St Peters pages click here »»»»»

We should never complain about getting old, it's a luxury not afforded to everyone.

'Your task to build a better world God said.
I answered 'How?' The world is such a large place,
so complicated now, and I so small and useless am,
there's nothing I can do. But God in all his wisdom said
"'Just build a better you"

Email 14/12/07

Hi there

Enjoyed your website . . . it brought back memories, some lousy but mostly good.

You ask about the staff football team v boys game played during the 1964 season. I have just a single copy of the Goldonian which shows that the result was - surprisingly - 1-1. Although the master's were talented — the boys were more so! Pop Steele was an excellent soccer player - but if memory serves me correct Mr Rowlands was perhaps the fittest that day! In the mag is also to be found a picture of the boys' side - I'm on the extreme left.

I live in South Africa (and have done since 1969) but happy to post the mag on to you — do with it what you wish.

Kind regards, and if you supply me with a postal address I'll pop summer 1964 Goldonian in the post to enable your records to be updated.

PS: Regards to anyone that remembers me — I turn 60 next birthday!

All the best and a merry Christmas to all
Dave Fall

I had an email from a gunslinger, well in truth an old boy who had a water pistol and one claim to fame is he shot old pinhead in the face with a load of his dirty bathwater. For the full story click here to view just proves old pinhead did have a sense of humour.

Edited Email 13/12/07

My name is Charlie Carson, brother of the late Ted 'kit' Carson. I went to Honingham Hall in the early 40's . I was at Honingham Hall when an pom-pom shell blew up with the help of one of the boys then when Sir Eric Teichman was murdered by an American Servicemen who was out poaching, I remember Lady Teichman crying late at night for Eric. I have lots more memories of my time at Honingham Hall as I was there about ten years. Did you know that Sir Eric was our Father Christmas?

In the late 40s I was moved to Goldings.  I recognize the boys in Aberdeen House group photo , one funny thing I remember is pulling a prank by running behind boys in photo and quickly pulling each of their dungarees down.  I was not aware my brother had been made so famous on the Goldings web site, seeing stories and photos of my brother.  it really made my day

I would like to make contact with any of my old friends.

All the best and a merry Christmas to all
Charlie Carson

Email 30/07/06

I've only just found the website . . . I'm Clive (Lew) Lewis. I was in Cairns House from 1958, later to move into the Verney . . . then into digs.

A point of interest In those days, the days of the 'teds' outside school. As we used to walk through Hertford town centre late at night we were heard a mile away as we would 'click-clock' subject to the fact we had to have 'blackeys' (quater steel tips) on our standard issue black 'bulled' shoes. Which we would 'spoon' in the shoe cleaning area at the back of the 'bogs' . . . anyway I diversify! . . . the point I was getting to was the fact that even the local teds would hear us coming, and the shout would go out 'BAKER BOY'S' . . . they feared us as we had gained a reputation among  the locals as being 'hard little buggars'. We stuck together!

I've seen some faces on the site among which were my best mates, I'm going to try and contact some of them . . . how would I do that. Please advise. I've also got some pic's to sort out.

Clive (Lew) Lewis
Contact through Website

I was sent this photo taken in the fifties any clue who it is. She was about 12 or 13 years of age, but don't rely on that as her true age. Her father was know to turn a sod or two? The photo is the type you got from a photo booth. Answers via email

This dated 04/03/06 @ 20:50 HRS GMT

We have heard from Jack today and it would seem he is back in control of his computer. The info came via an email and I have re-formatted. click the message board to view.

This dated 24/2/06 @ 16:15 HRS GMT

Today 24th February we have been informed that John "Jack" Johnstone is back in hospital and has suffered a heart attack and also has fluid on his lungs. We are all thinking of Jack and his family in Canada.

This dated 25/9/05 @ 21:25 Hrs GMT

Johnny Leach phoned John "Jack" Johnstone his old housemaster of Aberdeen as he had not heard from him for some time. Johnny spoke to his wife Helen who was glad to hear from him as Jack often talks about his old boys of Aberdeen. Jack was admitted to hospital with a stroke, but it is hoped he will be back home one day this week. Johnny has passed on all our best wishes and Helen will keep us informed of Jacks progress. Jack is 82 years young.

The photo shows Jack with his grand daughter Christina.

For those of you who are not aware Jack now lives in Winnipeg, Canada.

This dated 06/10/05 @ 21:12 Hrs GMT

Regarding Jack we have some good news and some bad news, The good news first. Jack is out of Hospital and on the road to recovery, well that's if he could see the road because it's covered in snow. That was the bad news. So for the boys who asked how jack was feeling I hope you read this and if you want some snow contact Jack as he seems to have quite a lot.

Bill Cotton has written a book "They would have come looking for me. Wouldn't they?" The fifth of a series of Barnardo Biographies published by Badgerwood Publications LLP, this is the story of a Barnardo Boy told in studied depth. A grossly fragmented childhood in Barnardo's is introduced initially through the sad experience of finding his mother in his middle age, and further presented by vivid accounts of foster homes and cultured. Pictures of a number of institutional 'Stately' Barnardo Homes through which he passed. A Barnardo apprenticeship as a 'printers' devil' culminates in a stage of powerful reflection as the disturbing facts of his origins begin to be known to him. The deep spirituality which emerges takes him through the study of theology to years of compassionate missionary service in South America, told with colour. It is at the end of his later period of academic life that the impact of his disturbed childhood becomes most painfully revealed.

You can get a copy of the book from  Badgerwood. Bill told The Goldonian " I think it is quite unique since it has a chapter which deals at first hand with the psychology of an orphan."  Badgerwood is run by a Dr. Barnardo's old boy Gordon Brocklehurst who is a Retired Neurosurgeon.

Goldings old boys were asked to recall their Wimbledon ball boys days, Johnny Leach, Keith Stephenson, Brian Ball, James Deane and John James and others talked  of their memories for a radio programme New Balls Please to be transmitted June 26th on Radio 4. Presented by Tony Hawks. Click on the names to see their memories sent in to Goldonian web. click here to share your memories of Wimbledon. Also the summer edition of The Barnardo Guild Messenger has old Goldings boys on the front cover when they revisited Wimbledon with Diane Church.

Stephen Horsley School Captain 1952 has loaned Goldonian Web two copies of The Goldonian, one a special edition printed about 1952, Stephen came to Goldings from the Russell-Coats Nautical School in April 1949.

Stephen was promoted to be a School Prefect in June 1951 and became the House Captain of Somerset in December 1951.

Stephen is now retired after a successful career in the Metropolitan Police.

Johnny Leach who is a joint Manager at the Northampton shop was presented with his certificate of long service 21st January 2004  after which he and others were invited to lunch to celebrate their award. Well done Johnny and a big thank you to all the voluntary staff who work in the Barnardo's shops. Click here to view photos. »»»»»

Jimmy James has loaned Goldonian Web two of his old copies of the old school magazine The Goldonian from 1948 and 1949 I can now OCR some content for the website. one of the facts that I was not aware of Mr Wheatley held the post of Officer in charge Army Cadet force, also school Captain J. G. James wrote an article in the 1949 issue covering the saga of "Gorgeous Gussy" Moran's knickers, he also went on to be on BBC programme "In Town Tonight" of which I have it on good authority he was paid a fiver. »»»»» click here to view the article