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Wigton Old Scholars’ Association |
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Cumbria Reunion Weekend, 9 & 10 July 2005 |
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Gathered at Aspatria for lunch on Saturday: Avril Solari, Mary & John Peile, Sheila Rankin, |
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Southern Reunion - hosted by Ann Fort. |
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Trans-Pennine Reunion - hosted by Jim & Margaret Swithenbank. |
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Jim Swithenbank, Don Dobson, Margaret Swithenbank, Sylvia Marshall, Bill Sykes, |
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Carlisle Dinner Reunion - organised by Kate English |
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In attendance at the Lakes Court Hotel were: Pamela Scott-Veale, Helen Morris, |
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John Richard Woodcock John Woodcock, who taught at Brookfield from 1970-84, died on 15 February 2006, aged 59. He had been suffering from cancer for six months. John was brought up in Milford Haven in West Wales before attending Shoreditch Teacher Training College in London. His first teaching job was in Dagenham but in 1970 he took up a post as Craft and Games teacher at the Friends’ School in Wigton where he remained until the school closed in 1984. At first he and Angela lived at Sunnymede but when this was taken over by the Prep School boarders, he bought a house in Wigton (Arms Park). When he became Senior Master, the family moved back on site, to one of the bungalows on Cuddy Lonning. At first John’s chief haunt in school was the workshop but after a few years he became full-time Games Master apart from teaching a little Maths and Technical Drawing. He was a superb teacher, strict but fair, and dedicated to helping each pupil reach his or her potential. While he had no time for slackers, he was full of praise for those who tried even if their achievements were small. He enjoyed the boarding aspect of school and his pastoral work with pupils from all types of backgrounds and many different parts of the world was outstanding. As a result of this he became Senior Master. Although the school was small, he coached many pupils to county and national level, especially in volley ball, gymnastics and athletics. He has said that the happiest years of his life were those spent at Brookfield. |
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John was a person of tremendous energy and vision. Outgoing and friendly, with a fine sense of humour, there was nothing he liked better than an evening in the pub with friends. He was also a proud and devoted family man. In 1970 he married Angela Barras from Newcastle and they had three children, all born in Wigton. John was for many “The Spark that Ignites the Flame of Potential” and to symbolise this, at his funeral, held at St. Mark’s Church, Keighley, members of the congregation each lit a candle on the altar. Ever a Welshman, John would have been pleased that his coffin was draped with the Welsh flag, while members of his family wore daffodils as button-holes and, as he had requested, he left the church to the sound of the Welsh National Anthem. The funeral was attended by both staff and pupils from his Brookfield days but some of those who were unable to be present might wish to give, in John’s honour, to Manorlands Hospice whose staff cared for John, both in the hospice and at home and/or the Sportshall Athletic and Pacesetter Association of Malawi which has been set up to continue John’s work in Malawi. Cheques should be payable to Manorlands Hospice and/or SAPCAM and may be sent to: David Gallagher, Funeral Directors, Airedale House, Skipton Road, Utley, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD20 6DT. I’m sure Old Scholars would wish to extend sympathy to John’s wife, Angela, daughter, Kerry, who, along with husband, Rupert, and children, Lana, Tegan and Torin, lives in Canada, daughter, Sian, who works for the BBC in London, and son, Barry, who is in the Parachute Regiment. Wendy Graham Note: John, Angela and Barry attended the Carlisle Dinner Reunion in October - pictures above.
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