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William Woollard (born 23 August 1939, London) is a British television producer and presenter.^[1]

Biography[link]

Educated at a state grammar school in London and at the University of Oxford, he trained as a fighter pilot with the RAF. He worked with an oil company in Borneo and Oman.^[when?] He has worked as a social scientist on corporate social responsibility with several American and European organisations.^[2] He has written about his Buddhist beliefs.

Television career[link]

In his television career he has been the producer, writer and presenter of many documentaries and series, particularly on science and technology. His programmes have been transmitted on networks including the BBC and Channel 4 in the UK, as well as Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel and the Public Broadcasting Service in the US.

He is best known as a producer and presenter on the BBC's science magazine programme Tomorrow's World^[3] and on the BBC's motoring programme, Top Gear. On Tomorrow's World he was a leading presenter ^[4] for 11 years, winning several awards including Top Science Presenter. He won a reputation for the enthusiasm he brought to his reports, and his skill in turning technical subjects into entertaining television.

He fronted Top Gear for a decade from 1981 ^[5], during which time it became a prime time show with an audience of up to 5 million. Woollard also presented Rally Report, an off-shoot of Top Gear, covering the Lombard RAC Rally every year.

Woollard resigned from Top Gear in 1991, despite protestations for him to come back, mainly because of the fact that his own production company, 'Inca', took off, producing documentaries for BBC and C4 in the UK and channels such as the Public Broadcasting Service and Discovery Channel in the US. Among Inca's commissions were the filming of the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures.^[6]

During the same period he was involved in writing and producing or presenting, a range of other programmes, mainly under the banner of the BBC science documentary strand, Horizon. These included:

• The Secret War, a 7 part series that revealed the role that Britain's scientists played in the winning of the Second World War.^[7]
• Too Hot to Handle. A three-part series looking and the benefits and drawbacks of the nuclear power industry.
• The Energy Alternative. BBC television's first look at the problem of global warming, and the challenge presented by alternative energy technologies.
• Skyscraper. An award winning five-part series on the building of a skyscraper in central New York City.

In 1986 Woollard was instrumental in setting up one of the first independent production companies making programmes for the world's leading networks. Since that time he has written or produced well over 100 programmes ranging over the fields of science and technology, from evolution, to space exploration, and from treasure hunting to the science of bridge building.^{[8] [9]}

William Woollard now works as a scriptwriter on documentaries and he has authored books including one recounting his experience as a practising Buddhist. His documentaries issued on DVD still sell widely in the US and UK.

Publications[link]

The Reluctant Buddhist ISBN 978-1-906210-35-9

Buddhism and the Science of Happiness: A Personal Exploration of Buddhism in Today's World ISBN 978-1-907652-73-8

References[link]

External links[link]

• William Woollard at the Internet Movie Database

Coordinates: 51°22′45″N 2°32′00″W / 51.3792°N 2.5334°W / 51.3792; -2.5334

Woollard
Woollard  Woollard shown within Somerset
OS grid reference	ST632645
Civil parish	Compton Dando
Unitary authority	Bath and North East Somerset
Ceremonial county	Somerset
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BRISTOL
Postcode district	BS40
Dialling code	01761
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Avon
Ambulance	Great Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	North East Somerset
List of places: UK • England • Somerset

Woollard is a small village on the River Chew in the Chew Valley in England. It is in the District of Bath and North East Somerset and the ceremonial county of Somerset, and is 7 miles (11 km) from Bristol, 9 miles (14 km) from Bath, and 4 miles (6.4 km) from Keynsham.

The special architectural and historic interest of Woollard was recognised by its designation as a Conservation Area on 25 July 1990.^[1]

History[link]

Woollard had a medieval bridge with three pointed arches and double arch-ribs. This was rebuilt following the substantial damage caused by the floods of 1968.

It is close to the route of the ancient Wansdyke, and lies on the Monarch's Way long-distance footpath.

Woollard is also a traditional surname, having relations in the farming land of Saffron Walden and Suffolk.

Government and politics[link]

Woollard is part of the Farmborough Ward, which is represented by one councillor on the Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority which has responsibilities for services such as education, refuse, tourism etc. The village is a part of the North East Somerset constituency and part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament.

Demographics[link]

According to the 2001 Census, the Farmborough Ward (which includes Compton Dando, Marksbury, Hunstrete and Chewton Keynsham), had 1,111 residents, living in 428 households, with an average age of 44.5 years. Of these 71% of residents describing their health as 'good', 21% of 16-74 year olds had no qualifications; and the area had an unemployment rate of 1.0% of all economically active people aged 16-74. In the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004, it was ranked at 22,100 out of 32,482 wards in England, where 1 was the most deprived LSOA and 32,482 the least deprived.^[1]

Listed Buildings[link]

Woollard has a variety of Grade II listed buildings:

• Nos. 178 and 179 at Images of England
• 182-185 at Images of England
• Paradise Row, 186-189 at Images of England
• Newbridge House at Images of England
• Bell Farmhouse (Formerly the Bell Inn) at Images of England
• K6 Telephone Kiosk at Images of England
• Woollard House at Images of England

References[link]

1. ^ "Woollard Conservation Area Character Appraisal". Bath and North East Somerset Council. Archived from the original on 2008-04-13. http://web.archive.org/web/20080413143840/http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/environmentandplanning/Conservation/conservationareas/ConservationAreaCharacterAppraisals/woollard.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-14. 

• ^ "Neighbourhood Statistics LSOA Bath and North East Somerset 016B Farmborough". Office of National Statistics 2001 Census. http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadProfileSearch.do?profileSearchText=BS39+4LW&searchProfiles=. Retrieved 2006-05-01. 

Bibliography[link]

"The great flood of 1968". Memories of Bristol. Archived from the original on 2006-05-02. http://web.archive.org/web/20060502142132/http://weldgen.tripod.com/the-great-flood-1968/index.html. Retrieved 2006-01-04. 

Janes, Rowland (2003). Pensford, Publow and Woollard: A Topographical History. Biografix. ISBN 0-9545125-0-2. 

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Woollard

• Parish website
• Chew Valley website
• River Chew website
• Map of Woollard circa 1900
• Woollard Conservation Area Character Appraisal