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THE GOLDONIAN GOLDINGS PERSONALITIES (15)
I think it is true to say that Mr. W. H. S. Millar holds the distinction, if one may call it a distinction, of being the last member of staff to be appointed to the School immediately prior to the 1939-1945 War. He came to take over the headship of the Printing Department in succession to Mr. J. Wollen, who was retiring. Of the many improvements made in the Printing Department since his coming, Mr. Millar was perhaps mainly responsible for piloting through all its stages the apprenticeship scheme for printers. Up to date,100 boys have been indentured and all those who have left the department as fully qualified journeymen, and those who come after them, should feel grateful to Mr. Millar for engineering this splendid piece of legislation, giving every boy who enters the Printing Department a chance at 16 years of age to qualify for apprenticeship and thus ensure for himself a future full of promise and an assured livelihood in the trade. With the installation of the Monotype system and automatic presses, the department has gone from strength to strength under Mr. Millar's guidance, and even as I write we are in the throes of seeing a fine new extension being built, so that the Department can still further expand and give to' those boys who enter its portals a wider scope in the many aspects of the printing craft. Many a lad outside the School would be envious of the training given to our boys and I know that Mr. Millar's aim is to see that the boys under his charge have the very best training that can be given to enable them to leave the School well equipped to measure up to any apprentice outside going into the printing industry. In addition to his work as head of the Printing Department Mr. Millar entered into the social side of the School from the very first day he came, and in any social function, whatever form it may take, one has come to expect to see him taking an active part, either as an organizer or lending help whenever it is wanted. For many years he organized and played for our table tennis teams, as well as serving on the committee of the Hertford and District Table Tennis League. During the war years he was Section Leader of the A.R.P. for Goldings and gladly gave up his time in out of shop hours to under-take extra duties such as being a non-resident housemaster. When the War ended these duties ceased, but the experience gained has kept Mr. Millar's enthusiasm for his work for boys up to concert pitch, for he knows it is important for him to take an interest in a boy's home life and not just his craft training, if he is: to be successful in his task of fitting a boy to1 become a useful citizen, both at his craft and socially when he leaves the School. We are fortunate to have Mr. Millar on the staff and we look forward to having him with us for many years to come. He certainly has as his objective the School motto, Finis Coronal Opus.
J. M. Mr. Miller a master printer for many years passed away while in service 30th December 1964 MR. MILLAR, Master Printer at Goldings since 1939, was probably more widely known than any other member of Goldings staff, as his work brought him into contact with many people serving in other fields. The esteem in which he was held everywhere has been shown by the many tributes to his memory, which have been received at the school since the news of his death in hospital on 30th December. He was due for retirement in July next and his untimely passing has come as a shock to us all. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Mrs. Millar in her bereavement. Mr. Millar came to England from Canada, commencing work in this country as an estimator for Messrs. Whitehead Bros. of Wolverhampton. For five years prior to taking up his post at Goldings he was Manager of the main works of this Printing firm He was Honorary Warden of a Wolverhampton Boys' Club and served on the Executive Committee of the Staffordshire Association of Boys' Clubs. He was a member of the Wolverhampton Round Table. It will be seen, therefore, that when Mr. Millar entered the service of Dr. Barnardo's Homes he brought with him a wide and practical knowledge of printing, and also a sympathy for young people and an earnest desire to be of service to them. Those who worked in close association with him will agree that the qualities which marked him out were unfailing kindness, patience, and good