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THE GOLDONIAN GOLDINGS PERSONALITIES
The Rev J. S. Sharples arrived at Goldings in 1941 with his wife and a young evacuee they were looking after named Joan. The post of chaplain to the school was one of general spiritual care for the boys, but being a keen sportsman he would also help out on the sports field and was also known to help with keeping the grass under control. Rev Sharples was also responsible for taking the English classes at school along with evening classes. In his memoirs the Rev Sharples paints a picture of his time at Goldings, he wrote: The Goldings' period was significant for many things for us. Most important of all our first child was born there, and we became a family in the proper sense; it was a period I enjoyed because there was little pressure for constant giving of addresses. I had one sermon per week to prepare. Of course I had English Classes. It was certainly a valuable period in making the best friendships I have known, - though more were to come in Manchester and Hatherden. It give me the valuable opportunity, before going back into parish work, of looking hard at boys and men who were suspicious of false piety. I think this latter was probably the greatest influence on my ministry from the days at Goldings, - Religion was to be no less real, but a much deeper thing because much more to do with 'ordinary' life. Contact with 300 boys could not fail, with the most stupid of possible chaplains, to bring one well down to earth, and it was this that I took, along with the beautiful surplice the boys gave me as a farewell gift, with me to the grime of Manchester and the North in the early summer of 1943. To read The Rev J. S. Sharples story of his time at Goldings click here |
