In September, 1937,1 became a pupil at Kilburn Grammar School. When my parents received the prospectus we were surprised to notice that one of the staff had the same initials as I had – D.WJ.W.

Don Woodman was a former pupil, had been ordained as a layman and had decided that teaching was the main vocation he wished to follow. He taught Latin and religious education and it was the latter subject that he taught to me.

At primary school I had been a star pupil but at grammar school I dropped further and further behind the rest of my class. Come exam times life was a nightmare with the exception of religious education, where 1 received a mark of well over 90 per cent, compared with three marks for languages all under 10 per cent. There was something about Mr Woodman that brought out the very best in me.

One of the reasons for my poor academic standards was my great interest in sport. Although I was only 11 on joining the school, I immediately obtained a place in the under 14 football team. Who was in charge? Yes it was D.WJ.W.

Halfway through the season he decided to make me reserve and put someone else in my place. After the match he made a point of congratulating me on the way I had, from the touchline, encouraged the person who took my place. It made me feel as proud as if I had scored a hat trick. He had that sort of effect on people.

Apart from poor work, I was very badly behaved and constantly in trouble. While pointing out the error of my ways, Mr Woodman always strove to point out my good points to other members of the staff.

When I was a ‘mixed infant’, I’d assumed that one of the caretaker’s duties was to lock the teachers in at night. The first time I saw Miss Dunstan on a tram, I thought she’d escaped.
Bob Aldridge