A Scottish man known as Cookie made Bristol his home almost two decades ago and while those close to him knew the 62-year-old had been unwell, news of his death sent ripples of shock and devastation across Bristol and beyond. Cookie Love McBride was a prolific activist, party-goer and dedicated Arsenal fan who made a lasting impression on everyone he met.
Cookie passed away on October 18, 2024 and tributes were paid to him a Palestine vigil and placard planting event at College Green, the following week, an event that Cookie helped organise.
“He was popping up to Scotland to see relatives and was going to come back and do the action, so we thought we’d do it for him,” explained Cat Hemy, who dedicated the vigil to Cookie. “I suppose in a way, he’s here with us in spirit, you might even call it ‘Cookie’s last action’.”
While over the last year, Cookie’s activism had been focused on Palestine, he spent his life campaigning for human rights and social justice.
He campaigned against the Poll Tax in the 1980s, went to anti-fracking demonstrations, was a trade unionist who spent his working life in Bristol as a support worker helping people with housing addiction issues. When Cookie started working for the Bristol charity, Addiction Recovery Agency 15 years ago he met Peace Handovski and they formed a close friendship, both officially changing their names in 2011.
Peace remembers Cookie saying on his first day at work, ‘don’t call me Marc, call me Cookie, that’s what everyone calls me.’ Speaking about his best friend, Peace added: “He was so popular, hilariously funny, he was known all around Easton but had friends all over the world. He was really well travelled, he was a musician, he liked to socialise, he liked to party but he was an amazing family man and a passionate Arsenal fan.”
Cookie’s daughter, Tashi Roberts, 28, said she is ‘immensely proud’ of her father for always staying true to his beliefs and being “unashamedly and unapologetically himself through to the bitter end.” She said there were three rules that her father gave her that she will take to her grave: “Never vote Tory, never cross a picket line and always put your hand in your pocket when it’s your round. If you live and die by those rules, you’ll be an okay person.”
Tashi’s mother, Rae Roberts is now struggling to find space in her Bridgend home for the constant flow of cards she is receiving from Cookie’s friends. The pair who first met in Goa in the early 90s formed an immediate friendship through their mutual love of ‘psy-trance’ music. Their relationship developed and they lived together as professional buskers in Japan before moving back to the UK and having two children.
Rae said: “Cookie gave his entire energy to every person he came into contact with, even if it was a two minute chat on a march or on a bus. He had the most sparkling personality, was hugely optimistic and an absolute pacifist. He did everything with peace and love and was generous to a fault.
“He was always on a mission. But for all of his very strong political beliefs, he was the least judgemental person that I have ever met in my entire life. He would give anybody the time of day.”
Cookie, who was well known Easton, will also be missed by many of his neighbours. Shaz, who lived on the same street as Cookie for many years, remembers their long chats about politics and Palestine.
“It was with great shock that I learned of his passing. I found him a very pleasant and quirky character. He was sociable and friendly to everyone. I never heard anyone say a bad word against him. We have lost a good neighbour,” added Shaz.
Cookie’s son, Kim, 26, has discovered upon his father’s death the profound and lasting impression he had on everyone he met: “I’ve spoken to friends who’d only met him once or twice and everyone has come back with almost invariably the same thing, that he seemed like the kindest and most caring person they’d ever met.”
Cookie Love McBride will be laid to rest on Thursday November 14. An additional event to celebrate his life will be held in Bristol on Friday November 15. For further details please see Cookie Love McBride’s Facebook page.