Stoke-on-Trent - Our Moment to Shine Main image: The London 2012 Olympic Torch

Top left image: Olympics past Traditional Staffordshire oatcakes and present Bottom left image: Emma Jackson - 800m Olympic hopeful at The City of Stoke-on-Trent Sports Personality of the Year Awards 2012

Middle right image: Imran Sherwani at the 1988 Seoul Olympics My family and I have always Hockey Final against West Germany Image courtesy of Staffordshire News & Media been warmly welcomed by the City of Stoke-on-Trent, Bottom right image: Councillor Mohammed Pervez and having run a business Leader - Stoke-on-Trent City Council selling the city's favourite newspaper at the heart of the community I would not recommend anywhere else in the world.

“It is home to the friendliest and most welcoming people on earth and that comes from someone who has travelled the world. I also have been given the honour of carrying the Torch through my city. What an honour and what a city!" "Come on Stoke!"

Imran Sherwani - a member of the gold medal winning Great Britain and Northern Ireland squad at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul against West Germany. warm welcome to visitors joining us in Stoke-on-Trent to celebrate hosting the Olympic Torch Relay and Evening Celebration Event. I could have moved away to A a different area of the UK for Our city will swell with pride concert. For four years, the Moorcroft, International This brochure gives a flavour university, somewhere with as the eyes of the world follow Stoke-on-Trent stage of the and - to name but a few of the people, companies and more athletics facilities for the symbolic Flame through Tour of Britain event has drawn - attracting visitors and buyers organisations which make our example, but I chose to stay our historic streets..... passing over 30,000 spectators to see from around the world. The great city such an exciting place local to Stoke-on-Trent. just a few feet from the homes cyclists like world champion Museum & Art Gallery to be. of novelist Arnold Bennett and Mark Cavendish race through houses one of the world’s “It is my home and I rock superstar Robbie Williams, our streets. largest, and most breathtaking, Once you have sampled our am happy here. I have to name just two of our famous collections of ceramics. famous hospitality, the warmth everything I need and I have sons. And week-in, week-out, billions of our communities – and a fantastic support system of people around the world Our city is the home of the maybe even our delicious from my family, my coach and my friends. It really is We hope you enjoy this watch one of our local football world famous Staffordshire oatcakes – I am sure you will a city where the people get celebration. Our city has a teams, Stoke City FC, perform Hoard - the largest find of take the City of Stoke-on-Trent, behind their sportspeople reputation for staging first outstandingly well in the Anglo-Saxon treasure ever and its people, to your hearts. and genuinely want the best class international sporting Premier League. discovered. for them. People often wish and music events, like 2011 me good luck when I run Live and the celebration of Stoke-on-Trent is also the past them and it always puts Stoke-on-Trent’s Centenary, World Capital of Ceramics, with a smile on my face." which attracted top recording global brands like Waterford artists and tens of thousands Royal Doulton, Councillor Mohammed Pervez Emma Jackson – 800 metre runner of people to a dazzling free , Portmeirion, Leader - Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Olympic hopeful for The Games, London 2012. It feels brilliant to be selected to represent Holden Lane Sports College in carrying the Olympic Torch. I enjoy watching the Main image: Children at Hillside Primary School celebrating being Olympics because it makes the first school in Stoke-on-Trent to be awarded Get me want to try out all the Set Network (Olympic Education Programme) status

sports. All my friends are Bottom left image: keen on sport and will be Jack Pickin - Torchbearer

watching the Olympics.” Bottom right image: Artist impression of the new Science and Technology Building at currently under 12 year old Jack Pickin, on his construction selection to be a Torchbearer

The University prides itself in creating the How our young people are involved Staffordshire Graduate, equipping students with employability, enterprise School Parade - Wednesday 30 May 2012 and entrepreneurship and so Hundreds of school children will Each school has been assigned Staffordshire University is on We are expecting nearly 1,000 school helping to enrich the city. take to the streets on the day an Olympic nation. Children are the route of the Torch Relay of the Torch Relay, Wednesday creating costumes, flags, hats on Wednesday 30 May. We are children, college and university "The Olympic Torch coming to 30 May, to be part of a once in and other accessories, with the working in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent enables us to a lifetime Olympic parade. The help of a professional artist, to the university to create a warm students to take part in the parade. present Stoke-on-Trent, the parade will start in Shelton and represent their adopted country. welcome for the Olympic Flame. Every school in the city is also University and our graduates finish at the celebration site in as dynamic, forward- . Every school in the The host nation, Team GB, has embracing the Olympic spirit by looking and having a real city has been invited to take been awarded to Belgrave impact upon communities part and join in the fun. St Bartholomew’s Academy, getting involved in National School locally, regionally and internationally.” in Longton, where Olympic Sport Week in June – and that means Also included in the parade will swimmer and gold medallist Professor Michael Gunn, be 100 dancers (100 moves), Duncan Goodhew MBE recently another 33,000 school children! Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, and 100 percussionists (100 visited for a sports training and Staffordshire University sounds) to help create a carnival coaching session. atmosphere. This is the UK’s moment to shine and I want to encourage people across Stoke-on-Trent to start planning how they can be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG

