Sir Charles Campbell Woolley was born on the 1 January 1893 in Barry, Wales, and educated at University College, Cardiff. He served with the South Wales Borderers (1914-1920) and saw active service in France, Salonika, Constantinople and the Caucasus. He attained the rank of Captain, held various Staff appointments and was awarded the Military Cross.
In 1921 Woolley entered the Ceylon Civil Service in which he served for 14 years. During his time in Ceylon he was appointed Secretary to the Governor (July 1931) and awarded the OBE after the visit by the Duke of Gloucester (1934). He left Ceylon in 1935 when he was appointed Colonial Secretary in Jamaica; in 1937 he was awarded the CMG in recognition of his skilful handling of the island's labour troubles. In 1938, on the death of the Governor of Jamaica, Sir James Denham, Woolley became acting Governor. Later that year he was transferred to Nigeria where he held the post of Chief Secretary (1938-1941) and also administered the Government at various times. In 1941 he was appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Cyprus (1941-1946) and in 1947 became Governor and Commander-in-Chief of British Guiana, a post he held until his retirement from the Civil Service in 1953.
Woolley was President of the International Society for the Protection of Animals (1969-1971) and President of the Southern Counties Orchestral Society. He was awarded the GBE 1953 (OBE 1934), KCMG 1943 (CMG 1937), MC, LLD and KJStJ.
Woolley died on the 20 August 1981.
From the guide to the Papers of Sir Charles Campbell Woolley, 1922-1962, (The Bodleian Library of Commonwealth and African Studies at Rhodes House)
