Goldonian sum 64

SOMERSET HOUSE
Admissions
FOOTE, BARRY, from Barkingside
BOULTER, GEOFFRY, from Norfolk
PHILLIPS, GIFFARD, from Plymouth
Leavers
ROSS, MICHAEL : December, 1961 to May, 1964. Painter and Decorator.
WILLOUGHBY, GUY : September, 1961 to May, 1964. Sheet Metal Worker.

CAIRNS HOUSE
A dmissions
MCPHEE, WILLIAM, from Scotland
LYON, TREVOR, from Kendal
DUNN, DAVID, from Belfast
LAWRENCE, MICHAEL, from Bushey
CROSS, DAVID, from Tiverton
DAGLISH, JOHN, from Norwich
YOUNG, DENNIS, from Woodford
GALLAGHER, DAVID, from Hampshire
ALLEN, RAYMOND, from Cheltenham
Leavers
NORMAN, DAVID: September, 1961 to March, 1964. Sheet Metal Worker.
STEPHENS, BRIAN : January, 1964 to March, 1964. Restored.
HICKS, WILLIAM: January, 1960 to March, 1964. Painter and Decorator.
PERRY, JOHN : August, 1961 to April, 1964. Painter and Decorator.
SCRUTTON, RAYMOND : June, 1963 to April, 1964. Restored.
MAIRS, NOEL: August, 1960 to May, 1964. Gardener.

ABERDEEN HOUSE
Admissions
MARSH, STEPHEN, from Kingsbury
MILNER, ANTHONY, from Bartley
JOHNSON, HAROLD, from Edinburgh
Leavers
CLEWER, MALCOLM : December, 1960 to April, 1964. Joiner.
HINDLE, MICHAEL: December, 1960 to April, 1964. Carpenter.
CLARKE, PAUL: January, 1964 to April, 1964. Restored.
MARSH, JAMES: August, 1961 to June, 1964. Carpenter.

MACANDREW HOUSE
Admissions
HOSIE, DAVID, from Edinburgh Leavers
PHILLIPS, PAUL: January, 1963 to May, 1964. Emigrated to Australia.
PELHAM HOUSE Admissions
MCMAHON, WILLIAM, from Renfrew
POTTER, JOHN and DAVID, from South Wales
ABDI, DAVID, from Barkingside
Leavers
TURRELL, PETER : October, 1963 to March, 1964. Restored.
BAINS, MICHAEL: April, 1963 to March, 1964. Situation.
COFFEY, DANIEL: September, 1961 to April, 1964. Painter and Decorator.
DUNSFORD, WILLIAM: February, 1962 to April, 1964. Painter and Decorator

WHEN FIRST I owned a bicycle, most of the traffic was horse-drawn sort of dates one doesn't it? A favourite swank was riding with hands in
pockets. It wasn't quite so dangerous as it would be now, but even then pride could lead , to a fall. One could be made to look silly if a wheel got
stuck in a tram line.
Nearly all tram lines in the cities have long since disappeared. Buses are more manoeuverable than tram-cars and don not so seriously impede the
other traffic on the roads. For this reason the tram lines have been ripped up and the over-head cables taken down. It used to be fun watching a
tram driver pretend he had a skilled job, as standing behind this wheel he turned, it this way and that, stamping every now and then on a pedal
which sounded a warning gong. The wheel, of course, did not steer the vehicle, which could only proceed along a predetermined course. When
the first small cars were manufactured, the famous Austin Sevens, people used to tell jokes about drivers getting the wheels into the tram lines and
having to go all the way to the depot. Are you a tram driver, or do you drive a bus? Do you go along life's journey,, led this way and that way as
someone else moves the points, or have you got your hands on the steering wheel, driving with some purpose towards a goal which you have act
for yourself? Do you see what I mean?
R.. F. W.

