The Society began on a formal basis in the early part of
this century. The first President is mentioned in the School
magazine, 'The Woodbridgian,' of 1911. The aim of the Society
is to provide opportunities for former pupils to keep in touch
when they have left school - to keep in touch with the school
and with each other. An annual dinner is held at the start of the Autumn Term. The Society produces a magazine in the spring
of each year. BRINGING OLD WOODBRIDGIANS TOGETHER. That's
our motto.
Pupils who have recently left will be automatically sent
the magazines and will retain membership for life. Older
OW need only send their name and address to the School and
we will wing you a magazine for ever for free. Yes it is
true. Headmaster Stephen Cole wants all OWs to get the
Magazine and each year we will be sending out nearly 4,000 mags.
Every now and then we will ask you to confirm your continued
existence and address.
Ken Bailey elected President - again!
CONGRATULATIONS
AND THANKS TO OUR PRESIDENT, KEN BAILEY, WHO HAS TAKEN ON THE
TASK OF LEADERSHIP FOR A RECORD FOURTH TERM. Ken has been a marvellous
President working tirelessly for the Society. He has
attended a large number of School events and even did the
bike ride from Clerkenwell for a second time .... ok, to be
frank, from the safety of the support van, with the Registrar! ....
but it's still quite an ordeal.
The Old Woodbridgians Committee.
President: Ken Bailey. Vice President: Zoe Smith. Registrar: Michael Weaver. Hon Treasurer: Ian Sands. Hon Secretary: Keith Nicholls (pictured below!). Committee members: David Houchell;
Andy Tawell; Stephen Cole; Sue Leslie; Steve Dewberry; Andy
Cadman; Mike Lubbock; Adam Lubbock; Sarah Brown; Amanda Deacon.
Here's our Rogue's Gallery !!
Hon Secretary, Keith Nicholls President, Ken Bailey Hon Treas, Ian Sands Registrar, MAW
The Spring Magazine 2007 and other publications.
Spring Magazine. It's THE publication
for OWs. You should receive your copy automatically by post as most OWs are on our database. If not, it means there's a chance our records are not up to date. How to receive a copy? Just
send me your address. Date of leaving would be good
too. Write to The Registrar of the Old Woodbridgians, Woodbridge
School, Woodbridge, Suffolk. UK. IP12 4JH. You can also e-mail the Registrar via the 'Contact Us' page. Back numbers of
issues 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,
2005 and 2006 also available. These make up a valuable record
of the School and the OWs. Read more by clicking link on the top left of this page entitled 'OW Magazine'.
'Memories of the Twentieth Century.' This is a booklet of
memories of former pupils and staff, covering the entire century.
Well illustrated with colour pics. Cost £2.00 from the
Registrar, including postage.
Old Woodbridgian Weekend and the Annual Woodbridge Dinner - September 2007
When describing something as wonderful as this years Dinner I think one has to be careful how many superlatives are used in the process as it is quite easy to get carried away, particularly when one has experienced something so exhilarating. This is the dilemma I am faced with when reporting on the OW Dinner 2007.
We were very lucky in that on Saturday 22 September 2007 the weather was perfect all day long. We had an ideally warm temperature between 18° and 20°, a few fair-weather cumulus clouds, hardly any wind, all in all a wonderfully soft, gentle and sunny autumn day. This contributed greatly to the success of the day.
Things got off to a tremendous start at 12 noon with a wonderfully relaxed reunion lunch for the 1970s pupils hosted by the Headmaster and very ably organised by Rachael Woodmansee. This event was attended by 88 OWs and their partners and began in the Staff Common Room, in previous incarnations this room was the School Library and before that the School Dining Hall, with welcome speeches from Headmaster Stephen Cole, OW Registrar Michael Weaver and OW President Ken Bailey.
This was followed by a buffet lunch in the Tuckwell Room where we were joined by Ken Charrot, aged 93, on his electric scooter! A group photograph was taken of the assembled party and then OWs were free to wander around the grounds, take in the atmosphere, watch any of the matches and visit various buildings they may have remembered from their time at school.
