Frederick John Woodley

Whilst not teetotal, John was quite abstemious when it came to alcohol. Yet on one occasion when he was due to open the batting in a cricket match for Queens’, for reasons he could never explain, he ended up at a pub drinking several beers beforehand. Usually a slow, methodical batsman, when at the crease on this occasion, he vigorously attacked the bowling, quickly amassing a large score and crowned his performance with a huge six, that cleared the ground and landed in a nearby orchard. The groundsman who later found the ball, assured John it was the biggest six he had seen in his many years at Cambridge.

The youngest of three children, John was born into a working-class family in Portsmouth in 1930. His childhood was overshadowed by the hardship of the Great Depression and the outbreak of World War 2. Portsmouth, as Britain’s biggest naval base, suffered frequent bombing raids and in later years John often recalled his experience of “the blitz”. Despite this, he remembered his childhood with affection. He won a scholarship to Portsmouth Grammar School and excelled both academically and at sport. He was nominated as Head Boy in his final year and captained the cricket and football teams.

John completed his National Service, serving two years as a Lieutenant with the Royal Artillery in Transjordan (present day Jordan). He had been awarded a place at Queens’ College and on returning to England in 1951, he duly went up to Cambridge. He studied Law and Economics, though admitted to spending more time on the sports field than in the lecture hall. He was awarded Blues at football and cricket, captained the University football team and played for Pegasus, the combined Oxford and Cambridge football team. He played at Wembley on two occasions.

In 1954 he went to Tanganyika (modern day Tanzania) to work for the Foreign and Commonwealth Service. He served for 11 years, finishing as the District Commissioner for Masailand. He loved his years in East Africa and was especially proud of being awarded the title of “Tribal Elder” by the Masai. During this time, he met and married his wife, Patricia Sue (nee Atkinson) and they were married for 52 years before Patricia died in 2010. They are survived by four children – Caroline, Anthony, Penny and Julia.

Returning to England in 1965 they settled in Bromley, Kent. John trained as a social worker and worked initially as a Child Care Officer. He finished his career in 1985 as Director of Social Services for Cambridgeshire. John took early retirement and spent his time tending his garden and enjoying life in Cambridge. He and Patricia later moved to East Sussex to be nearer their children and grandchildren. After Patricia died, John continued spending time in his beloved garden, visiting National Trust properties, listening to music and welcoming his ever-growing family, comprising four children, their spouses, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. (A third great grandchild is due in April).

He is remembered with great love and affection and was somewhat of a local celebrity being known to many as “the man with the hat”.

Anthony Woodley, 2023