The Autumn term, 1960, will surely go down in the history of the School as one of the most memorable terms of all times. So much has happened that it is very difficult to know just where to start, so perhaps the only safe way is to take the events in strict chronological order.
On Thursday, 8th September, 1960, a revolutionary change in the administration of the Home took place. Two of our junior houses 'died', namely Buxton and Kinnaird, and a new house was 'born' namely MacAndrew, and instead of having senior and junior houses, all houses would house senior and junior boys, in other words we were really turning over to the family group system within the Home. This change meant a lot of hard work for all Home staff as well as upheavals for some of the boys, but I am sure everyone will agree that it will be in the interests of all concerned in the future. This great step forward has only been made possible, as the present inhabitants are well aware, by the completion of the new wing, which completely houses the MacAndrew House, and when I say completely I mean completely. There is sleeping accommodation 'for thirty-five boys (and not more than seven in anyone room), a housemaster, reading and quiet rooms, games room, bathrooms and toilets. This is only the beginning, because work is already under way to make the accommodation for the other houses in the main building up to the same standard.
The eternal question one hears from staff and interested friends of the School is 'do the boys appreciate what is being done for them?', and I find it a difficult question to answer, because any boy of the age group we have at the School is always wary about expressing his innermost feelings but I do think that the appreciations will be voiced by the boys when they have been away from us, say, 3 months? Appreciative or not, I do feel that it is up to all of us with an interest of the Home at heart, to try and instil into the boys the importance of home-life and to do our utmost to kill this anti-social attitude which some of the. boys seem to adopt.
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By the winter term of 1960 Goldings had its new house system in place, but
the works went on converting Goldings. Regarding the house names while
I was at Goldings the houses were listed as below with the house colours.
Cairns was the next house to close in 1966. In 1965 MacAndrew house was
handed over to the senior boys from each house. |
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Pelham » » view |  |
Cairns
» » view Closed 13th November 1966 |
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Aberdeen » » view |  |
Somerset » » view | ||
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MacAndrew
» » view Closed 1965 changed to senior wing boys of 15 and over |
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Some 14 Apprenticed printers had
The Verney Hostel, WaterfordIn the 60s the only House staff members that did not change was of course Mr. "Pop" Steel and Mr. "Skip" Culver. (Skip did retire) The others we must have lead them a merry life as one moment they were the life and soul of Goldings, the next moment they were Gone to pastures new. Click here to view the staff of 1967
In the early 60s each houses would compete each term, to decide who is 'top house' for the term. The trophy was called the Queens' Cup, because it was donated by David Wheatley, who had been a student of Queens' College, Cambridge and had won this cup for being the table tennis champion in his final year at college.
The Best House
Almost invariably when old boys write to me they mention the School House to which they belonged and usually end up by saying I expect Pairns or Somerdeen, as the case may be, is still the best house in the School.
Now-a-days we have a competition to determine the best House each term. Points are awarded for cleanliness and orderliness of each house territory and also points may be won for good work in the School and workrooms, for sporting achievements and indeed for any efforts which add lustre to the School and help to make its life interesting and purposeful. The winning House holds the 'Queens Cup' for the ensuing term.
Friendly and good humoured rivalry is productive of good results. We all know that the general standard of cleanliness in dormitories, sitting-rooms, bathrooms and toilets within each House is so high that the members of staff who volunteer to act as judges find it very difficult to find fault anywhere. The net result is that everyone benefits, for we all enjoy comfortable, wholesome and hygienic living quarters.
The House which wins the Cup is naturally confirmed in its opinion that it is the best House, but I doubt whether the also-rans in this competition are equally convinced and reconciled to admitting themselves inferior. It's quite justifiable to be loyal to your own house and maintain that it is the best, so long as you genuinely try to make it so. After all there are qualities which cannot be assessed as worth so many points in a competition. If there is harmony and good will between the senior boys and the House parents you have a good House. If new recruits to the School placed in your House are welcomed into an atmosphere which is wholesome, you have a good House. If they receive fair treatment and their conduct is improved by following the example of their elders, you have a good House. Do you consider that when you are an old boy you will be able to think back with satisfaction to the time when you were a member of the best House in the School and that you by your words and example helped to make it and keep it so?
R.F.W.
The Goldonian Winter 1961
When you arrived at the William Baker Technical School (Goldings) you were given a number which also allotted the house you would be in. The school was split into 5 houses in the 60s, each house had about 35 boys the houses were split into dormitories, which had 5 to12 lockers and beds. The house captain was in charge of most things around the house.
Each day was started with dormitory inspection the points won would go forward to the end of year House competition, shields and the Queens Cup was up for grabs, we all did it for the honour of the House. The inspection took in all aspects of keeping the dormitory clean and tidy, along with our hygiene standards, we had to make it shine like a new pin, prior to inspection, we walked about in socks so as not to scratch the shine of the floor. It was all done by hand, using Ronuk wax polish and Big heavy ‘bumpers’, weighted polishers, with cloth underneath to bring up a finish. The beds had to be made up military style with blankets and sheets made up in a bedrolls blanket, sheet blanket then wrapped with the third blanket with the bedspread covering the bed. The beds were made up when you returned from school or place of work each day.
We were awoken with Reveille ‘Charlie Up’, each day, apart from holidays, when the American version was used, which had a bit more swing. The next call to be heard was ‘cookhouse, then it was the mad rush down the winding stone stairs, to the outside at which we had to line up rank and file outside the dining hall, unless it was raining then we were allowed to enter via a small back door. We entered by house into the huge dining hall, with pastel coloured walls, the hotplates and urns spotlessly clean, bowls of "pongy" porridge, in white plates, door step slices of bread, we called Jinners that had un-spreadable round chunks of margarine in the winter, added to this memory was the aroma of fried egg and bacon, fried bread, beans and tomatoes.
This was done every breakfast time including lunchtimes and tea time, the only difference was the change of food on offer, but the smell was just the same. Then peace until the last post that was sounded, each and every night, then lights out ten minutes later.
This was in the 60s so how much had it changed from your day? We know that one famous old boy had to drink water from the toilet as there was no running water in the main building, apart from the one toilet. So they never washed their hands! Come to think of it nor did we. Little did we or the staff realise all this would close before the start of the 70s.
Frank Cooke 1964 to 1966