A POPULAR park has been given a new lease of life for its 100th birthday present.

The gift of £350,000 was given to Tunstall Park as it celebrated its centenary yesterday.

And just as the site, which is also known as Victoria Park, had been bequeathed to the community by a wealthy benefactor in 1908, it is a pottery businessman's legacy that will ensure it thrives for another century.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council hopes to match the donation pound for pound and is now drawing up a shopping list of possible schemes ranging from restoring boats to the lake, establishing a crazy golf course and new children's play area and revamping tennis courts.

The widow and son of the late Reginald Johnson travelled to the park from their Guernsey home to donate the huge windfall in the town where he managed three booming factories until the late 1960s.

Before his sudden death at 50 in 1969, Mr Johnson was managing director of the Alfred Meakin factories in Tunstall, which specialised in high quality earthenware.

In his memory, widow Margaret McCall set up a foundation which has given money to many local charities for more than 20 years.

Son Pat Johnson, aged 56, said: "My mother is now 87 and decided she wanted to close the foundation by creating a lasting tribute to my father, which would engage the entire community irrespective of age, religion, sex or creed.

"Tunstall Park has already served 100 years of benefit to all residents and is a very appropriate cause to support in memory of my father.

"It is also appropriate because so many of the employees lived in Tunstall, Burslem and Goldenhill and dad knew just how precious this park was to them.

"It is a wonderful place and so well used and loved that if the man who started it were here today he would have a broad smile on his face."

The park is Grade II-listed and boasts a boathouse, bowls pavilion, clock tower and lodge. Its floral hall has been revamped as a community centre.

There are even plans to rebuild the much-loved conservatory adjoining the floral hall.

Locally known for generations as the "greenhouse", it recreated a tropical climate and housed exotic plants and creepers, as well as a quaint wishing pool before falling into disrepair and being demolished.

Pat, who moved to Guernsey with his young family and mother four years ago, said: "My mother and I, and the two other trustees, are very grateful to, and amazed at, the hard work of city council members and officers in championing the cause of the park.

"With this investment we are keen to see the park continue to bring enjoyment to local people for the next hundred years."

His mother, who used to live in Betley, added: "This has been a poignant and happy day for me."

Councillor Debra Gratton, council portfolio holder for sports and leisure, said: "We were already planning to celebrate Victoria Park's centenary with a grandstand party, but this fantastic news really put the icing on the cake."

Tunstall councillor Lee Wanger added: "We hope to top the gift up to around £700,000 and do the improvements in the current financial year."

Prizes galore at rescued annual produce show, see page 19.