While watching the Tennis at Wimbledon on the TV, I remembered many happy hours acting as escort to the real stars, the ball boys who were, of course, our own Goldonians.  This triggered another memory that you may not have known, that is that those same talented boys played the part of public school boys in the movie, "The Browning Version".  starring Michael Redgrave, Jean Kent, Nigel Patrick, Wilfred Hyde White and Bill Travers, directed by Anthony Asquith. Most of the Movie was shot at Pinewood studios but we also went to a large private school to shoot some of the outside sections. Once again I was privileged to go along as an escort for the Goldonians who, I recall, were paid as "extras" and therefore earned a lot of extra pocket money.  If you can get a copy of the video watch the Goldings gang on Visitors day, acting like little toffs, doffing their caps to the visiting aristocracy and performing for the cameras in ways very different from the characters we knew so well at Goldings. One very funny event occurred during the cricket match between staff and boys when Bill Travers, playing the part of the school sports Master who was also supposed to play for England, was taking his turn at bat, facing one of our better Goldings bowlers , Ostle Senior, better known as "Big Oss") They tried several times to have Travers hit a ball bowled by Ostle only to have the embarrassment of being bowled out each time.  Finally, they took two shots, one of Oss bowling and then, a separate shot of Travers hitting a ball which was lobbed to him gently by one of the movie staff.  If you can get a copy of the video you can watch all these exciting actions in glorious black and white. I wonder if you have any contact with former Goldonians who took part in this film.  By the way, it is a very good film and worth watching, even by non-Goldonians. Most of the stars, with the exception of Jean Kent, were very easy-going and chatted and gave autographs to the lads during meal breaks. I'm sure that the boys who took part in this activity enjoyed the action and the extra pocket money.

© Jack Johnstone

Two boys I know who were in the film was Johnny Leach and George Bumford, Johnny remembers Wilfred Hyde White gave him some words of advise "don't follow my example because my downfall is slow horses and fast women" Johnny never did take his advise!  Regarding the cricket scene, don't blink or you will miss it. The scene took over three days to shoot due to waiting for the sun, yet it remains on the cutting room floor and was never used apart from the shot of Fletcher hitting the ball and hitting it to the boundary.

For some information on who's who in The Browning Version click here
For some information from the Goldonian winter 1950 click hear
For some more information about the film shot on location at Goldings in 64 click here
For some more information about Kit Carson click hear