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ST EDWARD’S
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BROWN
– In September
2014, Michael Jarvis Brown (C,
1948-1953). Michael studied at
Exeter College, Oxford, from
1955 to1958, before becoming
a stockbroker at Henry Cooke
& Son in Manchester.
COOPER
– On 18th February
2016, Graham Cooper (G,
1931-1937), father to Alistair
Cooper (G, 1959-1964) and
Charles Cooper (G, 1961-
1966), and grandfather to
Alexandra Bingley (J, 1996-
1999) and Harriet Bingley
(K, 1996-2002).
The following obituary has
kindly been provided by Malcolm
Oxley, former Second Master
and author of
A New History of
St Edward’s School, Oxford, 1863
– 2013
;
St Edward’s has enjoyed
and benefitted from a host of
able governors during its 150
year history. Only one of these
has a whole quadrangle named
after him. In 1988, when the
space surrounded by the new
Art, Design and Mathematics
buildings was created, it was
dubbed the Cooper Quadrangle
commemorating both the
generosity and the sagacity of
Graham Cooper, a governor
from 1947-93 and Chairman
from 1973-85. Graham, who
was born in 1917, joined the
school in the Michaelmas Term
of 1931 at the same time
as Sir John Moreton who, in
1980, would join him on the
governing body. He was a year
ahead of Guy Gibson whom
he knew well. He left in 1937
as Senior Prefect and Head of
House. By then Henry Kendall
had transformed the old ‘sets’
into unified boarding houses
and Graham was head of his
House serving under Ken
Menzies and Gerry Segar. He
also captained the XV and the
athletics and hockey teams. He
figured prominently in other
school activities like debating
where, in an atmosphere of very
traditional attitudes among the
young, he displayed a strikingly
liberal stance. He went on to
Trinity College, Oxford, where,
in 1940, he took his BA and a
rugby Blue. He remained very
loyal to his college and was
made an Honorary Fellow
in 1983. After war service as
a Major in the Westminster
Dragoons he returned to join
and later lead the family firm of
Cooper’s, successful builders’
merchants in Oxford. He was
soon a prominent figure in the
Oxford business world and
always played a full part in civic
life serving as Vice Chairman
of the Oxford Regional Health
Authority and as a Trustee
and Vice Chairman of the
Oxford Preservation Trust. He
was a Justice of the Peace for
Abingdon. In 1947, such was the
esteem in which he was already
held by Warden Kendall and the
governors that he was invited
to join their number. He must
have been one of the youngest
governors ever and certainly he
became far and away the longest
serving. His role as a business
man based locally made him an
excellent governor but it was
his judgement and unswerving
loyalty to his old school which
made him unique, a loyalty
which extended to his educating
his own children at St Edward’s.
Serving six Wardens he built
up a range of experience which
made him a major figure in the
shaping of school policies and
strategies for more than fifty
years. His governance was not
to act as a brake on change or
as a guardian of the past. He
helped to preside over the very
considerable changes which the
wardenships of Fisher, Bradley,
Phillips and the two Christies
witnessed, years of growth,
prosperity and a considerable
raising of standards all round.
The 2013
Roll
of St Edward’s
rightly summarises as follows:
‘he has been an important figure
in the School’s progress over the
second half of the 20th century,
and a frequent benefactor.’
His generosity was indeed
considerable both in outward
benefactions and behind the
scenes assistance for a host of
projects large and small. He will
always be remembered as a very
considerable figure in the history
of St Edward’s.
The following obituary
has kindly been provided by
Theodor Abrahamsen (D, 1993-
1939). As a major benefactor
throughout his life as both a
Chairman of Governors and of
the OSE Committee, Graham
Cooper will be remembered
and honoured by St Edward’s.
However, since there are
now very few who remember
him as a boy at the School, I
would like to add these words.
When someone has lived
through almost 100 years in
this troubled world, there is,
of course, sorrow and a great
feeling of loss, but mingled with
sorrow is also veneration and
gratitude. Graham Cooper
came to Segar's in 1931 and
had already started to make his
mark when I arrived in Mac’s in
September two years later. One
of my most memorable days
at Teddies was an afternoon
in 1936 when I was called into
Graham Cooper’s study in
Tilly’s and he, as Captain of
Rugby, congratulated me and
presented me with my 1st
XV colours. I was very much
a junior in his team, but I still
remember what an honour it
was. Graham Cooper was a
natural leader in everything he
did. In my time he was Senior
Graham Cooper
V A L E T E
O B I T U A R I E S