Our old School motto Finis Coronat Opus. Since I started this website I have spoken to many people and it would seem we all have a different version and different spelling, so I thought I would put my version over. The word Finis = Finish or end, the word Coronat = Crown, the word Opus = Works / All. Or the rough translation into English. The Ending Crowns the Deed or as our school used it "The Finish Crowns All" Now please don't take my word for it as I suffer from Dyslexia so what would I know. Please post your version and spellings plus meanings via e-mail.

Our School motto was also used as a book title Finis Coronat Opus by Francis Thompson who became a ripper suspect due to his book being about the gory sacrifice of women on a pagan altar. I never saw this book in our library and did Mr. J. B. Dempster the person who gave our old school its motto know of this book? I don't know what year. his translation is End Crowning Glory, he died in 1907 in a St Johns Wood Hospital. He was know to have been living rough in the Limehouse area of Whitechapel click here to go to the page

One response that we have received so far: Finis Coronat Opus, literally means The end crowns the work Mediaeval proverb the problem with Latin is that literal translations to English often feel 'cold'.  A more grammatical English phrase might be The end to a crowning achievement.

I have the honor of being allowed to use the old school motto within my business as a Plumbing & Heating Engineer since 28th May 1992 and would like to know if I have it right or wrong ie: I have seen it published as Finis Coranet Opus with the meaning the “The end crowns the work” . Ok another pint of beer for the person who can tell me via e-mail what's the Latin for work the clocks ticking? and the beers getting flat. I do remember old Mr. Ibbotson in the Painting & Decorating Dept hitting boy’s over the head with whatever, he had in his hand at the time and saying each word with a hit "The – Finished – Work – Crowns - All" we called it the Ibbotson's crowning glory, which is much better than saying he gave us a “bollocking”.

Mr. S. G.  Moules used to try and do the same thing but he wasn’t as tall as Mr. J. F. Ibbotson and had to stand on tiptoes some times, which used to crack the other boys up, and old Mr. Moules used to think we had been laughing because someone other than us was getting hit. They were both really good teachers in their trade. My reason for telling that story is that some boys had that done to them so often that it will still be ringing in their ears today, so it could have been translated for some old boys The Finished Work Crowns All. I do wonder if they flinch when they say the words today.

The version "The Finish Crowns All" was told to us all in the last church service taken by Mr. Wheatley prior to his retirement. In his sermon he spoke of what we should expect from life after leaving Goldings and going into the big wide world. The service ended with the Chosen Way Hymn

Then Bill Cotton sent an email:

Frank, I remember an elderly gentleman, great friend of Pinhead, who often visited Goldings and gave us little pep talks. His connections went back, I understand, to the first days of Goldings.

I believe his surname was Hyde-Smith, though I can't be certain of that. He stressed to us that Finis Coronat Opus meant The End Crowns the Work, a very suitable title for an educational establishment. don't you think. I am not a reader, much less an authority, on Latin, but I have taught ancient Greek in three countries, and since the two languages are very closely linked, I have no doubt that Hyde-White's translation was correct.

Warmly, Bill Cotton

In 1927 the then governor of Goldings the Rev. F. C. Macdonald wrote to the then editor of the Goldonian magazine Mr. J. B. Dempster:

With all my heart I wish your venture every success. Your motto suggests that the end crowns the work. You are at the beginning of your effort; the end is in the mists of the future, but there is no doubt whatever that in this particular work, its ultimate completion, both to readers and contributors, will be realized as a coronet of success.

From this the motto that was used in the Goldings section of The Guild Messenger was used on the then monthly school magazine The Goldonian. The motto had not been adopted as the school motto in 1927, this was to come about some years later.

In the last issue of The Goldonian Spring 1967 House notes for Pelham, Geoffrey Bowler wrote: