Reece
Aged 13, of Tunstall who wants to be a famous YouTube video creator.
I am Reece and originally from Stoke-On- Trent. I have lived here all my life (13 years). I like to spend my time making YouTube videos or riding bikes. I want to be a famous You Tuber, like Tanner Fox or Jake Paul, or a mechanic mending cars and motorbikes.
I am part of a large family spread out across the potteries. I like Tunstall and the shops in Hanley, and the woods and countryside close to where I live in Tunstall.
I feel happy about being shortlisted and excited.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPsPwUvhThEtTvq4hHx52Zg/videos
Nicole
Aged 26, of Hanley, who is opening her own sandwich bar.
I’ve always lived in Stoke on Trent, currently living in Hanley. I am opening a sandwich restaurant/bar in Piccadilly, Hanley called ‘The Slamwich Club’.
I really believe that it is an exciting time for Stoke – lots of young, creative and ambitious people that can (and are!) making a real difference to the city and I want to be part of it. Stokies are always the most welcoming and friendly bunch of the lot. They are also some of the most creative and hard working people I know, we have a great entrepreneurial spirit in Stoke and it’s contagious.
The future of Stoke also excites me – I feel passionate about our city’s history and heritage but even more so about its future and what we can achieve together. Being shortlisted is a big surprise for me. It’d be an absolute honour to be the face of Stoke on Trent!
Jozef
I was born in Stoke-on-Trent. At 16 I started having some troubles with my mental health and I turned to the YMCA for support. They helped me to become my own person again, to fight my mental health problems and to feel positive with myself.
My life is on the up now. I’ve moved out of the hostel and am in my own place. I’m working at the Spar shop and also as part of the catering team. Coming back to the YMCA the second time, when I was a little bit older, really opened my eyes to the difficult situations people living here often face. It’s made me want to train to become a mental health support worker. I think if you’ve faced some of the situations yourself it can help you to understand. I’m really grateful for the support I’ve been given at the YMCA, I feel it is enabled me to turn my life from negative to positive and I’d like to be able to do the same for other people in the future.
Sarah
My name’s Sarah and I live in Abbey Hulton. I like spending time with family and my fiancé Jordan. I love doing drama and I’m part of Masque Theatre Company. I’ve been acting with Masque Theatre Company for over 10 years now! I also love to dance and took part in Stoke’s Got Talent. I volunteer at the MAC club (a social club) and also at a local nursery school where I help to prepare meals.
The thing I like about Stoke is that people get treated equally. I think that’s really important. In some places if you are seen to be different in any way people might whisper behind your back or stare, that’s not very nice, but in Stoke I feel we respect each other no matter our differences. I feel really proud to have been shortlisted.
Vikram Deo
Aged 18, of Maybank, a college student who is studying business and enjoys travelling.
I was born in Stoke-On-Trent and have lived in Maybank since my birth. I am currently a college student and studying business at NULC. I love to travel and recently went to Japan on my own, and learned that life is short and if you don’t take opportunities you will come to regret them. If you try and learn about different cultures it can open your mind and you will become a better person for it. I would like to go university in japan and teach english as a foreign language.
What I like about Stoke-On-Trent is that its home and its home to a lot of different and wonderful people, if I go to other cities in England it feels like people aren’t as genuine, you get that type of air about being in Stoke where people are genuinely nice and home is where good people come together and enjoy moments, memories and emotions. It feels kind of surreal in a sense that there were so many portraits of people involved in this project and I was shortlisted, I feel extremely happy and proud and hope that this project can show the true culture of Stoke-On-Trent.
Dan
I’m from, live and work Stoke-on-Trent and I love everything about it. From every ‘Ayup Duck’ to every oatcake Stoke-on-Trent is culture that you take with you for life. Stoke-on-Trent IS home. Stoke-on-Trent is the warmth of an entire city accepting differences in culture, race, sexuality and much more. Stoke-on-Trent IS culture.
I’m proud to be from Stoke-on-Trent and will always find myself standing up for Stoke and shouting from the rooftops (at any given moment) about how good the city is. With my involvement with community radio station I have been honoured give local people a voice. A lot of cities are credited with making the people, but this city, OUR City is made by the people.
Matt
I’ve lived in Stoke all my life, I grew up in Trent Vale and now I live in Bucknall with my boyfriend, Lexi.
