Old Ipswichian Journal 2019

Old Ipswichian Journal

Club news • Features • Members’ news • Births, marriages, deaths and obituaries OI Club events • School news • Programme of events In this issue

Ipswichian Club

Life Members 2018/19

Year 13

Ablett

Akhmedova

Cable-Henrichs

Cappabianca

Cappabianca

Hymas

Year 11

Adams Carter Jack

Aggett Jack Timothy Lex

Blackmore Alice Amelia

Brueck Seeley Luke

Chancellor Esme Rose

Core Olivia Grace

Gladwell Harvey George

Hopkins Thomas Gabriel

Howe Rebecca Amelia

Lam Lok Him Jasper

Lambton Ziggy Sydney

Murrell Lewis Christopher

Poultney Venetia Lucy

Ranson Toby Benjamin

Rush Oscar

Thomas William Attrill

Titterton Leon

Tse Hin Pak Harry

Associate Members

Year 13

Carreiro-Smith Sebastian

Miguel Stratton Tavares

Carron William David

Cunningham Jacob

Alexander Julian

Deakin James John

McGiffert

Fordham Oliver Simon

Fowler Kenneth Philip

Gibbs Darcy Louise Alice

Haley Harry

Hughes Clementine

Kajoba Jaaziel John

Knight Clementine Sally Jane

Lam Hei Shue

Lee Yuen Ching

Mason Nadia Joy

Murphy Anastasia

Neal Matilda Gracie

Peel Leon Robert Stephen

Rogers Gregory William

Terry Alfred Eric

Townshend Téa

Tuscarny Oliver James

Washington Bodicia Yahya

Woor Elizabeth

Zhang Wenqing

Vosvenieks Nina Rose

Whalley Hugo Paul

Whittle James Thomas

Year 11

Endacott Alfred James

Hembry Sebastian Ivan Luca

Hopes Alexander Jason Nikoli

Qureshi Haroon Ahmed

Terry Joseph Alexander

Youssef Adel

Year 10

Hembry Rocco Stefan

The Old Ipswichian Journal 2019

The Old Ipswichian Journal is published annually by the Old Ipswichian Club as a summary of the previous year’s events and news. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of the OI Club.

Editor: Clare Lock (oieditor@ipswich.school) For more information about the Old Ipswichians and to receive other OI publications, please telephone 01473 408324 or email: oldipswichians@ipswich.school • Visit www.ipswich.school/old-ipswichians Follow us on Twitter @OldIpswichians and join the OI groups on LinkedIn and Facebook. With grateful thanks for help with proof reading by Rosanna Lloyd.

Old Ipswichian Club 2021 Programme of Events

Due to the pandemic it is very difficult to confirm whether events will be going ahead at present. Please check the website and keep an eye on the eNews for further information or contact the Development office on 01473 408324.

Details of the above events can also be found on the Old Ipswichian Website: www.ipswich.school/old-ipswichians/ or contact cab@ipswich.school. In addition to these events the Club should be delighted to help in the setting up and running of milestone anniversary reunions such as 10th, 20th, 25th, 30th and 40th and will provide a small budget. If you would like to talk about this in general or specifically, please contact us through cab@ipswich.school or telephone (01473) 408324

Treasurer

William Coe (OI 1976 - 1987)

I wear several hats when it comes to my relationship with Ipswich School. In fact, I actually sell the school hats too! Old Ipswichian, parent, neighbour, supplier and governor, the School has always been part of my life. Growing up on St Edmund's Road, I have fond memories of summers spent on the School field watching OI cricket matches with my father and the various OIs and families who played with him.

I attended the School from 1976 1987. I had a great time. It’s fair to say my academics often came second to a life full of activities, whether on the rugby field, in drama, choir or the CCF. In the Senior School I was fortunate enough to be taught every single year by David Warnes, whose ability to make every lesson fly by, constantly delving into a variety of subjects (as well as what we were supposed to be being taught!) was miraculous.

Those lessons and building firm lifelong friendships are the greatest legacies of my time at the School. Indeed, throughout lockdown, the lively WhatsApp group and the odd Zoom call with my group of school friends was a great support and provided much needed entertainment.

That ability to pick up where you left off with close friends, as if you had seen each other yesterday, is something that has been apparent across the various reunions and social events we have held during the year. It’s been great to see so many OIs supporting these.

Special thanks must be made to the development office and Sally and the committee for their support over the year. I am also personally thankful to David Rowledge for organising the venue for our London Dinner at the historic Crypt of the Bleeding Heart and to Joanna Carrick for putting on an incredible show for the

President’s event. I would also like to thank Nick Gregory and Chris Swallow for making insightful and entertaining speeches at the London and Ipswich dinners. Whilst the way our community gathers might have altered significantly over the past year, it has been heart-warming to see Old Ipswichians across the globe come together online and share their stories. I do hope that once this uncertainty passes, we can all come together, pick up where we left off and enjoy each other’s company again, whilst also helping to support the School's developments for the future.

– William Coe OI Club President 2019

Sally Webber (OI

1993

- 95)

They say time flies when you're having fun and being Chair of the OI Club has been a fun four years which have gone very quickly indeed!

At the 2019 AGM we were treated to a video of all the things OIs and the Club had got up during the course of the year, and the overall impression was again, one of fun. I've always known OIs like to have a good time amongst friends, and it was clearly evident in each picture.

One of my favourite things to look at in each year's Journal are the photos, so this, my last Journal report as Chair focuses on picturesall of OIs enjoying themselves - so I hope you enjoy looking at them. It just leaves me to thank my fellow Committee members, the Development Office staff, and the Headmaster, for all their time and hard work making the Club and its events as good as they are, and you for supporting what we do.

Great Alumni Associations are things to cherish, and we are hugely lucky to be part of such a fantastic one.

– Sally Webber OI Club Chairman 2016-2019

Club Officers

Joanna Carrick (OI 1984 – 1986) Vice President

Tim Kiddell (OI 1989 – 1998)

Iain Chesterman (OI 1973 – 1984)

Tim Kiddell is speechwriter to the prime minister at 10 Downing Street where he has served 4 successive prime ministers over the last 12 years. Tim was a pupil at Ipswich School from 1989-1998 before going on to read Economics at King's College Cambridge, where he was also a Choral Scholar.

Joining the Civil Service as an economist, Tim first became a speechwriter at the Department for Work and Pensions serving Alan Johnson, David Blunkett and John Hutton. Tim moved to Downing Street in the summer of 2008 as speechwriter to Gordon Brown, going on to serve David Cameron, Theresa May and now Boris Johnson. Tim was made a CBE for his public service in 2016.

Photo credit: Ville Trahala

President Jo is artistic director at Red Rose Chain, based at the beautiful Avenue Theatre at Gippeswyk Hall in Ipswich. She is constantly creating theatre, directing her own acclaimed new plays or reinventing classic stories.

She specialises in making exciting, entertaining and above all accessible shows. Jo has written and directed over 30 plays and films, including Fallen in Love, her play about Anne Boleyn which played for six weeks at The Tower of London (“Carrick’s succinct, richly worded two-hander commands attention in its own right – it’s a real coup” Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph) and has been creating outdoor productions for Theatre in the Forest for over 20 years, an event

Chairman

Iain was at the School from 19731984 in Broke House and doesn’t recall Broke ever winning anything during that time! Iain graduated from Loughborough University in 1988 with a degree in Management Science (essentially a posh title for Business Studies!) The university was recently ranked the 4th best in the country in one of the university league tables. It was top 20 in Iain’s day, but he’ll gladly take 4th. After getting bored on a bank graduate training scheme, Iain went back to university and undertook an MSc in Information Technology from 1990-1991 at Kingston Polytechnic as it was then (or University as it is now and reflected as such on his CV!) Iain has worked in IT ever since, mainly for banks and insurance companies, mostly in project and program management roles. Iain has been contracting for a long time and is currently managing a large team and portfolio of cyber security projects for an insurance company. Iain has been married since 1994 and has 5 grown up children.

which brings Shakespeare to life for over 10,000 people every summer.

She is passionately committed to bringing theatre to new audiences and is the inspiration behind Red Rose Chain’s ground-breaking programme of community work which creates life-changing projects for young people and adults in Ipswich who are at risk and in need.

Jo was at Ipswich School from 1984 – 1986 and was a member of School House.

William Coe (OI 1976 – 1987)

Secretary

William attended the School from 1976 - 1987. Highlights were rugby, the CCF Army contingent, and a close group of friends he's still in regular contact with. After Bath University and a spell working in Cambridge qualifying as an accountant, he returned to Ipswich in 1997 to help run the family clothing business where he still sees a lot of OIs as customers. He's involved with the School as a governor, parent and secretary to the club.

Clare Lock (née Warnes) (OI 1993 – 1995)

OI News & Journal Editor

After attending the school from 19931995 Clare did a Short Service Limited Commission with the Royal Signals (after much persuasion from Mr Clayton).

Having broken her leg and ankle after a dodgy parachute jump whilst in service her university place, studying Journalism was deferred and she studied shorthand and touchtyping locally in the interim.

Subsequently changing paths, Clare went to Loughborough to study a BSc in Management Science with a year out at Sizewell B. After graduating in 2001, Clare went to work at their family's firm Hadleigh Castings Ltd, whilst continuing studies and achieved her MBA in 2003. Clare has remained at Hadleigh Castings ever since

Steve Runnacles (OI 1963 – 1974)

Treasurer

Steve was at the School from 19631974, practised as a chartered accountant in Suffolk and retired in March 2019, having been a partner, first at Ballams and then at Ensors.

Now he's involved with his family consulting business, enjoying family life with his grandchildren and managing to squeeze in the occasional game of golf. Steve has been a member of the OI committee for over 30 years.

and is now the business services director with responsibilities for HR and H&S.

Clare lives locally in Polstead and is married to a beef farmer with 12 year old twins, one of whom is currently in year 8 at Ipswich. When not working full time, dealing with twins or helping on the farm, Clare enjoys editing the OI Journal and lots of sewing and crafts. Clare has been on the committee for 8 years and thoroughly enjoys staying involved with the School.

John Ward (OI 1970 – 1975)

Social Secretary

Following the May 2019 local elections, John is still leader of Babergh District Council, albeit of a coalition administration now that his group no longer has an overall majority. This is actually working very well as John has been able to include some very good councillors from other groups in his cabinet to form a stable administration.

All their plans, however, have been completely derailed by the Covid crisis, but this has really shown how important local government is and how much of a difference it can make. John is immensely proud of our officers in providing quick distribution of the government’s business support grants and our own community grants, and in responding to the increased homelessness during lockdown.

Working with other councils and agencies in Suffolk, they have provided food, medical and counselling assistance to those who were shielded at home, and coordinated the many local support groups that sprang up rapidly. Many have worked long days and weekends to ensure that all this has been successful. Many of our councillors, too, have been working tirelessly within their own communities.

Finally, although it has been a steep learning curve for many councillors, we have moved successfully from being physically located in our Ipswich office to cyberspace. If anyone is interested, our council, cabinet and planning committee meetings are available on our YouTube channel – either live or to watch later.

Committee

To retire at the end of 2020

Henry Gaskin (OI 1988 – 1995)

Henry attended the Senior School, leaving in 1995 and is still in close contact with many friends from his time there. Having spent a decade or so in London within the asset management

Mike Fenn (OI 1948 – 1959)

James Davey (OI 1967 – 1977)

Governing Body Representative

James attended Ipswich School from 1967-1977. He joined the OI Committee in 2005 and has served on the committee ever since, including 4 years as chairman from 2008-2012. James’s two children Tom Davey (1996-2007) and Jess Davey (1996-2009) are both Old Ipswichians.

James became a governor of Ipswich School in 2017. He is a personal business mentor based in Ipswich and helps business owners grow and develop their businesses.

industry, Henry has now lived and worked back in Ipswich for the last 15 years. He is the chief investment officer of the regional wealth management firm SG Wealth Management and oversees the management of over £250m of clients’ assets from the Ipswich and Norwich offices, as well as helping individuals and businesses with their financial strategy and planning.

Outside work Henry is very involved with Ipswich Rugby Club where he is vice chairman, with overall responsibility for playing matters at the club, as well as still playing league rugby and coaching at youth level. Henry and his family live near Christchurch Park and his son starts year 7 at Ipswich School this year, hopefully followed by his daughter in a couple of years’ time.

After leaving Amberfield Mike was at the School from 1948-1959. He started in Prep D as a dayboy before becoming a boarder in Junior House, Westwood and School House. He was head boy in Junior House, part of the original intake of 12 boys to Westwood and was a Westwood House prefect.

His father George was at the School from 1923-1928 and in 1983 his son Julian became the third member of the family to study at Ipswich. Mike married his wife Athene in Hadleigh Church and has a son and daughter and two grandchildren.

Peter Boughton (OI 1958 – 1969)

Peter spent 2 years as development director at Ipswich School, following a 27 year stint as bursar and clerk to the governors. Prior to that he had a short spell in clothing manufacturing after a career in sales and marketing with Gulf Oil and Sony, having started his working life in insurance.

Peter has kept in contact with many OIs through the Copdock and OI Cricket Clubs and the OI Eton Fives Club. He's currently a member of the OI Club Committee and keeping busy by running fives at the School and helping with cricket.

Before a career in H M Customs and Excise he spent one year working for Eastern Counties Farmers at their premises in Great Bromley. His career took him from East Anglia, Chiswick, Reading and the London headquarters where he spent time as a staff inspector before becoming the finance and staffing officer for the Customs Directorate working directly with the director of customs. Mike founded the OI Eton Fives Club, is vice president of the Eton Fives Association, a member of Sevenoaks 41 Club and enjoys spending time on his narrow boat.

To retire at the end of 2021

Dr Nicola Notcutt (OI 1999 – 2008) (née Cooper)

Nicola taught Geography at Ipswich School from 1999-2008. Initially a Sixth Form Tutor in Broke House, she then became Housemistress of Sherrington, a title she held for 6 years. She married OI William Notcutt in 2007: they have 2 sons, Jim aged 11 and George aged 10.

Glenn Williamson (OI 1987 – 1998)

In 2005 Glenn returned to Ipswich after studying Mechanical Engineering at Birmingham University and then working as a project engineer at British American Tobacco in Southampton and took the bold decision to start his own business in property. In the last 15 years Glenn has built a business in Property Lettings, Conversions, Refurbishments & Serviced Apartments. In 2013 Glenn opened Cool Beanz Coffee Shop, located

beneath Ipswich Borough Council and in the last 5 years he has also started an ecommerce business, selling mainly landlord products using Amazon, both challenging and exciting ventures. In April 2020 Glenn became chairman of Ipswich Round Table, a hugely positive aspect of his life for friendship and fellowship but also raisings many thousands of pounds for local charities, hoping this year to deliver a memorable Rudolph Christmas

Tim Passmore (OI 1966 – 1977)

A past president and chairman of the Old Ipswichians, Tim continues his long association with the club. After leaving school in 1977, he did an Agriculture degree at Wye College and has had a wide variety of employment in agriculture including practical farming, international consultancy and rural economic development. He has a lifelong interest in politics and was leader of Mid Suffolk District Council for 8 years, before being elected as Suffolk’s first Police and Crime Commissioner in 2012 – a role he continues to serve and is looking forward to the elections next May (2021). Tim believes the OI Committee has the important role of keeping everyone in touch, as well as trying to ensure all members can have good fun at the wide range of social and other events that are held throughout the year. The effects of the pandemic mean that the School also needs the support of its past pupils more than ever. “Spreading the benefits of the School’s all round education offer with its extra-curricular activities to as many young people as possible is vital. In my view it is crucial that children are able to maximise their potential. The best advocates for Ipswich School are the former pupils which is why I will do whatever I can to assist the club and the School.”

