Torpoint plaque marks the spot Roger Cook called his second home

The building is gone. For most of Roger Cook’s life it stood on this patch of ground in Torpoint, and generations of young people walked through its doors to learn first aid from him. Now there is a small plaque on the wall to show where it was.

Town Mayor Cllr Julie Martin unveiled the memorial on Friday (16 October), as people gathered on the site of the former St John Ambulance hall to remember a man who joined as a boy and never really left.

📷Matt delivering his tribute to Roger Cook. Credit: Torpoint Town Council

A volunteer from the age of 11

Roger joined St John Ambulance in Torpoint when he was just 11 years old. It was the start of a lifetime of voluntary service, which ran right up until his death in August 2024.

The tribute at the unveiling came from Matt, a paramedic and St John Ambulance volunteer, who was recruited into the organisation by Roger as a 10-year-old cadet more than 20 years ago.

“Throughout those years, Roger held various positions within the organisation, but his true passion was always his cadets,” Matt said.

Roger had opportunities to move into more senior roles, but chose to stay with the young people of Torpoint instead, helping them build their confidence, skills and aspirations. Over his years of service he supported more than 120 cadets to achieve their Grand Prior Award, the highest award open to a St John Ambulance cadet.

📷Town Mayor Cllr Julie Martin unveils the memorial plaque. Credit: Torpoint Town Council

The cadets who went on to save lives

For Matt, the awards were not the main thing. “I think Roger’s greatest achievement wasn’t necessarily the awards he received or the positions he held. It was the people he inspired,” he said.

Many of those cadets went on to become paramedics, nurses, doctors, surgeons and other healthcare professionals. Others took what he taught them into completely different walks of life.

Matt counts himself among them. “Roger played a significant part in shaping the paramedic I am today, and for that I will always be incredibly grateful,” he said.

He also remembered the smaller things. Maintaining the St John caravan, cleaning the hall on a Saturday evening, coffee and a chat, the long phone calls. And a sense of humour that, as Matt put it, “certainly wasn’t always politically correct!”

📷The community gathers on the former St John Ambulance hall site. Credit: Torpoint Town Council

Why the plaque sits where it does

The site was chosen deliberately. The former Torpoint St John Ambulance headquarters once stood here, and for Roger it was a second home, the place he gave countless hours to and took enormous pride in.

“Although the original building is sadly no longer standing, the memories created here, the friendships formed and the lives Roger influenced will never be forgotten,” Matt said. “The building may be gone, but Roger’s legacy will always remain.”

People came out in great numbers in September 2024 for Roger’s memorial service and parade. This time the aim was something permanent, a memorial to keep his name and his contribution to the town remembered for generations to come.

Matt thanked Torpoint Town Council, the Mayor and everyone who helped make the memorial possible, and in particular the owner of the property for allowing the plaque to be installed there.

📷The memorial plaque to Roger Cook. Credit: Torpoint Town Council

What the plaque says

The plaque is dedicated “in civic and everlasting memory” of Roger, recording his service to St John Ambulance and in particular to the Torpoint St John Cadet Division. It carries the line “Your generations of cadets salute you, and your town rejoices in your legacy”, and names him a protector of life, promoter of community and inspirer of the youth.

Below that sits the St John motto, Pro Fide, Pro Utilitate Hominum, and his dates: 30 September 1945 to 6 August 2024.

Matt said Roger always used to laugh at his speeches for being short, sweet and straight to the point, so he kept this one the same way. He signed off with a simple goodbye.

“Cheers, Rog. Thank you for everything!”

📷St John Ambulance volunteers with Torpoint Mayor Cllr Julie Martin at the Roger Cook memorial plaque. Credit: Torpoint Town Council