PROUD residents who have spent years preserving the area's heritage have been nominated to attend a dinner celebrating 100 years of the federation of Stoke-on-Trent.

Phil Rowley, who has volunteered at Longton's Gladstone Pottery Museum for 30 years, has been put forward by his sister and brother-in-law Ted and Ann Forster.

The industrial chemist, of Clayfield Grove West, Fenton, leads walking tours around Longton and holds public talks about the area.

Mr Rowley spends hours at the museum and is believed to be the longest serving volunteer.

Ann, of Melvyn Crescent, Porthill, said: "He does a lot for the city and it's reputation. When he shows people around, he seems to captivate them.

"He shares his knowledge of all the important buildings in Longton. He is fluent in German and often gives tours in the language.

"When he travels with work, he takes films of Stoke-on-Trent with him. He is a brilliant patron for the area."

Mr Rowley, aged 57, was shocked to have been nominated to attend the dinner, where an award will be given for the Citizen of the Century.

He said: "I got involved with the museum when I moved to the area 30 years ago. I work there because it is something Stoke-on-Trent should be proud of."

Joyce Buckley-Parker, aged 80, of Anchor Road, Adderley Green has been nominated by her son Craig Parker.

The mother-of-four, pictured, was vice chairman of Longton Town Hall Action Group which fought a six-year battle to stop the building being demolished in 1986

She also organised a 2,000-name petition in 2005, which prompted Stoke-on-Trent City Council to abandon its plans to turn the town hall into a call centre.

And in 2006, she organised a 4,000-name petition and travelled to London in a bid to stop the merger of the county's ambulance service with the West Midlands.

She also helped to set up the Potteries Heritage Society which is a voluntary organisation which helps to preserve buildings of importance across North Staffordshire.

She is a fund-raiser for the Donna Louise Children's Hospice Trust and has run a ballroom dancing class at Longton Town Hall for 16 years.

She is also a member of the Springfield Action Group set up to stop Stoke-on-Trent City Council building a 1,300-place school near Anchor Road, Adderley Green. No final decision has been made about the site as yet.

Mr Parker, aged 39, of Severn Close, Biddulph, said: "All of her life she has fought for causes other people have lost hope in.

"They are all to do with preserving the history of Stoke-on-Trent. She is very proud of the heritage of the city.

"I do not think that there is any other ordinary person who is as active and prevalent in local issues.

"You only have to look at how much her name has appeared in The Sentinel over the last few years.

"Attending the dinner would mean so much to her. Not only for her children to recognise what she has done but also the people of Stoke-on-Trent to turn around and say thank you."

Mrs Buckley-Parker said: "I do all these things because I love my city but my city is dying before my eyes and I can't just sit back and do nothing.

"Attending the centenary dinner would be an honour."