Staffordshire's Community Life
A sideways look at life in the county
If you're looking for a run-down of the daily BBC coverage of serious news in the county, please go to the BBC News Search and type in "Staffordshire" - and you'll get the full day by daylist
December 2004
Newest stories at the top, ie in date reverse order | Lee heads the honours Lee Pearson, the three-times gold Paralympics winner, was awarded an OBE in this year's New Year's Honours List. 31/12/04
See Staffordshire's New Years Honours
Staffordshire - home of beer Yet another micro-brewery is setting in Staffordshire. Peakstones Rock Brewery has been set up by Dave Edwards from Cheadle and his friend Steve Butler, from nearby Oakamoor. Production gets underway from March, but Dave says they've already let regulars at Ye Olde Star Inn in Cotton sample it....as that's where they came up with the idea! The regulars, incidentally, approved.... 30/12/04
Staffordshire responds The horror of the Boxing Daytsunami in the Indian Ocean affected all those who witnessed the aftermath, even all of us thousands of miles away. Almost immediately, charitable organisations, large and small, across Staffordshire began organising fund-raising. See Staffordshire fund-arises for Quake victims. 29/12/04
Vale song A group of Port Vale fans who dreamed of playing for the club have had their wishes come true through music. A local band called "Cocks' Entry" - named after a street in Burslem - will play the "Port Vale War Cry" at the club's next home game.
The lead singer Bazzer from Sneyd Green says they were inspired by the original war Cry song from the 1920s: the band is made up of lead singer Bazza from Sneyd Green, drummer Mad Mick, John from Packmoor, Tiny Tim - whose real name is Russell - and Dave from Chell. The band's named after Brick House Street, just off Market Place, in Burslem town centre. The street's local nickname came from the Cock Inn where cockfighting took place in the eighteenth century. 24/12/04
Drugs - would Rob go back to them? Stoke's own Robbie Williams has revealed that he would still be taking drugs if they did not make him fat; he said his years of cocaine, ecstasy and alcohol addiction had given him some of the best times in his life, even though he is now clean after a spell in rehab.20/12/04
Is Robbie being irresponsible? Make your vote
Staffs brewers making Xmas a little safer Burton's brewing giant Coors has unveiled plans to launch a lower-alcohol version of its Carling lager in time for Christmas. Coors said it will introduce a 2% ABV version of Carling, dubbed C2, on December 20th. With luck, beer drinking drivers will now realise they do have a choice...20/12/04
Canals, roads, whatever - we're the busiest Llangollen Canal in North Staffordshire is the busiest in Britain. That's according to research published by British Waterways. This is on top of the fact that the M6 Motorway is the busiest in Europe.
New tearooms for summer! Mick Barlow, owner of Middle Hulme Grange on the moorlands north of Leek, says he'll open it up a new tearoom and craft centre in time for summer. This has come as welcome news to conservationists, who are relieved that the farmhouse, parts of which are thought to date back to the 12th Century, will be saved for future generations. Some of the stone and features used in the building came from nearby Dieulacres Abbey, founded in 1214 and dissolved during the Reformation in 1538.
Middle Hulme Farm is nearly a mile up the road from Tittesworth reservoir centre and close to to the Roaches. 17/12/2004
See our page about the Roaches - and make a comment!
Old soldiers refuse to give up Members of the Staffordshire Regimental Association, haves been reacting angrily to the government's announcement that the Stafford and Cheshire regiments are to merge. They'll form the new Mercian Regiment along with the Worcester and Sherwood Foresters.
John Bolas, a member of the 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment's Old Comrades Association, said: "It is a sad day in the history of this great regiment." He said he was also concerned about the effect on the morale of the regiment, due to go to Iraq next year.
Jeff Elson, of Rugeley, a third generation Stafford after his father and grandfather, has written books on the regiment and is a volunteer at the regimental museum at Whittington Barracks. He said: "The men will be disappointed because they have such strong allegiance to the regiment and I don't think they will have that for the new one".
(To read up on the story, go to our News Search and type in "Staffordshire Regiment"). 16/12/2004
What do you think? - have your say
Sam's Story A Leek schoolboy has come second in the final of a national storytelling competition. Sam Parker from St Edward's Middle School in Leek wrote a pirate tale "Words Of Silver" for the contest, organised by the The Prince of Wales Arts & Kids Foundation. It was also judged the best in region. 15/12/2004
See Sam's Story in full
Condoms up and down The supermarket chain Asda is reporting that shoppers at its Tamworth store are the least likely to buy... condoms! Strangely, just a few miles away, its store in Wolverhampton is doing record business for them, second only to a branch in Edinburgh, in selling more condoms per sq foot than any in the UK. The chain is backing a drive to encourage sexual health awareness. 15/12/2004
Stoke pottery giants to become one The long-awaited takeover of Royal Doulton by Waterford-Wedgwood (a friendly affair they tell us) moved into top gear this week.
To read up on the story, go to our News Search and type in "Waterford Wedgwood". 15/12/2004
What do you think? - enter Stuart's debate
Tin Can man meets the Queen A Staffordshire man is going to meet the Queen after raising over £250,000 for the Douglas Macmillan Hospice. John Lees from Werrington, nicknamed the tin can man, raised the money by standing in shops and in supermarkets with a collection tin. He was inspired to help after his wife stayed at the hospice thirteen years ago, and will be honoured as a community champion at Buckingham Palace. Well done John! 06/12/2004
Culture website on line A website giving details of cultural organisations across Cheshire is now up and running. It's showcasing arts, heritage, leisure, entertainment and sport in the county.
The site also has over five thousand entries from the rest of the UK and the world. See www.cheshire.culture.info
04/12/2004
Stafford district luvvies! The organisers of a £30,000 theatre project in part of Stafford say they hope it'll bring the local community closer together. The Doxey Community Association says they are on the lookout for any budding actors, musicians and stage crew from the Doxey area to take part. 03/12/2004
For details, see our Am Dram Pages
Robbie's mum backs Christmas toy appeal Jan Williams, the mother of the Stoke-on-Trent popstar Robbie, is supporting the Salvation Army's Pass the Parcel Toy appeal.
She helped to wrap some of the gifts donated by members of the public in north Staffordshire. The presents are being sent sent to youngsters across the country in time for Christmas. See Pass The Parcel website, and also the Robbie Charity website
01/12/2004
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