Stoke-on-Trent Centenary

The access to green space.  We love spending time as a family at Park Hall Country Park and Longton Park.

Port Vale F.C.  I have great memories watching the Vale with my Uncle from an early age and then with friends.  I've seen many a cup upset and some memorable Potteries Derbies.

The local dialect.  I used to listen in wonder at how my Grandad and my Dad said certain words and used completely different words for some things.  My eldest Daughter, Ingrid has picked this up from me.

I take great pride in our history of pits and pots and many of my family have worked in both industries.

My favourite memories of Stoke-on-Trent include the football as mentioned above, the nightlife in Hanley in the 90's and early 00's.

I'm hoping these celebrations can bring us together as a city and help us to find who we are and what we can be again.

I have so many great memories including seeing Robbie in concert at Port Vale more recently, to nights out at The Place & Valentino’s in the 80’s & 90’s - making life-long friends!

I love the pottery painting café at Emma Bridgewater however my absolute favourite place has to be Festival Park and Etruria Hall which formed part of the Hotel. I like to think we played a small part in making history for the city with our restaurant tableware being jointly designed by Wedgwood and Royal Doulton -such a great collaboration.

For me, Stoke-on-Trent is all about the people their passion, kindness and creativity – it was wonderful to return to such a fantastic Stokie welcome this summer!

During 2025, our Centenary year, I hope everyone who lives in the city, works here or visits Stoke-on-Trent makes amazing memories with family and friends, feels proud of their heritage and inspired in looking forward to the next 100 years – most of all has the best time at our year-long party!

Happy Centenary Year, Stoke-on-Trent.

Stoke-on-Trent’s reached its centenary but social issues run deep

Brexit and Covid both hit hard, now someone take a leap of faith in us and provide a metaphorical ‘lick of paint’.

To enhance the love for this place, a love that will not taint because we knew we were and still are magnificent

Although the authorities did not see us as significant Parliament said we had no cathedral, a population too small

But our miners, steelworkers and potters walked proud and tall Wedgwood dinner sets have been owned by Royalty no less And King George V – eventually – gave us our status, bless!

So, June 5th, 1925, a ride from the train station to Stoke

To grant us the honour of being valued, us ordinary folk

Worthy of being important exponents of graft

Finally the establishment viewed us as people of craft

There’s a toughness to some Stokies, to a degree

But there’s a creativity which emanates also you see Wordsmiths, painters, musicians develop in this place Bennett, Cliff, Williams, Gitana, Kirkham with grace

The Spitfire engine designer and sporting heroes too

Sir Stan won the ballon d’or long before Messi, that’ll do “C’ost kick a bo?” was what we used to say “Ay up duck” and “Dunna worry” still heard today

Don’t forget your home, if you’re from here but moved away

Tell yer kids and grandkids about us, keep snobbery at bay

Tell ‘em about the smokin’ bottle kilns and the heat from a potbank

You’d meet a date under the Man of Fire then to The Place or Top Rank

Tell ‘em about mods, The Torch, rock and pop gigs at Viccy Hall

Don’t forget the family members who came before you, reveal all!!

‘Cause we’re struggling a bit now youth, we need a bit of a hand

There’s dereliction and dilapidation, y’see any help would be grand Government grants don’t seem to reach here, levelling up failed

The ring road never got completed, like Titanic, that ship has sailed

A century – and more - of ceramics, a century of coal

Something’s been stirring inside our collective soul

A city built on industry, for some it’s been a struggle, a fight

But right now celebrate the 6 towns that opted to unite