KEEPING up standards is always difficult; to improve standards is even more difficult, especially when one is dealing with human beings'
standards, and to my mind this is the hardest job of all. We at Goldings are endeavouring to do that all the while by improving conditions and
services for boys and staff, but even with these incentives it is all too apparent that we are asking too much when it comes to engaging and
retaining home staff.
As will be seen from the staff list, since the last issue of THE GOLDONIAN we have lost house parents of yet two more houses, leaving only two
with their 'mother and father'. Should one care to investigate further they will find the average 'life' of house parents is about 12 months. In the
kitchen the situation is even more discouraging, and were it not for the loyalty of Mr. Jack Cooper would be quite disastrous.
Let us be perfectly clear about the situation. Human relationships is probably the most inconsistent and unpredictable feature of our age, and
learning to live with each other is no easy task. We are taught 'to have minds of our own', 'to be independent', etc., and in the same breath are
probably told that 'you are here to do as you are told', or that a certain line of policy must be followed.
To all rational minded persons there is, of course, a perfectly sound answer to the problem, and that is to work as a team, with a team leader
(obvious'ly there must be one person who has the decisive word), and when a decision is reached, although all cannot be expected to agree, all
should be prepared to accept the ruling.
No words of mine, or of anyone else for that matter, will solve our particular problem, but it must be solved, so perhaps all of us should do some
personal research. When I say 'us' I mean it in its broadest sense, implicating those who are already in this type of work and those who are
contemplating coming in.
Is the reason for this 'fall-out' of staff the inability to handle boys? Are we 'old staff' too difficult to live with? Do adults expect adult behaviour
from boys? and when they realize that cannot be do they throw in the sponge? . . . and so one can keep on asking these questions and still we get
nowhere!
Perhaps I have completely missed the point somewhere along the line, but however deeply we penetrate the answer is invariably 'personality'.
One final point on which perhaps we 'oldies' might browse. When endeavouring to enlighten the youngster on his form of behaviour, do we over
emphasize 'when I was your age . . . '? If we must make comparisons would it not be better to be on the same wavelength and phrase our
introduction 'if I were your age . . . !'?

THE FACT that Mr. Powell is Editor of THE GOLDONIAN is no excuse for him to deny the magazine's
readership the opportunity to study him as this issue's 'Goldings Personality'. Although he is now District
Commissioner for Hertford's Scouts, as his one-time Patrol Leader I stood him to attention and photographed
him.
I first became aware of his existence some thirty-eight years-ago when I was commissioned to take him
home
from school when he became ill. Later we were to become founder members of the present 3rd Hertford
Scout Troop and it amazes us both that the Scoutmaster we then plagued is still in charge of that Troop
Mr. Powell served his apprenticeship with Messrs. Stephen Austin and Sons after first pausing long
enough in the front office Costing and Estimating qualifications. In many ways his youth ran
parallel to that of our own apprentices. He was in digs. After paying his landlady he had 1s 3d. a week
to splash around on clothes and luxuries. Impossible? Of course it was—he used to beg for overtime at five and
Half pence a hour Before he could complete his time King GeorgeV1 invited him to serve in the Forces.
Mr. Powell served for 7 years with the Hertfordshire Regiment and saw service in Gibraltar and Italy,
becoming Signal Sergeant.
Having helped bring the Second World War to a conclusion he returned to complete his apprenticeship
and to commence studying City and Guilds subjects, gaining wider experience meanwhile by seeking employment further a-field. Concurrently,
and after obtaining his Full Technological Certificate, he taught part time at the Hertford College of Further Education and eventually took up his
full-time teaching post at Goldings in May, 1952.

His long association with the Boy Scout movement made this transition from craftsman to teacher of craftsmen comparatively easy. He was
immediately accepted by the boys who appreciate that if their efforts to assimilate knowledge match his efforts to distribute it, their success is
assured.
Quick to dispense and appreciate humour, as critical of bad workmanship as only a craftsman can be, we hope, for the sake of Goldings and
particularly the Printing Department, that his 'talents' are long invested in our School,
R. S.

LETTER OF APPRECIATION
THE HEADMASTER received the following letter of appreciation from Mr. Bassett, father of Tony and John, who both set such a fine example
of how to make the best of the facilities available to boys who come to this School.
Dear Sir,
I am writing to you to express my thanks to you, and all of your staff for the education my two boys received while being at your school, and
amongst other things the kindness, care and thought which everyone of you have showed towards them. I shall always be grateful to you, also my
thoughts will always be with you.
May God bless you and help you to carry on the good work so that other children may benefit from your school. Once again my thanks from the
bottom of my heart.
Yours very truly, ' (signed) J. Bassett

THE NEW GOLDINGS BOOKLET
AFTER MONTHS of planning, our new brochure is at last complete, and despite the many changes that have been necessary since work first
started the finished result is quite pleasing.
The booklet comprises thirty-six pages printed in grey, maroon and black inks on white art (smooth) paper. The cover is printed in black ink on
buttercup yellow stipple-finished paper. There are forty-six photographs showing all aspects of our school life, including eight pictures and write
ups of old boys.
Unfortunately these booklets are not for general distribution, but are for circulation to other Homes advertising our role in the Barnardo organization.
However, should anyone be particularly interested, I have no doubt our Headmaster would favourably consider applications for copies.
N. T. P