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This is the new school news page, here you will find out about recent former pupil news, feel free to contribute your own news to share with your classmates.

2025 Reunion click here..

Woodland’s & Rocks House Reunion - 27th Year - Saturday 6th September 2025

Hi everyone

A change of date to assist those coming long distances. We have moved it out of school holiday season. So for the foreseeable future the Reunions will be in early September. Hope you are all ok! - It’s our 27th Reunion, so here are details for the Reunion this coming year.

Meeting at The Roebuck, Wych Cross, Forest Row, Nr Nutley RH18 5JL 01342823811 (not far from Wych Cross crossroads, and near the Garden Centre). Feel free to arrive from mid-day onwards at The Roebuck, 200 metres distance south of Wych Cross. We will have an early dinner at the Roebuck around 6ish - - allowing plenty of time for those who have to travel, to get back home. Those who are staying locally, then feel free to join in -we will go to the Red Lion (Chelwood Gate, just a mile form the Roebuck for Sunday Lunch the following day. We will have our statutory 5 minute meeting to discuss this years agenda and vote in the Committee. Peter Waterman (Chairman) –Terry Paremain (Treasurer). The Agenda will be available at the meeting. If anyone would like to be Secretary, then do let one of us know on the day – don’t all rush !! ha ha

Other than the meeting and the evening meal, there is no ‘set’ event for the day, but if at sometime during the afternoon, you wish to go for a walk or drive down to see the old School near Fairwarp/Maresfield, then feel free to do so. The Old School has seen some big changes, and is about to see some more as, the Main Building at Woodlands is up for Sale at present, but the Golden Oak is still standing. To visit the Golden Oak there is a public footpath a little further up the lane from St John’s Cottage that leads down to the field adjacent to the field where the Gym was, with access to the river you all know at the bottom. Lunches & Snacks are served from midday at the Roebuck – you are free to order and eat as you please. You are also free to stay at the Roebuck through the afternoon to pour through the photograph albums, or join those who wish to go for a wander…..

It’s a great opportunity to have a fun day together, to catch up and also to go through the many photos that have been so painstakingly put together for us by Terry. We would like a recent photo of each and every one of you for the Album. There will also be a Group Photo taken after the Meeting. If you have any photos from Woodlands and Rock’s House time, then do bring them along. I can take a copy of them with my iPhone. Some of the Old boys including Kenny Waterman and John Childs have written some of their memories of their time and of the old boys and we would like to ask everyone to do the same before we all go senile! Thanks !

As already mentioned, if you see this on the Woodlands Web Site and have not had a call from us, then do call me or use the email address on the Woodlands Web Site ( www.woodlandsschool.net ). Your welcome to just turn up. If you move house, please send us your change of address/email/telephone number, or we cannot contact you. One additional contact for you would be helpful, just in case you move. So do keep us up to date !! Wives, partners and family are always very welcome, it’s always great to see the families too! Please bring any old photos (or copies) you may have from the Woodland’s days, to go in our photo albums, We keep two separate copies of photos- Just in case of earthquake, wind and fire! On a final note, Peter (Chairman), Terry (Treasurer) (Secretary position vacant) and me, hope as many of you can
come along as possible for the Reunion, it’s always great to get together, even if it is only once a year !

THANKS

John ( was John Woodhouse at Woodlands)

(Home Tel 01327 349080) Peter Waterman, Terry Paremain. -Woodlands Reunion Society.
Ps – Our ‘Woodlands’ Web Site is– www.woodlandsschool.net check it out !!
We also have a Group Chat on What’s App -To join type in:- Woodlands & Rock’s house Reunions -
Any problems, then I can add you remotely, just let me know.

John Reading playing at the Royal Albert Hall 15th April 2019

On many Occasions ‘the boy’s’ from Woodlands have exceeded all expectations, especially considering the poor education at the School. Well here is another first that would make Professor Stralendorf very proud.

As you will see in the photo, John Reading is playing a recital on the great Concert piano in the Albert Hall, with an audience of over 5000 in the audience. What is more remarkable is John composed one of the pieces himself. John was quoted as saying afterwards that‘this day was the very pinnacle of my entire life. a truly great experience of which I feel very proud but not arrogant’
Well done John, a truly remarkable achievement and I’m sure all ‘the boys’ would concur!

Post Reunion 2015

Douglas

On Wednesday afternoon, Peter phoned me with the sad news that Douglas passed away and before I say more, our wishes go to John who has been a life-long friend of Douglas - from the days of Woodlands, to the day before he died. It does not get better than that, no one could have been a better friend to him, so well done to John for keeping that friendship going to the end. I would also like to say a unexpected word of thanks to Peter and Janis for facilitating this and keeping a close watch over events. It was Peter who picked John up on Tuesday to pay a visit to Douglas at his home, little did they realise that it would be only a few hours before he passed away.

I’m sure we are all pleased that Douglas did not have to go through the truma of being moved from his home into care. If we can die in the place we have known, then so much the better. Douglas and John were the personification of Ant and Dec! Both of them brightened up our Reunions and I hope john will continue to do so for many years to come. Douglas was born on 27th March 1947, Lived in Catford, London with his mother Ella and he worked for the Council Gardens. I’m sure John will fill us in with far more detail later.

We will continue to remember Douglas as the friend who was always chirpy and full of good humour. Only two years ago he was here ruddy faced and ready to embrace all the world could throw at him - he succeeded at this 100 per cent. Who would believe that we would be here today having learned he died from Motor Nurone disease last Tuesday night. I’m sure we all have our own memories of Douglas over the years.

At the Reunion two years ago I remember Douglas so animated about his latest car –he was so proud of it, and so he should have been ! Against all the odds in his early life, he did very well for himself and I’m sure his Uncle, now 86 himself, was very proud of him. Well, there will be plenty more such memories of Douglas, so although we say farewell, we can at the same time say what a pleasure it was to be in Douglas’s company and see Douglas’s life as a celebration, in the same way as we do Karla’s and our lives would be so much the poorer with out having had them in it.

Three cheers for two great friends Karla and Douglas. Hip Hip…..