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Centenary mural with faces of 100 Stokies unveiled today - here's who's on it

The public can view it from tomorrow

[A special centenary mural is set to be unveiled in Stoke-on-Trent on September 13]

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A special centenary mural is set to be unveiled in Stoke-on-Trent on September 13

A special centenary mural will be unveiled at an event in Stoke-on-Trent tonight (September 13). Known as '100 Years 100 Faces', the artwork celebrates a century of the city's diverse spirit and stories.

From music icons to renowned ceramicists and plenty of categories in between, the mural features lots of the faces you'd expect, with lesser known figures' stories also being told. Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID has been revealing the names of those included in the artwork by each category over recent weeks.

So far 73 names have been revealed. The public will be able to have their first look at the mural on Sunday.

In a post on Facebook, Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID said: "We're so immensely proud of this special mural we've commissioned - the work that's gone into this whole project from artists Rob Fenton and Alastair Barnett has been nothing short of incredible. The public voted in their hundreds earlier this year and whilst we'd have loved for many more Stokies (born and bred and honorary) to be featured, an impartial panel of judges had the tricky task of whittling down to the final 100."

Here's who's on the list:

Media

Luke Hamnett

A rising star on social media and television, known for creating the comedic character Matthews Mum' with a combined following of nearly three million across TikTok and Instagram. He has gone on to present the red carpet coverage at the Brit Awards with Meta, as well as hosting his own podcast with his beloved mum.

Anthea Turner

Turner moved into television through Sky Channel and Music Box presenting live music programmes from July 1986 to 1989. She presented Top of the Pops from October 1988 to May 1991, and, for the final 18 months of this period, was the only non-Radio 1 DJ to do so regularly.

Bruno Brookes

Trevor Neil "Bruno" Brookes, born in 1959 in Stoke-on-Trent, rose to prominence as a British radio presenter in the 1980s. Brookes became a familiar voice to millions, particularly as the host of the UK Top 40 singles chart between 1986 and 1990, and again from 1992 to 1995.

Sam Plank

Sam Plank, born Terry Hilton (1948/1949 10 February 2011), was a well-known British local radio broadcaster, recognised for his engaging, talk-based programs in Staffordshire, The Potteries, and Stoke-on-Trent. He was a familiar voice on BBC Radio Stoke and Signal 2, where he connected deeply with his audience through lively discussions and community-focused content.

Fred Hughes

Fred began writing weekly columns for The Sentinel and has since penned around a million words for his local newspaper. Hes also been published in nationally acclaimed history magazines and presented numerous historical travel shows for BBC Radio Stoke.

Nick Hancock

Hancock hosted the sports quiz They Think It's All Over for a decade. He also formerly presented Room 101 (19941999) on TV, as well as its earlier radio version (19921994). His early television credits also include working with Jasper Carrott in Carrott Confidential (1989), and The Mary Whitehouse Experience (1989-1992), and Me, You and Him.

Business

Denise Coates CBE

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Denise Coates(Image: Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel)

The British businesswoman is best known for founding and leading online gambling company Bet365. Through the Denise Coates Foundation, she has made substantial contributions to causes such as healthcare, education, poverty relief, and international disaster aid.

John Caudwell

A British billionaire entrepreneur born in Birmingham in 1952, is best known for founding the former UK mobile phone retailer Phones 4u. After selling his business, he remains influential through his investments and by founding Caudwell Children, a charity dedicated to supporting disabled and autistic children across the UK.

Mohammed Ishaq "Mo" Chaudry

The British Pakistani entrepreneur built a fortune exceeding 100 million, becoming one of the UKs most influential businessmen. He earned honorary degrees from both Staffordshire universities in 2008 and was awarded the 'Star of Pakistan' in 2020 for his contributions to the Pakistani and British communities.

Gareth Higgins

Group Managing Director of KMF, where he has driven the companys growth from 1m to over 38m by investing in staff development and a dedicated Apprentice Training Centre that recruits ten-15 apprentices annually. He also took part in the Tower to Tower challenge, completing a 530km cycle, row and walk from Paris to London to raise funds for the Donna Louise Trust.

Ralph Goodwin

Founding R. Goodwin & Sons in 1883, establishing a family-run iron foundry that grew into a leading specialist in heavy engineering and high-performance castings. His legacy lives on in Goodwin plc, now a FTSE 250 company and one of the oldest firms on the London Stock Exchange, still strongly connected to the Goodwin family.

Carol Shanahan OBE

A prominent business leader, philanthropist, and advocate for community development in Stoke-on-Trent. As the co-owner and chair of Port Vale Football Club, she has been instrumental in revitalising the club and strengthening its ties with the local community.

Politics

Lyn Sharpe

From raising money for Emmaus North Staffs, to volunteering at the local food bank and named 'Campaigner of the Year' for her 30 years of involvement with CAMRA, she is widely recognised across the city .

Doug Brown

A lifelong community leader in Stoke, trained as a physiotherapist during WWII, later serving in the NHS and as Stoke Citys physio. Beyond politics - twice serving as Lord Mayor - he founded initiatives like Lads and Dads and Match Mates, earning national recognition, an honorary degree from Keele University and multiple civic honours.

