Thursday 23 June 2011

Summer Soirée hits the press!

Check out this Sentinel article on the Summer Soirée - thank you for the coverage This is Staffs!!

Hall to host dance project

Jx

Wednesday 15 June 2011

Come along to the Summer Soirée!!

BODY IMAGE DANCE

You are invited to a fundraising

Summer Soirée

Sunday 26 June 2011, 7-9pm
at Oakley Hall

Nr. Mucklestone, Shropshire TF9 4AG

By Kind Permission of Ann and Freddie Fisher

Ellie Davies is fundraising for a project which will raise awareness of body image issues in young people.

Ellie will play the piano and give a short talk about the
aims of her project. There will be a sealed bid auction.

Come and go as you like - stop by for 10 minutes or stay for 2 hours

Refreshments will be served throughout the evening.

No admission charge donations welcome

Friday 10 June 2011

LIDICE GATHERING TONIGHT!!

The Lidice commemorative gathering is taking place tonight in Fenton.....
Listen to my BBC radio debut to find out more! (00:46 mins)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00h3spk

Jx

Tuesday 7 June 2011

Lidice Lives in Stoke-on-Trent!

Lidice Commemorative Gathering –
Friday 10 June 2011, 6:15pm-7:30pm
Fenton Square, Christchurch Street, Fenton


A gathering to commemorate the destruction of the Czech village of Lidice by the Nazis during the second world war is due to take place in Fenton this Friday.

The people of Stoke-on-Trent will commemorate the tragedy of Lidice for the first time in 69 years this June, with a gathering in Fenton Square.

Not only will this be a chance to remember an often forgotten but important part of war time history, it will also be an opportunity for the people of Stoke-on-Trent to be proud of their heritage and to be a part of a city famous for its compassion.

After learning of the horrors of Lidice - where all men were murdered, the women sent to concentration camps and their homes razed to the ground – local Doctor and Politician Sir Bernard Strauss set up the Lidice shall Live campaign.  This saw nearly £1m being raised by the people of Stoke-on-Trent, particularly the regions miners, to rebuild the city and give them the support they desperately needed and deserved.

Stoke-on-Trent has had a special place in the people of Lidice’s hearts ever since, however very little is known of this history within our city.  This inspired Cheryl and Alan Gerrard, husband and wife team and owners of The Art Bay in Fenton, to set up new ties with the village by getting local schools involved in the annual International Children's Art Competition set up by the Lidice Gallery.

Friday 10 June is the anniversary of the events in Lidice, and Cheryl and Alan will be travelling over to the village to join in their commemorative events, while helping to build links on behalf of the city.  They will be fronting a quiz for the children while they are there, with questions set by stoke school children and prizes donated by one of their supporters, Staffordshire University.

At the same time, the first ever commemorative gathering will take place in Fenton, with poetry readings by local school children and poet Alan Barrett, performances by The Songbirds and the Methodist Choir, and an address by the Lord Mayor before wreaths are laid on the cenotaph in memory of the lives lost in Lidice.

Rob Ladgar will also be hosting a special day on 6Towns Radio – 6 Towns + 1.  This will include live streaming of the event on the website for people unable to attend, which will also be watched by Alan and Cheryl and the school children of Lidice.

It is hoped that this is the first step in raising awareness throughout the region, while inspiring civic pride amongst its inhabitants.



Notes to editors:

Reporters and photographers are welcome to attend the event – a full programme of the evenings activities can be found below.  Interviews can also be arranged pre or post event if required.

For more information or to set up an interview, contact Staffordshire University Communications Manager Judy O’Brien on 01782 29345 or j.l.o’brien@staffs.ac.uk

Order of events:

6:15pm: Arrival

6:30pm: Welcome by Glen Parkes

6:35pm: The Methodist Choir

6:40pm: Poetry (1) – Introduction by Alan Barrett

6:45pm: Songbirds (1&2)

6:50pm: Poetry (2)

7:00pm: Abbey Hill School Choir (1&2)

7:05pm: Poetry (3)

7:10pm: Lord Mayor’s address

7:15pm: Laying of wreaths with blessing by David Cameron

7:20pm: Poem by Alan Barrett

7:25pm: Songbirds perform ‘Mirror’

7:30pm: End

Wednesday 1 June 2011

Children of Lidice take on Stoke City!

Watch this super video made by Petr Sejkora and staff and pupils of Bustehrad School, just outside Lidice. Over there, Stoke is famous for its people, its warmth and compassion...... it doesn't stop these kids giving Stoke the run around though!!

Enjoy and then please share - this is cultural development in its truest form!
Bustehrad vs Stoke City


Jx