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Page Compiled June 2007

Throughout the lifetime of the school there were many areas and rooms within the grounds that were very significant to us but I
think the one that possibly we all remember even today would be the “Gym”

The Hall is seventy-five feet long and thirty –five feet wide and was built originally by the Able-Smith family as an indoor
Badminton court. Unfortunately the lofty sloping roof and the large glass skylights, together with the long and narrow shape of the
hall conspire to give the building a very poor reputation for sound. Complaints have been frequent from persons seated at the rear
that speeches made from the stage were inaudible. Some time ago, the stage was lowered, but no improvement resulted. It is now
proposed to install a small public address system. We trust that the use of this apparatus will now enable the backseaters to hear
every word!.

“The Gym” was used for many functions other than the obvious, in autumn prize giving was the order of the day as displayed
above for pupils who had been selected by there various teachers as worthy candidates, and competition was fierce throughout
The year for a coveted prize in your trade or schooling.
Annual Prize-giving
THIS YEAR we were graced with a very charming lady to present the prizes in the person of Miss Sylvia Watson, O.B.E., who holds
the all important position of Children's Officer for the Hertfordshire County Council. Also we were blessed with one of the few sunny
days of the summer.
After the singing of the hymn 'Praise my soul, the King of Heaven', the Chairman of the Goldings Committee, Councillor L. B. Keeble,
Esq., J.P., opened the proceedings by introducing all the V.I.P.s assembled on the stage, and saying a few words about the School and
its future activities.
Our Headmaster then addressed us all and gave further details of the reorganizing that was in progress. He also made mention of the
progress of the boys when they left the Home to take up employment either as apprentices or improvers in their particular trades, and
quoted the stories of three boys he had heard from recently, all doing remarkably well in their particular spheres.
Then came the more active part of the proceedings, when the boys who had honourably excelled themselves during the past twelve
months either in school or in workshop, received their regards from Miss Watson. As usual the prizes were of great variety from book
tokens to tennis rackets or suit cases. Miss Watson then gave a very bright and brief address, and no one was left in doubt as to the
merits of this very dynamic lady.
Our Deputy Headmaster then proposed a vote of thanks to Miss Watson, the Mayor and Mayoress of Hertford, and all distinguished
guests, and another prize-giving came to a close with the singing of the hymn 'Fill thou my life, O Lord my God' followed by the
'Blessing'. The prize winners were as follows:
GENERAL SUBJECTS
Juniors: Mathematics, John Bassett; Science, David Pike; English, Paul Hundleby; Religious Instruction, Glyn Parry; Progress,
David Marno; Physical Training, Imre Nagy.
Seniors: All Subjects, Raymond Hood; Progress, Richard Rowan; Physical Training-, Harold Holberry.
SHOEMAKING
Senior: Michael Toynton; Intermediate: Phillip Furley; Junior: John Major.
CARPENTRY
Senior 'A': Terence Whitehead; Senior 'B'; Harold Holberry; Senior 'C': Patrick Snowden; Junior: Paul Hundleby.
PAINTING AND DECORATING
Senior: Roy Morgan; Junior: Michael Glendenning.
GARDENING
Senior: Shar Mairs; Intermediate: Michael Kelly; Junior: John Bassett; McMullen Prize: Desmond Mohammed.
PRINTING
Senior Compositors: William Charlton and Winston Norton; Junior Compositor: Glyn Parry; Senior Machine-minder: John Blackman;
Junior Machine-minder: Stephan Denton; Apprentice: John Wellwood.
SHEET METAL WORK
Senior: Roy Capon; Intermediate: John Sparks; Junior: David Pike.
N. T. P.
Goldonian Winter 1960

