A NINETY-YEAR-OLD Arnold Bennett fanatic celebrated his birthday by walking six miles through locations featured in the Hanley novelist's work.

Around 45 friends of Hector Emanuelli, including members of the Arnold Bennett Society and the Stoke/Newcastle Ramblers Association, took part in the walk yesterday.

The circular walk started and finished at Westport Lake, known as Shawport in the 1910 novel Clayhanger, by Arnold Bennett, pictured below.

The ramblers made their way along the canal through Middleport passing through other areas featured in Bennett's novels including Cobridge, known as Bleakridge, Burslem, or Bursley and Tunstall, or Turnhill, before finishing back at the lake.

Hector, of Meadow Lane, Trentham, was also celebrating the centenary of Arnold Bennett's Clayhanger Trilogy, the 75th anniversary of Stoke/Newcastle Ramblers Association and the centenary of the federation of the six towns of Stoke-on-Trent.

The keen rambler said yesterday's walk would be a nostalgic trip back to his teenage years when, as a 14-year-old boy, he worked at the Ducal Works in Tunstall and at Britannia Pottery in Cobridge.

He said: "I wanted to celebrate the centenary of the Arnold Bennett Trilogy and the celebration of the six towns. I've been rambling for around 30 years and in the past used to ramble up to 20 miles.

"I think Westport Lake is an ideal spot to start the walk. I think Arnold Bennett is fantastic, especially in his descriptions. He brings the Potteries to life."

Hector, who was born in South Wales but moved to Goldenhill with his parents when he was 14, was also celebrating the publication of his book, released in March, entitled Sense Of Belonging.

He added: "It's the story of my life. I've quoted Arnold Bennett in a few parts, and other authors too."

Carol Gorton, aged 63, of Trentham is the Secretary of the Arnold Bennett Society.

She said: "I think this is a wonderful idea. It promotes our society and Hector is such a good supporter of ours."

Margaret Thorley, from Stoke, is a member of the Arnold Bennett Society and the ramblers' association.

She said: "The Arnold Bennett Society is a fantastic group and this is a nice tribute. There's a lot of longstanding members in the ramblers that have been members for years and I still see those faces."

Sandra Rushton, from Clayton, knows Hector through the ramblers' association.

She said: "Hector's probably lived to 90 because of his rambling."