‘I got smacked over the head
The Garden Festival brought national attention to Staffordshire in 1986. DAVE KNAPPER looks back at the event, while readers share their memories
VISITORS enjoying creative water displays, glorious arrays of flowers and even a Royal visit – the scene couldn’t be any different than the site today. It is 35 years since the Potteries hosted the National Garden Festival.
As a youngster, this reporter was indeed there. I remember very little obviously – a few rides I was too small for and just a lot of excitement. It seemed surreal to have an attraction like this in the middle of the city. The rows of national retailers, leisure facilities and commercial offices of today are a far cry from those scenes back in 1986.
The event was the second of Britain’s National Garden Festivals, lasting six months from May 1 to October 26.
And Queen Elizabeth II opened the festival where the theme was “Art, Architecture and Landscape Design”. Around 120 new works were created by 100 artists, including Antony Gormley and Vincent Woropay.
It made national news with television cameras heading down to capture the greener side of the Potteries.
The land itself, though, was steeped in North Staffordshire’s industrial past – the site was once taken up by Shelton Bar Steelworks. The ground had to be cleansed and mineshafts dealt with.
Thousands of tourists arrived for the event with the aim of the festivals to improve the five cities deemed to have been worst hit by a decline in industry.
As part of a community employment scheme, around 300,000 trees were planted by small teams - which included ex-steelworkers.
Also on the site was a ‘railway’ with five stations where people could hop on and off.
After the 1986 festival, the railway was sold to the Bygones Village museum in Fleggburgh, Norfolk.
VAL GLOVER
It was beautiful and creative. My parents lived nearby and had a season ticket which they used regularly. They also loved showing visiting relatives round, it was somewhere to be proud of in our city.
SARAH BABB
I absolutely loved it. I remember planting a garden with school, taking
part in a gymnastics display and even seeing the Queen.
HELEN PICKFORD
I visited there with my class from Cauldon College when I was studying catering. It was a great day, but hard to believe it was so long ago.
KAREN CANNAN
It was brilliant apart from I shouldn’t have worn winklepickers. My feet were raw. Iremember the Gurkhas marching up.
JASON WOOD
I only went twice. One was with school. Me and a mate got lost but luckily we made the bus back.
GLYNIS REYNOLDS
Absolutely loved it. I remember the Queen visiting. We’d taken the children from Churchfields Primary. The Queen spoke to one of them who
was so overcome, the teacher behind her answered the question posed by Her Majesty.
DAWN WAKEFIELD
I was there with my small girls, my husband and my mum and dad. I remember the girls sitting on little wooden sheep.
DEBS CARTER
My first husband worked on the construction of it so we went on the first day it opened and many times afterwards. Loved it.
JULIE MCMAHON-SMITH
I worked there in the ticketing booths. It was very cold sitting in them as the weather wasn’t the best.
ERICA LAMBERTON
I remember having to take Grotbags around one day, she was a nightmare. She made doughnuts and
ice cream cones and covered everything in a mess. The kids loved her. At the end of the very long day I was sitting waiting on a bench after the park had closed and this lady asked if I’d had a hard day. I said I had. She then said: ‘I’m so sorry Erica’. It was Grotbags without the make-up and we had a great chat.
LINDA WYTCHERLEY
I was 16, working at Milton day care centre on a YTS and we took the service users.
KAREN BALL
I went with my mum and we had a lovely time. I still remember the lovely cakes. I bought mum a pottery NGF kitchen clock which now takes pride of place in my kitchen.
JANINE KARROLINE
We came to it from my school in the West Midlands. Weird to think I
ended up meeting my husband and now live in Stoke-on-trent with him.
JO MEEK
I went on the last day. I got lots of free ice cream and was smacked on the head by Grotbags in the gift shop!
KERRY O’NEIL
I won the school competition to design the cover of the booklet.
LUCY UNDERWOOD
I loved the festival. It was so well done and we got loads of freebies as we helped so many people pack up. Happy days.
ROSS PODYMA
I helped to install a large swing sculpture there!
PHILIP LEASON
I went there several times. Can’t believe it’s 35 years.
PAUL HOLLINS
If you wander up behind Mcdonald’s and Morrisons there’s still bits of it left.
PAM BAILEY
I went with the school I was working at the day the Queen came.
JAN HADLEY
The cable cars were awesome.
KEVIN TOOTH
I erected the flagpole that the Queen ran the flag up during the opening ceremony.
MARIA TWIG OWEN
I remember walking around with a six-month baby bump.
JULIE WEAVER
I worked in the post office/shop on the garden festival. Happy times and wonderful memories.
MICHELLE LOUISE DYMOND
I performed with our school choir the day the Queen opened the festival on May 8.
JOAN O’CALLAGHAN
I remember being blown away when I saw Ayrton Senna’s JPS Lotus Formula 1 car. I still have the packet of matches!
CLARE O’CALLAGHAN MASON
My dad was involved in its design. I remember going and loving it. Then seeing the building of Waterworld, the cinema and bowling alley afterwards was so exciting as a child.
ANNA MACHNIK
I remember visiting with my parents, it was a great day out.
HANNAH HILES
I loved the Garden Festival! I was seven. My family had season tickets and went every week. I was obsessed with the tiny falabella horses. Wish I could remember more about it.
ANN BEIRNE
It was wonderful. I was sorry when it was dismantled and ugly shops and warehouse units built on it. It could have been a lovely place for people to come to visit. We had a season ticket too and had many family members visit with us. In the lead up to the opening it had been very, very cold and the canal near the site had been frozen. People were working setting up stuff and working on statues and things during this cold time.
GWEN GORDON
I worked there from the very first day it opened to the day everything was dismantled. I did first aid. I would have loved for it to have stayed open. I loved every minute.
It was always busy.
KAY BAILEY
I loved the Garden Festival. I had a season ticket and I made good use of it with my children. It would be fantastic to recreate it again.
PEARL HULSON
I went with my late father. I’ve still got the magazine all about gardens.
ANDY BLADEN
So many memories. I went with school and saw Grotbags from the TV show Pink Windmill. Croc was there as well, it was ace.
SUSAN ELIZABETH SHAW
I remember the weather was very wet when they were preparing the site. We went a few times, can’t believe it was 35 years ago.
SARAH BISHOP
I was part of the Guides who took part. Great memories.