The same evening the OW Dinner was a considerable departure from the norm in that we had commandeered the sports Dome, installed a marquee liner and chandeliers, laid a carpet and prepared 30 tables of 10 diners each thus totalling 300 people. The tables were beautifully decorated with flowers provided and arranged by committee member Sarah Brown, her mum and two sisters. (The Kemball family as we know them, of course!) All this was to honour some very special people who have made real differences at Woodbridge School.
The Pimms on the Chapel Lawn to the accompaniment of the Swing Band on such a warm and balmy evening was a delight. The diners moved through to the Dome when the School bell was sounded by the Registrar and this part of the evening went much more smoothly than we dared hope. The meal itself was served professionally by the School catering staff very ably assisted by some very smart 6th formers employed as waiters. The food itself was an excellent three courses with the main course a self serve buffet containing some very appetising and attractive looking dishes. With no delays 300 people were served their main course and were tucking in to a truly delicious meal. Interspersed between the courses were the presentations. This meant we could keep the speeches short, sharp and to the point and people would not have to listen to the speeches all at once at the end of the meal with the attendant risk of people falling asleep into their coffee cups!
First was Derek Hyde, music master from 1956 to 1961, who formed the very first School Orchestra in the history of the school. Then we marked the retirement of Jill Lubbock who had completed 42 years as Housemistress and Matron. Lastly, we celebrated 38 years service of Mark Mitchels and Michael Weaver both of whom retired from teaching at the end of the Summer Term 2007. These presentations gave an emotional frisson to the evening which created a classic atmosphere of joy tinged with sadness and nostalgia making the whole evening truly unforgettable.
Derek Hyde was presented with an OW tie and a book. In his short speech he gave an amusing account of how, when he arrived at Woodbridge School, the music department consisted of one battered piano and a small cupboard in which there was a selection of dog-eared and very old sheet music. Being a new broom he promptly burned all the sheet music only to discover a few weeks later that he had also destroyed the one and only copy of the Woodbridge School Song. Disaster! He then had to sit down and rewrite the song from scratch on some manuscript paper using PR's excellent memory of both the tune and the words and managed to save the day.
President, Ken Bailey presents to Derek Hyde Sarah Brown (Left) and Michael Jones (Right) with guests
Jill Lubbock was presented with a lovely bouquet of flowers in celebration of her enormous service. She then took off her glasses whilst posing for pictures! (Obviously well used to the paparazzi!) In her speech she told how early in her life a gypsy had predicted that she would not have children of her own but would love other people's children. This had turned out to be half true, in that she had indeed spent a huge part of her working life looking after the boarders in Tallents House, but had had children of her own as well. She asked for a show of hands of all those she had cared for over the years and immediately there was a forest of hands around the room showing just how many young lives she had touched. All attending staff, past and present, also raised their hands. Wonderful moment.
Mark Mitchels was presented with champagne in celebration of his 38 years at Woodbridge School and the huge impact he had made on the cultural and technological aspects of school life as well as the CCF. In his speech he told of how much he had enjoyed his time at Woodbridge School and recounted an incident, by popular request, when he was in charge of a CCF night exercise on Blaxhall Heath and he and a party of young, impressionable kids stumbled, in the darkness, upon a young naked couple in flagrante delicto! In the confusion of the moment, not to mention embarrassment, all he could think of to say was "Are you with the Woodbridge School CCF?". A phrase which he has not yet managed to live down even after many years!
The Headmaster gave an excellent account and potted version of the year’s activities in which the pupils had once again excelled in so many different ways. It was all there: Exam results, Sports achievements, Drama productions, Musical excellence, Business acumen and in many cases at National level thus representing Woodbridge School across the nation. We all realised that, however good the School was in our day, there was no doubt that the opportunities afforded today’s youngsters are far in excess of what was available in our time. But this is progress and progress is something very recognisable everywhere around the School, but not at the expense of tradition.
Michael Weaver was also presented with champagne again in celebration of his 38 years at Woodbridge School and the difference he had made not only within the curriculum and outside of the curriculum but also in the local community where he had done so much to preserve and enhance local history for the benefit of future generations. Michael gave a classic ‘Weaver’ speech lasting 40 minutes or more and packed full with stories, witticisms and heavily laced with its own particular brand of well phrased humour. It was wonderful; the audience lapped it up; many roared with laughter incessantly, one lady on the next table was chortling so much she couldn't catch her breath and at one stage it looked like an ambulance would be needed! I have heard many after-dinner speakers many of whom were delightfully entertaining and funny to listen to, but who pale into insignificance when compared to Michael's wonderful ability to talk and entertain at the same time. He said he was grateful to have been able to do a job which he loved doing and at the same time get paid for it - although the payment was not that much!
