On 20 February 2018, A Pear Tree of International Peace and Friendship protected by the Czech government was planted in its permanent location outside The Victoria Hall in Stoke-on-Trent. It was a symbolic event to mark the partnership between Stoke and the Czech village of Lidice.

Last summer, as a statement of the 75 year long friendship between the communities of Stoke-on-Trent and Lidice, the city of Stoke was honoured to receive a graft off a pear tree from the Citizens' Association of Lidice, for planting in an appropriate location of the city. Outside the Victoria Hall seemed the perfect place given it was the launch-pad for the Lidice Shall Live campaign.

For the last six months the sapling has been cared for at the Dorothy Clive Garden, near to Stoke-on-Trent, by its Head Gardener, Zdeněk Valkoun-Walker, who is of Czech origin.

The event was organised by Alan and Cheryl Gerrard from Stoke-on-Trent who on a long term basis keep the awareness about the link between Stoke-on-Trent and Lidice. It was attended by Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Ross Irving, who gave the project a great support, Ms. Jana Čechlovská, 3rd Secretary at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in London, about 50 guests of public and media.

The Lord Mayor said that the tree was now a living memory of the partnership between Stoke-on-Trent and Lidice and Ms. Čechlovská expressed her beliefs that it will grow strong and stable and overcome all storms and showers like the relations between the two cities and our nations will definitely do.

It is hoped the Pear Tree will play a role helping to raise the city's young people's aspirations, spreading a message of positivity amongst those who find out about its story.

Video from the event by Dec Brennan: https://youtu.be/C0jIw6__h_c   

The BBC on “How Stoke-on-Trent helped Lidice recover from the Nazis“ http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/stoke/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_9418000/9418670.stm