humour. During the past two years he has struggled against indifferent health and had need to be sustained by his sense of duty and life‑long habit of service. In addition to the duties of his office as Head of the Printing Department, Mr. Millar took a keen interest in most of the boys' social and sporting activities. A great deal of his success was due to the fact that he was obviously a friend of the boys. One of his most outstanding services to Goldings boys was the part he played in the establishment of the Printer Apprentice Scheme at the School. There must be a great number of Old Boys who have reason to think of him with gratitude, as his work enabled them to enter a career in the Printing Trade on a good footing. The printer boys benefited greatly from his influential position in the trade. He was a member of the Hertfordshire Federation of Master Printers, serving some years as Honorary Secretary of this organization. He was also one of the earliest members of the Association of Teachers of Printing and Allied Subjects, holding the office of Regional Chairman for two years. Together with The Reverend Aneurin Jones, Appeals Secretary, Mr. Millar worked hard to establish close links between Dr. Barnardo's Homes and the Universities throughout Britain. Student groups have been encouraged to devote part of their Rag‑Week collections to Barnardo's, and in return the Press of Goldings has undertaken a large amount of work for them. At the internment, which took place at the Enfield Crematorium on Monday, 4th January, many of Mr. Millar's friends were present to pay their last respects. The following list will give some indication as to the extent of his popularity. The Reverend B. L. Nixon, Chaplain to the School, officiated at this short but moving ceremony Goldings Staff: Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Wheatley, Mr. and Mrs. Embleton, Mr. R. Stackwood, Mr. N. T. Powell, Mr. F. Stevenson, Mr. L. G. Mondin, Mr. W. Purkis, Mr. R. Purkis, Mr. R. Fox, Mr. J. Taylor, Mr. J. James, Mr. K. R. Wood, Mr. P. Culver, Mr. S. Whitbread, Mr. E. Brooks, Mr. F. Sheppard, Mr. H. W. Tempest, Mr. F. Tordoff, Mr. W. Broster, Mr. R. Nunn, Mr. H. de'Boeck. Printing Apprentices: Messrs. W. Charlton, W. Norton, D. Lee, G. Rose, C. Sainsbury, V. Chan, L. Browning, R. Rowles, R. Roberts, L. Coman, G. Parry, J. Foote, C. Berry, L. Carroll, K. Milsom, G. Turner, J. Pooley, M. Cousins. Retired members of staff: Mr. J. Maslin, Mr. R. Randall and Mr. J. Mitchell. Also Mrs. Newton, Mrs. Maslin, and Mrs. Purkis were also present. Old Boys: Mr. A. Hoperoft, Mr. C. Fuller, Mr. G. Forster, Mr. D. Chalton, Mr. J. Gray, Mr. J. Smoker, Mr. D. Wright, Mr. D. Martin. Stepney Staff: The Reverend F. Holmes, The Reverend A. Jones, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Cornish, Mr. and Mrs. Knight. Business representatives: Mr. S. Gabriel and Mr. L. Waller, Messrs. Stephen Austin and Sons Ltd.; Mr. T. Knight and Mr. Wilson, The Clock House Press; Mr. C. Abbiss, Messrs. A. E. Abbiss Ltd. On Sunday, 31st January, a memorial, service was held in the School Chapel, in place of the normal Sunday morning service. Once again the esteem in which Mr. Millar was held was evident by the attendance of his many friends, approximately 150 were present, as well as the whole school. The Chapel was full to capacity. Two tributes were paid to Mr. Millar, one by Mr. Wheatley, who referred to the great work Mr. Millar had done for the School as a whole, apart from his work as Master Printer, emphasizing the kindness he always showed to staff and boys alike. The Reverend Aneurin Jones, Appeals Secretary from Headquarters, then spoke of his close contact and companionship, during their frequent trips all over the country to the Universities, arranging for the printed work for 'Rags'. If anyone present had any doubts as to the wide range of Mr. Millar's work, it must surely have been dispelled after listening to these tributes. During these past weeks our thoughts and prayers have been with Mrs. Millar, whose grief is immeasurable, and however sincere our tributes to Mr. Millar, they can in no way have lessened Mrs. Millar's burden, in fact the added publicity has no doubt increased the strain. We all extend our heartfelt sympathy to Mrs. Millar, and trust she will find new interests which will give her some comfort whether she moves into her own family circle in Wolverhampton, or remains in this area with her many friends. |