Sleigh to mark his 50th birthday. Glenn much appreciates still seeing many of his close school friends, including going to Ipswich Town games; season tickets they have had since Sixth Form. Glenn is also a keen traveller, having spent much time travelling in Australia, New Zealand, North and South America. In January he travelled to India and Nepal; the bucket list of destinations forever grows! Committee biographies

To retire end 2022

Sally Webber (née Bevan) (OI 1993 – 1995)

John Caudle (OI 1959 – 1970)

John Caudle attended Ipswich School from 1959 – 1970 after which he travelled to Lesotho in Southern Africa with Voluntary Services Overseas where he taught in a private Anglican School before working as a Croupier in a Casino.

On returning to England, he studied law at North Staffordshire Polytechnic before qualifying as a barrister. John has built up a practise involving all areas of criminal law and has considerable experience both prosecuting and defending heavyweight cases all over England and Wales. John was appointed a Recorder of the Crown

Having spent the majority of her career in Westminster, Sally now works at local Prep School, Orwell Park, near Ipswich. She has three children, and lives in Tattingstone with her husband Simon and various animals. In her spare time she enjoys walking, cooking, gardening, and a cold glass of sauvignon blanc. This is her 8th year on the OI Committee, and she was at Ipswich School from 1993 – 1995.

Nicholas Allen (OI 1987 – 1994)

Court in 1999 and sits, part time, as a Judge all over London and the South Eastern Circuit.

As well as his criminal practice, John is a legal adviser to a number of regulatory bodies including the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Chiropractors, Pharmacists and Psychotherapists.

John was the OI representative on the Governing Body for many years and has also been on the Old Ipswichian Committee both before and after serving as a School Governor. John has been a keen Eton Fives player from the age of 10 and is also a particular lover of fine winealthough for not quite as long.

Nick Allen was Headmaster of Ipswich Preparatory School, “the Prep” from 1987-1994. He also served as a Lieutenant in the Army section in the CCF. Nick went on to run 2 London prep schools, before retiring in 2013 and moving permanently to Ipswich in 2019. His interests include running and historic churches.

Ex-officio

Nikki Brown

Development Director

Nikki started her career in the charity sector after a trip to South Africa in 2005. This trip inspired her to work for the London office of the Starfish Greathearts Foundation which helps children who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/ AIDS in South Africa.

After 3 years and some time spent travelling south east Asia with her now husband Stuart, Nikki returned to Suffolk where she started to work for The East

Carrie Baker

Development Officer

Carrie joined the Development Office in June 2019, having been involved in School activities since 2012; firstly as a parent and then as an active member of the Friends of Ipswich School (FOIS). Carrie comes to the School with a background of finance and people management and has managed teams at technology companies such as Oracle. Carrie also spent ten years running her own business. Carrie is responsible for managing OI memberships, careers support, processing donations and planning and executing

Anglia’s Children’s Hospices. This was one of her most enjoyable roles and Nikki was responsible for raising awareness and income in West Suffolk. Nikki then moved onto work for St Elizabeth Hospice where she had particular involvement in the Learning Herd of Elmer’s Big Parade Suffolk. Nikki joined the School in 2018 as development manager and is now development director. Nikki enjoys meeting and talking with Old Ipswichians and has a particular interest in encouraging OIs to reconnect with the School and each other. Nikki is responsible for the strategic direction of the department and fundraising to support the aims of the School, in particular the drive to offer more bursary support to children who could benefit from coming to Ipswich School but whose family circumstances wouldn’t normally allow it.

As a mother of 2 young boys her, interests include anything to burn off their energy including being by the sea, walking the many beautiful areas of Suffolk and building Lego. Nikki occasionally finds the time to cycle and in 2019 took part in a 400 mile bike ride from Venice to Rome to raise money for St Elizabeth Hospice and the Ipswich School Bursary Fund, Founding Futures.

Headmaster

OI events. Carrie helps to encourage relationships between Old Ipswichians and the School and works hard to bring the whole Ipswich School Community together. Nothing brings Carrie more joy than increasing participation in School, OI and FOIS events as well as getting feedback on the stories we publish.

Carrie enjoys watching her children take part in their favourite sports of netball, and football at the School. In her spare time listens to 1980/90s pop music, especially Wham and Madonna and enjoys walks in Christchurch Park.

Nicholas Weaver has been Headmaster at Ipswich School since 2010. Previously Deputy Head (Academic) at The Portsmouth Grammar School, and before that Head of Physics at Radley College for 8 years, where he also taught Chemistry. Nick has also taught at RGS Guildford and The Leys School, Cambridge, where he was assistant Housemaster of one of the boarding houses. He was educated at RGS High Wycombe and Jesus College, Cambridge. Throughout Nick’s career he has coached sports - mainly rugby and rowing - and contributed to the musical life of each school, having learned the guitar, violin and piano throughout his youth. He has 3 children, one of whom is now an OI.

Nicholas Weaver

OI in the spotlight

Tim Passmore (OI 1966 – 1977)

Date and place of birth (as with all questions, this is optional)

23rd October 1959.

Spouse/partner (date and place of marriage, if applicable). Children (with ages)

Heather. We were married in Grundisburgh church in 1986. Three boys - Edward 31, Henry 29 and James 27.

How long have you been associated with the OI Club?

Over 30 years – Karl Daniels was chairman and we met in the Fisons Block and it was customary to have a glass of port (or two) at the meetings

Who was your favourite teacher at school?

Difficult question but Gordon Paton edges it - very kind and attentive to detail as well as being an enthusiast for everything you did.

What influence do you think the School had on your life?

Very significant – take the opportunity when it comes and apply yourself to the best of your ability in whatever sphere you are involved in. If you are not sure of something then ask, as most people like being consulted and are normally very willing to help.

What do your siblings think about your position?

I think they are quite proud that I am Suffolk’s first Police and Crime Commissioner, but that said, they certainly help keep me on my toes!

What is your main occupation?

Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner.

If you could choose any other career, what would it be?

My working career started in farming so I would return to that – a hugely complex but vital global industry. After all, people will always require feeding!

Where do you live and what took you to that area?

In a small village called Thwaite in north Suffolk where I started my practical farming career.

What is your favourite holiday destination?

Cornwall where the coast, colours, food and ale are spectacular – the Scottish Highlands come a very close second, however.

What place do you most want to visit?

I have never visited Africa so a safari to see the big game, or Vancouver, or New Zealand.

What is your favourite sport?

Rugby Union – I have been on the Eastern Counties referee panel for nearly twenty years.

Do you have any other hobbies/ interests?

The garden is a priority – we / I have a large collection of English scented roses which give me a great deal of pleasure, known by the boys as dad’s 4th child!! I also really enjoy tasting different real ales around the country and single malt Scotch whiskies, as some of you will already know!

What is the last film you saw and the film you would most recommend?

I am not a huge film fan but it was Spectre. Gladiator is worth watching if you have not seen it.

What is the last book you read and the book you would most recommend?

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley – a fascinating story and I would recommend it to anyone.

What is your favourite TV programme?

The Morecambe and Wise show – if you haven’t seen the sketch with Andre Previn and Grieg’s piano concerto that is a must. Ridiculous and so funny.

What other schools did you attend?

Norseland nursery school in Felixstowe and the kindergarten at Ipswich High School before I started at the Prep in 1966.

What were your best and worst, subjects at school?

My best was geography and I struggled with Latin.

Are you superstitious? Not really.

Who are the two people you would most like to be seated next to at a dinner party?

Nicola Benedetti the world famous Scottish violinist and Rishi Sunak the chancellor.

What is your lucky number? 23

Do you have any pet hates?

People who fuss and pick at their food.

Who is your favourite actress?

Julie Andrews.

Who is your favourite actor?

Daniel Craig.

Who is your favourite author?

Liz Trenow

Who / What is your favourite singer/band?

Abba

What pets do you have?

An English Springer Spaniel called Isla –we have had Springers for years. What kind of car do you drive?

A Land Rover Discovery.

What would be your 6 desert island discs and one possession you would like to have on your island?

Abba – Chiquitita

Wurzels – Morning Glory Handel's Oboe Concerto number 2

Vaughan Williams –Theme on Thomas Tallis

Verdi – Drinking Song from Rigoletto Simon and Garfunkel –

Bridge Over Troubled Waters Possession –

A year’s supply of home brewing kits. What CD/s do you currently have in your car?

A good mixture of classical baroque music and others such as Simon and Garfunkel, Chas and Dave and several more.

What station is your radio tuned to?

Either Radio Suffolk, BBC Radio 4 or Classic FM.

What is a restaurant that you would recommend.

The Leaping Hare at Walsham le Willows. What would you choose as your last meal?

Whitebait, roast rib of beef and Yorkshire pudding, and jam roly-poly and custard plus cream.

What is your favourite drink?

A pint of fine Suffolk ale

Who has had the biggest influence on your life?

Without question my wife of 34 years (so far!) Heather.

What was the best advice you were ever given?

Be ready for when your opportunity comes and get on with it.

Who is your farming hero?

Charles Townshend who invented the (Norfolk) Four Course Crop Rotation.

Tell us something about you that we probably don’t know.

I had a very serious hand injury 11 years

Do you play any instruments?

I started playing the bassoon when I was 10 years old. I was asked if I fancied the cello, I said no but a bass instrument appealed to me and I loved the sound of a bassoon. My first teacher happened to be Jack Larter who lived next door to us in Witnesham so that probably helped my decision. It has given me a great deal of pleasure over many years.

ago when I was involved in a hop farming business and nearly lost my right hand. Thankfully I was very fit due to my rugby refereeing commitments and now I am fully recovered. The lesson there is, enjoy life of course but keep yourself fit! I also ran a Scout group for 27 years – you can blame Bruce Andrews for that!!

Do you have any regrets or things you would like to have done differently? Finding a little more time to spend with my wife, family and friends. That is all about managing time better as I find it difficult to say no to people when asked to do things!

The Power of Chamber Music

The link between Pro Corda, the National Chamber Music School, and Ipswich School goes back many years. I was a student at Ipswich in the 80s and remember so fondly my piano lessons with the late Jenifer Lawford in the music department. I’ve been running Pro Corda since 2008, and our mission (during a period of great expansion) is to enable to the maximum effect the human principles of chamber music, in equal measure to the artistic and musical ones.

Chamber music is unique on so many fronts (maybe the reason it has inspired the greatest composers to write their greatest works for this format!) There is no conductor. Each performer has their own part – completely different to all the other players in the ensemble, no doubling up.

And above all, this form of performance on stage requires the greatest sense of spontaneity and artistic freedom. With no “director” pulling the threads together, chamber music is a constant process of negotiation and accommodation on the one hand, but dynamic leadership and

exhilarating individual artistic expression on the other.

On a human and educational level this provides a perfect combination: team play and leadership in equal measure, forging sensitive leadership and spontaneous imaginative decision making.

That is why at Pro Corda we take the universal concepts of chamber music to so many different areas of the

education world. We’ve been proud to work with Ipswich School over a number of years, and now – as we enter into this new landscape in our country and internationally – we will be taking the powers of chamber music in yet more directions.

At one end of the spectrum of Pro Corda’s work lies the famous string quartets and piano trios by Mozart, Haydn, Brahms, Mendelssohn et al. At the other end is a cutting-edge education programme for autism and special needs – again using these universal properties

of spontaneity and creative responsibility taking via small ensemble music performance. Our courses take place at our permanent home – the stunning Leiston Abbey on the Suffolk coast, the only arts centre in Europe dedicated to full time chamber music education.

Our main “on the road” programme is the National Chamber Music Festival for Schools. It’s the only Schools' Festival of its kind in the UK, and it takes us from Westminster to Manchester, from Devon to Ipswich. Last year's standard was the highest yet. We had just made it to the Finals (to be held at Sevenoaks School) when Covid struck.

The lockdown hadn’t yet been announced but schools were having to lockdown individually. Some incredible ensembles featuring the country’s most

talented young musicians were denied their final performance in what had been a truly extraordinary 2 months of music making across the 2020 Festival.

But all the more reason to plan big for 2021! We want to work with more schools than ever (including Ipswich) and also use the Festival as a means to introduce chamber music to schools and areas where there is little or none. Not just so that some of the greatest music ever written can ring out of those music departments too, but so that the human qualities forged by this most exciting of performing arts can be unleashed at a time when the country needs the properties of creative decision making and sensitive responsible leadership like never before.

To find out more about the Festival and Pro Corda’s work go to: www.procorda.com or contact andrew@procorda.com

Andrew Quartermain, CEO and Artistic Director, Pro Corda / Leiston Abbey1363

Football and Ipswich (School)

Melvyn Bragg wrote a book and made a television series on ‘12 books that changed the world’. It included Darwin’s Origin of the Species, King John’s Bible, Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations, and the Magna Carta, as well as The Rule Book of Association Football. How did this book change the world?

Only the elite public schools played football, and all had their own rules. Riots at schools such as Rugby, Harrow, and Winchester had to be quelled by the militia when schools played each other.

One half of the match was played by one team’s rules, the second half by the other’s. That’s how half time came about. When boys went to Oxford and Cambridge and wanted to continue playing football, they all followed different rules and all hell broke loose. So, in 1863, a group of former public school boys decided to codify the rules of Association Football. This made it possible for everyone, everywhere to play the same game.

Today, football is played by two million clubs around the world. It has religious connotations, is a colossal money spinner and is a universal language. FIFA has more members - 214, than the UN - 191. It has even caused wars.

At the end of the 19th century, Ipswich School were playing Association Football. In 1878, George Sherrington aged 17 (brother of Sir Charles Sherrington, Nobel prize winner and President of the Royal Society) loved soccer but realised he would no longer be able to play the game after he left school. So he and three other Ipswichians formed Ipswich Association Football Club. Exactly 100 years later Ipswich Town won the FA Cup at Wembley.

At the time rugby was played at Portman Road, so the club played at Broom Hill, which is why the road from Broom Hill to Norwich Road is called Sherrington Road. The club’s changing rooms were the Inkerman Public House on Norwich Road, which later became Sir Alf Ramsey’s local when he lived on Valley Road.

Sir Alf’s house was but a stone’s throw from where Sir Charles Sherrington lived on Valley Road. In 1888, the football and rugby clubs merged to become Ipswich Town Football Club.

In 1888, the Football League was formed of 12 teams, all in the industrial north and midlands. This came about because textile workers, and other trades were given Saturday afternoons off, so the machinery could be overhauled. This practice became law under the Factories Act, which stipulated all workers had to

be given Saturday afternoons off. Bosses did not want their workers to get drunk so many firms founded football clubs (Woolwich Arsenal, Manchester United), church teams such as Everton and Aston Villa were founded. But Ipswich Town is the only professional football club founded by an independent school.

TC Cobbold MP became the first President of the club in 1878, and the club was financed and directed by Suffolk’s aristocracy. In 1938, the club turned professional and the first chairman was Capt Ivan Cobbold. He was a friend of Sir Winston Churchill and went shooting with King George VI.

His wife was Lady Blanche, who was the daughter of the Duke of Devonshire and lived at Chatsworth. Her sister was Harold Macmillan’s wife. The Cobbolds

had two sons, John and Patrick who were chairmen during Ipswich Town’s halcyon days of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

So, it was Ipswich School that founded Ipswich Town Football Club. The club that gave England their most successful managers ever: Sir Alf Ramsey in the World Cup in 1966 and Sir Bobby Robson took England to the World Cup semi- finals in 1990. Two of England’s inspirational captains were Ipswich Town players, Mick Mills and Terry Butcher, who was Sir Bobby Robson’s captain in 1990.

Ipswich Town won the League Championship in 1962, becoming Champions at their first attempt for the first time ever, having won promotion from the second division the season before. In 1981, Ipswich won the UEFA Cup and were voted the European Team of the Year. Ipswich Town players were voted first, second and third in the Footballers of the Year competitions. The only ever time all top three players came from the same club.