I’ve always been interested in performance and dance and have been lucky enough to be part of the Breakthrou’ dance group working with FRONTLINEdance. I currently assist creative dance workshops as a volunteer. I also develop my own dance and choreography skills. We have just created our first solo dance for film, which is going live for everyone to see very soon. In the future I’d like to take my dance and performance further.
Roanna
I am not originally from Stoke-on-Trent and only moved to the area around two months ago to start my job at the hospital in Pharmacy. In the future, I would like to do more travelling.
What I like about Stoke-on-Trent is that the people are really kind and friendly. I feel surprised that I have been asked to take part as I wasn’t expecting anything!
Martin
I was born and bred in this area (1956) and apart from three years at art college down in Luton, I have been a resident in Basford for all that time. I left my job in 2004, mainly to care for my elderly father, do freelance design work and learn how to relax. My hobbies have been tenpin bowling, with which I was just about adequate and collecting American comicbooks, which I am hugely knowledgeable or “nerdy” if you prefer. I landscape sketch while I am on holiday and have find that there is no better way of unwinding and relieving stress.
My father passed away in 2011 after suffering from terminal throat cancer and I was his sole carer during this long period, and I took over his position in the local community as the President of the Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire Hebrew Congregation.
Margaret
My Mum, Margaret Baker, was born in April 1924 and lived in Trent Vale for the first part of her life. When the war began she joined the Munitions Factory at Swynnerton and helped to make bombs. I remember her telling me she took part in a First Aid Competition once and the prize was to help in the First Aid Room, she loved that as she would have loved to have been a nurse.
She met my Dad at a church event and they became engaged during the war. Dad sent back the money for an engagement ring to his Mother, but at the time her false teeth had broken, and so my mother’s intended ring was turned into a pair of new false teeth. This didn’t stop them though and they married in February 1946. Mum helped my Dad to run a pub from the early sixties and (although she never drank) she was the perfect landlady; always ready to lend an ear, serve a perfect pint, serve a great meal and evict those who’ve had one too many.
She was the type of person who would give you her last penny, always ready with a smile and a cup of tea and a very special lady in the eyes of all who knew her. She died at the age of 69 in May, 1993. That’s my mum, she never won a Nobel Prize or an Oscar, but to us and to her grandchildren, she was the best person in the world.
Jordan
I moved to the area in 2014, to study film production at Staffordshire University. I have just recently graduated this year and decided to continue my studies, by doing a Masters in film production.
My life is over the top, to many things to pin point as from when I moved to Staffordshire University everything has been an amazing experience. My one main ambition would be to one day to go back to my hometown and direct a movie with everyone in it, to show where I come from.
The main thing I would say I like about Stoke-on-Trent is how quiet it is, as I come from London I am used to a lot of noise, so I really enjoy the peace and quite of Stoke life.
Clare
I have always lived in Stoke-on-Trent. I have a partner, two daughters aged 28yrs and 22yrs and have a grandson and soon to be born granddaughter. My elderly father lives with us on our smallholding, and we call him the bird man of Blacklake, due to all the wild birds that come to visit his bird table each day. My close family and extended family all live around Stoke- on-Trent and we all have strong family values and support one another.
Going to University as a mature student was a life changing experience. It enabled me to better my personal career, fulfilment
and provide for my family. I am a cancer research nurse working at our local university hospital. I get a lot of job satisfaction helping our patients, who have a strength of character that is truly inspirational when undergoing the most toughest period in their lifes’ journey.
Nick
Born and raised in Biddulph, I’ve lived most of my adult life in or near Hanley. I’m a retired English teacher – 32 years in the profession in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire as a Head of English – 30 of those years were spent at Berry Hill High School and Painsley Catholic College. As well as the teaching, I’m the lead singer/accordionist frottoir player for swamp’n’roll band Elvis Fontenot.
I’m a senior examiner for one of the GCSE exam boards and a published author of educational books – revision guides – for Harper Collins. Also, I’m a semi-professional photographer with an interest in mainly music and street photography. I’ve had my photography used by the Cajun musician and cook Sarah Savoy and musicians such as Richard Hawley, Jason Isbell and many others.
Chan
I was born in Stoke-on-Trent in 1972, and I still live in the area.
I am currently in Trentham, originally from Stoke near the railway station.
