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University of London, Goldsmiths’ College- the Opening Ceremony in the Great Hall 29th September 1905

The Great Hall of University of London, Goldsmiths’ College filled with flowers, ferns and palms for the Opening Ceremony Friday 29th September 1905. Image: Goldsmiths Special Collections.

It was Friday 29th September 1905. A total of 249 of the first teacher training students had arrived the day before.

149 Arts School students and 1,612 Science, Engineering and Building Trades students had started their academic year at the beginning of the week on Monday 25th September.

Many of them were packing the floor and balconies of The Great Hall which had been adorned with palm plants, ferns, flowers and bunting.

Margaret Carter L.R.A.M. A.R.C.M, the Training Department’s new ‘Directrice of Music’, had finished days of rehearsing the eleven pieces of classical music she would be playing on the magnificent Art Nouveau organ commissioned and built by the City of London Goldsmiths’ Company for the previous Technical and Recreative Institute in 1891.

She was to perform a beautiful recital for a spectacular late afternoon ceremony when the Goldsmiths’ Company of the City of London handed over a golden key to the University of London.

It was the key to the building and grounds that over 17 years they had developed for community and working class education and it was their gift to what was then the fastest growing and most pioneering British University.

The grateful Chancellor of London University was the witty and charismatic Liberal politician, Lord Rosebery, known as the Oscar Wilde of politics, who would present an entertaining and inspirational speech which would have the aisles rocking in laughter and the hearts and minds of every one present full of hope and aspiration for their futures and that of Higher Education in this part of London.

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Goldsmiths- The First Men Staff 1905

The first men staff of the Training Department of the new University of London, Goldsmiths’ College, opening its doors to the first students in September 1905. Image: Goldsmiths Special Collections.

A group of the first men staff for the new Goldsmiths’ College opening in September 1905 was photographed at one of the entrances to the main building.

This looks like the front entrance reserved for men students and their corridor running down the north east side of what is now the Richard Hoggart main building.

They were recruited to teach for the new University of London, Goldsmiths’ College Training Department which  was set up to run a two year programme to educate and train teachers for Elementary and Secondary schools throughout England and Wales.

Those in the back row standing from left to right are: T Bishop (Gymnastic Instructor), Joseph Kay B.Sc (Lecturer in Manual Work and Mathematics), William Loring M.A. (Warden), John Frederick Unstead M.A. (Lecturer in Geography), and George Allworth (Manual Instructor).

Those in the front row sitting down left to right are: Edward Fitzgerald B.Sc. (Lecturer in Mathematics), Dr. Arthur Lapworth D.Sc. (Also Secretary, Science Department, Lecturer in Chemistry for Evening Classes as well as Lecturer for Training Department), Thomas Raymont M.A. (Vice Principal for men and lecturer in education practice and method) Ivor B John M.A. (Lecturer in English), and Douglas Lloyd Savory M.A. (Lecturer in Modern Languages).

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Goldsmiths’ first Warden- ‘He died a gentleman and soldier’ and his last letters from Gallipoli

Portraits of William Loring MA, Warden of Goldsmiths’ College (1905 to 1915) and decorated soldier of the South African and First Wold Wars. Images: Goldsmiths Special Collections.

One of the most poignant and moving documents in Goldsmiths, University of London’s Special Collections is the last letter Goldsmiths’ first Warden William Loring (1865-1915) wrote to his family.

He was about to have his leg amputated because it had developed gangrene after being shattered by a Turkish sniper bullet during front line operations at Gallipoli in October 1915.

He was so weak he dictated his last words to an officer in an adjoining bed:

‘Hospital Ship, 24th October 1915

Dearest Theo,

It has just been sprung upon me that I must have my leg off- to avoid danger to life. The operation is not dangerous- the wound itself having been the shock to the system and comparatively little remaining to be done.

I hope to wire long before you get this letter that all is well.  I expect I shall be taken to Alexandria and then sent very soon to England, possibly even I may be sent to England direct from Lemnos.

Dearest, dearest love to you.

Much love and many kisses to the dear boy. Your Loving W.L.’ [It looks like the weak and shaky hand of William Loring wrote the ‘W.L.’ at the bottom of the page as this handwriting is different from the rest.]

The handwritten letter dictated by William Loring to Major Morton in an adjoining bed on the Hospital ship Devanha. Image: Goldsmiths Special Collections.

The army officer who wrote down William Loring’s last words to his family, Major Morton, also wrote a touching letter to Loring’s wife giving her more news about what was happening and seeking to reassure her. He had no idea that Captain Loring would succumb to gas gangrene on the same day.

‘H.M. Hospital Ship Devanha. Sunday 24th October 1915.

Dear Mrs Loring,

I trust you will forgive me the liberty I am taking in writing to you, but I am in the next bed to your husband on board this ship. I had the pleasure of taking down a letter from him to you just after the medical officer had told him it was the best they could do to take off his leg.

