A new entrant to the family of Rotary is expected to give a ‘job talk’ to let other members know something about their experiences: facts that do not necessarily emerge in more casual conversations. At the Rotary Club of Roundhay this can also apply to long serving Rotarians who have transferred in from another club.
And so it came to pass that our member Sue Rhodes, who has transferred to us from RC Bradford Bronte, gave us her talk on 10 March. Sue began by saying that her purpose was ‘to explain who I am’.
She first rattled through her cv: ‘University in Loughborough, studied French, did interpreting and translation exams, got a contract with the EC to work in Lyon after uni. Did a year working in an import and export house. Wanted to come back home. Got a translating job in Melton Mowbray, a ‘department store’ for small and medium enterprises where they can buy in expertise for advertising. Met my husband, moved to Bradford. Got a job in Cleckheaton as a translator in a pipe line company.’
Sue then said ‘Had four children, spent twelve years at home. Got bored of coffee mornings and trips to the gym. One day, going to pick up the kids from school I saw an advert outside some insurance brokers part time help needed, term time only.
This is where we got the first inkling of what a powerhouse this modest, unassuming lady is.
‘I got the job. I wanted to learn what I was doing here, so I did the insurance institute exams and became a chartered insurance broker. I became the complex commercial director of Farleys of Badford. I got the pen for two Lloyds syndicates, which meant I was trusted by them to set the terms involved in insuring systems for satellite tracking and similar things. It was then that I joined RC Bradford Bronte. I was enjoying life. Then I got a diagnosis of breast cancer and had to let go of everything in my life plans as I went into treatment.’
It was while Sue was in recovery after successful treatment that she moved in a completely new direction. In her youth she had discovered a talent for, and love of, art. She decided to take up painting. There were no half measures with Sue. She converted a room in her house into a studio, picked up brushes and started painting huge canvasses, using spray paints and acrylics.
Sue showed us slides of some of her paintings. She told us, ‘I started doing what I wanted to do. I love tone and mood. I started painting moody women because there are so many about’.
The paintings are stunning, sensational. I was especially impressed by one Sue showed us called Queue for the Loo.
Sue then moved into painting ceramics at a pottery studio in Saltaire. She began to get a constant flow of commissions, to decorate tiles for bathrooms and kitchens and fireplaces. She enjoys working out what people want. One example she showed us was for a couple returning from their honeymoon in Australia. The husband asked her to do tiles for a kitchen with Australian flowers. When Sue produced it the wife wanted it framing so they could take it with them when they moved house. Sue said, ‘It’s lovely working out what people want.’
Sue went on to model with clay, adding a ceramic glaze to her creations in a kiln. She showed us wonders such as coasters that can be put together, hand made rustic tiles using oxide, which she described as ‘great fun because gases coming off in the kiln produce unpredictable colours.’
She was invited to create murals for social supermarkets, which led to her leading craft groups with asylum seekers.
In January 2023 Sue and her daughter Laura bought Salt Pots Ceramic Studio in Saltaire. Laura had been a buyer for a large supermarket, so her commercial expertise was invaluable as well as her creative abilities. Sue’s youngest daughter Francesca, who has a background in fashion design and is now an art teacher, also does some workshops at Saltpots.
The studio has prospered as an ‘arty creative space, where people can feel good about coming and doing and making things’.
In the early days the demographic of the studio was predominantly children. This has now totally changed, with a new cohort of adults in small and large groups creating and painting, more than equalling their younger counterparts. Chocolate brownies and drinks are supplemented by full afternoon teas on ‘Crafternoon Tea’ days. Late sessions are very popular where Sue supplies glasses and nibbles, and painters bring their own wine and any food they want.
They choose the earthenware pottery, sit and paint it with underglazers. ‘We put a clear glaze over this, fire it and a week later they pick it up’. Other activities such as wheel throwing sessions, workshops both within the studio and away, Frenchic paint stocks also take place. These are all described on the Saltpots website. See the link at https://saltpots.co.uk/
Sue and Laura also do outreach work, such as going out to nurseries to teach children the beginnings of working with clay. Messy but satisfying.
Questioned by the audience, Sue told us her exit strategy is to retire eventually, leaving her talented family to take over. She’ll then return to painting. Her grandchildren are looking forward to being old enough to do Saturday jobs.
Sue has already proved her worth to our club, designing a beautiful fireplace for Santa’s Grotto. She will also be helping with face painting on family friendly Saturday at North Leeds Charity Beer festival on 12 April. Expect wonders!