John Grocott
His name may be largely unrecognised in his home city but pioneering plastic surgeon John Grocott transformed the lives of thousands of people, including servicemen left disfigured by the ravages of war.
Born in Fenton and a schoolboy at Orme Boys in Newcastle-under-Lyme then Longton High School, John was just 17 years old when he won the Guy’s Hospital Medical School War Memorial Scholarship.
He returned to Stoke-on-Trent in 1933 as a House Surgeon at the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary. John was just 23 years old.
The hospital opened a plastic surgery unit in1934, making the then 24-year-old John Grocott the first in-house plastic surgeon north of London.
In those early years industrial accidents in coal mines, pottery factories and steel works made up most of the cases.
When World War II broke out in 1939, and after receiving around 60 weekends of instruction, John, at the age of just 29, was left to run the NSRI Plastic Surgery Unit singlehanded. As well as continuing to look after local patients he treated servicemen from all over the country.
Between D-Day in June 1944 and the end of February1945 almost 3,000 servicemen were brought to Stoke-on-Trent for treatment. John averaged around 350 plastic surgery operations a year – rebuilding jaws, mouths and cheeks; creating eyelids, noses and ears; and changing lives for the better as well as continuing his general surgery.
In 1940 he was recruited into the Emergency Medical Service and spent time at other hospitals around the country.
John himself eventually retired from the NSRI in 1975 after 42 years of service to the people of Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire, without fuss or fanfare, disappearing into the shadows and out of the minds of most before passing away in 1992. Apart, that is, of his former patients.
John’s genius in helping to rebuild the lives of many seriously injured servicemen is now, at long last, being acknowledged.
A permanent display about John will be unveiled at The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery later this year at around the time of Remembrance Day.
John Grocottt has been nominated for a posthumous Civic Pride Award in the Your Heroes Awards by author Ros Unwin, who has been researching John’s career supported closely by one of his former patients, Jane Pugh.
Ros said: “In 1947 John was part of a delegation of five plastic surgeons invited to accompany Sir Harold Gillies on a lecture tour of the USA. When he returned to England John’s star was in the ascendant. Sir Harold, who described him as ‘an excellent surgeon’, would have sponsored him for any post he wanted, either in this country or abroad.
“But that wasn’t John; he was a Stoke man and never considered moving. He would go on to serve the people of Stoke and North Staffordshire for the rest of his career. In fact, he was the only plastic surgeon serving the whole of North Staffordshire up to his retirement in 1975.”
Jenna Goodwin
Jenna Goodwin is using her photography skills to educate people on the rich history of Stoke-on-Trent.
The 37-year-old, who is known on social media as The Red-Haired Stokie, uses her platform to spread positivity.
Jenna, from Abbey Hulton, said: “I was writing articles online and I noticed that interest was growing bigger and bigger. It was then that I realised I needed to create an accessible way for people to see my content.”
In 2022 Jenna set up the Red-Haired Stokie website alongside her full-time job as an equine photographer. The website includes history articles, a shop, guided walks, a podcast and a video showcase, some of which recently went viral on social media.
She said: “The response has been amazing. The stories have garnered such positivity around the city and it’s what drives me to continue.
“It’s important to make local history inclusive and accessible. It’s also important to have a platform which makes history easy to digest and understand. Finally, there is no doubt that our city has a mixed reputation. The city is steeped in history and heritage and the people are proud. My platform looks to promote everything good in the city while telling all the stories of who we are and how we got here. I’m fostering a positive future.”
Jenna has been nominated in the Civic Pride category of the Your Heroes Awards by her mum, Julie.
Julie said: “In the past few years she has worked diligently to put Stoke-on-Trent on the map in a positive way. She is a firm believer that good, positive news spreads far and wide and has shown that we can all look to the future of the city with hope and celebrate its spectacular history with pride.”
Jenna added: “I feel overwhelmed. I don’t do my work for this sort of recognition; however if I can shine a positive light on the city then my work is all the more worthwhile.”
Jo Gideon MP and Third Sector Connect Charity Roundtable
A bi-monthly roundtable set up by Jo Gideon MP brings together more than 70 social enterprises, charities and community groups in Stoke-on-Trent.
Third Sector Connect Charity Roundtable has been running for around two years and has emerged as a pivotal force in community collaboration in the city.
It is dedicated to fostering collaboration, addressing key sector issues, and advocating for government support.
Now Jo Gideon MP and her Third Sector Connect Charity Roundtable, which held its first
meeting in the Catalyst at Staffordshire University, have been nominated in the Community group of the Year category of the Your Heroes awards.
Matthew Bridger, Jo’s senior communications advisor and constituency office manager, said: “The impact of Third Sector Connect, under the guidance of Jo Gideon MP, extends beyond the individual organisations involved.
“It is evident in the strengthened relationships, the innovative solutions born out of collaborative efforts and the increased collective influence in advocating for the needs of the sector.
“Jo Gideon MP’s leadership brings a strategic vision to Third Sector Connect, elevating the organisation to a position where it actively contributes to shaping policies that support the growth and resilience of the third sector.
“The story of Third Sector Connect is a narrative of unity, resilience and a dedication to creating a thriving community sector.”
The roundtable is committed to addressing the support needed by organisations to thrive. It actively seeks ways to offer collective assistance, recognising that the challenges faced by one organisation can often be alleviated through the collaboration and support of others.
Matthew added: “Jo’s involvement in establishing Third Sector Connect brings a unique perspective to the organisation’s mission. As a Member of Parliament, Jo Gideon has played a crucial role in bridging the gap between grassroots efforts and government policies.
“This dual perspective allows Third Sector Connect to not only address immediate needs but also advocate for broader policy changes that can positively impact the entire sector.”