From the Cradle to the Rave - Join a Parade That Marks 100 Years of Stoke-on-Trent
Plus film success for local student, breakfast club pilot scheme arrives in six Stoke schools and pieces from The Great Pottery Throwdown come to Gladstone…
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🥨 Join the People’s Parade. From ceramics to Northern Soul, every tradition, passion, and art form will have a place in the People’s Parade (07/06), says Professor Carola Boehm, chair of Stoke Creates, which is organising the event with the council. Themed ‘From the Cradle to the Rave - 100 years of Stoke-on-Trent’, they are now looking for groups and individuals who want to take part as safety volunteers, artists, musicians and performers - reply before 14/03. They’re also open to ideas of what people want to see featured in the parade. Tell ‘em!
🎬 Film Success for Local Student. Kyle Adams made short film Win for his final year project while studying the BA (Hons) Film Production at University of Staffordshire. Now it’s been chosen by the National Association for Higher Education in the Moving Image (NAHEMI) for its Official Selection 2025. This showcase will be screened nationally at different festivals and events throughout the year, and all selected films are put forward to compete in the National Student Film Awards. Win has also been shortlisted for ‘Best Factual Short Film’ at this month’s Royal Television Society Student Midlands Awards. Win indeed.
A local film student has been nominated for a top national award 🥣 Six Stoke Schools Pilot Breakfast Club. Healthy and nutritious breakfasts will be available before lessons at six schools in Stoke-on-Trent as part of a national pilot for a daily breakfast club scheme. The schools are Greenways Primary Academy; St Gregory's Catholic Academy; Alexandra Junior School; Alexandra Infants' School; Milton Primary Academy and Co-op Academy Grove.
🛶 JCB Support Olympic Dream. A teenage kayaker from Stafford and Stone Canoe Club has set his sights on paddling into the Olympics thanks to a £2,500 donation from JCB. Harry Kirby, 18, of Stone is ranked as the highest performing English paddler for his age. He’s hoping to follow in the footsteps of Olympic silver medallist Adam Burgess, who JCB also sponsor, and reach the GB Olympic Junior Squads this season. The firm has funded the purchase of a new kayak for Kirby ahead of the Junior GB team selections in March and April. Good luck, kid!
Olympic hopeful Harry Kirby hits the water in his new canoe from JCB
🍻 Titanic Celebrate 40th Anniversary With Cans. To mark its fourth decade in business, the Burslem-based brewery has issued one of its most popular brews, traditional German Helles-style lager, Two:20, in cans. Titanic, which is England’s largest brewer of stouts and porters, will also be working on collaboration brews and new products later this year. Its first seasonal ale, Victorian Porter, was on cask in its pubs and bod cafe bars throughout January. Our fave? Anytime IPA.
🏺The Great Pottery Throw Down Comes to Gladstone. Six birdbaths that pay tribute to Stoke’s six towns crafted by the potters from The Great Pottery Throw Down are set to go on display at Gladstone Pottery Museum from 06/03. It’s all part of the city’s centenary celebrations – read Jenna’s full story here.
Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week
🤮 Walley’s Quarry Goes into Liquidation: The Knot’s first breaking news story was one of our most-read pieces last week. Check back with us for more updates
🔟 Stoke-on-Trent Takes Bold Vision for the Future to Downing Street: The council is urging the Government to support its ambitious plans for infrastructure and growth
📅 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
Our journalist Hannah Hiles received a tip-off about Walley’s Quarry going into liquidation last Thursday, so The Knot team sprung into action, Hannah writing the background to the story that day while waiting for a comment from Newcastle’s MP, Adam Jogee, on Friday. As soon as Jenna got word that there was something going down at the quarry, she got her cameras and drone out to capture the controversial quarry close-up. This was The Knot’s first breaking news story, and we hope it will be the first of many. If you haven’t yet, please consider becoming a paid subscriber so we can carry on writing good quality news and features for you about our fab city.
What stayed with me most was Jogee’s defiant tone, and his determination to get justice for local residents following almost a decade of improbably foul smells and health issues from those living close to the waste management site. Go for it, Adam! We hope you can draw attention to our plight in Parliament next week and Knotters, stay tuned for the latest updates on this not-so-sweet smelling story…
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):
Mon ⛅️ 11° (3°) Tue ⛅️ 12° (3°) Wed ☀️ 12° (1°) Thu ☀️ 13° (5°) Fri ⛅️ 12° (4°)
Sat 🌧️ 11° (5°) Sun ⛅️ 10° (2°).
Sunrise 03/03 ☀️06:52 Sunset 03/03 🌅 17:50
