STUNNED SILENCE SOON GAVE WAY TO AN EXPLOSION OF CHEERING AS CITY STATUS GRANTED

HISTORIAN FRED HUGHES KICKS OFF OUR THREE-DAY CELEBRATION OF THE CENTENARY WITH A LOOK AT HOW THE KING MADE STOKE-ON-TRENT A CITY ON THIS DAY IN 1925

- by historian Fred Hughes

JUDGED by the rules of the times, there's no way that Stoke-on-Trent should have been given the civic honour of becoming a city in 1925.

It was only 15 years since six bickering and backbiting boroughs, two of which were at the lower end of the scale as Urban Districts Councils, had federated as one administration. The established rules to become a city were clearly set out with three conditions: firstly, there must be a minimum population of 300,000; secondly, it must have a distinct identity of its own and possess a local metropolitan character significant to a wider area; and thirdly, it must show a commendable record of local governance.

Stoke-on-Trent's population was 258,400, way short of 300,000. Conversely it could claim it had a distinct identity in being internationally known as The Potteries, forged over generations by men and women working together with the same expertise, trading practices, and indeed sharing its localised workforce.

For that it turned to Newcastle with whom it shared many industrial, cultural and social values.

Pointedly, however, Stoke-on-Trent's experience in local governance amounted to just 15 years, hardly any time to assess its record.

It is likely that Home Office officials had advised the King to refuse Stoke-on-Trent's application for city status because it failed to satisfy the rules.

But the eminently staid and sombre monarch had chosen to ignore his ministers, arriving with Queen Mary on the morning of June 5 with his undisclosed communique tucked in his sleeve. By the time he had completed the main reason for his visit, laying the foundation stone for the Royal Infirmary extensions at Hartshill, civic guests were coming to the end of the civic luncheon at the King's Hall, and there was no hint city status was on the agenda.