As a journalist writing about the global tile industry I have visited many unusual locations and introduced me to many inspiring individuals, but few trips have made such an indelible impression as my visit to Salernes, southern France in 2007.

The trip to this renowned ceramic town started normally enough: a flight to Nice and a transfer by minibus to an impressively located hill top hotel. On the first night, Sylvie Fery from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Var region had organised a dinner, offering a chance to meet representatives from some of the producers lined up for a visit next day.

At about 11.30pm , at the end of a splendid four-course dinner, Jean-Louis Guiol from Terres Cuites des Launes announced that his factory would be firing up the kiln that night.