By law, Stone Town Council has to hold and annual public meeting at which the Mayor presents a report of the previous twelve months. Tonight’s meeting was held at Stone Station and, sadly, was rather poorly attended.

Cllr. Philip Leason , the Town Mayor, gave his report and a member of the public raised a question about parking problems in the Stonefield area. I agreed to look into the issue and promised to report back to him. Ex councillor Harry Brunt also raised a couple of issues - follow ups to problems he had raised when he was on the council. I was very sad that Harry failed to get re-elected last year. He was a long serving, hard working councillor and the fact that he is still turning up to meetings like this to keep these issues ‘on the boil’  is proof that he is still committed to the town. Most defeated candidates are never heard of again until the next elections!

So forty minutes later I was able to rejoin my son, daughter-in-law and grandson for a drink in the sun at the Star. Very enjoyable!

As a lifelong Port Vale supporter (well I do remember how ‘we was robbed’ by a disallowed penalty decision against West Brom in the 1952 FA Cup semi-final!) I have to admit that tonight I agreed to go with my son to see Stoke’s victory parade in an open topped bus. Richard has always been a Stoke supporter and is ‘over the moon’ about them gaining promotion. He and the family have been up for the weekend so I agreed to go and watch the parade before a meeting tonight.

We went down to Trentham Road in Trentham but heard from a passer-by that the route had been changed. So we hotfooted it down to Stanley Matthews Way where we were just in time to see the bus parade go past. There were hundreds of folk lining the route and all dressed in red and white. A great sight and everyone clapping, cheering and smiling.

Well, stictly speaking, that’s not quite right. On the way back to the car we came across dozens of very disappointed and angry fans who had waited  on Longton Road expecting the parade to go past - as advertised in last night’s Sentinel. I suspect there will be some complaints directed at the Britannia Stadium tomorrow.

That apart, and putting aside my Port Vale allegiances, I am delighted for Stoke City fans and for the city itself. The prospect of Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal etc playing here next season is tantalising indeed. What a boost for the area.