interesting facts

OBITUARY
Many Goldings old boys will remember Mr. Herbert Jones who in the old days was known as an Order Master. For twenty-six
years he gave loyal and devoted service to the school, having responsibility for control of the routine in the Ablutions and in
the Dining Hall and also acting as School barber. He came with the boys from Stepney when the School opened in 1922 and
retired in 1948. Various were the tricks he had to put up with as many an old Goldonian will recollect and readily admit.
They will also remember a man who set high personal standards and carried out his duties conscientiously and with good
humour. Mr. Jones died in the Hertford County Hospital on the 26th October, 1955 and is buried in the Churchyard at
St. Michael and All Angels in Waterford Village by the School he served so well.

It is also with regret we have to record the death of another retired long-service member of the Goldings staff, Mr. John Slater,
who died at his home at Lewisham on the 16th November, aged 80. Mr. Slater also came to Goldings when the home was
transferred from Stepney in 1922 and for 25 years was an Instructor in the Bootmaking Department. Despite his age
Mr. Slater did not retire until he was 70—he was full of vitality and loved his work. During the war years he carried out
"Night patrol" duty in the School and during the long nights started to learn the art of playing billiards and in time the "old"
man was beating a few of the young 'uns! Many a bootmaking boy has benefited from the skill displayed by Mr. Slater at
hand-sewn work.
Goldonian October 1955

THROUGHOUT MY TIME SPENT AT GOLDINGS, AND LIKE MOST OF THE BOYS BEFORE, AND AFTER ME, WE
GOT INTO ALL SORTS OF MISCHIEF, DON’T FORGET TELEVISION WAS A LUXURY WHICH WAS JUST
ENTERING INTO THE SCHOOLS SITTING ROOMS, SO WE DID TEND TO ENTERTAIN OURSELVES IN OTHER
WAYS….GOOD OR BAD, AT THAT TIME WE WERE UNSURE WHAT WAS BAD UNTIL WE GOT “CAUGHT”
AND TOLD TO STAND OUTSIDE MR WHEATLEY’S OFFICE FOR THE OUTCOME OF OUR RECENT ESCAPADE,
WITH THOSE IMMORTAL WORDS UTTERED.
“NOT ONLY HAVE YOU LET THE SCHOOL DOWN, BUT ALSO YOURSELVES” MEANINGLESS WORDS
I’M AFRAID TO A BOY OF FOURTEEN, AS THE ONLY WORRY WE HAD WAS WHEN HE BEGAN SWISHING
THAT CANE ABOUT TO “LOOSEN UP” WITH THE IMPENDING PUNISHMENT NOW ABOUT TO BE CARRIED
OUT. DID WE DESERVE IT? WITH HINDSIGHT I THINK WE DID!!
WHICH BRINGS ME TO AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS AT GOLDINGS ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.
WE WERE MESSING ABOUT IN THE CASTLE GROUNDS, ABOUT SIX OF US ONE SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
THIS IS WHEN WE WERE ALLOWED INTO HERTFORD. OUT OF THE COUNCIL BUILDING CAME AN OFFICIAL
OF THE COUNCIL WHO CALLED US OVER, I THINK HE THOUGHT HE WOULD TRY AND OCCUPY OUR FREE
TIME OTHER THAN MISBEHAVING. “DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE MAYORS CHAIN OF OFFICE AND HIS FUR
COAT HE WEARS ON HIS OFFICIAL DUTIES” THINKING HE MAY REPORT US TO THE SCHOOL WE TRIED TO
GIVE THE IMPRESSION WE WERE REALLY INTERESTED, SO WE FOLLOWED HIM INTO THE COUNCIL ROOMS,
WERE HE SHOWED US HIS CHAIN AND FUR COAT,
THEN INVITED US INTO THE NEXT ROOM AND SAID “SEE THAT
CHAIR OVER THERE, IT’S HUNDREDS OF YEARS OLD” WITH THAT
HE TOLD ME I COULD SIT ON IT IF I WANTED, SO I PROMPTLY
SHOT OVER BEFORE THE OTHERS COULD BEAT ME TO IT AND
SAT DOWN ON THIS ANTIQUE CHAIR, WHICH WHEN MY WEIGHT
WAS LOWERED OUT OF THE SIDES CAME TWO METAL “U “
SHAPES WHICH PINNED MY LEGS TO THE CHAIR , AND WOULDN’T
ALLOW ME TO GET OUT DUE TO MY WEIGHT HOLDING THE SEAT
DOWN. I LOOKED AROUND AND THE ROOM WAS FULL OF
LAUGHTER, AND THERE WAS I FIRMLY ANCHORED TO THIS
CHAIR. MANY YEARS LATER, AND PROBABLY MANY OF THOSE
LADS WILL BEGIN TO LAUGH ABOUT ONCE AGAIN AFTER
REMINDING THEM OF THAT EMBARRASSING SATURDAY
AFTERNOON, ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.
I DECIDED RECENTLY TO ENQUIRE TO THE WHEREABOUTS OF
THIS CHAIR, AND RECALLED THE INCIDENT TO THE PRESENT DAY
OFFICIAL WHO SMILED AND TOLD ME I COULD SEE IT AGAIN IF I
WANTED TO. SO WE SET OFF TO THE ROOM, THE SAME ROOM AS IT
WAS AS ALL THOSE YEARS AGO….. AND THERE IT WAS AND I
SWEAR IT WAS LAUGHING AT ME!

