Graham M Cooper
unknown - unknown
Graham M. Cooper F.C.A., 83 of Viking Court, 2 Cambridge Avenue, New Providence died at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Sunday, October 4th, 2015.
A Memorial Service for Graham Cooper will be held on Wednesday 28th October, 2015 3:00pm, at Christ Church Cathedral, George Street, Nassau, Bahamas.
Graham is survived by his children Dr Justine McNinch, Coridon Cooper, Philip Cooper and Maria Bodie; grand children: Dakarai, Maia, Micah, Million, Dareh, Annalise and Malen; sister: Diana Holmes and a host of friends.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Abilities Unlimited, Dolphin Drive, PO Box N-7542, Nassau, Bahamas and the Salvation Army, Harrold Road, PO Box N-356, Nassau, Bahamas.
Soon after his birth in Portsmouth, England in 1932, Graham, and mother Evelyn followed his father, Ernest Charles, who served in the Royal Navy, to Malta. A return to Portsmouth followed two years later, but severe bombing in 1940 forced the family to move to Dunfermline, Scotland. In 1942 he moved to Glenfield, near Leicester, England. He studied at Wyggeston Grammar School from 1943 – 1951 and was one of its few county scholars, taking two buses for an hour and a half every day to and from school. He loved rugby, cricket and tennis. He was apprenticed for five years and then served as a Clerk at E. C. Corton & Co, Leicester in 1955 before he qualified as a Chartered Accountant in March 1956. He was also a Member of the Association of Certified and Corporate Accountants (ACCA). He later became a Fellow of both organisations, and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors from 1969. He served his commissioned service as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force from 1956-1958.
A job at Andrea and Fingland (later Price Waterhouse Coopers) drew him to Nassau, Bahamas in 1958, where he worked as Senior for six years before taking up a job with one of his clients as Assistant to the President at C & I Girdler International Chemical Engineers in Nassau from 1964 – 1967, where he acted as its trouble-shooter, travelling extensively. Graham then set up his own Chartered Accountancy and management practice under the title Managing Director of Graham M. Cooper & Co., and was owner of International Management & Investments Services Ltd., both of which he ran from 1968 until his death. Until 1975, he was associated with Hallett Douglas International (Douglas F. Richard Kidsons Ltd). Graham was a member then Senior Fellow of the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA), and as one of Nassau’s first CPAs, was a lecturer and mentor at C. R. Walker Senior High School, working with many emerging young Bahamian accountants. He served as Honorary Treasurer and Council Member of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and as a Council Member and then President of the Bahamas Real Estate Association.
Graham owned several travel agencies in Nassau (New Providence Travel) and Freeport (R. H. Curry (Freeport) Ltd). His travel business took him around the world as Area Governor of the Caribbean for ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) (1973-1980), becoming Chairman of the International Council from 1979-1980. He continued to represent the Bahamas for ASTA from 1999-2002. His association with ASTA enabled world travel to nearly every continent in the world. A trip to the South Pole was his aspiration, sadly uncompleted before his death, but he visited most countries in the world throughout his lifetime.
He became a member of Skål in 1978, becoming Secretary, then Treasurer from 1987–1997 and President from 1989-1992. He then became Secretary, Treasurer and then President from 1995-1997 of Affiliated Clubs of NAASC and Caribbean Chairman of Skål (AISC) from 1995-1997. He was International Skål Councillor of Affiliated Clubs of NAASC and Chairman of its Finance Committee, 1998-2010.
Graham met the love of his life, Maureen Shirley Voisey, at a party for the choir of the Cathedral in Nassau in 1960. They dated for 12 years, and married in May 1972. Graham was a loving father to three children, Justine, Coridon and Philip and a fourth, Maria, adopted from the Philippines. He is survived by all children and seven grandchildren, as well as his sister, Diana Holmes. His house, Viking Court, was always full of children, cats, dogs, the occasional turtle, gerbil or hamster and birds – his ‘menagerie’.
As well as singing in the Cathedral choir, Graham had an active role in the Cathedral Players troop, most notably in performances of a ‘Sleep of Prisoners’ by Christopher Fry, in 1968. He developed friendships with many of the Anglican monastic order when the Order was based in Nassau. A long-serving Dean’s Warden and Treasurer at Christ Church Cathedral, serving from 1959 until 1995, Graham later served on the Diocesan Finance Committee until his passing.
Honorary Treasurer and life member of Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA), Graham loved taking his boat “Annabelle” out to his lots on Rose Island to chop bush. “Annabelle” was later replaced by “Conchord” after his love of flying on Concorde and eating conch salad.
Christmas at the Coopers was a jolly affair which often included a number of Anglican monks and local friends. His annual Christmas party on the last Monday before Christmas attracted many well-known figures on the island and was a fixture for more than thirty years. He was well known for his love of bright clothes and for his colourful character.
A long standing supporter of many charities, notably as Chairman and President of Abilities Unlimited (1990-1997), and more recently Treasurer of the Governor General Youth Award, where he did voluntary accountancy for the Awards until his death. He was also closely involved with the PTA of St. Andrew’s School, Nassau, Bahamas for many years and was its President for four years (1988 – 1992).
Graham was a member of a number of English and Scottish Lodges, Chapters and Councils. He also held and enjoyed District Grand Lodge and Grand Lodge honorary rank within these Orders. His most direct engagement was that of Treasurer in most of these Orders.
An avid Philatelist and world renowned for his exceptional collection of British Colonial stamps from the reign of King George VI, he was a 30 year member of the Royal Philatelic Society, London, a member of his local Leicester Philatelic association from the age of 15, and the Royal Philatelic Society’s Caribbean representative (1990 – 1997). Graham lectured around the world on his collection, and wrote many articles, winning accolades and awards. Until his death, he was still consulting regularly on matters of philately with all the major philatelic auction houses.
He will be much missed by his family and friends.
