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THE GOLDONIAN GOLDINGS PERSONALITIES
Jack left England in 1953 and became a vicar in Canada, by the time he retired Jack was a Canon. Jack and his wife Helen are now retired living in an apartment in Winnipeg. Jack has mastered using a computer which enables him to keep in touch with some of his old boys and friends from the many homes that he had worked in. Prior to joining Dr. Barnardo's Jack had been a fighter pilot serving in the middle east and was in Burma at the wars end. He remembers when the atom bomb was dropped, the war ended suddenly and unexpectedly with the result that many men were totally unprepared for life after the war. He returned to England in early 1946 to be demobbed and to try to build a new, civilian life. Jack had always hoped to attend university but found that, in these post-war years, thousands of other young men and women had the same idea and colleges had long waiting lists. He had applied to Durham but found that he would have to wait for at least two years for a vacant place. It was while on his demob leave that he received a letter from a wartime buddy, another pilot whose name was Laurie Bittlestone, telling him that he was working for Dr. Barnardo's as a Housemaster at Old Roar House, Brighton. He had been in charge of young men so he felt it would be no problem controlling a few boys, that was until he arrived at Goldings. Jack started working for Barnardo's as a trainee Housemaster at Corris House Much Wenlock where he met a young Mike Jarvis who would become a House captain of Mount Stephan and then School Captain of Goldings. Jacks first few months in Barnardo's in his own words are best glossed over as he still remembers, with some embarrassment, his first feeble attempts at supervising young boys. Because Jack had been an officer in the RAF he , rather naively, thought that controlling groups of young boys would come naturally and easily. How wrong he was. The young devils he was given to supervise ran him ragged and Jack went to bed many evenings wondering whether to pack his bags and leave immediately or to wait till the morning. Fortunately, he waited and, after a few months, began to get hold of the job and, I know Jack was able to gain the respect, if not the affection, of the youngsters in his care.
Most old boys from the 50s will remember Jack as he started the National Association of Boys Clubs "NABC" at Goldings that had a hut by the side of the chapel. Jack was also responsible for organising the yearly Gang shows that brought a smile to many Goldings boys. Do you remember the rendition " A piece of bread here is called a Jinner, it maybe half an inch or even thicker, first of all you pick it up, then sling it on the floor, if it doesn't break you sling it out the door, then you say "please sir I don't want anymore", as Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh. Second verse,,,, This and more was sung to the tune of "Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh" a very popular radio show of the 40s and 50s. Jack left Goldings about 1951 and was a housemaster at Horsington House, Templecombe until he emigrated to Canada in 1953. Jack was very happy to meet with the gang again at the 1998 reunion He is still in touch with George Sandmann who was Housemaster of McCall House at the same time as Jack. One of Jacks many emails he wrote to The Goldonian: I wonder sometimes how many Goldonians remember the bugle blasts as I do. My bedroom was at the top of the spiral staircase and, when I had a day off, I could have strangled the buglers as they blasted away outside my door. That's one of my many memories. Regards. JJ. The photo above is when Jack went over to teach the Yanks how to fly, joking aside this is Jack in the early years learning how to fly before joining his squadron. The Grammar school in Hertford may of had Biggles, well the author of Biggles as one of their own, but we had John "Jack" Johnstone who was not a figment of imagination like Biggles. to view Jack with the young boys of Aberdeen. Click here >>>>>>>>the staff were not all Scrooges. Click here >>>>>>>> a Visit from the Barnardo Board of Management. Click here >>>>>>>> how and why jack became involved with Barnardo's Click here >>>>>>>> the Browning Version memories Click here >>>>>>>> 57 things you never knew about Mr Johnstone as sent 8th March 2005 1. First Name: John The Rev Jack Johnstone retired We have not heard from Jack for some time and can only presume Jack has passed away. I did have contact with his son but I have mislaid his email address. |
