I was delighted to see such a good turnout for the Civic Parade and Church Service this morning. The wind was blowing a gale but the rain stayed away, thank goodness.

Councillor Mark Green, our new Town Mayor, led the Parade from Stonefield Park through town to St. Michaels Church where he read one of the lessons. It was only later that I discovered that he’ d forgotten his reading glasses and had recited the reading mostly from memory! Well done, Mr. Mayor!

Our Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Jill Hood, had also managed to be in two places at once! Deputising for Mark, she’d officially started the 10K road race down at St.Michael’s First School and then dashed back into town to join the Parade at the top of the High Street. I’m sure she’d modestly say that, as Administrator of the Food and Drink Festival,  she’s used to multi-tasking!

A few days ago, I was talking to someone in the town who made a comment that I always seeemed to be dashing around the town and wondered how far I walked each day. I’d never thought much about but mentioned it to Janet. Mistake! She went to Hanley yesterday and whilst shopping bought me a pedometer!

So I can tell you that yesterday I walked seven and a half miles! Impressed? Well I have to admit it was not a typical day -  a litter pick in the morning, a crown green bowling competition in the evening and a walk to  the Station for a party at night. No wonder I’m feeling shattered this morning! 

The weather this morning was pretty miserable but still a couple of dozen volunteers and young folk turned up at ten o’clock in the Market Square to take part in another P.C Andy Whitehall litter pick.

I was part of a team that first did the top half of the Priory Estate and then went over to the Ministry estate. I am delighted to report that most areas are looking very neat and tidy - the blackspots appear to be alleyways and footpaths off the beaten track.

In total, I think the morning’s work filled about fifty bags so it was all worth while. And afterwards some rather damp and cold ‘pickers’ were treated to a complimetary hot drink by Custodio in the Lounge. Thanks, Cus - I needed that! And well done Andy - again!

Today there was a very festive feel to the town with ladies dressed to the nines and flaunting the most wonderful millinery creations  (- hats to you and me!). And all in aid of charity.

The Ladies section of Stone British Legion put on a town centre event to coincide with Ladies Day at Ascot. So there was a window dressing competition, a best hat competition, a tombola and, tonight, I understand a Duck Race was to be held at the Star.

And under the marquee Tony Panter had rigged up a very large TV set so that ‘the punters’ could watch the race itself. A great idea and one, I’m sure, that will be repeated.

‘A picture paints a thousand words’ so I’ll just shut up and suggest that you take a look at the pictures and article on the British Cycling Federation website!

I’m going to struggle to find words adequate to describe last night’s cycle race! It was just simply amazing! A fantastic success.

As I have said here on several occasions, this race was a Town Council sponsored and organised event. We’ve never done anything on this scale before so it was important that we got it right. The cycling side was looked after by Steve Douce from Barlaston who did a brilliant job in attracting the country’s top sixty professional riders to enter the race. But the really hard bit, putting the show together , was carried out by our Town Clerk, David Turner and a small sub-committee chaired by Jill Hood. And all the hard work paid off last night!

Despite the poor weather four thousand spectators saw a truly thrilling race. I know nothing about cycling but for one and a quarter hours I was totally enthralled by the speed and skill of the riders. And to see the winner, Malcolm Elliot aged over forty, win by a margin of almost a minute was awesome!

The town looked fantastic - barrriers around the entire route and a temporary bandstand in Granville Square. And after the event everyone was saying the same thing - “we must do it again next year”. I think we’ve done it again! We’ve put Stone on the map!

Tonight’s Town Council meeting was over and done with in about an hour and a half and with little in the way of filibustering from certain members. If only all meetings were like this!

Important issues arising? Well, Councillor Philip Jones made the astonishing announcement that he’d heard “from an impeccable source” that Roseneath was to be demolished “within days”. This came like a bolt from the blue to everyone present. The County Council has always maintained that whilst the residential home itself was to be closed down, the building itself would always be retained for the provision of other services. My understanding is that planning permission would be required before any building could be demolished - we have seen one for Roseneath yet. It was agreed that our Town Clerk makes urgent enquiries an reports back.

Other decisions included agreement to make a grant of £250 to Stone Ramblers to help with the production of a book of local walks; agreement to object to British Telecom plans to remove the telephone kiosk in Marlborough Road and confirmation that the Town Council is willing to host the final Hotspot Sprint of the Tour of Britain Cycle Race on September 10th when the tour passes through Stone on its Worcester to Hanley leg.

And so to the pub for an early debriefing meeting!

I’m fairly used to public speaking. I’ve addressed magistrates, arbitrators, Tribunals, judges, political hustings,  public meetings, etc. etc.  - but today was a rather unnerving first experience. Speaking to two hundred ladies and not another man in sight!

Many months ago I was asked if I would be willing to give a talk about Stone Food and Drink Festival to the Barlaston branch of the Douglas Macmillan Hospice charity. I immediately accepted. I don’t need to be asked twice to talk to anybody about our Food and Drink Festival! And the added bonus was that it was in Barlaston where I spent a very enjoyable time as a young man in my teens and twenties - Barlaston in the swinging sixties was a good place to be!

And so it was that at lunchtime I ate lunch in a large marquee surrounded by so many familiar faces. And then ’singing for my supper’ by talking about the Festival. It seemed to go down all right and if I was able to persuade a few of them to come down to Stone in October then it was all worth while.

No, not the Skylark but Brindley’s Floating Restaurant! Yesterday, to celebrate our birthdays, Janet and I booked the entire boat for family and friends and went off for a lunchtime cruise. We all met at Westbridge Park and headed south, eventually turning back just short of Sandon.

No one had been on the boat before so there was immediatley a novelty value and when the meal was served everyone was so impressed. Good weather, good food, good wine and good company - all the ingredients for a perfect day!

We had almost a dozen Stone guests on board who had heard of Brindleys but never been on it before. Without exception, they all bemoaned the fact that they had ignored what was on the doorstep and that they will certainly be booking trips in future!

Thanks to Geof, Heather, Richard, Taggy and Chloe for a great trip.

This year, the Food and Drink Festival will be promoting many talented local chefs and we are being very ably assisted in putting our programme together by Paul Gilmore of Restaurant Gilmore over in Bramshall near Uttoxeter. Today, Jill Hood, Adam Jones, Pam Graham and I went over to see Paul to review progress.

Paul really has been hard at work! He has recruited several chefs to give demonstrations and has also come up with some very interesting and novel ideas for demonstrations over the three day Festival.

I can’t disclose too many details until we have ‘dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s’ but I hope the Festival website will be up and running in the next few weeks where you’ll be able to see the programme.

In the meantime, make sure you are in Stone from October 3rd to the 5th!

Yesterday was Janet’s birthday so we decided to eat out last night. After much umming and ahhing we chose to go to the Wayfarer Inn on the A34. We hadn’t been since it was taken over by Joseph, son of Geof from the Holly Bush at Salt, so we were not quite sure what to expect. We use the Hollybush quite regularly and have never had a poor meal there - so would the Wayfarer live up to the same high standard?

The answer is an emphatic ‘Yes’. We were greeted by a very polite and pleasant member of staff. After choosing our meals we were shown to a very comfortable corner table (did we really look like a couple out for a romantic evening?) and were then treated to a superb meal. The menu is very similar to the one at The Hollybush and cooked to the same high standard. I had my usual mixed grill (all protein - it was a ‘red’ day on my diet!) and it was wonderful. But Janet, to my surprise, ordered a sirloin steak. And she ate the lot. She complimented it as being tender, lean, full of flavour and perfectly cooked. My wife is not too easily pleased in the steak department so her compliments to the chef were quite an accolade!

On the basis of our two meals last night, I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending the Wayfarer. There’s no need to travel to Salt now!

Last night we put the finishing touches to the Cycle Race plans when we met representatives of the three local cycle clubs. They will be providing up to fifty members as Marshalls for next weeks race and tonight we ran through all the final details.

They were all very excited and eager to see the cream of British cyclists racing around the circuit. It will be their job to marshall the whole course and to man the three crossing points. So it was important that they all understand their roles and duties.

David Turner, the Town Clerk, ran through a long checklist of items which only confirmed what a massive event this is going to be. Highways will start removing kerbs and barriers at the bottom of the High Street on Monday, the firm erecting the barriers will come into town on Tuesday and start preliminary work, the stage for the Jazz band will be built later this week and the whole town will be barriered off on Wednesday. Road Closure Orders, temporary event licences, notices to local shops and residents, sponsorship arrangements, advertising banners etc. etc. - I’m sure we’ve covered everything!

