Local Face: Tim Cooper
Tim Cooper is Wendover born and bred. He was born at 38 Dobbins Lane making the treacherous daily journey to Coniston House, the pre-Prep School next door, before his education took him to Halton, The Vale School and Aylesbury Grammar. His very enterprising family was featured as the Local Face of Wendover News in November 1997. The extended family continues to live in the village, somewhat like the Waltons.
Just prior to joining DAYLA, the family firm, in 1980, Tim completed a four year degree course in Business Management which included a prescient full year industrial placement with BRITVIC Soft Drinks. In 1987, aged 30, Tim was made Managing Director of the firm. DAYLA is today an all embracing drinks distributor supplying beers, wines spirits and soft drinks with James Petit & Co their own wine merchants to add to the stable. As a natural development of his professional life, Tim was appointed to the Chairmanship of National Drink Distributors Ltd some 4 years ago. Employing a full-time central Office this represents some 26 mostly family-owned Companies including famous names from the world of Regional Brewers.
As a Wendover boy, Tim naturally joined Wendover Cricket Club at an early age. He then graduated to organising Cricket Weeks and legendary entertainment nights as well as celebrity Bunbury matches. He has also managed a side for Wendover Junior Football Club and has been involved in a local Sports Association raising money for local clubs.
Tim’s professional life is inextricably bound up with the Leisure Industry which has led to many associations throughout the County including much work and support of Bucks County Rugby, Bucks County Cricket and many sporting clubs both local and beyond. Equally he has held some 20 or so Presidencies of Trade Associations and Licensed Victuallers Assns. leading to many requests to attend functions as an After Dinner Speaker and officiating as Master of Ceremonies
Today Tim involves himself in a number of outside interests though running a business can sometimes turn into an all-time consuming passion. Through various events and fund raising activities he supports the Friends of Florence Nightingale Hospice which is also the chosen charity of DAYLA. More recently he has just been appointed a Director of the Jigsaw Theatre Company in Aylesbury, enabling disabled folk to enjoy participating in the performing arts. Sunday 10th July sees the Annual Garden Party Extravaganza for this worthy cause featuring Alvin as Elvis at Aylesbury Rugby Club, a club that he has been very involved with and sponsored for more than 10 years.
Tim’s children Kazandra 18, and Daniel 16 are at Amersham College and John Colet School respectively with Kaz studying Graphic Design and Dan hoping to go to Amersham as well to follow a course in e media. Both have helped at one time or another in the family business and will again be helping at The Bucks County Show where they run all the Bar and catering facilities.
Living in the village virtually all of his life has brought Tim and his family an extensive circle of friends and it is a testament to the popularity and homeliness of Wendover that he wouldn’t wish to live anywhere else. Indeed he has known so many of his friends in the village for more than the 25 years of his working life. That even goes much further in meeting old school chums as recently happened at the Coombe Hill Race.