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Caerphilly-born comic Tommy Cooper would have celebrated his 100th birthday today (Friday, March 19).

The much-loved comedian and magician was born on Llwyn On Street, near Energlyn and Churchill Park railway station, on March 19, 1921.

He spent much of his youth living in Devon however, and went on to become one of the UK’s best-known entertainers during the height of his fame.

He discovered his talent for performing while with the army in the Middle East during World War II, before making his television debut in 1947.

Cooper died of a heart attack on stage in London in 1984, aged 62, with many in the audience initially believing it was part of his act.

Since 2008, a statue of Cooper has been standing in Caerphilly town centre. It was unveiled by Sir Anthony Hopkins, who is patron of the Tommy Cooper Society.

Tudor Jones MBE, chairman of the Tommy Cooper Society, described Cooper as “timeless”.

He said: “The material he used was never dated or about current affairs, but about the human condition.

“Compared with the current standard of comedy he’d be head and shoulders above. So many comedians are superior to the audience nowadays, but with Tommy the joke was always on him.

“He was a great comedian and a great magician.

“He was a family entertainer. The whole family could watch him without the fear of the children being shocked or the grandparents being upset.”

Mr Jones added: “Young children find him funny because he looked funny and moved in a funny way. He had a magical relationship with the audience.

“He was a top man – a man for all seasons and all years.”

The Tommy Cooper Society

The Tommy Cooper Society was founded in the comic’s memory in 2003, with the intention of raising funds to erect a statue of Cooper in Caerphilly town centre.

The late Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen councillor Angus Donaldson first raised the idea of a statue dedicated to Cooper in 2002.

He posted fliers around the town centre, advertising a meeting about the statue. From there, the Tommy Cooper Society was founded.

A few years later, the funds were raised and the society contacted the late sculptor James Done, who would go on to design the statue.

Following the statue’s unveiling, the society launched its Tommy’s Ticker campaign in 2014 to mark the 30th anniversary of Cooper’s death. Each defibrillator costs around £1,500.

So far, the society has funded 13 defibrillators, which have been installed at various locations across Caerphilly County Borough, including Caerphilly Castle, Bedwas Workmen’s Hall, Blackwood Miners’ Institute and Aber Valley YMCA.

Every year, the society holds a birthday lunch in Cooper’s memory at Ystrad Mynach College, but this hasn’t been possible this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Jones said: “The Covid pandemic has largely put paid to much in the way of celebrations, other than tributes on radio and television.

“We will postpone our celebrations to next year, which, all being well, will be Tommy’s ‘Centenary plus one’ year, when we will resume our annual Tommy’s Birthday Lunch and Tommy’s Ticker campaign for heart defibrillators.”