15 Problems Only People From Stoke-On-Trent Will Understand
8. The Statue Outside The Potteries Shopping Centre In Hanley Gives Kids Nightmares
Visitors to Hanley often drop by the Potteries Shopping Centre, home to many good shops and a great indoor market. As they innocently get on with their shopping and walk alongside Debenhams on Stafford Street, these visitors would be wise not to glance up. If they did, they'd get a shock - there's a terrifying statue attached to the side of the building. This nightmare-causing sight is the Man of Fire, known locally as the Spiky Man or Jack Frost. But the statue has nothing to do with the cold. It's inspired by the fires of a kiln, as given away by the inscription on the wall under it. So that's one misunderstanding cleared up, then. Quite why such a disturbing piece of "art" was considered a good idea for decorating a department store is still a mystery, though. Perhaps the store's owner enjoyed scaring children half to death
Mike has lived in the UK, Japan and the USA. Currently, he is based in Iowa with his wife and 2 young children. After working for many years as a writer and editor for a large corporation, he is now a freelancer. He has been fortunate enough to contribute to many books on Doctor Who over the last 20 years and is now concentrating on original sci-fi & fantasy short stories, with recent sales including Flame Tree, Uffda, and The Martian Wave. Also, look for his contribution on Blake's 7 to "You and Who Else", a charity anthology to be released later this year.
You can find him on Tumblr at https://www.tumblr.com/blog/culttvmike
