Plymouth, H P Stokes (Harry Potts Stokes)

PLYMOUTH
DATA

The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

H P STOKES

Harry Potts Stokes was born at Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, in the first quarter of 1883.

At the time of the 1891 census he was an eight-years-old scholar living with his parents, Edgar and Emma Stokes at 15 Wellington Street, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire. Edgar was a blacksmith at an iron founders. They had four daughters and three sons, of whom Harry was the youngest.

In 1901 Harry appears to have found work as a clerk with the Burton School Board at Horninglow, Staffordshire.

Harry married Miss Mary Elizabeth G Yates in the second quarter of 1908. At that time he was the Borough Electrical Engineer and Tramway Manager and lived at 20 Park Avenue, Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

By 1914 Harry was the manager of the Bexley & Dartford Tramway and Electricity Department. It was while living in Dartford that the couple's only son, Donald Gresham Stokes, was born on March 22nd 1914 . He in time became Lord Stokes.

Mr Harry Potts Stokes arrived in Plymouth in October 1919, when he was appointed as manager of Plymouth Corporation Tramways Department. He was responsible for the design and introduction of the motor bus in the Town in the 1920s and also a much improved design of tramcar, of which the prototype and production models were all built in the Corporation's depot at Milehouse. He was also responsible for the creation of the Plymouth City Transport Department social club.

Plymouth Corproation tram 151, which was designed by Mr H P Stokes while he was tramways manager

Plymouth Corproation tram number 151,
which was designed by Mr H P Stokes
while he was tramways manager.

In 1926 the couple were living at Kelvin Lodge, Lower Compton Road, Plymouth.

He resigned on September 3rd 1929 to become general manager of United Automobile Service Company.

In April 1932 it was reported in the local press that he had bought the Rock Towers Private Hotel at Hannafore, Looe, in Cornwall. He became chairman of Looe Urban District Council and was a member of the South-East Cornwall Water Board. During the Second World War he acted as the area's Food Executive Officer.

Mr Harry Potts Stokes died at Looe on Wednesday May 26th 1954. He was 71-years-old. After a service at St Nicholas' Church, Looe, the body was carried to Efford Cemetery in Plymouth for cremation. He left a widow, two daughters, Mrs F R Dunstan and Miss Bunty Stokes, and one son, Mr Donald G Stokes.