Rex Woods (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Rex Salisbury Woods MD, FRCS, (October 15, 1891 - 21 September 1986) was a British athlete, who represented Great Britain in three Olympic Games.
. From there he won an exhibition to Downing College, Cambridge
, where he excelled academically and gained a first class tripos and from where he won a senior university entrance scholarship to St George's Hospital
. After graduating in medicine in 1916, he won a research scholarship at St George's. He fulfilled a number of house appointments at St George's and eventually became a surgical registrar at the hospital.
shotput title in 1924 and 1926 and represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games in 1924 and 1928. His last appearance at the AAA championships was in 1928 when he finished second. During his involvement with athletics at Cambridge he managed the Oxford/ Cambridge athletic tours of the United States from 1925 to 1949. Aside from the University of Cambridge, he was also affiliated to the Achilles Club.
In other sport he came close to winning a rugby blue and he captained the public schools past and present rugby football team in 1919 and was a noted golfer even celebrating his 90th birthday by achieving a hole in one. Woods was also an excellent quarter-miler and in 1913 he beat the 1912 Olympic runner Ernest Haley
.
and was twice mentioned in dispatches
whilst serving in the British Expeditionary Force. He again served in the RAMC during the second world war at the rank of major and surgeon specialist to the East African Command.
, the Olympic rowing gold medalist. In his obituary Woods was remembered as: "always seemingly imperturbable, and his friendliness and concern for his patients were a byword. For those with athletic interests who were injured in the pursuit of their aims he was particularly uplifting and reassuring. He was a first class doctor with an all pervading interest in medicine and surgery, and his life was a model of integrity and kinship."
Rex Woods died in Cambridge on 21 September 1986.
Early life
Rex Salisbury Woods was educated at Dulwich CollegeDulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
. From there he won an exhibition to Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1800 and currently has around 650 students.- History :...
, where he excelled academically and gained a first class tripos and from where he won a senior university entrance scholarship to St George's Hospital
St George's Hospital
Founded in 1733, St George’s Hospital is one of the UK's largest teaching hospitals. It shares its main hospital site in Tooting, England with the St George's, University of London which trains NHS staff and carries out advanced medical research....
. After graduating in medicine in 1916, he won a research scholarship at St George's. He fulfilled a number of house appointments at St George's and eventually became a surgical registrar at the hospital.
Athletics
Rex Woods competed in the shot put for Cambridge vs. Oxford four times (1912-14, 1920) and was the winner on the last two occasions. His first attempt at the AAA Championships was in 1912 when he finished fourth. Woods first represented Britain at the shot putt at the Olympic Games whilst president of the Cambridge University Athletic Club. Standing 6'0" (182 cm) and weighing 172 lbs (78 kg), Woods was not large by later standards for a shot putter. He later became honorary treasurer of the Cambridge University Athletic Club from 1919 to 1939, and was chairman from 1939 to 1952. He won the AAA ChampionshipsAmateur Athletic Association of England
The Amateur Athletic Association of England or AAA is the oldest national governing body for athletics in the world, having been established on 24 April 1880. In the past, it has effectively overseen athletics throughout Britain. Now, it supports regional athletic clubs and works to develop...
shotput title in 1924 and 1926 and represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games in 1924 and 1928. His last appearance at the AAA championships was in 1928 when he finished second. During his involvement with athletics at Cambridge he managed the Oxford/ Cambridge athletic tours of the United States from 1925 to 1949. Aside from the University of Cambridge, he was also affiliated to the Achilles Club.
In other sport he came close to winning a rugby blue and he captained the public schools past and present rugby football team in 1919 and was a noted golfer even celebrating his 90th birthday by achieving a hole in one. Woods was also an excellent quarter-miler and in 1913 he beat the 1912 Olympic runner Ernest Haley
Ernest Haley
Ernest William Haley was a British track and field athlete who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics....
.
Military
The First World War interrupted his medical career at St George's but he became a captain in the Royal Army Medical CorpsRoyal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
and was twice mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
whilst serving in the British Expeditionary Force. He again served in the RAMC during the second world war at the rank of major and surgeon specialist to the East African Command.
Later life
Aside from his early years at St George's and his distinguished service in the RAMC, Rex was connected with medicine at Cambridge for 75 years. There he shared a medical practice with Edward BevanEdward Vaughan Bevan
Edward Vaughan Bevan was a British doctor and rower who won a gold medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam....
, the Olympic rowing gold medalist. In his obituary Woods was remembered as: "always seemingly imperturbable, and his friendliness and concern for his patients were a byword. For those with athletic interests who were injured in the pursuit of their aims he was particularly uplifting and reassuring. He was a first class doctor with an all pervading interest in medicine and surgery, and his life was a model of integrity and kinship."
Rex Woods died in Cambridge on 21 September 1986.