Background
Born in Warrington, Cook grew up in Solihull, and was educated at Solihull Grammar School and Street Catherine"s College, Cambridge, where he joined the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB).
Born in Warrington, Cook grew up in Solihull, and was educated at Solihull Grammar School and Street Catherine"s College, Cambridge, where he joined the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB).
Involved in rock climbing since his school days, Cook became a prominent writer on the subject. In particular, he championed the role of cultural history in writing on mountaineering, and on the importance of including feminist perspectives. He served in this post until 1981, after which he devoted his time to the Campaign Against Racist Laws.
Cook also stood unsuccessfully in Vauxhall at the 1983 and 1987 United Kingdom general elections, losing his deposit on both occasions.
The CPGB dissolved in 1991, and Cook joined its successor, Democratic Left. However, he was involved in a traffic accident the following year, while in Turkey, and died of complications soon afterwards.
In 1992, he founded the Green Socialist Network, intended to bring together socialism and environmentalism.
In 1975, Cook was appointed as National Organiser of the CPGB, in which role he defended the Eurocommunists who were looking to change the approach of the party.