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A MOST AMAZING STORY
Charles Zakaroff
This to date is one of the most fascinating stories that I
have come across relating to Goldings, a book loaned to
me by John Hunt recording experience’s by boys and
girls that were born in England, but were sent to the
colonies in various parts of the world, but in the main
Canada and Australia. This young boy befriended an
Officer of the British Army stationed in Tblisi (Eastern
Russia) This young man was named Charles, he was a
shy, poor boy who relied on this Officer for food and
clothing, as his Country was what we call now
“Third World”
The Officer and Charles became very close, like father
and son, but his posting in this war torn country was
about to expire, so concerned for him, he approached
senior Officers with the suggestion that he take’s him
back home with him to England away from such poverty
and fend for him in England. This wish was granted on
the condition that this Officer must feed him, clothe and
house him at his expense in England, which he did for
many years. A few short years later this Officer died,
so he was housed by Dr Barnardo’s, and later arrived at Goldings. Now Charles wanted to go with other boys to Australia,
and not to remain at Goldings but was constantly overlooked on the roster system they used at Goldings. Prior to the visit to
Goldings by the then Prince of Wales to officially open Goldings, he decided to barricade himself in a “cubby hole “ and
refuse to leave until he was included on the list for Australia.
This story was told to the Prince on his visit to Goldings, as the Prince had noticed this “cubby hole “ housing this young
man, and as you can see approached him to enquire of his problem, and to see if he could resolve the matter. Shortly
afterwards his wish was granted, and he finally moved to Australia, setting up a very successful business in 1927, and when
he retired at seventy years of age, he returned to his original homeland to visit former friends of his village (by now he could
no longer speak his native tongue and had to use a interpreter) and tell of the soldier who so kindly “adopted” him and
mentioned his former school and friends at “Goldings”
His guide in his homeland Gulnara Abashadze quoted the following “ I saw how happy he was. His eyes were full of youthful
excitement. I observed this elderly man and his emotional feelings which endlessly overflowed him on his return to his former
homeland” In 1988 he once more returned aged 84, to his country of birth, learning more about the country of his family a
well earned prize for the once hungry and bewildered boy.
A TRUE AND WONDERFUL STORY OF A FORMER “GOLDINGS” BOY, BUT ARE THERE OTHERS OUT THERE
ONE DAY TO BE FOUND. I THINK SO DON’T YOU….DAVE
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