Doris Stocker and Henry Segrave standing by his car

Doris Stocker: from “Beautiful Fairy Queen” to “Grief Stricken Widow”

14 January 2022

As part of the Arts Council England funded Golden Arrow project, Senior Curator Sarah Wyatt looks into the life of the actress Doris Stocker, wife of Land Speed Record-breaker Henry Segrave.

Doris Stocker was born in India in 1886, the second of three children. Her father, George, was an engineer in Bombay. When Doris was five years old, her mother Mary returned to England, taking her three children with her. George remained in India.

Settled into their London home, Doris’s older sister, Blanche took to the stage and her younger sister soon followed. As early as October 1904, ‘The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News’ reports that Doris “has been before the public about seven months” and that “Miss Stocker is devoted to her work and her progress may be predicted”.

The Stocker sisters soon established themselves on the London stage. Doris in particular was singled out for her beauty and charm rather than for her acting talents. ‘The Bystander’ in its 15 August 1906 edition, debates the question of “Who is the prettiest actress?” and lists Doris Stocker “whose countenance is the very incarnation of youthful merriment and innocent fun”. One of her early roles was in “a musical fairy play” titled ‘Two Naughty Boys’. This two act production had a run at the Gaeity Theatre and Doris Stocker played Daffydowndilly “the beautiful fairy queen” (The Bystander, 15 August 1905).

Photographic portrait of actress Doris Stocker in 1906

As with today’s celebrities, Doris’s social life was reported in detail in the press. ‘The Bournemouth Evening Echo’ (7 June 1905) reports “theatrical stars driving down in their motor-cars from London to the Riviera Hotel, Maidenhead for an annual “motor meet”. Attendees listed include Doris Stocker and the female motoring pioneer Dorothy Levitt“ and a host of other pretty women”. ‘The Yorkshire Telegraph’ (5 December 1912) runs a piece on the lavish Pantomime Ball held in the Albert Hall in London. It reports that “Miss Stocker pirouetted as columbine, all in pink”. Other visual delights included Lady Mond who “furnished a surprise” by dressing – with “all her party” – as a Christmas cracker, which proceeded to parade towards the royal box. On what was clearly a slow news day, ‘The Daily Mirror’s’ 11 September 1916 ‘This Morning’s Gossip’ page ran a feature stating that “Miss Doris Stocker’s Pekinese dog wandered away from it’s mistress’s house the other day and inconsiderably forgot to return.” Doris is pictured with the errant animal, presumably before it went on its travels.

Major Henry Segrave on the phone with his wife Doris Stocker next to him

Doris Stocker retired from the stage in 1917 upon her marriage to Henry O’Neal De Hane Segrave. At the time Segrave was serving in the Royal Flying Corps, having retrained as a pilot after being injured in hand to hand combat whilst in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Doris’s life moved into a new chapter as she supported her husband in his quest for speed.

Mrs Segrave (as she then was) features in film and photographs from the record-breaking Daytona Beach run of the Golden Arrow in 1929, including an image of her by her husband’s side as he calls sponsor Lord Wakefield to advise him of his success.

Boat Miss England II on the lake Windermere 13 June 1930

Segrave was knighted after his Golden Arrow triumph. He then turned his focus to the water speed world record, culminating with him losing his life on Lake Windemere on 13 June 1930 when his boat, Miss England II, crashed. The following day, ‘The Lancashire Daily Post’ reported “Lady Segrave’s Premonition”:

“I am nervous about to-day’s attempt. I feel something may happen. I don’t know how to explain it, but there is something that tells me that things are not going well. I have been confident all week, nothing has disturbed me, yet why should I feel like this today?”

This was claimed to have been revealed to the Daily Mail correspondent on the day of the crash.

Sir Henry Segrave’s funeral was held in a small chapel in Golders Green, London. Police had to be deployed to keep spectators away. Only four attended the ceremony – Segrave’s parents, his sponsor Lord Wakefield and of course Lady Doris Segrave – and three wreaths permitted. ‘The Evening Telegraph and Post’ (17 June 1930), writing about “the grief stricken widow” notes that:

“The most touching scene of these was from Lady Segrave. It was a white harp of lilies in the centre of which was a spray of blood red roses, symbolising a bleeding heart.”

Lady Segrave wrote a well-argued and also touching article in 1931 reflecting on the quest for speed and the impact upon those closest to the risk-takers. It was titled ‘Should We Sacrifice Lives for Speed?’ and was no doubt syndicated, with this researcher finding it in ‘The Lincolnshire Echo’ dated 12 May 1931. Lady Segrave argues that those trying to break speed records are highly cognisant of the risk to their lives and build in as many safety features as possible to mitigate it. She acknowledges the motivation for personal glory but also, especially in her husband’s case, the desire to bring glory to his country, England. She concludes:

“And what of the wives of these men? Their task is scarcely less arduous than that of their husbands. Despite their natural fears, despite anxieties and qualms, they assist, encourage even, and face the future bravely. Certainly not theirs to deter and hinder.

Scarcely a day passes without brave men risking their lives in some part of the world in dare-devil enterprises. Their women-folk share the risks, as they share in the joy of achievement when dangers are overcome and courage has conquered.”

Doris Stocker died in 1968 at the age of 86. She and Sir Henry did not have children and she did not remarry. Her part in his legend has yet to be fully recognised but she was clearly a lot more than a “very pretty blonde”.