The Cycle Race is just over a week away and the last minute hiccups are being sorted out! There’s no point in panicking at this stage - so today we reviewed the position to date and made the final arrangements. We have another meeting tomorrow with the local cycle clubs who will be providing the Marshalls and then it’s all sysyems go!. I am really getting excited. I am now beginning to realise just how big this event is!

This evening we held not one but two sub committee meetings in the Town Council Chamber. I enjoy sub committees much more than the larger General Purposes Committe and the Town Council meetings. Sub committees attract the committed councillors who are interested in putting forward constructive ideas and getting involved on a practical level whereas the bigger meetings serve as an arena for the ’spoilers’ and ‘point scorers’ who simply try to create a sound bite for the press and do little or nothing between meetings. Tonight’s sub committees were good meetings but we’ll have to wait to see what happens when their recomendations come up for approval! 

I had a Victor Meldrew moment this morning!

A very succesful Stone Festival ended yesterday and today - lo and behold - Stafford Borough Council’s Streetscene department are starting to put up the hanging baskets!

Words fail me!

I knew yesterday was going to be special - but it exceeded all my expectations for a number of reasons!

Fantastic weather!

You’ve all read my proud boasts before that we’ve never had rain on a Farmers’ Market in Stone and it certainly didn’t rain yesterday! Blue skies and hot sunshine all day set the backdrop for a marvellous day!

Best Farmers’ Market ever!

Forty one stalls and a carnival atmosphere. Murphy’s Marbles playing in the square and the Carnival Parade passing around Christchurch Way on its way to Westbridge Park. No complaints from anyone - other than one trader who was moaning that he’d sold out and would have brought more stock had he known how good it was going to be!

Birthday specials!

And because it was my 65th birthday, I was allowed to have a day off the diet. So shortly after nine o’clock I was joined by Janet and several friends for a full fried English breakfast at an outside table at the Lounge. Two sausages, double bacon rashers, black pudding, hash browns, egg, tomato, mushrooms baked beans and fried bread - heaven!

And much to my embarrassment, later in the morning Kevin from Murphy’s Marbles called me over. I thought he wanted a quiet word about something but - no! - he immediately struck up with a round of “Happy Birthday” sung by everyone in the Market Square and the High Street. I think I blushed!

Successful end to Festival!

In the afternoon the Parade arrived in Westbridge Park to begin an afternoon of fun and frolics! And judging by the huge crowd it is obvious that holding the Farmers Market on the same day didn’t detract from the Festival’s success. In fact, it has been suggested the Market probably brought even more people into town.

Up, up and away!

And at four o’clock I joined Sue Mason for her sponsored helicopter ride. Sue had been inspired by my sponsored slim and had asked me to help her organise a sponsored helicopter ride. Sue has MS and had never flown due to her fear of flying. So we arranged sponsorship forms and today she did it! A wonderful trip with fantastic views over Stone raised over £350 for the Stone MS Society. Sue’s secret is safe with me, so when I am asked, the answer will always be ” She loved it”! She was very brave but I din’t think she’ll be repeating the experience! Fantastic, Sue - well done!

Party through the night!

So when it was all over it was back home, a quick shower and then - let the party begin! Yes, I seem to have a crowd of good friends who know how to enjoy themselves! Apologies to the neighbours! It was such a beautiful warm and calm night that we ended up on the patio until well into the small hours.

What a wonderful day!

Regular readers will remember that PC Andy Whitehall and his police colleagues organised a very succesful community litter pick at the beginning of the year. Well, it was so succesful that there have been numerous requests for another . So here’s advance notice that the next litter pick will take place on Saturday 21st June. Meet in Market Square at 10.00 a.m.

If the last event is anything to go by, there’ll be dozens of folk turning out. Come along and spend an hour or so tidying up the town. Everything is provided but don’t wear your Sunday best!

I’ve just written the post about Titanic buying the Royal Exchange pub but the equally good news is that Titanic are seriously considering becoming involved as a major sponsor of this year’s Food and Drink Festival! We’ve already booked Roger Protz, editor of the Good Beer Guide, to come to Stone to give some tutored beer samplings so Titanic’s involvement will be the icing on the cake!

We’ve still got to iron out a few details but I’m confident that the name “Titanic” is going to become a well recognised feature of this year’s Festival. Being Chairman of the Festival is a hard job but somebody has to do it! And I don’t complain, either!

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!