DEATH OF MRS. A.L. COOKE

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1933, Page 9

DEATH OF MRS. A.L. COOKE

FORMER NEW PLYMOUTH RESIDENT “ PROMINENT. SOCIAL FIGURE. The death of a former well-known resident ofNew Plymouth, Mrs. A. L. Cooke, occurred in London on Monday, according to a cable. Mrs. Cooke was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Batten, New Plymouth. About the end of last century she married Mr. A. L. Cooke, who had come to New Plymouth in the ’nineties and set up business as a jeweller in Devon Street. In 1906 Mr. and Mrs. Cooke moved to Auckland, being resident. there until Mr. Cooke’s death about eight years ago. Mrs. Cooke, with her two daughters, Joan and‘Alison, then left New Zealand for a tour of the Continent. The elder daughter Joan died some years ago, but Mrs. Cooke is survived by Alison, at present a resident of Paris. At New Plymouth Mrs. Cooke was a prominent figure socially. She was a fine painter in oils and was later the author of a number of poetical works wider the nom de plume of “Ida Batten,” her maiden name. Mr. Cooke was wellknown as a violinist and was a leading figure in amateur operatics at New Plymouth. Ida Batten, the Auckland flyer, is a niece, and Mr. F. Batten, also of Auckland, is,a brother.