We caught up with Sarah from Uniting Staffordshire Against Hate (USAH), part of Citizens Advice — one of the services they offer, at this year's Pride in the Moorlands and discovered more about their work. USAH supports anyone who's been a victim of a hate crime or hate incident, including people who are targeted because of their race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or transgender identity. The services that they offer are information, advice, and guidance about ne

Sunday, 28th of June, saw supporters of the Moorlands LGBTQ+ community gather in Leek for a colourful and reasonably loud celebration called Pride in the Moorlands. It was the culmination of months of hard work and two previous days of activities across the Moorlands. The torch arrived in Leek - its final destination, having travelled from Flash via Cheadle and Endon. The torch is significant because not only does it symbolise a beacon of hope, but also a coming together of M

This weekend (July 9th-12th), the Cheadle Carnival Committee hosted a fantastic event for the town. Previous Cheadle Carnivals have been a source of pride and admiration for recent generations, and this weekend's event was equally impressive. The festival kicked off with a Dancefest event on the evening of the 9th and a parade through the town at 12 noon on Saturday, leading to the opening of a wealth of attractions as the parade made its way to Tean Road Recreation Ground an

Yesterday, Sunday 19th of July, Greyhounds, Golden Oldies and Friends (GGO & Friends) opened their doors for their big fundraising push of the year, and it was glorious. We went along with the Mayor and Mayoress of Cheadle to discover more about this remarkable charity. Sanctuary Lead Diane with the Lord Mayor, Lady Mayoress and new friends in the garden Hidden away in a private corner of Staffordshire Moorlands, GGO & Friends provides a permanent home for dogs and more. "We

The Samaritans Charity is one of the oldest and best-known emotional support organisations for people in crisis in England, but what is being a Samaritans volunteer like? We spoke with one local Samaritans volunteer to hear their story. “I trained as a Samaritan during a very difficult time in my own life. I thought that by listening to others who were suffering, I would feel better. I did, and it was wonderful to realise that it was win-win; by helping others in their time o

Where to contact when... Dogs and cats are the most kept pets in the UK, with approximately 15.5 million dogs (41% of all households own a dog) and 13 million pet cats (31% of households have a cat). Sadly not all dogs and cats have happy homes; some can be abandoned or lost, some need rehoming when owners can no longer care for them, and this is where the work of animal charities is vital. Cheadle & District Animal Welfare offers a broad range of services to animals and thos

On the 9th of July almost 320 runners braved one of the hottest nights of the year to complete JCB’s Lakeside 5 race and fun run. And they're off! More than 420 people had registered to join the event and while the 30° heat reduced the field on the night, it failed to lower the spirits of the runners or the crowds who turned up to support them. JCB employees joined a host of club runners to complete the gruelling five-mile course around JCB’s World HQ at Rocester, including t

Pride in the Moorlands brought out all kinds of supporters and we were delighted to meet the colourful bunch from Match Foster Care. Here's what they had to say. Pictured are Jo Finn & Michelle Black from Match Foster Care Jo & Michelle told us that they are both based in Stoke town centre, as part of a satellite division of Match, with their head office in Droitwich, Worcestershire. They have quite a few foster parents living in and around Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire

We recently met with Vicky at the Craft Community Hub on Chapel Street, Cheadle, to learn more about an inspiring butterfly project they have been working on. Vicky told our reporter that they had been working with Child of Mine, who support bereaved parents, siblings, and other family members. They support people from a miscarriage all the way up to 18 through whatever kind of trauma and loss a family can experience. They are organizing a memorial day in Stafford at St Mary'

Cheadle club has successfully raised sufficient funds to purchase a defibrillator and bleed kit, which is to be located centrally in the town. Town Mayor and Mayoress Phil & Zenobia Routledge popped in to congratulate them on their community zeal to provide something much needed in the town. We'll publish a full report once the box is fitted, explaining what to do if you need that support. Cheadle Club Raises Funds for New Defibrillator - created 5th July 2026

This week, the Staffordshire Commissioner’s Office is supporting Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week (29 June-5 July). With the theme of ‘Making Communities Safer’, the week encourages communities to take a stand against ASB and highlights the actions those experiencing it can take. In Staffordshire: Community Safety Partnerships, supported by funding from the Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, work alongside Police and local authorities

Cheadle is a wonderfully friendly place to visit, and last week our reporter spotted one High Street store going above and beyond in the hot weather. Thank you to Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care 50 High St, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 1AF Phone: 01538 752085, for offering a kindness that goes well beyond a duty of care. Spotted On Cheadle High Street - created 29th June 2026

Last weekend (June 20th and 21st) the Staffordshire Moorlands village of Cheddleton hosted their Well Dressing Weekend and we're delighted to share with you a few images of how it went. The creation of the Well Dressing Boards The Completed Well Pictured are Parish Council Chair Susan Rogers, who serves alongside Vice Chair Councillor Su Beardmore, Also pictured is District Council Chair Linda Malyon. You can find out the history of Well Dressing activities here: https://www

Dr. Kevin Upton passed away peacefully at Royal Bournemouth Hospital on May 30, 2026, at the age of 63. Dr. Upton was a senior GP Partner for over 25 years at the Tardis Surgery on Queen Street, Cheadle. According to a Tardis Times newsletter from 2019, he was Cheadle's very own Doctor Who. Much-loved dad to Ellie, son to Marian and the late James, brother to twin sister Karen. He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends. One resident described him, "He did a lot

On Saturday, the 6th of June, local people and visitors came together on Cheadle High Street for an event to mark the anniversary of the Spitfire's maiden flight and the anniversary of D-Day. Julian Mitchell Great Nephew of Reginald Mitchell A main feature was the replica Spitfire sited on the Market Square. The Spitfire didn’t come alone but with many people dressed in the style of the era, stalls and activities, and micro-events in shops and other spaces. The Cheadle Discov

This week, the Cheadle COG board and a couple of experts visited the Royal Oak on the High Street with selling agents Butters John Bee to consider future prospects for this iconic building. The Royal Oak has stood empty now for almost two decades. A group dedicated to saving this building has been in existence for a number of years. They are called the Friends of the Royal Oak, and they’ve done a considerable amount of work attempting to bring the building back into use. The

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I grew from an acorn picked up beneath the oak tree by the telephone mast in the long-stay car park during the pandemic lockdown of November 2020. Roy Hedges found two acorns and planted them in pots, where they spent the winter in his greenhouse. By spring 2021, my sibling and I had become tiny saplings. We grew quickly, and by spring 2023 we needed larger pots. Sadly, my sibling did not survive the move, but I have thrived in my new pot. Roy realized I could not stay with h

"You've been Cogged!" is a peek into someone else's world, hearing their stories, appreciating the work they do and their life too. Recently, Alorah, our resident You've Been Cogged! writer, met with Steve Boddie. You might have spotted Steve in his role as the manager at our local Wetherspoons - The Wheatsheaf on Cheadle High Street. Here's how the conversation went. Describe yourself in three words... Determined, levelheaded, unemotional. How do you start your day? Tea and

Pride in the Moorlands returns with full three day weekend programme of celebration, creativity and community to towns and villages across the district from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th June 2026. The weekend celebration, promises to be an inclusive and joyful experience for people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities. From a textile craft workshop in Cheadle to a roller disco in Biddulph, Pride oatcakes in Endon and a spectacular parade through Leek, this year's celebratio