Michael Weaver with Rob and Mary Taylor (1965) Zoe Smith and Gemma
After the presentations the raffle was drawn, which raised £1050 towards the costs of travel scholarships for OWs, and then the OWs continued their socialising and catching up on old friendships well into the early hours. Many went away saying it had been a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable evening which was a wonderful tribute to some very special people.
So there you have it – a classic OW Dinner. I hope I have not used so many superlatives that the reader is unsure whether such an event could possibly have been that enjoyable. In many ways it is unrepeatable and so as we turn our attention to next years event we have to ask ourselves what we can do to ensure it does not fall flat. Please let us know.
The OW Dinner 2008 will be on Saturday 20th September at 6.30 for 7.15pm. and we are celebrating the Centenary of the OTC/JTC/CCF (it did change its name a few times over the 100 years) which was formed in 1908. We need all those OWs who took up a career in the Services to join us as well as those who didn’t. The talk is of a slightly different format to the evening so keep watching the website and the OW Magazine next Spring when all will be revealed.
Ken Bailey
OW President
Sekforde to Seckford Sponsored Cycle Ride supported by OWs - 23rd June 2007
Check out those smiling faces and still 100 miles to go!!
LONDON TO WOODBRIDGE ON 84 WHEELS
And two of them belonged to Frances Warden whose extraordinary commitment and inner strength saw her complete the ride after eleven and a half hours on the road (and under trees, in a car park and through puddles). Frances's was without question the most remarkable of the personal triumphs on the day, for all sorts of reasons, not least because she became the third youngest female ever to complete the course - and the first to have to do so on such a mixed-weather day.
Which brings me neatly to the start of the story: pelting rain on the journey down was washed from the memory by a fine meal at the Sekforde Arms in Clerkenwell (many thanks, Kevin and the team!). Bikes were fine-tuned, tyres and air-beds pumped up and fitful sleep secured in the Bridge School (the reason we were there, after all) before grey skies and a poor forecast welcomed the 42 riders and two drivers to the big day.
We donned our team t-shirts, packed bananas and chocolate, took a photo and sallied forth… straight into road works and diversions. Not a good start. An omen? Undaunted, we were soon back on track, a juggernaut of riders vying for space on the busy roads of Saturday London (it was only 7.30am, for goodness sake). Tower Bridge, the Dome, the Docks, the Thames barrier … the sites and sights flew by as we picked up speed for the greens beyond the M25. But it was still grey, and rain was in the air.
A first stop, and a chance to regroup (this was a day for riding at one's own pace, not that of the group - so the peloton split and split again). Clouds. But chocolate as well, and smiles and chatter. And that was the theme of the morning until the dot of midday. When. The rain. Came. Thank goodness for a very big tree. We waited and waited. A break, only for another burst. A dash for Braintree to find the ground floor of its multi-storey car park for lunch. It was hardly the sunny field overlooking Essex that I had so casually advertised. Nor was it the sunshine I had predicted. Oh well, we were still having fun… of sorts… in adversity… like the English do. None more so than the breakaway group at the front which chose to take on the rain and seek solace in Colne Engaine's The Five Bells pub for lunch. Three quarters of the riders were now damp, chilly, and picnicking with Ford Escorts; one quarter sopping and supping. Neither combination was perfect, really.
But after lunch we enjoyed much better weather, almost drying off by the time Ipswich came and went (or I did, at least). Not that everything went quite to plan. A pedal fell off Nick's bike (but went back on again - thank goodness for the right tool in the bag on the bus); riders lost their way (what IS wrong with looking at a map?) - always on opposite sides of the route at similar times; and the support vans (marvellously driven by Mrs Ingold and Mr Ken Bailey of the OWs) struggled to support what had become twenty separate groups seeking home comforts. But we were all STILL SMILING (true!), and home soon enough, at the King's Head, sharing a celebration drink, a pat on the back, a round of applause, and the warmest feelings of accomplishment to offset the coolest and dampest of outfits.
