Arrangements for the funeral of Daniel Woodfield
Friday 10th July 2020 12noon BST
Robin Hood Crematorium
Dan’s family will be attending a ceremony at Robin Hood crematorium on 10th July to say goodbye to him.
Sadly due to the current coronavirus pandemic, funerals are being limited to close family members only in a crematorium, so the service is restricted.
A live webcast of the service however will be available for those people who are unable to attend.
To access the webcast follow the link to the Obitus website and input the username and password details below.
Username: Lufi2741
Password: 792517
You can login to the Obitus website at any time to view a test connection (and we strongly recommend you do this) but you’ll only be able to view the Live Webcast between approx. 12:00 and 12:30pm on Friday 10th July.
You can download a digital order of service for Daniel’s funeral by clicking this link
Donations
Dan’s family have asked that if you wish to do something in Dan’s memory, to donate to Birmingham Mind rather than sending any flowers.
Donations can be made via either of the following links, by Just Giving or Virgin Money Giving. If you do decide to donate online and you are asked for any comments please state that “This donation is in Memory of Daniel Woodfield.”
Birmingham Mind Just Giving donation link
Birmingham Mind Virgin Money Giving Link
Please share this link with anyone you feel should be aware of Dan’s funeral.
Dan’s family welcome any tributes, words of remembrance and stories about him so do feel free to leave any messages at the bottom of this webpage. (Please note comments are moderated so do not go live immediately)
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Dan I met at light hall and was such a happy soul and loved by all. I always remember his warming smile and will be sadly missed
I met you Dan in our first year of senior school. You were in my class and whilst the rest of us had been paired up with someone we knew from our old school, you didn’t have anyone. It didn’t take you long though to make friends with a wide range of people, basically cause you were hilarious. You quickly became one of my best friends at school and this continued throughout the 5 years we had, and a further 2 at college. We had great times, we played a lot of football, we talked about girls, and we danced to spice girls on the border of the Czech republic.
Unfortunately university separated us as it did a lot of people and that friendship unfortunately was never rekindled outside of a brief chat we had a few years back. Since hearing the tragic news I have spoken to a few people that I haven’t spoken to in years, and whilst it is too late to rekindle the friendship I had with you, I hope I can use this sad situation to reach out and speak to some of the old friends that were such an important part of our early lives, with our memories of you being the top of the conversation
My heart goes out to Jill and the family, thank you for your hospitality when I was younger, I have absolutely no idea how you put up with us, as your house always seemed to be the place we all landed on a fairly regular basis. Stay strong.
Dan, there are 3 things you introduced me to that I will be eternally grateful for:
1. It was at your house that I watched Friends for the first time and discovered the wonder that is Jennifer Aniston.
2. After sleeping over, you got your mum to buy us breakfast and it was the first time I tasted a double sausage and egg McMuffin and hash brown from McDonalds.
3. And last, but by far the most important, I will never forget that you were the person to introduce me to Championship Manager. We first played Championship Manager 1993, and I am still to this day playing the later iterations.
That last point makes me feel old as it was so long ago, but whilst we may feel old, you are way too young to be lost to us. I hope you are in a better place and looking down on us with the fun sense of humour I remember you for. Rest up my old friend.
Thank you Kathryn, that’s a lovely memory.
I will never forget the sweet boy with a lovely smile who brought me a bunch of flowers when I arrived in the UK in 1990! As long as we remember you, you will live on in all our hearts.
My father always used to quote this line from a Tennyson poem: “But oh for the touch of a loving hand and the sound of a voice that is still”. xx
I have so many happy memories of Dan from secondary school. He really was the best company, he was so much fun and always gave the best hugs! He was a kind soul and you knew he’d have your back.
I spent many hours as did many of us from school, hanging out at Dan’s house – we were always welcome and these happy days will stay with me.
We lost touch after school and I was so sad to hear that he was no longer with us.
Dan, I hope you’re at peace mate. x
I knew Dan as a little boy. I have fond memories of when we spent a summer together in Portugal. He was a happy young man with lots of spirit. Very sad to hear of his passing.
Deepest sympathies and condolences from Australia.
Love Rob Williams ❤️
Very sad news indeed. Meeting Dan at Light Hall was a pleasure and we had years of great times usually at his family home probably annoying Gill (which I now understand). Dan was a great lad and always cheerful and funny but with a sensitive side if needed.
When we left school we lost touch due to college and career choices etc but We did message a few years back and caught up.
I hope now your a peace, rest easy mate …….
My thoughts are with Gill and family and I’m so sorry for your loss.
