Woodrow House director retires after 24 years

Woodrow, with its very own in house ghost, The Green Lady, and historic roots which stretch back to the time of Oliver Cromwell, has invigorated the lives of many young people whose backgrounds have been confined to the urban surrounds of central London.
Mr Hickman has presided over many appeals and he has succeeded in getting a host of celebrities to support the ongoing work at the centre.
These have included Carry On comedienne Liz Fraser, singer Val Doonican, actor Bill Owen, comedienne Faith Brown and another lady of laughter Sue Pollard.
Frankie Vaughan, the late crooner and Bucks resident, was also a firm supporter as is David Jason, ITV's sterling detective, Frost.
Woodrow has received Royal support from The Duke of Edinburgh who once hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace to support a fund raising campaign at Woodrow.
The general public have pitched in and helped to raise the profile at Woodrow. Aside from youngsters from London Woodrow hosts a myriad of activities involving Bucks youngsters, including many hundreds who learn to swim at the site.
Mr Hickman took over with a brief to raise the profile of the centre, integrate it more fully into the community, and to ensure self sufficiency on the financial front.
He has succeeded, one suspects, beyond his initial hopes, but he did admit that a £80.000 plus problem with dry rot, in the mid-1980's, worried him about the longterm possibilities for Woodrow.
The centre has now won planning permission to build a tree house for visiting youngsters, a trying time was had by all and sundry getting this past district planning bosses.
But, typically, Mr Hickman and his team persevered and the argument was clinched in the time honoured manner.
"I have had a rich life and a happy life and I have been privileged to have spent many happy years here," said Mr Hickman.
Fittingly, Mr Hickman received an MBE for services to youth work in the mid-1990's.
Now that he has retired, Mr Hickman has pledged to spend six months in Cyprus catching up with relatives before deciding on what to do in the future.
"I will be busy," he promised. He has many hobbies and interests including sport and writing, he admits to a liking for trying to write a novel. He has studied plot formulations.
Roy Hickman has been a galvaniser, a motive force, at Woodrow, and he admits to being fascinated by the opportunity his job has given him to initiate and conclude many fund raising ventures.
He studied youth work at Liverpool University and worked in Fulham, and Nottingham, before coming to Bucks with his wife Linda.
He has two daughters, Jane, 30, and Sarah, 34, and four grand children, of whom he is immensely proud: Victoria, 11, Ilana, five, Grace, six months, and Harry, also six months.
He wants to still go on doing voluntary work when he finally settles down in retirement, probably in Lincolnshire, where he has a house.
"I will wait and see what challenges lie ahead, but I will certainly be keeping in touch with Woodrow," he said.