Richard Stevens

I’ve mentioned the fact that The Royal Exchange pub is a sad sight having been boarded up  some weeks ago. And I’ve also expressed my concerns for the traders in Radford Street. Well, today I can reveal some fantastic news ’straight from the horse’s mouth’ which will cheer up all real ale fans and should breathe some life back into Radford Street! The Royal Exchange has been bought by Titanic Brewery of Burslem and will re-open as a Titanic pub in September!

Jill Hood and I met one of the directors of Titanic today to discuss Food and Drink Festival issues and were given permission to break the news! So remember - you saw it here first!

This is brilliant news. I had feared that the building would be purchased by a developer and converted to apartments. But it’s future as a pub is now guaranteed. And judging by the quality of the refurbishment of their latest pub - The White Star in Kingsway Stoke - we can expect to see a much improved Exchange. All Titanic’s ales on handpulls plus four or five guest beers - oh, life is getting better just thinking of it!

Each year the bonfire builders and fireworks team always  manage to come up with a new theme and this year is no exception! So, on Saturday November 8th, Stone will be treated to a bonfire, fireworks display and music all designed around a “pirates” theme.

Tonight’s bonfire committee approved the plans so Derek and Charles Purton will now be plotting and planning to give us an even bigger and better show than last year - and that was brilliant! I’ve said it many times before but what an amazing committee this is.  A dedicated group of volunteers will put on the most professional display for miles around - and each member plays a vital part in putting on the event.

Stone’s first bike race, the Circuits de Stone, run under BCF rules takes place two weeks tomorrow - so the pace of the arrangements is really hotting up! Two meetings today - one with some of the town’s publicans this morning and the other with members of the working group this afternoon.

Granville Square will be the place to be! With road closures in place, most of the square will become probably the best viewing area in town and with live entertainment playing on a stage built above the flower bed and the surrounding pubs and restaurants serving customers outdoors, there really will be a carnival atmosphere! Not that the rest of the town will be ignored! Most pubs and bars will be doing a roaring trade and thousands of spectators are expected to be lining the route.

The partying starts at 6.30 p.m. and the racing begins an hour later. Four of the sport’s top teams have entered and the pack will contain almost sixty of the country’s top cyclists. Race commentary will be the BBC’s commentator Hugh Porter. But we will have to open the roads again after the race - so the party must be over by ten! What a great night is in prospect! So remember the date - WEDNESDAY 18th JUNE.

Steve Brooks, Chairman of the Stone Music Festival, invited me to tonight’s meeting of the Music Festival group in view of the fact that the Town Council is sponsoring the Sunday street party. And I’m delighted to report that everything is looking good! A stage across the top of the High Street ( a la Xmas lights switch on) and a list of acts starting in the morning and continuing throughout the day and and ending with the Queen tribute band, QE2, in the early evening. This should be the street party of all time!

There’s just a month to go now and the official programme will soon be out. But in the meantime note the dates on the calendar -Thursday July 10th to Sunday July 13th.

Janet is a real brick. Now that I’m so heavily committed during the week, she is managing to keep the allotment under control almost single handed. So I couldn’t refuse her request when she asked if I would have time today to cut the hedges. After breakfast I changed into my working clothes and lugged the generator down the path. It took most of the morning to trim the hedges into shape and I was ready for a rest when we went home for lunch!

But then it was back into the fray! We’re having a bit of a party next week ( two rather significant birthdays in early June!) so I decided to ‘trim’ the beech hedge alongside the drive. Big mistake! Two and a half hours later I was still clearing up!

However, after a hot bath and a couple of pints, my back is beginning to ease up a bit! And the hedge looks very good! I think I’m now a couple of Brownie points in credit!

I did say some months ago that I wouldn’t bore you with details of the number of hits on this site. But I think I can justify just this one comment. It’s not yet the end of the month and already this site has had over 10,000 (yes - that’s ten thousand) hits in May! And all your comments are favourable! So thanks for your support.