Xx
So many treasured memories of Dan it was hard to pick out just a few. He truly was a great friend and I have so many lovely and cherished memories that I will keep forever. He was a great friend to grow up with. I think we first met when we were 7 years old and shared so many milestones in our life. He was so loved and will be really missed by all knew him.
The UCI:
I loved the warm sunny evening walking to the UCI with Dan and everyone when we younger. We all thought we were the bees knees being allowed to walk to the cinema and cross the main Stratford road. Strangely I can’t remember any of the films we saw but I can remember the walks to and from the cinema.
The Ring:
One of my favourites. Myself and Dan went to see The Ring, again at the UCI. We went in the evening so when we walked back it was dark. There wasn’t anyone in at mine and I was scared so Dan walked me home. I was that scared that I asked him to walk me home, which he did. Then it came to him going home, he then admitted to me that he was scared so I had to walk him back home.
The Fruit machine at the Cheswick Green Inn:
We used to spend a lot of our Friday and Saturdays at the Cheswick Green Inn (The local). I remember they had a new fruit machine, we started playing it and slowly started to win money. We started to feel like we could “read the game” and felt quite cocky that every time we went to the Cheswick we would always win the jackpot on the fruit machine. It’s only looking back now that I realise the only reason we always won the jackpot was because we pretty much filled the machine with our money until it paid out. We probably ended up putting more in than we got out but just loved the feeling that we had won and beaten the machine.
England vs Macedonia:
We drove up to Old Trafford one Saturday afternoon to watch England Vs Macedonia at Old Trafford. It was such a lovely day I remember we just laughed and joked the whole way there, I don’t think I have ever enjoyed a journey up the M6 so much in my life. I remember just taking photos of the pair of us and on all of them we are just laughing and giggling (Trying to hunt down the photos). We were just both care free. The game was rubbish but it didn’t matter we just had a laugh. We were so hungry on the way back that we raced to the first services and when we got there we headed straight to burger king but on arrival they pulled the shutters down so we had to make do with a warmed up Ginsters pasty each. I can remember that day so vividly, I just wish I could find the photos.
When Dan got stuck up the tree:
We spent a lot of the time climbing trees when we were younger and Dan did so well to get really high and even better to start getting himself down and then he got stuck. From what I remember my brother Ian had to come and get you so you could coax him down. Bless him!
Always late for school:
I never knew what Dan did before school but we were always late. I would knock on for him about 8.15 and he would never be ready. We would always be late but he was never worried. As we were always late we had to sit a lates detention every Friday after school which was a mistake on the schools part as it was like a social for us. We’d catch up and talk about our day which really used to drive Mr Hemming mad. I believe he started to make me sit my detentions on a different day as it clearly wasn’t a deterrent.
Stand by me:
We would always watch Stand by me together. It was our “go to” film that always made us smile. It was about a group of friends who went on an adventure. We loved it and could relate to so well. He always said he was Chris Chambers and I had to be Geordy! We both love the film and it always reminds me of him and always will.
Love Always
Emma xxx
Hearing of Dan’s passing took me vividly back to our school days and when many of us you to spend evenings out and about just being young and carefree. He was always the life and soul of any gathering and always a joke or something fun to do on his mind. As time passes it is sad we fall out of touch with people who were such a part of our lives but you will always stay in my memory.
You will be missed, Emily
I will always remember Daniel as my cool older cousin. One of my earliest memories of him is from his 18th birthday party, he was clearly a popular and much-loved friend to many judging by the number of people that were there. He was really excited about his trip to Australia, which if I remember rightly was a birthday present. I remember hearing all about his travels when he returned, he brought lots of photos to show us – he had clearly had a great time. As a nerdy 12-year-old, I was particularly impressed that he’d had his photo taken with one of the stars of Neighbours when he visited the set…I think perhaps I was more excited about that than he was!
xxx
Dan was my nephew and I loved him dearly. I remember him so well as a little boy growing up with my daughter Michelle. Seeing them cuddling together on the settee, playing together in the paddling pool, and Dan looking out for her at Lals, the little play school they attended together.
But my really significant relationship with Dan was over the last three years. He had a smile that would light up a room and eyes that looked deep into your heart.
We walked together, we talked together, we laughed together, we cried together. We shared hope and we shared pain and he said I was his best friend. I was proud to be his best friend.
Dan, I love you dearly and I will miss you forever. But you will always be my whisper in the wind, and be everywhere I go.
I first met Dan at Light Hall school, it was clear from the very beginning he was a larger than life character with a great sense of humour and a fine wit. We became mates and had many adventures, or should I say misadventures. Some of my fondest memories where the infamous “Ann’s house parties”. Our posse would gather under the pretence of playing cards and civilised conversation. I am still amazed how quickly this would deteriorate into rehearsed and choreographed pop song renditions, wwf wrestling moves and midnight walks to the local late night garage for supplies. These walls always ended up in some drama or another.
