THE FUNERAL took place on Thursday of a well-known former Barnsley councillor, trade union representative and Labour Party activist.
Mike Stokes, who lived at Monk Bretton before moving to Westway, Orkney in 2012, died in hospital at Buckie, Morayshire, Scotland, aged 81. He had been admitted to hospital on March 7 - the day before he and his wife Sheila were due to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary.
The son of a Barnsley miner, Mike grew up in Tune Street, Barnsley, and attended Racecommon Road and Longcar Central schools before joining the Barnsley British Co-operative Society as an apprentice electrical engineer. He returned to the Co-op after National Service with the RAF but later joined the staff of Barnsley College of Technology as a lecturer in electronics and mathematics.
He ended his working life as a full-time trade union officer for NUPE, the National Union of Public Employees, which is now part of Unison.
A committed trade unionist from his youth, Mike served as secretary and chairman of the Barnsley and District Trades Union Council for around 40 years. He also served as a Labour member on the South Yorkshire County Council in the 1970s and, more recently, represented the Central ward on Barnsley Council.
He leaves a widow Sheila, daughters Denise and Sandra, grandson Nathan Littlewood, great-grandsons Tyler Jo and Jacob Cole Littlewood and step great-grandchildren Ben and Chelsea.
While a family service was held at Moray Crematorium yesterday, the family hopes that a memorial service will be held in Barnsley when his ashes are returned to the town.
Leader of Barnsley Council Sir Steve Houghton said: “Mike was a dedicated socialist and campaigner for working people, whose wisdom and knowledge will be greatly missed. My most sincere condolences go out to his family and friends at this very sad time.”
