NEWS FEED
The new Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr Edward “Eddie” Jesser Coope, has a wealth of experience.
Born in Christchurch he attended local schools before studying at Brockenhurst’s Sixth Form College.
In 1974, he joined the British Army and was attached to the 94 Locating Regiment, Royal Artillery, based in Celle, Germany where he was present for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee visit in 1977 when she inspected the troops. He trained as a regimental surveyor and qualified as a regimental signaler as well as an HGV 3 driver.
After leaving the army in 1981 he converted army surveying into civilian surveying at Southampton Technical College. He worked both offshore and onshore as a hydrographic/land surveyor in the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico and the Red Sea. He was also involved in a hydrographic survey of the Outer Hebrides (North Minches) and other areas.
After marrying Janet in 1984, they had two children, Matthew and Hannah.
In 1987, Eddie set up his own landscaping business, which he still runs.
He was elected onto Christchurch Borough Council in 1987 serving until 1995, when he was mayor of the borough (1994/95).
Eddie is the first Bournemouth councillor to have been mayor in two adjacent boroughs.
He has held various other positions including chair and vice-chair for the Burton Youth Centre for 20 years and chair of the Christchurch Sea Cadets Unit for 10 years as well as chair of HENRA for six years. He was also chair of the Bournemouth Royal Artillery Branch Association until it was disbanded, and is still today on the board of the Hengistbury Head Outdoor Education Centre.
In 2007, he was elected onto Bournemouth Borough Council and currently represents the East Southbourne and Tuckton Ward. He is also the Bournemouth Borough Council representative on the Christchurch Harbour steering committee.
Councillor Coope enjoys most sports – particularly tennis, sailing, swimming, cycling and running – and enjoys reading and spending time with his family.
Having supported her husband as mayor once before, his wife Janet is the mayoress. She works as a legal PA in the private client department of Druitts and helps run Eddie’s landscaping business.
During his mayoral year, Eddie will be supporting The Stable Family Home Trust, The Bournemouth Parks Foundation and The Royal Bournemouth & Christchurch Hospitals’ NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund for the Urology Department for Men’s Health/Cancer Treatment.