Other memories include our endeavour trip across europe, the trip culminated in putting a show on in a rural Czech town. We decided on Snow White and the 7 dwarfs. Dans starring role was to be one of the dwarfs, it was great to see the audience all laughing and cheering as Dan led the mismatched dwarfs out on stage wearing a full length blue and yellow flowered dress, sweatband and army boots, and
gave one of the best spice girls renditions I can remember. It was the highlight of the trip.
I regret that during my time away at university I lost contact with many of my school friends including Dan, I’m just glad I have lots of fun memories with him. Take care big guy .
To my first partner in crime and my first best friend. Growing up with you made life so much richer and more rewarding. I have too many wonderful memories to choose from, so instead I’d like to say thank you.
Thank you for being there the first time I fell off my bike, the first time I climbed a tree, my first day at school, to scare my first boyfriend and to listen to me as I shared the excitement of my first kiss. Thank you for holding my hand through my first heartbreak and for holding my hair the first time I drank too much. Thank you for all the songs, smiles, laughs and adventures we shared. Thank you for loving me and protecting me and most of all thank you for just being you.
I so desperately hope that you find the peace you deserve and have so longed for and do so knowing you were loved, you are loved, you will always be loved.
Dan was a great friend of mine during the latter part of our time at school together. He always valued his friends and loved getting into conversation, I spent many hours talking and doing what kids do at his house – he was a kind soul with a good heart you could always see the joy he had when he overcame a big challenge and he would always support and encouraged the underdog in any situation. I remember how difficult it was for him to get on stage for the boys ‘full monty’ performance in our final year. I watched the video when I heard of his passing and you can see the joy and emotion he felt by overcoming his fear. I think that was the happiest time I remember with him also during our exams and popping back to his house to ‘revise’ and doing absolutely zero revision.
I wish I’d reconnected with him earlier and very sad he is no longer with us, really hope he is at peace.
Love you woody and thanks for giving me some great memories in the happiest of times.
Paul Simon *Graceland* will always be your album xxx
What a lovely ceremony, thoughtful poems and a really touching letter from your Mum.
Thinking about that final song, I remember when we were back at school and you made a few of us listen to a couple of songs from an album you had. “Diamonds On the Soles of Her Shoes” was one of them. To this day, I still think of you whenever I hear anything by Paul Simon or Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Or Boyz II Men even! That’ll never change mate, except that from now on I’ll always turn it up to 11 in your memory, in the knowledge that you’re up there belting out the words with me, like in an 80’s rock video, with your eyes closed and the wind in your hair. Doing it your way, like you always did 🙂
God you bless you mate!
Sal x
I remember Dan very fondly from my time at Light Hall Senior school. We sat near to one another in Maths (I think Mr Smallman?!) and Dan was brilliant company! He was a funny and caring guy who was great for a bear hug when you needed one!
I am so very sorry to hear of this very sad news-my thoughts are with his family x
Watched the beautiful service online with dad lovely words spoken especially the letter you wrote Jill heat broken and in shock I have way too many happy memories of growing up with Dan my heart goes out to you all much love xxx
You were always so fun to be around, easy going and down to earth. We had lots of laughs together during our school days (most I probably should not write on here)! Many memories of the 4 of us hanging out (you, me, Lou and Mintram) which I’ll treasure forever. My thoughts are with all of your family. Xx
I can’t believe your gone mate, so many fond memories of ‘adventures’ we had, like the shear amount of time we spent together in either your moms focus or the Mondeo, we felt like kings driving round in a brand new car at 17.
Going to your cousins and basically playing resident evil all weekend.
The many party’s and clubs we went too.
There’s too many memories I could mention, but one that really sticks in my mind was when we were in the Czech Republic and we had missed the bus taking everyone to a local lake (I think) so we decided to walk together…
We must have spent about three hours wondering lost through dense forest in the middle of no where with not a single word of Slovakian between us and we did not care at all. We laughed most of the way and more by luck than judgement, eventually made it to the lake.
It’s a holiday which I’m sure was a pivotal moment in everyone’s lives that went but it was the little things like walking through the woods with you that made it for me.
My heart goes out to you Jill xx
I love you man and wish we’d spent more time together x
I was friends with Dan at Light Hall. He was a really genuine guy, who wore his heart on his sleeve. I remember him for having a wonderful smile, giving great hugs, having a fantastic sense of humour and loving to sing. It’s a shame that we lost touch.
