This website is here to keep you up to date with news and comments about what is happening in Stonefield and Christchurch ward and in our beautiful town of Stone. And I may also indulge in a little gossip!
Please call me if you have any issues or problems.
Best wishes, Richard Stevens
What a super day! Earlier this week I received a letter of invitation to join the Town Mayor aboard a vintage bus to attend the Potteries Omnibus Preservation Society’s annual rally at Wedgwood Visitor Centre. So, at midday, a lovely old London Transport Routemaster bus appeared in the Market Square and, after photographs were taken, we joined the civic party on the top deck.
After travelling along the A34 and up to Blurton we duly arrived at Wedgwood where we were regally greeted by committee members and photographers. For the next two hours we were escorted around over 100 preserved buses and a collection of vintage cars. And whilst all of that was going on , a continuous fleet of old buses was travelling down to Stone to collect and deliver passengers from Crown Street.
These old buses certainly brought back many memories for me. Numerous old PMT buses vied with Crossville, Turners and many other well known local bus company examples. It just makes you realise what a monopoly Firstbus and Arriva now have and how boring it is to see the same livery colours wherever you are in the country.
But the bonus of the trip was that it is obvious that POPS are very anxious to get involved with us in Stone to see what further events or rallies we can arrange with them. I have already sown the seed of an idea for them to ponder - perhaps some event during the Food and Drink Festival in October?
The trip back to Stone was on an open top Leyland. This really caused a stir on the journey with several cars giving us a friendly toot on their horns as they passed!
Campaigning in a by election is never dull! Today I was busily feeding a mail folding machine when who should come over to say ‘hello’ but Simon Hughes, the party President. Simon spent several hours in Crewe today and took part in a very successful walk about. It was only when he went to the station to catch his train back to London that it was realised that he’d left his case back at HQ - so Jan was detailed to pick it up and whizz across to deliver it to rather relieved MP!
It’s been a very good day on the campaign trail today. I must not reveal any figures but it’s no secret that each day the ‘powers that be’ set certain targets for the day. Well, today’s delivery rounds targets were met by 4.30 pm and still volunteers were pouring through the doors to deliver still more!
I’m beginning to think something exciting might happen in Crewe!
So I’m sitting at a desk in the Crewe and Nantwich by election office stuffing envelopes when a voice asks “How are you doing?”. I look up and there is Nick Clegg, the party leader, surrounded by a posse of TV camera crews and press photographers. I stood up, shook his hand and mumbled something about ’stuffing’ - and then he was gone to the next table!
Which got me thinking that I must be getting old. I’ve now shaken the hand of five Libdem leaders - Paddy Ashdown, Charles Kennedy, Ming Campbell, Vince Cable (OK - he was only ‘acting’ but I still regard him as the best leader we never had!) and now Nick Clegg.
Today was another good day at Crewe. Hordes of members from all across the country are now turning up and are dashing out delivering leaflets all over the constituency. And they are all enjoying the brilliant weather. Can it last to May 22nd?
There have been several suggestions over the last few months that Stone should host a Literary Festival but nothing seemed to be materialising. We had Peter Holland’s book launch a couple of months ago and Dave Smithwick organised Tommy Smith’s book launch in the Crown Hotel. But then nothing more seemed to happen.
Well, after a meeting today, I can let you into a secret! It’s almost certain that Stone’s First Literary Festival will take place next May. It’s very early days but some great ideas were suggested and there is definitely enthusiasm to move the project forward. Another meeting is scheduled in a couple of week’s time after which, I guess, a formal announcement will be made. If anyone would like more details or would like to be involved please get in touch.
Tonight I had a meeting in Stafford and got chatting with Barry Stamp. Barry and I have been good pals for many years. Indeed Barry is to blame for getting me back into active politics several years ago.
He mentioned that he reads my website regularly and that he has now decided to start his own blog. So if any of you want to keep an eye on what Barry is up to these days take a look at his blog. He describes his blog as “Regular updates - irregular comment”. This could be interesting!
