This poster, produced by the Berwick Development Committee, advertising Berwick as a place “which restores youthful vigour” is well known in the town and is often used to promote events. However, what do we know about the artist – Robert Cooper Clements – who designed it in 1913? Intrigued to find out more, the Berwick Archivist undertook some research and unravelled the story of a local man, born in Tweedmouth, who became a school teacher, founder member of the scout movement in the area and was tragically killed in the First World War.

Robert Cooper Clements was born in 1883 in Church Street, Tweedmouth, the son of Robert and Agnes Clements. He trained as a school teacher and worked at Spittal School. In 1914, Robert married a fellow school teacher, Minnie Gregg – they had to cut short their honeymoon because of the outbreak of the First World War. He continued to work at the school until July 1915 when he joined the Northumberland Fusiliers. In October 1917, he received a Commission but was killed in September 1918 in France leaving behind a widow and a very young child.