(37) Wilfrid Herbert Copinger

Wilfrid Herbert Copinger, the second son and fourth child of Herbert Edward Copinger, was born on 14th October 1880. He was educated at The Grocers School, Hackney, when his father was curate at Clapton, and later at The Royal High School, Edinburgh, his father being attached to the parish of Joppa. He was brought up in the Catholic Apostolic Church and became an Underdeacon, although his father, Herbert Edward, was a Church of England clergyman. He went into the scholastic profession and taught in Mildenhall and Kettering before starting his own school in Brighton. It should be noted that Wilfrid is spelt with two I’s and no E. This spelling was continued to the next generation when his daughter was named Winifrid and not the more common Winifred.

When visiting the home of his uncle Walter Arthur Copinger and paying court to his cousin Margaret Sarsfield Copinger his uncle became aware of the courtship. Walter Arthur is reputed to have handed a railway timetable to Wilfrid Herbert with the words, “Sir, you have outstayed your welcome!” Neverthless Wilfrid was married on 16th December 1908 to his first cousin Margaret Sarsfield Copinger. His first child, Winifrid Margaret was born in Brighton on 14th December 1909. The school failed financially, due to his kindness to the parents of his pupils who did not pay their school fees and he subsequently taught in a school in Harrow.

His son Geoffrey Arthur was born in Buxhall on 19th December 1910. In 1911 Wilfred Herbert began his long association with the Hall Preparatory School in Hampstead, then known as the Belsize School. It was only during the second world war that his services with the school temporarily ceased. He was a much loved master and acted as vice-principal for many years. His last teaching assignment was with a school in Bedford, where he became closely connected with the parish church. He died peacefully in his sleep at his daughter's residence in 1949 after enjoying his last work, that of acting as Secretary to Dr. Davson, the last surviving priest of the Catholic Apostolic Church in Paddington.

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This page was last updated on 13-Jul-2004		Copyright © 2004 D. P.,E. & PSA Copinger