£1.25m bail out to keep cash-strapped school open

March 28, 2016, 9:28 pm

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ONE of the city's top-performing academies is to get a £1.25 million council handout so it can sponsor a school and save it from possible closure. Stoke-on-Trent City Council today defended the move, claiming Birches Head Academy is in such dire financial straits that it can't balance its books without the extra cash. But it will effectively mean handing over taxpayers' money to St Joseph's College, in Trent Vale, to prop up the school sponsorship deal. The problems are linked to...

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Horse dies after falling into city river

March 31, 2016, 6:04 am

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A HORSE has died after falling into a river.Firefighters were called out to fields off Birches Head Road in Birches Head just before 10.55am this morning.But the crews – who had come from Newcastle, Hanley and Leek – were unable to save the animal. The horse was pulled out of the River Trent with animal rescue equipment. A spokesman for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "They did manage to get the animal out of the water but sadly it had died."Crews eventually...

Horse dies after falling into city river

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The Way We Were: Elija Cotton's Nelson Pottery, in Hanley

April 11, 2016, 6:50 am

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MADAM, – I write regarding the article about Derrick Baddeley (The Way We Were, March 19).I worked at Elija Cotton's Nelson Pottery, in Hanley, from 1953 until it closed in the 1980s.I was in the decorating department first, as a gilder. Later, I was assistant to the decorating manager, Fred Wain. When he retired, I was made manager.There were about 40 ladies and five men, and we were quite a happy band.In the early days, Cotton's was noted for jugs. We had many good Christmas parties in...

The Way We Were: Elija Cotton's Nelson Pottery, in Hanley

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Who's been up in court? (Wednesday, April 20, 2016)

April 20, 2016, 6:22 am

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BIRCHES HEAD: Two men have pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour on November 13. Samuel Brunt, aged 18, of Woodward Street, Birches Head, and Sheridan Brown, aged 22, of Casewell Road, Sneyd Green, admitted the charge at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. Jay Malbon, aged 23, of HMP Nottingham, admitted threatening another with a knife on the same date. The three men will now be sentenced at a later date. Malbon was remanded in custody. The other two defendants were granted...

Who's been up in court? (Wednesday, April 20, 2016)

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Campaigners win fight to stop former post office being turned...

May 2, 2016, 10:30 pm

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FAMILIES have won their campaign to stop a former post office being turned into a takeaway. More than 70 people signed a petition and a further 24 wrote letters against plans to convert the old Birches Head Post Office into a fast food restaurant. They feared it would lead to a rise in noise and litter problems, as well difficulties with parking. Staffordshire Police also objected to the proposal, amid fears it would create anti-social behaviour. Now Stoke-on-Trent City Council has...

Campaigners win fight to stop former post office being turned...

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'I met my husband thanks to free ticket to The Place'

May 8, 2016, 12:00 am

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SUSAN Perry's mother had a quick assessment of the boy from the nation's capital who had just dropped off her daughter – "London? They're all murderers from down there!"But that was the night , December 1, 1964, that Susan met her husband, Londoner Alan Woods.The couple had first locked eyes on each other at Europe's first discotheque, Hanley's now legendary The Place.Susan Woods, who was living with her parents in Birches Head at the time, said: "I remember at the time I...

'I met my husband thanks to free ticket to The Place'

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Police sniffed out cannabis in vehicle on car park

June 17, 2016, 8:00 pm

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POLICE noticed a strong smell of cannabis after spotting a vehicle on a car park in the early hours of the morning. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard there were three men in the car, with the driver being Otis Fox. Officers then searched the 26-year-old's Birches Head home and discovered a stash of drugs. The 26-year-old, of Whitehaven Grove, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to possession of 846 milligrams of cannabis on February 7. Rob Glenn, defending, told the court: ...

Police sniffed out cannabis in vehicle on car park

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Man died in hospital after being placed on life-support following...

July 12, 2016, 8:00 pm

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THE mother of a 33-year-old man has paid tribute to her son after he died following a lengthy battle with alcoholism.Sheryl Sims described her son Steven as 'very much loved' after a coroner found his death was caused by his drink problem.An inquest heard Mr Sims had 'some level of control' over his addiction before the death of his great-grandmother took him 'over the edge'.Following a fall at his Fenton home, he was taken to hospital and placed on a life-support machine.However, ...

Man died in hospital after being placed on life-support following...

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The Way We Were: City of Stoke-on-Trent locomotive in the 70s

July 22, 2016, 2:00 am

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MADAM, – I read with interest the Museum Treasures article giving details of the locomotives that carried the name of the 'City of Stoke-on-Trent' (The Way We Were, July 9).There was a third locomotive to bear the name of the city and this was Class 86 Electric Locomotive, number 86 206. It was officially named at a ceremony at Stoke Station on December 15, 1978.I was present at the unveiling and was able to capture some of the event on my camera, although the quality of the photographs...

The Way We Were: City of Stoke-on-Trent locomotive in the 70s

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Valentine Clays starts work on new multi-million pound HQ in...

September 21, 2016, 9:00 pm

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CONSTRUCTION has started on a clay manufacturer's new multi-million pound headquarters which will create 25 jobs.Valentine Clays revealed earlier this year it would be moving its operations from its Birches Head facility to a new purpose-built site in Fenton.The move is part of an ambitious expansion project to double its workforce to 46 and increase production.It will see the construction of a new warehouse, distribution facility and two new factories.Read more: Valentine Clays set to double...

Valentine Clays starts work on new multi-million pound HQ in...

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The Way We Were: Fishing and bonfires in Sneyd Green after World...

September 23, 2016, 1:36 am

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Reg Curwen shares his memories of building bonfires, fishing in the canal and teapot lid rides. By Colette WarbrookIN A scene captured more than seven decades ago, a group of young Potteries anglers while away the long summer holiday with a spot of fishing.The picture was taken by a Sentinel photographer shortly after the country was released from the grip of the Second World War.Of course, wartime rationing would continue for a number of years, but Britain had returned to peacetime.Reg Curwen,...

The Way We Were: Fishing and bonfires in Sneyd Green after World...

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Couple's heartbreak after son, 2, dies from sepsis following...

November 30, 2016, 9:00 pm

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Parents Rob and Lynette Schonau have spoken of their heartbreak after their two-year-old son died suddenly.Little Oscar Schonau had picked up chickenpox and appeared to be on the road to recovery.But he was then struck down with blood poisoning and there was nothing that could be done to save him.Tests are now being carried out to see whether the chickenpox was linked to the sepsis.And his grief-stricken family are raising money for the Donna Louise Children's Hospice where Oscar was taken...

Couple's heartbreak after son, 2, dies from sepsis following...