People's Parade to Mark Stoke Centenary
Plus Staffs residents make King's Honours list, new rides for Alton Towers and The Great Pottery Throwdown returns… do you have a fave contestant yet?
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🎊Funding for People’s Parade Celebration. Stoke’s Centenary celebrations have got off to a great start thanks to a £125,000 funding boost from Arts Council England. The money will support a programme of cultural events to mark the city’s 100th anniversary and will help launch The People’s Parade, a community event set to take place during the first-ever Stoke-on-Trent Day on 5 June.
Stoke-on-Trent Day will be an annual event to celebrate the city’s history, its culture, and the people. The People’s Parade will be the main event of the weekend on Saturday, 7 June, and everyone is invited to take part. Yay!
Let’s celebrate: Stoke-on-Trent Day is on 5 June
🎖️ Staffs Residents Make Honours List. Among those recognised by King Charles were Ian Dudson, Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire (Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for services to The Crown); marine biologist Emily Cunningham, co-founder of the #Motion4theOcean movement (MBE for conservation work helping coastal communities); rheumatology specialist and Keele professor Elaine Hay (services to medical research); Paralympian bowler Bob Love (BEM for promoting sport for the disabled) and CEO at All Saints Catholic Collegiate Margaret Yates (OBE for services to education).
🏺Great Pottery Throw Down Returns. We’re back on telly as of last night for the eighth season of the popular show, which sees 12 talented creatives battle it out for the crown of best amateur potter in the UK. Keith Brymer Jones and Rich Miller are back as judges. Catch it every Sunday from 7.45pm on Channel 4.
🎢 Hold on Tight! New Rides for Alton Towers. Alton Towers oldest current ride, The Blade, was recently closed after 44 years to make room for a new attraction this year. Everyone’s favourite theme park also plans to open a new junior coaster in CBeebies Land, which is set to open in 2026 subject to planning.
⚓️ Local Marina Plans to Go Solar. Aston Marina is celebrating the approval of planning for a new solar array on the business’s greenfield site just outside Stone. Plans were submitted to Stafford Borough Council 18 months ago to source 100% of the energy it takes to run the business, which operates a narrowboat marina, renowned restaurant No26 and a wedding and events venue.
📅 Stripping off for Cancer. Men in Leek affected by cancer have bared all in a cheeky naked calendar for 2025 to raise cash for Prostate Cancer UK and to highlight fears that Leek Moorlands Hospital may close (a petition has gathered more than 6,000 signatures). Among those posing were ex-mayor Roy Tomkinson, landlord of the Blue Mugge pub Paul Harrison and postman Nigel Maycock, who came up with the idea. All 500 calendars printed, which sold for £10 each, have already been snapped up, raising £5,000 for their chosen charity.
Leek men got naked for prostate cancer. Pic: This is Leek Facebook page
Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week
🧱 Calling all LEGO Lovers: Knotters were keen to find out about this cool LEGO fest that’s being organised by National Brick Events at Fenton Manor Complex
🚶♀️Heritage Walks: you wanted the deets on The Red Haired Stokie’s upcoming walks
🎤 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
In-between hiding from the godawful weather, we hope you’ve had a marvellous start to the New Year. Now it’s 2025, we’re officially in our centenary year – and what an exciting time it’s gonna be!
Professor Carola Boehm, chair of Stoke Creates, believes the upcoming People's Parade in June will act as a step-change for the city to communicate that it’s not only a place of heritage but also creativity. “It will do this on our streets, in our libraries, and around our neighbourhoods - and we hope everyone will play their part.”
For more info on the events planned for Stoke-on-Trent’s Centenary, visit the website. Check back regularly as plenty of events will be added in coming days, weeks, and throughout the Centenary year. Planning an event? Submit here and spread the word!
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):
Mon 🌤️ 3°(-2°) Tue 🌤️ 3°(-4°) Wed ☁️ 2° (-2°) Thu 🌤️ 3° (-5°) Fri ☁️3°(0°)
Sat ☁️3 °(-1°) Sun ⛅️ 4°(1°).
Sunrise 06/01 ☀️08:21 Sunset 06/01 🌅 16:09
Don’t forget the BEM to Longton’s Ann Harvey, Chair of Governors at Bentilee Nursery and volunteer extraordinaire for services to early years education and the community.