BRIAN Cooke (79) of Royal Wootton Bassett, was remembered fondly at a thanksgiving service led by the Rev David Perkins at the Methodist Church, following the cremation at Kingsdown. Mr Cooke was kind, caring and generous, had a great sense of fun, and was proud of his Welsh roots. The hymn Cwm Rhondda was sung with gusto by the packed congregation.

Mr Cooke was an enthusiastic member and former President of the Rotary Club of Royal Wootton Bassett & District. He organised the club’s annual inter-schools junior quiz for which he devised and posed the questions, for fourteen years. He had a natural rapport with the younger generation, as head teacher of Gorse Hill Primary School, Swindon, where he spent many happy years prior to retirement in 1990. He organised many cycling proficiency courses for children during his teaching career. He supported Rotary’s Life Education project, and helped to organise and transport the mobile caravan classroom to schools around the county.

George Tuckett, a friend for forty years, said, “Brian was an ideal Rotarian, always excellent company, a devoted family man and a caring person to whom we all owe gratitude for all he did and the person he was.”

He was keenly interested in sport, especially cricket, and was a long-term member of the Cricket Society. He played golf at various local courses and won the Senior Captain’s Day trophy at the Wiltshire. He supported soccer and Rugby Union. He also played in the Cribbage League at Wootton Bassett.

Brian Thomas Cooke was born at Aberdare, the younger son of their father who worked for the GWR - the source of Brian’s lifelong love of railways. After qualifying as a teacher, he met Jin, the love of his life. They were engaged within three months, were married on August 8, 1958 and lived initially in a one-bed flat at Romford, Their daughter Julia, who paid warm tribute at the service, was born in 1964, and she and her brother Nicholas grew up at Wootton Bassett, where the family settled in Parsons Way. Brian was deputy head at Gorse Hill before becoming Head, and he loved the school and the community around it. He organised many Swindon Junior Schools Athletics events.

His retirement was filled with many activities and interests, and he delighted in holidays with his wife, who taught in Wootton Bassett, and their family, including the beloved granddaughters, one of whom, Olivia, composed and read a lovely Poem for Grandpa. This recalled the born storyteller who was always generous, encouraged a thirst for knowledge and was always caring and considerate. The tribute concluded, “We’re lucky to have shared in a life so worthwhile.”

Memorial donations for Prospect Hospice may be sent c/o Maslin Funeral Service, 118a High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett SN4 7AU.