And how can we forget 1978 when Ipswich Town were FA Cup winners in the days when the FA Cup Final was the only live match on television and arguably the sporting occasion of the year. My all- time sporting hero: Roger Osborne from Otley in Suffolk, signed from Westerfield United for nothing who scored the winner against the City Slickers of Arsenal.

Roger, of course, is Ipswich School’s manager of the Rushmere Sports Centre. We should be very proud of the School’s links to Ipswich Town. I know I am - and I was in Sherrington House. My career with BOAC and British Airways took me all over the world. English football has always made the sports pages of newspapers all over the world. I read about Ipswich Town in China, Korea, Russia, Samoa, Fiji, the Middle East, New Zealand, Australia, wherever I went. Whomever I met anywhere in the world, when I told them where I came from, they had all heard of Ipswich

because of Ipswich Town Football Club: the Club truly put the town of Ipswich on the world map and that makes me very proud to be an (Old) Ipswichian. – Robert Porter (OI 1953 – 60)

What am I going to do when I grow up?

I’m seventy years old and still looking for a career. Daisy and Jack, my two children, are constantly asking me what I am going to do when I grow up. It’s a tough call. Here I am living in Aldeburgh, semi-retired and I have never been busier.

I taught History at Ipswich School from 1972-1978 and then taught it all over again at Dauntsey’s School, near Devizes for three further years. I was a late developer and signed up for the Open University in 1973 as I only had a teaching certificate. I studied - largelyModern Art and Architecture - and was awarded a 2:1 at the end of 1978. In between times Cambridge offered me the opportunity to study for a Master’s degree in The History of the Alphabet as I suspect they were only really interested in my rugby prowess.

In 1980, my rugby career, such as it was, was closing in on me. I had toured Australia with England, been capped as a substitute against Scotland and played four times for the Barbarians. And along the way, I had scored - over five seasons - 145 tries in 152 games for Bedford and equalled the try scoring record in each of the first two seasons whilst at Bath (29). The Bedford record still stands.

When you play on the wing you need above all else, speed. Speed over 20-30 metres and explosive turbo charged Usain Bolt-like speed over 10-15; when that goes you’re done. I wasn’t quite done in 1980 but the occasional bright young thing on

the wing aged 20 or 21 was beginning to make my life uncomfortable. Maybe, now I had a first degree I could persuade Oxford, as it was nearest, to offer me a Master’s course in Education so I would be better prepared when applying for headships in due course. I was interviewed in 1981 and accepted on the MSc course which was fortuitous because it was also the Centenary Varsity Match!

I wasn’t absolutely certain I wanted to return to teaching so the MSc was essentially a fall back position. My Head at the time at Dauntsey’s was a very lively man called Guy King-Reynolds and he had offered me sound advice about whether to go to Oxford, having himself missed out on a Blue at Cambridge. I borrowed £10k from my bank, Wiltshire CC helped with a small grant and I was off. It took a decade to pay the loan off. I never regretted it.

At Oxford, I spoke at the Union, I was a member of OUDS (drama) and I was awarded Best Player in the Varsity Match where we came a close second. After Christmas, I started writing for The Times and The Observer and I did some comedy. I did very little actual work, though somehow I passed my end of year exams. The truth is I fancied a life in the media but had no idea how to get there. My head had also been turned - a bit - by politics. I had gone to the Union to hear Roy Jenkins speak just after the Gang of Four had created the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In a packed house with a thousand students still outside, I heard him being introduced as “The next Prime Minister.” If only it was that simple.

For two years after Oxford, I freelanced for anybody who would help pay my mortgage. I rewrote the entire A Level History syllabus for an Oxford overseas teaching academy, I was offered £10k to

write a book about winning in sport which took me twice to America where a gold medallist told me he had taken illegal substances to enhance his performance. I carried on writing but it was much tougher than I had anticipated and very lonely. If you were having a quiet beer in your local pub and someone asked you what you did, if they didn’t read The Times or The Observer you never received any feedback on the piece you had written that day. I guess too, I’d left it a bit late to start over.

Towards the end of 1983, The Guardian media pages had an advertisement for a non-fiction publisher with a minimum of five years experience. You had to cover Art, Music, hobbies, sport, cards et al (and the list was long). How could I persuade Allen & Unwin - the publishers of John Ruskin, Bertrand Russell and J.R. Tolkien - that, though I had no experience, they should interview me?

I spent days in Blackwell’s taking out every non-fiction book they had

published, checking the quality of the paper, the typeface, the cover and the content. They were over publishing and they were caught between an older readership and my generation.

I like to think I wrote my application in red ink and had it delivered in a cake box but now I am a little uncertain about the latter. Anyway, it caught the publisher’s attention and I was interviewed and somehow, I was asked if I’d like the job. I needed no excuses to order a glass of wine In Museum Street just by the British Museum, before returning, ever so slightly tipsy, to my house in Oxford.

The seat had previously been called Faversham and had been held by the Conservatives since 1665. I may have made that bit up. Anyway, the sitting MP had a majority of 16,600. It was a hopeless seat for me, but it would teach me the ropes and in 1997 I would win a soft Labour seat and stay in the House of Commons until the grim reaper turned up. But.

But miracles happen and I won the seat by 1,299 votes, retained it in 2001 with an increased majority of 3,509 and after a couple of recounts held it in 2005 with a majority of 79. I changed five laws, including the substantial changes to occupational pensions and founded the Oxford Internet Institute and much else besides, as well as winning four national awards for my work in digital. I nearly loved being an MP as much as I did publishing. I stood down in 2010 with huge relief. On reflection, as I opposed the Iraqi war, I should have stepped down in 2005 and I

I loved publishing. I loved it disproportionately. I still love it and since 2016, I have been Editor-at-Large at Atlantic Books, UK. And last year, having followed their work on Twitter, I persuaded the team of 'Led by Donkeys' to produce all their posters in a book.

And last October, it made The Sunday Times top ten best sellers. This year, I have signed Tom Heap, of BBC Countryfile, to write a book about 'Smart Land: The Future of Food'. I am hopeful the great Jake Fiennes up at Holkham Hall will also pen something for me on ‘Wilding’. However.

However, I started writing scripts for television whilst publishing. The first one was a documentary on David Jenkins, the former Olympic athlete, for C4, which traced the business he had created in providing performance enhancing drugs for athletes in the USA (he lived just north of San Diego). He was taking $1m a week from sales. The second was a late night two hour live sports show, also for C4 called Running Late which ran for two series and I was its executive producer. Something had to give and without a blink - but later with huge regret - I moved across to television. Eventually, with a hitch here and there, I created dot.tv for Sky TV and ran the channel for two years until the General Election in 1997.

In 1995, I was adopted as the Labour candidate for Sittingbourne and Sheppey.

wish I had. But politics is a strange beast. It’s a drug. When the PM asks you in for coffee, you break the land speed record wherever you are for the chance to chat to him at No.10. I enjoyed the experience until Iraq, but I still thought there was one more ‘life’ out there.

One more life never came.

Since 2010, I have had two new titanium knee replacements (brilliant), I have had four operations in the testicular/ prostate arena but not cancer (much better), I had a pacemaker fitted (amazing) and a subsequent ablation (hooray) as I was fainting even crossing the High Street in Colchester - not to be recommended - then rheumatoid arthritis took over my whole body and when that was ‘held’ (all good) along came lymphoedema in my ankles and legs (not so good but liveable). Apart from that life has been terribly jolly and as I write everything else is still working. It’s a miracle.

When you’re 60 and a washed up MP, no one wants to employ you. That was a shock. I did find bits and pieces here and

there. I think I worked too hard, maybe 80-100 hours a week and, to compensate I drank too much. On ‘retiring’ my body just gave up on me.

I still had fun. I chaired Royal Trinity Hospice, Clapham and helped introduce virtual reality, an app and much elseincluding the ‘Royal’ which took two years of gentle persuasion between Buckingham Palace and No.10. I still sit on boards at Columbia University and Charleston in America. I am a member of Ronnie Scott’s and the Chelsea Arts Club elected me as a non-artist member which has been such an honour.

In 2016, I became a part-time student at King’s College, London and was awarded my MA in International Relations earlier this year. It was tough but hugely worthwhile. And somewhere along the way I was runner-up as the best chair of a charity in 2015!

I’m still going along.

I came to Aldeburgh in late 2019. When I look back I seem to have done things in 10 to 15 year cycles. This will be my last change. At least I think it will be. I am now on the Lifeboat committee, the rugby committee (of course), I’m helping to stop Sizewell C, and I’m talking at the library and local schools. I will return to the Big Smoke twice a week once the pandemic has abated. And, I have kept a diary of 2020, it has already topped 80,000 words for which I hope to find a publisher. I’ve written six books to date.

I was hugely lucky to have taught at Ipswich School under Peter Hill, a wily, wise counsellor and historian who won a Blue in the 800 yards but rarely told anyone about it. Of its pupils, they still stop me in London, in Ipswich and elsewhere around the world but as I am fond of saying when they call my name out loudly: “You look different without your shorts on”. Twitter: @wyattd

– Derek Wyatt (OI Staff 1972 – 78)

Fund raising by offering car parking for Ed Sheeran’s Ipswich concerts

Early in August 2019 my eldest grandson, Harvey, 16, stated that he would like to raise some money for charity. He has participated in various activities organised by others, for example sponsored walks, runs, etc but this time he wanted to organise his own.

We discussed various schemes but one stood out due to some unique opportunities which were that Ed Sheeran was holding four sell out concerts in Ipswich. Our family company was only 1.5 miles from Chantry Park where they were being held and the company could offer car parking for up to 115 cars on two of the days. There were a few obstacles to overcome but nothing major. Together we set up a plan of action.

• First, establish exactly what we could offer.

• Second, how would we promote the offer?

• Third, how would we manage the offer?

• Finally, how would we raise money from this offer?

Organisation on the day

The car park would comprise a combination of our retail and trade car park and the staff car park. This would limit the availability of the car parks to two of the four days. The concerts were over the August Bank Holiday, Friday to Monday. On the Friday the staff and shop car parks would be full. On Saturday the shop car park would be full, but on the Sunday and Monday, the staff car park would be empty and the shop car park would be empty from 4pm.

We decided to promote the car parking ourselves though a link to a page on our company website. Using Facebook and Instagram to drive customers to the web page. We were also fortunate that an early enquiry

for car parking from the owner of a marketing company who wanted to park outside the hours we were offering resulted in bartering more promotion for a couple of spaces.

On the web page we described what we were offering and when, and invited anyone interested to fill out a brief form. All respondents were then sent full details of the offer and a ticket.

We considered the two ways to raise money. First charge for each parking space, or second request donations on the day. We considered that donations on the day would suit us better and potentially be more successful. It meant we could promote the parking as free and we had a suggested minimum donation of £5. Our chosen charity was East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) as it is well

known, and anyone may be in a situation that could benefit from their assistance. We were a little disappointed by the number of car park spaces we had confirmation of 57 – on the Sunday and 32 on the Monday. If we had started the promotion earlier it would have been better but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

On the other hand, the folks that came were incredibly generous, they loved the story of Harvey dreaming up the scheme and the way it was presented and was an ideal charity.

Having lower numbers did solve a traffic problem in that the road past our site is a dual carriage way which is usually not too busy. But the powers that be

decided to replace a gas main just before the concerts and reduced each carriage way to a single lane. The risk of causing big traffic jams as cars queued to get to the car park caused some sleepless nights!

On the day, after setting up with signage and bollards, everything went smoothly. It was hot, very hot but a steady stream of cars soon began to arrive, paid their donation and with a map in hand made their way to the concert. We retreated to the shelter of our house at about 6pm and left an Honesty Collecting Bucket which was used by a few latecomers I am pleased to say.

On Monday Harvey and a friend ran the whole day with no problems. Everyone was very generous and complimentary about the way the parking was offered and operated. Over the two days £644 was raised for this worthwhile charity. Harvey and I were “on duty” on Sunday and Harvey and his friend Isaac ran the Monday parking.

– Mark Gladwell (OI 1955 - 65) – Harvey Gladwell (OI 2012 -19)

In addition to the above Harvey's brother and sister – Elliot and Darcy, also current Ipswich School pupils have this year decided on some birthday challenges. Elliot was 15 on Thursday 7th May so starting at 6 am he cycled on his turbo trainer for 15 hours, finishing before midnight (managing to do school lessons too) and raising money for Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust. Darcy, not to be outdone by her brother, did an IronMan triathlon over 7 days. This was a 3.8 km swim, an 180km bike ride and a 42 km run. The swim took place in a 7.3 m pool, so she needed to swim 522 lengths. She cycled outside and on a turbo, and did the run outside raising money for East Anglia Children’s Hospital. To date, Elliot has raised £1,000 and Darcy £720. Clearly a very charitable family.

Raising money in aid of:

The long way round… Cycling from London to Cannes

“It is 6.00am and I am finally on the road, having managed to stumble around since 5.00am in the hotel, getting my breakfast, making a sneaky snack from the buffet and putting on all my cold weather gear. It is -3 degrees and pitch black, I can see a trail of little red lights in front of me as I follow the Peloton through northern France.

Relieved to just be pedalling for now, I am looking forward to the sunrise over the Loire Valley with mist over the vineyards. In a few days time I will be in the South of France, but before then we have a marathon of a cycle ride to complete, with very little time even for sleeping. Is this fun, I wonder?”

For the last four years I have completed a pretty crazy cycle in March, with 150

other property professionals, as we ride from London to Cannes in the South of France. The event is organised by Club Peloton and raises an average of £500,000 for the charity Coram every year. We arrive at the international property conference MIPIM to great fanfare and the ride is now a solid fixture in the conference diary. In truth I am pretty proud that such a large contingent from the UK arrives by bike (which is environmentally friendly) raising such a lot of money for a children’s charity (which is ethical).

However, the ride itself is pretty intimidating. In the past there have been two alternative routes, but the ‘classic’ route starts in Greenwich on the first day, ending in Calais after a trip through the tunnel.

Then there are some brutal days in northern France, cycling via Reims, east of Paris to Dijon, then down to Valence. At this point the terrain becomes much more rolling and picturesque as you pass the edge of the Alps through to Provence.

Traditionally at this point you have a great party in Aix en Provence, forgetting (and ultimately regretting) the fact that you still have 180km to cycle the next day to Cannes. Those with a sharp understanding of geography will have worked out that a couple of those days

Jerry Tate (OI 1981 – 1992) (with a lot of mud on his face)

The peloton on an early start in the north of France.

are over 300km long, which is a very long ride by anyone’s standards and involves being in the saddle from 6am to 9pm. In complete truth I signed up for this ride for the first time in 2017, having only just started cycling seriously and had not

fully understood what I had let myself in for. Luckily Club Peloton who organise the ride anticipate idiots like me and have a well-structured regime of training rides every weekend from November up until the event itself in March. As you

might imagine this means a lot of early starts in the darkest, coldest months, but actually this generates a huge amount of camaraderie before the ride.

You are allocated a team and two ‘ride captains’ who are veterans of the ride and can answer any questions you may have, as well as talking you down when you start to panic! I am now a ride captain myself, which I find really rewarding as I still know what it is like to feel very nervous having signed up for a ridiculously long ride, with little previous experience.

The ‘classic’ Cycle to MIPIM route

Jerry Tate with ride captain partner John Forbes on the ride in 2019

A typical Hertfordshire training ride in January 2020

A long ride like this is really all about strategy; you need to have the right clothing, on one day the temperature can vary from -3 degrees to +28 degrees and there is no stopping for rain; you also need to have a keen understanding of nutrition, one full day on a bike burns around 8,000 calories which somehow you need to replace.

The ride itself though is so well organised that it is the closest any of us can come to being a professional cyclist. There is a lead car showing you the way, there is a mechanics van to fix any problems with your bike, and there are regular food and coffee stops.

When I started the ride every meal was a baguette but thankfully now we have delicious salads which strangely you start to crave after your fifth energy bar. There are also physios who can give you a quick fix on the road or a (sometimes pretty painful) sports massage at the end of the day.

