P J H 1947-1955
We have been notified of the sad death of David Woodcock who passed away on 29th July 2024, aged 85. Our thoughts and best wishes go to his family and those who knew him well.
At Wycliffe:
Rugby 3rd XV
Member: Literary Society, Science, Chess (Treasurer), Y.F.C. (Secretary)
If you would like to have your memories of David posted on this webpage, please feel free to email them to TWS@wycliffe.co.uk
The following was sent to us by Graham Woodcock, David’s son:
David’s school report of which we have a copy shows him joining the senior school in the michaelmas term of 1952. He belonged to Haywardsfield House. Asides from academic studies he belonged to the rugby, young farmers and chess clubs. He was a day boy who lived with his grand mother in Lochryan House in Stroud during term time his parents at the time of his schooling lived in Yeovil.
David left the school in the autumn term of 1955. His parents and he moved to East Norfolk where his father, an engineer, had started a new job. David’s ancestors were farmers from the Cirencester area and it was always his ambitions to become a farmer although the opportunity never arose and instead he studied to become a chartered surveyor.
He joined Charles Hawkins and Sons based in West Norfolk as an agricultural trainee surveyor in 1956 and qualified as a chartered surveyor in 1963. He practised in Kings Lynn, Guildford and Bury St Edmunds and returning to Kings Lynn and Charles Hawkins & Sons in 1967 eventually becoming a partner and helped the practice develop to a network of 7 offices. The practice was sold to Lloyds Bank in 1982 one of the first acquisitions by a financial institution at the time and a milestone moment in the future of the industry.
He went on to help Lloyds Bank with further acquisitions and to develop a brand based property and financial services network known as Black Horse Agencies. He joined the businesses head office team in 1986 as deputy chief executive as well as their operations director. Between 1992 and 1997 he held the role of finance and administration director and finally in 1997 became the groups managing director at a transition point when the business was sold to Bradford and Bingley Estate Agents.
Following the takeover by Bradford and Bingley he became an executive director and managing director of distribution.
In addition to his executive roles at Bradford and Bingley he was also sat on the RICS general council from 1981 – 1991 and was a council member and director of the Ombudsman for Estate Agents Scheme from 1997 -2001.
Outside of his working career he took an interest in two sporting passions those being sailing and rugby. He went on to become chairman, president and a trustee at West Norfolk RUFC and president and commodore at Blakeney Sailing Club. He also was keen on building conservation and went onto become chairman of the Kings Lynn Preservation Trust.
He married his wife Jackie in 1963 who pre-deceased him in 2019. He leaves a son, daughter and grandchildren.
