When World War 2 broke out, the family had to move from Essex for safety reasons to Surrey.
In 1943, the family returned to Leigh-on-Sea, and Stoke attended the local grammar school in Westcliff.
He trained locals in leprosy treatment, with the result that leper colonies in the area became unnecessary.
In 1969 the family returned to Salisbury, and Stoke became a lecturer in Preventive Medicine at the University of Rhodesia, where he worked until 1976.
Faced with the prospect that his elder sons would soon be drafted into the Rhodesian army, Stoke decided to migrate.
In 1976, the family migrated to New Zealand, leaving behind the two eldest boys to complete their university studies – Mike in Cape Town and Alan in Salisbury.
The four-month fellowship included visits to Canada, USA, Ireland, United Kingdom, the USSR and Sweden.