The ride is organised in a series of stages, with around five to six stages per day. Most riders do the majority of the stages, but you are not obliged to do every one and there is a passenger coach which tails the Peloton so that riders can ‘sit out’ a stage if needs be. All the ride captains are connected via radio to the lead car and there is quite close monitoring of the Peloton. Generally,

the idea of the ride is that everyone rides the best and the most they ever have, but sometimes riders can become a bit ‘wobbly’ and at this point a ride captain will normally gently suggest they sit the next stage out. Although I have completed the entire ride a couple of times this is definitely not obligatory. The concept or ethos of Club Peloton is one of inclusivity and support (hence the name).

2020 was, of course, very different. We had completed our training, packed all our gear, and gathered all our sponsorship, when the pandemic hit and suddenly everything was cancelled. For a few shellshocked days we wondered what to do, if we cancelled the ride the sponsorship money for Coram (around £200,000 at that point) would be lost. Luckily one of the ride captains, Christian SpencerDavis, formulated a cunning plan, to do the same distance but around Regent's Park.

So, for six days, instead of cycling through France, we circled the park until we hit the magic 1,500km figure. I think in hindsight this was even more crazy than the ‘normal’ Cycle to MIPIM as we did not

The peloton descends on a small French village, and the salads which have thankfully replaced the endless baguettes!

even have the beautiful scenery, or the rosé on the beach at the end. But I am glad we did it straight away, two weeks later we were in total lockdown and we might have ended up doing it on static bikes in our living rooms!

I am very proud to have been part of Cycle to MIPIM. It is the major fundraising activity for Coram and is a force for good in the construction industry. It is also a very inclusive event that has got a wide variety of people, men and women, fit and unfit, bankers, developers, consultants and contractors, into cycling as an activity.

I hope it remains an annual tradition and that we ‘keep on rolling’ from London to Cannes for the foreseeable future.

– Jerry Tate (OI 1981 - 92)

Jerry Tate attended Ipswich School from 1981 to 1992. He lives in north London with his wife and three children, and is a partner at the architecture practice Tate Harmer. (www.tateharmer.com)

Doing the distance around Regent's Park in March 2020 (just before the lockdown)

Four of the ‘veteran’ riders, Sam McClary, Anna Beckett, Zoe Sharpe and Emily Ahlers

John Penrose –A Proper Job?

At school, I didn’t want to be a politician. I wanted to be a lawyer or thought I did. After all, it’s interesting, thought-provoking work; you’re helping people solve difficult problems, you’re seeking truth and justice and, as a bonus, there’s no heavy lifting, what’s to dislike?

I was wrong. Lots of my schoolmates were far more self-aware and emotionally mature than me at 18, and immediately chose sensible, fulfilling careers which they’re still happily pursuing today. But not me. I soon discovered that the law is mostly about ‘what’ rather than ‘why’; what do the rules allow my client to do in this or that situation? What is the judge or the jury likely to decide if this case goes to trial? And that’s all very well, unless you discover that you’re the only one in the class asking why it’s that way at all, and why aren’t the rules different in the first place?

And then I started yelling at the telly. Now, I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this; we all do it from time to time when a particularly clueless twit is being interviewed on the news. But, faced with the prospect of turning into one of those people who rants in pubs or on Twitter, I realised that I either needed to shut up, or do something about it.

So, I became a political late-developer. I joined a political party at 28, which was years after all the university politicos who knew miles more about things than me. And I promised myself I’d give it until I was 40. If I tried and failed well, at least

I wouldn’t regret it for the rest of my life. And, if it worked, I’d be able to rant in Parliament rather than the pub.

My first political meeting was in Leytonstone, in London’s East End. Not a fertile breeding ground for Conservatives, even liberal, moderate ones like me, but a great place to learn the basics that student politicos took for granted, and which I’d never seen before.

There were 5 of us, with a combined age of about 300 years, in a room smelling faintly of dust and cats, so it wasn’t the most inspirational beginning. But since I was the youngest by miles, and the most eager, there was plenty to do and learn.

A few years later I was the Conservative general election candidate in Ealing Southall, on the other side of London. It was a safe Labour seat anyway and the year was 1997, when the Conservatives were wiped out

everywhere as Blair cruised to victory, so I was never in danger of winning. But I learnt even more and, as a bonus, ate loads of curry with the predominantly Asian local voters.

All the learning paid off when, bang on my self-imposed deadline age of 40, the wonderful folk of Weston-SuperMare in Somerset elected me as their MP in 2005.

Papa's Best Fish & Chips, Weston

We’d come close in 2001, when I lost by a handful of votes after a recount, which is an experience I wouldn’t recommend to anyone; it was 4am when the result was declared, everyone was exhausted and I had to be gracious in defeat to a forest of press microphones. Not fun. But it meant that victory 4 years later made me realise what winning an Olympic gold medal must be like after getting nothing at the previous games, and the vote-share has gone up at every single election since then.

It’s the most bonkers, brilliant, beautiful job you can imagine. I get to help people with their problems. I can ask government ministers any question I like, including Boris. Or I can grab them by the elbow in a corridor or a cafe, and try to persuade them to get the government to do something faster, or slower, or bigger, or differently, or in a different colour, if I think it would make the world a better place.

Or, when I’ve been a Minister myself, I’ve been the one answering the questions and making the decisions instead. There are bad days, of course; every job has moments when you come home and try not to snarl at your family, and Parliament is no different. I got pretty cross with some of my fellow MPs about the way they were behaving over Brexit, including several people who I genuinely like and admire. And the recent exams grading problems have been difficult too.

Plus, there are some really peculiar things that no one would guess they’d ever do. I’ve stood between Jemima Khan and a bloke dressed as a herring, to promote marine biodiversity. I’ve abseiled down a 150 foot cliff to promote UK tourism, with long press camera lenses trained on me, hoping I’d wimp out. And I’ve stood in the middle of Stonehenge’s circle, on a summer’s dawn, as multiplegold-winning medallist Michael Johnson carried the Olympic torch aloft. Magical.

Is it what my teachers at school would have called a ‘proper job’? Probably not. It’s far too uncertain and, occasionally, downright weird for that. But it lets me deal with ‘why’ things are the way they are, and perhaps to make them a little better, sometimes at least. And it’s stopped me yelling at the telly too.

– John Penrose (OI 1975 - 1982)

MP for Weston, Worle & the villages; Prime Minister’s Anti-Corruption Champion; Chair of Conservative Policy Forum

The Council's New Plan

John and Weston's town crier

Fairer Education Funding Bill confirmed

Abseiling to promote UK tourism

There and back again

I lived in France for four years. In 2016, I received a job offer from ING to be based in Europe. So after nearly 30 years of working in London, I packed my bags and moved to Paris. With the kids grown up and off to university, this new-found freedom from childcare made it possible for me to take on this job. The new job was pretty much all the things that I longed for – working within an innovative business, I would work with teams in five different countries and would need to travel.

Why Paris? Well, I had a choice of options but they did not include London. The language would be easier as I could remember some French (mostly from lessons at school), but I was keen to learn more. Paris is a vibrant city and promised so many new experiences. Also it was an easy two hour or so train journey back to London on the Eurostar and so not too far from family.

What did I find? An exciting adventure. Paris was noisy, confident and everchanging. I found a home in the third Arrondissement, in the Marais, with a classic view of the roof tops across the city and I watched the Eiffel Tower

twinkle every night in the distance (quite magical). The Beaubourg and Louvre were within walking distance and culture was all around. Paris has the highest concentration of cinemas per capita of any city in the world and most films are in their original language with French subtitles.

The Marais is a bustling neighbourhood too with restaurants, boutiques, with enticing displays (great artistry) of cakes, chocolates and cheese - which I often describe as sweet shops for grown-ups.

Not to mention the cafes and bars round every corner. The streets are medieval, windy and narrow and include some of the most beautiful classic buildings that I have ever seen. These extraordinary ‘Hotels Particuliers’ built by the French nobility before the Sun King moved them out to Versailles are a must see and their grand courtyards are filled with many stories and a pervasive sense of history throughout.

For myself and my husband, our daily lives changed, now we were shopping in the food markets at the Bastille (instead of deliveries from Tesco.com) and strolling along the Seine on weekend mornings.

The city is particularly beautiful first thing in the morning before the rest of the city wakes up.

We lived through events, some terrible, like the Notre Dame fire or the aftermath of the terrorist attacks and some just bizarre, take the gilets jaunes for instance. My French lessons with Phillippe ‘le prof’ improved my knowledge of French culture and grammar, but these were largely friendly chats and I had to accept my limits with learning the language. My French became good enough for shops and restaurants, but I noticed too that the Parisians have made great strides in learning English. Paris is exciting, fun and ever-changing and I appreciate that these experiences could only be discovered by living and working there. Work was busy too, my life became a whirr of travel and which train or flight to take next and I rarely had a chance to pause and realise what an adventure it all was.

All things have changed in 2020, which has been extraordinary, not only because of Covid and the lockdown affecting all of us. Earlier this year, I transferred to a new role in the company which will allow me to move back to England. I have been in leafy Surrey during lockdown, where I am enjoying being closer to my family and friends.

It’s quiet and the view from my window is green. I work from home every day like many others and my day is filled with remote interactions on video and conference calls. A day out is a daily walk with the dog in the Surrey woodlands. Paris seems to be a distant memory and I almost wonder if it was all real.

I feel a twinge of nostalgia for times there. I know it’s not far away and it’ll just be a matter of time until we visit again, not as a resident this time, nor a tourist, but a familiar visitor loaded with memories from the past, a bit like catching up with an old friend from school.

– Ling Stephens (OI

1982 – 84)

Features | Trip to Antarctica via Chile

Trip to Antarctica via Chile Oct/Nov 2019

My dad had been talking about a trip to Antarctica for some years, things just seem to get in the way but approaching his 75th Birthday he seemed to be more determined. An email to my two brothers and I, followed, requesting someone to accompany him on what would be the trip of a lifetime. Mum had already declined as from California she is not too fond of the cold. My brothers had other commitments so left it up to me to join him. What a hardship!!

A trip to Antarctica is a bit of a struggle on the conscience for some, as the more people go the less unspoilt it becomes. However, we tried to alleviate this as much as possible by travelling with Hurtigruten on a “science” boat with hybrid diesel/electric powered engines. Quite advanced technology for a cruise ship and when we booked the trip it still had not been built…. And this was the start of where we thought this trip may never happen.

The short version: Hurtigruten had to invest in the boat yard as they were going to close, putting a year delay on the boat being built and a year’s delay on the holiday. Weeks before the trip BA flight crew were striking about disputes on pay. A few days before the flight civil unrest in Santiago, Chile, where we were to land. On the day of travel we had a trespasser on the line outside Colchester. Then at LHR and settling down before our flight I received an e-mail

from Hurtigruten telling us that our boat would be arriving a day late in Valparaiso. Thoughts of should we even be going, taking unnecessary risks not fully knowing the situation developing in Chile, went through our minds but it was now or never.

Fears about cancelled flights unfounded BA’s Boeing 787 landed 14½ hours later. Our shuttle to Valparaiso, our destination for 2 days exploring before we board, took us past Santiago where a million demonstrators were protesting about a 3% rise in their Metro Fares and a bit more. Our hotel dated back to the 1850s was in the “German hills”. Unknown at the time but the multitude of steps in all directions prepared us for snowshoe walking later.

The next day we climbed down lots of steps and caught the Metro to VinoDel-Mar, with military personnel guarding the stations. We were more concerned by a street sign which translated “this way to escape a tsunami” than suddenly finding ourselves facing oncoming demonstrators. But the latter did happen, and we quickly solved this via a side-street and hid in an establishment serving pizza!

We finally joined the queue to board the MS Roald Amundsen on October 27th. Prior to the trip we had filled in medical forms and I was worried about my dad being allowed to do our booked treks. For my first cruise I wasn’t sure what to expect but apart from the crew and the expedition team there were few other passengers in my age bracket which alleviated my fears!

Next notes taken from my dad’s diary of events. Public announcements

and lectures were in three languages, English, German and French. The crew were mainly Scandinavian and Filipino although there was a member of the expedition team from Nepal. Technical notes: Gross Tonnage 20,889 Passengers 530; no inside cabins and no rudder, maiden voyage stated on 3 July 2019, and we were joining it at Valparaiso.

As we embarked 24 hours later than planned the first National Park tour was cancelled, three days at sea, with a slippery causeway stop at a fishing village, Puerto Eden, followed by Puerto Natales Patagonia and the windswept Torres del Paine National Park. Our tour guide was from the Mapuche, part of the indigenous population who make up 9% of Chile, and were not defeated by the Spanish. A long day with many stops for Condor, Puma, Glacier lake, rope bridges, waterfalls etc.

Those cold windy trips required hot toddy in the observation lounge accompanied by sweet music from the grand piano and pleasant chats about whatever caught on. Lectures took place every day as did scientific readings on what was flying around us and in the water. We were never alone. Nov 3. Boot fitting, and rope knot training. Stephen was good as he learnt in Sea Cadets at school. We passed the five Glaciers in Beagle Canal then Ushuaia in Argentina. Then Puerto Williams

and across Drake’s Passage, which didn’t quite live up to “I survived” logo on the Tee shirt in the gift shop.

Nov 6th: We woke up with land in sight. It was Yankee Harbour 62° 32’ S: 59° 47’ W, There was a buzz of excitement on board. The zodiac boats ferried us to the island, and we all walked on the beach passing elephant seals and, what we really came to see, penguins, stopping at a very large noisy nest of hundreds of Gentoo penguins.

Stephen went kayaking in dead calm waters with a group of 12. Fears of being too cold were gone, it was colder in

Ipswich that day. I guess we could say it’s down to global warming. A further sign of human damage were samples of water taken that showed micro plastics under the microscope.

Nov 7th MS Roald Amundsen Naming ceremony took place in Chiriguano Bay joined by MS Midnatsol, (Midnight Sun), decks full of folk waving Norwegian flags, and on the hills around us skiers from another cruise ship. Stephen was in a boat full of Germans, common language, swimming penguin spotting, his Dad on Deck 11, slightly warmer, Wine flowed that evening after the afternoon boat rides to see the Crabeater seals and study the floating ice at Brabant Island.

Nov 8th, we climbed up a steep slope on the mainland to look at Chinstrap penguins, how everyone who we saw managed amazed us. The Endurance sank about 300 miles East of where we were. Dad gave his book on Shackleton’s Endurance to the ship’s library. The weather was turning so those who wanted to part with £500 to spend a night in a tent on the mainland were disappointed.

Nov 9th: We decided that snow shoe walks had a better chance and we were correct and had our walks on Half Moon Island, but not easy even getting them on, and a few had to be rescued where the snow was soft. That evening as we headed North as the seas became rougher.

Nov 11th: Back in Chile arriving at Punta Arenas, Strait of Magellan, on the morning of 12th and a three hour flight back on an LATAM Airlines Airbus 321 to Santiago where the temperature was Hot! A taxi took us to the Park Plaza hotel where we cooled off in the rooftop pool while the shops and hotels were boarded up ready for that evening’s demonstrations. A church was torched that night.

There was a strike on Wednesday and many of the tourist attractions were shut but we managed to go up to the observation deck of the Santiago Gran Torre. Slightly larger and taller, but similar to the Shard. At 900 meters it is currently the tallest building in South America. Then taxi to the airport joining some fellow tour passengers who had been unable to venture out because of the demonstrators. Then we were on BA’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner for a 13 hour flight to home.

An amazing trip many people won’t have the chance to make and even more thankful of the trip and doing it with my dad given the 2020 we have all had.

– Stephen Bell (OI 1988 – 95)

David Ling (National Service 1951 – 1953) Atom Bomb 1952

I receive an Old Ipswichian magazine every Christmas and the 2017 issue invited those of us who had been in National Service to send in details for the School archives. I forwarded a photo album of my two years’ service (1951 – 1953) and they were astounded that I had been to the Montebello Islands located off western Australia, where the first British atomic bomb exploded in October 1952.

