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 5747 messages in our guestbook. <<< 1 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 1150 >>> Viewing messages 401 to 405. Dave Well pubs open, and no I didn’t go to the pub, not for me the pub is a social thing and so I decided to give it a miss. Let’s wait till things are more back to normal. Hope I can resist tonight lol 13 April 2021 Dave 62-65 Somerset House,House Captain 1964 To add to the two other comments, In my opinion I was very fortunate to go to the William Baker Technical School, and much respect I must pay Walsall Children’s Homes for having the foresight for sending me there. My memory of the School it had boys from all parts of the U.K, a mix of boys with various circumstances, boys like myself beyond parental control as my father died when I was five, and my mother was unable to control me. The other novelty about the School was as far as I remember, there was no colour problem with the boys, we were all "Dickies Boys" a lesson the Country should by now have copied as we were one big happy family. Don't get me wrong, at sixteen I just wanted to go out into the wide world. At the time the teachings of the School was a long lost memory, but later years were to return and for me to appreciate the wonderful time spent at Goldings sank home. The majority of Staff was caring and helpful. By being a pupil of the School I was to share a friendship with other Boys and Staff that has never been surpassed, and is rekindled every year at our annual reunion in Hertford. Many years later I was to discover they had been having a reunion since 1957! In 2004 I attended my first reunion, but it appeared a fall out with the previous organiser was going on which concerned me, as I could see this may end the reunions. I was at a meeting at the Salisbury Hotel with a lot of Old Boys in 2004, and was invited to take over the reunion, of which I was very proud to do so, along with my family and loyal supporters the reunion was re born thankfully. I then realized that for many years Old Boys were visiting the grounds of Goldings but not the Mansion as it was now occupied by it's new tenants. So I approached the tenants and they were very welcoming to us and have been so ever since. TO BE CONTINUED ON NEXT POST 11 April 2021 Dave 62-65 CONTINUED The School opened in April 1922 but sadly closed in July 1967,and in my opinion was a massive mistake by Dr Barnardo's committee. Yes it was run on a military footing, but tell me a better way of controlling 200 boys between the ages of 13-16 and in the case of the printers 21. I was taught a trade by very skilful tutors along side wonderful House staff. Yes I was caned for smoking but looking back that wasn't such a bad thing! As I now don't smoke! Perhaps in these days many more Goldings are needed in my opinion for our youth to give more direction. 3 years and 1 month I had at The William Baker Technical School...many, many, thanks to my brothers from our School, Thanks for the memories P.S. The web site is to keep Old Boys and Staff in touch and to share our time spent at Goldings and each other’s experience of the School, but as I realise we were not of the computer era, so many will not be aware of it or don’t have a computer. Even so it is another route to help us keep in touch throughout the year leading up to our reunion, but sadly it now seems to be overlooked, but I have tried to give a comprehensive history of the school throughout the pages on the site. MANY THANKS MR SMITH FOR STIMULATING THE GUESTBOOK IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED DAVE 11 April 2021 smith Hi Mal x,your comments are enlightening and appreciate your understanding, I submit to your valued opinion on the understanding it is as stated a keep in touch and information site and not otherwise. 11 April 2021 Clive Gillingham Somerset House 50`s Smith,I had 3 years at Goldings and the training and respect I was given did not come through being pampered,over the years we have lost many brothers and remember them with respect,our site shows both sides to live, remember tears and laughter should be shared together. Fact, nobody was ever forced to join the cadets,I joined by my own choice.In the real world not everything is a smile and joy.Please respect our site and it`s content. 10 April 2021 - Still in lockdown, some where in Essex. <<< 1 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 1150 >>> 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 -