetings at Trentham Methodist Church with my mother. She had a poodle called Tim who she adored but he passed away."She was a wonderful woman who was a real character and very entertaining."Fellow Burslem School of Art graduate Eve Midwinter, of Loggerheads, who was married to Roy Midwinter, director of the family firm, said Jessie was a superb artist.She said: "Jessie was always meticulous and could turn out lots of designs. She also interpreted other designs well. She was one of the serious designers of this area during the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s."http://www. thisisstaffordshire. co.uk/ news/Respected-desig ner-dies- cancer-81/article-17 29201- detail/article.html [thisisstaffordshire .co.uk]
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