They printed several copies of the enclosed and I thought you might be interested to hear details of my experience.

I joined up in April 1951 at Bordam, Hampshire and was placed in the Royal Engineers where I did 16 weeks training which really sorted me out! I was 19 and my mother had done everything for me and suddenly I was on my own. I had to grow up very quickly! It did me the world of good. I tried to join the Navy, but they did not take any National Servicemen. As it turned out I spent 11 months of my time on HMS Zeebrugge or HMS Narvik living with the Navy. These were two tank landing craft of approximately 2000 tonnes. They sailed together in convoy.

Anyhow, having completed 16 weeks training, two of us were sent to Cwrt y Gollen in south Wales as part of the Field regiment which was being formed prior to

joining HMS Zeebrugge at Portsmouth on 29th February 1952 when we left the UK.

Most of the men were tradesmen –carpenters, brickies, operators of heavy machines e.g. JCBs and Caterpillar

tractors. I think I was chosen as I could use a theodolite and dumpy level. In fact most of my time was of a clerical nature. I learnt to type and was pay clerk on Zeebrugge on the outward journey to the Montebellos and pay clerk on Narvik on return to the UK.

Looking back, it was the posting of a lifetime since we berthed at Gibraltar, Malta, Port Said, Aden, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Cocos Islands (mid Indian Ocean), Perth (western Australia) and the Montebellos. We had several days off at each of these places, so we were able to go sightseeing.

The ships stopped in the Med, to allow us to jump into the sea, swim and climb

Zeebrugge entering the harbour in Malta - 2nd March 1952

Raw recruits S.T.R.R.E. May 1951. Admin weekend.

back on board via ropes. Having arrived at Perth where we had a week off we went to the Montebello Islands and were under canvas for a few weeks, during which time preparations were taking place for the bomb, i.e. instruments being set up, blast walls being constructed and tracks between instruments being built. We made a swimming pool protected by steel mesh to keep us safe from sharks!

Towards the end of September, we left the islands and anchored about 15 miles away and were told the bomb would go off on 3rd October. Those who wished were fell in on deck facing away from the bomb. We were told we could view the

site after the first bang which was quite loud, as were the shock waves.

After a few days we returned to the islands collecting data etc and then we commenced the journey back to the UK where we arrived in January 1953.

En route on Christmas Eve 1952 we were anchored in Port Said harbour having a Christmas service on deck when an Egyptian gun boat encircled us, keeping its gun trained on us but (the Suez Crisis was due to happen later) it failed to stop the carol singing!

Having arrived at Portsmouth in January, we had six weeks leave and I returned to an army barracks at Chatham for the last four weeks of my National Service when I was demobbed at the end of March 1953.

Looking back, except for the first 16 weeks of square bashing, it was like a holiday! I learnt a lot about the Navy traditions and made friends in the Army, Navy and Marines.

– David Ling (OI 1943 – 49)

I was born in Ipswich and won a scholarship to Ipswich School in 1943. Having completed my National Service in 1953, I decided to become a civil engineer and eventually qualified as a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers also a M.I.MunE, C.Eng, I did three years training with East Suffolk County Council, then moving to the County Borough of Ipswich, Essex CC, Norfolk CC eventually being appointed Divisional Surveyor to Dorset County Council from where I returned in 1989 so I have been retired 31 years. During my retirement I was appointed as a volunteer with the Dorset Cancer Care Hospice, and I stayed with them for just over 28 years. My second wife and I have been married over 50 years and I have two sons and a daughter plus a stepdaughter and stepson, seven grandchildren and, to date, seven great grandchildren!

180 Engineer Regiment RE. Malta, 31st December 1952

From Rigaud House to the Royal Navy Fleet – Ten Years of Naval Service

As I approach ten years of service in the Royal Navy early next year, I wanted to take this opportunity to communicate my experiences to the special community of current and former students of Ipswich School. As a proud Old Ipswichian myself (Rigaud House 2002-2007), I never gave thought to a career in the military during my teenage years. I therefore feel it my duty to pass on the fantastic experience of a decade of military service, both to allow current students to consider this pathway, as well as to connect with serving personnel and veterans within the OI community.

It would be wrong to proceed without first outlining what the Royal Navy actually does, as this can often be under-reported. The 30,000 strong family of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines undertake a huge array of tasks across the globe. 90% of UK trade arrives by sea, so the primary focus is protecting freedom of shipping worldwide. Humanitarian Assistance to Disaster Relief, Defence Engagement, and ‘interoperability’ with other nations are just a few of the tasks the Royal Navy permanently undertakes.

With the arrival of two new aircraft carriers and associated ‘F-35 Lightning’ jets of the Fleet Air Arm, this is a hugely

exciting time. The Royal Navy is growing again. It covers land, sea, and air, and the new globally-focused stance can be summarised by the phrase: ‘Forward Presence’.

It would also be wrong of me to proceed without stating how much I enjoyed studying at Ipswich School. It taught me the foundations of discipline and pride of appearance that would serve as the building blocks for successful Phase One military training in later years.

Furthermore, the house system taught me the mechanics of ‘friendly

rivalry’ and respect of each other’s achievements, which is comparable to the rivalry and sense of pride between and within operational Royal Navy warships in the fleet. My experience in the School CCF, led by Alasdair Ross, also proved very useful, although at that time the unit was limited to Army and RAF.

After leaving Sixth Form in 2007, I studied History at the University of Kent, and reluctant to pursue an office-based civilian career upon graduating, I made a successful application to the Royal Navy, arriving at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth to start officer training in May 2011.

Phase One training was an inevitably tough 30 weeks, both physically and

A Christmas homecoming in HMS Blyth, following a NATO deployment in the Mediterranean, 2012

Team-effort: HMS Dragon seized £350m of illegal narcotics on deployment in 2018.

mentally. It was clear from the first day at Dartmouth that the military is not a job, but a lifestyle.

Above all, what helped me overcome the high hurdles of training was the sense of comradery and overcoming challenges together. I formed friendships and bonds in just the first few weeks of training which are still as close as ever nearly a decade later.

It is this shared hardship and requirement for perseverance throughout training that makes passing out all the more memorable – and it was a hugely proud moment standing on parade at Dartmouth in December 2011 receiving my commission.

With Phase One training complete, I was then sent to the fleet to gain experience of operational warships, passing my professional boards at the end of a 10-week stint on the Royal Navy’s then-flagship, HMS Bulwark. Following basic navigation courses, I was deployed on my first operational tour as a Sub Lieutenant in summer 2012, joining the Mine Countermeasures Vessel HMS Pembroke in the Arabian Gulf to gain my qualification as an Officer of the Watch on the Bridge.

What struck me the most about joining the fleet was the sense of teamwork; a warship is nothing but formed metal without the people serving in her. And the people who serve in a warship are, quite simply, a team. Everybody has their jobs, and an instilled sense of duty to carry them out. No matter where the ship is, or what task she is performing,

teamwork is everywhere you look, and the achievements of a ship are shared equally among her crew.

Gaining my watchkeeping qualification in 2012, my first complement (unsupervised) role was with another Mine Countermeasures Vessel, HMS Atherstone, as Navigating Officer in 2013. A hugely enjoyable two

years followed, conducting two further deployments to the Gulf as well as driving her along the Caen Canal for the D-Day 70 commemorations in 2014 –without a doubt one of the highlights of my career to date.

By this point I had developed a passion for navigation, and after a stint in Frigate HMS Westminster, in 2017 I took over as Navigating Officer of HMS Dragon, one of the Royal Navy’s £1bn state-of-the-art air defence destroyers.

After a testing period of predeployment Operational Sea Training, the ship deployed on 6 months of operations east of Suez and subsequently seized £350m of narcotics, a Royal Navy record.

Ship-handling training in close proximity to a Type 23 Frigate in the Red Sea, 2012

Features | From Rigaud House to the Royal Navy Fleet – Ten Years

of Naval service

Selected for a command assignment on completion, I have most recently served as Executive Officer in HMS Medway, one of five new Offshore Patrol Vessels, taking the ship from the builder’s yard in Scotland out to deployed operations in the Caribbean. Although it is always a sad occasion to leave a ship, I have now moved on to a shore draft as Chief of Staff to the Overseas Patrol Squadron, assuming the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the process.

As the milestone of my first 10 years of service approaches, I look back with nothing but fond memories. Above all, I have come to know the Royal Navy (and UK Armed Forces as a whole) as my family. No matter how hard times get, there is always a member of this family that inspires you to stay positive. Hardships are shared and overcome as one. No matter what background a person comes from, they are accepted into this family. They wear the same uniform, they overcome the same challenges, and above all, they share the same pride.

Now happily settled in Portsmouth with my wife Vicky (who has provided incredible support and strength throughout much separation), it has become clear that this brotherhood/ sisterhood within the UK Armed Forces extends to partners and families also.

Vicky is proud to be a part of the close network of Armed Forces partners, and living in a service ‘married patch’, she experiences first-hand the strong community that is full of support from fellow partners when serving personnel are away on operations.

To round off, it has been a fantastic first 10 years in the Royal Navy, during which I have been privileged enough to visit 24 countries across four

The Ship’s Company of HMS Medway on the eve of deployment to the Caribbean, Jan 2020

continents, spread over five operational deployments. Yet it is the people I serve with that make this all worthwhile. For students currently studying at Ipswich School, I would highly recommend looking into joining this exclusive family – the Royal Navy is growing. For my fellow serving personnel and veterans within the OI community – please do ‘prove comms’…

– Lieutenant Commander Glyn Duffell Royal Navy (OI 2002 – 07)

Conducting aviation training with a Merlin Mk 4 in HMS Medway this year

OI Veterans of World War Two

The War in the Far East is not always remembered in the same way as the European Conflict. By VE Day the population was exhausted and traumatised. The unconditional surrender of Germany produced a huge collective sigh of relief. The Far East was so far away and the conflict was extensively side-lined by most of the population except for those relatives whose fathers and sons were either still fighting out there or were prisoners of war of the Japanese.

Many from the Suffolk Regiment had been captured at Singapore in 1942 and were suffering unimaginable hardships. There were also many volunteers from the Commonwealth, some of whom were, perhaps surprisingly, Old Ipswichians. One of these was William Harold Rowan-Robinson.

He was the second son of five children born in 1920 in Shotley and his father served as a surgeon in the Royal Navy. His brother served in the Intelligence Corps. He was at School from 1928 to 1936 and, not being academic, left aged 16. After a year of practical farming and a short course at an Agricultural School, he sailed for Australia. After arriving in Freemantle, he spent a day in Perth and then travelled by train to Greenbushes. The next day he started work at Maranup Ford and, for the next two years, worked on farms in the Maranup area.

He joined the Militia in 1940 and initially served with the 25th Light Horse Regiment. In 1941, he transferred to the Australia Imperial Force and went on infantry training at Northam, western Australia. He then volunteered for special training with the 2nd/2nd Independent Company (a Commando Unit known as the Double Reds) in Gippsland, Victoria. The men were chosen for their mental and physical toughness and knowledge of the bush.

They were trained by a special mission of British Officers from the newly formed Special Operations Executive.

Amid fears of a Japanese advance towards Australia, the Unit was sent to Timor, sailing from Darwin just hours after the bombing of Pearl Harbour. On arrival at Dili on 17th December 1941, most of the Unit were sent to protect Dili airfield with the remainder taking up positions in the nearby mountains. The Japanese invaded Timor on 20th February 1942 and, as a result of the Unit being vastly outnumbered, the airfield was evacuated. The Unit retreated to the mountains to wage guerrilla warfare in conjunction with the local population. Radio contact with Australia was then lost for three months and it was not known if the Unit had been captured or wiped out. Eventually Signaller Max Loveless, a Tasmanian amateur radio operator, cobbled together a transmitter nick-named “Winnie the War Winner”. The Royal Australian Navy was then able to bring in supplies so that the guerrilla campaign could continue.

Successful raids were soon met by the Japanese with vicious reprisals against the local population of whom between 40,000 and 60,000 were killed during the occupation. By November 1942, lack of food, extreme ill-health amongst all the men and ever increasing Japanese re-inforcements led to the withdrawal of all the forces. The Prime Minister of Australia, John Curtin, looking back at the long year of 1942, said: “Our guerrilla forces in Timor have been doing bold and courageous work. Though the spotlight has been more on New Guinea because of the larger forces engaged, the

people of Australia should not overlook the importance of Timor as a base for operations against north west Australia.”

On his return Harold, as he was known, went for further training at the Jungle Warfare School and, with the Unit being re-named “2/2nd Commando Squadron”, he was despatched to Benabena in New Guinea. By that time he was appointed as a Lance Sergeant, a commonwealth rank which gave the recipient the stripes without the pay! He remained there for more than a year and returned for further training before being posted to New Britain, an island in Papua New Guinea where there was heavy fighting until the war ended.

He had met Iris Radford in Perth after his exploits in Timor and they married immediately after the war. He was released from service so that he could take over the lease of Maranup Farm where he remained for three years and where his two sons, Max and Gilbert, were born. Two daughters were then born at Woodborough Farm. He then purchased a number of farms, the last being Glen Rowan in the Maranup area. He was heavily involved in the Farmers’ Union, the Agricultural Society and the Fruit Growers' Association. On retirement he moved to Bridgetown and took an active part in community affairs including almost ten years on the Shire Council. In 1987, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Honour of Australia for services to the community of which he was justly and unashamedly proud. He died in 2001.

– Alan Wyatt (OI 1944 – 53)

Old Ipswichians in the War

2019 was the 80th anniversary of the start of World War Two and the 75th anniversary of D-day and it therefore seems appropriate to mark these dates by recording the bravery and service of some of those former pupils who fought during the conflict. Men who walked where you walked, sat where you sat and were Old Ipswichians as you are.

686 served, 63 were killed and 43 OIs were Prisoners of War. 121 decorations were awarded, and it is perhaps inevitable that the exploits of those who received them will be given some priority.

Lt. John Low (OI 1922 – 25), served on HMS Unity, a U Class submarine which sank after a collision off the Tyne Estuary in April 1940. He was posthumously awarded the George Cross for extreme gallantry when he remained behind in the Control Room after the order to abandon ship was given. He calmly assisted all other members of the crew to escape but did not survive himself.

Another naval Officer, Lt. Commander Maurice Griffiths (OI 1911 – 18), was awarded the George Medal in 1941 for “his gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty” in trawling for mines in the North Sea and de-activating parachute mines at the London Docks during the Blitz.

Crelin “Bogle” Bodie (OI 1930 –38) also a member of the School's famous unbeaten 1937 rugby team. He volunteered on a short service commission as a Flight Lt. and became a spitfire pilot. He was posted to 66 Squadron at Duxford in May 1940 and features in the book “Aces High” which is a tribute to the most notable fighter pilots of the War.

He fought in the Battle of Britain with 5 enemies, destroyed and 5 shared with a further 8 probables and 2 shared. In September 1940, his Spitfire was shot at and he belly landed in a soft field. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in November 1940 and his medal was later presented to the School by his parents.

He wrote of his exploits at the time in a book entitled “10 Fighter Boys” and, while flying home after a mission, he mused, on

looking down at the villages below him: “I hope the 'all clear' has gone. I was tired. I’d done my best for them.” He was killed in a flying accident in February 1942, still aged only 21.

