Peter Woodroffe (Weymouth 1942-1945)

Died 04/2026.  What a sad loss. Peter always had that engaging twinkle in his eye. He seemed perpetually on the verge of sharing an amusing anecdote, often drawn from his extraordinary life.

I first got to know him when researching Mill Hill at St Bees. His father had been at Mill Hill, and Peter always knew he was destined to go to the School, but in fact he never set foot in NW7 as a pupil; his entire Mill Hill education took place at St Bees. He later relived those years in glorious verbal technicolour at a lunch at the School with the journalist Katherine Whitehorn, who had also attended Mill Hill at St Bees as the daughter of Mill Hill teacher Alan Whitehorn (AKA “The Baron”).

After serving in the army, an experience he generally enjoyed, feeling that the CCF had prepared him well, Peter became a lawyer, qualifying in his early twenties. Not long ago, he told me of the death of another lawyer in his nineties and remarked, with quiet satisfaction, that he was now the longest-serving practising lawyer in the country.

Peter did, of course, return to Mill Hill many times later, including a period as Clerk to the Court of Governors. During this time, he oversaw the Grimsdell legacy, which funded the creation of the eponymous pre-prep, and had cause to engage with OM Denis Thatcher at No. 10.

He was hugely supportive of all things Mill Hill. He was instrumental in establishing the 1807 Society, hosting its first lunch at his London club, Boodles.

He was also an active member of the OM Golfing Society, attending its famous Autumn Meetings at Royal Cinque Ports, Deal, and joining its Spring Tours. In addition, he served as a Trustee of Alford House, bringing his wise counsel to its deliberations for many years.

Another friend, Peter Wakeham, recalls discovering the unexpected coincidence that Peter had known his father. Peter spent part of his time at Pett Level, where Wakeham’s father had spent his summers, and Wakeham remembers fondly lunches at Peter’s newly built beachside house. It was there that he learned the beach had featured in David Bowie’s “Ashes to Ashes” video, “a lucrative rental transaction,” as Peter wryly put it.

Peter is survived by his wife, Amanda, and his sons, Justin and Clifford, of whom he was immensely proud (though he did send them to Westminster!).

Peter recently published his autobiography, Halt! Who Goes There? I had the good fortune to read parts of it at various stages over the past five years, yet was still astonished when it was finally published and I read it in full. What an extraordinary life. He will be greatly missed.

Nick Priestnall