Don Jones who was perhaps the last link back to the 1950s at Winchcombe Pottery has recently passed away. Don was taken on by Ray Finch in 1950 and was part of the pottery team until 1971 when he left because Ray had gone to work at the Kolonyama Pottery in Lesotho. Don thought Ray was going to be like Michael Cardew and leave Winchcombe to work in Africa.

I met Don on a number occasions, Winchcombe born and bred, he was old school, a real salt of the earth. I first met him when like me, he attended a Toff Milway kiln opening weekend at Conderton Pottery. We hit it off and Don invited me visit him at home. He once told me of when Ladi Kwali, the great Nigerian potter, gave a demonstration at Winchcombe where she made two large water pots. Don was so impressed that he asked Ray Finch for an advance on his wages so that he could buy one of the pots.