Another brave OI worth mentioning is Captain Henry Warner (OI 1923 – 30). He joined the Territorial Army and from there moved into the Royal Artillery and was subsequently posted to France. Henry was rescued by one of the “Small Ships” from Dunkirk in 1940. He then served in Italy and, during fighting, he was directing gunfire with his walkie-talkie from a shell hole near a farmhouse under attack by the enemy who were close by. He gave the unconventional order: “From my location 10 rounds of gunfire”. The order was queried as the landing area of the shells

was perilously close to his position. He repeated the order and the subsequent gunfire caused the enemy to go to ground. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and the citation stressed that his courage, determination and personal example contributed in great measure to the complete defeat of all enemy counter-attacks. It is believed that he was considered for the award of the Victoria Cross. Later in the war he came across a Concentration Camp in Austria and was approached by a skeletal figure who asked him: “Are you an Angel?” He turned to his companion and remarked: “It makes it all seem worthwhile”.

We will remember them.

Alan Wyatt (OI 1944 – 53)

–

Lt. John Low (OI 1922 – 25)

Crelin “Bogle” Bodie (OI 1930 – 38)

Lt. Commander Maurice Griffiths (OI 1911 – 18)

Captain Henry Warner (OI 1923 – 30)

Births

Sarah West (OI 2000 – 02)

In September 2019, we welcomed identical twin boys (Max and Charlie), little brothers to Arthur (then aged 17 months). We have since moved from Wandsworth to Essex, to get more space for the boys.

Ben Manning (OI 2000 – 10)

28th August 2019 saw the arrival of Payton John Stewart Manning, joining big sister Erin Harper Manning (30/06/2014). Also, this year I was supposed to be getting married but, y’know, Covid-19.

Mike Tomlin (OI 1989 – 00)

In April 2019 my wife Solange and I welcomed a gorgeous little addition to our family. Lara Victoria is a happy, bouncing, animal-loving wonder with a remarkable taste for olives and capers. Her daily ambition is to break into her older brother Adam’s bedroom and upset his perfectly organised card collections.

Marriages

Hester Gartrell (OI 2008 – 10) and Boris Kotsev – 26th October 2019

My partner Boris Kotsev and I got married at Islington Town Hall on the 26th October 2019. Weirdly just before our ceremony we bumped into some other people from Ipswich School attending another wedding just before ours - what are the chances?!

George Finch (OI 1997 – 11) and Lucy Homer (Oi 2008 – 10) – 25th May 2019

After meeting in the 6th form common room in October 2009, when George was in Year 12 and Lucy in Year 13, George Finch and Lucy Homer became husband and wife on 25th May 2019, almost ten years later!

19 OIs were present at the wedding, as was Ian Galbraith who played the organ for George and Lucy at the church service in St. Mary’s Church, Naughton.

The weather was excellent throughout the day for the service and then the reception at Haughley Park Barns where the guests celebrated and

reminisced about their times at Ipswich School, with a few anecdotes in Dr. Richard Elston’s (2004 - 11) best man speech relating to the times he and George enjoyed at Ipswich School.

Charlie Harpur (OI 2001 – 08)

Running for England in Perth at the Anglo Celtic Plate ultra-running international in March, Charlie Harpur became the British 100km Champion, winning the event in a time of 6hrs 44mins and qualifying for Great Britain representation at the World 100km Championships in the Netherlands

John Skeates (OI 1953 – 64)

The 4th October 2019 saw Carol and I celebrate our Golden Wedding Anniversary. The actual weekend was celebrated with our children and Grandchildren. At the end of the month we treated ourselves to a tour of Madagascar, with it’s fascinating

next year. Charlie also ran another Great Britain qualifying standard for 50km by winning the Gloucester 50km in January in 2hr 59min.

His other recent ultra-running exploits include winning the South Downs Way 100mile trail race (15hrs 1min) and taking gold at the UK Trail Running Championships 30-mile race in 2018, as well as sharing the podium with the World 50-mile record holder by finishing third at the 90km Ultravasan trail race in Sweden this August.

wildlife, including many species of lemurs and chameleons. After a somewhat exhausting tour we spent a week relaxing on the island of Reunion, followed by a pleasant stay on Mauritius.

In mid-February 2020 we met up with another couple who also had celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary about the same time as ours and decided that was

a good enough excuse to fly to Sydney, Australia for a few days before joining a cruise around New Zealand.

That was about the last Covid-19 free cruise before lockdown. Since then lots of DIY and gardening at home in Ipswich, although we did drive down to our other house, for August, in the south of France for more DIY and Social Distancing!

Charlie Harpur - British 100km Ultra-Running Champion

James Salmon (OI 1965 -76)

It seems a long time ago now but those 11 years still remain strong in my mind, and I still recall various skills learnt then which prevail today. I was pleased to receive an email some years ago from the USA from an old OI friend Hani Bibi and we have subsequently kept in contact. The last time we met was 47 years ago, so on his recent trip to the UK we arranged to meet up!

Hani Bibi (OI 1967 - 72), Long Beach, California

I attended Ipswich School as a boarder from 1967 to 1972. I left the school when my family moved to the United States. Due to the nature of my father’s work, my five-year stint at Ipswich School was the longest I spent at any one school growing up. While I’ve always had positive memories of those formative years at Ipswich, I did not come to fully appreciate the experience until well after the fact. Without a doubt, the school’s emphasis on academic and personal excellence played a major role in making me the person I am today.

In 2012, I reconnected with Jim Salmon, my friend and school mate at Ipswich. We have since shared our thoughts and memories about our time at Ipswich and decided a visit to the school on my next trip to the U.K. was in order. In September 2019, I visited Jim and his family at his home in England . It was the first time we met since I left the school 47 years ago – and we effortlessly picked up right from where we left off.

Steven Kirby (OI 1975 – 82)

I’m an .....er um....Canary!!! One day I was with a, girlfriend in Norwich, bored and wanted a pint . My girlfriend told me to “go away” (not her exact words) - I fell

An email to the OI Club requesting a possible return visit to the school was met with charming enthusiasm and on the 20th September we, together with our partners, spent an interesting and very enjoyable day looking around Ipswich School and Westwood. Needless to say the memories came flooding back, of places, people, & some antics which are probably best left as distant memories.

I thought it was time to admit to some schoolboy graffiti carving as a 12 year old on the back wall of Junior House, and was amazed to discover this has survived the last 50 years!

in touch after 47 years

Prior to my arrival in England, we made an appointment with OI Development Officer Carrie Baker to visit the school. Carrie gave us a memorable six-hour tour of the campus that included lunch in the school’s dining hall and a meeting with Headmaster Nicholas Weaver. We also met and reminisced at length about our time at

Ipswich with Carrie’s colleague James, the school archivist, Melissa, and the current Matron at the Westwood boarding house. The school is much the same as I remember it - steeped in history and tradition. It was an outstanding walk down memory lane. Thank you so very much Carrie - and thank you Cardinal Wolsey.

into Carrow Road at 2.55pm - they won! I was then hooked. When I taught French, German, Spanish and bad language at Westbourne Ipswich I taught Kieron Dyer! I’ve also taught in Kenya, China, Tanzania and Nigeria where I was a headmaster. Unfortunately, when I worked abroad I

succumbed to cheap alcohol and it took its toll so much so that when I came back to England I could not cope and ended up homeless and begged in streets. I was then hospitalised and am now lucky enough to live in a Felixstowe care home. OIs Dr Mark Lush and Nick Hughes visit.

A Reunion of Friends and a Return to School

Back

David Willer (OI 2006 - 13)

‘The world’s our fish finger’

Smothered in ketchup or squished into a sandwich, there’s one tasty convenience food that’s hard to resist. With over 1.5 million of them eaten every day in Britain, fish fingers are one of the nation’s favourite foods. Now David Willer and a team of Cambridge researchers believe that a twist on this 1950s creation might help address the challenge of sustainably feeding our global population.

Peter Rolph (OI 1941 – 49)

I was 8 years of age when I entered Prep C in the summer term of 1941. W e had Form Mistresses in Prep B, C and D, Mrs Young, Miss Dalton and Miss Affleck. The Rev. Albany was Headmaster of the Prep and Form Master of Prep A. The Mistresses normally referred the misbehaving boys to the Headmaster who occasionally beat them with a gym slipper on the backside when this punishment suited the misdemeanour. On one particular morning he did it on his own behalf when giving one stroke each with a slipper on some 20 boys in Prep A who were late for his assembly having stayed out on the School Field to watch the anti-aircraft barrage balloon, based there, lowered to the ground.

The Form Teachers taught all subjects and Mrs Young when I was in Prep B

Bivalve shellfish (clams, mussels, oysters) are the most environmentally friendly meat on our planet. David has been developing novel mechanisms to increase the production of and facilitate demand for this highly nutritious sustainable seafood. Recent innovations have included the development of ’nutrient bullets’ to accelerate the production and increase the nutritional quality of bivalves. He is working with some of the world’s biggest seafood manufacturers to help them substitute less sustainable meat and fish for bivalve meat in our favourite food productsincluding fish fingers!

If you are interested in reading more about David’s research go to www.zoo. cam.ac.uk/directory/david-willer, or email dw460@cam.ac.uk

showed me how to hold a cricket bat to determine that I was right and not lefthanded which was to stand me in good stead later. But there was little formalised sport, for I cannot recall any change of clothing except footwear. We certainly played soccer in Prep A with an annual fixture against St Joseph’s College. The swimming pool was shut down for most of the war.

Once into the Upper School Prefects were largely responsible for the day to day discipline and were permitted to give up to ‘six of the best’ strokes with the slipper for sometimes quite minor misdemeanours but on regular offenders. Towards the end of my school career when I was Vice Captain of 1st XI Cricket and still in the 5th Form, the Head Prefect who was the 1st XI Captain gave me lines and not a beating for being late for morning assembly. Perhaps not the best thing for team spirit but it was seen and accepted as the norm.

Richard Peters (OI 1979 – 81)

Took early retirement from PwC Vietnam having spent 19 years out in the Far East. Now dividing my time between UK and Thailand.

Chris Jeremyn (OI 1980 – 88) and Toby Jeremyn (current Yr 12)

Like Father like Son

In sports, records are there to be broken as skills, training and physical development all advance. Some records, however, are tough to beat and stand for years which has been the case for the Ipswich School men’s shot-put record of 11m 50cm, held by Old Ipswichian Chris Jermyn since 1984.

This year Chris saw his 35-year record broken with a highly impressive throw of 12m 54cm, but, rather than disappointment, Chris could feel rightly proud for the new record holder is none other than his son Toby!

Toby’s achievements at Sports day earned him the Victor Ludorum award and helped make the day special for both the School and his family who were there to share the moment. It is unlikely that Toby’s new record will stand for 35 years like his father’s as he will be aiming to better it again next year. In the meantime, Father and Son can enjoy seeing their names next to each other in the record books.

Record breaking family!

Paul St John Turner (OI 1958 - 68)

Turning 70 in 2020 (and resident in Jersey since 1976) - my 2019 was dominated by a major clinical trial for advanced prostate cancer in Belfast. Some three months there for the treatment and follow up etc., involving numerous flights up and down from Jersey. Great result at the end to see my bone tumours no longer visible on the MRI scan. Hopefully this treatment can soon be rolled out further to benefit many more.

Covid-19 has seen me set up with a PC at home for “working from home” (accounts preparation). I am certainly

interested in trials towards a Covid-19 vaccine - participation in the normal ones isn’t possible from Jersey but, still

R I Harcourt, OI (1960 – 67), Foundation Scholar

For twelve years I have been working for Cancer Research (UK) as a research scientist. In that time I have developed a computer system to simulate medical conditions and break them down, called INDIA. This stands for Intel Not Drug Is Automated. The Indian Government has adopted it and aims to make 1 million of these computers in the future, as the basis of its Health Service. At the moment they have factories in Mumbai and Delhi, each making 1 thousand a week. Using this type of computer in my research laboratory, I have discovered

that cancer is mainly caused by cocaine, cannabis, calcium, potassium (K) and nitrates (the N word of cancer). I have also discovered that Diabetes is caused by invert sugar, yeast, and beet sugar (Digestion Intestine Absorption Beet Sugar). In this work I have relied on the practical application of the philosophy of Kant, and this applied philosophy has come to be known as bio-medical engineering. A new mathematic has been invented, that of semantic logic. I have cured myself of cancer and reduced my diabetes. A career choice to take medicine now has an alternative route, that of bio-medical engineering. The University of Strathclyde at Glasgow is producing Doctors of Engineering.

considering myself fit in relevant ways, I have signed up as a “human challenge trial” volunteer! We’ll see how the demographics go with that.

Cut off here in Jersey during lockdown, but flights/ferries resumed in early July (2020). My first trip, later that month, was to Ipswich - the intended reunion event at School was of course postponed, but I had a most enjoyable day meeting up with Eric Bauly (OI 1954 - 63), including a trip to Felixstowe for lunch and then a fascinating tour around my old house of Westwood.

I am on the right in the photos, taken at Duxford in 2019 by the historic Viscount airliner G-ALWF, the preservation of which I instigated way back in 1972.

Nigel Pratt (OI 1951 – 61) - 3 generations in OZ

After 45 years as a professional accountant with an interesting and eclectic mix of clients it was time to retire and we decided to join the family in Australia leaving in 2007 just in time for David’s wedding on Sydney harbour. It has been a challenging time in Oz but we are settled in Melbourne now. My clients were never boring and on one occasion I had to visit a client in Wormwood Scrubs after he had shot his wife over breakfast.

Our daughter, Catherine (Kate) Sanders nee Pratt (OI 1987 – 89), worked at Contship for many years before migrating to Melbourne in 2005 with her husband and son Peter and now works in Infrastructure and Procurement for the Australian Childhood Foundation, a charity that provides counselling for abused and neglected children.

David Pratt (OI 1977 – 90), has worked in the shipping industry round the world since leaving York University and now is a Vice President of Inchcape Shipping Services, based in Sydney, with responsibility for their offices in the Asia Pacific region. He’s happily married to Leesa, with daughters Teanna and Jessica, and spends as much time as he can near or under the water with his passion for the ocean.

Our grandson Peter Sanders (Prep 2000 – 05) has completed an honours degree in design at RMIT and is now working towards his Masters, Covid-19 permitting.

We keep in contact with Nick Wiggin, who spent a few days with us when he visited Australia, and have occasional contact with Steve Collins. We were also pleased to entertain Richard Welbourne and family to Fish And Chips when they stayed with Kate.

Terry Dadds (OI 1969 – 74)

Still living in Mablethorpe , Lincolnshire and Linda and I now grandparents to 5.

Finn Collinson (OI 2009 – 15)

Finn Collinson is a recorder player and multi-instrumentalist folk musician. Still in his early 20s, he is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the foremost exponents of the recorder on the English folk scene, performing at folk clubs, venues and major festivals including The Sidmouth Folk Festival, Broadstairs Folk Week and FolkEast.

Virginia Betts (OI 2001 – 13)

I’ve always been a ‘writer,’ but as a full-time teacher, and, at the time, mother, I didn’t have a lot of time to pursue it. Not that I didn’t find my work fulfilling, as it always

Fraser Yates (OI 1958 – 68)

Fifty-two years ago, I left Ipswich School under the eagle eye of Mr. Mermagen and, whilst not excelling academically and being a total sports failure, I did learn some good life skills without knowing it at the time. There was no planned career path, but I always followed interesting challenges in IT, especially if including travel. The result was working on fascinating groundbreaking projects such as proving flyby-wire software and designing the first operational digital flight-strip system for the CAA and installed at Brunei airport; working in Romania shortly after the fall of Ceausescu, where men in long black coats loomed intimidatingly from the

Finn’s debut album CALL TO MIND was released in September 2019. www.finncollinson.com

OI Finn Collinson, up and coming Folk Musician

gave me great pleasure to see my students consistently achieving the top grades, especially if English was not their favourite subject or they struggled. I enjoyed working with my students - and they still remember me, as I received a shout out from Alex Albon, Formula One driver, whom I used to teach! When I left Ipswich school after 12 years, I started my own company, which is always fully booked and this year, again, my students have gained 8 and 9 gradesstellar success. It is so rewarding, and I love working for myself, doing it my way, and knowing it works. I now have more time to write, and I am now a published author, a goal I always wanted to achieve. It’s never too late!

shadows to try to divest you of your money, and burta (tripe) soup and pickled vegetables were the staple fare in restaurants; three fantastic years in Jordan experiencing a very different working and social culture, and a very hospitable populace; and finally six years working on Airwave projects for the MPS. All this interspersed with designing innovative process control and communications systems, and travel. Retired, still living in Ipswich and kept busy looking after the 1929 tug ‘Fenland’, involvement with the Ipswich Maritime Trust and, amongst other activities, assisting many whose lives are blighted by Microsoft!

