WELL-KNOWN Ponteland man Bob Cooper has passed away at the age of 73.

Bob, who was known as a big man with a big heart, died in St Oswald’s Hospice on December 27.

Born in Coventry, he got involved with computers early in their inception when he landed a job as a trainee computer programmer on leaving school.

Work took him to London and then to Reading, where he and his wife, Ann, settled and had three children, Matthew, Hayley and Tess.

In 1979, he was seconded to the North-East to help set up MARI (Microelectronics Applications Research Institute).

Bob became chief executive of MARI and moved his family to Ponteland in 1981. Originally based in Jesmond with seven members of staff, MARI soon expanded into IT training.

In 1987, the head office moved into Gateshead Old Town Hall. The company grew, eventually setting up some 40 training centres throughout England, Scotland and Northern Ireland and employing around 400 people.

A staunch socialist, Bob was chairman of Ponteland Labour Party and stood for election a few times. He attended numerous Labour Party conferences and welcomed the late John Smith, the late Mo Mowlam and Tony Blair to open new MARI training centres on various occasions.

After a hectic pace of life for many years, Bob retired in 1998 at the age of 55.

A member of Ponteland Methodist Church for almost 35 years, Bob became a church steward shortly after he retired.

During this time, Bob was instrumental in a £450,000 fund-raising campaign to refurbish the church.

Bob and Ann both started training to be local preachers in 2001 and were formally recognised in 2004. Bob took many sermons in his circuit over the last few years, also taking on the role of local preachers’ secretary for the circuit.

An avid Sunderland football supporter, Bob followed the team over the years and received a personal card from the team a few weeks ago.

Bob will be greatly missed by Ann, his three children and four grandchildren.

A service of celebration was held at Ponteland Methodist Church last Thursday, with a collection for St Oswald’s Hospice.