A CLASSIC mould of a Sir Winston Churchill bust is returning to Stourbridge as part of the International Festival of Glass.

When he died in 1965, the Royal Doulton Pottery company commissioned Webb Corbett Crystal, of Amblecote, to produce a glass bust of the great leader as part of the national commemorations.

A limited number of 250 individual busts were blown in lead crystal and each was numbered and sold with a certificate of authenticity.

Organisers of the International Festival of Glass said they are “delighted” that they have been able to loan the original mould for the duration of the festival, to enable the busts to be reproduced once again in Stourbridge.

Elisabeth Johnson, festival coordinator said: “This is a really exciting project.

“We’re recreating a piece of our shared past, not just commemorating Churchill, but paying tribute to the local glass industry and glassblowers past and present who are breathing life back into this 50 year old mould.”

Displays of the blowing of the bust will take place at Plowden & Thompson/Tudor Crystal on Thursday, May 28, and Friday, May 29, during their regular morning factory tours.

There will also be a display of the blowing the bust at the Ruskin Glass Centre at 3pm on Sunday, May 31.

Two busts will be sold off at the festival’s public fun auction at 3.30pm next Sunday, conducted by Will Farmer, director of Fielding’s Auctioneers.

Elisabeth added: “I can’t wait to see the finished pieces and look forward to seeing how much they make at the fun auction.”

The four-day International Festival of Glass extravaganza is being held in the Stourbridge glass quarter from May 28 to 31 with the British Glass Biennale running alongside from May 28 until June 28.

For more information about all the events, activities and exhibitions taking place throughout the festival visit www.ifg.org.uk