Ex Keele Student Now Namibian President
Keele Uni gets its first Head of State, new music festival for Trentham, restoring Staffs rivers and limited edition book about Newcastle borough released…
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🇳🇦 Keele Alumnus is First Female President of Namibia. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who studied at Keele University in the late 1980s, has become Namibia's first female president. She’s also Keele's first graduate to become a Head of State. Netumbo, 72, graduated from Keele in 1989 with a Masters degree in Diplomatic Studies. Previously the country's vice-president and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, she won the election with more than 57 per cent of the vote and is the country's fifth president.
From Keele to president of Namibia. Pic: office of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
🎏 Trentham Music Festival Marks Centenary. The Trentham Estate is doing its bit to mark the city’s 100th anniversary by launching a new concert series, ‘At Trentham’, which will take place on 29/05-31/05 next year. Ocean Colour Scene have already been confirmed to play on 30/05, with support from The Enemy. Tickets go on sale 10am on 18/12, or 10am 17/12 if you’re a Trentham member.
💰 Coming Soon: the Potteries Pound. Designed to foster community engagement, reward volunteerism and address economic challenges in the Stoke/Staffs area, this digital community currency will enable people to ‘bank’ actions such as volunteering and caring for elderly relatives to exchange for digital tokens that can be spent at participating businesses. It’s secured backing from Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, YMCA North Staffordshire, and Keele University’s Business School. Read The White Paper on the currency here.
🎄 Festive Cheer For Those Who Grew up in Care. Christmas can leave many who’ve grown up in the care system feeling lonely and isolated, with some even taking their own lives around the festive period. Volunteers from Swadlincote-based rail firm MTMS and Derbyshire Freemasons recently put on an event for around 80 teens and young people from East Staffordshire at Burton’s Ashfield House Freemason Hall. To support future events, make a donation here.
🏞️ Award for Trent Valley Transformation. Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s Louise Morris has won the Marsh Award for Outstanding Teamwork for her leadership of river restoration scheme Transforming the Trent Valley (TTTV). The project revitalised the middle reaches of the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, which follows the River Trent from Rugeley to Shardlow, the River Tame from the north of Tamworth to Croxall, and the River Dove from Uttoxeter to Willington.
📕 Limited Edition Historical Book Released. A medieval charter about Newcastle inspired a council worker to pen a book about the borough. The Lost Charter, 1173-2023, 850 years of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme examines the borough’s growth since 1173 when it was granted a royal charter by King Henry II. Written by collections officer Clare Griffiths, it features images from the museum’s collections, including the High Street charter celebrations in 1935. There are 100 copies priced at £10 at Brampton Museum. Snap one up soon!
Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week
👩💼 The Knot interviews Jane Ashworth: you were keen to find out what the leader of Stoke-on-Trent city council had to say about issues including flytipping and potholes
👦 Heritage Walks with the Red Haired Stokie: our resident history expert has some fab walks lined up – have you signed up yet?
🎤 The Knot Life: did you know you can list your events for free at The Knot Life? More and more readers are doing it - get yours on too!
Unsung Heroes ⬇️
🏃♀️ Dave Juggins. The 75 year old gold medal duathlete can run a 5km in 21 minutes.
👗 Anya Parker James. Read about the designer that built a fashion career here.
👨🎨 Ian Parker: Mouth painter Ian has illustrated a kid’s book and is a full-time artist.
👩⚕️ Ruth Chambers: The retired GP won an OBE for improving health outcomes.
🥨 Good Vibes Only: A Word from Helen, Writer at The Knot
How cool is it that a Keele Uni graduate has actually become a Head of State? No, we can’t believe it either. Netumbo sounds like a good ‘un, too: in the run-up to the election, she campaigned for youth empowerment, sustainable development and improving the education system in Namibia. She’s promised to create more jobs and tackle the 20 per cent unemployment rate for young people and graduates, too.
Professor Trevor McMillan OBE, Vice-Chancellor of Keele University said they were “very proud” to receive such good news on the year of their 75th birthday. We’re sending congratulations to former Keele student Netumbo, who secured her first term in office with a thumping majority of almost 60 per cent. Let’s hope she can deliver for the people of Namibia…
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):
Mon 🌥️ 11°(7°) Tue ☁️ 10°(10°) Wed ☁️ 13° (4°) Thu 🌥️ 6° (0°) Fri ☁️ 7°(4°)
Sat 🌥️ 9°(6°) Sun 🌥️ 8°(5°).
Sunrise 16/12 ☀️ 08:17 Sunset 16/12 🌅 15:52
