Skip to content

Year of celebrations draws to a close

Richard PriceWest Midlands
News imageBBC A woman wearing mayoral robes and chain is seen holding a cloth and looking at a logo on an easel. There is a man wearing a black top atood to the side of the easel. On a white board is a logo with a blue bottle kiln and the number 100 in gold type.BBC
Councillor Lyn Sharpe unveiled the Stoke-on-Trent centenary logo during an event at Gladstone Pottery Museum

Stoke-on-Trent is reflecting on a year of cultural and commemorative projects as it celebrated its centenary year in 2025.

It was officially made a city by King George V on 5 June 1925 in recognition of the area's contribution to the pottery industry.

The local authority said that its centenary programme had been designed to support long-term regeneration, cultural participation and civic pride.

A series of legacy projects and partnerships would help carry on from initiatives started in 2025, leaders said.

These include the installation of heritage markers announced in December, creating a trail to help people explore the city's history.

Public art would also continue to develop, with the Art on Your Doorstep exhibition replaced with work by local artist Charles William Brown.

In addition, a memorandum of understanding has also recently been signed, which the council hopes will support long-held plans to transform the former Queen's Theatre in Burslem into an arts and music venue.

News imageStoke-on-Trent City Council An aerial view of people gathered together to display the number 100. They are standing on grass, which is partially covered in brown leaves.Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Stoke-on-Trent celebrated its centenary in 2025

Major regeneration projects, including Spode Works and Etruscan Square, would continue as part of wider investment plans, the local authority said.

It added that the city would also build on the creation of its centenary poet laureate, with activities planned across local schools and libraries.

Among the highlights from the centenary year, BBC Radio Stoke travelled around the city with a giant oatcake card, collecting messages for the city and "Stokie stories".

In May, the city's centenary logo was unveiled as a Lego sculpture and went on display at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery.

News imageA woman wearing a red patterned jacket and black jeans is stood in an ornamental garden next to a card which is the same height as her. The card resembles a traditional Staffordshire oatcake.
BBC Radio Stoke's Scarlett Hutton with the station's giant oatcake birthday card

The city's 100th anniversary itself, on 5 June, saw a series of events documented throughout the day by the BBC - including 10 people being honoured with the freedom of the city and the opening of a time capsule buried a century ago.

A few days after, a parade around Hanley formed the centrepiece of the year's celebrations.

The procession featured huge puppets, live music and dancing - with about 1,000 participants marching for 1.5 miles (2.4km) from College Road to finish at Hanley Park.

News imageA side of the building completely covered in a painted mural featuring 100 people gathered together with buildings and bottle kilns in the background.
Slash, Robbie Williams and Eddie Hall feature on a special mural, created to mark the city's centenary

In July, the city entered the record books, when 777 people took part in the world's largest cream tea party held across multiple venues.

Then, in September, a special mural was unveiled, featuring 100 famous people and community champions from Stoke-on-Trent.

News imageA group of people are stood with the arms raised. At the front is a pink banner which has white lettering that reads Big Centenary Tea Party.
In July, a new world record was set for the largest cream tea party held at multiple venues

Councillor Lyn Sharpe, the city's centenary champion, said the year had shown "what happens when people take something and make it their own".

She said: "From big events to small local moments, people across the city stepped forward.

"The celebrations may be ending, but the pride people showed is still there and that's what these next projects will build on."

News imageStoke-on-Trent City Council A Lego model of Stoke-on-Trent's centenary logo, which is made up of hundreds of grey, black, blue and white plastic bricks. Models of a Spitfire plane and a bottle oven can be seen in the middle, alongside the number 100 in gold Lego pieces and the word "Stoke-on-Trent" written in white along the bottom. Stoke-on-Trent City Council
A Lego version of Stoke-on-Trent's official centenary logo went on display at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery

Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of the city council, said the centenary year had helped "build confidence and momentum".

"We are using the legacy of the centenary to support long-term growth, opportunity and pride in Stoke-on-Trent," she said.

Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

More on this story
Related internet links