Latest news with #BBCRadioStoke
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Nantwich builder to push wheelbarrow across Britain for charity
"I didn't realise the dark places had a cellar as well, until I got there."Crushed under the weight of financial woes, work stress and a relationship breakdown, builder Liam Challenor's mental health was taking a turn for the worse over the past two the run-up to Christmas 2024, the 34-year-old almost took his own life, only changing his mind because he was looking at a picture of his two has since managed to turn things around and on 30 June he will begin an epic challenge to push a wheelbarrow across Britain to raise awareness of mental health issues. Mr Challenor, from Nantwich, Cheshire, said he struggled with balancing family and work life, and also spent thousands to launch an app for pressure led to him being admitted to hospital because he had not been eating or drinking for three days."It was really weighing me down, everything that hit me before Christmas just took me under," he told BBC Radio Stoke. 'Things will get easier' Mr Challenor also struggled to sleep and would find himself walking around town in the early hours of the morning."The next day, you're not in the mental space to go to work so you're not earning any money," he tradesman said it was a customer who noticed how low he was and they helped him turn a corner by focusing on the positive aspects of his said walking, getting out into nature and learning to enjoy his own company helped him with his ongoing issues."Start to enjoy your own company," he said. "I promise things will get easier and things will get a lot better." 'Need picking up' Mr Challenor's challenge will see him push a wheelbarrow from Land's End in Cornwall to John o' Groats in Scotland in 61 wheelbarrow will contain the weight equivalent of his two children and he will walk the route solo in hi-vis clothingThe distance between the two locations is 603 miles, though he could end up walking up to 1,200 miles, he said, due to avoiding some of the main well as raising awareness of mental health, Mr Challenor will be fundraising for Band of Builders, a wellbeing charity for people in the said: "I want to spread a bit of happiness to people who are down in the dumps and need picking up." If you've been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line. Read more Cheshire stories from the BBC and follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Robbie Williams art displayed at ceramics showcase
Ceramic artworks inspired by drawings from Robbie Williams have taken centre stage at a pottery exhibition in Stoke-on-Trent. The Burslem-born singer teamed up with ceramics firm 1882 Ltd to create technicolour pieces of Jesus and The Pope, which went on display at The Potteries Gallery and Art Gallery in Hanley on Tuesday. In a recorded video message shared by 1882 Ltd, Williams said he "never imagined" they would one day be shown at the museum during the city's centenary year. "I'm from the Potteries, Burslem born and bred. Clay built our city. We are of the earth - we are earthy people," he added. Emily Johnson, owner of Barlaston-based 1882 Ltd, said working with Williams was an "absolute joy" and said she had to "contain the 13-year-old girl" inside her when she spoke to him. "He's amazing, he's fantastic. He is a prolific artist so it was really cool to be able to go through all his ideas," she told BBC Radio Stoke. The popstar was also one of 60 artists to have donated artworks that have been transformed into 61 plates by 1882 Ltd, all of which are also on display at the exhibition. Other designers include Marcel Wanders, Maxim, Sandy Powell, Shona Heath, Barber Osgerby, Bruce McLean, Max Lamb, Zandra Rhodes and Faye Toogood. The 61 plates will be auctioned off and Ms Johnson said she was hoping to raise about £29,000 to set up a one-year apprenticeship in 1882 Ltd's factory in a bid to encourage younger people into the industry. "We don't get any government support and there aren't any workable apprenticeship schemes for our industry," she said. "We have the best workforce in Stoke-on-Trent, but the average age in our factories is 55 and what will we do when these incredible skills retire?" The 100 Years, 60 Designers, One Future exhibition will be held at the museum until 7 December. The auction for the plates has begun online and will last until mid-September. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Robbie Williams inspires Jesus and Pope artwork Pottery firm plea to help industry 'on its knees' Pottery firms 'need faster action' from government Industrial strategy 'vital step' for pottery firms 1882 Ltd
BBC News
17-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Blind Staffordshire man 'humiliated' after Father's Day pub row
A blind man said he felt "humiliated" and was "left in tears" after he was forced to leave a pub when a row broke out over a table Pugh, from Stoke-on-Trent, said he was disrespected by staff when his family went to the Chatterley Whitfield in Tunstall on Saturday for an early Father's Day came after the table he booked specifically to allow enough room for his guide dog, Liberty, was unavailable, leading to the family being given another table Mr Pugh claimed was not suitable.A spokesperson for the pub said they were sorry Mr Pugh felt let down and a full investigation was being carried out. Mr Pugh told BBC Radio Stoke: "In all honesty, I just wanted to sit there crying. I'm fed up with these access issues - 88% of guide dog owners go through it."He went to the pub with his mother, father and brother, having booked a table months before, but once they arrived, they found out the table had been given to a larger said they were given a different table but it meant his dog Liberty was in the way of customers, who had to clamber over her to get to the bar. His mum and brother were overheard at the bar saying they would "leave a Google review", Mr Pugh said, when a member of staff ordered them to get out of the Mr Pugh got up to leave, he said a "complete stranger" accused him of swearing and causing said he was then approached by a staff member, who told him he could "clearly see" the number of customers they had, referring to the problem over his Pugh said it was this comment that caused him so much upset, leaving him "humiliated, dismissed and in tears"."It cuts like a knife because obviously my guide dog and me are invisible to them. They're not seeing me for me and my disability," he added. 