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 5773 messages in our guestbook. <<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1155 >>> Viewing messages 26 to 30. A story from John Horn As I recall the dugouts or air raid shelters were situated to were the sickbay was, about four in all just slightly back from the path that led to Golding's lane more or less on the edge of the top field and built parallel to the path mostly below ground level with earth packed on the top of the shelters. As I came to Golding's in 1942 they were by then out of use due to flooding, there were steps leading down to metal doors that were always kept padlocked we used the steps on the first shelter to have a drag out of the sight of prefects until they discovered our little den then we would after find another secluded place to have a fag. When I asked the older boys who used the shelters during the war they told me it was a bit of a fag having to get up in the night and march down to the dugouts in only there pyjamas and a gabardine the dugouts were cold and damp the only lighting was a couple of storm lamps hanging from the ceiling. In my years at Golding it was almost the same procedure when the sirens sounded get up put your gabardine on take your gas mask with you march down in double file through the governors apartments down a nice carpeted staircase to the library and games room then the prefects would take a roll call and report to the Governor if any boy was missing, we also went through the same procedure when we had fire drill. John Horn Aberdeen 42-45 9 April 2025 Dave 62-65 Well its April (Spring) The 'Flu Epidemic Not long after the beginning of the Spring Term 1959, about ten boys were suddenly "laid up" in Sick Bay with influenza. Not long afterwards more boys went sick. Soon there were so many that the Headmaster gave permission for the Somerset first bay to be opened as an extension to the Sick Bay. Still more boys came in and soon the whole of the Somerset floor was full as well as the Sick Bay. For the orderlies it was a very hard time when all Somerset was full, running to and fro with bowls of water for the boys to wash in, making the beds and sweeping and polishing the floors. Nurse Underwood from the Sick Bay was on duty all the time, except for an hour or two in the afternoon when a master took over. Like Nurse Underwood, Sister Offord was on duty all the time in Sick Bay. A week or two later the numbers began to dwindle as more and more boys went convalescent and they were able to close the small Somerset bay so that only the two big Somerset bays were left. Some nurses from the County Red Cross came to help us out, and we were very grateful for their help. Also we were very grateful for the help given by Mrs. Nunn, Mrs. Stackwood, Mrs, Maslin and all other members of staff and their wives. The 'flu epidemic as it affected Goldings was so important that it was even reported on the front page of a local newspaper. BRIAN BALL The Goldonian Spring 1959 2 April 2025 Dave 62-65 Browsing on the computer a few weeks ago I came across a most interesting story on people’s recollections of Hertford. This extract from a story a Mr Paul recalls. He reminds us that originally he was from London but as he grew older his family moved to Hertford and recalls his time spent in Hertford and his lifetime, but what interested me was a small passage from it which concerned Goldings which is set out below, and do any of our Old Boys remember the incident and what happened to the boys concerning this incident. Hertford in the 40s At around this time, two boys from the local Dr Banardo’s home, Goldings, ran away after breaking into the School Armoury and stealing two Mosberg 22 Rifles and ammunition.They ran riot around the local woods and did Kill one poor old man in Panshanger Woods, a Tramp I believe, but at last they were cornered in the quater-mile rail tunnel by our local PC Baker. Evidently, as he ran to arrest them, they fired with one of the Bullets, cutting his uniform belt in half. At the rear of Simson Shand's was Hertford Castle Wall, and from a small Window upstairs in the stores it was possible to exit onto the top of the wall, which was around five feet wide, and in Lunchtimes some of us used to climb out and sit on it to have our Lunches, and sometimes run or walk around the top. I graduated before too long onto the much larger Machines Called Meihles, and these were very big Presses that enabled 32 pages of a book to be printed on one sheet at a time. One of the complete Books I printed, of which I am very proud, was Winston Churchill's Speeches of the War, and all of the Author's Finals (pass to Press) were signed by that Great man himself. If only I had kept some of them, they would be worth a fortune to-day! My next well-known print Job was the first edition of the Which Magazine, and we all thought it would be a five-minute wonder. How wrong can you be. 26 March 2025 Winston Norton I have just heard that Brian Ball (Miggy) has died. He was at Goldings the same time as me (1957 onwards) and was a printer. Always sad when we lose one of our own, but remember the good times 4 March 2025 Bobby Mac And l still make my bed every morning lol Cheers all 24 February 2025 - Cornwall <<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1155 >>> 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 -