Graham Wood (1947-2022)

A graduate of St John’s College, Oxford, Graham taught history at Framlingham and then for 15 years at Oundle. He arrived at King’s to succeed Richard Maltby as Head of the History Department in 1989. His family had Canterbury connections and his uncle Keith is commemorated on the School’s Second World War memorial.

On arrival he told The Cantuarian that he enjoyed ‘cooking, bridge, acting and playing cricket badly’. On his departure Richard Hooper wrote that was the epitome of the ‘old-fashioned schoolmaster’ – in the best sense. A scholarly, enthusiastic, inspiring and idiosyncratic teacher, he was fully committed to his role outside the classroom.

He was a tutor in The Grange and director of house plays. He directed (and appeared in) staff revues. His sporting involvement was wide-ranging and included rugby, hockey, cricket (boys and girls) and lacrosse. Among other activities were bridge, crosswords and gardening. He will also be remembered for this pipe.

Outside the School he was Chairman and Treasurer of the Canterbury branch of the Historical Association and he served as a City Councillor from 2011 to 2015.  

Tributes from OKS include the following.

Matthew Hillier (MO 1989-94): Lucky to have him for History A level and remember fondly not only the pipe smoke but going to his house with our group to be shown the toad abode, the juke box and many other artefacts. A great story teller and teacher.

Caroline Downes (BR 1994-99): His was one of the most eccentric classrooms, a true museum of artefacts. He taught me history in shells and 6th form, and who can forget him standing below the archway with his pipe. In 6a he invited our class over for Sunday lunch at his home in Canterbury which was lovely and had a shell grotto in the garden, and I believe I went back with a smaller group days after we left King's and sat in his sunny garden. I'm really so sad for this news.

Rachel Barr (WL 1995-97): Devastating news. My history lessons at A Level with him were one in a million. Quirky. Demanding. Fantastic. Not that I knew it at the time, but his coaching to be unapologetic in life was second to none.