032: Good News for Stoke & Staffordshire
Stokies, listen up: a new history centre is opening in Stafford, a comic book will mark Motörhead's 50th anniversary and you can win cash in a creative comp…
Good News 🎉
🏙️ New History Centre for Stafford. Wanna explore more than a millennia’s worth of Staffs history? Then check out the Staffordshire History Centre (opens 6/11), which will bring together collections from the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service, the County Museum and the William Salt Library thanks to National Lottery funding. From its location on Eastgate Street, the new space will also deliver a county wide programme of outreach activities for schools, families, community groups and the public. During November and December, you can join walking tours, talks and festive crafting. The centre will be open 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Saturday.
🤘 Motörhead’s Half-century Celebrated in Comic Form. To mark Burslem-born Lemmy’s band Motörhead’s 50th anniversary, there’s a new book, NO REMORSE: The Illustrated True Stories of Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead, featuring a forward by Dave Grohl plus entertaining tales from Ozzy Osbourne, Blurton-raised Slash and Lemmy’s ex-band members. Pre-order now, delivery 13/02/2025. PS: approval has been granted to erect a Lemmy statue in Burslem’s Market Place. Gofundme here.
🐟 New Chippy for Fenton. Who doesn’t love a chippy tea? Now there’s a new place to get your fish and chips, Mother Hubbard’s, on Victoria Road. The Yorkshire-based chain has been serving up fish suppers for more than 50 years (the first one was opened by Hilda and Stan Ogden in 1972) so we’re expecting great things. Menu here. Fiery fish and chips? Yes please! There are also keema and peri peri pasties.
🎗️ Baby Loss Awareness Week. One in four pregnancies ends in a loss, something that’s recognised during Baby Loss Awareness Week (09/10-15/10). The council is marking the event with a ribbon display outside the Civic Centre in Stoke until 20/10. Join the #WaveOfLight by lighting a candle at 7pm on 15/10 and access support here.
🎭 Enter this Cool Creative Comp. Got an idea for theatre, stand-up comedy, spoken word, poetry, readings, sketches or skits? Applications are now open for micro-commissions for scratch work to be presented at B-Arts Scratch Night on 22/11, with two micro-commissions worth £250 for artists working in and across Staffs. More info here, send application here. Application deadline midnight 20/10. Over 18’s only.
🌳 Boosting Wellbeing Through Nature. Recognising the healing power of nature, Wolstanton Medical Centre has teamed up with the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust to create some self-led nature walks around the local area. The Trust also runs group activities that encourage social connection including Wilder Neighbourhoods (book here). Medical centre keen to prescribe nature to patients? Email the trust.
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):
Mon ☁️ 11°(8°) Tue ☁️ 14°(12°) Wed ⛅️ 17° (11°) Thu ⛅️ 16° (9°) Fri ⛅️ 15°(8°)
Sat ⛅️ 15°(8°) Sun ⛅️ 16°(10°)
Sunrise 14/10 ☀️ 07:34 Sunset 14/10 🌅 18:14
Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week
🌃 From Pottery to Possibility: Stoke-on-Trent’s Creative Rebirth Inspired by Manchester: in this engaging piece, the Red Haired Stokie urges Stoke’s leaders to take inspiration from Manchester’s creative revival in the 80s.
🔥 Keep Warm this Winter: with the winter fuel payment for pensioners cut, many Knotters wanted to know about the Staffordshire Warmer Homes scheme
🍿 Stoke Film Theatre is Back as it Turns 50! Many of you were keen to know about the return of the much-loved theatre, now based at the Wade Centre in Hartshill.
Unsung Heroes ⬇️
🏃♀️ Dave Juggins. The 75 year old gold medal duathlete who can run a 5km in 21 minutes. A real running inspiration.
👗 Anya Parker James. Read about the designer that defied the odds and built a career in fashion in Fulford.
🏺Good Vibes Only: A Word from Helen, Writer at The Knot
What’s the most exciting thing you’ve heard about Stoke and Staffs in the past week? While we’re made up to find out about the £20 million to titivate the Six Towns from the government, we also can’t wait to watch some indie films at Stoke Film Theatre, which re-opened on 12/10. See Kate Winslet as US model-turned war photographer in Lee (17/10), then catch Ian McKellen in The Critic (18/10).
We’ve got plenty of great content coming your way, from a round-up of the region’s best bonfire nights to an intriguing feature on Stoke’s twin town, Erlangen, by The Knot’s fab reporter Hannah Hiles. Stay tuned…