Faith & music the secrets to 87 years of friendship

A mutual love for music along with a strong faith is the secret to sustaining a friendship that has lasted almost 90 years, according to two retired Salvation Army officers. 

Lieutenant Colonel Maurice Cooper (95) and Major George Whittingham (98) are familiar faces to many at The Salvation Army’s church in Bromley, London. They were both born into Salvation Army families and have been friends for 87 years after meeting as young boys in Goldthorpe in South Yorkshire. 

Although they have never fallen out, they admit they occasionally argue and have different opinions. 

After both relocating to London in the late 1950s, Maurice and George now live approximately 10 minutes away from each other in Bromley. Every week they can be found enjoying a cuppa and a chat with friends at Bromley Salvation Army’s café or at worship in the church every Sunday.

Maurice said: “We always make sure we sit together at church on a Sunday. People here know us almost as twins as we are always together. We are there for each other and treat one another like brothers.”

Maurice and George’s fathers were both musical leaders in The Salvation Army. This love for music was instilled in their sons as Maurice and George joined the Salvation Army’s International Staff Band where they remained for many years. Maurice was a principal euphonium player and George played the tuba. Maurice also plays the piano and George the euphonium and trombone. 

Over the years the two friends have been part of major historical events. Notably they were part of the Goldthorpe Salvation Army band when it was invited to play at a V-E Day celebration in the RAF Hemswell camp in Lincolnshire at the end of World War II when they were aged 15 and 17. 

As Maurice recalls: “It was a very memorable day. We marched around the camp during the day and that night we gave a concert where we played lots of marches.” 

The International Staff Band took the friends all over the world as they played in many famous venues and in front of audiences including the Royal Family. 

Maurice said: “We travelled everywhere and played in all sorts of places including Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in 1963 where we were introduced to Hollywood actress Mary Pickford. We also played at Buckingham Palace in front of the late Queen Elizabeth II and at St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.”

Both Maurice and George trained in Salvation Army ministry and became Officers. They were both appointed to The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters in London in the late 1950s, where part of George’s role involved him leading on The Salvation Army’s response to major disasters such as the Lockerbie bombing. 

Maurice and George’s late wives were also Salvation Army officers. George and Grace were married for 62 years until Grace passed away in 2012. Eva and Maurice were married for 55 years. Eva passed away in 2009. Maurice has a son and a daughter, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild, while George has one son. Over the years the families holidayed together on cruises and in caravans. 

Lynn Nunn is one of The Salvation Army church leaders at Bromley and has known George and Maurice for more than 20 years. 

She said: “We usually have over 100 people come here for worship every week and many of those people know Maurice and George. It’s great to welcome them both every week and enjoy a cup of tea with them in our café which is a warm and friendly space open to everyone.

“Maurice and George are good fun, very friendly and always ready to help with anything we have going on in our church. We hear of people of all ages feeling lonely and here in Bromley we have a place that people can come together and be themselves in worship and fellowship.

“I feel very privileged that we are able to offer our friendship to two people who have been friends for so long.”

Regarding how to keep a friendship of 87 years going, Maurice commented: 

“George and I bonded over our love for music and our strong links to The Salvation Army. What makes a good friendship is faith and accepting each other for who we are.”

George added: “Our life is The Salvation Army and it’s been a lovely life to live.”

There are a number of activities at Bromley Salvation Army each week including a mother and toddler group and a community choir. The Light Café is open three days a week. 

For more information go to: https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/bromley-temple