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STAFF LIST
EDITORIAL
CARTREF MELYS
GOLDINGS PERSONALITIES (24) MR. H. J. WILKINS
MR. W. H. S. MILLAR
MR. R. T. STACKWOOD
MR. W. D. PURKIS
COMINGS AND GOINGS
HOUSE NOTES
VERNEY NOTES
NEWS OF OLD BOYS
STAFF NEWS
GOLDINGS SOCIAL CLUB
CADET NOTES
GALA DANCE AND ART COMPETITION
GOLDINGS MODEL RAILWAY
LINO CUTS
FOOTBALL
TABLE TENNIS
CRICKET
WITH THE Spring Term of 1965 now in evidence, so too are some of the changes within the organization of the School.
Unfortunately one of the personnel changes which was scheduled for next August had to be brought forward owing to the untimely passing of our
great friend and colleague, Mr. Millar. Fortunately Mr. Millar, a man of great foresight, had organized the Printing Department so that should one
or more 'cogs' be missing, the services of the Department would continue uninterrupted, and it has!
Mr. Stackwood has now taken over the helm, and with everyone determined to back him up on the foundation which Mr. Millar had so firmly laid,
I am certain that the efficiency of the department will be a living memory to W. H. S. MILLAR.
Mr. Purkis, longest serving member of the Printing Department, has retired as scheduled, and a full report of his service and presentation will be
found on page11. It will be some while before we appreciate that he is not just on holiday! Mr. T. Noble (Old Boy Apprentice, 1948-55) has taken
over from Mr. Purkis, his old tutor, which is a very commendable achievement for both parties,
The new school block is now taking shape, foundations are complete, girder superstructure is up, and it is hoped that it will be in scholarly use in
September next.
On the Home side, there has been reorganization with the houses, of which we now have four, namely Aberdeen, Somerset, Cairns, Pelham, plus
a senior house in the MacAndrew wing which is under the direction of Mr. Steele. This is a good scheme, getting the senior boys (15 years and
over) together, and making their first 'break' for living purposes, although they maintain their loyalties to their parent house for sporting arid
competitive activities.
Another building is being erected on the edge of the parade ground, and is to be the 'band room'. With the closing of Parkstone Sea Training
School, all the brass band equipment has come to us, and it is hoped that we shall now build up a brass band here, in addition to the Corps of
Drums. The local population will probably be well aware of this new innovation. 'Skipper' Culver probably knew something when he handed
over his baton to Mr. Whittaker, or was it Mr. Lee?
As will be seen by the article 'Cartref Melys' by our Headmaster, our School is really spreading its wings with an annex in North Wales. This is
another step in the right direction, enabling our boys to get some real adventure training in their curriculum.
CARTREF MELYS
GOLDINGS BOYS have been hearing quite a lot about Cartref Melys and it came to me on the grape-vine that some were actually hesitating to
accept invitations for the Easter holiday, lest they should lose the chance to be amongst the first batch to seek adventure there. Now a reaction has
set in and some feel they will have left before the programme opens and others darkly hint that it's all a myth, like the fairies at the bottom of the
garden.
As I visited the Adventure Centre on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park on 23rd March, I can give my personal assurance that preparations
are going ahead there and before many weeks are past the lucky boys chosen for the first course will be on their way It's a long way, too, 240
miles by road. The boys who travelled by road to Lochearnhead will think this quite a short outing, On the day I made the journey, I motored 100
miles through the foggy Midlands and the road seemed never-ending.
When I arrived at my destination I was very pleased to see builders on the site and the necessary alterations and additions to the Centre being
pushed ahead. I must say that I did not envy the Chief Instructor, Mr. Montgomery, living in all this discomfort, such as only builders can create.
Perhaps that is a little unfair to builders, because when they have actually finished their work, they have created creature comforts rather than
destroyed them, but what a mess they make in the process!
