Mr R. F. Wheatley, B.Sc., Education, Dip. Social Studies

photo copyright Hertfordshire Mercury

Mr and Mrs. R. F. Wheatley are seen after their presentation on December 16^th 1966 from the School on his retirement.  Mr. Wheatley was appointed Headmaster on April 1^st 1945.  Mr and Mrs Wheatley gave up a lot of their own living accommodation for the benefit of the boys, those who watched the progress and development of the work at the School will know only too well how much was due to the untiring efforts they made over nearly 22 years.

It was sad that his retirement coincided with the announcement that Goldings was to close but he left Goldings with the satisfaction of knowing that his years of uphill struggle for improvement in the School and its work, and all that he and his staff had done for the thousands plus boys who had passed through the portal of Goldings.

Mr Wheatley was rewarded by the achievement and steady progress of countless Old Boys, in all trades and walks of life, letters of appreciation received are ample testimony to this and we must not forget Mrs. Wheatley who had always been part of the life of Goldings and has shared in the troubles and the joys experienced in the work amongst the boys of Goldings.

I don't know if you were aware the Mr. Wheatley had been the Headmaster at other schools including a Grammar School, he even as Headmaster of a large mixed village school in his words "I ordered myself to take the infants class at least once a week, which at first was a terrifying experience for a man". It was this school were he was to meet some young Dr. Barnardo children aged 5 to 7 who were in the care of a foster mother. Mr Wheatley was to meet up with some of these boys at Goldings.

Our Headmaster had many unsolicited offers to work elsewhere, but persevered at Goldings and was a man before his time, if Mr Wheatley was alive today I feel he could walk into any school and the children would notice no change to their own Headmaster with today's high standards.

Sadly he died 10th March 1975 aged 69 years.  One typical tribute in the Waterford Parish News commenting on his death said "He will be remembered with affection by hundreds of young men, now scattered throughout the world, as the man who did all he could to improve the quality of their lives.  His life was truly one of service to others."

Goldings can never be the same again as it was in our days, with those cry’s of ‘digs eye pinhead’ as we put out our roll-ups and pretended to be all fast asleep like good lads we were.  We, Old Boys,1,200 of us truly have cause to express gratitude to him.

The picture above shows Mr. L. Embleton, seen making the presentation. He was appointed Headmaster until the closure of Goldings in 1967 he also deserves our thanks for all he had done in his 21 years at the School, and not least for the sad task of being Goldings last Headmaster.

I have found many articles that Mr Wheatley wrote, but I chose this one as it shows what a caring and thoughtful Headmaster we had and like I have said before a man before his time. I will end with the article he wrote for our school magazine The Goldonian vol. XXi number 2 spring 1967 that was the very last Goldonian published. Mr Wheatley felt this was the only journal that would publish his article, while I would agree Mr Wheatley was a headmaster before his time, I don't think he could have envisaged the World Wide Web as a medium for his requiem for Goldings.

The article was called requiem

In saying farewell, I address myself to the boys of Goldings and to my many friends on the staff. It would be hypocritical to pretend that there were not some boys whose behaviour was a source of constant anxiety for me. If I had not been worried, it would have meant that I did not care for them, but when all the truth is revealed, any fair‑minded person is compelled to acknowledge that even the awkward squad are more sinned against than sinning. As for the majority of Goldings boys, both now and in the past, all they have ever needed was opportunity to develop their talents and they have done the rest. Their achievements have been most impressive and in my mind is filled with happy recollections of them. click here to read more.

Frank Cooke
Webmaster & Editor