Goodbye, but not farewell
IARCHIVE: ’VE always considered that All Things Must Pass by George Harrison is the greatest solo album by a Beatle, and when I sat down to compose this particular column for The Sentinel, it was Harrison’s words from the album’s title track that came to mind… (“sunrise doesn’t last all morning, a cloudburst doesn’t last all day…all things must pass…”), and you may wonder why.
The first week of 2024 brought up 10 years since I composed my first Personally Speaking column for
The Sentinel, a period in which I’ve produced more than 500 columns running to hundreds of thousands of words. Well, I’ve made the difficult decision to call it a day, and as such, this week’s is to be my last.
To write for The Sentinel and to do so for such a lengthy period of time has been a huge privilege. To have this platform has been a huge opportunity, and it is one which I will be forever grateful for.
So why have I chose to move on, and why now? I feel that sometimes in life, you need to create space, time and energy for other things, be it either personally or professionally; I’ve reached that point. And after all these years, perhaps Sentinel Land is in need of a new perspective and a new voice?
Without being arrogant, I believe that the column has been influential in its own little way, and has also enabled a few achievements.
The past 10 years have been extremely challenging for North Staffordshire on a number of levels, from dealing with the fallout from the 2007-08 financial crisis and subsequent austerity agenda through to the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact, and I’ve shone a light on the economic and regenerative aspects of these issues, while I’d also like to think that the experiences and ideas that I’ve shared in these pages may have influenced policy-making and decisions, or at least given those that make them pause for thought.
One of the biggest challenges faced has been the Potteries Heritage Emergency, and I have stood up and been counted in the fight to preserve and sustain the city’s unique heritage. And while I may well have fired off missives when another important building has suffered a mysterious fire or been slated for demolition, I have also sung the praises of successful projects and good practice where this has been the case. The priority now placed on Stoke-on-trent’s heritage is perhaps reflective of my long-standing beating of the drum.
North Staffordshire’s biggest asset is its people, and wherever possible, I’ve tried to highlight the work of those who have not necessarily received the credit, support and respect that they deserve. In some cases, my championing them has proven to be a help, and it left me delighted. More power to their elbows.
And as the focus on arts and culture across North Staffordshire grew, I found ways to support and champion independent practitioners that consistently produce incredible work out of a genuine passion for the area, for what they do, and underpinned by their own entrepreneurialism. Their continued success thrills me.
In doing what I’ve done with The Sentinel, I believe that I have been honest, accurate and fair, and that when I have been critical, I have also been constructive. I hope that people will have seen my column as a positive, because it was always intended to be put together in that spirit.
Moving forward, I still have some big hopes. I believe that North Staffordshire is a city region with huge potential that remains largely untapped. It is my biggest wish that this potential is finally unlocked for the benefit of its people. And alongside that, I wish everyone health, happiness and prosperity. Isn’t that what we all deserve?
I hope someone can pick up Page
10 of Wednesday’s Sentinel and do something special with it. It’s a great platform to have, and I used it as the means to talk about things that I felt were important; I hope that that can continue. To everyone who has ever read my thoughts and engaged – whether they agreed with me or not – thank you; you have my respect, always.
And to everyone who has helped and supported me along the way – both at the paper and beyond – you will always have my thanks and gratitude. This has been the most difficult column to pull together of the hundreds I’ve written, but it’s done. Sometimes, it’s time. But although this is the final word from me, I’ll still be around. I’ll still be trying – in my own way – to help make North Staffordshire a better place. This is my goodbye…but it’s not a farewell.