'Make this right' Mr Pugh posted about the row on Facebook, which has been shared more than 6,000 times and garnered 5,700 reactions and 1,500 said it was the latest incident he had experienced, having previously had taxis drive past him when they spot his dog, and shops acting like he was a "nuisance".While he did not hold any hatred for the pub's staff, he wanted to see changes and wider awareness of blind people's situations."Everywhere I go there is a possibility that someone is going to say 'you're not welcome'…let's make this right," he added.A spokesperson for Chatterley Whitfield, which is owned by Greene King, said it was investigating the incident, which they described as "isolated" and said they would carry out further training for their staff."As an inclusive business we want everyone to feel safe and welcome in our pub. We recognise that on this occasion that the guest felt let down, and we apologise for that," they said. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'You can't find better people than Stokies'
Stoke-on-Trent has been marking its 100th birthday this week, after King George V declared it a city on 5 June 1925. As part of the celebrations, BBC Radio Stoke is gathering residents' stories and asking them to sign a giant oatcake card. These "Stokie stories" will be displayed in an exhibition later this year at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Hanley. Here are some of the Stokies who have spoken to us so far. Laura Price studied in London for two years and was so "terribly homesick" she couldn't wait to get back. "I absolutely hated it - the people weren't like Stokies, I missed Stoke." Laura says she particularly missed her hometown's friendly and chatty atmosphere. "You can't go into a shop in Stoke without [getting to know] the cashier's life story." "Just the craic, the laugh – you can't find better people than you can in Stoke-on-Trent." Laura, who returned after studying complementary therapies and beauty therapy, now works in the city and lives with her husband and daughter. Harji Kaur, who teaches Bollywood and Bhangra dance classes, says she feels "blessed" that people come to her sessions and enjoy themselves. "I am really grateful and thankful to the community," she says. "I am from a different country, from a different language, but still they accept me the way I am." Harji adds that she has psoriasis which has affected her bones, meaning that she is often in pain before a session starts. "[But] when I come to this class, when I see people come to me and they trust me, I just forget my pain," she says. Sue Smith moved to Stoke nine years ago with her husband Barry, after closing her eyes and pointing randomly to a place on a map of England. "As soon as we got here, I loved it," she says. Sue says her approach to life is to "try anything once" - she did a parachute jump when she was 18 and emigrated to Canada when she was 21. She returned to the UK in her 50s and met Barry. He died last year and Sue says losing him has been "the most horrendous thing". "We met in later life and we had lots of things planned," she says. "I really wish I'd met Barry when I was younger, but I didn't, and I had 14 wonderful years with him so it was magic." Moonii Jawadin was told he might die within a fortnight due to an aggressive type of leukaemia. "It was just a shock - being told you've got two weeks to live," he said. At one point during his illness, he was in an induced coma at Royal Stoke Hospital and his loved ones came to "say goodbye to me". "My sister was my donor and she saved my life. She's my hero - she can ask for anything and I'll get it [for] her," he says. "I wake up every day [now] knowing I can breathe, I can walk - these are all blessings that we take for granted," he says. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. 'This city accepts me as I am' - Stoke-on-Trent celebrates being 100 Events to celebrate city's 100th anniversary Giant oatcake and stories to mark city at 100 Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
War memorial for pottery workers to be replaced
Work to replace a memorial paying tribute to pottery workers who fought in both world wars has begun – 20 years after the original went missing. The plaque outside the Royal Doulton pottery in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, was believed to have been stolen shortly after the factory closed in 2005. The site has since been redeveloped into more than 200 homes, with developer St Modwen promising to replace the memorial. It will be built at the Nile Street housing estate, and will commemorate the former workers who fought in the wars and allied soldiers across the world. Work began on VE Day. Mike Lightfoot, who was an employee at Royal Doulton for two decades, told BBC Radio Stoke it meant a lot to him. "I worked with veterans on this site. I saw some of the lads with physical scars, and a lot with mental scars that we didn't recognise that day," he said. "It's in recognition, not just to the fallen, but the veterans who came back and carried on working." The names of the workers who died in World War One and World War Two will be listed on the memorial. Mr Lightfoot, who helped to organise the project, said he was keen to get in touch with families of the Burslem veterans to get further details about their service during the wars. The memorial is due to be completed before an unveiling ceremony takes place on 14 August. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Potteries to be developed with £10m fund Royal Doulton St Modwen Homes
