goldonian wintr63

TOO MUCH RELIGION�
'Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not.�' I HEARD recently over the
'grape vine' that one Goldings school-leaver said to his Welfare Officer, when approached about joining a Church, 'No thanks, I had too
much religion at Goldings.' On the other hand another Old-boy wrote a letter to The Forum not long ago, in which among much praise
for his old school he complained that here he was not brought to the knowledge of Christ as a reality in his life. These appear to be
opposite points of view, but they could both be true. We could, indeed, have too much religion and not enough Christianity.
It is not the young men who criticize one way or the other who disturb or offend me, but on the one hand adults who believe all is
well so long as young people appear to conform with their own views and are shocked when they don't, and on the other hand young
people who live so much on the surface of life that they cannot be bothered to argue. I believe that in a good family young people
should show respect to their elders, but this does not mean that they should not question what they are taught and feel free to express
their own opinions. Anyone who seeks to take away from them the responsibility of thinking for themselves is of the stuff of which
dictators are made, whether they profess to be Christian or no. We have had Christian tyrants, who in the name of religion burned the
holy martyrs as well as atheist tyrants, like Hitler and Stalin, who gained such terrifying power just because millions of their young
people were ready to accept uncritically all they were told to believe.
To each of you Goldings boys I would say, 'Do think for yourself, even if it means not agreeing with all I say. At the same time let
your thinking be tempered by just enough humility to consider whether sometimes you might be wrong.' Remember, all sorts of people
are trying to put ideas into your heads, some openly and others in ways you do not suspect. Do you realise, for example, the immense
power of advertising? Do you know how many millions of pounds are spent on posters, newspapers, magazines, films, and television
to present to you a view of life which is misleading? It is not only goods, but also opinions which are advertised in subtle and skilful
ways. Are you sure that all this money is being thrown down the drain as far as you are concerned ? Be alert! Who do you think is
trying to do the brain-washing�chaplain, teacher, houseparent, welfare officer, or those very opulent gentlemen whose whole
business is to foist upon you the great illusion that a good life consists of possessing things, especially those they are paid to sell?
So apply your critical faculties to all you see, hear, and read, whether from the pulpit and in the Bible, or on hoardings, from politicians
or thrown at you out of the 'Goggle-box'.
R. F. W.

AN OCCASION FOR PRIDE
THE TIME was the evening of 19th November, 1963; the scene was the dining hall of The Headstone Hotel, Harrow. Over two hundred
people had enjoyed an excellent dinner to which your Headmaster was invited as a guest. After the Mayor of Harrow had introduced
several well-known and important personalities of the Building Industry and London Technical Colleges, the main business of the
evening commenced, namely, the presentation of prizes to Building Trade Apprentices who had distinguished themselves by the
excellence of their work during the past year. There were fifteen apprentices who had won prizes in their respective crafts, made up
of 1 Brickworker, 5 Carpenters and Joiners, 1 Machine Woodworker, 4 Painters and Decorators, 1 Plasterer, and 3 Plumbers. The
colleges represented by these apprentice students were Willesdon Technical College, Hammersmith College of Art and Building,
Southall Technical College, East Ham Technical College, and Twickenham Technical College. As these presentations drew to a close
one could sense that the atmosphere in the gathering was building up for the moment when the L.M.B A. North-Western Area Premier
Apprenticeship Award was to be given. To see a Goldings boy step forward to receive this honour was a moment of pure joy.
It was characteristic of Brian Balderson that he thought of many people he desired to thank for his success. There were the members of
the Goldings staff, in the school, in the workshops, and in the home, his employer, Mr. Brocksopp, the kind people who had taken him
into their home as a lodger, his Welfare Officer, the most attractive young lady to whom he is engaged and also the Head of the Building
Department of Twickenham Technical College, where he continued his studies after leaving Goldings. By strange coincidence this
gentleman and the Headmaster of Goldings were colleagues together twenty years ago in the same Technical Institute and met again
for the first time because of their mutual interest in Brian. It is quite true that many people contributed in some measure to Brian's
achievement, but the main credit must be given to him. The same kind of help is offered to every boy who comes to Goldings and
whenever a boy leaves he finds a sympathetic Welfare Officer keen to give him the best advice and put him in touch with the right
people to help him. What makes the difference between success and failure is the way each boy responds to those who desire so much
to help him. We offer our hearty congratulations to Brian and trust that what he has shown to be possible will
inspire boys now at the School to go and do likewise. R. F. W.

Owing to the fact that this important report came in after I had made up The Goldonian, I have omitted my Editorial.�Ed.

MR. L. FARNHAM joined the Carpentry Department, Goldings, in January, 1951, and
unlike many of us, is a real 'local', being a member of a well-known Hertford family.
He served his time to carpentry with Messrs. Ekins, a firm of building contractors, and
during his apprentice period he studied and obtained a final City and Guilds certificate
in his trade.
In September, 1940, he joined, or was persuaded to join the R.A.F. and was trained as
an air frame fitter; one of the chaps with a bit of string who kept the kites flying.
In the period between his war service and joining us he gained some valuable experience
of mass production methods within the motor industry and his shop's production figures
for school wardrobes bear witness to this acquired knowledge.
If ever we needed proof of his skill as a craftsman, or of his considerable knowledge of
the building industry, these were clearly shown when he transformed a desolate area of
scrubland into a really beautiful garden surrounding a very desirable house. A major
achievement and nearly a one-man effort (apologies Mrs. Farnham, a two-man effort).
Not a person to seek the limelight, but always most reliable; a first-class tradesman and a very competent instructor, which very
many boys have reason to be grateful for.
W. B.
N.B.�Mr, Broster, who has written this appreciation, was 'Goldings Personality' last term, and owing to a printing error was credited
with the initial 'C'. My apologies to Mr. Broster.�ED.

