6:30pm Wednesday 25th November 2009
By Jessica Best
THE life of a Newport man described as a “legend” because of the community work he did on his Bettws estate has been commemorated with a tree planted in his memory.
Ronald Hooper, known locally as Rocky, died in December last year at the age of 76 after 30 years working on his mobile shop in Livale Road.
He helped hundreds of young people in the Bettws community, organising discos and sports tournaments, helping youngsters with homework and job applications, and arranging pantomimes for the New Venture Players.
Following his death Mr Hooper’s daughter Wendy Watkins entered a competition to name the active living centre at the new Newport High School after her father. Her entry did not win, but the school offered to plant a tree in the grounds to help keep his memory alive.
Mrs Watkins planted the tree yesterday alongside her eight-year-old son Joseph, pupils from Newport High School who knew Rocky, as well as head teacher Gary Schlick and deputy head Nathan Jenkins.
Mr Jenkins said the school staff were overwhelmed by the tributes to Mr Hooper in the weeks after he died.
He said: “He did so much work with the younger children in the community.
Everyone respected him and it was important to us as a new school that we were part of that.”
Mrs Watkins, 46, said she was delighted with the tribute, and was only disappointed her mother Miriam and 17-year-old son Christopher were unable to make the ceremony due to illness.
“I just felt so proud. He worked so hard all his life and he is being appreciated for all the hard work he has done.”
Mrs Watkins said she would now arrange for a commemorative plaque to be placed with the tree.
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