A special centenary mural is set to be unveiled in Stoke-on-Trent on September 13. Known as ‘100 Years 100 Faces’, the artwork celebrates a century of the city’s diverse spirit and stories.
From music icons to renowned ceramicists and plenty of categories in between, the mural features lots of the faces you’d expect, with lesser known figures’ stories also being told. Stoke-on-Trent City Centre has been revealing the names of those included in the artwork by each category over recent weeks.
Those featured have been voted for by the public. So far 64 names have been revealed.
A rising star on social media and television, known for creating the comedic character ‘Matthew’s Mum’ with a combined following of nearly three million across TikTok and Instagram. He has gone on to present the red carpet coverage at the Brit Awards with Meta, as well as hosting his own podcast with his beloved mum.
Turner moved into television through Sky Channel and Music Box presenting live music programmes from July 1986 to 1989. She presented Top of the Pops from October 1988 to May 1991, and, for the final 18 months of this period, was the only non-Radio 1 DJ to do so regularly.
Trevor Neil “Bruno” Brookes, born in 1959 in Stoke-on-Trent, rose to prominence as a British radio presenter in the 1980s. Brookes became a familiar voice to millions, particularly as the host of the UK Top 40 singles chart between 1986 and 1990, and again from 1992 to 1995.
Sam Plank, born Terry Hilton (1948/1949 – 10 February 2011), was a well-known British local radio broadcaster, recognised for his engaging, talk-based programs in Staffordshire, The Potteries, and Stoke-on-Trent. He was a familiar voice on BBC Radio Stoke and Signal 2, where he connected deeply with his audience through lively discussions and community-focused content.
Fred began writing weekly columns for The Sentinel and has since penned around a million words for his local newspaper. He’s also been published in nationally acclaimed history magazines and presented numerous historical travel shows for BBC Radio Stoke.
Hancock hosted the sports quiz They Think It’s All Over for a decade. He also formerly presented Room 101 (1994–1999) on TV, as well as its earlier radio version (1992–1994). His early television credits also include working with Jasper Carrott in Carrott Confidential (1989), and The Mary Whitehouse Experience (1989-1992), and Me, You and Him.
The British businesswoman is best known for founding and leading online gambling company Bet365. Through the Denise Coates Foundation, she has made substantial contributions to causes such as healthcare, education, poverty relief, and international disaster aid.
A British billionaire entrepreneur born in Birmingham in 1952, is best known for founding the former UK mobile phone retailer Phones 4u. After selling his business, he remains influential through his investments and by founding Caudwell Children, a charity dedicated to supporting disabled and autistic children across the UK.
The British Pakistani entrepreneur built a fortune exceeding £100 million, becoming one of the UK’s most influential businessmen. He earned honorary degrees from both Staffordshire universities in 2008 and was awarded the ‘Star of Pakistan’ in 2020 for his contributions to the Pakistani and British communities.
Group Managing Director of KMF, where he has driven the company’s growth from £1m to over £38m by investing in staff development and a dedicated Apprentice Training Centre that recruits ten-15 apprentices annually. He also took part in the Tower to Tower challenge, completing a 530km cycle, row and walk from Paris to London to raise funds for the Donna Louise Trust.
Founding R. Goodwin & Sons in 1883, establishing a family-run iron foundry that grew into a leading specialist in heavy engineering and high-performance castings. His legacy lives on in Goodwin plc, now a FTSE 250 company and one of the oldest firms on the London Stock Exchange, still strongly connected to the Goodwin family.
From raising money for Emmaus North Staffs, to volunteering at the local food bank and named ‘Campaigner of the Year’ for her 30 years of involvement with CAMRA, she is widely recognised across the city .
A lifelong community leader in Stoke, trained as a physiotherapist during WWII, later serving in the NHS and as Stoke City’s physio. Beyond politics – twice serving as Lord Mayor – he founded initiatives like “Lads and Dads” and “Match Mates”, earning national recognition, an honorary degree from Keele University and multiple civic honours.
From a working-class upbringing in Cheshire to become a prominent Labour MP and later a member of the House of Lords. After losing his hearing in 1968, he became a tireless advocate for the disabled and disadvantaged, championing causes such as rights for widows, sexual assault victims, and victims of the thalidomide tragedy.
First elected as a councillor in 2010 for Tunstall and re-elected the following year to represent Etruria and Hanley ward. He has served on the audit, children and young people’s and adults and neighbourhoods committees, and has been active in community leadership, including as president and vice president of the Islamic Centre Mosque Committee and founder and chair of the Muslim Funeral Association.
A historian and former Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central from 2010-2017.
Mike Wolfe, a former Labour member turned independent, was the first directly elected mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, serving from 2002 to 2005 after narrowly defeating MP George Stevenson. An openly gay politician, he later lost re-election, became a columnist for The Sentinel, and previously managed the city’s Citizens Advice Bureau.
The architect of some of the major reclamation schemes in Stoke-on-Trent sets the scene in the 1960s and explains the tasks undertaken to achieve the reclamation of the many areas of dereliction within the City.
Eddie Hall is a professional strongman who became the World’s Strongest Man in 2017. He is the only man to deadlift 500 kg under strongman rules. The Clayton colossus has also won both the UK’s Strongest Man and England’s Strongest Man titles on numerous occasions.
Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, from Burslem, is widely regarded as the greatest darts player of all time, having won 216 professional tournaments – including include 84 major titles and a record 16 World Championships. He won eight consecutive World Championships between 1995 and 2002 and reached 14 consecutive finals from 1994 to 2007.
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE (1915 – 2000) was born in Hanley and is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. He remains the only player to have been knighted while still playing football, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year awards. Nicknamed ‘the Wizard of Dribble’, he stayed fit enough to play at the top level until the age of 50. Never booked, ‘Sir Stan’ won 54 caps for England. He spent 19 years with Stoke City, playing for the Potters from 1932 to 1947, and again from 1961 to 1965.
Gordon Banks OBE (1937 – 2019) is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, who won 73 caps for England and lifted the Word Cup in 1966. He signed for Stoke City in 1967 and was in goal for the Potters’ 1972 League Cup win. He was still the club’s stopper when a car crash in October 1972 cost him the sight in his right eye and eventually led to him having to end his professional career. He died in his sleep at his home in Madeley at the age of 81 following a battle with kidney cancer.
Angela Smith is a former professional squash player who reached a career high ranking of second in the world back in 1986. She was also the first female squash player to turn professional.
The Port Vale legend managed the club between 1983 to 1999 and oversaw promotions from the old Division Four up to what is now known as the EFL Championship – the second tier of English football. He also won the Football League Trophy in 1993. He was made club president in 2019 and last year a statue was unveiled in his honour.
Jazmin Sawyers is a track and field athlete who competes in the long jump, representing Great Britain and England. In 2023, she won her first major senior title at the European Indoor Championships.
Peter William Thornley is a retired professional wrestler who was best known for the ring character Kendo Nagasaki.
Don Shelley was best known for founding the Potteries Marathon in 1982, which went on to become the Potters ‘Arf in 2005. He died in 2021.
The Meir-born fighter is a professional boxer who is a former British middleweight champion.
Imran Sherwani is a former international field hockey player. He won gold with the Great Britain squad at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Regarded as one of the finest fighters to come from Stoke-on-Trent, he was ranked second in the world at the peak of his boxing career in 1939.
Sir David Lee Pearson is a 14-times Paralympic Games gold medallist in equestrianism.
Robert William Taylor MBE is a former cricketer who played as wicketkeeper for Derbyshire between 1961 and 1984 and for England between 1971 and 1984.
Maureen Flowers is a retired professional darts player who was the world number one female darts player during the 1980s.
A well-known face in the area, Eric was a busking clarinet player and runner.
All-rounder Danielle Nicole Wyatt-Hodge is a current England cricketer.
Eric Bristow was the perfect star at the time darts’ popularity soared thanks to television coverage. He won five World Championship titles between 1980 and 1986 to cement his reputation as the undisputed best thrower on the planet. The larger than life character, who lived in North Staffordshire from 1979, entertained huge audiences on the BBC and helped turn darts into the spectator sport it is today.
Known for her role in Coronation Street during the 1990s and co-founder and creative director of Claybody Theatre Company.
Known for his dedication to preserving the city’s history through film and media.
An English playwright, poet, teacher, and artist whose work was deeply influenced by the industrial landscape of his upbringing.
A British sculptor & artist and member of the Royal Academy of Arts and went on to serve as Master of Sculpture from 1959 to 1966.
A British Sculptor renowned for his lifelike and expressive public artworks.
A prolific English novelist and writer, renowned for his extensive literary output during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
A pioneering British theatre director best known for his work at the Victoria Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent.
An English actress and writer, known for her role Hollyoaks and academy award winning film ‘The Silent Child’.
The King of Stokie Panto!
An influential English poet, novelist, and critic.
A pioneering British special effects artist whose work left a lasting impact on both film and Disney’s theme park attractions.
The late frontman of Motörhead and hard rock icon from Burslem.
A music promoter, record shop owner and concert organiser, Mike has lived and breathed the Staffordshire music scene for decades.
Needs no introduction…
A prolific and unconventional English composer, notable for his extraordinary creative output, rooted from Dresden.
British songwriter and beauty pageant titleholder with strong family connections to Churchill China.
Raised in Blurton, growing up to be best known as the lead guitarist of the hard rock band Guns N’ Roses.
A prominent figure in the Northern Soul movement, was the owner and promoter of The Golden Torch nightclub in Tunstall.
Tireless champion for social justice and health.
Iconic ceramic designer who brought colour to our kilns.
Brilliant mathematician who had a global impact.
WW2 Spitfire test pilot.
Music hall star who captivated audiences across Britain.
Wartime nurse, reformer, and noble spirit.
Chart-topping songwriter and singer, a true local star.
A true symbol of courage, Baskeyfield received the Victoria Cross for his extraordinary heroism on the battlefield – the highest military honour in the British and Commonwealth forces.
The genius behind the Supermarine Spitfire, Mitchell’s iconic aircraft changed the course of the Battle of Britain – and aviation history forever.
A pioneer in wartime plastic surgery, Grocott restored the faces and hope of hundreds of wounded soldiers, performing over 350 life-changing surgeries a year.
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