D. V. NORMAN

DAVE
I WAS SO PLEASED TO RECEIVE THIS GOLDINGS REUNION INFORMATION.
I WENT TO GOLDINGS, WHICH WAS WILLIAM BAKER TECHNICAL SCHOOL NR HERTFORD, WHICH WAS
ABOUT 2 MILES FROM THE TOWN. ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON WE WERE ALLOWED OUT AND WE WALKED TO
THE TOWN.
I ARRIVED AT GOLDINGS ON 9th AUGUST 1939 I WAS 14yrs OLD, SO I WAS THERE BEFORE THE WAR., AND WE
WERE ALL ON THE PARADE GROUND WHEN WAR WAS DECLARED.
THE LETTER BROUGHT BACK A FEW MEMORIES BECAUSE I WAS IN BUXTON HOUSE AND I ALSO REMEMBER
MR. S. C. WHITBREAD. BECAUSE HE THEN WAS IN CHARGE OF THE BOOTMAKING DEPARTMENT. AND SUPPLIED
ME WITH SOME BOOTS: ALSO WHILE WE WERE WAITING TO GO INTO THE TRADE SHOPS, WE WERE ON GENERAL
DUTIES.
ONE MASTER WAS MR BARNES HE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE CLEANING. WE USED TO CALL HIM BRUSHIE BARNES,
SURELY THIS MR FRED BARNES WHICH IS WITH US TODAY WAS MY MASTER HE WOULD BE WELL OVER
90yrs OLD, OR IS MR. FRED BARNES THE SON OF BRUSHIE BARNES HE LIKED ME BECAUSE I WAS A GOOD
WORKER.
THAT IS A VERY GOOD PHOTO OF MR. WHITBREAD JUST AS I REMEMBER HIM.
I WAS ONLY AT GOLDINGS 2 1/2yrs
THEY HAD A GOOD BAND WHICH WENT ON TOURS.
ALSO A FIRST CLASS FOOTBALL TEAM THE SCHOOL CAPTAIN WAS MERCER , HE WAS ALSO THE CAPTAIN OF
THE SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM.
THE SUPERINTENDENT WAS I BELIEVE MR WHITEHOUSE EX NAVY ALSO PLAYED AND IN CHARGE OF THE
FOOTBALL TEAM, ON ONE OCCASION THEY WAS PLAYING AGAINST THE POLICE, AND IT WAS A ROUGH GAME,
AND DURING THE GAME HE SAID IF THEY WANT IT ROUGH THEY CAN HAVE IT ROUGH: JOE PATCH WAS THE
GYM MASTER USED TO ARRIVE EVERY DAY ON HIS BIKE AND ALSO HIS DOG, PLUGGE BISHOP WAS ONE OF THE
WOODWORK MASTERS, THERE WAS A CARPENTERS SHOP AND ALSO A CABINET MAKERS SHOP. A MR CHANNON
WAS A SPORTS MASTER, A MR BATTEL WAS THE BAND MASTER, DANNY AND HIS WIFE WERE THE CHEF BOTH
IRISH. I WORKED IN THE KITCHEN FOR A WHILE. THEY USED TO HAVE ME CLEAN THERE QUARTERS:
THE THREE TICKETS I REQUIRE FOR THE EVENING MEAL: ONE FOR MY OLDEST SON TONY NORMAN HIS WIFE
ROSLYN NORMAN, AND MYSELF D V NORMAN AS WE ARE COMING BY CAR IF POSSIBLE I WOULD LIKE A
LITTLE INFORMATION AS TO WERE THE SELE FARM COMMUNITY CENTRE IS, IS IT NEAR THE TOWN OF
HERTFORD I CANT QUITE PLACE THE ACTUAL WHEREABOUTS OF SELE FARM ESTATE I COULDN’T FIND IT
ON THE MAP:
YOURS FAITHFULLY
D V NORMAN.
1/9/2011

Page Compiled October 2011

All images and text copyright © to Goldings Old Boys reunion members

This little story by D V Norman, was sent to us to add to the site as at the time he thought he was unable to attend the re-union this year,
As luck had it he did he did manage, and thoroughly enjoyed the occasion. So below is a short recollection from his memory of his
Time spent at Goldings.