Yes, 42 riders started and finished (a record); more miles were ridden, more punctures suffered, more rain enjoyed, more chocolate eaten, more repairs effected than ever before. And now we hope that more money will be raised than ever before as well. The omens for that at least are fantastic; I will keep you posted (in the fashion of the classic Blue Peter tally), but can say already that I know for sure of over £4000 raised by just three of the riders. And it's not too late to contribute, because reception is always open to donations. Cheques to Woodbridge School marked for my attention (Michael Streat) will do just as marvellously as cash. So thank you to all the riders for making a wonderful day of it despite the weather, for supporting each other and making it back safely - and thank you to all in the community who have supported them with your money.
Michael Streat
OW AGM, OW Men’s Hockey and OW Ladies Netball Matches vs School - March 2007
A successful OW AGM was held in the Tuckwell Room on Saturday 17th March 2007 at 1:30 p.m. President Ken Bailey gave a detailed report of all OW activities over the past year together with a programme of events for the coming year. Registrar Michael Weaver spoke about how the OW Magazine 2007 was proceeding and outlined his hopes and aims for the future. Treasurer Ian Sands reported on the financial health and well-being of the Old Woodbridgians and all seemed to be well.
At 12 noon the OW Men's Hockey Match got underway despite the difficulties of raising a team at this time of year when many potential players are still away at university. This problem seems to crop up every Easter and we are still grappling with ways of overcoming these difficulties. The match was entertaining and fast paced and was played on the Astro Turf with plenty of pleasant spring sunshine although the wind was a little keen. School triumphed in the end scoring 9 goals to OWs 6 but everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves and the match was played with an excellent spirit.
OW Team looking relaxed School Team triumphant
At 2 p.m. the OW Ladies Netball Match got underway in the valley having had similar difficulties raising a team. This match was also played under lovely spring sunshine and the valley afforded more than a little protection from the keen wind experienced at the side of the hockey pitch! The School ladies had very well honed shooting skills which produced a resounding win of 23 goals to the OWs 2. Once again everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves which, after all, is one of the primary purposes of "Bringing Old Woodbridgians Together".
OW Free Christmas Drinks and Sandwiches - December 2006
On Friday 22 December 2006 the Kings Head in Woodbridge opened promptly at 12 noon and very soon there was a large gathering of OWs making very good use of the considerable bar tab and free sandwiches.
This event is particularly aimed at those OWs who have recently left School, say within the last three to 10 years although any OW is equally welcome, to remind them that the OWs is alive and kicking with a prime objective of "Bringing Old Woodbridgians Together".
Very soon there were over 70 OWs enjoying each other's company, catching up with the latest news on each others exploits and generally enjoying the Christmas atmosphere.
President Ken Bailey, Treasurer Ian Sands, Secretary Keith Nicholls, Committee Remember Mike Lubbock and Registrar Michael Weaver were also in attendance with the latter gleaning masses of useful news and information from each OW which will be used as the basis for several pages of the OW Magazine which is published each spring.
The Kings Head is now under new ownership and Mike Ball and his team looked after us admirably. All too soon it was time to bid farewell and return to our respective homes to continue the Christmas celebrations.
This event is, hopefully, forging links with the latest generation to join the ranks of the OWs and this will hopefully mean an increasing number of OWs using its good offices to keep in touch with the School and each other.
We hope you all had a first-class Christmas.
Old Woodbridgian Weekend and the Annual Woodbridge Dinner - September 2006
The rain was pretty much non-stop on Friday 22nd and Monday 25th September 2006 and sandwiched between these two rain soaked days was the OW Weekend of Saturday and Sunday 23rd and 24th September when we were blessed with two fine, reasonably warm and soft autumn days.
In the morning of Saturday 23rd the School held their Open Day. It was an opportunity for parents, prospective parents, members of the public and, of course, OWs to tour the school and see all of the classrooms and facilities in operation and talk to the staff and pupils. The brand-new Seckford Theatre was open and up and running and attracting a great deal of attention from all of the visitors. A very enjoyable morning indeed.
