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THE GOLDONIAN GOLDINGS PERSONALITIES (25)
It is with great pleasure I write the notes for this term's personality. Until he was of school-leaving age Mr. Stevenson had lived in London and was educated at St. Marylebone Central School, and later studied printing subjects at the Central School of Arts and Crafts. In 1930 he commenced his apprenticeship as a compositor with the Hertford firm of Simson Shand. Mr. Stevenson was a very keen cricketer and a well-known member of the Pilgrims, a side of no mean repute. Shortly after completing his apprenticeship Mr. Stevenson, a Territorial, was called to full-time soldiering with the Hertfordshire Yeomanry, in September, 1939. Eventually he landed on D-Day on the Normandy beaches. As an Observation Post Assistant it was his duty to advance with his Troop Commander in company with infantry, and radio orders back to the guns when opposition needed to be shelled. No one at the gun position envied him this job and he thoroughly deserved the American award of the Bronze Star, won during the vital battles as we crossed the German border for the first time. Demobilized in December, 1945, Bombardier Stevenson returned to Simson Shand, where he remained, working as compositor and Monotype keyboard operator until he joined the Printing instructional staff of Goldings in October 1953. For some years now he has been entirely responsible for the production in the senior composing room and his ability to oversee fourteen apprentices and progress work through the department is of a high degree. During his service at Goldings he has taken a keen interest in all the sporting activities, but is possibly best known for his work as secretary of the Goldings' Old Boys' F.C. which is currently in the Premier Division of the Hertford and District League. At present he is on a diet, but however much he slims he will remain a great character.
R. S. On a reprint of the Printing school that Mr Frank Stevenson with his wife Marjorie gathered around the stone (a metal table used when preparing pages of type for press and the traditional centrepiece for ceremonials) to bid farewell to Mr Frank Stevenson upon his retirement after 25 years as an instructor in the composing departments. Frank was presented with a barometer in 1977.
Reproduced from The Barnardo Guild Messenger spring 1980: Frank Stevenson Passed away in May of 1988 aged 74. He was an instructor in the composing room both at Goldings and the Barnardo School of Printing. He joined the staff in October 1953 and retired in 1977 He was a very active man, and will be remembered by many compositors who learned their trade under his guidance. He was a keen sportsman, playing cricket and football at Goldings and organising the Goldings Old Boys' football team, he also played for may years in the Barnardo School of Printing bowls team. He never complained and was always smiling. |
