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
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Knives and ivory stolen in 'targeted burglary'
Knives, ivory ornaments and a historic telescope have been stolen from a vacant house in Guernsey. Guernsey Police said the ten ivory items, several knives, a glass paperweight, two vases, and an iron field telescope had been stolen from the Castel home in a "targeted burglary". The force said it had asked local and UK militaria dealers and auction houses whether the items had been presented to them, but the items had not been traced. Officers asked anyone who had seen the items or been offered them for sale to come forward. They said the ivory pieces included two elephants, an owl, a bookmark, a pair of boots and five male figures. Also stolen were a multi-coloured paperweight, a red glass vase, a blue china vase and the telescope which is thought to originate from World War Two, they added. More news stories for Guernsey Listen to the latest news for Guernsey Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Guernsey Police
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Wonderful tributes to Stroud legend as hundreds pack venue
WITH a colourful procession of several hundred people, John Marjoram was laid to rest in the June sunshine, surrounded by a circle of family, friends and the many people who had been inspired by the 'fearless and feisty' former mayor of Stroud. The funeral of John Marjoram, held in the heart of the town in the Subscription Rooms on Monday, was a perfect celebration of a man who lived life as a campaigner for peace and his community. With around 450 people sitting in an intimate semi-circle in the Sub Room's ballroom, with more sitting on the stage and balcony and standing at the back, it was no surprise that the venue reached capacity. Outside on the forecourt a further 50 people stood in the sun coming together to remember and celebrate John. The service opened in the Quaker tradition with a silent contemplation. Fiona Meadley, of Painswick Quakers invited the gathering, to sit in silence and 'reach the peace that lies beyond words.' The eulogy was given by Aaron Mirkin of Stroud's Christian Community who invited us to remember our 'feisty and fearless friend John Marjoram.' He recounted John's 'deep humanity, kindness and courage and his capacity to offer up everything he had for what he believed was right, and doing this by 'thinking globally and acting locally.' 'He had a natural and instinctive vision for a better world - the world how it could be - a vision of the world of peace of love and brotherhood and sisterhood.' The eulogy described John's love of nature, his lifelong pacifism and his commitment to the community of Stroud, and beyond. John grew up in rural Essex in the 1940s, the start of his enduring love of nature. The experiences of his two uncles - one of whom was a conscientious objector during World War One and the other a veteran of the war who told John of the horrors he'd seen - inspired John to campaign for peace throughout his life. He became involved with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Peace Pledge Union, and was twice arrested for breaking into American military bases. John moved to Stonehouse in 1967 and then to Stroud in 1970. He worked as a gardener at Wynstones School and then at the Home Farm Trust in Frocester where he worked for 29 years until he retired. In 1975 John co-founded the Stroud district branch of the Ecology Party, which later became the Green Party. In 1986 he became one of the first Green councillors in the UK and represented the Trinity ward seat on Stroud District Council for 35 years. He was also one of the first councillors elected to Stroud Town Council when it was formed in 1990. He campaigned to save many important landmarks of Stroud - Hill Paul, Woodchester Mansion, Uplands Post Office, Lansdown Hall - and to save the Subscription Rooms from private ownership and Stroud Maternity Hospital from closure. In 2023 John was honoured with the first Honorary Freeman of the Town in recognition of his services to the community. 'We're going to miss our feisty and fearless friend very much,' Aaron told the gathering before encouraging us 'to take up the weighty baton he passed on to us' and remember his mission that; 'if we don't do the impossible, we will be faced with the unthinkable.'' (Image: Annabel Richmond) John's wife Laura Ridolfi read the poem 'I Love You,' by Mario Benedetti which was followed by a prayer and a short song for peace. It is believed to be the first time the Subscription Rooms has ever hosted a funeral, and it was a fitting venue for the funeral of Stroud's former mayor whose life was lived at the heart of the community. John's simple coffin adorned with flowers was carried out into the sunshine on the forecourt and onto a hand cart for a slow procession to Stroud Cemetery. Stroud's Red Band accompanied the colourful procession of several hundred people - some carrying rainbow Peace flags - which made its way up Stroud High Street, past John's home on Castle Street and along Horn's Road to Stroud Cemetery. The procession arrived at the cemetery to the band's gentle playing of Wonderful World and He Ain't Heavy, He's my Brother. John was laid to rest in the beautiful June sunshine, surrounded by a circle of family and friends, the sound of birdsong, wood pigeons, the scent of elderflower, and ending with a rendition of Kahlil Gibran's words on the nature of death, from The Prophet. It was the perfect remembrance of a man whose lifelong work had inspired so many. Following the burial, friends were invited to return to the Sub Rooms for a bring-and-share lunch, and a relaxed memorial gathering to share memories and celebrate John's life. (Image: Annabel Richmond) (Image: Annabel Richmond) Well over 100 people came to remember and share their memories and stories – with contributions from such Stroud icons as Jehanne and Rob Mehta and Will Mercer (aka Earthwards), who performed Jehanne's evocatively beautiful song 'This Place'; the Green Party's Molly Scott-Cato and Lucas Schoemaker and Elvis ('The Poet') McGonagall. Adrian Keefe, music therapist from Mindsong, played some of John's favourite songs. Political and more personal memories were woven with humour, love and a great sense of loss. The assembled gathering also shared CAKE, Lisa's remarkable sugar-free, gluten-free vegan cakes, for John was a great lover of good cake. And perhaps inevitably, the wonderful sharing of memories and stories about John was ended with the old crooner, Frank Sinatra, singing 'I Did It My Way': so often a coarse karaoke cliché, these days, of course, but in the case of John Marjoram and his great life's work, an entirely fitting ending to a memorable day in Stroud's history.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Europe's rights body says Hungary's transparency bill threatens human rights
BUDAPEST (Reuters) -The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights has called on Hungarian lawmakers to reject or amend a bill that targets foreign-funded NGOs and media, citing concerns over human rights violations. In a letter published on Wednesday and addressed to parliament Speaker Laszlo Kover, Commissioner Michael O'Flaherty said the legislation "allows for severe interferences in the functioning of civil society organisations, to the point that the continuation of their activities may become impossible." The Council of Europe, the continent's leading human rights watchdog, was formed after World War Two to uphold rights and the rule of law. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz party submitted a bill to parliament on May 14 that would draw up a list of organisations that get foreign funding and restrict or even shut them down if deemed to threaten Hungary's sovereignty and its culture. Orban - who has repeatedly clashed with the EU over policies that critics say erode democracy in Hungary - has described such groups as a "shadowy army" funded by foreign powers to undermine the state. He pledged to crack down on foreign funding of independent media, opposition politicians and NGOs in March, stepping up his campaign ahead of elections due in 2026 where he faces a serious challenge from a new opposition party. O'Flaherty, whose office has an independent mandate to promote respect for human rights among the Council's 46 member states, urged lawmakers to refrain from adopting the legislation unless it is modified to comply with international human rights laws. The bill is expected to be approved in mid-June as Orban's party holds a parliamentary majority. The proposed law triggered protests and over 80 editors from leading European news outlets signed a petition last month calling for the scrapping of the legislation. Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said last month that the bill was introduced "in response to escalating concerns about foreign-funded organisations".
