Durban High School
Class Of 1964
Michael E Woodford (Class of 1963)
Michael E's Latest Interactions
A round, smiley face, a warm, bubbly, enthusiatic character and a jolly good gymnast and swimmer, are my recollections of my early 60's classmate. A thoroughly good guy. Go well Van. Michael Woodford.
Posted on: Feb 22, 2021 at 11:33 AM
I remember Pete well. Not as a close mate, but we were at DPHS together, until end 1959 and we were both members of the very successful DHS Cadet Band (I was the base drummer.) He was a lovely bloke, cheerful, friendly and a cracking bugler. I have this abiding memory of the Band gathering at the Misselbrook home, corner Windmill & Essenwood Roads, just before the Durban & District Cadet Band Competitian. We spent all day polishing kit, bulling toe caps so you could see your face in them, blanching webbing, brasso-ing belt buckles with tooth brushes - "mind you don't leave so much as a flake of dried polish on the back" etc. All under the eagle of Mrs. M and big boet Dave, rooking crafty Texan! A jolly day, hard graft, but worth it. We won the class for best turn out, not dropping a point! In fact DHS won the Natal Cadet Band Competition in Maritzburg that year (1962?) with Peter the top bugler, yet again! I left SA for the UK in '67, after National Service and we only met up once again. 2002 it was, at a St Thomas' 4th Durban Boy Scout 50th Anniversary Reunion at (R)DLI HQ after I had retired and returned to my roots, for a few years Pete was the same warm, engaging character I remembered, with an interesting Life Story to tell. What a pleasure. I'm so glad we had a chance to share a pint and swap a few yarns. Go well mate and thanks for the memories.
Michael Woodford (Woody) Class of '63.