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Main image: Cultural Olympiad dance artist Sohan Kailey, Aashiyana Arts

Middle left image: Haywood Engineering College Community Games event

Bottom right image: Cultural Olympiad dance class at the Victoria Hall

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Main image: Centre left image: Hoar Cross Hall Spa Resort Alton Towers Resort

Top right image: Bottom right image: Drayton Manor Park & Hotel Stoke City FC reception

Centre right image: Monkey Forest,

Community and business involvement Leisure or business - this is the place

Our Torch Relay Route will take Over 45,000 people, of all ages, The Stoke-on-Trent and For fun-seekers we have the the Torch through the local race, and religious beliefs have Staffordshire Conference world-famous Alton Towers communities of Shelton (30 been directly involved through Bureau represents over 40 Resort, Drayton Manor Park & May), City Centre, , dance, the Cultural Olympiad venues across the whole of the Hotel and the rather unique and Middleport and our school ‘Get Set’ region. Members include the ‘Trentham Monkey Forest’. (31 May). programme. 4-red star venue Swinfen Hall We can also offer first-class Hotel, the only AA Inspectors’ conferencing facilities such Residents and businesses have Over 200 businesses in Stoke- Choice venue in the county, as Stoke City FC's Britannia been encouraged to take part to on-Trent are registered on along with Hoar Cross Hall Stadium and the Genesis Centre mark this momentous occasion ‘Compete for London 2012’ Spa Resort – voted England’s along with exclusive hire to celebrate the Torch Relay business portal and 250 leading resort at the World venues such as Weston Park. and the achievements of the businesses attended 2012 Travel Awards for the last five Torchbearers. business related workshops. consecutive years. Within Stoke-on-Trent we have The council is hosting a series the 4 star Moat House Hotel at of community and business Etruria. events to get people involved in the Torch Relay. Olympic Torch Olympic Torch Arrival Route Departure Route 30 May 2012 6 31 May 2012

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Key for both maps Torch Route Download a larger version 5 Railway station of this map at stoke.gov.uk/olympics2012 Parking 1 Railway line Canal / waterway 4 Bus station 3

WC Toilets Download a larger version of this map at stoke.gov.uk/olympics2012

5 6 Register for updates Olympic Torch Arrival - Olympic Torch Departure 30 May 2012 18:34 - 31 May 2012 07:00 Statue of Sir Stanley Matthews Angel of Victory - 07:32 The songs of pop star Robbie CBE - 07:03 Williams, often reference the Location: On top of the Old city and include his biggest Media Pens Media Pens Location: Parliament Row, Town Hall, Market Place, seller 'Angels', which is said to Hanley Burslem have been inspired by Burslem 1 3 Town Hall's crowning golden The gilded copper Angel angel statue. Departure point - 07:00 This is one of the Potteries' Arrival Point holding out a laurel wreath The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery most iconic statues created by artist Colin Melbourne unveiled sitting on top of the Old Town Location: Stoke Road A5006 at in 1987 by Sir Stan the ‘Wizard Hall was commissioned by junction with Station Road 4 of the Dribble’ himself. Burslem Town Council in 1857. She symbolises Civic Victory. Opportunity to capture the first Bethesda Chapel - 07:01 Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE (1 Looking down guardian like over You can also like Torchbearer as the Flame enters February 1915 – 23 February the mother town of Burslem she the city. Location: Albion Street, Hanley 2000) was an English footballer. is said to hold sway over the us on Facebook Often regarded as one of the fortunes of Burslem, and when and follow us on Bethesda Chapel is an impressive greatest players of the English she is not in her rightful place, 2 Twitter for the building seating up to 2,000 game, he is the only player to the town’s fortunes decline. Hanley Park - 18:50 people. The present building, have been knighted while still latest information. dating from 1819, was built by playing. Sir Stan, an inaugural The angel was immortalised members of the Methodist New inductee of the City of Stoke- by Arnold Bennett in his books Location: The Parkway, Shelton Connexion, replacing an earlier on-Trent Sporting Hall of Fame, 'Clayhanger' and 'The Old structure of 1798 on the site. The was also named Stoke-on-Trent Wives' Tale'. Join us here for the evening Prince of Wales visited Bethesda Citizen of the Century as part of celebration. Chapel on 19 February 2010 to the Centenary of the federation celebrate the 100 years of the of the six towns in 2010. federation of the six towns. As one of Stoke-on-Trent’s biggest employers, Steelite International is In Stoke-on-Trent there are certainly fired up about this Olympic year. significant concentrations of advanced manufacturing and “Now preparations to welcome the This page engineering activities. Olympic Torch relay are gathering Top right image: pace, there’s a real sense of optimism, Air Sun range, Dudson Ltd. The high and medium both among businesses and the public, Main image: as we get ready to show the nation Vodafone, Etruria Valley tech manufacturing sector currently employs around what a fantastic and vibrant city this is. Lower right image: Michelin Tyre Plc 10,000 people, of which “This high profile event will shine Bottom right image: 7,600 work in the wider the spotlight on Stoke-on-Trent, its Cath Kidston range, ceramic industry. industries and its people, and show just why we’re all proud to be part of the We are home to over 100 Potteries.” health care businesses, 5,000 medical students and Kevin Oakes, Chief Executive of Steelite International the new University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

