John Roland Wood was the son of Philip Sligh (an iron ore merchant and chemical manufacturer) and Sarah Wood.

His brothers, Henry Havelock and Alan also attended the school.

John was at the High School from 1904 to June, 1909, and at the start of the school year joined his younger brother, Alan, at Mill Hill School (which his oldest brother, Henry, had also attended).

John was commissioned as Lieutenant in December, 1914, with the Durham Light Infantry.

He survived the war, but nothing much is known about his time after that, although he is believed to have died in Stocksfield, Northumberland, in 1956.