Harry Goulding

A Grimsby Life - Part 2: Man's Estate Harry Goulding

This is the second part of Harry Goulding's autobiography, following on from his account of his childhood years (1905 to 1927) growing up in working-class Grimsby ('Henry the Ninth') The details of his ordinary yet eccentric life were written down in longhand on sheets of paper rescued from a skip and lay dormant for many years after his death in 1985 until transcribed into two volumes. 'Man's Estate' deals with his volatile teaching career in Grimsby at both primary and secondary level; his lack of proficiency at school politics; his 'careers' as a local referee, pig-keeper and member of the Home Guard;his son's triumph over early adversity; his final, happy years teaching and the leaving of Grimsby to try out various new experiences in the Blackpool area. It deals honestly with his social failings, his relationship with his cantankerous father and his views on education and gives a valuable insight into the lot of the humble teacher from the 1920s to the 1960s.