OH THE CHAIR APPARENTLY WAS MADE TO RESTRAIN “ DRUNKS “ AND “DEBTORS “ FROM TIMES LONG
GONE AS I COULDN’T IMAGINE THEY COULD USE IT NOW DAYS “PITY “

'A SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY'
THE HEADMASTER himself said it. By a brief homely expression of welcome to the representative gathering of Goldings
'Old Boys' Mr. Wheatley spanned the space of years between Mr. ? leaving the School in 1922 and the recently qualifying ?
Of a few months.
One could not fail to be impressed by the progress of time and talents, graduating from white-wood deal trestle tables
(with metal mugs) and backless benches, to tasteful contemporary crockery and individual furnishings, supported by pastel
shaded designs, succeeding the time honoured wall scenes as we recall.
The erection of an Art wing, largely by the labours of the lads, from teak uprights to floor foundations and the near fulfilment
was hard to credit.
I looked beneath the bed in vain for the wicker basket which once contained the complete catalogue of one's personal
possessions and noted a generous locker designed to house a suit, shining shoes and a trove for treasures, which of course was
a sacred space!
After more than thirty years absence I trod with trepidation in territory which once would have been trespass, but present day
boys appeared to enjoy freedom of movement and a sense of security, which spoke of studied psychology.
I missed the preponderance of prefects, eagle-eyed with report books at the ready, but of course the present boy will be more
pious than his predecessor?
The baths and beds must be a boon to every boy, but we would hope not taken too much for granted, having been bought by
successful scheming and converging co-operation.
Of course, to please everyone is always a tall order, but the new house surpassed expectation and everyone must be happy in
excelled success.
All in all the visitors received an object lesson in something attempted, something achieved.
None of us boys should fail to be eternally grateful for being fitted for the future. So, what about a big 'thank you' to all, from
the boys past and present, remembering that whilst none came too early or return too late, we pass the same way but once.

