It is a great joy for me to send a Christmas message to you.
There never has been a time when the things for which your School stands were more necessary. The world seems to be passing through a period
when humanity is reassessing its normal values. The virtues of stability of character, of high idealism, and of high moral courage are, however,
still the essential qualities all men need. When we learn the secret of working hard and playing hard we are on the high road to learning the secret
of life.
May the spirit of Christmas find expression not only in your school life as a whole, but also in the personal conduct of every boy.
A Happy Christmas to you all.
GEORGE THOMAS, M.P.

"WE LIVE AND LEARN"
This well-worn saying jumped to my mind during the last Social Evening held at Waterford Verney. A normally staid and responsible member
of the School showed the assembled company a clever trick. He called for an ordinary kitchen chair and from a jug he poured a quantity of water
on to the seat. He then asked for a volunteer to give a hair for an experiment. Naturally I hung back, but a fellow who had plenty to spare
generously donated a fine specimen—long, dark and wavy. Our conjurer then invited the company to gather round to watch him, by magic,
cause the hair to stand on end out of the water. The Youth of Goldings, ever desirous of learning a new skill, and their young ladies, urged on by
that curiosity which is a characteristic of their sex, trustingly huddled round to see this wonder performed. Whereupon, the;, magician uttering
those potent syllables, "ABRA CADABRA", brought his hand smartly down upon the puddle. As I couldn't get near the crush and so escaped the
deluge I enjoyed the joke immensely.
"Well", I thought, "We live and learn". But do we? The trouble is we do not use our powers of learning to the full and consequently often suffer
much more than a cold splash. The truth is that there are several ways of learning and the clumsiest way is learning by experience. Even
intelligent people have to learn some things by experience, but stupid people have experiences yet fail to' learn from them, behaving like moths
who return time and again to the candle flame until they destroy themselves. Sensible people do not rely entirely on their own experience to
learn the lessons of life. They begin in their early years to distinguish true friends from false and wise people from fools and they profit from the
advice of those they have reason to trust. They also learn by the use of a lively imagination, forseeing not only the immediate result of actions,
but also those in the more distant future.
At this season of the year, with my fervent wish that you will all have a happy Christmastide and a joyous New Year, I proffer one piece of advice
I trust you will act upon. It is this. Spend a few moments at the end of each day thinking for yourself, not relying on your companions for ideals
and brush the cobwebs off. Try to think honestly and straight and ask yourself whether you are going in the right direction, firmly on the road to
becoming the kind of man you have always hoped to be. If you subject yourself to this regular little dose of self-discipline, you will become, not
just one of a crowd, but an individual with powers of independent thought and action—in other words a man.
R. F. W.

LETTER FROM MR. W. W. HIND SMITH
Dear Mr. Editor,
I would like the readers of your magazine to know how very much I appreciated my short visit to the Goldings boys at St. Mary's Bay. It was nice
to spend a night there and I put in a bathe, although the only person I could entice into the (not too warm) water was Celia Wheatley.
I would like to take the opportunity of saying how kindly I was received by the boys and the staff, most of whom I knew at Goldings and I noted
how particularly friendly they were and how they were enjoying their all too short holiday.
I always enjoy reading your magazine and wish it every success.
Yours sincerely,
W. W. HIND SMITH

