Bill Hoodless
Dates at Bournemouth School: 1958 - 1964House: Portchester
- CCF Cadet
| Bill at school | Bill today |
Bill studied: Economics, History and Mathematics
Bill received the following accolades whilst at school:
- Day trip to London organised for 6:1 Economics to visit City institutions in 1963
After school, Bill went to: Fox and Sons surveyors and estate agents head office in Old Christchurch Road.
Bill's biography:
Starting with Pokesdown County Primary School, which had the best 11+ results in town, I was indeed fortunate.
Whilst articled at Fox’s for four years from 1964, I studied for BSc (Est. Man.) by correspondence and as an internal student becoming a Chartered Surveyor in the City of London: partly professional work and partly industrial agency. Having married in 1972 (two children and three grandchildren now) and spent two years as Hoodless, Bullock and Lees industrial agents based in Regent Street, we decided to start a family involving a move in 1975 to Cambridgeshire Council in the valuation department.
My main career was in the Valuation Office from 1978, finally being made Officer in Charge at Tunbridge Wells. I was lucky enough to enjoy my work, disappointed only by missing a Lands Tribunal case through flu. Since retirement in 1999, I have published nine chiefly local interest books.
What was best about Bill's time at Bournemouth School?
I liked the endless academic challenges and the feeling that the education promised to be a good foundation for later life.
In a different way, the CCF army section was great for instilling discipline and teaching the need for team work.
I think we also gained a good sense of the need for independence of thought and personal responsibility.
Who does Bill remember most fondly?
Hilarious English Literature classes with Mr. Swain for O Level and, surprisingly, Jasper Dodds for the British Constitution part of A Level History.
Probably should not say this, but the acorn fights in the copse!
What would Bill change about their time at Bournemouth School?
Being in the X stream. This is nothing against anybody and many boys found it fine. However, taking nine O Levels a year early in 1962 was a stretch for me at the age of 15. I believe the school dropped the X stream some time later for this reason.
What is Bill's favourite anecdote/most vivid memory?
At an army CCF camp near Folkestone, we had to take part in a night exercise with prismatic compasses. The orienteering bit included running downhill unable to see the ground or the cadet in front due to the dark and forcibly landing in a ditch. One boy got lost (found later) due to the conditions, but it was not me!





