Woodlands School

Teachers I can remember from 1963-68, Panter and Bill Newton my house tutor and house master in my first year, Scott house tutor in 65, Killroy house tutor in 66 was a music teacher, A. Millest house tutor in 67 Biology teacher used to cycle to school, J Walmsley Religious Instruction, house tutor in 68, I also remember for different reasons Corbett Maths,Tranter Geography, and my great friend and neighbour from Browns Lane Jack Major the great Music teacher. Ron Jones dep. Head

Not sure everyone will enjoy this but may bring back memories - Woodlands site today by drone.

Neil. Many thanks for a viewing of my old school, where I was Prefect in Sparkes House in 1954 6th Form. Parbury 6th Form master who I always liked. Knocker West Head and RSJ Jones Deputy. Mr. Long was Housemaster. It looks derelict though a few cars around. Did it have to close? I thought Sparkes was at the start of the drone, just after the signing, but could not be sure.

The cars will be from the Sports Centre that was built in front towards Broad Lane which is still in use.

Incredible that all those sports trophies are on display in the window (@2:40) for any enterprising thief. They should be saved as a great deal of school sporting history will be engraved on them. Former 5000m World record holder, Dave Moorcroft, went to Woodlands; what odds his name is on one of the athletic trophies??

I remember the Victor Ludorum Sports Trophy which came from Junior Tech originally.

We had a year when our house year/seniors won every sports trophy except the Hockey (which we won the Plate final). Very little to do with me I might add - I played one footy match and was on the Xcountry team, but my score didn't count as only top 12 of 15 counted and I came 13th out of the house. Wouldn't have minded but I finished in the top 20 overall - I'd have been top runner in one of the other houses (Perrens I think)!

Do I remember Pedro (Perrins), I'll say. Report cards were issued a the drop of a hat!

Neil, thank you for this post and what a sad sight it has become. I attended the school 1960-64. I was in Spencer House (Ernie Ellis house master). Who would have thought it would end up like this.

My pleasure Jim and all - I was actually at the Sports Centre still open there a few months ago as my youngest son had a football party there. Some of the old buildings are looking very decayed and neglected now although I believe there is a preservation order of some kind on the main Heads building due to the nature of the construction. We'll see - I can imagine it'll all go at some point for houses. As mentioned some time ago I was there between 1980 to '85 in Stringer House. Mr Borgen the Housemaster to start with. I played rugby with Neil Back, and against - probably why I preferred football!

Hi everyone, not been on the site for some time. Just read all of the Woodlands posts and had to reply to this one. My favourite memory of Colin, was watching him ice skate on the Biology pond when it had frozen over, not really sure, but I think he also skated on the swimming pool once? He was a great art teacher and let me carve a head in a big lump of wood that was in his studio.

Only just noticed this too. Colin took me for Art in the third, fourth and fifth years (1967-on). I think it fair to say (no disrespect) that we never saw eye to eye! Sorry to belatedly learn of his passing though.

Noting back this thread I'd just like to mark on record a memory to Mr Armour who was my form tutor around 1981. He suddenly and sadly disappeared from school and we were really too young to realise the effect on everyone from him passing away from cancer.

Should your "eye to eye" comment not refer to a teacher I remember called Flitcroft (cannot remember his first name)??

Flitcroft was also an Art teacher, and taught 'Social Studies' (a modicum of History and Geography)!