Preece Family Tree

MR. WILLIAM STOKES, EX-SUPT., WOLVERHAMPTON.

MR. WILLIAM STOKES, who retired from the Wolverhampton Police in July last, after 25 years' service, was born near Cannock, and received his education at the village National School. At the age of twelve he commenced work in one of the coal mines which stud the Chase. His old schoolmaster gave him the opportunity of attending two nights a week for instruction at a gentleman's house, and he improved his education in this way. He continued to embrace every means of obtaining instruction in his boyhood, and at the time he joined the Wolverhampton Force he was competent to take down letters in Pitman's shorthand, which he had learnt without assistance.

Mr. Stokes joined the Wolverhampton Force in 1886, Major Hay being then Chief Constable. On January 3rd, 1887, he was appointed assistant clerk in the Chief Constable's office, and this was his first step towards promotion. On April 17th of the same year he was promoted to be a first-class Constable, a year before the regular time, in recognition of extra work performed by him in the Chief Constable's department. On April 1st, 1889, Mr. Stokes was specially promoted by the Watch Committee, on the recommendation of Captain Stracey, then acting-Chief Constable, with increased pay, in recognition of his services in the Chief Constable's office. On February 17th, 1891, the minutes of the Watch Committee record "that in consideration of his valuable services as Chief Clerk the committee has ordered the promotion of Sergeant Stokes to acting Inspector from April 1st."

On November 1st, 1892, he was given the full rank of Inspector, and in January, 1900, he was appointed Superintendent of the Police Force and Fire Brigade, which position he held with every credit to himself and the utmost satisfaction to the town for eleven and a half years.

During the time he held the position of Superintendent, Mr. Stokes was specially thanked by the successive Mayors who have held office for the manner in which he has carried out his duties on the occasion of important functions.

In this connection mention must be made of the visit of the present King and Queen, then the Duke and Duchess of York, about eleven years ago, on which occasion Supt. Stokes was specially thanked by the Mayor for his services in carrying out the arrangements for the preservation of law and order, and for the regulation of traffic in connection with the Royal visit.

In the course of his twenty-five years' service the Superintendent has been thanked and referred to in orders on more than twenty occasions, and often he has received the thanks of the justices and the Watch Committee and Town Clerk, for the efficient discharge of his exacting duties.

Mr. Stokes has had a great deal to do with the administration of Sir Charles Mander's fund for finding clothing and boots for destitute children. He has done a great deal for the Fire Brigade, and helped considerably to increase its efficiency, and the efficiency of the appliances and apparatus, particularly in thinking out an arrangement whereby a dozen women and children may be brought down from the highest building in the town with safety. The improved apparatus alluded to, invented by Mr. Stokes, has practically - with some slight variations - been adopted in many parts of the country, says the "Midland Evening News." A leading and widely travelled fire engineer, after having witnessed a demonstration, said that he had not seen anything to surpass it in any part of the world. Supt. Stokes also suggested and brought out little improvements in regard to the harnessing and driving of the horses, tending to the greater safety of the brigade while driving to a conflagration. Roughly speaking, he has himself attended over 500 fires, and he has been granted the Long Service Medal by the National Fire Brigade Union. In the course of his work at fires, Supt. Stokes has had several narrow escapes, notably at the fire which occurred not so very long at, at Messrs. Holcroft's works at Ettingshall.

When Mr. Stokes first intimated his intention of retiring on pension, the Watch Committee were strongly desirous of retaining his services. He adhered, however, to his decision to retire into private life, for he is strongly of the opinion, that while there are some exceptions, as a rule for a man to remain in the Force after having completed his term of service entitling him to retire on a pension is neither conducive to discipline nor efficiency.

The following tribute to Mr. Stokes appeared in the "Wolverhampton Express and Star" at the time of his retirement:- "Supt. Stokes will leave Wolverhampton with the best wishes of many friends. He has long been a familiar figure in the town, and has borne an officila part in numerous important events. At all times he has been a courteous and obliging officer of the Force, and he has discharged his onerous duties with great efficiency, thoroughness, and devotion. His work in connection with the Fire Brigade has often placed him in positions of serious peril, but he has not spared himself, and has been exposed to the same risks in that important department as his subordinates. That he should have come through so many ordeals unscathed is a matter for satisfaction; and now that he has finished his successful career as second in command of Wolverhampton's [...] he merits, and will receive, hearty congratulations."

Our portrait is from a photo by Messrs. [...]genheim and Co., Wolverhampton.