Nick Nicholas Coker

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sd2024
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Real Name: Rhea Sharma

Nick Nicholas Coker

Post by sd2024 »

Does anyone remember Nick/Nicholas Coker? I believe he left in 1969. I recently watched The Souvenir, a movie by Joanna Hogg, which features an intriguing character heavily inspired by him. A feature film she made in college starring Tilda Swinton was also dedicated to him. From what I have gathered online he was the son of artist Peter Coker and himself was a talented draughtsman and art academic. I am curious to know more about his earlier life, if anyone knows/remembers.
Doctor Smellcroft
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Re: Nick Nicholas Coker

Post by Doctor Smellcroft »

sd2024 wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2024 12:04 pm Does anyone remember Nick/Nicholas Coker? I believe he left in 1969. I recently watched The Souvenir, a movie by Joanna Hogg, which features an intriguing character heavily inspired by him. A feature film she made in college starring Tilda Swinton was also dedicated to him. From what I have gathered online he was the son of artist Peter Coker and himself was a talented draughtsman and art academic. I am curious to know more about his earlier life, if anyone knows/remembers.
I'm sorry to say Nic Coker's death was reported in The Blue for Summer Term 1985. No details were given and no obituary appeared later.

Here's a portrait of Nic (as I remember he spelt it at CH, at least when a Grecian) by his father, done at around the time he left school:

https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/sear ... =sit&rNo=0

And here's another:

https://charlessaumarezsmith.com/wp-con ... 696498.jpg

Nic's years at CH were 1961 to 1970. He was latterly in Middleton A. I'm afraid the National Portrait Gallery confirms his death in 1985.

He studied at King's College, Cambridge, and went on to do a Master's at the Courtauld Institute.

This is a page of links to blog posts by Charles Saumarez Smith, most of which relate to Nic and (more often than not) the film you mention:

https://charlessaumarezsmith.com/?s=coker

I shan't try to summarise the mysterious, glamorous, tragic story that half-emerges.
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Mid A 15
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Re: Nick Nicholas Coker

Post by Mid A 15 »

Nick Coker was in Middleton A at CH.

He was a few years older than me but he was a talented sportsman and musician. His instrument was the flute and he was hesitant, despite his talent at the game, to play too much rugby as he feared for his fingers and teeth which would adversely impact on his music.

He died tragically young. I will try to link a house photograph from 1969 which includes Nick.

https://www.chforum.info/pictures/MidA1969.gif

Nick is immediately behind Matron (Miss Rawson).
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Straz
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Re: Nick Nicholas Coker

Post by Straz »

Thanks for posting the Mid A photo from 1969. I remember this photo and recognise one or two faces here, including my late brother Greg Strange (Mid A 64-71), who is in the fourth row up, second from the right. I recall my brother mentioning Nick Coker to me, but I think he had just left as I arrived at CH in September 1969.
Paul Strange
Leigh Hunt A 1969-71
Peele A 71-75
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