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I entered Goldings in April 1962, a
member of
Cairns House, if memory serves me correct.
Mr Wheatley was the headmaster - very surprised that in
thumbnail pictures to be found on the website show nicknames for the
masters. It would have taken a very brave boy back then to shout out
the name "pinhead" (Mr
Wheatley.) Respect was definitely the name of the game back in
'62.
At the age of 13 "I still had to go to school" which was opposite
the gym between the carpentry/printing/sheetmetal shops. Headmaster
there was a
Mr Shepherd, a first-class tutor. A talented bloke who could
draw really well and reminded us all of the actor David Niven — I
think he even spoke like him . . .
Like most of the other reprobates (peers) I hated school but loved
playing sport. Football and table tennis were my favourites -
cricket was always boring if you weren't batting or bowling — or so
it seemed to me.
Some of the names of other young sportsmen in my memory bank who
shone would have to include Bobby Passmore, Wilbert Workman, Ray
Hillier, Lefty Wright, Keith McSweeney and Glyn Parry.
I could write about
Dymchurch,
Wimbledon and the illicit walks into Hertford town centre on a
Saturday afternoon to chase girls — but perhaps that has all been
covered already.
One soon learnt to steer clear of the school thugs - and there were
a few - no names, no pack drill! I liked to think I was one of the
more placid types but unfortunately some of the inmates were —
without putting too fine a point on it — a little psycho! Still, you
soon found a like-minded bunch to hang out with — Goldings was the
type of school that necessitated that kind of brio.
Being reasonably bright at English I thought the printing department
the way to go, so signed apprentice papers — and I'm still in that
game!
Messrs Miller (later
Ron Stackwood),
Powell,
Jimmy James and
Frank Stevenson were encountered — all first-class blokes — who
always had the boys' interests at heart. They were generally
forgiving when we erred or strayed from the straight and narrow.
Looking back, and if I had to single anyone out, it would have to be
Frank Stevenson who saved my bacon on more than one occasion
when threatened with dismissal (indentures torn up). I remained only
an average compositor but it was
Jimmy James who introduced me to mechanical typesetting via
Linotype machines (my eventual forte) . . . weren't they wonderful
devices? I well remember the Linotype factory up in Altringham on
hearing that we [Goldings] had a Model One in perfect working order,
promptly replace it with a modern version taking the "One" back to
their museum for showcasing.
 An incident one day in
Frank's composing room still gives me the shivers when I recall
it. One of my mates (Derek Hammond) had lashed out at another of the
comps (Robert Buggs). Next thing we knew Bugsy chasing Hammond with
a dinner knife ready to cut off Derek's knackers! Without the
intervention of
Mr Mondin, the head reader, there could well have
been a homicide investigation for the school to face up to!
I did spend a little time at the
Verney (the hostel down in the village beyond Goldings). Not
happy days under the supervision of a bad-tempered Yorkshireman
called
Tordoff.
While most of the boys at Goldings came from all over the UK I was
possibly its closest resident, being brought up in Hatfield, about
eight miles away. I found lodgings back there, travelling to
Goldings each day to complete my apprenticeship, courtesy of an
ancient Vespa scooter, before buying other people's "old bangers" —
something I still do today, incidentally!
It was Barnardo's policy to release apprentices once they reached
the age of 21.
I hung around in the UK for four months before finding a girl who
would marry me (we still are, and had three lovely boys), while
seeking pastures anew in 1969 (South Africa).
Today, for my sins, I'm the motoring editor of a daily regional
newspaper in South Africa, while editor of another motoring magazine
when time permits.
Looking back, I'd be lying if I said I enjoyed my stay at Goldings .
. . but what I do say is that without the support of organisations
such as Dr Barnardo's and the Hertfordshire County Council to tackle
and help youngsters like us who had distinct problems - we'd
probably all be on the rubbish dump today.
Mad thought: If anyone wants to know or
I can help with anything South Africa(n) please get in touch.
Dave Fall
Editor: DieselCar/TestDriven
The photo above was taken while David
was back in the UK for Christmas 1907 |