Mr, Montgomery will be the keenest of all to see. the builders off the premises so that he can get down to his real job of running the
Centre. A lot of preparation has already been made in addition to the building works. An assault course has been laid out in the grounds and a
great deal of equipment purchased for camping and rope climbing. Boats are to be delivered very soon. At the moment everything looks very
exciting, but most uncomfortable, for Mr. Montgomery and Mr. G. King, another member of the staff (Bosun) who have been living in the
builders' muddle for many weeks past.
Goldings boys will be particularly pleased to know that Miss Cornell has accepted the post of Matron at Cartref Melys, so at the outset there will
already be a link between the School and the Adventure Centre.
You may wonder where the name Cartref Melys comes from. This is the name of the house, but I have seen it spelt in two different ways and
heard it variously pronounced. If you want to know how to say it, wait till you get there and ask a Welshman,
R. F. W.
According to a brochure, 'Cartref Melys is an old Welsh Manor House, set in its own grounds of three acres, combining hotel comforts with the
benefits of a holiday in the fresh, invigorating, mountain air'.
Another paragraph from the same brochure reads 'Everything at Cartref Melys is under the personal supervision of the resident proprietors who are
always available for the service of guests'.
With Mr. Montgomery and Miss Cornell as new 'proprietors' I feel certain the service will live up to the claims of the brochure.
ED.
SOMETIME AGO I overheard two of the boys talking about the Maintenance Department, and Mr. Wilkins
was mentioned as being .'the quiet one of the department'. This I think is a true description of the man who
over the past twelve years has gone about his work quietly and efficiently, the results of which can be seen,
and often enables others to see more clearly.
Mr, .Wilkins served his apprenticeship as an electrician with the Guildford Brewery and Guildford Technical
College. At the end of his apprenticeship he joined the R.A.F. and during the war served overseas until he
was demobilized in 1947.
For a while after returning to civilian life, he continued to work for the Guildford Brewery, and then to
improve his scope worked for three years with Croydon Electricity Board.
When one realises that Mr. Wilkins spent most of his earlier life in Surrey, it is no wonder that he is such
a keen cricketer, and since joining us at Goldings has played nearly every season for the staff team. Many
will have suffered from taking liberties with his slow spinners.
Another interest of Mr. Wilkins is dancing, and in this field he has passed on his knowledge to the boys,
for every Friday evening during the winter months he is in the gym giving the boys, and their girl friends
the 'one, ,two, three'. He is most ably supported with this work by his wife, and it came as no surprise that
Mrs. Wilkins stepped forward to help when the S.O.S. went out from the food stores. I believe their young
daughter is now second-in-command !
It can be seen that Mr. Wilkins by his experience as an electrician and willingness to tackle any job that presents itself, is indeed a great asset
to Goldings.
A. H. H.
MR. MILLAR, Master Printer at Goldings since 1939, was probably more widely known than any other member
of Goldings staff, as his work brought him into contact with many people serving in other fields. The esteem in
which he was held everywhere has been shown by the many tributes to his memory which have been received at
the school since the news of his death in hospital on 30th December. He was due for retirement in July next and
his untimely passing has come as a shock to us all. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Mrs. Millar in her
bereavement.
Mr. Millar came to England from Canada, commencing work in this country as an estimator for Messrs.
Whitehead Bros, of Wolverhampton. For five years prior to taking up his post at Goldings he was Manager of
the main works of this Printing firm. He was Honorary Warden of a Wolverhampton Boys' Club and served on
the Executive Committee of the Staffordshire Association of Boys' Clubs. He was a member of the
Wolverhampton Round Table.
It will be seen, therefore, that when Mr. Millar entered the service of Dr. Barnardo's Homes he brought with
him a wide and practical knowledge of printing, and also a sympathy for young people and an earnest desire to
be of service to them. Those" who worked in close association with him will agree that the qualities which marked him out were unfailing
kindness, patience, and good humour.
During the past two years he has struggled against indifferent health and had need to be sustained by his sense of duty and .life long habit of
service.