Richard Grainger (OI 1983 – 90)

Three decades after leaving Ipswich School in 1990, life’s wheel has turned full circle, and I find myself back in Ipswich after almost 20 years in Asia. After graduating from Cambridge University (Sidney Sussex College) with a degree in Economics (thank you, Phil Rees!), I joined the investment banking rat race.

Lewis Catlow (OI 1998 – 11)

After leaving sixth form, four years at Loughborough and 2 years working at a media agency in London, I moved down under to New South Wales for a cricket summer season in 2017. I then took a job with the old media agency at their Sydney office, got visa sponsored by the company, and transferred to the Melbourne office last year.

Currently in Stage 3 Covid-19 lockdown in a Melbourne sharehouse in the middle of winter - it’s not the Australian Dream you see on Instagram, and it’s very different to July in Kesgrave - but I’d recommend the move to anyone! Hope everyone is safe back home.

I spent three years with Credit Suisse in London, then joined BZW/Barclays Capital, where I worked for 12 years, ending up in Hong Kong as Director of Investment Banking.

I left the banking world during the 2008 financial crisis, then spent several years on the committee of an angel investment programme organized by the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. I provided advice, mentorship and capital to many early stage businesses, and spent several years involved in commercial finance, helping businesses and entrepreneurs across Asia to raise the funding they need to establish and grow their businesses.

In 2016, I left Hong Kong after 13 years and spent the next three in the Philippines, where my wife Aileen is from. There we built a house and lived among the coconuts, mangoes, pineapples and volcanoes of the tropics for three years, before deciding to return to the UK in

Lawrence Bond (OI 1965 - 72)

I was ordained in the Church of England 28 years ago and retired from full time ministry 5 years ago. However, last year I was contacted by the Bishop, who asked me to become the Area Dean of St. Osyth in Essex. This is now my third deanery, having held similar posts for 15 years. I have subsequently been appointed an Honorary Canon of Chelmsford Cathedral. One of my recent visits took me to Wix Abbey, now a private house, where I was lent a book on the history of Wix Priory. This has strong links with Cardinal Thomas Wolsey and I thought you might be interested in seeing something about those links.

For many years my wife and I have had strong links with the Anglican Church of Kenya and particularly with Mayori

2019. By then Aileen was expecting our second son (Edward) who was born in January 2020, thankfully just before the coronavirus lockdown.

We now live in Ipswich, and our son Oliver is in Year 2 at Ipswich Prep School. Doing the school run each morning brings back so many memories of my own daily commute to school from Colchester during the 1980s. Thankfully, these days it’s only a short journey from the other side of Christchurch Park…

I have recently gone back into the world of finance, setting up a new commercial finance business, Clear Idea Finance. Based in Ipswich but operating nationwide, we help businesses, entrepreneurs and professional property investors find the finance they need to grow their business and fulfil their ambitions.

I have four children: Emma (20), William (18), Oliver (7) and Edward (8 months). They say that having children as an “older dad” keeps you young. The grey hair in my beard suggests otherwise – I have three months of home-schooling a six-year-old to thank for that – but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

History of Wix priory

Parish, Mbeere Diocese. We have visited on a number of occasions, most recently in 2019.

Cherry at the U43kg Medal Ceremony at the 2019 World Classic Powerlifting Championships (June 2019, Sweden)

Cherry Yeung (OI 2011 - 16)

After winning the U43kg category at the 2018 British Powerlifting Championships, Cherry Yeung was selected in the GB squad for the 2019 World Classic Powerlifting Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden. There, she won the world title with 4 gold medals and broke two world records in the Deadlift (146kg) and overall Total (313.5kg).

Since graduating in Summer 2019, Cherry has started her career in Hong Kong whilst continuing to represent Great Britain; competing at the European Classic Powerlifting Championships in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Cherry completing her World Record Deadlift of 146kg at the 2019 World Classic Powerlifting Championships (June 2019, Sweden)

Chris Snelling (OI 1959 – 64)

Here in the world’s first Garden City we have been coping with the Covid-19 situation remarkably well and I don’t think that I have ever been busier. With spending time at home so much, there was no excuse for not tackling all the jobs which I hadn’t previously ‘got around to’. However, for every job completed another two seem to be added to the list. And some people report being bored; no chance of that!

After over 25 years I am still kept busy with ‘Cambria’, the historic Thames sailing barge which has spent the summer on the hard at Pin Mill. In normal times charters are run for groups of up to 12, particularly for young people, giving them an experience on a traditional sailing vessel. We urgently need volunteers to assist in management roles and are particularly looking for help with sales and marketing, our website, Trust secretary and membership secretary, for example

If any OIs would like to become involved with our charitable trust I would be delighted to hear from you at: chris.snelling1@btinternet.com

James Tucker (OI 1972 – 83)

In December 2018 I became Master of the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights. The Wheelwrights are an ancient livery company of the City of London. Our aim is to support: the craft of Wheelwrighting (by training apprentices), the Lord Mayor and the City of London and our military and charitable affiliations. Our charity work is based around mobility. Access to sport, educational and recreational activities for disabled people, especially children, young

Christopher Whitlock (OI 1955 – 1965)

What do you wish you had done in the past? What should I have done better at the time? These are questions we can all ask ourselves.

On our school ski trip 1964/65 Paul our Austrian ski instructor took us on the double person high speed zig Joch Drag lift in HochSolden. My school drag partner fell off and triggered my ski binding, so my own ski twisted round between my legs and I fell off. I suddenly realised, here I was sitting above a deep crevasse on my ski looking down at a fast-flowing river 30 feet below me snaking through the ice and I dare not move. Paul on the lift behind me saw my predicament and shouted to me not to move. He left the drag, proffered his ski stick and said, “grab this”. Not a young man Paul pulled me out despite his own extreme danger leaving a two-foot hole in the ice. He saved my life, absolutely no doubt and I was so shocked I never even thanked him neither of us spoke about it and I didn’t even tell my school friends. Since I have always regretted that he was a hero. Now is too late, Paul as a much older man today it is far too late to thank him.

people and ex-service personnel. I was privileged to attend 150 events throughout 2019 with highlights being the Inter-spinal Unit Games at Stoke Mandeville organised by Wheelpower and a Royal birthday salute in Green Park with the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery. We have recently teamed up with the tyre industry as the modern day wheel and at our banquet at Mansion House, in the presence of the Lord Mayor, we presented the inaugural Tyre Industry Environmental Award. We also present an award to the apprentice tyre technician of the year at the annual tyre industry awards. If you are interested in knowing more about the Wheelwrights please visit our website www.wheelwrights.org where there are couple of short films made to celebrate our 350th anniversary in 2020.

Roland Johnson (OI 1959 – 71)

Last year I clocked up 30 years in Switzerland, and Carolyn and I celebrated 25 years together. I retired from Rheinmetall Air Defence (formerly Oerlikon-Contraves) as Head of Systems Engineering for Tracking and Fire Control Systems in January 2016, just after we moved to a new house in the village of Kappel am Albis. Small the village may be, but it packs a historical punch, being the place where Zwingli, the great religious reformer, was slain in battle in 1531. The BBC published an article about the legendary Kappel Milk Soup in 2018! (google “BBC Kappel soup”). Kappel also has a fine medieval monastery,

Roland and Carolyn in Croatia

Gareth McCartney (OI 1989 – 1996)

I have been living and working in investment banking in London since

now used as a conference and retreat centre. The glories of this location are the magnificent sunsets and the Alpine view – on a clear day we can see the Jungfrau, 88km away. And, being Switzerland, there’s an hourly bus service till midnight to the nearest railway station.

graduation. Settled in Barnes, south west london with wife and two young daughters, Tara (5) and Sasha (2) who are keeping me on my toes! Working as a Managing Director at UBS where I run the equity capital markets business.

Just before I retired, the choirmaster at the Anglican Church in Zurich left abruptly and I was called back to pick up the pieces “until Christmas”. I finally managed to pass it on 4 years later - more time for organ, gardening, model railway, mountain walks and skiing.

James Broadway (OI 1964 – 75)

Having been a consultant anaesthetist in Ipswich since 1993 I have semiretired and am working part time. Covid-19 has caused many issues and has been an ‘interesting’ time. We are slowly returning to a new normal, which for all of us is going to take some getting used to. I have also taken on a new role as a Medical Examiner - more letters after my name! This role scrutinises all deaths, at present those in the hospital, to ensure a correct certification process, referral to the coroner if necessary and liaison with the relatives. The pandemic has been a fascinating time to have taken on such a role.

Kappel Monastery

Gareth Morgan (OI 2005 – 2012)

I left for university in 2012. I’m now an archaeologist. I’ve been supervisor working on the A14 road scheme. I

This is an excavated henge from north Essex earlier this year. Unfortunately I’m not allowed to say where as the report is incomplete

Olivia Howlett (OI 2008 – 15)

Since leaving Ipswich School, I completed a BSc in Marketing at Newcastle University and secured a

helped excavate the 5000 year old henges and the deserted medieval village. I live in Cambridge now and still digging on sites throughout east Anglia. Recently uncovering an old 16th century windmill in Haughley near Stowmarket. I also got married last year.

I wish the very best to everyone at the school and hope everyone is safe. I’ll never forget my 7 years at Ipswich.

Gareth Morgan on site

Graduate Job last year. I was however, hit by the mass redundancy caused by Covid-19, which is where I get my news from.

Earlier this year I founded Pigments by Liv, an online shop serving the eco-conscious. At Pigments by Liv we are inspired by nature to give back to nature. I print my own hand-drawn/ painted artwork onto sustainable products and gifts, then donate 10% of profits back to charity.

https://pigmentsbyliv.com/

Founding Pigments by Liv has certainly been a roller-coaster of a learning curve but the support I have felt from friends and family has been unbelievable. I feel blessed to be able to combine three of my passions: art, nature and marketing, into one venture.

After being made redundant at the beginning of lockdown, I never thought I would end up where I am. Perhaps it was the push I needed? Regardless, I am so excited to see where this path will take me.

Roland L. Knight (OI 1979 - 89)

Roland graduated from Durham University in 1993 with a BSc in Chemistry, and subsequently completed his PhD in Organic Catalysis at Cambridge University in 1998. He then worked for the Pharmaceutical company UCB (formerly Chiroscience) for 10 years as a Senior Research Chemist at their research facility near Cambridge. Due to a reorganisation, this site was closed in 2014 and all staff were made redundant or relocated. After living and working in the Netherlands for 6 years, Roland emigrated to the Far East in 2014. He was joined in matrimony to Yaxian Huang on 14th June 2019, in China. They now live in Harbin, N. China. This year, they became the proud parents of a son, Asaph Nathaniel, who was born on 6th May 2020.

Graham Benstead (OI 1945 – 1951)

I entered Ipswich School at the end of WW2. Art was taught in the Art Hut by an elderly Miss Gibb (she also taught my father at his school 30 years earlier). I enjoyed art and acquired a reputation for it in my year group. In the week before end of term in December, Mr King (“Fritz” to his German class) would ask for ‘the artist’ to decorate a blackboard in red and green chalk with holly leaves and berries and with the inscription ‘Fröliche Weihnachten’. I was always volunteered for the task by my classmates.

I was also pressed to enter for the School Art prize in 1950. I still have the miniature watercolour painting of Holywells Park (see picture) which gained me the prize that year.

Charlie was one of my early patients who I then adopted!

Many years later in my retirement I started painting again and have been running a group of around 20 amateur artists near Cambridge for the past 25 years or so. We gather to paint at a village hall on Friday mornings and hold regular exhibitions of our work. 20% of all sales is donated to our local Home-Start charity. Most years we organise our own Summer School. Many members have fond memories of days spent painting en plein air in Suffolk, based at Belstead House where we were always well looked after. I still paint mainly in watercolour because of its portability, but I also dabble in pastels occasionally. I attach examples of my current work.

Elizabeth Devenish (OI 2008 – 2012)

After leaving Ipswich school I pursued my degree in veterinary medicine at St. George’s University on the island of Grenada. During our final year we are placed at teaching veterinary hospital, I was placed at Cornell University in New York. Upon graduation in 2016, I took a position in small animal general practice

Richard May (OI 1968 – 75)

After my degree I went into the offshore industry and finished up working for Ansys, an American software company. Along the way I got married, had two daughters and then divorced after 26 years. I retired in 2018 but unfortunately, I have MS so I have not been able to do all the things I had looked forward to doing. At Ipswich I played the flute (badly) but took it up again when my daughters showed some interest and after quite a few years of improvement I now play in various amateur groups, currently an orchestra and a wind band. I was a keen squash player and dinghy sailor until MS put a stop to most sport but fortunately the music keeps me busy. I have recently become interested in how the economy works (or doesn’t) and at the time of writing I am on the point of applying for an Open University course in economics.

Kim Harold Fitt (OI 1964 – 68)

After school, I migrated to Australia. Started a business in 1995 and been successful for 25 years. Retiring in December 2020 after selling my business to a staff member. I returned to Ipswich school in January 2010 for a look around. It bought back many memories especially my time spent in School house as a border.

in upstate New York. After several years I made the jump into emergency medicine at an emergency clinic in Williamsburg, Virginia. At this time I am the medical director of the emergency and general practice clinic in Williamsburg, VCA Merrimac Animal Hospital.

Death Announcements

We are sad to learn of the following OI deaths. If anyone has any further information, memories or would like to write an obituary for the next journal please email the editor.

Robert Prentice (OI 1926 – 31)

Died 13th January 2013

Dr John David Philip Meldrum (OI 1956 – 58)

Died 9th August 2018

Robert Henry Armitage Chase (OI 1957 – 63)

Died 18th October 2018

William Child (OI 1945 – 52)

Died 2nd February 2019

Anthony Hugh Simpson (OI 1956)

Died 5th February 2019

Geoffrey Strivens (OI 1936 – 46)

Died 16th March 2019

Brian Page (OI 1954)

Died 3rd October 2019

John Westmacott (OI 1953 – 59)

Died 9th October 2019

Michael Cooke (OI 1939 – 48)

Died 13th October 2019

Charles H Townshend (OI 1952 – 59)

Died 15th July 2020

Charles Hume Townshend (1941-2020) always had fond memories of Ipswich School, sharing them with his cousins Ned and Tim Townshend. After leaving the school he spent a year in Australia before going on to read Theology at St Peter’s Hall, Oxford, followed by training at Westcott House in Cambridge. Charles' first curacy was in Surrey and it was there he met his wife Gillian.

In 1975 they moved, with young son Edward, to parishes near Minehead where daughters Jane and Ruth made the family up to five. After ten years Charles became Rector of three parishes near

Michael Steward (OI 1939 – 45)

Died 6th January 2020 aged 87

Alan Poole (OI 1944 – 54)

Died 21st April 2020

Stuart E Bell (OI 1955 – 65)

Died 22nd July 2020

William Robert Tawell (OI 1946-1952)

Died November 2020

Clive Batten (OI 1952 – 54)

Died November 2020

John E (Brazier) Perrin (OI 1930 – 36)

Died - date unknown

Peter Wrinch (OI 1946 – 48)

Died - date unknown

John Perrin (Brazier) (OI 1930 – 36)

Died – date unknown

Michael Plas (OI 1951 – 62)

Died – date unknown

Taunton before spending the last twelve years of his forty years of Ministry in another Somerset parish. Whilst at Oxford Charles had rowed as well as being introduced to serious croquet, the game which became a great love and a hobby at which he was very skilled. So, on retirement, after being a country member of Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club for many years, he and Gillian moved to Devon where they shared fourteen years until his death this July.