Sending love to all of his family and friends x
To our nephew Daniel. How lucky we are to have some wonderful & special memories with you. From playing laser tag with you as a little boy, to snow boarding in the Victorian Alpine region, four-wheel driving at the beach, going to the ‘Footie’ at the MCG and of course, not to forget you catching THAT fish from the Yarra river at Blue Tongue Bend! We will never forget how, at 11 years of age, you looked so grown up and smart in your suit when you were the Usher at our wedding. Thank you for taking part in our special day. We love you and will miss you so much.
Into the freedom of wind and sunshine
We let you go
Into the dance of the stars and the planets
We let you go
Into the wind’s breath and the hands of the star maker
We let you go
We love you, we miss you, we want you to be happy
Go safely, go dancing, go running home
(Ruth Burgess)
With all our love, Sue & Scott xxx
Where to start. Dan was my best friend, my brother. A friendship that spanned over 30 years, from meeting at Woodlands Infant School, reconnecting at Light Hall and inseparable for most days and weeks. Dan and I shared many interests, some (most) would ultimately end in mischief. We had many coming of age moments together. Dan was blessed with an incredible intelligence which led him to his degree, which in turn allowed him his emigration wish he so longed for. Unfortunately it didn’t work out over there and I still have a message on my phone where Dan had wished he had stuck to his simpler life back here. Nonetheless, Dan’s legacy lives on with his daughter Maya.
A massive part of me is now void with Dan’s loss and unlikely to be replaced with a more charismatic, intelligent, loving person. RIP.
Heartfelt condolences go out to Jill and the whole family.
I first met Woody on our first day at Light Hall where both of us found ourselves in form group 7a. We very quickly became very close friends along with Jonathan Pitham, Chris Croft, Oliver Dakin and Mark Belton among others.
My earliest memories of Woody are of playing non-stop football in the playground during every opportunity we had. In fact, we use to play some of the lads in 5th, often with nothing more than a tennis ball, and regularly destroy them. Much to their dismay.
Another memory of me and Woody is us making our way through my mother’s spirits cabinet over a period of weeks each Friday night, though I fear it wasn’t very many.
Perhaps the most lasting memory will be our performance of The Full Monty at the charity event hosted at Light Hall. Woody was rather nervous and shy during the rehearsal sessions about taking his clothes off in front of us lads, but by the end of the performance itself, he was proudly strutting his stuff in what I recall were bright green boxer shorts. I think we all found it a rather liberating experience to say the least, but I’ll never forget how much Woody, above all, loved stripping in front of a live audience.
On a deeply personal note, I will forever regret not having the opportunity to sit down with Woody and talk about our respective demons. However, I trust that he is now in a more peaceful place and he’ll always be remembered by us lads for the very best of him.
Thank you everyone for all your comments and personal memories of Dan. So lovely to read them all and remind myself that he had some lovely friends and some very happy times during his life. One thing I’ve realised though, is that whilst I was at work, your were all in my house xxx
My fondest memories of Daniel my nephew was when he was little and we lived together in the same house. He was the first grandchild in the family and having not had anything to do with babies until then, I was fascinated by him. The first time we met I threw him in the air and hit his head on the ceiling – I was mortified! He was a great source of entertainment when I was laid up with a broken leg. I have lovely memories of him as page boy at my wedding – lovely pictures of me holding his hand like it was the most natural thing in the world and dancing with me. Once I had my own children Daniel could be seen at their birthday parties joining in and helping the younger children. He was always a sensitive, deep thinker and this would often be evident in the conversations we had when I would walk him back from school. More lately I had the opportunity to enjoy some times with him when he was at his best including last year when we had a trip to the National Arboretum on Jill’s birthday and when he spent an evening with us watching football – a houseful of Aston Villa fans!
I pray you are now at peace Daniel – you will always hold a special place in my heart.
For Dan:
The little boy who had a cheeky grin
Who held my hand and danced with me
Such depth beyond his years
I would walk you home from school
And you would enquire about God
And all God’s creatures
Needing to be sure that the balance of the universe was as it should be
A sensitivity not meant for this world
Life got the better of you
The evils of the world overwhelmed your sensitive soul
My prayer and hope for your Daniel
My dear nephew is that you now know
The presence of God and his perfect love for you
That hope for a better world in which we will dwell
Awaits us all
One day we will meet again
In a land that knows no fear or pain or suffering
I will hold your hand again
And we will dance once more
With happiness and joy and peace
Until that day
You will always hold a special place in my heart
I pray that you will forgive me for not being able to help you more
And I promise I will strive to ease the suffering of those in despair
With the help of God and his unfailing love and compassion
Rest in peace sweet boy
I will love you always