Paul Williams

Despite Arnold Machin’s lasting legacy, the intriguing story of how a young Trentham school teacher became the ‘Queen for a day’ without knowing it and came to be featured on the most iconic, reproduced image of all time has been rarely told.

Stoke me up: my potty pilgrimage to Britain’s ceramic capital - Plaster Magazine From kitschy delights to celeb ceramics, Verity Babbs goes all-in on Stoke-on-Trent's quirky pottery scene

A superb kiln-side review of a pilgrimage to Britain’s ceramic capital.

‘I keep coming back to the memory of the 100 Years, 100 Faces celebration. Stoke-on-Trent does pride right; if only we could adopt this on a national scale.’

My latest column focuses on the unveiling of the #100Years100Faces centenary mural and why its most enduring legacy will be how it can inspire the next generation of young place-makers to pick up the baton and shape the next chapter in Stoke-on-Trent’s illustrious place story.

As those who attended the unveiling event heard, the #100Years100Faces mural showcases our unique city as ‘a history of heartbeats knitted together with theatre tickets, penalty shootouts, helping hands, and smiling kilns.’

An accessible, aesthetic work of art, the #100Years100Faces mural is a living to tribute to the inspirational individuals who have left their mark on our world craft city.

The publicly nominated people depicted will provide a hundred conversation themes and serve as an enduring #SoT100 legacy.

“The opportunities for cultural exchange and research collaboration will also strengthen Stoke-on-Trent’s position as an international centre for ceramic excellence - supporting the world craft city agenda and Stoke-on-Trent’s ambitions to achieve UNESCO creative city status.”

University of Staffordshire to loan rare ceramics to city museum The Thornhill Collection of ceramics was bequeathed to the University of Staffordshire in 1944.

University of Staffordshire VC, Prof Martin Jones: “It was Thornhill’s wish that the collection be used for educational purposes and partnering with the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery will allows us do that by making it more accessible to both scholars and the public.”

Comedian Johnny Vegas 'proud' artwork on display in Stoke-on-Trent The comedian's work is on display at the British Ceramics Biennial at Spode Works.

Johnny Vegas: “There’s so much space in ceramics for everything, for exploration, and it’s a skill set that we just cannot afford to key go of.

“It’s great to celebrate it but the celebration had to continue once the (British Ceramics Biennial) festival ends.”

City of Fire and Beautiful Bricks’
Exhibition at The Glosthouse, Longton. Stoke-On-Trent.
www.theglosthouse.co.uk

An ongoing exhibition of Works both new, and never before exhibited. Painting : Drawing : Collage.
Poetry : @minxyowlwriter.bsky.social
#Stoke100 #SoT100

Hopefully you can enjoy the Biennial vicariously through the many pictures that will be posted by visitors to the festival. Hope it’s a good day health wise.

Stoke-on-Trent prepares for British Ceramics Biennial 2025 More than 70 artists are taking part in the event, described as the largest of its kind in the UK.

A celebration of clay, craftsmanship, skill & artistry in a city that has clay deeply embedded in its identity.

Clare Wood: “Through British Ceramics Biennial we are maintaining national and international interest in Stoke-on-Trent and its ceramics.”

British Ceramics Biennial builds on pottery heritage - Museums Association The event, which runs from 6 September to 19 October, coincides with Stoke's centenary year

‘As well as the Biennial which has been running since 2009, the Staffordshire city is celebrating its centenary in 2005. And it is just over a year since Stoke-on-Trent was awarded World Craft City status, which is recognition of its global importance as a centre for pottery production.’

Johnny Vegas creates artwork for Stoke-on-Trent ceramics showcase The comedian captures people's hugs in clay for an installation at the British Ceramics Biennial.

Just Be There, a collaborative artwork crafted by Johnny Vegas, described as ‘an avenue of hugs captured in clay’ to be showcased at the forthcoming British Ceramics Biennial in Stoke-on-Trent.

Stunning. Saw these earlier. A fantastic curated garden.

Yes, not far from where I was born. Also a great beach at Ainsdale where Red Rum was often trained.

Ow at youth: Art celebrating Staffordshire dialect exhibited The exhibition goes on show at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme from 8 September.

It’s black over Bill’s mother’s!

A Mirror to Nature @newvictheatre.bsky.social

And just like the Potteries’ backstamps, that wonderful first creative incursion became your indelible mark of quality!

You're a gentleman, Paul - thank you very kindly indeed..
My very first creative incursion into Stoke-On-Trent.

THE POTTERIES BOTTLE OVEN - the 'go-to' resource site for information about the bottle ovens and kilns of the Potteries, Stoke-on-Trent

Want to know about bottle ovens and kilns? This is the place!
bottleoven.blogspot.com

More links in bio

Bottle Oven Day is a chance to share the Magnificent 47 again!
@ianrpearsall.bsky.social

Priestley continued: ‘unless you are prepared to take a deep and lasting interest on what happens inside those ovens, it would be better for you to take the first train anywhere’.

Bottle ovens featured prominently in our application to become a designated World Craft City.

It’s August 29th. It’s Potteries Bottle Oven Day. And it’s the day to recall how J. B. Priestley on his English journey in 1933 proclaimed: ‘the pottery kilns and ovens ... without these great bottles of heat, there would be no Potteries. They represent the very heart and soul of the district.’

Our small but mighty city’s unique identity, global renown as a centre of ceramics excellence, creative ecosystem, entrepreneurial endeavours, and acclaimed universities’ research impacts means Stoke-on-Trent punches above its soft power weight.

Stoke-on-Trent theatre company 'delighted' as home secured Claybody Theatre agrees a lease to remain at its current home in Stoke-on-Trent for 15 years.

Delighted to hear Claybody Theatre will continue to be based at The Dipping House on the former Spode pottery site. Looking forward to seeing many more place-based productions ‘shaped from the unique cultural heritage and contemporary lives of the people of Stoke-on-Trent & North Staffordshire.’

Artist 'excited' to take part in Three Counties art exhibition The free exhibition runs at Fenton Town Hall until 30 August.

The Arts Keele Three Counties Open Art Exhibition at Fenton Town Hall has a “real mix” of art on display, from paintings, to photography and a motorbike installation.

@amigonidavid.bsky.social

Well done Stoke-on-Trent for wonderful British pottery.

As the Ceramics (Country of Origin Marking) Bill continues to progress through the House of Commons it’s worth reiterating that Rishi Sunak also enjoyed a brew in a made in Stoke-on-Trent #EmmaBridgewater mug with the previous US President Joe Biden in the Downing Street gardens.

Why universities are hiring more chief marketing officers – even as budgets shrink More and more universities are bringing in corporate-style marketing chiefs. New research shows what they’re gaining – and where the returns fall flat.

Universities are adding chief marketing officers to their leadership teams, even as budgets shrink.

Research shows investing in a CM boosts enrollment by 1.6% on average, but their impact on endowments is less clear. A professor who researches leadership structures explains:

Emma Bridgewater: ‘Stoke-on-Trent is steeped in so much history with regards to the pottery industry and we think that is something worth writing on every single piece of ware we produce.’

Emma Bridgewater centre stage at Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelenskyy meeting Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were pictured enjoying a brew from Emma Bridgewater mugs today

Made in Stoke-on-Trent pottery was showcased to a global audience as Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy enjoyed a brew from Emma Bridgewater mugs.