Last month, Woodcote mourned the passing of the greatest schoolmaster to pass through our gates: Colin "Holy" Holman. He was the beating heart of all things Woodcote for half a century - in the classroom, on the rugby pitch, in the dining room, on the athletics track. His tireless dedication to the school, the students, and to generations of my family is something for which I will always be more thankful than is possible to express.

A number of Old Boys - some recent, some not quite so recent (!) - have been in touch, wanting to contribute in some way to something at Woodcote of which 'Holy' would have approved. The wealth of interest from so many of you has led me to start this page.

As many of you will remember, Colin spent much of his weekend tending to the Woodcote swimming pool, and barking in his own inimitable style, as he urged Smith minor to another length of breaststroke in the school Tetrathlon Competition.

The pool is now slightly tired and can only be used in the summer months. I am keen to renovate it entirely so it can be used all year round, with proper changing facilities, and make it a real feature of the grounds that Holman loved so much. It shall be renamed the Colin Holman Swimming Pool (I did toy with the idea of 'Holy Waters') and be a lasting memory of the great man. I think he would approve.

Any contribution, no matter how small, would be hugely appreciated. And when it's all up and running, please come by for a dip!

Many thanks,

Oliver Paterson (son of Nick, grandson of Mark, godson of 'Holy')