Name Thomas Wood Role Composer | Education University of Oxford | |
Died November 19, 1950, Wasperton, United Kingdom Books Cobbers: A Personal Record of a Journey from Essex in England to Australia, Made in the Years 1930, 1931 and 1932 | ||
Thomas wood around us
Thomas Wood (28 November 1892–19 November 1950) was an English composer and author.
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Wood was born in Chorley, Lancashire and attended Barrow Grammar School, also in Lancashire, before studying at the University of Oxford and the Royal College of Music. In 1919 he was appointed Director of Music at Tonbridge School in Kent, returning to Oxford in 1924 to teach at Exeter College. During this period he composed several choral-orchestral works including Forty Singing Seamen (1925), Master Mariners (1927) and The Ballad of Hampstead Heath (1927). He went to Australia in 1930 and spent over two years travelling across the country. This prompted him to write his book Cobbers (1934) which the Australian Dictionary of Biography describes as "still the most perceptive and captivating characterization of Australia and its people ever written by a visitor". He continued to compose and wrote several other books, including an autobiography, True Thomas (1936), before his death of a heart attack in 1950.
Miss St Osyth Mahala Eustace-Smith(1886 - 1970) of Wormingford married Thomas Wood in 1924 at Wormingford Church. Before her marriage, on 7 June 1918 "The London Gazette" reported St Osyth receiving an OBE for her work as "Hon Secretary, Essex Local War Pensions Committee". After their marriage the new Mrs St Osyth Wood moved into Parsonage Hall, Bures and became great benefactor to the local community. She died at Wasperton, Warwickshire aged 84 years.
Wood wrote a rousing school song for Barrow Grammar School entitled 'Outward Bound'.
Here are the lyrics, also written by Thomas Wood:
OUTWARD BOUND
A song for the Grammar School, Barrow-in-Furness
Words and Music by Thomas Wood (at the school 1905-1907)
Autumn gold and winter weather
Summer dew and bluebell spring
Days afoot in Furness heather
These I knew, These were mine
These are part of me till I Perish
CHORUS
Westaway, the seas lie open
Eastaway, the sun rides high
Outward bound in morning glory
Free and ready, here am I
Friends to share in games and laughter
Songs at dusk and books at noon
Warnings that will tell hereafter
These you gave- You, my school
Knowing I shall prove myself Worthy
CHORUS
Harbour lights and clustered shipping
Clouds above the wheeling gulls
Flags aloft and ensigns dipping
Year by year, Showed the way
Shaped the course that I am now Making
CHORUS
Time will set the changes ringing
Those to come must have their day
Mine's at hand to claim me, bringing
Work to do, Risks to face
Worlds to conquer and the hour's Striking!
CHORUS