Jack Ashley

From a working-class upbringing in Cheshire to become a prominent Labour MP and later a member of the House of Lords. After losing his hearing in 1968, he became a tireless advocate for the disabled and disadvantaged, championing causes such as rights for widows, sexual assault victims, and victims of the thalidomide tragedy.

Majid Khan

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Majid Khan(Image: Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel)

First elected as a councillor in 2010 for Tunstall and re-elected the following year to represent Etruria and Hanley ward. He has served on the audit, children and young peoples and adults and neighbourhoods committees, and has been active in community leadership, including as president and vice president of the Islamic Centre Mosque Committee and founder and chair of the Muslim Funeral Association.

Tristram Hunt

A historian and former Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central from 2010-2017.

Mike Wolfe

Mike Wolfe, a former Labour member turned independent, was the first directly elected mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, serving from 2002 to 2005 after narrowly defeating MP George Stevenson. An openly gay politician, he later lost re-election, became a columnist for The Sentinel, and previously managed the citys Citizens Advice Bureau.

Joe Monks-Neil

The architect of some of the major reclamation schemes in Stoke-on-Trent sets the scene in the 1960s and explains the tasks undertaken to achieve the reclamation of the many areas of dereliction within the City.

Sports

Eddie Hall

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Eddie Hall shows off his ripped physique(Image: Eddie Hall/Instagram)

Eddie Hall is a professional strongman who became the World's Strongest Man in 2017. He is the only man to deadlift 500 kg under strongman rules. The Clayton colossus has also won both the UK's Strongest Man and England's Strongest Man titles on numerous occasions.

Phil Taylor

Phil 'The Power' Taylor, from Burslem, is widely regarded as the greatest darts player of all time, having won 216 professional tournaments including include 84 major titles and a record 16 World Championships. He won eight consecutive World Championships between 1995 and 2002 and reached 14 consecutive finals from 1994 to 2007.

Sir Stanley Matthews

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Sir Stanley Matthews in the Victoria Ground changing room after his testimonial game.(Image: Huston Spratt)

Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE (1915 2000) was born in Hanley and is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. He remains the only player to have been knighted while still playing football, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers Association Footballer of the Year awards. Nicknamed the Wizard of Dribble, he stayed fit enough to play at the top level until the age of 50. Never booked, Sir Stan won 54 caps for England. He spent 19 years with Stoke City, playing for the Potters from 1932 to 1947, and again from 1961 to 1965.

Gordon Banks

Gordon Banks OBE (1937 2019) is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, who won 73 caps for England and lifted the Word Cup in 1966. He signed for Stoke City in 1967 and was in goal for the Potters' 1972 League Cup win. He was still the club's stopper when a car crash in October 1972 cost him the sight in his right eye and eventually led to him having to end his professional career. He died in his sleep at his home in Madeley at the age of 81 following a battle with kidney cancer.

Angela Smith

Angela Smith is a former professional squash player who reached a career high ranking of second in the world back in 1986. She was also the first female squash player to turn professional.

John Rudge

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(Image: Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel)

The Port Vale legend managed the club between 1983 to 1999 and oversaw promotions from the old Division Four up to what is now known as the EFL Championship - the second tier of English football. He also won the Football League Trophy in 1993. He was made club president in 2019 and last year a statue was unveiled in his honour.

Jazmin Sawyers

Jazmin Sawyers is a track and field athlete who competes in the long jump, representing Great Britain and England. In 2023, she won her first major senior title at the European Indoor Championships.

Kendo Nagasaki

Peter William Thornley is a retired professional wrestler who was best known for the ring character Kendo Nagasaki.

Don Shelley

Don Shelley was best known for founding the Potteries Marathon in 1982, which went on to become the Potters 'Arf in 2005. He died in 2021.

Nathan Heaney

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Nathan Heaney still has dreams of boxing at Stoke City's bet365 Stadium (Image: Getty Images)

The Meir-born fighter is a professional boxer who is a former British middleweight champion.

Imran Sherwani

Imran Sherwani is a former international field hockey player. He won gold with the Great Britain squad at the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Tut Whalley

Regarded as one of the finest fighters to come from Stoke-on-Trent, he was ranked second in the world at the peak of his boxing career in 1939.

Sir David Lee Pearson

Sir David Lee Pearson is a 14-times Paralympic Games gold medallist in equestrianism.

Bob Taylor

Robert William Taylor MBE is a former cricketer who played as wicketkeeper for Derbyshire between 1961 and 1984 and for England between 1971 and 1984.

Maureen Flowers

Maureen Flowers is a retired professional darts player who was the world number one female darts player during the 1980s.

Eric Newton

A well-known face in the area, Eric was a busking clarinet player and runner.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge

All-rounder Danielle Nicole Wyatt-Hodge is a current England cricketer.

