Tributes to ex-mayor of Wem who died in car fire

Tributes have been paid to a former mayor of Wem who died in a car fire in Shrewsbury.

Paul Stokes, from Harlescott, died at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on December 29 following the fire in his car on Battlefield Heritage Park, off Battlefield Link Road, on December 28. Mr Stokes, 54, served as mayor of Wem in 1989-90.

Today members of the town council paid tribute to their former colleague.

Councillor Edward Towers, mayor of Wem, said in a statement: "The news of Mr Paul Stokes sudden, unexpected and tragic death has come as a great shock to all who knew and worked with him in Wem – disbelief even.

"The nature of his passing only adds to the distress felt in the town where he had his home for many ye- ars and brought up his family. Paul was well known to many of us from time spent with him in primary school at Prees, at Wem Grammar School, and then through his time in the family driving school business.

"Here he gave freely of his time in a voluntary capacity for a good number of years by serving our community as both as a town councillor and North Shropshire District Council member. Indeed from May 1989 to 1990 he was elected as the mayor of Wem.

"Our hearts go out in deepest sympathy to his close family, children and friends and they can be assured of the prayers and support of those currently serving on Wem Town Council and the townspeople of Wem at this difficult time."

Councillor Peggy Carson, who served with Councillor Stokes on the town council, said he was a 'well respected and well liked' man.

She said: "He was a very well-known character in Wem and very well liked.

"He ran a very successful school of motoring and after leaving town he worked as a drug counsellor in Shrewsbury.

"He was a young mayor and a good councillor. Hearing news of his death was ever so sad."

In the incident, police, ambulance crews and firefighters all attended the scene and freed the man shortly after 3.40pm.

Paramedics tried to resuscitate Mr Stokes but he died the next day in hospital.