Robert Hooper (1847-1906)

OBITUARY

MR. R. HOOPER, J.P.

PASSES AWAY AT PENARTH

The death occurred, after a lingering illness, of Mr. Robert Hooper, J.P., in his sixty-ninth year, at the residence of Mr. H. Leigh Simpson, Woodfield, Hickman-road, Penarth, on Thursday morning. The deceased went up to London on the 17th of September 1901, to attend the marriage of the daughter of Sir William Thomas Lewis, and the following day be was seized with a paralytic stroke. He had a second attack of paralysis in November. 1904. which confined, him to his bedroom. Mr, Hooper was attended in his illness by Dr. Milward.

The deceased, who was born at Plymouth, came to Cardiff some 40 years ago, and his first association with the Welsh coal trade was in connection with the old colliery undertaking known as the Coedcae Coal Company. This was the trading name of a private firm the members of which were the late Mr. John Jones, of Maindy, the Late Mr. W. H. Williams, of Bristol, and Sir William Thomas Lewis. Mr. Hooper took up the position of manager, and the coal worked by the company was the celebrated No. 3 Rhondda. In 1884 the Coedcae Company changed its name, and became a private; limited liability company, under the now well-known title of the Lewis-Merthyr Consolidated Collieries. Under the careful management of Mr. Hooper, the company developed, and the output of the pita now amounts to some 250,000 tons per annum. For a long period he acted as agent for the company at the Cardiff Docks.

Deceased, although a member until his last illness of the Cardiff Conservative Association, did not mix much in politics, but threw most of his energies into philanthropic and Church work, and for many years he was, churchwarden of St. Andrew's, Cardiff.

During the last Welsh coal strike the hundreds of deserving dock labourers at Cardiff benefited considerably through Mr. Hooper's; energetic services. Mr. Hooper also, until laid aside by illness, closely identified himself 'with musical matters in Cardiff.

The deceased was a J.P. for Cardiff, vice-president of the Glamorgan Building Society, and a member of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce. He married Miss Rogers, daughter of the late Mr. John Rogers, of Cardiff, who predeceased him in July, 1900, leaving no children. His adopted daughter is the wife of Mr. H. Leigh Simpson, Woodfield, Hickman-road, Penarth. The funeral will take place on Monday

SOURCE: Evening Express 16th February 1906

Photo credit and research : John Farnhill

FUNERAL

Late Mr. R. Hooper, J.P. FUNERAL AT CARDIFF TO-DAY.

The funeral of the late Mr. Robert Hooper, J.P., who died at 4, Hickman-road, Penarth, on the 15th inst., took place at Cardiff today. The cortege left Penarth by road at 11.15, and arrived at St. John's Church, Cardiff, at noon, where the coffin was taken into the sacred edifice, and a short service conducted by the Rev. A. Henderson, vicar. The body was enclosed in a shell and English oak panelled coffin with heavy brass furniture, and on the lid was the following inscription Robert Hooper, J.P., died February 15, 1906, aged 68. The order of the procession from Penarth was as follows: Dr. Millward. the clergy, and Mr. Allen Sexton in private carriage; the hearse; first carriage, Mr. H. Leigh Simpson, Mr. Bob Simpson, Mr. William Hooper (brother), and Mr. W. Whitton; second carriage, Mr. Norman Simpson, Mr. James Angier (nephew), Mr. Leonard Simpson, and Mr. F. W. Morgan; third carriage, Alderman David Jones, Mr. J. Henry Thomas, and Mr. J. W. Thomas. Amongst those who were also present at the set-vice in church and aft the graveside were Captain Rosser, Mr. Burt, Mr. Roger Price, and Mr. Rogers, Bute Docks Office; Mrs. Simpson, deceased's adopted daughter, and Miss Gladys Simpson; Mr. Penn, Lloyd's Proving House; Mr. W. H. James {deceased's i successor!, representing the Lewis Merthyr Colliery Company, and Sir William Thomas Lewis; Mr. W. J. Cooper. Lavernock; Mr. T. Davis, Glamorgan Building Society; Mr. Howard, J.P., Mr. J. H. Hallett, Mr. H. Lander, collector, Bute Docks Office; MT. T. H. Stephens, J.P.. Mr. C. E. Dovey, J.P., Mr. James Hurman, J.P., and Mr. Evan Roberts, Penarth. A large number of wreaths had been sent by relatives and sympathising friends of the deceased, and included the Hon. A. Holmes a'Court, Mr. and Mrs. E. O. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. James, Mr. and Mrs. Frazer, Dr. a,nd Mrs. Millward, Mr. F. J. Whitton, Herbert and Alice, Bob, Gladys, and Norman," Nurse Clemerson, Emily," the Directors of the Glamorgan Building Society, the Lewis Merthyr Colliery Company's office staff, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Taylor, and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Scott. After the service the coffin was again placed in the hearse and taken to the cemetery, where it was interred, the service at the graveside being conducted by the Rev. F. W. Hassard Short. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. Augustine J. Stone, undertaker, Cardiff.

SOURCE: Evening Express 19th February 1906