A memorial service for long-time Barbican resident, and prominent City servant, Douglas Woodward will be held in St Giles Cripplegate church in the Barbican on February 21st at 11 a.m.
Douglas Woodward in the Barbican’s Thomas More Garden – Photo by Fiona SavoryDouglas and his wife Ann
were amongst the earliest residents in the Barbican moving into thge Estate in 1970 and amongst the early members of the Barbican Residents Association.
He had a distinguished career in City of London governance being elected to The Court of Common Council in 1971 in the ward of Cripplegate. Douglas was a Common Councilman for twenty five years including a year as Chief Commoner in 1993 and in 1994 he was awarded CBE for services to the City. He served on a number of committees including City’s Libraries, Art Galleries and Records, he was the Deputy-Governor of the Honourable the Irish Society and he was the Chairman of a reception committee responsible for the banquet given in honour of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. Among other interests he founded the City Heritage Society and authored a numberof books on aspects of the City, including two that were largely autobiographical. The books included BSI – The Story of Standards (1972), Saving the City’s heritage (2003), The goings-on at Guildhall (2008), The Vanished Coaching Inns of the City of London (2009), A Miraculous Survival (history of the City of London) (2011), The Guildhall Historians, their treasures revealed (2013), A Voyage round a Barbican garden (2015).
Douglas sadly passed away in December. A more detailed obituary will be included in the forthcoming issue of Barbican Life magazine – due for distribution in mid-March.