Another use it had was “Film Night” in the winter on Thursday night (this night was not always Thursday’s in the early years
of the school) and in it’s infancy local children along with Staff children were also invited. The “Films” were so kindly loaned
by film companies to us for free! The films were organised and shown by the staff for the boys and there was many a night the
reel ran out, and it became a hall of riotous behaviour until “normal serve was resumed”
The floor of the gym was religiously protected for these shows, due to the polished floor! And I would just like to quote an
old boy Paul Walkeden.
“We had to roll out a canvas sheet onto the floor before we were allowed to place out the seating (chairs) and after the show
we rolled up the sheet, re-stacked the chairs then sprinkled damp sawdust onto the floor, and swept up with large brush’s.”
This “ privilege” was usually given to defaulting boys!
OUR CINEMA SHOW.
Thursday, the 14th of February, will go down in the history of Goldings, as the occasion when we had the first cinema show, entirely
arranged and conducted by our Staff. From first to last it was a splendid performance, and we felt ourselves amply compensated for
what few faults there were by the fine choice of films and the herculean task accomplished by the trio in the operating box. As a
matter of fact, we seriously advise them to don shorts and singlets on another occasion, they will find them far more convenient.
The orchestra also deserve a word of commendation for untiring energies throughout the performance. This, however, is still another
word in favour of Mr. Marchant, and the standard of efficiency that he maintains among his boys. Three very appropriate films were
shown, and we only hope that future performances of this nature will be as successful as " Our first Cinema Show." L. SCOTT.
Sergt. KETCH. 1927

Joe Patch

Bob Newton

There were mainly five sports masters in the lifetime of the school, Mr Cruichshank, also renown for being a very good sportsman in
His own right in the early 30’s, followed by that well remembered character Mr “Joe” Patch up until the early 50’s, then Mr Newbrooke
for a very short time, followed by Mr “Bob” Newton, and finally before the close of the school Mr “Dennis” Allen.
Without a doubt Mr Patch and Mr Newton were very much the most remembered characters of the five, both of them were from a
serving army back round, Joe a soldier from the First World War, and Mr Newton a member of the Parachute Regiment that was
Pathfinders at D-Day landings. Joe a short and stocky build of wiry character who demanded the behaviour set by his standards and
With his trusted dog would carry them out. One punishment was when you were made to hang from the “Wall Bars” until he decided
That was enough, and as he carried out other exercise’s with the rest of the boys his entrusted dog would ensure that your feet would
Not cheat and touch the floor for a “rest” as only a well trained dog could!!
Mr Newton , “Bob” as we now refer to him with affection, but all those years back we not dare to, it was “Mr Newton boy, and don’t
You forget it ! With pride he wore his Parachute Regiment Tracksuit colour Maroon! but never once a mention of his war service of
Which I only found out recently from his wife. A very practical man who ran the Gym Team, wrote and produced the school Panto,
Swimming, Life Saving, Outward Bound, Boxing, and many other activities which I have overlooked, and it wouldn’t surprise me
If he didn’t also help with coking the boiler for our heating! Supported ably by his family who were also heavily involved for the
School. Yes we had some very dedicated staff, and lets not look through rose tinted “glasses” we also had some not so good.
Both of these masters encouraged the noble art of “Pugilist” or as we were to call it Inter “ House Boxing Tournament”

FOR SOME SIX WEEKS before the appointed. time of the tournament, at
the twice-weekly gym sessions, instructions were given in the rudiments
of the noble art. They consisted of each class forming four lines of equal
length, then turning inwards to face each other. The boys would then
respond to shouted instructions to 'lead with the left', 'deflect with the right',
'feint with this' or 'counter with that'. Joe Patch was the gym master's name.

Another item that Gym was to host was “Dance Night”. Organised by the staff to introduce
Us to the females of our species, and show us “How to be Gentlemen” Bussed in by
Mr Whitbread the girls were from Balls Park, and other similar establishments to to have
There feet crushed by us “Fred Astaires” or in later years “Chubby Checkers”
To quote Neville Fletcher “I won the twisting contest, but twisted that much ended up in
Sick Bay for two months with torn ligaments” What price fame?


The “Gym” today...but memories still remain!

The Gym today

The Gym