Tourism supports 5,617 This page jobs in Stoke-on-Trent. Last

Main image: year 3.9 million visitors Kevin Oakes at the launch of came to the area and spent Steelite's 'Made in England Made for Life' campaign when a London approximately £203 million. Double Decker was suspended on just four Steelite mugs.

Left image: Business and professional Rio , services sector employs Steelite International over 6,000 people and with Bottom right image: at Portmeirion Group companies like Vodafone and locally, this continues to grow.

There are around 100 Stoke-on-Trent is the place to do business companies focusing on low- carbon or environmental services. These include; We are determined in our drive to make Stoke-on-Trent a wind turbine manufacturers, great working city. carbon emission consultancies and emissions Through our ‘red carpet’ and guidance on financial certification specialists. approach our Mandate for assistance to support business Change is helping businesses investment in Stoke-on-Trent Nationally the number of to develop and grow. and Staffordshire. businesses in the creative sector has flat-lined, but The Make It Stoke-on-Trent & You'll be in great company; here in Stoke-on-Trent they Staffordshire Inward Investment sectors already established Service are ready to help with here include medical and have more than doubled in identifying the right property healthcare technologies, the last five years. There or land, assisting with industry professional services, logistics are now more than 1,200 research, support in relation and distribution, chemical creative industries with a to skills and recruitment, works, advanced manufacturing workforce of over 5,000. streamlined planning processes and the automotive sector. This page

Main image: Stoke City FC, Britannia Stadium

Top left image: Interior of the Regent Theatre

Centre left image: Wedgwood Visitor Centre and Museum

All-round entertainment

Shopping Entertainment, Theatre Sport and Music The Potteries Shopping Centre Home to two professional and the surrounding city centre Stoke-on-Trent is the nearest football clubs, Port Vale and has all the high street retail city to the thrilltastic Alton Stoke City, the city has long names you would expect to Towers theme park. The city held a reputation for being find as well as small high end has a large entertainment passionate about the national specialist outlets. We also have complex, Festival Park, with sport. While League Two Port over 20 ceramic factory shops a water theme park, cinema Vale have known better times, across the city. complex and bowling alley and their fighting spirit epitomises Stoke-on-Trent has long been the Art Deco Regent Theatre The Potteries, as does that a place synonymous with Heritage which stages West End shows. of Premiership Stoke City, cycling excellence, from Tommy This page Godwin, the World Cycling The sister venue Victoria Hall, who have recently enjoyed Middle right image: The Potteries Museum & Art is known for its top music acts outstanding success on the Endurance record holder, to Fenton Manor Leisure Centre Olympian Les West, and from Gallery in the Cultural Quarter and in 2011 it held Slash, of pitch, with an FA Cup final Centre left image: of the City Centre is home to the Guns and Roses, first gig in the appearance and a club-record Olympic greats like Bradley Mark Cavendish, Stoke-on-Trent stage of the Tour of Britain 2011 world famous Staffordshire Hoard city marking his return to his run in European competition. Wiggins to World champion – the largest and most valuable hometown after 25 years. Tour De France legend Mark Centre right image: Les West and Imran Sherwani receiving their collection of Anglo-Saxon The city is also home to Fenton Cavendish cycling through the Sporting Hall of Fame Award 2012 city in the Tour of Britain and treasure ever discovered as well Manor Leisure Centre, accorded Bottom right image: as the best display of world class Olympic Pre Games Training the Tour Series. Marc Richards, Port Vale FC ceramics in the country. There Camp standard, and home to Image courtesy of Staffordshire News & Media is also the Wedgwood Museum many international events in Local legends are also and Visitor Centre which is well sports like gymnastics, table recognised in the city’s Sporting worth a visit. Gladstone tennis and boxing. Hall of Fame and every year Museum offers an opportunity to sporting achievement from see a restored bottle kiln one of grass roots to Olympic Gold is only 46 bottle kilns remaining in rewarded in the City’s Sports the city. Personality of the Year Awards. Words from two of our world This page

