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This part of the churchyard is known as Copper Corner. The Copper family of folk singers is known to have lived in and around Rottingdean since the sixteenth century,  but came to wider public attention during the folk music revival in the 1950's and '60's, when Bob Copper in particular became a celebrated performer, writer, raconteur and recording artist. Their songs are said to have been passed down from George Copper, born in Rottingdean in 1784, including "The Shepherd of the Downs"  and "Babes in the Wood". Rudyard Kipling was familiar with the family and mentioned them in the book Rewards and Fairies (1899). A blue plaque was erected at the old Copper family home at 1 Challoner Cottages [view] in 2010 by the Brighton city mayor. 

In 1950, Jim and Bob Copper were invited to sing on an episode of the BBC Radio programme Country Magazine and over the next few years the BBC made further recordings, including the feature-length Life of James Copper, broadcast in September 1951.

John's son Walter Ronald, known as Ron (c.1913–1979) sang with Jim, John and Bob at the Royal Albert Hall and the four featured in a six-part television series Song Hunter, presented by Alan Lomax. Bob wrote several books about the family, including the widely acclaimed A Song For Every Season in 1971. On the accompanying 4-LP set. Bob and Ron sing with Bob's daughter Jill and son John, bringing a further generation into the family tradition. The death of Ron was followed by the introduction of Jill's husband Jon into the core line-up, and some of Bob's grandchildren began to appear with the group. The six grandchildren (Jill's children Mark, Andy and Sean Barratt, and John's children Ben, Lucy and Tom Copper) appear independently as The Young Coppers, singing the same family repertoire.

At the age of 87, Bob Copper travelled to New York to meet Pete Seeger, and a programme featuring their conversation, songs and views on their family traditions and on folk music in general was broadcast on Radio 4 in 2002.

Listen to BBC Radio 4 'Front Row' item celebrating Bob Copper's centenary.mp3

Bob Copper sings 'Dick Turpin'

_{Bob, John, Ron & Jim Copper}