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THE GOLDONIAN GOLDINGS PERSONALITIES (9)
In February, 1931, Mr. S. G. Whitbread became a member of the School Staff, in the capacity of boiler man. He brought with him considerable skills of a sporting nature. His footballing ability was above average and a great asset to the School's team of that time. Staff and boys combined in those days to form a team entered in the Hertford and District Junior League, and League and Cup trophies came regularly to the School. He proved a very useful cricketer and, indeed, a sound performer in every form of sport he attempted. He moved from the boiler house to the dining hall and from there to the Bootmaking Department as a store man. This latter move coincided with his appointment as Housemaster of Buxton House. H.M. King George VI then ordered Mr. Whitbread into the Army in June, 1941, as the nation's need at that time was greater than Goldings'. He served in the 17th Light A. A. Regiment, R. A., until April, 1946. With this regiment, Mr. Whitbread saw service defending East Anglia, Clydeside, and then key positions in North Africa and Italy. Even in war, opportunities existed for recreation and Mr. Whitbread was a regular member of the Regimental football team, no mean achievement this, because most of the team were of professional calibre. Returning to the School upon demobilization, Mr. Whitbread was soon to take over the duties of lorry driving, and all its attendant extras, transporting goods and personnel. It is as well he is a keen sportsman for very seldom is the lorry idle at weekends. Football teams, cricket teams, dancing partners for the boys, Monday dancing classes, recreational outings, vocational visits to factories and exhibitions; the lorry is always much in demand. Since hanging up his football boots, Mr. Whitbread has been secretary to the senior football sides and this task he performs very diligently and very efficiently. Mr Whitbread moved into the gate house in about 1950 after the Vaughan family had vacated the property. It is not recorded what year Sidney left the gate house. I am sure Mr. Whitbread is remembered quite affectionately by hundreds of old boys and on their behalf, as well as for the School's benefit, I wish him many more years' association with Goldings. R. S. The Goldonian Spring 1960 Our New Lorry
Despite some cynical remarks about 'Ice cream' and 'Tonibell' our new lorry is a very smart affair, finished in dark blue and white or in our case grey and darker grey. IT has been built as a dual-purpose or perhaps it would be truer to say, an all-purpose unit, to transport any form of merchandise and/or humans! The motor is an Austin product and was supplied by Messrs. Neale's Garage of Hertford. The coachwork was made and supplied by Messrs. McMullen's (coach builders) of Hertford, and the man responsible for the making was a Goldings old boy, Mr. Jeffrey Varnham. Mr. Varnham was trained as a carpenter and wheelwright at our School under the late Mr. Disney during the years 1933-6. The picture shows Mr. Varnham standing next to the lorry before handing it over to Mr. Whitbread, who needs no introduction. N. T. P. Reproduced from The Goldonian Winter 1961 I must add that I had the misfortune to be transported in the Dr. Barnardo's Lorry from Barkingside to Goldings in 1964 and this was not the lorry that I remember. Mr Sidney George Whitbread retired from Dr. Barnardo's in July 1973 to Norfolk after 42 years of service. Sidney regularly attended the Goldings reunion each year where the old boys were always delighted to see Sidney, as for most boys he was the first person of Goldings staff they met. Mr Sidney George Whitbread died on 2nd January 1999, the photo below of Sidney was taken at the 1996 Goldings Reunion aged 87.
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