Stoke Aims to Break World Record With Largest Tea Party for Centenary
Plus 100 portraits for our 100 years, cash for creatives in Staffs Moorlands, new learning centre for Middleport and have your say on The Leopard's future…
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☕️ Let’s All Have a Cuppa. Get kettle on duck! Stoke is aiming to set the world record to gather the largest number of people taking part in a simultaneous cream tea party across multiple venues as part of its centenary celebrations. With everyone from schools to care homes invited to take part, the event will take place at 11am on 08/07. From garden gatherings and office events to street parties and family get-togethers, every cup of tea will count toward making history. Keen to take part? There’s more info here.
🛋️🏡 THE KNOT’S PERSON OF The WEEK – JOHN WEBBE 🏡🪑
Among the recent recipients of the High Sheriff’s Award was Emmaus North Staffs, one of the Lord Mayor’s two chosen charities for 2024/25, which helps families furnish their homes for low cost. Here’s executive lead John Webbe with the High Sheriff of Staffordshire, Julia Mitchell, accepting his award. Emmaus North Staffs said, “Since 2017, John has worked tirelessly to end furniture poverty, helping families in need and delivering hundreds of beds to local children. This well-deserved recognition celebrates his passion and commitment.” Well done, John!
📸 100 Portraits to Mark the Centenary. Centre Space Arts is celebrating the city’s centenary by creating a body of 100 portraits of everyday people who help make up our community. The portraits will be exhibited together during the year and kept for posterity as a reminder of who and what Stoke and its people are. Centre Space’s photographers, David Fletcher and Sarah Peart, are looking for people with personal stories to tell, however small or big. It could be you’ve lived in Stoke all your life or are a recent arrival here. Think you fit the bill? Email them.
Do you have a story to tell? Contact Centre Space Arts. Pic: Sarah Peart.
🍵 Cash for Creatives in Staffs Moorlands. Arts programme OUTSIDE has awarded 33 Creative Community Commissions to artists, community groups and organisations across the Staffordshire Moorlands. The successful funding applications, totalling £26,200, were selected by OUTSIDE’s advisory group and youth advisory group made up of local residents, and will support a wide range of arts activity over the next year in the district’s towns, villages and rural areas.
🐆 Have Your Say on the Future of The Leopard. There’s a drop-in event at Burslem School of Art 24/04 from 11am to 3pm focused on potential uses for this fire-hit pub, where Josiah Wedgwood and James Brindley met to discuss the Trent-Mersey Canal. There’s an introductory talk by Re-Form Heritage’s Zoe Sutherland, plus displays about the history of the building. A proposed viability study will involve an assessment of the site’s archaeological potential, as it sits on top of one of Josiah Wedgwood’s early potbanks, known as Brick House Works or Bell Works, where Wedgwood perfected creamware. Catch the full story here.
🏺New Learning Centre For Middleport. Designed to share the history and
creativity of this amazing city, Middleport’s workshops for schools continue to prove incredibly popular. In the last 12 months, it’s hosted 55 schools and more than 1,800 children. Thanks to National Lottery funding, it’s expanding its offerings and last Friday it unveiled its new learning centre so it can expand its workshop offerings and offer even more availability for visiting schools.
Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week
🚶♀️ Walk Stoke’s New Interactive Heritage Trail: Yet another centenary treat!
🎨 The Palette Project: Pink: Knotters were keen to find out about this showcase of local art in Tunstall with pieces presented in various hues of pink
📅 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
Whether you fancy having some scones and a cuppa in the back garden on the patio or want to organise a posh three-tier affair complete with your best china and crustless cucumber sandwiches, by taking part in Stoke’s simultaneous cream tea party, you could help us get a mention in the Guinness Book of Records.
One of the events organisers is YMCA North Staffordshire. Nicky Twemlow, Community & Partnerships Director, said: “Stoke-on-Trent is a brilliant city, and this feels a perfect way to honour the cities’ 100-year celebrations and bring communities together.” Some of those who’ve signed up already include Stoke on Trent College. Principal and CEO Hassan Rizvi said: “This is an opportunity to bring our staff together and celebrate 100 years of Stoke-on-Trent in style.”
Stoke’s Lord Mayor, Lyn Sharpe, is already looking forward to a sit down and chat with others over a cream tea. “Our city’s tea sets are famous all over the world so I can’t think of a better way for us to get together for a brew in Stoke-on-Trent than this.” Might be time to dust off that special set of Wedgwood you got when you tied the knot, or celebrated a special anniversary. Get your family and friends together, Knotters: it’s time to help our fine city make history! Register your event here.
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):
Mon 🌧️ 13° (4°) Tue 🌧️ 13° (5°) Wed ⛅️ 13° (2°) Thu ☀️ 14° (5°) Fri ⛅️ 14° (6°)
Sat ⛅️ 15° (6°) Sun ⛅️ 15° (5°).
Sunrise 14/04 ☀️06:13 Sunset 14/04 🌅 20:06
