Our School Family
Remembering Dan Woods Dan Woods was a man of character, who every day displayed a set of traits which he epitomised and in his kind-hearted and inspiring way called for from his teammates, work colleagues and the pupils he taught; the spirit of self-negation, self-regulation, self-discipline, a sense of humour and happiness, personal responsibility, empathy, value to others, self-efficacy, and above loyalty. As I was often reminded growing up, ‘strive every day to be acceptable at a dinner; invaluable in a shipwreck’ – a mixture of courtesy and courage, Dan was a man who evoked this notion every day. For those who did not know Dan, he started at St Peter’s in the summer of 2010 coaching cricket; we coached the 1st XI together from 2011-2013 taking the 2013 XI to the last 8 of the National T20 for the first time. We shared many happy times together, coaching, playing, or enjoying time musing about life in his favourite coffee shop. Dan completed his PGCE at St Peter’s 8-13, where he taught PE, Games, and English. Dan then moved to Cundall Manor as a Year 5 class teacher and Games coach, before returning to St Peter’s in 2019 to focus on teaching his passion, sport and first love, cricket, as well as becoming the live-out tutor in Wentworth. Dan’s records and achievements as a cricketer are unparalleled, as player, captain and legend of the club. Dan played for (*denotes captained) - Leeds/Bradford MCCU, Hyde Cricket Club*, York Cricket Club*, Lancashire Academy, Lancashire 2nd XI, The Unicorns, MCC, Cheshire CCC*, and trialled at Northamptonshire in 2011, before committing fully to teaching. A people person and someone who was never happier than being surrounded by likeminded human beings; Dan’s energy, positivity and endlessly optimistic outlook on life, combined with his luminous disposition, was infectious; he influenced every person he came into contact with, for the better. Dan had a way to make everything, just so he could ensure light was shone on even in the darkest moments and would only entertain positive, progressive and enlightened mind-sets from those he taught and worked with. He was a friend to so many people up and down the country, and made many friends across the world through sport; I feel very fortunate to be able to call him one of my own, dear and cherished friends. Mr Gareth Sharp
In a memorable tribute to the late and much-loved Dan Woods, members of the St Peter’s School community joined members of the Hyde Cricket and Squash Club to raise money for the Magnolia Centre in York with a 5k fun run in summer 2020. 16 || The Peterite 2019-20
