Summer Times is the Journal of the Old Scarborians Association

Pam Elliott writes from
Scarborough
I am writing to thank you for Summer Times.
Peter Robson kindly delivered five copies
which I have given to the children as well as
keeping one for myself.
Mention must be made of the warmth felt on
reading kind words about Alan. Please accept
the enclosed as a small contribution towards the
ongoing success of your interesting and infor‐
mative magazine.
My sincere thanks to all Alan’s school friends
for the happiness and memories you gave to
him.
Walter Rogers writes from
Walton-on-the–Hill (1945-52)
Thank you for the latest issue of Summer
Times. When my copy arrives I have to stop
whatever I was doing at the time. I first have a
quick scan for anything relating to the dates
1945 — 1952, and then read from cover to cover.
I am enclosing some of my recollections. Should
you feel they could be of interest to readers,
then please feel free to remove any areas you
think not suitable and edit the rest. Seeing the
pictures of the school interior triggered many
happy memories. Could copies of these pictures
be made available to members?
When I tried to buy a copy of The History of
Scarborough, I found it impossible.
Neither Amazon, Smiths nor Ottakars had the
book. Staffordshire County Library did not
have a copy, but eventually did manage to bor‐
row a copy from The British Library.
Walter’s memories appear on page 25. He
should already have received copies of the
school photographs he requested.
18
OBITUARIES
Joe Cooper (1936-44)
Tributes have been paid to Joe Cooper, a former
mayor and respected headmaster in Ripon who
has died aged 79 after a long battle against can‐
cer. He was born in Scarborough on October 5,
1924, the youngest of 12 children.
He was educated at Scarborough Boys High
School and on completion of his studies joined
the war effort training as a pilot.
He flew many missions, and on demob from the
RAF, he took up his place at Downing College,
Cambridge, where he read chemistry. Upon
graduation, Mr Cooper began his career in the
rubber industry, working for firms based in
Wiltshire, Leicester and Grimsby, and became a
chartered member of the Royal Society of
Chemistry.
He successfully transferred into the teaching
profession in the early 1960s, beginning his
teaching career first in his home town at Scar‐
borough College, before moving to Germany to
teach forces’ children, rising to he head of the
science department at the Prince Rupert School
in Wilhelmshaven.
The family returned to England after five years,
where Mr Cooper took up a teaching post in
Lowestoft, before moving to Ripon in 1973 to
take up the headmastership of Ripon Secondary
Modern School.
He held the post until he retired in 1984 at the
age of 60, and was respected during his time at
the school by both staff and pupils.
During his leadership, the school changed its
name to the Ripon City School and he worked
tirelessly to improve standards there.
On retirement he threw himself into politics,
becoming a Liberal Democrat Ripon City Coun‐
cillor and serving as Mayor in 1995‐96.
Mr Cooper is survived by wife Barbara, their
four children and eight grandchildren.