Grogg
{{Short description|Caricature figure}}
{{distinguish|Grog (clay)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
File:The Groggshop, Treforest.JPG
A Grogg is a caricature figure made by the World of Groggs, a ceramics company established by John Hughes in 1965, in Trefforest near Pontypridd, Wales. Most Groggs are 9 inches tall or less and are made of a type of clay called grog. Groggs are usually made of popular Welsh rugby players,{{Cite news
|title=Rugby autumn internationals: What does it mean 'to be Grogged'?
|date=5 November 2016
|newspaper=BBC News Online
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37875353
}} Welsh celebrities{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3240084.stm|title=Why Zeta Won't Be 'Groggy'|access-date=2008-05-05 | work=BBC News | date=2003-11-26}} and the occasional non-Welsh celebrity.{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/2008/09/20/dream-wedding-on-lotto-win-91466-21859590/|title=Dream wedding on lotto win|date=19 September 2008 |publisher=Media Wales|access-date=2009-04-06}}{{cite web|url=http://wales.gov.uk/news/topic/culture/2008/080919greatest/?lang=en/|title=minister meets "the greatest"|access-date=2009-04-06}} Whenever possible the person who is "grogged" is presented with the first Grogg produced.{{cite web|url=http://www.groggs.co.uk/page.help|title=World of Groggs Hall of Fame|access-date=2008-05-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417042038/http://www.groggs.co.uk/page.help|archive-date=2008-04-17|url-status=dead}} They are moulded and painted by hand and a Grogg can take many weeks from the master copy being made to the first one being painted.
History
John Hughes started flirting with ceramics and pottery as early as 1965 with a kiln in his garden shed in the family home on Llantwit Road, Treforest. But it was not till 1967 that his rugby figures were born. In 1971 the family purchased the derelict Dan-y-Graig pub in Treforest near Pontypridd and opened the Groggshop as it was then called. The business remains there to this day.{{cite book |title= Feet of clay|last= Hughes|first= John|publisher= Provincial Printing and Publishing Co. ltd. Cardiff}} The figures are called Groggs after the type of clay that was originally used to make them.
Production numbers
Groggs are usually limited to 300 or 500 pieces, after which the mould is destroyed. In 2005, following Wales' rugby union victory in the six nations by winning the grand slam, a limited edition Grogg was produced to commemorate the event. The production run was limited to 151 pieces, being the number of points Wales scored during the competition. The Grand Slam Grogg sold out within 2 days of going on sale.{{cite web|title='Perfect Day II' Groggs already being snapped up|url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid=15320141&method=full&siteid=50082-name_page.html|access-date=2008-05-05}}
Sponsorship
The Hughes family are well-known supporters of Principality Premiership club, Pontypridd RFC, and in 2009, the World of Groggs became official sponsors of the club's website.{{cite web|title=World of Groggs - website sponsors|url=http://www.ponty.net/world-of-groggs-website-sponsors|access-date=2009-07-08}}
Awards
In 2001 the founder of the business and the inventor of the Groggs, John Hughes, was presented with the Chancellor's medal from the University of Glamorgan in recognition of his contribution to Welsh life.{{cite web|title=University honours actor and astronomer|url=http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Education&F=1&id=4372|access-date=2008-05-05}} He was awarded the MBE in June 2010 for his services to UK ceramics.{{cite news|title=MBE for Pontypridd Groggs maker|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/10298338.stm|access-date=2010-06-12 | work=BBC News | date=2010-06-12}}
References
=General references=
- Gupwell, Katie-Ann (November 18, 2018). [https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/story-world-groggs-famous-welsh-15424826 "The story of the World of Groggs, the famous Welsh shop that's truly unique"]. WalesOnline.
- Devine, Darren (March 2, 2015). [http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/welsh-icon-world-groggs-celebrates-8755540 "Welsh icon World of Groggs celebrates 50 years of capturing rugby's finest in clay"]. Wales Online.
- Hitt, Carolyn (March 8, 2015). [http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/lifestyle-opinion/carolyn-hitt-love-letter-groggs-8798661 "Carolyn Hitt: This is my love letter to Groggs"]. Wales Online.
=Inline citations=
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web|title=World of Groggs|url=http://www.groggs.co.uk/}}
Category:Ceramics manufacturers of Wales