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This TERM'S personality has spent the last twenty-nine years in our Printing Department, for Mr. Purkis
joined the staff on the 17th March, 1930, which is a long while ago by any standards.
During his service with the School, Mr. Purkis has not been the one to seek limelight in anyway, but he has
certainly been athoroughly conscientious master in the machine of the Printing Department
I think I can say, without any fear of contradition, that Mr. Purkis has never refused to 'have
a'go'' at any project that has confronted him. For that reason, if for no other, he has always been very popular
with staff and boys.
During the First World War, Mr. Purkis served with the 51st Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Regiment, and after his demobilisation returned to his civilian job as machine minder at Messrs. Simsons,
Hertford, who are now Messrs. Simson Shand.
During the last war he had a dual role, that of duty officer and fire officer at the School, and also a member
of the Home Guard. Incidentally, Mr. Purkis's platoon sergeant was Mr. G. W. Penny, who until his retirement
four years ago was in charge of our machine section.
Pre-war, Mr. Purkis was a member of the Goldings Bowls Club (1932-9), and also a member of the Drama
Group Committee, his particular line was 'props'.
Yes, many old boys have no doubt thanked Mr. Purkis in their hearts if not personally, for all the help he gave them when he started them on
the road to print.
N. T. P.
Examination Successes
WE OFFER our congratulations to Mr. S. G. Moules, who has been awarded his City and Guilds of London Full Technological Certificate in
Decorative Painting. Mr. Moules has been a member of our staff in the Painting and Decorating Department for two years, and we are certain
His skill and success in this highly skilled trade will ultimately benefit the boys who pass through that department.
Our congratulations too to one of our ex-printer (compositor) apprentices, Tom Allen, who has been awarded his City and Guilds of London
Intermediate Certificate in Typography. Tom, who left us as a qualified journeyman last August, is now working at The Broadwater Press,
Welwyn Garden City, and doing very well indeed. Unfortunately he has to do his National Service, starting next year, but we trust he will be
able to carry on with his studies, so that he is ultimately awarded his 'Full Tech.' too!
N. T. P.
Gift of a New Printing Machine
A SIMPLE and pleasant ceremony marked the handing over of a new Heidelberg Automatic
Platen to the Printing Department.
Mr. E. T, Maddox, Chairman of the Heidelberg Printing Machine Co., Ltd., who was
accompanied by Mr. T. F. Ross, Managing Director, Mr. T. D. Curtis, Public Relations
Officer, and Mr. W. A. Myles, District Representative, told the boys and staff, who were
gathered in the Platen Room, that the Company had decided to mark the occasion of the
io,oooth installation of these machines in Great Britain by giving it to the School. Mr. Maddox
said how pleased he and his directors were to know that the boys of Goldings would have a
Heidelberg Platen for use at the School.
Our Headmaster, Mr. R. F. Wheatley, B.SC., thanked Mr. Maddox on behalf of the Council
of the Homes, and added his own appreciation, both as Headmaster and personally.
Mr. W. H. S. Millar, Head of the Printing Department added the thanks and appreciation of
all members of the Printing Department, and handed over to Mr. Maddox and Mr Ross one or
two specimens of printing which had already been produced on the new machine.
M.
An Appreciation
Mrs. Halfhide is well-known to the staff and boys of our School for her many kindnesses!. 'During the absence of Sister Ward, through illness,
Mrs. Halfhide has given her professional services to help with the very important task of looking after the sick. May we say a very sincere
'thank you' once again!
N. T. R.
New Equipment in the Bootmaking Department
TODAY, FOOTWEAR for ladies is very light and soles cannot be attached by rivets so we use adhesives and this is where the infrared lamps
play their part.
In using these adhesives one roughens both the sole and the shoe, applies the solution and then puts them under the lamps to dry. One sets the
clock, which rings a bell at the predetermined time.
Before the infra-red lamps came into use one had to wait about twenty minutes or longer; now the wait is about four minutes. These lamps
of which there are four — speed this process up a great deal.
The presses on this machine consist of four sole presses, two half-sole presses and two long-sole presses.
After the soles are taken from under the lamps they are attached and the shoe is put in the press, in which one can apply great pressure.
-When one wants to remove an old sole it is put under the lamps for about four minutes and the sole will then peel off very easily.
This new equipment will be of great use in the repair of ladies' light, modern footwear, and also for the repair of certain types of men's shoes.
M. TOYNTON
Presentation
A UNIQUE CEREMONY held 'round the stone' in the Printing Department on Friday, the 13th November, 1959, when Arthur Robertson was
presented with a wedding present, a pouffe, by the staff and apprentices, Arthur, who was married on the I4th November, was also the first
apprentice to embark on the new apprentice release scheme, under the terms of which he will serve the remaining three months of his time with
the Alcuin Press, of Welwyn Garden City.
An enthusiastic worker for the Old Boys' Association, Arthur Robertson leaves Goldings with our sincere wishes for success with his new firm
and happiness in his married life.
R.S.
An Old Boy Talks to the Printers
ON THURSDAY, 8th October1959 Victor Barber, a Goldings Old Boy and a product of the Printing, gave a talk to the
department in the Old Schoolroom. As well as outlining his own career since leaving the School gave an interesting account of Canada,. Its
opportunities| its labour set-up allied to the printing industry.
It would appear from his remarks that the qualifications most likely to advance one up the ladder is to be 'a good printer'. Technical Schools
are few and far between and it is the Trade Union which has assumed responsibility for apprentice training.
The printer in Canada rates alongside the doctor, junior lawyer, etc., in fact, he is middle-class and can cope with buying a house, a car and life's
necessities without too much strain.
Victor Barber paid tribute to his training here and stressed that if he could become a foreman at twenty-seven years of age, the Golding's
apprentice today, with so much longer in full training, should have little difficulty in holding a good job.
Victor works in Vancouver, with a newspaper firm which produces daily and evening papers, papers which quite often contain sixty-four pages.
(The paper boys must earn their cash in Canada!
After his address he invited questions and was soon busy supplying the answers. Mr. Millar thanked the speaker and wished him well on his
Return.
R. S.
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