I arrived early on the opening day of the Earth and Fire 2016 looking forward to spending the day with potters and friends old and new. The sun was shining brightly and all seemed well in the pottery world but my mood was soon darkened by the news that German potter Stefan Bang had recently lost his battle with cancer. Stefan was a regular stallholder at the Earth and Fire and Art in Clay festivals. As I write these words my eyes are welling up, Stefan enriched many people's lives with his pottery and his presence at our pottery festivals will be sadly missed. I send my best wishes to his wife and children at this difficult time.