Chronicle April 2016

23 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Graham Cooper By Theodor Abrahamsen OSE

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 Tilly’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

as they had XVs which won most matches and were unbeaten against peer schools. He went one better by being selected for English Schools to play the Scottish but the match was snowed off in December 1939. This was a disappointment but a visiting England scrum half commented that he would not have to wait long for his full cap. This was not to be as the War, which took him into the Grenadiers, also took his left leg. Needing wine for a party to celebrate survival from the War he found that it was hard to find. A friend of a friend suggested he talk to Edward Young, the wine merchants, who also offered him a job. His plans for being a Barrister were abandoned and, now with a wife and family, he was happy to be employed. He remained in the wine trade for his entire working life having been recruited in 1954 by Seagram’s, the large Canadian company, and managed the House of Seagram in the UK from 1956. Thus began 14 happy years as a relatively young MD in London. Post Seagram he was invited by IDV (now Diageo) to play various roles as MD and later Chairman until his retirement in the 1980s. His time as a Governor of the School began in 1964 when he was invited by Warden Frank Fisher to bring some commercial nous to the Board. It was not until 1979 that he became Chairman of the General Purposes Committee and quite soon after had to address the thorny idea of bringing girls into the School. Initially 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 Prefect (Head of School), Captain of the 1st XV, Captain of the Athletics Team and Captain of Hockey. I seem to remember that he set a school record for the 100 yards and I still have a photograph in an old scrapbook taken from the local Oxford newspaper of Graham Cooper in a 100 yard race. I was a junior in his day, and I don’t suppose he even noticed me, because a two year difference at that age and in those

days was an insurmountable barrier. But a junior could admire a Head of School, and I have admired and respected Graham Cooper ever since. Theodor Abrahamsen was in Mac’s from 1933-39.

Teddy Abrahamsen with his Housemaster, Rev Arthur Macnamara, in 1939

not convinced he became, over the years, one of the strongest converts and, in his later years, claimed it was his best achievement to have brought girls into the Sixth Form in 1983 followed by co-education in 1997. To say that he enjoyed his involvement with Teddies is an understatement. Not that he found persuading academics of certain moves to be easy, but he kept his eye on the prize and served in support of five Wardens until he finally retired at the age of 80 in 2001. He had been Chairman from 1985-1992. Thanks to a friendship with the current Chairman of Governors, Mike Stanfield, he continued to visit Teddies and was happy to keep in touch. He died peacefully with his family around him after a short illness with round-the-clock care in his flat in Wimbledon. A service to celebrate his life was held at St Mary’s Church, Wimbledon, on 2nd April. This was well attended including a strong team from Oxford; the family were heartened by the support. Tributes were paid by James Espey, a business colleague; the grandchildren, Camilla, Alice, Laura and William; Mike Stanfield; and finally his daughter, Julia, and me, Michael Palau. Geoffrey Palau died on 6th March 2016 aged 94. The tributes to Graham Cooper and Geoffrey Palau also appear in the current issue of the OSE magazine, Rhubarb .

Geoffrey Palau at a Sevens Tournament in 1940

Geoffrey Palau OSE By Michael Palau OSE My father came to St Edward’s in 1934 and so began an affair with the School which lasted over 80 years. He often described his time at the School as the happiest of his life. He held a Middle School record for the 100 yards for some 25 years and, reading the rugby reports of 1938, 1939 and 1940, this is not surprising