The Dick Cooper Memorial Garden

Brookland

Captain A. R. Cooper died at home with his family on 1^st April 1988 at the age
of eighty-nine and a service was held at the Maidstone crematorium.
For many years the family had sought a suitable and lasting public memorial to this man, a hero recognized by his peers and the holder of thirteen medals and decorations.

We believe the memorial rose garden in the heart of a Kentish village to be the perfect public tribute. A tribute that we hope will benefit others who may wish to pause for a while and reflect on their own personal memories.

A celebration of the life of this amazing man was held in St Augustine’s Church at Brookland on 5^th May 2001. The service was attended by family and friends together with The Rt Hon Michael Howard M.P., Captain Geoffrey Arnold S.O.E., Major Dennis Newman S.O.E., Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Van Maurik S.O.E., Councillor Shirley Newlands the Chairman of Shepway District Council, Kent County Councillor Fred Wood-Brignall, Shepway Councillor John Paine and Chairman of Brookland Parish Council Mrs. Jackie Wakelin.

The celebration was followed by a Service of Dedication of the Dick Cooper Memorial Garden that lies adjacent to the public footpath to the rear of St Augustine’s Church.
It has been designed for the use of visitors to both the church and the cemetery and offers a quiet and tranquil setting for all who wish to linger for a while.

 It was in 1962 that Dick Cooper took up residence in Kent,
 the birthplace of his wife Doris.
For twenty-six years he delighted in the garden of England where his greatest joy was to grow roses and correspond with friends all over the world.

Members of Captain Cooper’s family currently reside in the village of Brookland and his widow, Doris Cooper, was delighted to provide the garden with the additional promise that the family will maintain it in the foreseeable future.

The Special Forces Club donated a Rosa Rugosa to the memorial garden and the perfume of this beautiful rose fills the air throughout the summer months.

An old friend and colleague from the dangerous, but none-the-less exciting days of operations with S.O.E. also donated to the garden. On the card Lieutenant Paddy Davies R.N.R. had written ‘To a very intrepid and gallant soldier and endearing companion.’

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