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>>

2008 AGM Minutes

You can download a PDF of the 2009 AGM Minutes by clicking this link>>

Number of visitors to this website from 16th June 2009:
Chairman Stuart Nesbit

New OGA Chairman - Stuart Nesbit

OGA Chairman for 2009 - 2010 is Old Grovian Stuart Nesbit.

Stuart joined Bronte House as a boarder at the age of nine along with his brother, Mark. "My dad was in the army and based abroad, so he wanted to bring some stability to our school life," he explains.  "I can honestly say that my schooling at the Grove has had a great deal to do with the kind of person I am today. In fact I loved school so much I ended up staying on an extra year!"

People who know Stuart will remember that he spent most of his time on a sports field. "My report card would always refer to the fact that if I spent as much time and effort on my academic studies as my sport then I would go a long way..."

Stuart left the Grove in 1993 to study a Business & Finance degree at Bolton, "something which I’m sure I wouldn't have achieved without the drive from the school and my friends". Stuart's financial career includes working for the Royal Mail and the Post Office where he is currently a Finance Analyst.

Since leaving school, Stuart has been an active member of the OGA especially on the sports field with OGA cricket and rugby.

Read his Chairman's message here>>

Dates for your diary - 2009

Friday 29th to Sunday 31st January

OGA Scottish Reunion, Culcreuch Castle, Stirlingshire

Saturday 27th February

London Reunion at the Royal Thames Yacht Club

Friday 16th April

OGA Lancashire & Cheshire Reunion, Renaissance Hotel, Manchester

Monday 26th April

OGA Committee Meeting, Rawson Room at 1700 hours

Sunday 4th July

Old Grovians’ Day (1400 onwards)

Monday 20th September

OGA Committee Meeting, Rawson Room at 1700 hours

Sunday 14th November

Remembrance Day Service (10.15am) followed by AGM and Old Grovians’ Day

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

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

Contacts:

Chairman: Stuart Nesbit
Chairman Elect: Matthew Gullick
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 16 - Spring 2010) 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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