This page shows some items previously seen on the home page.
October 2011. We regret to report the death of Paul Freestone on 12 October 2011. Paul had been ill for some time and was admitted to Papworth Hospital on 23rd September and had a triple by-pass operation but died quite suddenly at home after appearing to be making a good recovery.
Paul was a stalwart of the Chemistry section for many years, where a dry sense of humour was very necessary to deal with the likes of Mick French. We hope to add a short biography on Paul in due course.
This photograph of the Chemistry section was taken in the early 1980s and shows "Fred" with his then colleagues.
(Back row) Paul Freestone (in tie), Jane Hall (in cherry dress), Debbie Gore (in lab coat), Mick French (in Joker mode)
(Front row) Keith Bull (in Flashdance mode), Dave Leach (also in Flashdance mode), Dan Osborn (in Village People mode).
October 2009. Tim sparks wrote this 'obituary' Monks Wood (1960-2009)
"This article was first published in Nature in Cambridgeshire, Vol 51, 2009"
May 2011. Nigel Brown recently paid a visit to Collyweston Wood as part of his work with Natural England. The most interesting part of the visit was that he discovered the 'new home' of the 3d historical maps/models of Monks Wood that used to dominate the reception area at Monks Wood (you will remember these). The 3 panels are intact, but sit on top of a large metal container within a large warehouse which also houses a couple of offices and kitchen used by the staff working at the wood.
May 8th 2010 - Lizzie Carroll added to staff pages and Nigel Brown reminds you of where one of his paintings went.
Pete Paffett
By Anne Southwood
I have been asked to write a few words about Peter Paffett, and my first thought was “How on earth can you write just a few words about Pete”, who worked for many years at CEH Monks Wood, but here goes!
He started originally working for a cleaning company at Monks Wood and after several years was offered a job as caretaker working alongside Mark Spendlove and then Chris Harman. He used to cover me on reception at lunchtimes and was always cheerful and everybody warmed to Pete with his jokes and antics.
He was an avid West Ham supporter, and in his spare time he also ran a youth football team in the Huntingdon area. He also played in the Monks Wood football team and there is a memorial cup to him that is held at CEH Edinburgh.
He was also well known for buying and selling cars in his spare time and bought many a Monks Wooders car or whatever else he could see would make him a bob or two (a proper Dell Boy). Nothing was ever too much trouble for him, he was always willing to help anybody out whether in work time or, more often than not, in his own time. Pete was diagnosed in 2003 with stomach cancer at the age of 46. He managed to fight it for two years and still nothing was too much trouble for him. He sadly lost his fight on March 1st 2005. I collected a generous amount of money from his work colleagues and purchased a bench in memory of him that now stands (sits?) in Monks Wood NNR just inside Saul’s gate. The remainder of the collection was sent to The Woodlands Centre where he was treated. Pete is sorely missed by all who had the privilege to have known him and his name often crops up in conversation with fellow Monks Wooders. Gone but never ever forgotten.
MarchWood. 2010 ---- Three horse shoes fire..... Some weeks ago the thee horse shoes pub in Abbots Ripton had a bad fire. This was sad news for us because this was one of the locals for staff at Monks Wood. Many leaving do's were held there in the last days of Monks.
March 2010. Who is this strange person below? Most of you knew him. see below
Its Owen Mountford
May 2010. can you identify some of this Monks Wood football team for us? about 1982.
We know some, Paul Howe, Keith Bull and Terry Parr, but are you one of the others? Please lets us know via the 'contact us' section at the very bottom of this page.
May 2nd 2010 - 'The Monks Wood old gits' web site committee had a meeting on 26th April 2010. 6 of us turned up at the Green Man in Colne. Thats Tim Sparks, Nigel Brown, Jackie Ullyett, Shelley Hinsley, Owen Mountford and Andy Thomson. We had an enjoyable evening with a few drinks and bags of crisps being consumed.
The 2010 Christmas Curry was held at lunchtime on Saturday 20 November 2010, at Spiceland.
Lots of us turned up and here are a few selected photo's. If you took some photo's and would like to include them here please let us know.
