Cooper, Paul (BGS 1968-71, President 2026)
I was only at BGS for 3 years 1968 until 1971 before moving to Berkshire and attending St Bartholomew’s grammar school in Newbury, which I did not enjoy nearly as much as BGS.
Andrew Cooper was my best friend and we did a lot together, mainly football. My brother Trevor was at the school and had just finished his A levels before we moved, and also became an actor.
My father Bob Cooper was a GP in Bideford until 1971, when he became a part-time GP in Berkshire, as he wanted to write funny anecdotal books about being a GP in North Devon. He published around 10 of these.
BGS was where I learned comedy. The funniest times and virtually all of the family have gone on to have careers in comedy, although I only became an actor late in life because one of my children was writing and starring in the Bafta-winning BBC comedy ‘This Country’. I appeared in all 3 series and specials.
I’ve not stayed in contact with anyone from BGS, don’t know why, but other pupils in my year included, Ackford, Bellamy, Bab, Cork, Dicker, Eden, Faulkner, Holman, Rice, (Mr Rice’s son) and Fosse (Mr Fosses’s son).
Other Films, short films and TV have included:
- This Country BBC series
- The Fence – Film 4
- Sweet Sue BBC film
- Slow Burn
- Missing Presumed
- The Trouser Thief
- Meet the Lovegroves (filming at present)
- Am I Being unreasonable BBC Series – Filming in May
- Toast
- Gulitea
- Seagull
I am also the director of The Children’s Football Alliance. We have 70 Peace pitches in 5 continents.
