Born in Surbiton in 1907 the eldest son of Dr Harry Cooper, a general practitioner, he was educated at Rugby and Oriel College, Oxford, completing his medical studies at Guy's Hospital, whence he qualified in 1932. He became resident surgical officer at Ancoat's Hospital, Manchester, but after taking his Fellowship in 1937 was appointed to the staff of the Royal Surrey County Hospital and St Luke's Hospital at Guildford. He was also a visiting surgeon at Surbiton Hospital, where he carried out most of the emergency surgery. During the war of 1939-45 he served as a surgical specialist with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Cooper was an outstanding lawn tennis player. He won the junior Wimbledon doubles with a fellow Rugbeian, B S Milford, and at Oxford he represented the University against Cambridge 1926-29, being captain in his last year. He played for Oxford and Cambridge against Harvard and Yale in 1927 and 1929, and for the International Club of Gt Britain against South Africa and Germany and in Bermuda. Cooper was a master of the English language and a good public speaker. He died on 15 February 1962 at his home in Guildford survived by his mother, wife and daughter.