Eric Bristow

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(Image: Hull Daily Mail / Hull Live)

Eric Bristow was the perfect star at the time darts' popularity soared thanks to television coverage. He won five World Championship titles between 1980 and 1986 to cement his reputation as the undisputed best thrower on the planet. The larger than life character, who lived in North Staffordshire from 1979, entertained huge audiences on the BBC and helped turn darts into the spectator sport it is today.

Arts, Literature & Entertainment

Deborah McAndrew

Known for her role in Coronation Street during the 1990s and co-founder and creative director of Claybody Theatre Company.

Ray Johnson

Known for his dedication to preserving the citys history through film and media.

Arthur Berry

An English playwright, poet, teacher, and artist whose work was deeply influenced by the industrial landscape of his upbringing.

Arnold Machin

A British sculptor & artist and member of the Royal Academy of Arts and went on to serve as Master of Sculpture from 1959 to 1966.

Andy Edwards

A British Sculptor renowned for his lifelike and expressive public artworks.

Arnold Bennett

A prolific English novelist and writer, renowned for his extensive literary output during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Peter Cheeseman

A pioneering British theatre director best known for his work at the Victoria Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent.

Rachel Shenton

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Rachel Shenton(Image: Olivia Wong/Getty Images)

An English actress and writer, known for her role Hollyoaks and academy award winning film 'The Silent Child'.

Jonathan Wilkes

The King of Stokie Panto!

John Wain

An influential English poet, novelist, and critic.

Eustace Lycett

A pioneering British special effects artist whose work left a lasting impact on both film and Disney's theme park attractions.

Music

Ian Fraser 'Lemmy' Kilmister

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Rocker Lemmy Kilmister died in December 2015 at the age of 70(Image: Redferns via Getty Images)

The late frontman of Motrhead and hard rock icon from Burslem.

Mike Lloyd

A music promoter, record shop owner and concert organiser, Mike has lived and breathed the Staffordshire music scene for decades.

Robbie Williams

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Robbie Williams is urging fellow Stokies to help set a new world record by taking part in the biggest ever tea party

Needs no introduction...

Havergal Brian

A prolific and unconventional English composer, notable for his extraordinary creative output, rooted from Dresden.

Kirsty Bertarelli

British songwriter and beauty pageant titleholder with strong family connections to Churchill China.

Saul 'Slash' Hudson

Raised in Blurton, growing up to be best known as the lead guitarist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses.

Chris Burton

A prominent figure in the Northern Soul movement, was the owner and promoter of The Golden Torch nightclub in Tunstall.

Health & Education

Dorothy 'Dot' Griffiths

Renowned for her instrumental role in advocating for the availability of the cancer drug Herceptin on the National Health Service (NHS). Her relentless efforts highlighted the issue of postcode prescribing and directly influenced policy changes, enabling countless women across the UK to receive life-extending treatment.

Dr Barnett Stross

Serving twenty years as a Labour Party Member of Parliament, he famously led the humanitarian campaign "Lidice Shall Live" and pushed for reforms in industry to protect workers. He successfully launched a media campaign to obtain financial compensation for miners who suffered serious occupational lung disease. Stross also gave medical care without charge to the poorer members of Stoke-on-Trent's communities.

Liz Barnes

Professor Liz Barnes CBE DL served as Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of Staffordshire University from 2016 to 2021, overseeing a transformative period marked by a leap to Gold in the Governments Teaching Excellence Framework.

Neil 'Nello' Baldwin

A beloved local figure known for his long-standing involvement with Keele University and his distinctive career as a registered clown. In recognition of his services to the community, Baldwin was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2019 New Year Honours.

Women of Stoke-on-Trent's Past

Susan Vera Cooper OBE

Tireless champion for social justice and health.

Jessie Tait

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Jessie Tait in 1964, showing off one of her renowned designs Zambesi from 1956.

Iconic ceramic designer who brought colour to our kilns.

Florence Jessie MacWilliams

Brilliant mathematician who had a global impact.

Rita Baines

WW2 Spitfire test pilot.

Gertie Gitana

Music hall star who captivated audiences across Britain.

Millicent, Duchess of Sutherland

Wartime nurse, reformer, and noble spirit.

Jackie Trent

Chart-topping songwriter and singer, a true local star.

World War II Heroes

John Baskeyfield VC

A true symbol of courage, Baskeyfield received the Victoria Cross for his extraordinary heroism on the battlefield - the highest military honour in the British and Commonwealth forces.

Reginald Mitchell CBE

The genius behind the Supermarine Spitfire, Mitchells iconic aircraft changed the course of the Battle of Britain - and aviation history forever.

John Grocott

A pioneer in wartime plastic surgery, Grocott restored the faces and hope of hundreds of wounded soldiers, performing over 350 life-changing surgeries a year.

Faces of the community

June Cartwright

It was June who founded Our Burslem, the community group which has now got thousands members on Facebook. She is also at the heart of events which take place across the Mother Town, like Burslem Unite, Burslem Festival and the Christmas lights switch-on.

Angela Glendenning

Long-standing Stoke-on-Trent resident and campaigner

Jane Sawyers

Former top cop who retired from Staffordshire Police after 33 years of service

Danny Flynn

He's been helping the homeless in Stoke-on-Trent for decades.

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