Brian William Cope

“We carry your heart with us.”

Brian passed away on 26th July at Leighton Hospital in Crewe, aged 84 years, after a long struggle with the effects of dementia.

Brian was born on 16th June 1936 in Nantwich to Sarah and Ted Cope, the second of five children. He lost his beloved sister Thelma to cancer in 1996. Of his three surviving siblings, Ted, David and John, he was especially close to Ted and John. He spent most of his early life growing up in Haslington, which he loved.

At the age of 14 Brian met Sylvia Nevitt in Nantwich. They eventually married at High Town Church in Crewe on 29th June 1957 and remained married for over 62 years. They had three children, Neil, Adrian and Jane, later becoming proud grandparents to Thomas, Jack, Harry, Millie, Olivia (who sadly passed away), Lydia and Ben.

Brian spent time as an apprentice joiner, was conscripted into the army at 18 and worked as a policeman. Most of his career, however, was spent in the Post Office in Crewe, where he worked his way up from postman to executive level.

His abiding passions were football (which he played to a very high standard for many years), cricket, bowls, horse racing and fishing. Many were the fishing trips to Ireland spent with his lifelong friend Eric Barnes – he worked in Eric’s Tailor’s shop in Crewe for a number of years following early retirement from the Post Office.

Brian was a devoted family man and great friend to all who had the good fortune to have known him, and one who gave to people that most precious of things – his time. His good nature and his infectious laugh will be sadly missed by all.

Donations in memory of Brian will be gratefully received on behalf of Dementia UK.