Peter has spent the last few years writing his autobiography entitled “Halt! Who Goes There?” which is now available to purchase. It covers his life as an officer (just after WW2), followed by his entry into the legal profession as a solicitor and his life thereafter till about 2022. At long last he can say that the book is ready to go.

"Peter's autobiography is filled with amazing stories including a number about Mill Hill that will be news to many Old Millhillians. Some of these are as follows:

· The book tells an extraordinary story about an exceptional OM long since forgotten, who became a world champion in a sport with which he was totally unfamiliar.

· Peter and his father (whose Head was Mclure) tells tales about famous OMs such as Will Gibbs, Sir Denis Thatcher Bt., Simon Jenkins’ one-time film star wife Gail Honnycutt, Sir Bill Ramsay, Lord Salmon, Francis Crick and Judge Michael Kempster.

· A non-OM Chairman of the Court of Governors, to her surprise through marriage, is related to nine OMs, all of whom are blood relations of Peter.

· As Secretary to the Court of Governors, Peter became good friends with and tells stories about a former Chairman of the Court of Governors, a charismatic noble law lord.”

To find out more, click here. 

Below, we invite you to read a special foreword.

Peter Woodroffe’s reminiscences are indeed amusing and, in some places, hysterical. It’s quite an achievement to be able to record let alone remember events over a ninety-year period and I salute him for doing so. It is a lesson for us all to record the events of our lives because the conditions and environments are so different today that future generations need to know because they will surely not experience anything like them.

His memoir commences with a humorous account of his life in the Army and continues with remarkable stories about the many characters whom he has met and continues to meet during his long life. He comes up with little-known, interesting splashes of history about the subjects and people he mentions. What is clear is that before the Age of Woke there were more ‘characters’ who made the world go round. One of his quests is to give readers advice as to how to live life, like ‘Do not leave behind what you need to take with you’ or ‘Be careful what you say.’ They are all obvious but in one’s youth are often forgotten. There are fifteen of them and all are worth pondering.

There are also some wonderful pearls. One is a hysterically funny occasion involving the portrait painter Reginald Eves. I love the story of Peter’s sculpture of Venus but I will not elaborate here. There are many others, including a naval one (by which I mean RN in case you get misled.). The stories come fast and furious.

The book is an entertaining read for those who know the Woodroffe family or who are curious to know how that generation lived and thought. Actually, I think it will be just as amusing to those who don’t know the family because they will surely wish to meet them. He has made the acquaintance of many of the great and good (and not so good) and not been shy in commenting on their strengths or weaknesses.

There is something in this book for everybody including great stories about bigwig personalities, history, art, clubs, show-biz, cars, historic homes, fine dining, and lovely ladies. ‘One thing is for sure: you won’t be bored and you might even have a mention, so read on!’

General Evelyn Webb-Carter

Horcott House, 19th April 2023