The Wedding of Brian Bernard Cooper to Joan Eileen Mitchell took place at Whibourne Church, on the 26th March, 1960.

 

Joan Mitchell with her father, Tom Mitchell. Outside, St. John the Baptist Church, Whitbourne, Herefordshire.

 

March 26th, 1960.

Marriage of: Brian Bernard Cooper - Age: 21, Bachelor - Occupation: Corporal in Worcester Regiment - Address: Whittington Barracks, Staffordshire. Father: Albert Victor Cooper - Retired.
Joan Eileen Mitchell - Age: 21, Spinster - Occupation: Clerk - Address: Ring of Bells, Whitbourne. - Father: Thomas Henry Mitchell - Farm Worker.

Witnesses: Alfred E. Cornford & L. Mitchell

Rector: Kenneth. A. Fraser

Bestman: Cpl. Alfred E. Cornford Groom: Cpl. Brian Cooper		Bridesmaids: Sheila Mitchell and Diane Bannister
Brian later rose to the rank of RSM of the Regiment, serving a full career with colours. He was posted to Jamaica, then Nassau in the Bahamas. Brian and Joan had three children, Paul, Tracy and Suzanne. Brian was posted to Hong Kong in 1976, where sadly Joan died, aged 40yrs.

 

 

The Mitchell Family Home 'Ring of Bells' Whitbourne, Herefordshire. (Many thanks to Major [Retd] Janet Brodie-Murphy)

 

Berrows Worcester Journal 1st April, 1960.

CRADLEY GROOM AT WHITBOURNE
Cpl. B. B. Cooper - Miss J. E. Mitchell

At Whitbourne Parish Church on Saturday Miss Joan Eileen Mitchell, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. Mitchell, of Ring-o-Bells, Whitbourne, was married to Corporal Brian Bernard Cooper, the Worcester Regiment, third son of Mr. and Mrs A. Cooper, of Holly Lodge, Cradley.

The bride wore a white nylon ballerina-length dress covered with white lace and a short veil held in place by a wreath of lilies of the valley.

Both the bridegroom and his best man, Corporal Alfred Cornford, Worcester Regiment, a friend of the bridegroom, were in uniform.

The bridesmaids — Miss Sheila Mitchell, the brides sister, and Miss Diane Bannister, a niece of the bridegroom, wore blue ballerina length nylon dresses figured in white and carried bouquets of mixed spring flowers.

The ceremony was performed by the Rector, the Rev. Kenneth Frazer, and Miss G. Jones was at the organ. The 23rd Psalm and the hymns "The voice that breathed o'er Eden" and "O Perfect Love" were sung.

A Reception was held at the Hut, Whitbourne, after which their were 65 guests, after which the couple left for their honeymoon, the bride wearing a royal blue suit with white accessories.