Alumni for former pupils of Woodlands School, Fairwarp
School News...
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.
Woodland’s & Rocks House Reunion - 26th Year - Saturday 17th August 2024
<click link to access reunion document>
Hi everyone….
Hope you are all ok! - It’s our 26th Reunion, so here are details for this years reunion.
We shall meet at the usual place.- The Roebuck, Wych Cross, Forest Row, Nr Nutley RH18 5JL (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. A change by popular choice, we will have an early dinner at the Roebuck around 6ish - contrary to what was on the details you received prior to this - allowing plenty of time for those who have to travel, to get back home.
We will have our statutory 5 mins 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 Fariwarp/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 are both 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, so we shall take a few shots of you during the afternoon. There will also be a group Shot taken in the
afternoon. If you have any photos, 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 some 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. 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 and grandchildren too!
Those who have come along on always have a great time.
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 or 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 !
Best wishes and looking forward to seeing you.
John Amos ( was John Woodhouse at Woodlands)
(Home Tel 01327 349080) Peter Waterman, Terry Paremain, -Woodlands Reunion Society.
John Reading playing at the Royal Albert Hall 15th April 2019
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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
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Douglas
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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…..
