Framlinghamian 2022 - Flipbook - Page 291
SOF | OBITUARIES
of other conspicuous talents to share as
‘Cookie – a Schoolmaster’s life’
a linguist, musician and sportsman. He
by Mark Robinson
was a true Renaissance man and scholar
who inspired generations of pupils, in
‘Today we have writing reports.
and out of the classroom. His sparkling
Yesterday,
wit, erudition, unswerving loyalty, and
We had peer mentoring.
generosity of spirit will be sorely missed.
And tomorrow
The memorial service was streamed from
We shall have health and safety.
St Michael’s Church, Framlingham, and
But today,
Michael’s life and dedicated professional
Today we have writing reports.
service to the College cannot be better
On the back of the door
summed up than in the eulogy given at
Hangs the dusty gown with its patina of
that service by long-term colleague and
chalk dust.
Head of History, Mark Robinson. Such was
And today we have writing reports.’
the contribution of Michael Cooke over so
(Michael Cooke, with apologies to Henry Reed ‘Naming of Parts’, 1942)
many years that we publish this tribute in
full.
Renaissance Prince, poet, scholar,
distinguished historian, saw-doctor,
quintessential Englishman and more
significantly perhaps, the very best of
friends and colleagues, the inimitable Mr
Cooke. Oh, Frank (as they called him in
the early days, after Frank Spencer from
‘Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em’), how sorely
you will be missed...and by so many.
Some ten days before he died, Michael
called me from his hospital bed to discuss
the fine detail of this funeral service. He
was very matter of fact to begin with. J.S.
Bach was to be played at the beginning,
middle and end of proceedings, ‘with
a light sprinkling of Purcell, perhaps?’
John Hutchings or John Le Grove should
play the organ (‘both very brilliant’), so
‘it would be good to give those Thamar
pipes one last blast!’ The College
Chaplain, Rev B+, was to be ‘very much
History-teaching colleagues and picture taken
to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the
death of Prince Albert. It was taken in 2011 – see
page 20 of ‘On an eminence…’
the top chap’ amongst the officiating
clergy. Things were to be ‘done properly’,
as Michael’s mother would have thought
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