My work chums and my boss at my company collected a lot of cash for us, and we bought a china set in Hastings. They really were so generous!
It is still used daily, and we even found some mugs on Ebay (which weren't around in 1972), and they get a seeing-too regularly!
When Mrs Growster found the design - Royal Doulton 'Segovia' and owl-brown additions (from China Parade in Hastings) - we were assured that the copies and replacements would always be around...
Oh no they weren't, so when the casserole lids broke etc, there weren't any replacements!