Tributes paid to Cirencester antiques dealer William Stokes who died aged 94

Famous in the antiques world, Mr Stokes ran William H Stokes with his partner Peter Bontoft in Dollar Street, Cirencester.

Business partners for 47 years, and life partners for 44, Mr Stokes and Mr Bontoft moved to their Cirencester shop in 1989.

Mr Stokes died on January 9 after battling a short illness over Christmas.

“Everybody loved William,” said Mr Bontoft.

“He had a way with people, even with strangers. He could make them laugh within minutes.

“We never made any decisions that were not joint. All these years we looked after each other.”

Born near York, Mr Stokes’ family were spice and sausage manufacturers and he hoped to one day join the business.

However, when the Second World War began he went off for training as a decoder at Bletchley Park before serving in South Africa, Egypt and Malta.

He lived in South Africa for a few years after the war before returning to London and working for an antiques dealer.

Mr Stokes had already been running his business for three years before he met Mr Bontoft and they started managing the firm together.

The 69-year-old will continue to run the company under his partner’s name.

Mr Stokes had a fondness for fine dining and was a regular at the award-winning Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham, while he indulged his love of coffee at Jack's in Cirencester.

“He collected modern art – different from antiques,” added Mr Bontoft.

“He had pneumonia 15 years ago and his doctor said he should be in a warm climate. He hated the cold so he bought an apartment in Morocco and went there every winter.

“This last year he used to go round to Jack’s for coffee every day. When he went out he was always elegantly dressed. He always wore a jacket and a tie.”

Mr Stokes was The British Antique Dealers’ Association’s (BADA) oldest still-trading member.

He dealt in 16th to 18th century oak furniture mainly and had exhibited at the Northern Antiques Fair in Harrogate for 18 years, the Bath Fair for five years and the Grosvenor House Antique Fair for 12 years.

He helped form collections of early oak furniture for enthusiasts across the country, and Mr Bontoft said he would be sadly missed in the industry.

A service for Mr Stokes’ life will be held at the Parish Church in Cirencester on Saturday at 11am with a reception afterwards and everyone is welcome to attend. Only family are asked to bring flowers but everyone is encouraged to make a donation to charity in his memory.