George Beresford-Stooke

Sir George Beresford-Stooke KCMG (3 January 1897 – 7 April 1983) – always known as "Toby" - was Chief Secretary to Northern Rhodesia,[1] and later appointed Governor of Sierra Leone from September, 1947 until December 1952.

On 15 January 1914 (just after his 17th birthday) he enrolled in the Royal Navy, and served throughout the First World War and retired with the rank of Paymaster Lieutenant.

[4] After the end of the First World War, he joined His Majesty's Overseas Civil Service (HMOCS) :- 1920-1925 Cadet Sarawak, 1925-1933 District Officer Kenya, 1933-1936 Assistant Treasurer Mauritius, 1936-1938 Deputy Treasurer Kenya, 1838-1942 Chief Secretary of Zanzibar, 1942-1945 Chief Secretary of Northern Rhodesia, 1945-1946 Chief Secretary of Nigeria, 1947-1953 Governor and C-in-C Sierra Leone, 1953-1955 Second Crown Agent for the Colonies, based in London.

[8][9] In 1951, Sir George revised the Constitution of Sierra Leone to expand the franchise to women in areas of the "interior" where, up until that point, only men were allowed the right-to-vote on local matters.

Retiring to East Molesey, Surrey, near Hampton Court Palace, the home of Lady Baden-Powell, Sir George became Second Crown Agent for the Colonies.

Sir George and Creenagh later moved to Hillfarance, west of Taunton, Somerset, close to the retirement home of the daughter of Lord & Lady Baden-Powell.