One Man Three Lives : The Man Who Would Never Give Up

Truth is stranger than fiction.
This moving story of Frederick Cope, an unusual and well-travelled global citizen, reads like the stories of three different characters. It may seem too far-fetched yet it is true.

This well illustrated book is a colourful biography of a Yorkshireman who overcame incredible obstacles in three countries. He was a man of many talents determined to make a positive contribution to the world. It is in part a social history, covering the years 1890-1979 and highlighting developments over that period. It portrays a broad-minded man of humour and optimism alongside of his determination to seek the Truth. It encourages the reader to ‘never give up’.

Fred’s times in England, China and South Africa span nearly ninety years. Born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, he was in the first batch of electrical engineers to train in the UK. He fought and was wounded in World War I, worked for the Yorkshire Electric Power Company and then as an industrial consultant. Later, as part-owner of a woollen factory, he invented a new type of yarn that sold internationally and is still available today albeit under a different brand-name. During the post World War I depression the business went into voluntary liquidation. In 1927 he immigrated to China.

He lived and worked in China as an industrial consultant and efficiency engineer with great success during China’s most turbulent years. At first he was based in Shanghai before establishing his consultancy office in Hong Kong. He lived on mainland China in Shameen, Canton. As an economist he was intensely interested in world affairs. He wrote for the press (South China Morning Post) and in 1933 published a booklet World Crisis – A Way Out. In 1937 he started a timely news magazine –The Hong Kong Review. Articles in its pages reveal his understanding of the imminent Japanese invasion of China and their intentions. During the Japanese occupation of Canton (from 1938) he spent two years behind Japanese lines, first under house arrest and latterly held in solitary confinement for nine months. His fortunes changed when he was selected as an exchange prisoner to travel on the Tatuta Maru – the very first exchange ship BETWEEN Japan and China - that departed in August 1942 from Shanghai. On the voyage to Lourenco Marques he fell dangerously ill and therefore was not included on the ship Narkunda for the last leg of the journey to England.

Fred found his way to South Africa, where he secured a consultancy job in Johannesburg with the Industrial Development Corporation, but was first sent to a resort in the Drakensberg Mountains to recover. After 2 months he met Ethel Glaister, a hospital matron, and married her at 52, his first marriage. Ethel’s farming father died in January 1943 and she inherited one fifth of the farm. After a few years Fred gave up his Johannesburg job and moved to Ethel’s home-farm at Van Reenen, Orange Free State, on the Natal border. There, after helping Ethel’s mother run Oban Guest Farm, he built and opened an ostrich feather factory. Initially this was successful, until the post World War II depression ruled out the sale of luxury goods. Fred turned to farming. One disastrous drawback followed another but Fred was never defeated. Successively he turned to farming chickens, cattle and sheep, and vegetables. Then a bush fire burnt out the farm and animals. He never gave up. Instead he grew experimental animal feed crops, introduced Brussels sprouts to South Africa then sold the farm and retired at 73. In the end his life-long search for Truth was rewarded.

This is an inspiring memoir for anyone facing challenges in their life and seeking words of wisdom to help pull them through difficult times.

Tonia is a freelance eclectic author who started writing stories for her mother before the age of ten. Her books include biography, children's fiction, self help and a technical work. One Man Three lives - The man who would never give up is her fourth published work. Up to tha age of 20 Tonia lived on a small farm in rolling hills near to Van Reenen, Orange Free State, South Africa. After gaining a B.Sc. degree in mathematics and geography at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, and a Secondary Teachers' Diploma from the University of Cape Town, she taught mathematics at secondary school level for six years before travelling to Norway. There she spent 13 months getting to know her grandmother's people and a semester studying Computer Programming at the University of the North in Tromsø. In 1973 she moved to Oxford, England, where she was a lecturer and researcher on the staff of the University of Oxford for 28 years. In the early stages of computers, she helped to develop Oxford's Computing Teaching Centre, teaching courses in programming tailored to several specific departments. From 1988 to 1995 she initiated and managed Oxford's Image Processing Centre, a research facility for staff and PhD students. She inspired the start of international collaborative research applying satellite remote sensing and image processing techniques to Urban Planning, with Durban, South Africa, as the case study. Tonia then became the Researcher and Advisor on Remote Sensing, Spatial Information and general computing in the School of Geography. Subsequently she initiated and led the ongoing OxTALENT Programme, promoting the use of modern technology in teaching and learning throughout the University of Oxford. In 2001 Tonia took medical retirement due to chronic RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury). Since then she has concentrated on writing. Tonia lives with her husband Stephen, and a couple of King Charles spaniels, in a cottage with a beautiful garden, overlooking fields and woods on the edge of an Oxfordshire village. In 1988 she and Stephen launched a charity, The Thembisa Trust. Over the last 28 years the Trust has raised about a third of a million pounds that has provided support and hope to grassroots projects in Southern Africa, some of which have become self sustaining. They have two adult sons.

Ronald (Ron) Bridge was born in Northerd China in 1933 He has added many missing pieces to the puzzle of my father's days in China. Ron was 9 years old and living in the British Concession of Tianjin on the day Fred sailed out of Shanghai leaving China for good. Ron's first-hand experience of living through the Japanese invasion, of having lived in a concentration camp, of having a vast knowledge of China and its history, together with his willingness to spend time pointing an uninformed would-be biographer in the right direction have made a truly invaluable contribution to this book.

Stephanie J. Hale is a British speaker, publishing expert and celebrity writing coach. She has worked with novelists and non-fiction authors for over 20 years - helping them to write, sell and promote irresistible books. As a former journalist and newsreader, she specialises in helping authors get massive media exposure in TV, radio, newspapers and in glossy magazines.