Centre right image: class ceramic Diamond Jubilee mug by Emma Bridgewater businesses Bottom right image: The Athletes by Moorcroft

Stoke-on-Trent is a truly unique city full to the brim with character. This page

Top left image: “And much of its inimitable Diamond Jubilee charm is down to its people. Range at Portmeirion Group Creative and imaginative, Main image: the people of Stoke-on- London 2012 Olympics range by Wedgwood - official London 2012 Trent are passionate, loyal ceramic and crystal giftware supplier and tenacious and have all the necessary qualities to build strong communities and grow successful businesses.

“Once again Stoke-on- Trent is a hub of activity and we’re leading it into a new era of revival and vitality. Quite simply there is no better place for our business."

Michael Haynes, Managing Director of Portmeirion Group World Capital of Ceramics Stoke-on-Trent is Bronze, Silver and Gold when it With an unrivalled heritage and very bright future, comes to pottery, you can Stoke-on-Trent is recognised as the ‘World Capital of Ceramics’ get anything made from a new hip joint to a gallon teapot. With an unrivalled heritage and with The industry’s growth was also Stoke-on-Trent very bright future, Stoke-on- its recently restored Victorian aided by the opening, in 1777, "Stoke-on-Trent is a key part Trent is officially recognised as pottery in Longton and the of the Grand Trunk Canal (now remains at the of Britain’s manufacturing the ‘World Capital of Ceramics’. Wedgwood factory are more the ), base and through the plates Waterford Wedgwood Royal highlights not to be missed. which provided an outlet to the heart of the British on your table or the mug in Doulton, Emma Bridgewater, ports at Hull and Liverpool in ceramic industry, your kitchen we all have a Portmeirion, Moorcroft, Steelite order to transport raw materials stake in Stoke-on-Trent.” International and Dudson are into the city and for the export and is the largest Matthew Rice MD of just a few of the UK’s leading of the finished ware. Emma Bridgewater lifestyle brands you’ll find in clayware producer this unique city. in the world. Main image: Deb Klemperer - Principal Collections Officer, Stoke-on- Trent City Council, showing HRH Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall a piece of the Staffordshire Hoard

Top left image: Gold and garnet hilt fitting from the Staffordshire Hoard

Top right image: Gold birds and fish carving from the Staffordshire Hoard

Bottom right image: Gold and garnet scabbard boss from the Staffordshire Hoard

Home of the world-renowned Staffordshire Hoard

The Staffordshire Hoard is the The unparalleled treasure is Potteries Museum & Art Gallery country’s largest and most jointly owned by Stoke-on-Trent in May 2012 ready for the Torch valuable collection of Anglo- City Council and Birmingham Relay. The Olympic Flame will Visit the Saxon gold ever found. It was City Council after the very leave our city on Thursday 31 discovered by metal detector generous British public raised May from The Potteries Museum Potteries enthusiast Terry Herbert in a £3.3m to meet the valuation & Art Gallery, home to the farmer’s field in July 2009. A price. Staffordshire Hoard. This page Museum & real story from mud to gold! Top image: Prince Charles was the first Part of the exhibition of the Staffordshire Hoard at the National Art Gallery to The glittering gold has dazzled Royal to handle the Hoard in Geographic Museum, Washington D.C audiences not only in this 1300 years. A new exhibition Main image: experience the country but more recently in opens in July 2012 called The Mercian Warrior statue at the America. After the National ‘Dark Age of Discovery’ artist studio magic of the Geographic Museum exhibition featuring the Hoard. A new Bottom right image: The Horse, part of the in Washington D.C. over one 9ft tall Mercian Warrior statue Staffordshire Hoard Staffordshire million visitors have now draped in 14 pieces of the viewed the collection. Hoard will be unveiled at The Hoard This page This page Top left image: Bottle Kilns in Stoke-on-Trent Top right image: Eric Carter, a Sptifire pilot from Centre image: WWII standing by the Spitfire The Stoke-on-Trent bus at the Lord exhibit at The Potteries Museum Mayor of London's parade & Art Gallery

