FrankCook was born in Hartlepool and was educated at the Corby School in Sunderland, the De la Salle College, Manchester, and the Institute of Education, Leeds.
Cook won the seat with a majority of 1,870 with Rodgers finishing in third place behind the Conservative candidate.
Cook was married to Patricia Lundrigan in 1959 and they have a son (who is in the British Army) and three daughters, they have since divorced.