Tributes paid after death of King’s Lynn chartered surveyor David Woodcock

Tributes have been paid to a well-known and respected chartered surveyor who died after a lifetime living and working in West Norfolk.

David Woodcock passed away peacefully at his home in Harpley on July 29 at the age of 85, with his funeral taking place in late August.

Born in Leamington Spa in 1939, he moved to Norfolk with his parents in the late 1950s.

His father James Woodcock was an engineer by profession and the family moved to Great Yarmouth and latterly Gorleston, where David’s father worked in the gas industry.

David’s ancestors were farmers, and it had always been his ambition to carry on the farming tradition - but at the time the means and opportunity did not present themselves.

He therefore sought to choose a career that was closely tied to farming, and the seeds of his professional career began when in the late fifties he was taken on as an articled pupil by Charles Hawkins and Sons under the wing of Sir Paul Hawkins.

David joined Charles Hawkins and Sons, based in Bank Chambers on Lynn’s Tuesday Market Place, as an agricultural trainee surveyor in 1956 - and after studying to become a chartered surveyor by correspondence course, he qualified in 1963.

He practiced in Lynn, Guildford and Bury St Edmunds, and returned to Lynn and Charles Hawkins & Sons in 1967 - eventually becoming a partner and helping the practice develop a network of seven offices.

Graham Woodcock, one of David’s two children, said in a tribute to his father: “The 1960s and 70s were a period of significant growth and change in the town, and David along with his partners were involved in many of the significant development and redevelopment projects at the time.

“The business also jointly ran the livestock market originally based where Sainsbury’s stands today before moving to the Hardwick site in the 1970s.

“David was involved in all aspects of the business be it livestock auctioneering, commercial or residential property work, rating and valuations.”

The business was sold to Lloyds Bank in 1982, one of the first acquisitions by a financial institution at the time and a milestone moment in the future of the industry.

David went on to help Lloyds with further acquisitions and to develop a brand-based property and financial services network known as Black Horse Agencies.

He joined the business’ head office team in 1986 as deputy chief executive, also serving as operations director.

Between 1992 and 1997 he held the role of finance and administration director, and finally in 1997 he became the group’s managing director at a transition point when the business was sold to Bradford and Bingley Estate Agents.

Following the takeover by Bradford and Bingley he became an executive director and managing director of distribution at Bradford and Bingley.

In addition to these roles, he was also sat on the RICS general council from 1981-1991 and was a council member and director of the Ombudsman for Estate Agents Scheme from 1997-2001.

David also showed a strong interest in building conservation work and joined the management team at the Lynn Preservation Trust, and was involved in many of its significant restoration projects - including Thorsby College and Clifton House.

He went on to become the trust’s chairman for a period in later years.

Graham added: “Outside of his working life David enjoyed his sporting passions, being rugby and sailing. He joined West Norfolk RUFC in the late fifties and helped the club establish itself and the present-day North Wootton site.

“He went on to hold several key positions at West Norfolk including president, chairman, treasurer, honorary life member and latterly a trustee.

He captained the club’s second team for several years. When he chose to stop playing he took up refereeing and continued to be involved in the game this way. David’s membership at the club lasted more than 60 years.

In addition to rugby, David was a keen amateur sailor - initially a member of Snettisham Beach Sailing Club before moving on to Blakeney Sailing Club in North Norfolk, where he and his family would enjoy holidays and sailing.

He continued sailing well into his 70s and held posts as president, commodore and life member for his services to sailing and the club.

David married his wife Jackie in 1963, who passed away in 2019.

He leaves his children Graham and Joanne, who both live in West Norfolk, along with grandchildren and his son-in-law Nick.