The Old Grovian Association
Welcome to 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>>

Old Grovian crest

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

Dr Towlson

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.

Old formroom photo

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. Read more here>>

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

Artist's impression of New Music and Drama Building

New Music and Drama Building

Anyone visiting school recently will notice that work has already started on the new Music and Drama building and will be finished, all being well, by late October 2008.

The building will be attached to the back of the theatre and will provide a large drama and dance studio, a large music rehearsal room, a modern keyboard and composing room, several classrooms, acoustically engineered practice rooms, offices and a recording studio.

It will certainly rival similar facilities anywhere else in the area and the school is increasingly excited about the impact this new building will have on the performing arts provision.

Front page Xaipete, click for PDF download

Xaipete

Download a PDF of the latest issue of Xaipete by clicking the image on the left.

Chairman Elect John Tunstall

Chairman Elect - John Tunstall

Chairman-elect 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.

Dates for your diary - 2008

Sunday 22nd June

OGA Golf Tournament, Cookridge Hall, Leeds

Saturday 28th June

Old Grovian Concert – The Grove Theatre, 7.00 pm
A performance by Old Grovians in memory of Bill Shorey

Sunday 6th July

Old Grovians Day at WGS, from 2.00 pm
OGA cricket, tennis and netball, BBQ

Monday 7th July

Isle of Man Reunion, St John’s, IOM

Sunday 13th July

Graham Roope Memorial Cricket Match

Sunday 9th November

Old Grovians Day at WGS, 10.15 am – 4.30 pm
Remembrance Service, AGM, lunch, OGA rugby and Netball

Dates for your diary - 2009

Friday 24th - 26th January

Scottish Reunion, Culcreuch Castle, Stirlingshire

Read a full list and get contact details on our Diary page>>

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

Contacts:

Chairman: Dr Helen Mollard
Chairman Elect: John Tunstall
President: David Humphreys, Headmaster
OGA 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) Robert Udy (Treasurer) Nick Wood (Former OGA Chairman) Richard Thornton (Former OGA Chairman)

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

OGA Secretary: Heather Garner
Archives: Hugh Knowles, Richard Thornton
Xaipete: Kath Dawson

Sports Convenors:

Cricket: Anthony Cadman (84-94)
Golf: David Webster (83-93)
Netball: Helen Milnes (90-97)
Rugby: Nick Fawcett (87-95)
Tennis: Ted Palm (48-56)

See our Links page for contact details>>

Graham Roope Memorial Day - 'A Celebration of Cricket'

On Sunday 13 July, the Grove will be hosting a celebrity cricket match in memory of the late Graham Roope. The match will be between a Lord's Taverners XI (captained by former Yorkshire cricketer and current Grove parent, Neil Hartley) and an 'Old Yorkshire/England' XI (captained by former England player and the Grove's current cricket professional, Arnie Sidebottom). The lunch and match will raise funds both for the Lord's Taverners and for the school's Community Sports Fund.

We are expecting to be joined by Fraser Hinds, Charlie Dale, Chris Chittell and others from Emmerdale, former cricket captains Mike Denness, Ray Illingworth, Brian Close, former England Cricketers, Arnie Sidebottom, Alan Igglesden and former Yorkshire cricketers Neil Hartley and Jim Love. We are also hoping to be joined by BBC TV's Harry Gration and BBC radio's Kevin Howells.

Tickets for the lunch are available from school priced £35 (+VAT) per person, or £350 (+VAT) per table of 10 and every one is welcome. For further information please contact Heather Garner on 0113 250 2477.

Old Grovian rugby team

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 report here>>

Dalton Polius

School news

The School welcomed two star sporting pupils this year; Dalton Polius, a 17 year old cricketer from St Lucia, and Alex Kirk, a member of the Leeds Carnegie Netball squad.

Also, in March 2007, the Grove welcomed two teams of Independent Schools Council inspectors to the Grove and Bronte House. Both gave the schools glowing reports. Read a full round-up of school news here>>

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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