Bedford writer Barry Cooper dies after long battle with cancer

Barry Cooper, who wrote well crafted poetry and and short stories, has died after a long battle with lung cancer.

Friend Richard Hancock paid tribute to Barry, who won an award for his short story in the Bedford International Writing Competition.

He said: "For over forty years he supported local writing groups and was known for the encouragement he gave to aspiring young writers.

"He always had a thirst for knowledge and self-advancement and in 2009, quite late on in life, he embarked on studying for an OU degree in literature.

"He was finally awarded a good honours degree despite having to study through periods of intense pain and very demanding treatment for an incurable lung disease, mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos."

He leaves behind wife Shirley.