TV DUO BARGE IN WITH A SURPRISE LINK TO POTTERIES
Presenter named son after famous city writer
TV stars Gyles Brandreth and Sheila Hancock tried their hand at ceramics when they visited a Stoke-ontrent heritage attraction as part of a TV show.
The pair, who recently took over as presenters of the Great Canal Journeys, visited Middleport Pottery as part of their travels along the Caldon Canal and Trent and Mersey Canal.
They started their journey on Monday’s episode at Churnet Valley before stopping off at Cheddleton Flint Mill and later paying tribute to writer Arnold Bennett.
During the programme Gyles revealed he is a big fan of Arnold Bennett.
He said: “It’s a big moment for me as the writer Arnold Bennett was born here. I’m a fan, I even called my eldest son Bennett.
“And much of Arnold Bennett’s best writing evokes the Potteries in their heyday.
“Not only did Bennett write wonderfully, he also wrote a lot, producing 34 novels. He was a huge celebrity in his day. But his reputation has declined since his death in 1931, undeservedly I believe.” Gyles became interested in the Potteries-born author after living in Chiltern
Court, in London, where Arnold Bennett died in 1931.
He said: “When I was a boy I knew that this famous writer had died in the flat opposite ours and I also knew that when he died he was so famous that the police organised that there should be straw put down in Baker Street to lessen the noise of the traffic because this great man was dying.”
The next day Sheila Hancock visited the home of ceramic artist Clarice Cliff. Sheila’s late husband John Thaw was a collector of her work.
After visiting Clarice Cliff House, the pair went to Middleport Pottery where they had a go at slip-casting with artist Alex Allday and hand-painting with another well-known local artist,
Emma Bailey. Slip-casting was a technique used by Clarice Cliff.
Then it was back on the Trent and Mersey Canal where they ended their tour of the area’s waterways by going through the oneand-a-half mile Harecastle Tunnel at Kidsgrove.
■ If you missed the programme on Monday it is available on All 4.
DEVASTATED Dan Shaw is calling for two of his motorbikes to be returned – after thieves took them from his garden shed.
The dad-of-four believes the bright yellow Suzuki bikes – worth £5,000 – were stolen from his Fenton home between 2am and 4am on Saturday.
They were last seen being wheeled towards Stoke at around 4am.
The 30-year-old, of Ainsworth Street, said: “They came in the night, climbed over my neighbours, and got over the roof. They then moved the sensors on my security lights to get to the bikes.
“There were two lads – and I’ve had a couple of other sightings. Apparently one of them was seen at the petrol station, in King Street, wearing a grey tracksuit, black jacket and helmet. It’s frustrating because I’ve worked hard for what I’ve got and then people think they can just come and take stuff without any consequences.”
The bikes have no insurance. Dan added: “My insurance had run out because I kept them off the road during the winter.
“The tax and MOT had run out so my insurance company said I could not keep my insurance running. I didn’t want to pay tax or get the MOT done because they were not being used.
“I want them back. The bikes are so distinctive that there’s no chance that if they are still in the area somebody won’t notice. There’s not many in the UK.”
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “An investigation - including the assessment of local CCTV - is underway.” ■ Call 101 if you have information.