A memorial to community activist Chris Cooke, who perished in a fire at his Kemp Town flat, will be held at St Mary’s Church next month.
Mr Cooke was involved in a wide variety of organisations around the neighbourhood during his time in Kemp Town, and his death shocked the community.
The flat he was living in at Essex Place caught fire on Saturday, February 20. Mr Cooke was taken to the Royal Sussex but sadly passed away the following Monday.
His friend James Ledward, editor of GScene, wrote: “Chris, a proud community activist, and very decent man, loved nothing better than seeing practical and positive improvements to St James’ Street and Kemptown, especially if it was achieved after he had fought on behalf of others who had decided something was needed to improve the area.
“Chris was a lovely person and far too young to be lost to his community.”
The organisations Mr Cooke was involved with included the St James’s Community Action Group, Kemptown in Bloom, Eastern Road Partnership, Gay Business Forum, the Rainbow Fund, the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum, Sussex Beacon, Community Works and the Friends of Queen’s Park.
Next month’s memorial will be held on Sunday, June 19 from 3pm at St Mary’s Church on St James’s Street. The Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus will be singing.
