Plaque number 2 can be found at this location.
This plaque can be found on Number 11, The Close; close to St Ann's gate.
The O/S grid position is SU 14489 East 29639 North.
William Golding, Novelist and Nobel Prize winner, was a schoolmaster here 1945-1962.
Bishop Wordsworth's CE School.
The commemorative plaque for William Golding was placed outside Bishop Wordsworth's School entrance, number 11 The Close, in March 2005. 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. The two previous Headmasters, Mr Glyn Evans and Mr Clive Barnett were also there. Dr Stuart Smallwood, the then 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.
Sir William Golding is famous for his book "Lord of the Flies" where a group of school children are marooned on a desert island.
He and his wife Ann are buried in the graveyard at Holy Trinity Church in Bowerchalke. They had lived in Bowerchalke for many years.
Their tombstone is engraved:
Remember with love
WILLIAM GOLDING 1911-1993
ANN GOLDING 1912-1995
It is the star to every wandering barque
English Master, Bishop Wordsworth's School 1940 ; 1946 - 1961
Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature 1955
Commander of the Order of the British Empire 1966
Nobel Prize for Literature 1983
Companion of Literature 1984
Knighthood 1988
The following are a collection of tributes to Sir William Golding from his former pupils and colleagues at Bishop Wordsworth's School; compiled by John Cox in 1993, the then Head of English.
Click on each one below.
A tribute by John Cox
A tribute by Christopher Rowe
A tribute by Nigell Mussett
A tribute by David Chamberlin
A tribute by Gerald Ponting
A tribute by Derek J Dawkins
A tribute by Brian Groves
A tribute by John S Eyres
A tribute by Malcolm T Cooper
A tribute by J L Mumford
A tribute by Robert W Naish
A tribute by Norman Thorne
A tribute by Alan Harwood
A tribute by Donald Culver
A tribute by Nick Harris
Memories of William Golding recounted by Vivian Trewhella to John Cox
Memories of William Golding recounted by Iona Brown to Alan Harwood
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