William Henry Cooper

Born: 3rd Dec 1858, Romsey, Hampshire

Died: 26th Mar 1934, Bexhill, Sussex

Former Headmaster of Tonbridge Technical College.

His listing in the Who's Who In Art reads

Cooper, William Henry, A.M.T.C.(1913)

painter, black and white artist, designer, modeller, wood-carver, bookbinder, handicraftsman; formerly headmaster Edenbridge British School (1887-1900) and headmaster and organizing sec. of Tonbridge Technical Institute; b Romsey, Hants 3 Dec 1858; m Lavinia Leader; one d. Educ Romsey British School, studied art Tonbridge, Croydon School of Art, Croydon County Polytechnic: provisional certificate (Whitehall) 1877, full certificate 1882; Art Class Teacher's Certificate (1892), full certificate (1913).
Exhbd at provincial exhibitions, Recreations painting, photography, archaeology, flower culture. Address: Sandhurst, Alexandra Road, Bexhill-on-Sea. Signs work "W.H.C."

His obituary in the Tonbridge Free Press, 30th March 1934 reads;

The death occurred at Bexhill-on-Sea on Monday of Mr. William Henry Cooper, at one time a well-known Tonbridge resident, at the age of 75.

Mr. Cooper was the first head master of the Tonbridge Technical Institute, being appointed when the building was acquired by the Tonbridge Urban District Council in 1900. The building was then known as the School of Art, but it later came under the jurisdiction of the Kent Education Committee which appointed one principal over both the Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells Institutes.

During his time in Tonbridge, Mr. Cooper, who had art qualifications, held art classes and was in charge of the evening woodwork classes for the elementary schools. He remained at the Institute until he retired in 1923. Among other subjects he taught elementary physiography, practical geometry, wood carving, manual training and woowork, book-keeping and theoretical music.

All census records checked, including 1911