Grovian Voices

Send us Fan Mail In this companion episode, we present the other side of the remarkable 7-inch vinyl record recently added to our archive: the Prize Day Hymn, "O Holy Father." Recorded at the school during the 1960s and digitally extracted from the original 7" vinyl, this recording was kindly made available to us after the vinyl was sent to us in June 2026 by a record dealer in Kent...

Send us Fan Mail Step back in time with this special episode featuring “Χαίρετε” – The School Song, recorded at Woodhouse Grove School in the 1960s. This historic audio has been digitally extracted and carefully restored from a 7" vinyl record, kindly sent to us in June 2026 by a record dealer in Kent after he came across it. Preserved for decades on vinyl, the recording captures a unique pie...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Old Grovian Richard Graves (87-94) reflects on his time boarding in Vinter House. The lifelong friendships forged at The Grove and a foundation laid for a successful career in broadcasting. From the rhythm of boarding life described as “prep, sport, prep, sport… repeat!” to the legendary Fish & Chip run. A passion for sport, playing cricket and rugby and frien...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 27 of Grovian Voices, we sit down with long-serving staff member Kerren Jennings (st99-), Head of Year 9 at The Grove, whose dedication to sport, student development and school life has shaped generations at WGS.  From her early days as a passionate young athlete to becoming a central figure in the PE department and pastoral care, Kerren reflects on her journey, her inf...

Send us Fan Mail Grovian Voices – 1 Year Anniversary Special With Headmaster, James Lockwood (86-92, st16-) To mark the first anniversary of Grovian Voices , we are delighted to welcome Old Grovian and Headmaster James Lockwood for a powerful full-circle conversation – from pupil to becoming the 18th Headmaster of The Grove. James reflects on arriving at The Grove in Year 9, stepping beyond his co...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we speak with Old Grovian Kathryn Leng (85–92) about her journey from growing up in Pudsey to representing England at the highest level. Reflecting on her years at Woodhouse Grove School, Kathryn shares memories of friendships, influential teachers and experiencing three Headmasters at The Grove. She reflects on how the school’s structure and values helped shape h...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Grovian Voices, we speak with Old Grovian Dominic Leclerc (87–97), a screen director whose credits include Sex Education, Skins and Shameless, who reflects on his formative years at The Grove and the experiences that shaped his creative journey.  Dom recalls French with Mrs Hughes as his favourite subject, noting how language and storytelling influenced his earl...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Grovian Voices: The Business Edit, we welcome Rich Hayden, Managing Director of MADEBY7, a current parent and a founding member of The Grove Business Directory. With over 25 years’ experience in branding and marketing, Rich shares honest insights into building a business, the realities of working for yourself and how marketing has evolved in an increasingly digi...

Send us Fan Mail In this festive edition of Grovian Voices, we welcome Rev. Rob Drost (st22-), Chaplain of The Grove, for a heart-warming Christmas conversation. Rob shares his deep personal connection to the school, the story behind his many roles and some rich history of both the Chapel and the wider Methodist Schools Trust. Together, we explore cherished traditions, past and present and look ah...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we welcome Julia Burns - Mediator, Conflict Coach and Solicitor, founder of Dove in the Room, current Grove parent and founding member of The Grove Business Directory. Julia shares her winding career journey from trainee solicitor to sports lawyer and ultimately to helping families resolve inheritance disputes through mediation. She talks about the importance of e...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we speak with Steve Burnhill (75-82), Old Grovian, former Vinter House boarder, School Governor and Trustee of the Woodhouse Grove School Foundation.  Steve reflects on his years at The Grove, the profound influence of David McCarthy, former Head of Vinter House and Second Master and his love of rugby under J. Keith Jones, 1st XV Rugby Coach and former Second Mast...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Keith Jones (st78-16), who joined Woodhouse Grove in the Summer term of 1978 as a teacher of Geography and PE and went on to transform its sporting culture over nearly four decades. Keith shares his journey from growing up in Carmarthen, Wales, where he captained the Wales U15s and later represented his country at U18 and U19 level, to studying PE...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Chris Softley (st14-), Assistant Head - Sixth Form and Futures, to explore how the Sixth Form at Woodhouse Grove is redefining post-16 education. With a clear focus on the mantra “Grow – Develop – Stand Out from the Crowd,” Chris shares how the Sixth Form team champions a flexible, tailored approach for every student, whether they’re continuing fr...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a vibrant, nostalgic and heartfelt conversation with Toby Waterhouse (80-91, st18-), Old Grovian and current PE & Games teacher at Brontë House. From his first days as a Year 4 pupil in 1980 at Brontë, through his Grove School years (Findlay House, class of 1991), to his present-day full-time teaching role, Toby reflects on four decades of deep-rooted connection wi...