Centre left image: Statue of Josiah Wedgwood at the Wedgwood Visitor Centre

Centre right image: Statue of Sir Stanley Matthews at the Britannia Stadium - home of Stoke City FC

Some interesting stories Some interesting people

This year is the 70th Burslem in the mid-seventeenth which remained an important Josiah Wedgwood was born in The Potteries are particularly Other notable famous people anniversary of the Lidice century started the trade of town or village until the 19th Burslem, Staffordshire, on July associated with the literary from the city include; Reginald atrocity. A whole village in the making butterpots and earned century. The word Stoke seems 12, 1730, into a family with work of Arnold Bennett (born in Mitchell, the designer of the former Czechoslovakia was the position of mother town to be derived from the Old a long tradition as potters. At Hanley, 1867), notably through World War II fighter plane, razed to the ground with nearly of the Potteries - potters were English for a holy place. the age of nine, after the death his "Five Towns" novels; Bennett the Spitfire; Sir Oliver Lodge, all its inhabitants murdered criticised for digging holes of his father, he worked in did not include Fenton, the sixth who invented the spark plug; on the orders of Adolf Hitler in in the roads to obtain clay - a his family's pottery company. town of the Potteries. Walter Sylvester, inventor of the June 1942, in retaliation to one practice which gave rise to the It wasn’t until 1925 that By the time of his death in Pressure Arch Theory for mining of his generals being killed. term ‘potholes’. Stoke-on-Trent became a 1795 he had created a pottery which saved thousands of lives: city. The early years of the industry which was indebted The footballer Sir Stanley world champion dart players Word of this genocide reached county borough were marked to his scientific experiments. Matthews was born in Hanley, Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis all parts of the world but in Experts calculate that in their by the Great War, restricting He had pioneered many mass- Stoke-on-Trent. He was the and, of course, Robbie Williams Stoke-on-Trent the local mining heyday there were up to 4,000 development of services. A production techniques, created first footballer to be knighted the pop singer, who has been community, led by a Dr Barnett bottle kilns but the Clean Air Royal Letter Patent was granted a huge export-based industry while still playing and the known to have a hit or two. Not Stross, created their own ‘Let Act sounded the death-knell by George V. and played a major role in first European Footballer of to mention Captain Edward John Lidice Live’ campaign. This saw for the smoky, coal fired oven. transport developments. A great the Year and the first Football Smith, Captain of RMS Titanic; miners and citizens of the city There are 46 bottle kilns still humanitarian he also engaged Writers Footballer of the Year. Clarice Cliff, world famous Art raise several thousand pounds, standing today - all are listed Stoke-on-Trent was chosen as in anti-slavery activities and He played for England 54 times Deco pottery designer; Slash, which eventually saw the village buildings. the site for the National Garden helped form the Society for the and over 300 times for Stoke Lemmy ...the list goes on. of Lidice re-built. Links between Festival in 1986. The site is Abolition of the Slave Trade in City, retiring at the age of 50! Lidice and Stoke-on-Trent are now Festival Park, a complex of 1787. He also coached in South Africa still very much alive and will be The Domesday Book does not leisure and business facilities during the Apartheid regime in celebrated this summer. mention a village at Stoke, attracting visitors from the the 1960’s and created an all- but does record the existence Midlands area and beyond. black team. Sir Stan is Stoke-on- of a church. This site served Trent’s Citizen of the Century. the neighbouring village of , a hilltop settlement Key Contacts

Maureen Eastgate PR and Communications 01782 232621 [email protected]

Richard Radcliffe Events Manager for Celebration Event 01782 236423 [email protected]

Vanessa Darlington Olympic Coordinator for Torch Relay 01782 236156 [email protected]

Visit us at stoke.gov.uk/olympics2012 to keep up to date

Contact us on: +44 (0) 1782 234747 makeitstokeontrent.com [email protected]