Friends Pay Tribute to Colin Stokes, Founder of The Prostate Project

Published on: 20 Feb, 2026
Updated on: 20 Feb, 2026

Colin Stokes, during the construction of the urology centre at the Royal Surrey County Hospital that bears his name

By David Reading

Friends have been paying tribute to Colin Stokes MBE, founder of the Prostrate Project in Guildford, who died earlier this month (February).

Colin spearheaded a decade-long fundraising campaign that raised £3 million (matched by the NHS) to build a state-of-the-art urology department at the Royal Surrey County Hospital. It was opened in 2019 by the Duke of Kent.

It is a great testimony to Colin’s work that he transformed urological care in Surrey.

The Duke of Kent opening the Stokes Centre at the Royal Surrey in 2019.

Long-time supporter of the Prostate Project, Tony Smith of Eclectic Live Music, paid tribute saying: “We are deeply sad to hear about the passing of Colin Stokes, who we have worked with for many years.

“Colin established the Prostate Project in 1998 with his consultant urological surgeon, Mr John Davies, after Colin was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 58.

The entrance to the new Urology Centre.

“With his background working at Unilever and running his own consultancy company, Colin worked tirelessly as a volunteer Chairman for 21 years, overseeing the establishment of the oncology research team at the University of Surrey and building the Stokes Centre for Urology at the Royal Surrey.

“Having retired as Chair in 2020, Colin continued to support the charity through his role as Ambassador, reaching out to the local community through talks, presentations and interviews. Colin was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Surrey and an MBE for services to cancer patients.

“Although he hadn’t been well recently, Colin and his wife were again helping backstage at this year’s “Paul Jones & Friends” gig at G Live, providing hospitality to the musicians and celebrity guests.

“The total sum raised at the gig for the charity he founded was almost £69,500.

“Colin would have been very gratified to know that on February 4 (National Cancer Day) the Prostate Project ‘Man Van’ was parked at Guildford Cathedral and tested over 100 men, mostly resulting from the G Live gig. The Man-Van itself had largely been funded by the previous two Paul Jones gigs.

Paul has agreed to continue the gig next year, on January 5 and 6.”

Colin Stokes (left) with Martin Davies, chair of the Prostate Project

Martin Davies a fellow organiser of the Prostate Project said: “What sad and unexpected news. But what a mark he made, and what a legacy he has left.

“So many people have reason to be grateful to him already, and how fitting it is that the centre bears his name so people in the future will also know who to be grateful to.

“Marvellous man. Great achievements. To be celebrated as well as mourned.”

Anne Milton, MP for Guildford from 2005 to 2019 added her tribute: “Colin worked tirelessly, selflessly and with such determination to raise the funds needed to make sure those with prostate cancer get the best possible care and treatment.

“He was an extraordinary man with such warmth and humour that it was impossible to say no to him. On one occasion he even persuaded me to run from Cranleigh to the Royal Surrey for the Prostate Project!

“It was my privilege to have known him and although his legacy will live on, I will miss him greatly. All my thoughts are with his family at what I know will be a very difficult time.”

Dragon editor Martin Giles said: “I had the privilege of meeting Colin a couple of times but more importantly I am one of the hundreds, perhaps thosands of those who have received excellent treatment at the Royal Surrey’s urology facility, The Stokes Centre, for which I remain extremely grateful.

“The Centre is a fantastic legacy to leave us. I hope he was aware of the appreciation, certainly his surviving family should be very proud.”