Send us Fan Mail We launch Series 2 of Grovian Voices with none other than Donna Shoesmith-Evans (st92-25), who only just retired this July after an incredible 33-year career at The Grove. From her first steps into the school for a job interview to a heartfelt farewell this summer, Donna shares her rich, warm and often hilarious reflections on life at The Grove. Having worn many hats - History tea...

Send us Fan Mail In this insightful and entertaining episode, we sit down with Kevin Eaglestone (st01-), Assistant Head (Organisation) at The Grove, for a deep dive into the intricate workings of the school and plenty more besides! We lift the curtain on the operational side of school life.  Ever wondered how many chairs are set up for Prize Day? Or what goes on behind the scenes at the start of e...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode of Grovian Voices, we sit down with Joe Bedford (00-02, st13-), Old Grovian and now the School’s Head of Rugby. Joe reflects on a remarkable journey that began in West Leeds and took him to the heights of professional rugby, before bringing him full circle back to The Grove, where his passion for the game was nurtured. Joe played over 200 senior games acr...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode of Grovian Voices , we welcome Major General Professor Tim Hodgetts CB CBE OStJ DL, one of the UK’s most senior military medical leaders and a proud Old Grovian who was a day boy in Atkinson House from 1974 to 1981. A recipient of both the Governor’s Scholarship and the Davy Book Leaver's Scholarship, Tim reflects on how his time at The Grove laid th...

Send us Fan Mail In this uplifting episode of Grovian Voices, we sit down with the ever-positive and forward-thinking Hannah Boggie, our Lettings, Events & Operations Manager. From managing the day-to-day operations to curating unforgettable events, Hannah gives us an exclusive look into the vibrant world of Grove Enterprises. Discover just how much The Grove has to offer – whether you’re look...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a deliciously insightful episode as we go behind the scenes of catering at The Grove with Franco Caroleo (st18-25), our passionate and ever-energetic Catering Manager. What’s on the menu in this episode? Franco gives us a backstage pass into the many facets of catering across the estate, from daily breakfast, lunch and dinner services, to guest-favourites like Woody&ap...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, current Year 12 Sixth Form students Michaella and Harry take over the mic for a relaxed and honest conversation about Sixth Form life at The Grove . They kick things off with a warm introduction - sharing a bit about who they are, their interests and some fun ice-breakers (including their dream holiday destinations). The duo then dives into their personal experien...

Send us Fan Mail In this special on-the-road episode, host Eve travels to the beautiful town of Keswick, Cumbria, accompanied by Sam Cadman (’89–’96, st10-), Director of Marketing and Commerce at Woodhouse Grove School. Sam, who has known Mary Webster from her previous visits to The Grove, joined Eve for this memorable meeting in Mary’s home. Mary is the daughter of George Leslie Grainge (Woodhous...

Send us Fan Mail   “David McCarthy epitomised the aspiration of the school to create rounded individuals and capable citizens.” – 'Xaipete' Woodhouse Grove: The First 200 Years by Nigel Watson In this rich and reflective episode of Grovian Voices , we welcome Mr David McCarthy (53-92), a true giant in the history of Woodhouse Grove School. With nearly four decades of service (1953–1992),...

Send us Fan Mail In this lively episode, we’re joined by Michelle Phillips (86-88), a former sixth-form boarder and her brother James Phillips (84-93), a weekly boarder at Brontë House who later became a full-time boarder at The Grove. Both siblings share fond memories of their time at Woodhouse Grove - Michelle’s favourite teachers were Dr Wilson, Heather Senior and Roger Howard, while James reme...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Dan Nulty, proud Old Grovian, the current Chair of the Old Grovian Association and lifelong supporter of Woodhouse Grove School. Dan shares a rich and personal story that began when he joined the Grove as a boarder in 1990 at just 11 years old, after attending seven different primary schools due to his father’s Army career. Originally bound for Ri...