Summer Times is the Journal of the Old Scarborians Association
Summer Times is the Journal of the Old Scarborians Association
Summer Times is the Journal of the Old Scarborians Association
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Pam Elliott writes from<br />
Scarborough<br />
I am writing to thank you for <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>Times</strong>.<br />
Peter Robson kindly delivered five copies<br />
which I have given to <strong>the</strong> children as well as<br />
keeping one for myself.<br />
Mention must be made <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> warmth felt on<br />
reading kind words about Alan. Please accept<br />
<strong>the</strong> enclosed as a small contribution towards <strong>the</strong><br />
ongoing success <strong>of</strong> your interesting and infor‐<br />
mative magazine.<br />
My sincere thanks to all Alan’s school friends<br />
for <strong>the</strong> happiness and memories you gave to<br />
him.<br />
Walter Rogers writes from<br />
Walton-on-<strong>the</strong>–Hill (1945-52)<br />
Thank you for <strong>the</strong> latest <strong>is</strong>sue <strong>of</strong> <strong>Summer</strong><br />
<strong>Times</strong>. When my copy arrives I have to stop<br />
whatever I was doing at <strong>the</strong> time. I first have a<br />
quick scan for anything relating to <strong>the</strong> dates<br />
1945 — 1952, and <strong>the</strong>n read from cover to cover.<br />
I am enclosing some <strong>of</strong> my recollections. Should<br />
you feel <strong>the</strong>y could be <strong>of</strong> interest to readers,<br />
<strong>the</strong>n please feel free to remove any areas you<br />
think not suitable and edit <strong>the</strong> rest. Seeing <strong>the</strong><br />
pictures <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> school interior triggered many<br />
happy memories. Could copies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se pictures<br />
be made available to members?<br />
When I tried to buy a copy <strong>of</strong> The H<strong>is</strong>tory <strong>of</strong><br />
Scarborough, I found it impossible.<br />
Nei<strong>the</strong>r Amazon, Smiths nor Ottakars had <strong>the</strong><br />
book. Staffordshire County Library did not<br />
have a copy, but eventually did manage to bor‐<br />
row a copy from The Brit<strong>is</strong>h Library.<br />
Walter’s memories appear on page 25. He<br />
should already have received copies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
school photographs he requested.<br />
18<br />
OBITUARIES<br />
Joe Cooper (1936-44)<br />
Tributes have been paid to Joe Cooper, a former<br />
mayor and respected headmaster in Ripon who<br />
has died aged 79 after a long battle against can‐<br />
cer. He was born in Scarborough on October 5,<br />
1924, <strong>the</strong> youngest <strong>of</strong> 12 children.<br />
He was educated at Scarborough Boys High<br />
School and on completion <strong>of</strong> h<strong>is</strong> studies joined<br />
<strong>the</strong> war effort training as a pilot.<br />
He flew many m<strong>is</strong>sions, and on demob from <strong>the</strong><br />
RAF, he took up h<strong>is</strong> place at Downing College,<br />
Cambridge, where he read chem<strong>is</strong>try. Upon<br />
graduation, Mr Cooper began h<strong>is</strong> career in <strong>the</strong><br />
rubber industry, working for firms based in<br />
Wiltshire, Leicester and Grimsby, and became a<br />
chartered member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Royal Society <strong>of</strong><br />
Chem<strong>is</strong>try.<br />
He successfully transferred into <strong>the</strong> teaching<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>ession in <strong>the</strong> early 1960s, beginning h<strong>is</strong><br />
teaching career first in h<strong>is</strong> home town at Scar‐<br />
borough College, before moving to Germany to<br />
teach forces’ children, r<strong>is</strong>ing to he head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
science department at <strong>the</strong> Prince Rupert School<br />
in Wilhelmshaven.<br />
The family returned to England after five years,<br />
where Mr Cooper took up a teaching post in<br />
Lowest<strong>of</strong>t, before moving to Ripon in 1973 to<br />
take up <strong>the</strong> headmastership <strong>of</strong> Ripon Secondary<br />
Modern School.<br />
He held <strong>the</strong> post until he retired in 1984 at <strong>the</strong><br />
age <strong>of</strong> 60, and was respected during h<strong>is</strong> time at<br />
<strong>the</strong> school by both staff and pupils.<br />
During h<strong>is</strong> leadership, <strong>the</strong> school changed its<br />
name to <strong>the</strong> Ripon City School and he worked<br />
tirelessly to improve standards <strong>the</strong>re.<br />
On retirement he threw himself into politics,<br />
becoming a Liberal Democrat Ripon City Coun‐<br />
cillor and serving as Mayor in 1995‐96.<br />
Mr Cooper <strong>is</strong> survived by wife Barbara, <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
four children and eight grandchildren.