In the evening at around 6:30 p.m. just under 120 OWs who had attended school from the 1930s to the present-day assembled with their wives and partners for Pimms on the chapel lawn. At 7:15 p.m. they took their places in the Tuckwell room and listened while Stephen Cole gave a quick résumé of the past year at Woodbridge School. It made very impressive listening indeed as the standard of achievement by the pupils, ably assisted by Stephen’s team of teachers, seems to get better and better as each year passes.
Pimms on the Chapel Lawn The Diners enjoying each others company
OWs were then served an excellent three course dinner followed by a very entertaining speech by Michael Weaver telling various funny stories about life at Woodbridge School. President Ken Bailey then proposed the loyal toast followed by a toast to the Old Woodbridgians. He gave the audience some insight into his time at Woodbridge School and then confirmed that summer 2007 would see Michael Weaver retiring from teaching at Woodbridge School. This news was greeted by a massive groan of disappointment from the assembled diners, especially from the naughty boy’s table. There was considerable relief when Ken also confirmed that Michael is willing to retain his position as OW Registrar into retirement.
There then followed a presentation to OW Lieutenant Commander Naomi Howard RN of a small sealed bottle containing some details about OW Arnold Spencer Smith who sailed to the Antarctic in 1915 as part of Shackleton's ill-fated expedition. Arnold was the chaplain and photographer aboard Aurora and their mission was to lay supply depots for use by Shackleton and his party on their return from the South Pole. Arnold fell ill with scurvy whilst trekking across the ice and died, probably a long and painful death, on March 8th 1916 – just over 90 years ago. The plan is that the bottle will be placed in the sea as close as possible to Antarctica to commemorate the bravery of this very special OW. Who knows where the bottle will turn up!! Naomi is a member of the crew of HMS Endurance which was due to set sail two days after the dinner for the Antarctic. She is the first women in the history of the British Navy to become a Charge Surveyor. She heads a team of 22 naval personnel and is the officer in charge of all the survey work conducted by the vessel. She is also hoping to link up with another OW who is teaching in the Falklands.
The Bottle destined for Antartica Naomi saying a few words to the OWs
Former teacher, Tim Nightingale, who was head of English and drama for about nine years during the 1980s, then gave his own unique account of his time at Woodbridge School and the very many drama productions that had been created using very primitive resources centred around the Old School Hall. From his performance one could clearly see how much he loved his subjects of English, Poetry and Drama and how greatly he had enjoyed his time at Woodbridge. Many of his former pupils were delighted to see him again and recapture their memories of those days.
After the speeches the raffle was drawn and it is worth noting that the profits from this regular feature of OW Dinners are used to support OW travel grants to former students who are proposing to do good works in all parts of the world supporting communities and the environment.
Many diners were then able to enjoy a conducted tour of the new Theatre with Stephen Artus and, judging from the comments afterwards, they were very impressed by this wonderful new facility.
Towards midnight the diners gradually started drifting away and we hope they carry with them memories of an excellent evening in the company of their former classmates and, if this is so, then the Old Woodbridgians are truly achieving their declared aim of “Bringing Old Woodbridgians Together”.
The Old Woodbridgian Touch Rugby Tournament - September 24th 2006
It was a beautiful autumn day on Sunday 24th September 2006 when at 11 a.m. the OW touch rugby competition kicked off. The weather was a mixture of cloud and sunny spells with a soft mild breeze blowing. A perfect day for rugby.
Adam Lubbock had assembled 4 teams from School, Staff, OW Young'uns and OW Legends. Each team played three group stage matches, followed by a third-place final and a main final giving a grand total of 8 matches played throughout the morning.
The winning team were the OW Legends who beat OW Young'uns 15-5 in a thrilling final which saw touchdowns from Tim Johnson, Ali Carpenter and Josh Simpkin-Betts for the Legends and one touchdown for the Young'uns from Dom Walsh.
The Third place final was won by the Woodbridge School staff team who beat the school team into fourth place. All players seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed themselves and taking part in the competition and we hope this will become a tradition for future OW Weekends.
A trophy will be presented to the winning team in due course.
The contest was followed by a light lunch in the Tuckwell Room which brought proceedings for the OW Weekend to a close.
