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Walter Hooper passed away this morning in a nursing home in Cumnor Hill near Oxford.
THREAD
THREAD
Last week he had contracted COVID and, despite a temporary recovery, he succumbed to complications this morning.
A friend who visited him shortly after confirmed what the nurses had said. He died peacefully, departing with a serene expression still visible.
A friend who visited him shortly after confirmed what the nurses had said. He died peacefully, departing with a serene expression still visible.
I am looking forward to reading the many obituaries honouring his life and legacy.
For he was more than C. S. Lewis’s secretary in the last year of Lewis’s life (Picture 1 above).
Many of us had the privilege to call him our Friend (Picture 2 below).
For he was more than C. S. Lewis’s secretary in the last year of Lewis’s life (Picture 1 above).
Many of us had the privilege to call him our Friend (Picture 2 below).
You must excuse us for posting pictures of *us* with him. It is not “humble bragging”, not self-promotion; rather it is a reflection of Walter’s greatest virtue, his gregarious capacity for Friendship (in C. S. Lewis’s sense of the word in “The Four Loves”).
These pictures say more out him than they do about us. When we think of Walter, we inevitably think of his kindness to us.
That’s what makes the timing so painful. In any other year without travel restrictions, I reckon some 3,000 people would travel to his funeral in Oxford.
That’s what makes the timing so painful. In any other year without travel restrictions, I reckon some 3,000 people would travel to his funeral in Oxford.
But in a way the much smaller funeral (max. 30 people, possibly live streamed) will be fitting given the very private nature of Lewis’s own death and funeral in 1963.
So, in the next few days you will see lots of people posting pictures of Walter Hooper. Again, please excuse us for this.
But two things you will see nowhere else.
But two things you will see nowhere else.
The first is this: a toddler sticking her finger up Walter’s nose (Picture 3 below).
I take credit for the timing of this photo taken at the Kilns, the residence of the Lewis Brothers and later Lewis’s wife, Joy.
My firstborn just turned six and cherishes this early memory.
I take credit for the timing of this photo taken at the Kilns, the residence of the Lewis Brothers and later Lewis’s wife, Joy.
My firstborn just turned six and cherishes this early memory.
The second thing you will not see, or see very rarely, is Walter smiling.
Though a happy soul, he was notoriously bad in pictures.
I, however, got him to smile almost every time (Pictures 4 and 5 below).
Though a happy soul, he was notoriously bad in pictures.
I, however, got him to smile almost every time (Pictures 4 and 5 below).
I had a secret weapon. Instead of “cheese” I asked him to say something else, which bypassed his defences and cracked him up.
What was it? Comment below or send me a message and I will tell you privately.
What was it? Comment below or send me a message and I will tell you privately.
Thank you for your friendship, dear Walter, and for devoting your life to the legacy of C. S. Lewis.
Today we mourn, but not hopelessly, because we suspect you two are about to reunite after nearly 60 years and share a celestial pint or two.
Today we mourn, but not hopelessly, because we suspect you two are about to reunite after nearly 60 years and share a celestial pint or two.
Saints Lewis and Hooper, pray for us.
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