Our extended family are active members of our local Sikh community, and have been since the early seventies. We have two sons and they are budding cricket players, and one just very recently was selected for the Staffordshire Moorlands district under 10’s cricket team.
Pauline
I’ve been in Stoke 58 years. I was born in Burslem, lived in Blurton and now Bentilee.
I work as a counter assistant at Barnetts Cooked Meats store inside Longton Market. I’ve been working inside markets for over 22 years now. I enjoy eating out, drinking socially, and visiting family. I’ve met some wonderful people over the years at work and everyday life, and I will carry on working hard for as long as possible and keep active.
I like the people of Stoke-on-Trent and it will always be my home!
Anonymous
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery is located in Hanley, one of the six towns which form the city of Stoke-on- Trent. The museum has outstanding collections of Natural History, Fine Art, Local History, and Ceramics.
As well as this, The Potteries Art Gallery houses an undigitised, historic photography archive that brings together the identities that go into forming the area known as the Potteries. Our team made digital copies of many of the archival images, and this anonymous face stood out.
Sania
My name is Sania Maqbool and I am 17 years old.
I arrived in this country in 2011 without a word of English. From a very young age I have faced many difficulties and had to overcome many barriers so, for me where I am standing now is a huge success. My ambition is to go to University and study Law; I hope to become a Lawyer in the future. I take great interest in different cultures and would like to travel to learn new languages. I consider myself to be a driven person who likes to take on new challenges.
I feel honoured to be one of the short-listed faces of Stoke on Trent. My family moved from Pakistan due to Political reasons. We weren’t sure exactly what was happening in the first few initial months of moving but both agree they now feel settled. Everyone we know are very kind and helpful people. We now love Stoke as we get treated just like out family members used to treat us.
Geoff
I was born in Burslem, the mother town in 1960. I’ve two grown children and seven grandchildren. My wife and I will be celebrating 40 years of marriage next March. My greatest passion, apart from my family is Foxfield Railway, at Blythe Bridge, where I’ve been a volunteer for many years. You’ll find me there most weekends as guide, guard, signalman, and at Christmas, ‘Magic’ the entertainer!
My family roots are in the city, where many of them worked in the creative pottery market, the steelworks, and the mines. The hardships they endured politicised me to a degree, helping me to realise that there was a lot of hard work behind that beautiful piece of pottery or that nice warm fire in the hearth.
Janine
I was born in Stoke-on-Trent, living in Endon, before moving across to Blythe Bridge aged 11, where I currently reside having purchased my nan’s house after she sadly passed two years ago.
I’m a communications manager for a crop protection company and am lucky enough to work from home. Aside from this, I’m involved with a pedigree rare breed pig enterprise with my partner. We have a small herd of pedigree Tamworth pigs including a fabulously handsome boar called Gary. We also have 100 sheep and two pygmy goats. Next year we hope to engage in the Christmas turkey trade.
Stoke-on-Trent will always be home for me. I like the fact that people don’t have airs and graces and you can always make friends in the most unexpected of places.
Eyob
I am Eyob Asmelash and I come from Eritrea.
I was in the army in my country and I came to Stoke on Trent in 2015. I am a care worker now hoping to be a nurse in the future.I love to run marathons and this year in June I came 4th in the Stoke on Trent half marathon my time was 1:17:08. I run with the Trentham runners. I am very honoured for my photo to be chosen. Stoke-on-Trent is the best city to live in because the people are so friendly.
Margaret
She was born here, loved the Potteries, and was well known for her caring for people in her community of Goldenhill and Stoke-on-Trent. Our city & its people were part of her thinking, her being, her heart, and her DNA.
She worked in the pottery Grindleys and was proud to be a freehand painter, a bander, a liner, and a trainer, who taught many others her skills. She met her future husband at 5 years old in nursery school and they subsequently married and had a long and happy marriage with two children. She sadly died aged 96. She was the embodiment of a kind smiling welcoming hard-working Stokie person and loved and respected by many.
Tom
This is Tom. He was born in Stoke-on-Trent at the brilliant Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Whilst he was a baby/toddler he attended many play groups and activities in the city where he met lots of friends. At the weekends he does many activities including swimming lessons, rugby classes, taking part in activities at The Potteries Centre, visiting soft play centres, going to the cinema, visiting the museum to name but a few. In this photo he is enjoying an ice cream at Trentham Gardens where we spend lots of time (and have lots of ice creams).