The Department of Education and Children’s Youth Service has paid tribute to youth worker Paul Cooper, who died suddenly last week.
 
Paul worked for the Youth Service for five years and for the last three years ran the Soundcheck project, which assists solo artists and bands with rehearsal space, tuition and instrument use.
 
Dave Hattersley, Youth Officer with the DEC and close friend of Paul, said: ‘He helped extend Soundcheck, which was initially based in Douglas, into new areas, including Peel and Ramsey.  He was instrumental in the creation of a dedicated recording studio at the Youth Arts Centre a year ago, in launching Soundcheck as a charity this spring and in working with schools.  He organised Soundcheck’s participation in events such as Mannifest, the Deep South Music Festival and the Port Erin Beach Festival and arranged its regular gig at Bushy’s on Mad Sunday.  He was a superb musician, recording technician and sound engineer and passed on these skills to the young people whose lives he touched, many of whom have gone on to study music at university or are gigging regularly locally.'
 
‘Paul was a first-class youth worker who could always get the best from the young people he worked with,’ Dave said.
 
Paul leaves wife Georgina, daughter Georgia, who is a support youth worker with Soundcheck, son Mat and parents Dorothy and Ron.

His own band, Full Moon Fallout, recorded the official TT races’ single in 2012.
 
Dave went on to say ‘Paul will be sorely missed by Soundcheck staff and members past and present, who are invited to his funeral at Douglas Borough Crematorium on Wednesday 22nd October at 11.30am followed by a gathering at the Soundcheck studio, Kensington Road, Douglas.
 
‘The family has requested mourners wear Paul’s ‘uniform’ of Soundcheck, rock band or black T-shirt with checked open shirt over plus vans/converse and bright socks.
 
‘Soundcheck will ensure Paul’s name lives on in its work.’
 
Photo - Paul Cooper.