The OW Legends team comprised Tim Johnson, Ed Johnson, Josh Ripman, Oli Hurlock, Jeremy Marshall, Ali Carpenter, Josh Simpkin-Betts and Sam Ashard.
The OW Young'uns team was Dom Walsh, James Ramsden, Chris Wiggins, Ben Burrows, Alex Edwards, Matt Cade and Mark Fernley.
A huge vote of thanks is due to Adam Lubbock for arranging the whole morning and so ably refereeing all the matches.
SCHOOL 0 - 10 OW LEGENDS : STAFF 20 - 35 SCHOOL : OW YOUNG'UNS 10 - 10 OW LEGENDS : 3RD PLACE: STAFF 10 - 5 SCHOOL MAIN FINAL: LEGENDS 15 - 5 YOUNG'UNS
36th OW GOLF DAY 5 August 2006
David Houchell, Hugh Rennie & John Helliwell Roy Taylor presenting his Silver Salver
enjoying the course to Richard Ambrose
16 OWs and 9 guests enjoyed a gloriously sunny day at Woodbridge Golf Club for the annual challenge of trying to play to handicap on two superb courses - 9 holes warm up in the morning on the Forest course and 18 holes in the afternoon on the main Heath course.
It was a great pleasure to welcome back Roy Taylor, 1929-34, a former OW President. Roy commented that when he presented the salver in 1970, his OW Presidential year, wheat was £80 a ton and he could afford a salver but in 2006 wheat is still only £80 a ton and farming not so good!
Also, we were delighted to welcome back Pat Betts who generously presented his 25th Anniversary Salver in 1995.
Apologies for absence were received from several OWs but, disappointingly, there was no prize this year for the most implausible excuse - imagination obviously not as good as it used to be when handing in late homework!
Returning after an absence of several years was David Sledmere who drove all the way from Turnberry in Scotland for the occasion.
Winner and runner-up for the morning were Bob Tawell and Geoff Hall.
This year the Roy Taylor Salver for the best individual score on the Heath course was won by Richard Ambrose with 34 points on a count back with Stephen Whymark, the professional at Ipswich Golf Club, who was runner up. The team prize and Pat Betts salver was won by the father and son team of Les and Ross Howard with 43 points.
In the ‘fun’ prize section the target golfer award for nearest the pin on the 15th went to Geoff Hall's guest. The Best par 3s winner was Philip Ambrose and the Best par 5s winner was Geoff Spencer's guest. The Perseverance Prize for keeping going when all about him seemed to be falling apart went to the guest of David Houchell, and the Rubber Duck prize for going in the pond on the 2nd went to Nigel Pusey. The prize for the best / only / bravest lady golfer went to Trisha, partner of Chris Buisseret.
If any OW would like details of next year’s event which will be on Saturday 4 August 2007 please contact Richard Ambrose - 01702 551593 or email richardr.ambrose@care4free.net
OW Men’s Cricket vs The School - Sunday 2nd July 2006
A truly wonderful afternoon's cricket. The sky was blue, the sun shone, the temperature was warm with a slight breeze, the school grounds looked perfect and everyone had a relaxing Sunday afternoon playing and watching cricket. The OWs scored 253 runs in their 35 overs and School exceeded this score in the very last over with five wickets in hand. Rowan Edwards did score a massive and unbeaten 140 runs for School although he was dropped six times by OW fielders which in itself must be something of a record! This must be the closest and most exciting cricket match for a very long time. Our sincerest thanks must go to Jonathan Percival and David Brous for making it happen.
Sekforde to Seckford Sponsored Cycle Ride supported by OWs - 24th June 2006
Picture taken just before the start at 7.00am!!
Around 40 cycle riders gathered at the Bridge School, Clerkenwell on the evening of Friday 23rd June at around 7:30 pm. Cycles and baggage were quickly unloaded from the vans and makeshift beds were made around the school classrooms. Soon after 8:15 pm everyone assembled at The Sekforde Arms public house in Woodbridge Street’ Clerkenwell and enjoyed a wholesome meal and a few drinks in convivial company. There were no late nights as everyone realised a good nights sleep was necessary for the efforts of the following day, so shortly after 10:30 pm the whole party returned to the Bridge School and settle down for the night.
