One day I was summoned by Matron. I was 14 and the time had come, she said, for me to go to the William Baker Technical School known as Goldings. I was to leave the next day. That evening at prayers we had the usual going away hymn and Matron said a few words about me. I shed a few tears and went to bed excited. Next morning, empty handed as I had nothing to take with me, I said goodbye to Matron and the other boys and reported to the Governor's office. All the years I was at the Garden City the Governor never once paid a visit to my House. Now he was saying goodbye to me and several others, wishing us well and saying we were going to learn a trade so that we could earn a living when we left Barnardo's.

We boarded a covered wagon and left for Goldings. The William Baker Technical School was a 19th century mansion in 50 acres of beautiful countryside. During the war it had been a hospital and then in 1922 it was given to Barnardo's who transferred their technical school there from London, Stepney. It accommodated about 300 boys from 14 to 19 with the aim of teaching them Printing, Blacksmithing, Boot making, Carpentry, Tailoring, Tinsmithing, and Gardening. There were six dormitories with 50 beds divided into bays.

The Governor the Rev Sutcliffe welcomed us. He said you may seem to be hampered by rules and regulations but you cannot have discipline without them. You will be given every opportunity to do well and we will do our best to fit you into the trade you want. There were only a few vacancies for each trade but there would be a second choice. He went on to say that some of us would be going overseas, others to farms in the country. Those without a trade would go to school, Wednesday afternoons were free for sports and on Saturday afternoons we were allowed to go into town, a privilege which would be stopped if there was misbehaviour.

We were fitted with grey flannel suits - our first long trousers - overalls and a comb. We were allowed to grow our  hair and given numbers. Mine was 181 and I spent the rest of the day sewing the number into my new clothes. Each house had a sergeant and two corporals, boys of about 18 or 19, with a sergeant major in overall charge. They were responsible for discipline and took a large part in the running of the home. Three masters were over them: one was so ugly we nicknamed him Monkey Face but he was the most popular; then there was Mitch the Miser who was always looking for ways of stopping our pay; and Baldy the Sneak who wore rubber shoes and acted as night watchman. You could never hear him coming.

The day started with 30 minutes on the parade ground. Then beds were made, back to the parade ground to form up before marching into the dining hall for breakfast supervised by the N C O's to see that everything was dished out fairly. After that the boys made their way to school or workshops. Work finished at four o'clock and then we were free to read, go for walks, play sport. We were in bed by nine and lights out by ten. At midnight the night watchman would call out for any wet beds. One lad who still wet his bed had to report to the sick bay everyday for special electrical treatment. He would have to hold two small cylinders in his hands from which two wires led to a dynamo. When the sister turned the handle an electric current went through his arms. He was unable to let go and the sister could increase the current and she did if she was in a bad mood. After 10 or 15 minutes of this the boy's arms would ache for a couple of hours. Another treatment was an electrical pad which the sister moved around your lower abdomen and private parts which was painful and embarrassing. Punishment might also include a visit to the Governor where it was trousers down and six strokes.

From my first day at Goldings it was my ambition to join the band. At first I went along to listen to the lads in practice then I was invited to join and began learning to read music and play the cymbals. I was given a uniform and 4d a week which took my wages to 7d. Then I started to learn the clarinet and went out with the band on several occasions not playing but handing round the music. These were my happiest days with Barnardo's.

Memories of Mervin Spencer
Sent October 1990

These memories must be from circa 1923 because in 1925 the first Governor had moved on to be replaced by The Rev. F. C. Suckling. He slowly dispensed of the military system adopted within the school and replaced it with a less regimental overtones. From this date a more public school system started so Sergeants and Corporals became Prefects. The post of Captain was replaced with School Captain, the next major change would take place in 1945