In addition to the duties of his office as Head of the Printing Department, Mr. Millar took a keen interest in most of the boys' social and sporting
activities. A great deal of his success was due to the fact that he was obviously a friend of the boys. One of his most outstanding services to
Goldings boys was the part he played in the establishment of the Printer Apprentice Scheme at the School. There must be a great number of Old
Boys who have reason to think of him with gratitude, as his work enabled them to enter a career in the Printing Trade on a good footing. The
printer Boys benefited greatly from his influential position in the trade. He was a member of the Hertfordshire Federation of Master Printers,
serving some years as Honorary Secretary of this organization. He was also one of the earliest members of the Association of Teachers of
Printing and Allied Subjects, holding the office of Regional Chairman for two years.
Together with The Reverend Aneurin Jones, Appeals Secretary, Mr. Millar worked hard to establish close links between Dr. Barnardo's Homes
and the Universities throughout Britain. Student groups have been encouraged to devote part of their Rag-Week collections to Barnardo's, and in
return the Press of Goldings has undertaken a large amount of work for them.
At the internment which took place at the Enfield Crematorium on Monday, 4th January, many of Mr. Millar's friends were present to pay their
last respects. The following list will give some indication as to the extent of his popularity. The Reverend B. L. Nixon, Chaplain to the School,
officiated at this short but moving ceremony.
Goldings Staff: Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Wheatley, Mr. and Mrs. Embleton, Mr. R. Stackwood, Mr. N. T. Powell, Mr. F. Stevenson,
Mr. L. G. Mondin, Mr. W. Purkis, Mr. R. Purkis, Mr. R. Fox, Mr. J. Taylor, Mr. J. James, Mr. K. R. Wood, Mr. P. Culver,
Mr. S. Whitbread, Mr. E. Brooks, Mr. F. Sheppard, Mr. H. W. Tempest, Mr. F. Tordoff, Mr. W. Broster, Mr. R. Nunn,
Mr. H. de'Boeck.
Printing Apprentices: Messrs. W. Charlton, W. Norton, D. Lee, G. Rose, C. Sainsbury, V. Chan, L. Browning, R. Rowles,
R. Roberts, L. Coman, G. Parry, J. Foote, C. Berry, L. Carroll, K. Milsom, G. Turner, J. Pooley, M. Cousins.
Retired members of staff: Mr. J. Maslin, Mr. R. Randall, Mr. J. Mitchell.
Old Boys: Mr. A. Hopcroft, Mr. C. Fuller, Mr. G. Forster,
Mr. D. Charlton, Mr. J. Gray, Mr. J. Smoker, Mr. D. Wright,
Mr. D. Martin.
Stepney Staff: The Reverend F. Holmes, The Reverend A. Jones, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Cornish, Mr. and Mrs. Knight.
Business representatives: Mr. S. Gabriel and Mr. L. Waller, Messrs. Stephen Austin and Sons Ltd.; Mr. T. Knight and Mr. Wilson,
The Clock House Press; Mr. C. Abbiss, Messrs. A. E. Abbiss Ltd.
Mrs. Newton, Mrs. Maslin, and Mrs. Purkis were also present.
On Sunday, 3ist January, a memorial service was held in the School Chapel, in place of the normal Sunday morning service. Once again the
esteem in which Mr. Millar was held was evident by the attendance of his many friends, approximately 150 were present, as well as the whole
school—the Chapel was full to capacity.
Two tributes were paid to Mr. Millar, one by Mr. Wheatley, who referred to the great work Mr. Millar had done for the School as a whole, apart
from his work as Master Printer, emphasizing the kindness he always showed to staff and boys alike. The Reverend Aneurin Jones, Appeals
Secretary from Headquarters, then spoke of his close contact and companionship, during their frequent trips all over the country to the Universities,
arranging for the printed work for 'Rags'. If anyone present had any doubts as to the wide range of Mr. Millar's work, it must surely have been
dispelled after listening to these tributes.
During these past weeks our thoughts and prayers have been with Mrs. Millar, whose grief is immeasurable, and however sincere our tributes to
Mr. Millar, they can in no way have lessened Mrs. Millar's burden, in fact the added publicity has no doubt increased the strain. We all extend our
heartfelt sympathy to Mrs. Millar, and trust she will find new interests which will give her some comfort whether she moves into her own family
circle in Wolverhampton, or remains in this area with her many friends.
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