Soon after 6 am the first early risers were moving around and very quickly and smoothly breakfast was partaken and cycles moved into the school playground ready for the start. There had been a lot of rain overnight but at 7 am the sky was a little grey and overcast but the temperature was reasonably pleasant and the prospect for the rest of the day was fairly dry. After some customary photographs the group was split into two parties of around 20 riders each and the first group set off on the hundred mile return journey through the lanes of Essex to Seckford Street in Woodbridge. A few minutes later they were followed by the second group of 20 and the two support vans.
The two groups worked their way through East London where the streets were more or less deserted, on through Docklands and past London City airport. As we moved up towards Romford the traffic was a little thicker and the roads a little narrower which caused one of two hold-ups but for the most part drivers were reasonably patient with one or two exceptions. Once past Romford we were out into the country and very soon over the M25 where the scenery soon returned to the green country fields we are so used to. The roads narrowed to single track country lanes and I must admit there seem to be more than a fair share of hills to cycle up. Even though I could relax in the comfort of one of the support vans I still felt very sorry for some of the novice cyclists as they pedalled away at their task.
As the morning went on the skies cleared, the sun shone and the temperature warmed up and very soon we arrived at Colne Engaine for lunch probably around half an hour ahead of our normal schedule. A very welcome lunch of cheese rolls, crisps, high fibre bars, fruit and drinks soon had the tired bodies refuelled and ready for the home run. Not many miles later and the village names became much more familiar and very soon we were travelling through villages such as Sproughton, Bramford and Burstall. From then on it was into Ipswich, around the Colchester bypass and then through Playford to Martlesham and Woodbridge.
Soon the cyclists were rolling onto the Market Hill tired but at the same time elated that they had all completed the hundred mile distance with no dropouts or major problems of any sort. For everyone it was a superb achievement which will hopefully raise many thousands of pounds for the children of the Bridge School Clerkenwell. Some had even been out all night the night before on a CCF exercise around Bury St Edmunds. Some had never cycled 100 miles in one outing before and surprised themselves in what they were able to achieve.
All in all it was an excellent day superbly organised by Michael Streat, with the cyclists well shepherded by the three support vans, with plenty of food and drink to keep the energy levels of the cyclists up and the result was that for the most part they arrived on the Market Hill, Woodbridge looking as if they had only cycled half of that distance.
Made it!! Cyclists gather on the Market Hill at the end of the day to draw breath
Old Woodbridgian Weekend and the annual
Woodbridge Dinner - September 2005
We celebrated a magnificent OW weekend at the end of September,
a weekend that
ultimately made the national news!
It commenced on Saturday 24th September with a lunch for over 50 OWs
who had left in the sixties. The Headmaster greeted them in
what was for them the old dining room or later library and
Head of School, Emily Skinner, impressed with her confident
greeting. President Ken Bailey, a sixties leaver himself and
Registrar Mike Weaver completed the welcome panel. After sherry
the OWs and their partners progressed to the new dining hall
- the Tuckwell Room, as now it is called for lunch and posed
for a grand photo afterwards. In the afternoon the group split
up and many wandered the School reviving old memories.
At 7.00 pm many of these OWs reassembled on the Chapel Lawn
for Pimms and were joined by others from the forties to the
nineties. There were 125 diners in all. Fish pie was on the
menu and the wine flowed freely. Many thanks to David Green
of Majestic who supplied the beverages. The Headmaster, Stephen
Cole, again outlined the successes of the school in a short
address. Tom Henson proposed the Royal Toast and was roundly
clapped for his exploits in Korea for which he won the MC.
The Registrar, on ‘going round the tables’, a
feature of these dinners, praised Donald Wix who had recently
been awarded an honorary doctorate at Loughborough. He raised
a huge cheer by pointing out that the short survey of his
life presented to the audience had commenced with the statement
that he had been educated at Woodbridge School. The Tydeman
family produced a marvellous poem written by Richard Tydeman
which was read by Sue Tydeman on the virtues of not winning
school prizes. More cheering. We must publish that in the
next Magazine.
