Staff thanked for creating special moments during Stoke-on-Trent centenary celebrations at UHNM

Staff at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) have been thanked for helping to create special moments for patients, staff, and visitors during the city of Stoke-on-Trent’s centenary celebrations.

UHNM marked the city’s 100th anniversary in June by formally opening a time capsule buried at the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary in 1925 by King George V. Items uncovered, including newspapers, coins, and letters to King George V and Queen Mary, were put on display at the Royal Stoke University Hospital. Patients and staff at both Royal Stoke and County Hospital in Stafford also enjoyed events such as live music and dance performances as part of the celebrations.

Those involved in planning and delivering the week-long programme, from UHNM’s Estates team and UHNM Charity, were recognised with the Chief Executive Award, presented by Dr Simon Constable.

Presenting the awards, Dr Constable said: “Since the discovery of the time capsule at the Royal Infirmary, our teams have dedicated many years of work to make this project a reality, delivering a truly special moment for UHNM. I wanted to personally recognise their exceptional efforts. The centenary celebrations, culminating in the opening ceremony, clearly meant a great deal to everyone involved, and this is an opportunity to say thank you.

“The level of effort, thought, care, and attention to detail invested in planning these celebrations was remarkable and was very well received both within the organisation and by the wider community. Everyone involved should be extremely proud of what they have achieved.”

Those receiving the award were also treated to cake, generously provided as a personal thank you by Lorraine Whitehead, director of estates, facilities and PFI.

Lorraine said: “This award recognises the long journey involved in opening the time capsule. It took extensive research and technical expertise to locate it, safely remove it from the building, and display its contents. It also highlights the team’s passion, dedication, and commitment to ensuring our heritage is protected for the future and accessible to everyone.”

Marc Porter, estates services manager, said: “I’m incredibly proud to receive a Chief Executive Award, something I never dreamed of in my career and would like to thank everybody involved for the recognition. Rescuing the 1925 time capsule laid by King George V and seeing it opened as part of our centenary celebrations has been an amazing journey. Sharing this moment with colleagues, patients, and visitors, as well as my own team who work hard every day to keep our sites safe and compliant, has truly been one of the highlights of my NHS career.”

Gemma Thomas, project manager for arts said: “I feel genuinely overwhelmed, it’s really special to be recognised in this way. My goal was simply to create something meaningful and memorable for everyone involved, from patients and visitors to staff who care so much about our history. It’s been wonderful collaborating with so many different teams, all working hard to deliver something that celebrates our shared heritage. Seeing people enjoy the events, the performances, and the time capsule display has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m proud we could make this centenary celebration such a positive experience for our community.”

Artefacts from the capsule will be transferred to the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery for permanent display.