PRIZE-GIVING DAY, 1963
ONCE AGAIN we were blessed with a fine day for this all-important day in the School calendar, and although rain threatened we were
spared the indignity of arranging our guests and audience to miss the rain drops which insist on penetrating through the roof of the
gymnasium.
Thursday, 17th October, 1963, at precisely 3 p.m. our chairman of Goldings Committee, Mr. L. B. Keeble, J.P., announced the first hymn
'Praise to the Lord Almighty'., and under the leadership of Mr. Wood at the piano our praises rang out. This was followed by a short
prayer by our Chaplain, The Rev. B. L. Nixon.
Mr. Keeble, in his usual easy style, then introduced our guest of honour, Dr. J. J. B. Dempster, O.B.E., M.A., Chief Education Officer,
Southampton, and surprised many of us with the news that this gentleman was an ex-member of our staff. He was in fact responsible for
the introduction of evening classes in the general education field within the School. At that time there were no day classes, the boys
spent all their time in shop. He was also responsible for the issue of the first GOLDONIAN and was first editor. In his short introduction
Mr. Keeble referred to a sermon he had recently heard from our padre, in which The Rev. Nixon had likened Goldings to London Airport,
where people come and go. The difference being of course that when boys leave us they should know a lot more than when they came!
The real similarity being with the team spirit of the staffing, which ensures that however great or varied the �traffic�, everyone received the
same treatment. After a couple of short stories with a moral, Mr. Keeble then asked the Headmaster to give his report.
Mr. Wheatley started by offering apologies from the Mayor and Mayoress of Hertford, who were unable to attend owing to a previously
arranged engagement, and also from Mr. T. F. Tucker, our General Superintendent, who found it impossible to get along this year.
Mr. Wheatley stated that the Goldings Committee had gone from strength to strength, and whereas at one time he had to tell them what
was required in the Home or Departments they now told him! Which went to show the immense interest all members were taking in
their job. General improvements continue despite the high costs, and Mr. Wheatley thanked all who were making these improvements
possible.
Mr. Wheatley then went on to say how important we at Goldings are to the Dr. Barnardo organization, both from the human angle and
materially. Taking the human aspect first he pointed out the importance of our apprenticeship schemes, and although we only had
apprentices of our own in the Printing Department, all other departments were able to apprentice their boys to outside firms after initial
training here. Reports of successes were coming in all the while, and then Mr. Wheatley listed some of the reports that had come in
during the last twelve months.
Turning to the material values, Mr. Wheatley pointed out that the Printing Department printed a large percentage of the matter required
for Rag Weeks, which are run by practically all universities to aid charitable organizations, and from which we derive great benefits.
Also, of course, we print somewhere in the region of 3,000" jobs each year directly for the Homes. The Carpentry Department: have just
completed a new Art wing for the school and are in the' process of completing garages for the Home staff. They too, help many of the
other Homes with special furniture, models, etc. The Painting and Decorating Department, apart from keeping our own home in good
condition, sent boys to redecorate caravans which are used by personnel from the Homes. The Sheet-metal work boys make apparatus to
assist the physically handicapped children, and now the Gardeners are supplying other homes with nursery plants, shrubs, etc. Likewise,
of course, our Boot and Shoe Department keeps our boys well-shod, and makes special shoes as required.
All the activities that are carried on at the School were far too numerous to mention, but the Head did make reference to the Duke of
Edinburgh Award scheme that is being run so excellently by Mr. Newton, and read a letter that he had received from an Assistant County
Commissioner of Hertfordshire who had visited Mr. Newton and his boys when they were using the Hertfordshire Scout Highland
Headquarters at Lochernhead. There need be no doubts as to the success of this scheme.
Twelve of our boys had their Art entries accepted by the Children's Royal Academy, and all received awards. Two of the exhibits were
accepted for the travelling exhibition.
Finally, looking to the future, Mr. Wheatley said plans were afoot for closer integration between school and technical education. Exactly
how this was to take place had yet to be devised, but he was sure it would not be long before it came to pass.
Dr. Dempster then presented the prizes to the boys as listed below, and afterwards gave us a really interesting talk, confining his remarks
primarily to reminiscences of his time spent at Goldings. He also congratulated Mr. Wheatley on the wonderful report he had made, one
of the best he had ever had the pleasure of listening to.
Dr. Dempster then turned his attention to the future, paying particular reference to trades, how their methods will change during this age
of automation, but how essential it will be to have a solid foundation, with English and Mathematics as essentials, plus Business Science.
With speed now supersonic, the world is a far smaller place for people to live in, therefore they are much closer together, and
understanding of the other person's problem will be all the more necessary.
Finally Dr. Dempster emphasized the need for everyone to keep fully occupied. The unhappy, discontented and selfish people are always
to be found among those with time on their hands, and it is not necessary to be in that position, there is always something to be done for
someone. He was very pleased that the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme had taken on so well, because he felt that within this framework
was the answer to full occupation of time.
Before our last hymn and the blessing, Mr. Embleton, our Deputy Headmaster, moved a vote of thanks to our principal guest, including in
his remarks some amusing quips in a manner which only Mr. Embleton knows how.
After the proceedings in the gymnasium, staff and guests adjourned to the house for a cup of tea, and the guests were able to see a small
exhibition of work which had been laid out in the assembly room.
N. T. P.