The Kates Hill Press

A celebration of Greg’s life will be held on Tuesday 1st October 2024 at 1.30 pm at Gornal Wood Crematorium, 7 Chase Road, Brierley Hill DY3 2RL. This will be followed with refreshments at Himley Cricket Club, Stourbridge Road, Himley DY3 4LB.
Family flowers only but donations warmly welcomed in aid of The Liver Unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.
Further details of a webcast will be provided nearer the time for those near and far who are unable to attend.
Anne, Louise, West, Lucy and Jen would like to thank you all so much for the outpouring of love and support during this impossible time.

Today’s Ian Henery Show on Black Country Xtra featured a tribute to Greg Stokes from long time colleague in the creative arts Linda Harper-Hocknull. Listen at the link below. Thank you Linda for your kind words.

The Ian Henery Show - Black Country Xtra

Ian Henery - Black Country Xtra

The Kates Hill Press is saddened to report the passing Greg Stokes. Greg was more than just the founder of the Kates Hill Press, he was the Kates Hill Press, an independent publishing company which he ran single handedly with unwavering passion and dedication for 32 years. Over those years Greg published works by over 40 authors.

In 1986 Greg’s father Doug Stokes was murdered in the aftermath of the bombing of Libya by the US. This tragedy led Greg to chronicle Doug’s life, death and its complicated aftermath in “A Witness for Peace”. He struggled to find a publisher for the work, being told that though it was an important work it was not marketable, so he decided publish it himself. Greg began by publishing a collection of his short stories titled “Black Country Stories & Sketches”, to ‘test the waters’, and so in 1992 the Kates Hill Press was born. “A Witness for Peace” followed in 1994, and cemented The Kates Hill Press as a local institution.

Outside of his work on the Kates Hill Press Greg was a beloved husband, father, stepfather, brother and grandfather. A dedicated supporter of West Bromwich Albion, he was also a constant traveller, exploring as much of the world as possible, an avid and prolific reader. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and countless people he had worked with via The Kates Hill Press and on the Black Country spoken word circuit.

As Greg would have wished, The Kates Hill Press will continue under the care of his daughter Louise Stokes and son-in-law West McGowan. Please be aware that this transition will take some time as we deal with the emotions and practicalities of Greg’s passing. All orders placed via the website will be fulfilled, but will take longer than Greg’s usual efficiency in these matters. For any queries please email: [email protected]

Photo by Ian Henery

Greg Stokes and all associated with the Kates Hill Press project over the years were deeply saddened to hear of the death of Den Payne on 15th July at his Tipton home. His partner Nikki was with him at the time.
As we know Den loved life and in particular loved music. He was a tireless performer both in his own right and with his fabulous Scàrbelly Blues Band.
But that only scratched the surface. Knowing the confidence performing in front of an audience had given him, he was an indefatigable promotor of open mic nights so that many others, whatever their gift, could be imbued with that same confidence, and you could watch people grow before your eyes. There can be no greater gift that one human can give to another.
In this endeavour he made great use of local resources, in particular Sandwell Libraries who, to their enormous credit, supported him to the hilt. It was a model of community/local authority cooperation.
It didn't stop their of course. The Black Country has an exceedingly vibrant, though sadly understated, creative community. Den was a tireless supporter of all of that too, our song writers, our poets, our story tellers, our wordsmiths.
He supported my own canon and indeed the entire Kate's Hill Press project throughout.
Den, you were a one of. Thanks for all you did for all of us. You will be sadly missed.
Rest easy old friend.

Greg Stokes
The Kates Hill Press

Ian Henery to perform new Crooked House poem at the Lakeside.
Kates Hill Press author Ian Henery had his collection Poems Of Hope published by us and launched at Wolverhampton Literature Festival in 2021 is on stage this Sunday at the Lakeside in Walsall Arboretum. His set will include a new poem about the Crooked House which was recently sold by Marston (Banks's in old money) and could soon cease to be a pub. The quirky venue attracted visitors from all over the world.

Good luck at Wolverhampton Literature Festival over the weekend. Have a great time.
Ian Henery
Rob Simmons
Billy Spakemon
Laura Jane Round
Joanne Webster
Claire Tedstone

Wishing everyone a happy Christmas. Many thanks for your support this year. Many great projects lined up for 2023.