Intu Potteries - Mike the Knight

Mike the Knight Character Appearance

Sunday 19 January, Potteries Shopping Centre

Mike the Knight will be meeting and greeting younger shoppers at 11:00 am, 12:00 noon, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm, near River Island.

FREE Mike the Knight meet & greet tickets will be available to book online or from the Customer Services Desk from the Saturday 5 January on a first come, first served basis.

You will need to take your booking email or ticket along with you on the day; don’t forget your camera! We've been to these events before, and unless you want a picture of your children directly with the character, you're best not bothering to book and queue (and queue and queue and queue).  Younger children will get bored of waiting, and you'll still be able to see the character as he meets those children who booked and waited.

North Staffs Traction Engine Club 2014 Events

This club are planning ahead, and have already decided their 2014 diary.  They've planned three events next year, at their club house at Klondyke Mill Preservation Centre in Draycott in the Clay.

7-8 June 2014
June Steam Party
Time isn't given yet, but probably 10:00 - 4:00
Adults £4.50
Children £1.00

This will have all the usual items for the steam rallies:
Engines in steam; workshop; open tractors; stalls; hot and cold refreshments - basically, something for the whole family

18-19 October 2014
October Steam Party
10am - 4pm -
Adults £6.00
Children £1.50
You should get slightly more for the increased cost - so it's the same as the June party, plus:
Vintage tractors; Stationary engines; Cars; Bikes; Lorries and miniatures

I would mention the November bonfire party in 2014 but that just seems way too far ahead!  More information is on the Traction Engine Club website.

Location:  Klondyke Mill Preservation Centre, Draycott in the Clay, DE6 5GZ

Approximate Location Map - the North Staffs and Cheshire Traction Engine Club are a little vague with their map.

SaturDads, 2 November - Sandyford Fire Station

On Saurday 2 November, the SaturDads group will be visiting Sandyford Fire Station.  They've visited before, and it's always been a lot of fun.  There can be a lot of sitting around waiting, but once they're up and running, you get a tour of the station, including the changing rooms, the helmets; breathing apparatus and all that kit, and get to see whatever fire engines are in at the station at the time.  Last time we went, the crew actually had to go out on a call, and we saw the fire engine drive off with lights and sirens.  The officer who was showing us round apologised that the crew hadn't been able to stay, but this was a highlight of the visit - later we saw the fire engine return to the station too, and the crew had to tidy up all the fire hoses etc.

There are plenty of fire safety resources provided too - colouring books, stickers, sometimes magnets and that kind of thing.Recommended - and just in time for bonfire night too, making it a useful reminder to stay safe with fireworks.

Here's the link to the SaturDads event website.
Here's the location of Sandyford Fire Station.  Google Maps doesn't show it (it isn't up-to-date) but it's on the wasteland shown on the west of Reginald Mitchell Way.

And here's the address:
Sandyford Community Fire Station, Marlborough Way, off Reginald Mitchell Way, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 5ED

Sat Nav users are advised to use ST6 5NZ

The event will be 10:30-12:00, as usual for SaturDads.

Sneyd Arms Car Boot Sale, 6 October

The Sneyd Arms pub in Sneyd Green is holding a car boot sale on Sunday 6 October from 8:00-12:00.  There aren't many other details - they're advertising with a hand-painted banner on their fence - but it could well be worth a visit if you aren't busy - or if you're on your way to church.

In my experience, car boot sales take a while to become established with regular sellers, and since this is (as far as I know) only the first one here, it may be only lightly populated.  Worth a visit if you're up very early on a Sunday morning (and if you've got young children, you probably will be).

Location map:
Satnav: Sneyd Arms, ~148 Hanley Road, Stoke on Trent ST1 6DB

Nature Tots, Westport Lake, 18 October

Join the toddler group for some pre-school nature inspired fun.  This activity will including going on a trail near Westport Lake, and finding all the mini-beasts you can.  Each session includes crafts, a snack, an outdoor trail and story time.  I've not been before, so I can't say what it's like, but the target audience is at least up to 5 or 6, reading the Stoke Nature Tots website. It's local, looks like fun, and with a snack and a craft included, is good value at £2.50 per child.

The session lasts from 10:00 - 12:00 and is at Westport Lake (just off Davenport Street ST6 4LG).  Here's a location map.  I imagine if the weather is bad, they'll run most of the activity inside the visitor centre.

SaturDads October 2013

SaturDads is a Stoke-on-Trent initiative to encourage dads, uncles, granddads and father figures to spend time with their children... and it's great.  Based in one of the various children's centres around Stoke, they meet on the first Saturday of the month, from 10:30-12:00 and have various activities.  Sometimes they visit a fire station, but typically it's held in a children's centre, which means lots of craft, outdoor activities (if the weather is good), sand, water... all that stuff.  And there's even a breakfast meal served at about 11:30.  And there's no cost.

The October 2013 meeting will be at Norton's children's centre.  The postcode is ST6 8JW and I also have a location map.  I thoroughly recommend going, it's great.

Klondyke Steam and Vintage Engine Show

On 19-20 October 10:00-4:00, at Klondyke, Draycott in the Clay, there will be a classic steam and vintage engine show.  Some of the engines will be of the stationary kind (used for powering mills and that sort of thing), but the website indicates a general invitation for all sorts of cars, primarily from the 1930s to the 1970s.

Klondyke Steam and Vintage Show

Pricing is a rather strange "£5.50 / £1.50" but I can't say for sure if that's adults/children... probably!

Attractions include engines in steam (i.e. burning coal and producing steam); vintage tractors; stationary engines; cars; bikes; lorries; miniatures; stalls and refreshments.

Location:  Klondyke Mill Preservation Centre, Draycott in the Clay, DE6 5GZ

Approximate Location Map - the North Staffs and Cheshire Traction Engine Club are a little vague with their map.