The Old Grovian Association
Welcome to the Old Grovian Association

At the Old Grovian Association, our aim is to promote and maintain life-long friendships between members as well as supporting Woodhouse Grove School in its development and growth. We are currently in regular contact with over 3,600 Old Grovian members worldwide and this number continues to grow.

We hold regular social events and reunions through the year, news of which you'll find on this website. Plus, the Old Grovian magazine Xiapete is sent to all our members twice a year. We hope you enjoy visiting our new website and look forward to hearing from you! Read our Chairman's message here>>

A warm welcome to our newest Old Grovians!

As we remember the words of Xaipete - 'Old and new friends all we cherish'- we welcome the 2008 leavers to the Old Grovian Association. We wish them good luck in their new adventures beyond Woodhouse Grove and hope they will remain in contact with the school, and each other, and join us at a reunion in the very near future.

2012 Celebrations - your memories wanted for WGS book

As Woodhouse Grove School was founded in 1812, 2012 will be the 200th Anniversary.

There will be a whole host of celebratory events going on through out the year but in addition to these, the Governors have commissioned Nigel Watson to complete the history of the school up to 2012.

Nigel has requested Old Grovians to send in any (printable) reminiscences and stories of school life for possible inclusion in his book. We would like to encourage Old Grovians of all generations to do this for us. More>>

Please send your 'memorials and reminiscences' to Jackie Balaam at the school address or by

New Davy Building

New Music and Drama Building

Anyone visiting school recently will notice that the Davy Building, the school's new Music and Drama facility, is finally open.

The building which is attached to the back of the theatre includes twelve acoustically engineered practice rooms, specialist recording studio, large drama studio and a recital room plus several standard classrooms, two of which will be fully equipped for music technology, including specialist ICT provision. More>>

Number of visitors to this website from 16th June 2009:
Chairman John Tunstall

New OGA Chairman - John Tunstall

OGA Chairman for 2008 - 2009 is Old Grovian John Tunstall (OG 64-66). John left the Grove at the age of 17 with a good grasp of Christian morals and a passion for rugby, mathematics and art to join the Bank of England.

In 1986 he headed up a financial sector consortium in Paris with the objective of promoting the chip card to the world. He then joined APACS as Head of European Affairs, chairing International and European committees as Head of a European bank consortium based in Brussels. A spell in New York with MasterCard was followed by Managing Director of the Global Trust Authority. Not wishing to retire completely, John currently heads a small IT company introducing tee-off times software to golf clubs.

Throughout his life he has enjoyed painting, finding this a continuous challenge which can pay dividends at exhibitions. He is a business mentor for the Young Enterprise programme at a local school and some years ago joined the Variety Club, which provides substantial help and funding for disadvantaged and disabled children and John will be competing in the London to Paris bike ride this June in support of the Variety Club. Read his Chairman's message here>>

Dates for your diary - 2009

Sunday 21st June 2009

OGA Golf Tournament, Cookridge Hall, Leeds

Sunday 5th July 2009

Old Grovians’ Day (2.00 pm onwards)

OGA cricket, tennis, rounders matches and barbeque

Monday 14th September 2009

OGA Committee Meeting in Rawson Room 6.00 pm

Saturday 7th November 2009

Second South Pacific Reunion

Sunday 8th November 2009

Old Grovians’ Day

Remembrance Day Service (10.15 am) followed by Old Grovians’ Day, AGM, Rugby and Netball Matches

Dates for your diary - 2010

Friday 29th to Sunday 31st January 2010

OGA Scottish Reunion, Culcreuch Castle, Stirlingshire

Friday 16th April 2010

OGA Lancashire & Cheshire Reunion, Renaissance Hotel, Manchester

 

See our diary page for more information on all the above activities.

Visit our Reunions page for reports on 2008 get-togethers>>

Contacts:

Chairman: John Tunstall
Chairman Elect: Stuart Nesbit
President: David Humphreys, Headmaster
Treasurer: Mrs Vanessa Bates
Secretary: Mrs Heather Garner

Members: Mrs Kath Dawson (Editor Xaipete, former Chairman), John Cockshott (Deputy Second Master), Miss Jackie Balaam (Marketing Officer), Hugh Knowles (Life Vice President), Miss Helen Milnes (Sports Convenor), Nick Fawcett (Sports Convenor), Mrs V Bates (Treasurer), Nick Wood (former Chairman) and Dr Helen Mollard (former Chairman).

Old Grovian Association, c/o Woodhouse Grove School, Apperley Bridge, West Yorkshire BD10 0NR
Tel: 0113 250 2477
Fax: 0113 250 5290

Sports Convenors: Miss Helen Milnes, Nick Fawcett
Archives: Hugh Knowles, Richard Thornton
Xaipete: Mrs Kath Dawson

Old Grovian Rugby

The Old Grovian Rugby Team is a newly formed side of mainly Old Grovians who have played rugby to a good level. The team began life in the Yorkshire 5B league which is a bottom league but nonetheless produces an excellent and very challenging standard of play. Read a full roundup here>> Or click here for a roundup of OG netball>>

cricket 1948

Photos from the Dining Room

Old Grovians may remember the team photos that used to adorn the walls of the Dining Room. We're in the proces of digitising these and are gradually uploading them on this website. It's a slow process, so please keep coming back! More>>

School news

The Grove's famous U13s squad recently won the annual U13 McCarthy Cup, hosted at the Grove - a tournament run by the Yorkshire Rugby Union for independent and selective schools in the UK.

Meanwhile drama at the Grove continues to go from strength to strength, the latest production being 'Romeo & Juliet' - and Half Term saw 23 sixth form geography students in 'Awe & Wonder' at the rugged unspoilt beauty of Iceland contrasted with the hustle and bustle of New York. More>>

Xaipete

If you've mislaid your copy of Xaipete or would prefer an electronic version you can download a pdf of the latest issue (number 14 - Spring 2009) by clicking the image on the right.

Click here to download back issues.

 

Copyright 2008/9 The Old Grovian Association, Old Grovian Office, Woodhouse Grove School, Tel: 0113 250 2477. OGA Secretary - Heather Garner, Woodhouse Grove School, Apperley Bridge, West Yorkshire, BD10 0NR. Tel: 0113 250 2477. Headmaster - David C Humphreys.

 

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