About us

The COPP Remembrance Trust was formed in early 2026 to honour the service of Combined Operations Pilotage Parties.

We have three main objectives.

Commemoration

To promote remembrance and commemoration of those who served worldwide in Combined Operations Pilotage Parties (COPP) during the Second World War, reflecting the sacrifice and contribution of all those who volunteered to undertake covert beach reconnaissance and pilotage.

Education

To advance the education of the public about the history and significance of COPP, fostering awareness and understanding of its role and contribution to victory.

Community

To strengthen and foster a sense of belonging among the relatives and descendants of those who served in COPP.

Our President

Lord Richards of Herstmonceux

We are honoured that Lord Richards of Herstmonceux is President of the COPP Remembrance Trust.

Lord Richards rose to the very top of the British military, serving as Chief of the Defence Staff for three years before his retirement in 2013.

Lord Richards first served in the Royal Artillery. He came to public prominence in during service in East Timor and Sierra Leone, where in 2000 he acted decisively to protect Freetown from rebel forces during the country's civil war.

Promoted through senior NATO and UK commands, he led the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan from 2006 to 2007.

It was after serving as Commander-in-Chief, Land Forces and then Chief of the General Staff that he was promoted to Chief of the Defence Staff.

Lord Richards was created Baron Richards of Herstmonceux in 2014 and sits in the House of Lords as a crossbencher. He was promoted to Field Marshal in 2026.

Governance

Our trustees

Robbie Scott-Bowden MBE

The son of former COPPist Logan Scott-Bowden, Robbie is our chairman.

Commissioned into The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment), he served for 37 years to 2010. He commanded at all levels to Brigade, instructed at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the Staff College, and held staff appointments in operational HQs and the Procurement Executive, culminating in being Director of Infantry and then Director of Technology at the Defence Academy.

After leaving the Army he worked for the Army Benevolent Fund, followed by a tour in the oil and gas industry. He is now retired.

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Christopher Blount

The son-in-law of former COPPist Peter Wild, Christopher is our treasurer. Having served in the Royal Navy for 10 years as a Seaman Officer, mainly in minesweepers and frigates, he came ashore, qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and practised for over 30 years as an estate agent.

Later he had his own business and also acted as an expert witness in property-related disputes.

Christopher has lived in north Wiltshire for the last 53 years and in retirement enjoyed sailing his boat in European waters and the Caribbean.

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Andrew Griffin

Andrew is our secretary. Over the last 40 years he has edited newspapers across southern England, including in Gosport (his home town) and Portsmouth (where he was born).

He first learned of the COPP story in 2009, while editor of The Hayling Islander, when a local exhibition unearthed photos of COPP canoeists training at Hayling Island Sailing Club.

Andrew went on to help local historian Robin Walton form the committee that erected the first dedicated COPP memorial on Hayling seafront. He also chairs the Gosport D-Day Fellowship.

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Rob Crane

The grandson of former COPPist Jack Crane, Rob is one of our four trustees.

Rob started researching COPP during the first UK Covid lockdown and has kept going. His in-depth research can be found on his COPP Survey website.

After training as a journalist, during which time he had work published in The Independent and local newspapers in south London, Rob switched to pursue a career in educational publishing.

He currently works for a large accountancy-training provider helping to develop their online training materials.

Email Rob

The COPP Remembrance Trust was formed in early 2026 to honour the service of Combined Operations Pilotage Parties.​​We have three main objectives.