CHAPEL NOTES
The' late beloved King, George VI., in his last Christmas message to his people spoke of Christmas bringing.good cheer simply in material
things, but in friendship and comradeship. He said; "We think more of the feelings of friendliness and comradeship we have one for the other.
As we listened to his voice at 3 o'clock that Christmas afternoon our thoughts went out to him and his family, and to families throughout the
world. We felt bound together by ties of friendliness and comradeship because we belonged to that circle of family life.
That is what makes Christmas so dear to the hearts of so many people; there is a longing to be in the family circle, to be home. There at
Bethlehem in lowly circumstances began a family life which altered the course of the world's history. Joseph and Mary, befriended by an
innkeeper who gave them his stable for a shelter; "Mary brought forth her firstborn son", and they called His name Jesus. There came Wise Men
with rare gifts, and Shepherds offering the precious gift of friendship. On that first Christmas Day family life took a new and fuller meaning.
At Christmas we come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, with a feeling of friendliness and goodwill to all around us. On that day we
brim over with every good intention, with unspeakable joys. We are wrapped in the bewitching spell ,of Christmas, and for once we feel warm,
and tolerant, and understanding.
It is a time of miracles—for our hearts seem open to receive the spirit of the Christchild. A kind word here, a friendly gesture there; a smile
instead of a frown, a laugh replacing a grumble—they all speak of happiness which could be ours if we perpetuated Christmas Day and its holy
spirit. For one day we are what we would like to be.
But it is no good sitting down and wishing we could keep the Christmas spirit alive. We must do something about it. In our own hands lies the
solution to our problems. We are members of a family owing allegiance, respect, and love to one another. The world is hard and cruel, but through
our devotion to the common good we can offer that world an example of tolerance, of friendliness, of kindness. This spirit can run like a golden
thread through our family life. But, we must insist on good works as well as good cheer.
The Christmas spirit is eagerly awaited by our peace-hungry world. The family of Bethlehem will take its place as the pattern of all family life,
and its teaching will be to all men—"Love one another''.
As we gather together to celebrate Christmas, let us think of each other, wherever we may be, and invoke God's blessing on oui efforts to live as
one great family. With a kind thought in oui minds, with a sincere desire in our hearts, we will be making "oui offering of friendship and kindness,
a sort of birthday gift to Jesus Christ. In that spirit our Christmas will be blessed.
May you all have a Happy Christmas. God bless you.
S.C.C.

MESSAGE FROM AN OLD BOY
When you leave Goldings you can't help but sit down in an ' easy chair and think over the good times you had when at the school and maybe
laugh at some of the funny things which occurred when there. But you very much miss the good company and friendships you had while at the
school.
When I left the school I felt very lonely and had to find friends again which seemed to me very hard to find but eventually I found a few. The
skilled training I was given at Goldings has been a great help to me in my work and I hope each one of you will succeed. The masters who are
very patient in training you and who are looking after you always try and do their best for you and we must also try and do our best for them if
we wish to succeed in life.
When you leave Goldings to start work you have to make the best of life and find new friends and you can only do that by being "honest" and
"doing your best"
Every boy at Goldings stands a good chance in getting on and you must do your part in helping the new student by setting a good example for
him. I enjoyed my life at Goldings very much, and the good friends I made while I was there helped me to enjoy my life at Goldings.
My life there was very interesting although I did not take much part in sport, but on the whole the different activities I followed made it worth
while. The Army Cadets proved very helpful for those joining the forces and most boys gain promotion by their conduct and their knowledge,
and there is always the same promotion given in your various works if you wish to "Do Your Best. I am not writing this article just for "Swank"
but I would like you all to think of the hard work which the shopmasters and housemasters are doing for you.
Life outside is what you make it and if you wish to make friends both at your work and while doing your daily duties at home you have to help
and respect your neighbours. I have found this out myself since I left Goldings and now I feel that I can stand on my own feet.
I would like to finish off this article by wishing you all a Very Happy Christmas and try to do your best both in shop and in the school itself.
That I feel sure will help you to succeed in life.
Good Luck
JOHN COOMBER

'COLOUR" AWARDS
Appended below are the names of the boys who were awarded their "colours" during 1952. We take this opportunity of congratulating these
boys on their success.
Football.— M. Lusty, D. Snow, H. Simmons.
Table Tennis.— I. Morris, L. Mott, L. Young, G. Anstey.
Athletics.— ]. Watts, R. Parry, J. Woods, C. Fuller, A. Wilson.
Boxing.— J. Jenkins, R. Thompson, P. Riches, M. Alee, K. Shanks, D. Jones, S. Raines, A. Ali, R. Davies, P. Parry.
Swimming.— M. J. Smith, I. Snow, A. Henley, R. Pugh, T. Fox, W. Hornby.