He has just returned from the operating theatre and is recovering from the anaesthetic and is I am sure going on well.

The shock has been great to him, but he is awfully plucky and sticking it so well. I am certain he will be all right and hope I shall be able to accompany him to England and do something for him as I shall have my operation before I get home.

I expect we shall go onto Alexandria almost at once and I will see that a cable is sent you reporting your husband’s condition.

Again apologies for the liberty taken and assuring you I shall always be willing to do anything in my power for you and Captain Loring.

Yours sincerely R.B. Morton. (Major Army Service Corps)’

[Major Morton would be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and died while on active service 10th February 1919 and is buried in St. Peter’s Churchyard, Earley near Reading.]

Major Morton’s handwritten letter to Mrs Loring hoping to give her reassurance about the operation to remove her husband’s leg in an emergency operation on 24th October 1914. Image: Goldsmiths Special Collections.

Captain William Loring died soon after the operation. He would be buried at sea.

His name is inscribed on panel 21 of the Helles memorial in Turkey.

His widow and young son would receive a telegram notifying them of his death at their home in Blackheath and another expressing the condolences and sympathy of the King and Queen from Buckingham Palace.

’31st October 1915. To Mrs Loring, Allerton House, Blackheath.  I regret to inform you Captain W. Loring died of wounds 24 October. Lord Kitchener expresses his sympathy.’

Image: Goldsmiths Special Collections.

‘From: On Her Majesty’s Service, Buckingham Palace, 5 November 1915. 

To: Mrs Loring, Allerton House, Blackheath. The King and Queen deeply regret the loss you and the army have sustained by the death of your husband in the service of his country. Their Majesties truly sympathise.’

Image: Goldsmiths Special Collections.

Herbert Rosher, the Church of England chaplain on the Hospital Ship wrote to Mrs Loring:

‘Everything was done for his comfort and relief by the doctors and sisters, and in brief chats I had with him in my rounds I was filled with admiration for his Christian courage.

I of course offered him the Sacrament and he said he would like to receive it if he got any worse – and had he lived he would have communicated on the Monday morning (to-day) – when we laid him to rest – but he passed away far more quickly than the doctors had anticipated.’

Nurse (Sister) Kathleen J Cooney wrote to Mrs Loring:

‘After he came round from the anaesthetic he was quite cheerful and happy about himself, and even about five minutes before he died asked me how long it would be before he would be hopping around and if it would not be much sooner than if he had not had the amputation. A minute or so after he became unconscious and just passed peacefully away.’

-o-

Goldsmiths’ first Warden standing middle among male lecturers 1905. Vice-Principal for men students Professor Thomas Raymont is seated centre bearing the thick bushy moustache. Image: Goldsmiths, University of London

What makes William Loring so special in the history of British universities is that he was the only effective chief executive and university chief who volunteered for front line military action during the Great War and did not return.

He not only laid the college’s key foundations for academic excellence and educational leadership, but was an incredibly courageous soldier who gave his life  for his country at the age of 50 during the Gallipoli campaign.

He was a decorated warrior having served valiantly in the second Boer War of 1899-1902. 

As Warden he oversaw the convening and development of an officer cadet force at the College, and enthusiastically rejoined his Regiment, The Scottish Horse, on the outbreak of the First World War.

No other university chief in Britain would  be grievously wounded in front line action in the ill-fated invasion of Turkey, die from his wounds on a hospital ship, and be buried at sea in the Aegean. Read More »

Goldsmiths: From Institute to University- The evolution in 1904

Commemorative card celebrating the opening of The Goldsmiths Company’s Technical and Recreative Institute in New Cross in 1891. Image: Goldsmiths Special Collections.

Goldsmiths as a university was conceptualised, developed and founded during the years 1903, 1904 and 1905.

In 1903 the Goldsmiths’ Company in the City of London realised that it could not continue philanthropically funding the Goldsmiths Technical and Recreative Institute- a hugely successful experiment in working class further education in New Cross serving thousands of people from all over London.

In 1904, the Company decided to offer the building and grounds to the University of London.

There had been three educational institutions on the site before London University took it over.

A boys’ private school, the Counter Hill Academy, was present between 1792 and 1838.

The Royal Naval School New Cross operated in the specially built main building from 1843 to 1889 which is largely still standing as the Richard Hoggart main building, though the distinctive neo-Wren chimneys were destroyed during WW2.

The front of the Goldsmiths’ Institute during the 1890s. Image: Goldsmiths’ Company archives and Special Collections Goldsmiths, University of London.

The Goldsmiths’ Company’s Technical and Recreative Institute bought the site and extended the buildings with a roof over the first quadrangle from 1891 until the decision to end its funding and activities by the autumn of 1904.

There is the famous letter from Sir Walter Prideaux written on the 29th February 1904: ‘My proposal is that the Goldsmiths’ Company shall present to the University of London the site and buildings known as the Goldsmiths’ Institute, at New Cross, with the fittings, apparatus, and equipment which they contain.’

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