Team
Team
Meet the writers and journalists bringing good news to you. Find out what makes us tick and get the lowdown on our favourite hangouts. The Knot is powered by real people living in our region reporting the news and writing about what matters to you.
James Routledge - Founder
Hi, I’m James and I was born in Meir Heath, have family across Stoke-on-Trent and a family tree in North Staffordshire for 200 years. I went to school in the Staffordshire Moorlands and my other half’s family are based in Newcastle-under-Lyme. I’ve enjoyed many a night out ‘up Hanley and 'Castle in my late teens/early 20s and now live in Stone and have close friends in Lichfield and am a big fan of Cannock Chase.
I’ve travelled around and lived in London for 10 years. I found myself back here and made it my mission to tell a new story about this place. Before The Knot, I founded mental health business, Sanctus, and wrote a book with Penguin on mental health at Work. I also created an MSc Entrepreneurship with University of Staffordshire. My fave spots are BEAR, Little Dumpling King and Whitmore Lakes and I love a challenge.
Get in touch about: big stories, partnerships, sponsorship, feedback on The Knot.
Email: james@theknot.group
Helen Dalley - Editor
Hi! I’m Helen, I was born in Stoke-on-Trent on the same day as Robbie Williams and often find myself explaining where I live (the little village of Fulford near Meir Heath) to other Stokie residents. I began my journalism career on Guitarist and Total Guitar magazines and am still totally obsessed with music, especially the loud guitar kind.
I lived in Hong Kong for 12 years and swapped the concrete canyons, 7-11s and on-tap taxis for sleepy village life once my two kids were born. I write the Good News, What's On and Unsung Heroes columns for The Knot. When not writing, I loves running (very slowly) down country lanes looking for rabbits, going to gigs, decaf coffees at BEAR and getting muddy at the Shugborough Estate.
Get in touch about: stories, events, press releases, press passes, good news, features, inspiring people.
Email: dalley.helen22@gmail.com
Hannah Hiles - Writer
Hello, I’m Hannah, a freelance journalist and writer with a strong interest in heritage, regeneration, arts and culture. I live in my hometown of Newcastle-under-Lyme and love it here. I’ve previously been a senior journalist at The Sentinel and Stoke-on-Trent Live (with stints in the 2000s and the 2020s) and the Birmingham Mail.
I believe deeply in the power of local journalism to shine a light into dark places and to celebrate all the things that are great about our city. Away from work I have two sons and a dog, and can usually be found reading a book or watching Port Vale FC (but don't hold that against me!).
Get in touch about: things of interest that you know about but we might not
Email: hannah.hiles@gmail.com
Jenna “The Red Haired Stokie” Goodwin - Heritage Writer & Creator, The Knot Life
Hi, I’m Jenna Goodwin, born & bred in Stoke-on-Trent and known as "The Red Haired Stokie". I’m dedicated to uncovering and sharing the hidden stories of the Potteries through my work as a writer, historian, photographer and artist. My videos and writing focus on bringing the city’s past to life, from documenting the remnants of Stoke-on-Trent’s industrial history to highlighting the vibrant communities that continue to shape its future.
Through The Knot and my other projects, I invite people to discover the region’s hidden gems, find beauty in the familiar, explore the city's hidden corners, hear the whispers of its past, and fall in love with the beauty in even the simplest of subjects.
Get in touch about: history, heritage, historic buildings, events in Stoke-on-Trent & North Staffordshire, theknot.life
Email: trhstokie@gmail.com
Chris Altham - Cartoonist
It was no surprise being born into a family of creatives that I soon drew a mass of stickmen in my mums ‘coookery boooks’ as a littlan. Looking back however, it was a surprise to me that those scribbles would lead to a career cartooning and designing for clients around the world. Creating global award winning campaigns for the pharma industry, storyboarding for FIFA World Cup animations, illustrating for the likes of Shell and TOTAL for numerous OPEC conferences and now using those same stick characters to teach the art of cartooning. Since 1982, I’ve worked locally as a professional cartoonist and creative mix designer to provide the whole caboodle, and not just the doodle!
Being a lifelong Stokie, I’m passionate to keep the six towns Potteries dialect alive through the daily life of ‘The Larks’, which is featured exclusively in The Knot.
Get in touch about: anything cartoony!
Email: chris@thinkblink.co.uk