COLOURS 1952
Boxing, J. Jenkins, Cairns; P. Parry, Somerset; D. Jones, Mt. Stephen; P. Riches, Aberdeen; R. Thompson, Mt. Stephen.
Athletics, J. Watts, Mt. Stephen; P. Parry, Somerset; J. Woods, Aberdeen; C. Fuller, Mt. Stephen; A. Wilson, Pelham.
Swimming, W. Hornby, Somerset; M. Smith, Mt. Stephen; A. Henley, Mt. Stephen; R. Pugh, Aberdeen; T. Fox, Somerset; I. Snow, Aberdeen.

Swimming Colours omitted in the last 1951 colours list.
P. Arends, McCall; F. Fox, Somerset; S. Raines, Somerset; L. Fripp, Mt. Stephen; R. Thompson, Mt. Stephen; B. Lawrence, Aberdeen;
W. Lines, Aberdeen.

JUNIOR "A" FOOTBALL
It is now time for us to consider the Junior football team. The boys have not started off very well gaining only one point from three League games.
We visited Hoddesdon. B. in the first round of the Cup and we won the game 3-0, E. Murrell scoring two fine goals and G. Kemp notching the
third. We hope to improve as the season runs on under the captaincy of V. King, The team consists of:—G. Ferris, A. Wilson, B. Ship, V. King,
A. Woodward, H. Wainscott, G. Smith, M. Munson, K. Stephenson, I. Kemp, E. Murrell. We have a few younger boys who soon will be playing
for the Juniors. The district team has been selected but none of our boys is representing the school. Five boys from the Junior team play for the
School Minors, ages from 14-16. In conclusion all the team wish Mr. Smith a very enjoyable Christmas.
G. FERRIS.

EAST HERTS. MINOR FOOTBALL
This football season the School has entered two teams in the newly-formed East Herts Minor League, one team competing in the 16-18 League
and the other in the under 16's League.
The area covered by this League is much greater than the Hertford and District League and journeys to Enfield, Waltham Cross and Bishop's
Stortford are frequent.
Several of the teams were unknown quantities at the commencement of the season, but weekly results have served to indicate the strong sides.
Undoubtedly, Cheshunt St. Mary's are a stiff opposition, and it is to be regretted that the School "A" team met them in the first match of the
season, when, owing to the absence of several of last year's players, due to age or their leaving the School, our side was largely experimental.
Cheshunt took advantage of this and rattled in eight goals and conceded only one. The following week the School again suffered defeat, 6-5
and the season had started badly. Since then however, the School have scored five victories in succession, on one occasion, against a team of
only nine men, they scored 20 goals, after which game our centre forward could have claimed the name of "Ten-goal".
Watts, moved from inside forward to centre-half is surely the most improved player in the team. A good team is usually built around this position
and Watts must be congratulated on his performances and example of tireless persistence on the field.
No up-to-date League tables are to hand, but it can safely be asssumed that the senior side is very near the top of the division, if not actually
heading it.
The Senior Team has: —
Played 7; Won 5; Lost 2; Drawn O; Goals for 52; Against 19; Points 10.
Goal scorers: A. Blackburn 23, W. Ostle 15, R. Boswell 4, M. Warren 4, D. Jones 2, P. Alsemgeest 1, B. Walker 1, Own goal 1.
The junior team is surely the best for some seasons, although perhaps the fact that their opponents are younger than in previous seasons, accounts
in part for their successes. To date, Cheshunt St. Mary's are the only team to subdue them.
It would be unjust to name individual players as responsible for success. Team-work and enthusiasm are being rewarded, and with juniors
obtaining League experience now, will prove invaluable later on, as they are promoted to the senior team.
The Junior Team has: —
Played 4; Won 3; Lost 1; Drawn O; Goals for 16; Against 10. Points 6.
Goal scorers: T. Kemp 5, J. Turnbull 3, D. Wheatley 2, Ali 2, H. Hammond 1, G. Ferris 2, Own Goal 1.