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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

Dave 62-65
The Waterford Village Hall is now booked and sorted for our reunion this year October 2025
21 February 2025

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