Tom Cooper, aka Thomas William Charles Cooper, was born in South London on 14th September 1935, he was educated at St Dunstan's College Catford. After two years spent in the RAF on National Service he joined LEO Computers in 1960 as an engineer; in 1964 he was offered a position in Australian Computers and moved to Australia. In 1966 cancer caused the loss of his left leg and part of his lung, he continued working for, what was now International Computers Ltd until 1985 when he retired. He has lived happily in Australia ever since and devoting his time to oil and acrylic painting and writing poetry plus watching cricket and rugby union.