Events and Activities 2026
May:
VE-Day 81 Exhibition
Saturday, May 9th (12pm-3pm)
This exhibition will be at St. Giles the Abbot (Church Street, ST10 1HU) and is the launch event for our Souvenir Edition of the Cheadle and Tean Times. The printing of this special publication has been funded by our grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and produced in association with OUTSIDE, with kind permission from Paul Campbell and Cheadle and Tean Times Ltd.
During the event there will be an opportunity to speak to members of our group about our project. On display will be a selection of WW2 memorabilia/artefacts and historical displays relating to Cheadle during WW2.
A talk titled ‘The Second Word War – Evacuation and Days of Prayer’ will be given by Paul Lucas, starting at 1.30pm. There is no need to book for this, but arriving early is recommended!
Ration Book Town Centre Trail
Starting on Saturday, May 30th
Take part in a Ration Book Trail around Cheadle town centre visiting seven shops and the library. The selected shops are positioned or nearby the site of a wartime food retailer. Along the way you’ll find information boards that provide background and history to both the buildings themselves, and rationing during WW2.
The trail will run for two weeks from May 30th to Saturday June 13th. If you’d like to join in, a limited number of Ration Books will be available free from the library during those two weeks.
WW2 Film Screenings
These two film screenings will take place at the Wellspring Methodist Church on Chapel Street (Cheadle). The films are WW2 related and have been carefully selected as the themes fit with our project—both are free to attend.
Friday, May 29th (Starting 7pm)
Hope and Glory (1987) Rating: 15
In this award winning comedy-drama film, a young boy living on the outskirts of London comes of age during the uncertain days of World War 2.
Written, produced, and directed by John Boorman, the film was based on his own childhood.
Runtime: 1hr 53mins
Saturday, May 30th (Starting 3pm)
The Railway Children Return (2023) Rating: PG
As life in Britain’s cities becomes increasingly perilous, three evacuee children, are sent by their mother from Salford to the village of Oakworth.
A family drama film that is a sequel to the original 1970 classic, featuring Jenny Agutter and Sheridan Smith.
Runtime: 1hr 39mins
June:
Cheadle Spitfire Day
Saturday, June 6th (12pm-4pm)
This family friendly event taking place on the High Street & Market Square, will be one you won’t want to miss!!
In order to re-create a 1940s atmosphere, many of the town centre shops will be decorating their windows. Everyone attending is also encouraged to dress in period clothing.
The event will be opened by Paul Lucas, Cheadle’s Town Crier, with a declaration written by pupils from Cheadle Primary School.
Throughout the event there will be live music and singing from: The Cheadle Community Choir, Cheadle Primary School Choir, Cheadle Community Band, Teankulele (the Tean Ukulele Band) and our headline act, the singer Jo Safina with her wartime tribute.
The centre piece of the event will be the unique hand-built reproduction Spitfire, situated in the Market Square. This will be provided by ‘Simply Spitfire’.
In addition, there will also be a variety of street entertainment that will include: Circus Skills, Punch and Judy and a very special appearance from the Uttoxeter Heart of Oak Morris Dancers. Period vehicles will also be parked across the High Street, courtesy of the members from the North Staffordshire Military Vehicle Association.
October:
Cheadle and District Historical Society Talk: Reginald Mitchell & The Journey to the Spitfire
The speaker will be Joseph Perry from the Stoke-on-Trent Museum Service. His talk will give an overview of Reginald Mitchell’s career, cover the evolution of the Spitfire and then focus on the story of the Hanley Museum Spitfire, RW388.
The venue for the talk is the New Life Church on Tape Street, starting at 7.30pm. Entry fee is £3 for non-Historical Society Members.