However the greatest shock of the evening was the announcement
that Mike Taylor, who had joined the school in 1935, had a
dark and guilty secret. He had borrowed a library book in
1943 and not returned it. To massive applause he handed it
over and the fine was immediately remitted by the Registrar,
who had no powers to do so but no one cared. You work out
3d per day for 63 years, with compound interest. By the middle
of the following week Mike had been on TV locally and national
radio, mentioned in The Times no less. Even Radio Cardiff
interviewed him! Fame for 15 minutes yes, but what fame.
On the Sunday a round of touch rugby was played, the OWs
putting out two teams and
the school a further 2. A grand morning, ending a busy and
successful week-end.
The Jeff Leslie Room
It took us time; there were moments when we
thought we would never finish but we did it.
In September of 2002 a body of OWs, friends and supporters
and the headmaster Stephen Cole, Sue Leslie and members of
that distinguished clan assembled in what had been the old
‘Waiting Room’ to declare open an OWs Room dedicated
to the former teacher of maths, housemaster and careers master,
Jeff Leslie.That evening was the culmination of many months
of planning, counter-planning, decision making and breaking,
painting and wood-working. Sofas had gone in and out of that
room, banners had been hung and removed, plaques had been
ordered and rejected.
It was the Headmaster, Stephen Cole who suggested the idea
of an OWs room and the committee puts its heart and soul into
devising a suitable environment for OWs that would also celebrate
Jeff’s life and contribution to the School and its former
pupils. At an early stage Jeff’s son-in-law Michael
Murton drew up sophisticated plans and these were accepted
as the basis of all we would do. A huge glass cupboard disappeared
into the night and the framed certificates of school achievers
removed for rehanging in the hall outside.
Oh yes, we floundered along for ages really until that formidable
team of Ian Sands, Ken Bailey and David Houchell got their
heads together, ordered the paint and the wood and got on
with the job - no nonsense. Teacher Mark Bosworth must be
thanked for his professional shelves. It was starting to look
good.
Sue Leslie was in charge of furnishing and after one set
of sofas was rejected, we finally secured the ones we wanted,
the polythene covers cast off and the first posterior lowered
gently upon that cushioned comfort. The bursar had kindly
re-leathered the oak table in the middle of the room and blinds
appeared on the windows. Momentum was gathering.
Then from the archives came photographs - masses of them
long ones, short ones and square ones. The Committee met to
hang these photos - each one having a different concept of
where they should hang. If you are one who believes that you
can’t do anything by committee go to that room! We did
it.
The alcoves were richly decorated with school memorabilia,
caps and prizes, the flotsam and jetsam of the educative process
over a period of many years. Sue found a grand mirror for
above the grate and the JAL lectern was given a plinth and
a visitor’s book provided. Discreet lighting was installed
on either side of the fireplace.
And so to the grand opening where the chief guests were Jeff’s
close family, Max and Catherine, both OWs, of course and Sue
who had been so influential in keeping us focused. Stephen
Cole officially opened the room and the champagne corks popped.
Visitors queued up to sign the visitor's
book and many marvelled at the photos of themselves in earlier
days.
Now, visiting Old Woodbridgians commence their tours of the
school from the Jeff Leslie room and in the years ahead we
will bring more photo albums and memorabilia to interest and
alarm them. The School uses the room too. Solitary examinees
may be found there; mock Oxbridge
interviews are held there. Hopefully, it’s just as Jeff
would have liked and a fitting memory to the great man. OWs are
always welcome to visit the School and a present pupil will
be found to show you around. Contact Mike Weaver at
the School and re-visit your old haunts!
How the Website got started
The Old Woodbridgians Website began construction in November 1998. Obtained our own domain name in Feb. 2000, It is the joint effort of The Old Woodbridgians and Woodbridge School. Our aim is to continue the work of bringing together Old Woodbridgians wherever they are, linking them to the School and, of course, to each other.
The site is maintained by The Registrar of the Old Woodbridgians, Michael Weaver assisted by President, Ken Bailey. Michael has been a teacher of History at the School for over 36 years! In September 1997 the Headmaster invited him to take on the duties of Registrar of the OWs, the former pupils and staff of the School. This website was an early aim and it is now under way.
The website was originally designed by Robert Cawley of m8 internet. His brief was to create a site that was visually attractive and straightforward. Subsequently we have gone into new format thanks to the work of Edward Sanderson of Cambridge University Press.
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