Woolfenden was born in Ipswich into a musical family, and was a chorister at Westminster Abbey Choir School.
[5] One of the first productions he was involved with there was The Wars of the Roses cycle of Shakespeare plays produced by Peter Hall and John Barton in 1964, for which he created special instruments.
In 1976 he composed the score for Trevor Nunn’s musical version of The Comedy of Errors, which transferred to the Aldwych Theatre in 1977.
He was the Chairman of the Denne Gilkes Memorial Fund, a charity which supports young musicians and actors.
[9] He married the oboist Jane Aldrick in 1962 and they lived in the village of Sibford Ferris, North Oxfordshire for more than 40 years.
There are also many pieces for concert wind bands, chamber ensembles and some orchestral works, a number of which have been recorded.