Roger Gresham Cooke

Roger Gresham Cooke (26 January 1907 – 22 February 1970), usually known as Gresham Cooke, was a British Conservative Party politician.

Early life Cooke was the son of Arthur Cooke, senior surgeon to Addenbrooke's Hospital, and the elder brother of RAF pilot Nicholas Gresham Cooke. He was educated at Winchester College, New College, Oxford, and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he read law. He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1930, and spent five years practising as a barrister before joining the British Road Federation as secretary in 1935, later becoming chairman of its Highways Committee. After the Second World War, in 1946, he was appointed director of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, a representational role which he held during a difficult period for the UK's economy and motor industry until 1955. His grandson is the journalist and environmental activist George Monbiot.

Other activities A few days before he died Cooke was lobbying for Britain's motor racing achievements to be commemorated through a special issue of postage stamps.