Officer is still a hero
with the artists’ “colourman” and art dealer, John H Thornton, who had an office within their building.
With the Edwardian development of a distinctly modernist style in painting came the last great period of portraiture when artists made their reputations and fortunes through the art market’s taste for aristocratic elegance.
Among the variety of important products supplied by artists’ colourmen was a broad range of prepared canvases.
Nellie and Frederick actually had two children (possibly losing a third) during their long marriage; their eldest daughter, Yvonne, went on to marry Roy Vernon Bolton Franklyn (1913-2005) in 1943, but little is known of the other, Peggy.
Frederick again marched himself forward to stand and be counted when WWII erupted, quickly stepping into unknown territory to become part of the Royal Air Force – and he survived that war as well as the first.
Frederick John Hooper died June 20 1955 in the Southport Infirmary, Scarisbrick New Road, aged 64, and his funeral service and burial took place four days later, at Christ Church (next door to the town hall), which was a grand affair to honour his role as the Southport Mayor’s Officer.
Probate records show he left Nellie £575.17s.9d., the equivalent of just under £15,000 today.
As Frederick Hooper could proudly show total provenance as a champion, a round, Blue Memorial Plaque, was unveiled to commemorate our hero back in January 2012 – which is still situated outside the Southport Town Hall.
Hooper’s biographer, the Manchester-based author, Joan Smith, had rigorously led the campaign to have the plaque erected outside the Mayor’s Parlour where Hooper had worked.
Joan Smith also has her own connection with the seaside town – her father and grandfather were managers of Boots the Chemist, on Lord Street.
F.J. Hooper’s diary still exists as does Joan’s notes, and these can hopefully be gleaned by ‘History Hunters’ to continue a deeper research.
Southport’s esteemed social historian, Martyn Griffiths, told us: “I assisted Joan with information for her booklet and contacted the Canterbury Museum in New Zealand for a copy of Hooper’s diaries.
“These told us a great deal; when they returned from Antarctica to New Zealand they were all stony broke, so most of the men sold their diaries to get a few bob together – Hooper was one of them.”
Frederick J Hooper (later dubbed “Percy”) had come to Southport with the old skis of Captain Laurence Oates, the key team member who sacrificed himself for the survival of his fellow expeditioners.
It was Oates who uttered the now immortal line: “I am just going outside and may be some time.”
These skis and poles, Hooper’s most treasured possessions – are now on display at The Atkinson Museum alongside Hooper’s other memorabilia from his Antarctic adventure – forming an invaluable collection in memory of both brave men.
Because all his exploits, Frederick J Hooper, not surprisingly, stands out from the general crowd of local residents, and was entered into the Sefton Story Project, nominated by a key employee at The Atkinson, Joanne Chamberlain.
Now Frederick – who, we should add, was an avid Southport Football Club supporter – has joined the ranks of several other worthy nominations, all now on display at The Atkinson Gallery.
The Sefton Hidden Histories exhibition there will run until Saturday, March 21 (entrance is free but donations are always welcome).
The galleries and museum are open
Monday to Saturday between 10am and 4pm, and the Great Little Place café from Monday-Saturday, 10am4pm.
For further details please contact The Atkinson via Email: boxoffice@theatkinson.co.uk (monitored Monday – Saturday) or ring 01704 533333, or follow on Instagram or Twitter, or like them on Facebook.
Finally, it must be remembered that Frederick John Hooper was not Southport’s only link with Scott’s illfated expedition, as the very wellknown photographer, Herbert George Punting, also signed terms aboard the Terra Nova.
He gave his address as 3 Argyle Road, Southport – his family’s address near Hesketh Park for some years just prior to WWI.
The vast majority of the wonderful photographs taken of FJ Hooper and the rest of the Terra Nova Expedition crew, were taken by Ponting, a former
Southport resident, if somewhat only briefly.
He was a much celebrated photographer at the time and his wonderful images were later utilised for many university talks about the expedition, as well as featuring in several books and DVDs.
More on Ponting – and his absolutely fabulous photographs – coming soon to History Hunters, all courtesy of the Scott Polar Research Institute.
This feature is an extract from the manuscript The Life & Times of … Frederick John Hooper: Arctic Explorer & Mayor’s Officer by Geoff Wright and Susan K. Stacey, and further research has been carried out since this article, and is ongoing.
Next week
Due to the sad closure of the Promenade’s Byng House we will take a look at the story of the building, originally called Claremont House, and trace its interesting past.