A recently published book, gives' an interesting account of rural life in our district as it was 260 years ago. Having been inspired
by this peep into the past, one felt a desire to probe into still more remote times in search of the origin of that glamorous name
of our estate, Goldings.
The village of Waterford existed as far back as the year 1148, when King Henry II reigned in England, and the chief
landowner was one John Goldyng. Obviously, his name became attached to the area and records of the name appear in the
Charter Rolls of 1315. Descendants of John Goldyng, Ralph Payn, Richard Revel and John Rykener, have supplied other
estate names in this locality; Paynes Hall, Revels Hall and Rickneys.
George was the occupier of Stencils Farm, which, in the days of Trafalgar" and Waterloo, adjoined the Goldings estate on the
Western side. George was a busy farmer and local dignitary, and he found time to keep a very detailed diary of his daily routine
between the years 1697 and 1710. He was a great friend of his neighbour, Richard Emmott, who resided at Goldings. In those
days, the North Road out of Hertford ran through the middle of the Goldings estate, by the mansion, which overlooked our
present cricket field, and stood on the site of our grass tennis courts. The buildings now comprising the Printing and
Shoemaking Departments are all that remain today of Richard Emmott's residence. The present road from Goldings to
Waterford follows the route of the old highway. Surface erosion has recently uncovered parts of the stone causeway which was
used to help the wheels of stagecoaches along the steep incline down into Waterford. In 1875, Robert Smith built the present
mansion, and was allowed to close this road, causing a new one to be constructed round the edge of the estate.
In his diary, John mentions a visit to "Hartford" (as it was then known) to see a famous road walker named Webster,
who attempted to walk from London to York in sixty hours. Meeting this worthy at the Cold Bath Inn, during a pause for
refreshment, John accompanied the athlete on his way as far as Goldings, but the farmer then found the pace too hot, and
reports that they covered a mile in ten minutes. He was asked to make the first Census of the district in 1801, and mentions that
he was also asked to officiate at Bramfield as tax collector. Another public duty he undertook was the inspection of local roads,
and he was much troubled by frequent flooding of the highway at Goldings. He was also called in to arbitrate when Squire
Emmott upset the Waterford community by pulling down Bulls Mill House and erecting dog kennels on the site in 1803.
and is recommended to all interested in local history.
G. H. W.

Donated by Brian Cunningham to the re-union , the proposed plans for the print shop after the Printers moved to Mead Lane
drawn in 13th January 1969 by G.C. Fardell, County Architect for the proposed Ware College Art Centre, who I assume
occupied the building after the printers moved. To the left is the drawing for the ground floor, and to the right first floor.
I’m only guessing as I was not in the printers, but is the bottom line to the left the wall and windows that faced the carpenters
shop?. To the top centre of the same drawing the clock tower that has not been shown. It does also show on the original
drawing many “existing” sink unit’s they intended to retain. I’ve also been assured by Paul Walkeden that an outside toilet
was close by as you looked to the right from the carpenters shop, just before the hole in the wall. Any of you former printers
out there can fill in more details??

GOLDINGS FOOTPATH

One of the many proposals published in the Society's "Green fingers Report" was to establish a footpath through the wood on
the Goldings estate lying to the west of the A 602 road to Stevenage.
Approaches were made to the Herts. County Council, owners of the estate, and our early discussions were very friendly and
helpful. The line of the path agreed was from a point just beyond the second bridge (after the Bramfield Rd turning, going
north from Hertford), proceeding through the wood into the Goldings drive, along the drive for 150 yards and then veering
right across the field into Waterford by the church.
Our proposal was approved by the County Highways Committee and a working party was organised to open up the path
through the wood. Practical details were discussed with the Council's Countryside officers, Mr Peter Lawrence and
Mr Richard Brown, who very kindly provided the tools for the job.
Twelve of us met "on site" on a fine Sunday morning in April. We cleared the way through the wood and dug the necessary
hole for a stile by lunch time. The stile was erected by Mr Brown and his voluntary helper.
The path is now available for use and we must record our grateful thanks to the County Council and all the officers concerned
for the ready cooperation in achieving one of our Green fingers objectives. It must be emphasised that the path is not a public
one and should be regarded as a "permissive path" by courtesy of the council. It is a most pleasant walk with glimpses of the
River through the trees.
1978

The unsolved mystery of the addition of an extra Table Tennis Bat!
Checking with Woolworths, Hertford it appears on stock take that year a Table Tennis Bat was unaccounted for!

TABLE TENNIS Boys v. Staff
THIRTEEN MEMBERS of staff engaged with 50 boys across the table tennis tables on 4th November. The larger number
of boys made great demands on the energies of the members of staff, but the number of games probably assisted the staff
to their very creditable win, 19 games to 9, because they were inactive for only very brief periods. A feature of the evening
was that the organizers issued 12 bats and 13 were checked in at the end of the session!
R. S. Goldonian Winter 1964