Welcome to the Goldings Guest Book ** We APPROVE all messages before they are posted ** Add a message : back to Goldings.org : Search There are now 5796 messages in our guestbook. <<< 1 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 1160 >>> Viewing messages 1861 to 1865. Peter Continuing along the backround of finishing up at Goldings.I was as a young boy, a bit of a street urchin from London (East End of London,Canning Town)My father who was a Dr Barnardo child,who also was at Goldings decided that I needed the discipline and control that Goldings gave young boys,as it did for him and requested for Dr Barnardo's admit me to Goldings and he would contribute the cost.I arrived at Goldings September 1962,was a member of the new house Macandrew (built in 1960)I was trained to be a Carpenter,and was one bench above Blower! who was a licker to Mr Broster! I was deternined to follow in my father footsteps and join the Merchant Navy,and stayed there for 23 years.I left Goldings in Decenber 1964,and had no further use for my tools! As far as we know I was the only boy who followed his father (who was there in 1926-28 into Goldings! 5 April 2014 Alan Dearman SPEAKERS AT THE PRIORY, HIGH STREET, WARE, HERTS. SG12 9AL MONDAY APRIL 14th at 7.30pm I have been invited to give a Barnardo presentation at the above with the Emphasis on Golding's. The presentation will be entitled "Before During and after Golding's" and will include a PowerPoint presentation. I am delighted to announce that David Wheatley has agreed to be a guest speaker at the event, but I would like to keep this a secret from the public where possible. The event is free to the General public. I know many former Golding's boys live in the area and it would be nice to see them present. 4 April 2014 - Melton Mowbray Dave You will become aware as different Old Boys send in stories of their reasons for going to Goldings that in the early 60's,and possibly before, that many boys were not Dr Barnardo's children but from broken homes, in need of "parental guidance" and many other walks of life that may have beset them without the influence of Goldings. Many came from Local Authority Homes (like myself) who felt that Goldings would do a better job in improving our lot than they could possibly do. Now my personal opinion kicks in. Due to many improvements in family life after the war, children of Dr Barnardo’s were becoming less so they needed to supplement revenue by offering places to Local Authority Children, but as Local Authority's changed and retained children in their locality, influx to Goldings dried up. So at this stage Dr Barnardo's decided to close Goldings. Shortly afterwards they were approached or they made the approach to turn Goldings into an Approved School for Boys with Government funding!! This was stopped by the locals with a strenuous petition to stop such an idea, and with Herts County Council aware of this situation purchased it off Dr Barnardo's for £200,000!! including 110 acres of land (I cannot to date know if this included the Verney as no one has given me the information I have requested) but it did include Staff Houses and Cottages!! quite a bargain! When Herts moved out Goldings fell into terrible disrepair and was finally sold to Mr Flannery for development, who has done a fine job in restoration, and many of the residents welcome us back, and listen to our stories of time spent at Goldings. I personally feel that the developer rescued that fine old building and came somewhat to restoring it's former glory, with the chance once more to recollect mainly the fine old times we spent our "Teens" at Goldings, and a chance for our children and grandchildren to walk were once we played and lived. 3 April 2014 Dave We have received news today that Ken Grethe has passed away.Ken was the person to contact to book the hall for our re-unions,and I must say he was very supportive to us and always rang shortly after the previous re-union to make sure we were first in booking the hall that gave us priority over everyone else with the date of our choosing.He was also a member of the Goldings Bowls Team,not a Goldings Old Boy but was a friend to many Old Boys and Staff locally,and supported us in many ways. Ken Grethe R.I.P. 3 April 2014 Clifford Steele (Pop) The message below is from a member of Staff who was revered by us,and was very active in supporting the re-unions well before I came on the scene. Dave, Continuing the theme suggested by Reg Longman. I arrived at Goldings from the North East on Thursday 24th. May 1956. Loved the place so much, decided to stay. Until the powers that be made a disastrous mistake and kicked me and everyone else out some eleven years later in 1967 However, the reunion every year means they still cannot get rid of me. Pop. 2 April 2014 <<< 1 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 1160 >>> You can search this guestbook by: Message : - Name : - All : Please type some text: - Guest book sponsored by PC Home Help (01922) 626 366 - http://www.pchomehelp.net -