William Golding

From *William Golding at BWS* edited by John Cox as a memorial tribute. "William Golding was a teacher at Bishop Wordsworth's School for three different periods of his life. He is well known for his book 'The Lord Of The Flies' which he based on the boys he so patiently observed. William Golding would repeatedly walk up and down the room during some classes. Pupils later wondered if this regular, constant movement came from his naval experience. Even in later years he was "as sharp as a tack, missing nothing that was going on in class". Steady silences prevailed in these lessons and for some acquiescent pupils that seems all that can be remembered. Whether for his own research or not he is recalled as active in certain lessons - both of English and Religious Knowledge - in questioning boys and eliciting their ideas, insights and self-perceptions. It seems that, whether to young boys or potential Oxbridge scholars "his idea was to provoke us into thinking, which most schoolboys did as little of as possible". He also showed the importance of empathy when studying different religions - each one presented as if he believed in it. William Golding clearly had authority and discipline whether dealing with pert or precocious boys, or with the member of a play production crew who played the Russian (rather than the British) National Anthem before a performance, or with the culprit who attempted to conceal an ignited sparkler in his desk. He was a leader, not least in his running of the school's Sea Cadets and command of the whaler at Marchwood on Southampton Water. Many remember his dependence on boys' rations on trips away, and also his close observation of them, presumably not only as commander but as author as well. Rather like Robinson Crusoe unable to move his new craft William Golding and his cadets found theirs too large to move round the house.
	For one absorbed in his own creations William Golding gave much to school life. He regularly sang with the choir in chapel services and was a soloist in the live 1945 BBC Radio broadcast of 'The Finding of the King' (written by F.C. Happold) shortly before leaving the Royal Navy and rejoining the staff at Bishop's. He also played the oboe in the school orchestra. At one particular rehearsal the school orchestra was sounding even more excruciating than usual. "Mr Golding. Can you give us that 'A' again?" Golding was a stickler for correct English usage. "I'm afraid I can't give you that one" he replied, "but I'll give you one like it!". This image is a drawing by Old Wordsworthian James Starzacher He brought his dramatic expertise from outside school to bear upon play productions such as Oedipus Rex in December 1940 before leaving to join the Royal Navy. A lecture he gave on mediaeval stained glass is recalled as knowledgeable and interesting and as master in charge of a trip to Figsbury Rings he gave permission for the boys to form into two groups - one to attack the fort and one to defend it. The author's opportunity for close observation of boys in conflict was further extended. William Golding had been an unpublished novelist for some years. Many pupils can recall being given sheets of manuscript to read. These readings were tantalisingly piecemeal but enough to show some readers that the extracts were rather in the style of C.S. Forester's 'Hornblower'. In time he acquired the style of 'The Lord of the Flies', so much of it apparently written in class and reputedly finished under cover of his old green-tinged gown during a Founder's Day service.
To most colleagues he was courteous but reserved. In music and chess he could engage in close partnership but companionship was limited to a few. To some his involvement with his own work was a debit and others viewed his published writing as concerned with negative aspects of life. Perhaps a typical pedagoguery was evident in an encounter between J.P. Hellmann, Senior Master at B.W.S. from 1946 to 1961, after they had both retired. "Well, Golding, I am pleased that you are so successful with your novels. I cannot stand them myself but my people think the world of them". Other colleagues of more sympathetic perception found him a man of compassion and capable of being a good raconteur when in the mood."

In March 2005, a commemorative plaque for William Golding was placed outside the School entrance in The Close. A ceremony to mark the unveiling of the Salisbury Civic Society plaque took place in the presence of Lord Congleton, the Society President and Brigadier Alistair Clarke, the Civic Society Chairman.

Also present were Patrick Paisey, Chairman of Salisbury District Council and Salisbury Mayoress, Mrs Sue Nettle. William Golding’s son and daughter, David Golding and Judy Carver and Arthur Bowden, a former pupil of William Golding, attended the gathering in the Close. We were fortunate to have two previous Headmasters, Mr Glyn Evans and Mr Clive Barnett at the opening. Dr Stuart Smallwood, the current Headmaster, opened the celebration and Mr John Cox, Senior Teacher and former Head of English gave an amusing speech about Sir William Golding. Brigadier Alistair Clark spoke for the Salisbury Civic Society who were pleased to commemorate the Nobel Prize Winner.