Since the last notes on Goldings appeared a number of stalwarts have disappeared from the scene. Ex-students of the Printing Department will be grieved to learn that Mr. Millar, Master Printer for many years, died in service in December, 1964. Mr. Maslin, who retired after 44 years at Goldings, but still seemed to be one of us, as he lived so near the school, died in August, 1965. It is still difficult to think of Goldings without him. In February of this year, Mrs. Embleton, Chief Matron, whom many will remember at Waterford Verney Hospital for Printer Apprentices, died in service after a long illness. Visitors will also miss another of the seeming indestructibles, in the person of Mr. de Boeck, who recently retired and is happily still living at Hertford Heath and comes to see us from time to time. One member of the home staff, whom everyone inquires about, particularly ex-­cadets, is Capt. A. P. Culver. "Skipper", the friend of hundreds of Goldings boys, has settled in retirement in Folkestone, so near to Dymchurch, his happy hunting ground. "Never mind, Eh." He is at present living at the Copthall Guest House, Copthall Gardens. If you happen to be that way, he would be glad to see you. 

The most notable addition of recent times is the fine new School Building, opened by Sir John Hunt in November, 1965. These up-to-date and spacious classrooms have replaced the rather pokey little rooms in the old School Block facing the Carpenters' shop. These latter also have now been much improved and are used for Science teaching. A small, but well-equipped, light engineering workshop has been incorporated. Other important improvements have been made in the Printing Department. The site of the old paper warehouse has been used to erect a two-story building, with warehouse below and above it a newly equipped junior composing room and better spacing for the mechanical typesetters. The Senior Composing Room has been re-furnished through­out and the machine room modernised in respect of lay-out and machinery. The Horticulture Section has been provided with a modern commercial glasshouse to supplement the one which already stood. The next improvement we are all looking forward to is the replacement of the noisy Dining Hall by dining rooms more in keeping with the rest of the establishments. 

In many ways Goldings is still as past generations remember it, with its gracious old mansion, spacious well-kept grounds, noise of battle on the top field on winter afternoons and cricket on the South field in the summer, in the best setting for miles around. There are not so many 16 and 17 year old boys as there used to be, which perhaps explains why the annual staff v. boys cricket match was won by the former again this year. For a school comparatively small in numbers, we still manage to hold our own in sport. In the 1965-66 football season the boys were runners-up in the Harlow & District Youth Club League, just missing the championship by one point. The Ball-boys still flourish at Wimbledon, displaying in the full glare of publicity some of those qualities in our boys, of which we are justly proud. 

It is a pleasure to report that following "Skipper's" retirement, the work of the Cadet Coy. is being carried on by Mr. Malcolm and Mr. Keith Brierley, who as boys here were enthusiastic members of the Cadet Unit and are now re­turned to the School as Teachers of their craft. Another activity, which has grown in popularity in recent years, is the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. From time to time, too, boys are released to participate in Outward Bound Courses. We were proud that one of the boys now at Goldings, Graham Scott, was selected to join the crew of the Sail Training Association Ship Sir Winston Churchill. We were gratified, but not surprised, by the exemplary report we subsequently received of his performance.

 Mr. R. F. Wheatley, BSc.

Reproduced from The Guild Messenger October 1966