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Well, if it's not a sports page, it's a page about sports. The Cricket season is approaching anyway, so there's sure to be a catch in it.
One definition of a sportsman given in my dictionary is: "a chivalrous, fair minded person, one willing to incur risks and prepared to suffer
defeat in fair competition without complaining''.
During the past term at Goldings we have witnessed plenty of practical examples of that true sportsmanship described in this definition. Let us
pay a tribute to the boys of the senior football team 16's to 18's), who have kept going throughout the season, with many heavy defeats and
very rare successes to encourage them. Hats off to the Old Boy who made a long journey each week to play for a losing side and three cheers
for the man and his dog, who turned up rain, hail or snow to support them. This praise of the senior team is not to suggest that the Minors were
less sporting, but everybody knows it is easier to be a good sport when you are winning than when you are losing. Talking of taking risks,
there were certainly boys prepared to take risks in the boxing ring during the house competitions. Some of these risks were more like dead
certainties, but the boys put their feeling of loyalty to their House before their own discomfiture. Well done! I hope we approach our Summer
sports programme in the same good spirit.
This good sporting attitude can equally be applied in other circumstances. There are a few amongst us, who could learn to accept defeat in
argument more gracefully and not be guilty of striking a hasty blow when we are getting the worst of it, if our opponent happens to be smaller
or younger than ourselves.
To be able to accept defeat gracefully when it must be suffered is only one attribute of a good sportsman; he must be able to get up and try
again and possess the spirit to win. There is one contest we cannot afford to lose and that is the conquest of our own failings. There will be
times for all of us, when e most humbly confess that they have got the better of us. It is one thing to admit a defeat and another to sit down
under it. Self-mastery is the hallmark of a really grown up person. Every weakness we recognise, fight against and finally overcome is a stride
forward on the road from childhood to true manhood.
R. F. W.
Mrs. K. Parkinson, our new Matron, joined the staff quite recently. Before coming here she was Matron of a "minor infectious diseases
" hospital at Southbourne, Bournemouth, and more recently was Matron of a Maternity and Medical Home. We welcome her to Goldings and
hope her stay will be a long and happy one. She finds, of course, working with boys is quite different, but most interesting and varied, and
expects to settle down very quickly.
We welcome to the Junior floor, Mr. and Mrs. Russell as House Father and Mother. Both have army backgrounds. Mrs. Russell was a convoy
driver during the war and Mr. Russell served several years in the army and worked with different military bands.
His knowledge of bands and instruments will be invaluable to Mr. Culver in training the Cadet Band. We hope they are both enjoying their new
work and hope their stay here will be a pleasant one.
CHAPEL NOTES
How often do we hear the words, "We live in an age of great change". But these words go back to the time of Adam and Eve and the garden
of Eden, because they are typical of the human race all through its history. Men have always believed that the age in which they live is the
greatest, and the one of greatest change. There is no harm in thinking this, because it is an essential truth of the Christian Religion. Our
religion is a religion of great change, but the great trouble with it is that we want to be Christians without it making a lot of difference to us
personally. We almost say, in effect "O God convert me, but not just now".
The greatest and most sudden change of all changes in our religion came in the three days, Good Friday to Easter Day. Tragedy and utter
darkness—the veil of the Temple rent in twain an earthquake—the sky dark and ominous—the Son of God dies on the cross. Bitter hours—
hours of fear and trembling—great despair and no hope. Then—suddenly—the greatest of all transformations—the Son of God lives. The
light shines in the darkness—the whole of Nature is alive—the whole vista of eternity is completely changed.
To begin to describe the greatness of Easter we must first feel its meaning in our hearts. All through the ages, men have tried to express Easter
in terms of canvas and oils, or poetry, or music, whereas Easter can have its full meaning only where Christ is known and welcomed in the
human heart; in the heart which has been changed.
We truly are "living in an age of great change"—but, the greatest change will come when man unreservedly, accepts Christ as his Master and
Saviour.
May God bless you and yours this Easter.
s.c.c.
CONFIRMATION SERVICE
The Bishop of Bedford, the Rt. Rev. R. C. Maclnnes, Confirmed 31 of our Boys in the School Chapel on Tuesday, 20th March, 1956. Both
staff and boys attended this short but inspiring service.
As The Lord Bishop reminded us, at Confirmation we openly confess before the Bishop himself and before all those present in the Chapel, that
we approve of the promises made at our Baptisms, whether personally, or through our Godfathers and Godmothers; and now "confirm" and
take them upon ourselves, that we will endeavour, as much as we possibly can, to maintain them.
"Confirmation" means strengthening; and this Rite is so called because those who have been Baptised receive it in order to be strengthened by
the gift of the Holy Spirit. As in our lives we "come of age" at 21, so in our spiritual lives, Confirmation is the "coming of age". Now we will
be able to partake of the Lord's Supper— and this is the only external change which Confirmation makes in our religious position. The
important change is the internal change —the change of heart.
The boys confirmed by The Lord Bishop were: — Ernest Andrews, Derek Brewer, John Brown, George Bryant, Michael Clarke, Alan
Dearman, James Deane, John Davis, Leslie Davies, John Eves, Richard Furnise, Gordon Goodwin, David Gregory (confirmed at Enfield),
Robert Hammond, John Hilton, Michael Holden, Hamish Johnston, Frederick Knight, Ronald Knight, Anthony Lydford, Chester MacAtamney,
David Pashley, Christopher Pettman, Leslie Reed, Barry Robins, Arthur Steadman, Walter Snaith, George Tangen, Peter Townsend,
Robert Watkins, Stanley Wright, Christopher Mitchell.
s. c. c.
MR. M. B. SMITH, B.A.
Mr. Smith, who has been on the Goldings teaching staff since September 1950, will be leaving us on the 30th June to take up a new
appointment as Deputy Principal of a Pitmans College at Hull. Whilst all of us at Goldings will be sorry that he is leaving us, we congratulate
him on this promotion and wish happiness and good success to him and to his charming wife and family.
For many years past Mr. Smith has edited THE GOLDONIAN. The high quality of this journal is in itself a testimonial to his work for the
school. He has also given a great deal of help with the School Library and in productions of the Drama Group.
We shall miss his prowess on the cricket field in the latter half of the season. He can usually be relied upon for a contribution in the score, but
it will be his devastating off-breaks on a sticky wicket which our opponents will be glad to escape. With what apprehension his colleagues
watch him toss up the occasional "wrong un." Should the length be right the most cautious batsman can be tempted out of his crease, for his
Yorkshire mate behind the stumps to do the necessary. When the length is unorthodox too, with what philosophy, yea admiration, he watches
the ball soar over the beech tree on the boundary into the long grass of the water-meadow.
R. F. W.
EAST HERTS. YOUTH LEAGUE
It was doubtful, at the commencement of the season, if it would be possible to field two teams to compete in the two sections of the East Herts.
Football League, and it has often proved difficult to find 22 players. However, the senior team has plodded along, always promising better
things but never quite fulfilling that promise. I feel that one good win could transform this side into a good combination. It is such a long time
since they recorded a win that their confidence is not all it should be.
As if to prove they do do not lack confidence, the senior team defeated Peartree Boys' Club, the League leaders, by 4.—2 on the 17th March,
and those four goals were no flukes!
The 14-16 team has been brilliant at times and with just a little more "devil" in important games, could have been weighted down with medals.
How delighted everyone in East Herts, would be to see a team from this side of the county at last reach the Cup-Final. Icknield, our semi-final
opponents in the County Cup, were by no means an outstanding side, but they "fought" just that little bit harder to win 4-0, a wrong reflection
upon the actual game.
It is possible for our junior^ to take the runners-up position in the League, and as this is the only remaining attainable honour, how about going
all out for it?
EAST HERTS. YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Tables inclusive of matches played loth March, 1956
Under 16 League
St. George's Sports
Waltham Abbey Rovers
W.T.B.T
Cheshunt Boys' Club
Stanstead Abbotts
Wormley Rovers
Haileybury Boys' Club
Peartree Boys' Club
Nazeing Minors
16-18 League
Peartree Boys' Club
St. George's Sports
*\Vormley Rovers
Ware Youth
Stanstead Abbotts
Abbey Sports
W.B.T.S
Herts Training School
* Two points deducted
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