'Soul of city' music promoter's life celebrated

About 200 people have attended a celebration of life service for a popular music promoter and record store owner.

Father-of-two Mike Lloyd, 82, ran Music Mania in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, and died unexpectedly in December.

Born in Walsall, Mr Lloyd was awarded an OBE for his services to classical music, and was made honorary freeman of Stoke-on-Trent in 2025 for "an exceptional commitment to enriching the cultural and musical landscape" of the city.

"Stoke-on-Trent and the wider area will be poorer for Mike's passing," said friend and former lord mayor Anthony Munday, adding that he had been "privileged" to be at the earlier private funeral.

Senior figures from the city council were among those at the public celebration of his life on Wednesday afternoon at Stoke Minster.

Reverend Geoff Eze, who led the service, said Lloyd was able to curate a whole range of entertainment, and "picked out what would resonate with the soul of the city".

He let people see there was a "plethora of music not just in the city, but around the world they could have access to", adding that to be able do that continually and consistently required a character that was not looking to be at the front.

"He's the one that's going to tear off your ticket stub, but equally I suspect he'll be mopping up the floor once everyone's gone home."

Lloyd is one of 100 people who are commemorated on a wall mural in Hanley to celebrate the city's centenary.

"He was one of the bricks, if not one of the foundations, of what this city is today," said Eze.

Richard Masters, chair of Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre, took over that role following Lloyd's death.

"It was fabulous to see all those people there, which showed the depth of feeling there was for Mike, from people in the city," Masters said.

"I think we put on a show worthy of him, and he would've said 'great'."

Lloyd brought world-famous musicians to Stoke-on-Trent, he said, and added that the city owed Lloyd "greatly" for his contribution to culture.

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