- Gillian Townshend

Alexander J Burnett (1949 - 2019)

Head of English and Drama 1978 - 2010

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Alex Burnett who died in October 2019.

Alex was born in 1949 in Calcutta and was educated at Strathallan School in Scotland where he was a Music Exhibitioner. Singing and the ‘cello were his first loves. He went on to read English at Magdalene College, Cambridge where his love of literature was ignited by Arthur Sale. His working life began with the British Council in Portugal and continued with the British Institute in Rome. He joined Ipswich School in 1978. Alex was appointed first as Head of Drama (where his work experience as a stagehand at Glyndebourne confirmed Alex’s cultural credentials in John Blatchly’s eyes) and later took on the English Department as well. In the course of any academic year, Alex encouraged pairs of teachers, as well as senior pupils, to take on the challenges of direction. These joint productions were a huge success. He built up a strong support team, of whom he was greatly appreciative, which provided excellent sets, costumes, and sound and lighting effects. At Ipswich his talents as a teacher,

stage director and impresario truly flourished. No one would dispute the fact that drama at Ipswich School enjoyed a golden age under Alex’s tutelage.

As a teacher, Alex was unflappable, knowledgeable and conscientious. He was one of those inspirational teachers who could throw wide the doors to learning and who won a loyal following among his pupils who could not fail to recognise his genius.

Alex was a tough and demanding Head of Department who expected his colleagues to strive for his own high standards. Above all, Alex was ambitious for his pupils and he delighted in their success. He was one of that special breed of schoolmaster who could remember all about his past pupils: he never forgot a name.

Alex retired in 2010 and over the next nine years indulged his passion for medieval parish churches across

Derek Marriott (OI 1958 – 64)

Died April 2019 aged 73

Derek was a lifelong friend of mine for nearly 65 years. We met in Prep C at Ipswich School in 1954 and often confused the teachers as we looked very similar at that age! After leaving the School, Derek went on to have a very successful career with Barclays Bank, starting as a trainee, then working in many different branches around east Suffolk and north Essex before ending up as manager of the Woodbridge and Martlesham branches. We shared many interests including

model railways, golf and watching our beloved Ipswich Town FC together. Derek married in 1969. Sadly in 1995 Derek was first diagnosed with the onset of Parkinsons at only 49 years old. By 2000 he had been forced to retire but continued to enjoy his golf and go on holidays right up to around 2013. He was a popular member of Ufford Park GC and managed to play respectable golf despite his disability.

I visited him regularly at home after 2013 and he always welcomed me with

the country. He visited over 2000, meticulously recording his visits in notebooks and in a large road atlas. If you asked Alex about a particular church – any church – he could tell you straightaway what its best feature was: the rood screen, the glass, the monuments, the font, or the roof.

Along with music and art, another of Alex’s great passions was football and, in particular, the fortunes of Ipswich Town FC which he believed conformed to his ‘pendulum theory’: the team could only swing between losing, drawing and winning – and back again.

Alex is survived by his ex-wife, Nettie, to whom he remained close, and his four children: Toby, Amy, Lucy and Megan.

Alex’s funeral, attended by a large congregation of friends, past pupils, colleagues and family, took place at the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Fressingfield, where his ashes are interred.

- Nicholas Allen (Former Headmaster of The Prep 1987 – 94)

a coffee and a Kit-Kat! We always put the world to rights first and then Derek always wanted to catch up on any news I had of any OIs in our age group. He fought his Parkinsons with immense courage right up until the end. Derek was a dedicated family man and leaves behind his devoted wife Carol and their 2 sons, Paul and Andrew, and their families.

- David Wilson (OI 1954 – 65)

André Ptaszynski (OI 1960 – 71)

Born 7 May 1953; died 29 July 2020

Charlotte the Harlot was the first role that André played at Ipswich school. It was a Mermaid Society’s production of Oliver Twist and it marked the beginning of a theatrical career that eventually saw him appointed as CEO of the Really Useful Group – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s theatre and production empire.

André lived in Norwich Road, a short walk from the school entrance in Ivry Street, where his mother ran a secretarial college. He appeared in a number of school productions and in the Sixth Form directed and appeared in ‘The Love of Four Colonels’ by Peter Ustinov.

Intellectually gifted, he went to Jesus College, Oxford, where he studied English. While at university he joined the Oxford and Cambridge Shakespeare Company. This informal, amateur company took a Shakespeare play to the USA every Christmas vacation but André, with his entrepreneurial instinct, saw greater potential and after he left Oxford, he turned the company professional and toured America for six months of every year between 1975 and 1978.

Following a period working at the Sheffield Crucible theatre André began to produce his own shows. His ability to spot rising talent led him to promote comedians such as Griff Rhys Jones, Rowan Atkinson, Dave Allen, Harry Enfield, Eddie Izzard, Bill Bailey and the ‘League of Gentlemen’.

In 1980, he started Pola-Jones productions with his friend Peter BennettJones, which produced four television shows including ‘Joking Apart’ and ‘Chalk’. His ability to blend the world of the theatre and the world of TV was one of his great skills.

André produced or co-produced over 50 West End shows and he was awarded five Best Musical Olivier Awards and Evening Standard Awards. His productions included ‘Showboat’, ‘Tommy’, ‘Chicago’ and ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’. He

memorably featured on a BBC television documentary in 1998 when he was staging the musical ‘Spend, Spend, Spend’.

His attempts to attract funding from a wide range of financial sources made for compelling watching. Ultimately, although critically acclaimed, the show was one of André’s few flops and it became affectionately known as ‘Spend, Spend, Skint’. A few years ago, the show was resurrected at the New Wolsey Theatre, staged by the Gallery Players, and André made a special trip to see it. He joked that if he started hyperventilating during the performance, oxygen was to be administered.

In 2000, André was appointed head of Really Useful Theatres and in 2005 took over as head of Really Useful Group (RUG) where he was responsible for seven theatre venues and managing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s copyrights. During that time, he also produced a new production of ‘Evita,’ and ‘Love Never Dies’, the sequel to ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. He was executive producer on ‘Bombay Dreams’ and the Madness musical, ‘Our House’. He also introduced two television talent shows for RUG and the BBC - ‘How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria?’ and ‘Any Dream Will Do’, the winner being cast in the lead roles in the musicals ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

When he was a teenager, André used to stand outside the London Palladium and collect autographs. He often reflected on those early days

with some amusement as he ended up programming the Palladium.

After leaving RUG, André produced ‘Groundhog Day’ in 2016 which previewed in London before transferring to Broadway in New York. André collaborated with the Royal Shakespeare Company to co-produce ‘Matilda’, on its West End transfer in 2011. He became the executive worldwide producer of the show and was working on a tour of the show to China before his death.

André was president of The Society of London Theatre from 1996 to 1999 and he was on the board of the Royal National Theatre from 2001 to 2010. He continued to sit on the National Theatre (commercial) Productions board, and he was a trustee of Mountview Theatre School since 2017.

André is survived by his wife, Judith, who he married in 1985, and their four children, Anna, Jamie, Rebecca and Charlie, and by his brother, Tony, and sister Yvonne.

- Dr Jos Leeder (OI 1961 – 69)

Memories of Derek:

I did not know André Ptaszynski on a personal level. He was a few years ahead of me at Ipswich. But our paths crossed for a few weeks when we were both cast in the school's stage production of the musical "Oliver" in the winter of 1970/1971.

Mr. Ptaszynski landed the part of the fiendish Fagin (a fiend with a heart), a role he owned and played with gusto without missing a beat.

I was cast as a member of Fagin's gang of street running pickpockets. In this context, my memory of André Ptaszynski was that of a decidedly imposing much larger than life presence on the stage. No surprise he went on to achieve great success in life, sadly one cut too short. What a great loss to the world of theatre. May he rest in peace. Condolences to his family and friends.

- Hani Bibi (OI 1967 – 72)

André and I first met in September 1960 when we were both 7 years old. We were both in Prep D1 with Mrs Howard as our teacher. I had reminded André in an e-mail last Christmas that this notable 60 year anniversary was looming. Tempus fugit! It was an unlikely friendship as he was the academic with a passion for the theatre and the arts, while I was an uncouth “philistine” who preferred everything sport-related. Sport was never

on André’s radar! The one thing we did have in common was near indecipherable handwriting, which probably resulted from the same tuition!

Initially, he was a dayboy, living down the road from the school on Ivry Street, but for a while he joined us in Junior House and that is where we struck up a lifelong friendship.

He was always to the fore in the “Mermaid Society” which cultivated his love of the theatre. He took the lead role in many productions and later assisted as the producer. This, I am sure massively contributed to his great success in the theatre later in life. He knew a winner from a loser in the acting world and this was clearly demonstrated when he cast me in one production as a “Tribalian” (barbarian) who only grunted - he knew my limitations, but wanted to include me, which was typical of his friendship.

We all know of his great success in the theatre world and this is well documented. His “boss” Andrew Lloyd Webber has been very generous in his praise of André, but André loved to tell the tale of a trip to Westminster with Lord Webber to meet with the then Under Secretary of Culture, who was none other than John Penrose OI and son of David and Gilly Penrose who, inter alia, ran Westwood in the early 1970s.

Having been accelerated in the Sixth Form, I left the School in 1970, a year before Andre (taking Oxbridge exams at the Royal School of Church Music, to which I moved for specialist study). I cannot claim to have known him well - and fear that was the case also in Oxford, where Andre was just across the road from me (I was at Lincoln College). But he made a considerable impression on my schooldays, showing unbridled passion for creative arts. I was the only Sixth Form A-level musician at that time, but Andre was always interested and supportive, wanting to know details of pieces he heard me play on the organ for assemblies and revealing a knowledge of the arts gained through self-motivated learning. This was a time immediately preceding John Blatchly's arrival as Headmaster; he transformed pupils’ attitudes and turned an artistic desert into amazingly fertile ground, unleashing the steady stream of talent which has so pleasingly distinguished the School ever since. In such a context, Andre's career and national prominence are even more remarkable and a testimony to his inner drive and charismatic personality.

- Robert Gower (OI 1960 – 70)

Lord Webber who was used to being the “Lead” role was somewhat sidelined by the welcome that the Minister gave André – his father had taught André and he had known him since his childhood!

We remained friends from a distance, as I have lived in the USA for the past 21 years, but we always kept in touch and when I was in London on business we tried to meet for lunch or a drink. He seemed always to be the common denominator to so many people that I know/knew. One particular example was the last time I saw André, some 3 years ago at the Ivy Club, where he was a member. I was sitting in reception waiting for André and in walked Derek Wyatt MP and England rugby international, who had taught me Economic History in his first term and my last at the School in the summer of 1972. I had not seen Derek for over 20 years. André did not know him as he had left the School for Oxbridge in December 1971.

After Derek had finished another meeting he stopped by and I introduced them. In the ensuing chat, it turned out that not only were they both mentored by Peter Hill while at the School, but both knew Michael Watt, one of André’s good friends and supporters in the theatre. André related Peter Hill’s influence on his life and Derek had benefitted similarly from that life advice. I left them talking as I had to leave for a meeting. That is a lasting memory of dear André, a kind and welcoming person who had time for everyone.

He deserved a few more years, but he packed more into one lifetime more than most could only dream of. His greatest achievement, however, was his family life.

Judith his wife, and his children Anna, Jamie, Rebecca, and Charlie were his measure of success, with the rest being incidental. He was a special person and I will miss him.

- William Latta (OI 1960 – 72)

I was very saddened to hear of André’s passing as I counted him as a good friend during our time together at Ipswich. He was a generous, kind man with a keen sense of humour and a considerable intellect, all of which made him excellent company.

He was, of course, the leading figure in all things theatrical during his time at the School and, as well as producing plays with great drive and vision, he also showed that he was himself a talented actor. It was great fun being in one of André’s productions.

I also recall visiting the RSC at Stratford with him whilst staying at the local campsite and seeing several plays (and just as many pubs!)

I think that André retained an affinity with Ipswich because I made contact with him when I was President of the OI Club in 2003 and he willingly agreed to speak at the London dinner. There he entertained us with tales of the London stage and the many well-known figures whom he had come to know in his successful career.

- Simon Woolfries (OI 1965 – 71)

André was one of my exact contemporaries at Ipswich School, part of a group of about 16 who travelled through the School together from the First Year, through the Scholar’s Remove, to the Upper Sixth. From the early days he always stood out as a larger than life personality with immense theatrical talent.

Francis “Gaucho” Jeffery (OI 1954 – 58)

Died 21st September 2019

When Francis arrived in Ipswich from Chile in 1954, he was nicknamed “Gaucho” which remained with him all his life.

At school he made lifelong friends including Mike Fenn, with whom he worked to re-establish both the Fives courts and the game. In later years his flat in central London was a meeting place for his Fives contemporaries. He qualified as a Building Surveyor and worked in the UK, Portugal and Oman. There he was a surveyor to the Sultan and was involved in various projects in the southern province of Dhofar, including a palace, a mosque and, most unusually, a camel milking parlour to stop the Sultan getting sand in his camel’s milk!

In 2002 he retired to Portugal, something he had always wanted to do as it reminded him of his homeland. He had cycled aged 20 from Lisbon to Porto to see some other friends from

Ipswich, who were working in a Port Lodge in the Douro valley. It was the beginning of his love of Portugal. His ashes are being taken home to Chile by the family and a final resting place in Patagonia.

- Pat Jeffery

Memories of ‘Gaucho’

1955 was the year in which I first met my to-be life-long pal 'Gaucho' Jeffery. He was new to boarding and like me had difficulty in relating to some of the harsher aspects of boarding house life. Throughout his life he had a kind gentle manner and was always prepared to help others with the result that at school he was a hit with many High School girls. They used to flock to him for his ‘fatherly’ advice and wise council as did all his friends in later life. He was known on occasion to escape from top dorm after lights out to visit members of the fairer sex. He was the one who introduced me to Delia my first girlfriend and to my

As both a performer and director, he inspired those around him and led us in some memorable productions. It was always clear that he was destined to go far in a profession for which he was so well-suited.

Our paths did not cross after our school days, there being little crossover between the worlds of IT and the theatre, but I followed his career with interest, and I suppose felt a little vicarious pride that one of our number was blazing such a bright path. It was a privilege to have known him a little, and he will be sorely missed.

- Martin Kirk (OI 1964 – 71)

life long love of Eton Fives. I recall we often road our bikes from Ipswich along the A12 to my mother’s bungalow at Dedham a journey that one would not contemplate today.

He did not shine academically at Ipswich but showed great fortitude in adult life in his determination to pass various hurdles to better himself and provide a good life for his family. He was certainly my best friend at school and throughout life our families have enjoyed sharing and celebrating many family milestones.

- Mike Fenn (OI 1948 – 59)

Bernard was born on 2nd October 1923 in Ipswich, the youngest of five children, his parents being Herbert Johnson Bailey and Florence Jane (nee Mallett). Two of his older brothers served in World War 2. George was in the Royal Corps of Signals and served in North West Europe from 1944 to 1946. Raymond was in the RAF and died over Bremen whilst on a reconnaissance mission in a Bleneim

Bernard Frank Bailey (OI 1934 – 39)

Died 23rd May 2019 aged 95

Bomber. He was awarded a posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross.

Bernard was at the School from 1935 to 1939 and enlisted in the RAF in 1939 at the age of 18. He trained as a Navigator Operations Officer in Quebec Canada and joined RAF Squadron 159 based in Burma and India. He flew in Liberator Bombers. Whilst on a raid laying mines over Bangkok in 1944, his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire. A colleague was mortally wounded but Bernard made every effort to save him whilst, at the same time, guiding the pilot over 1000 miles back to base with only a chart and ruler. For his bravery and devotion to duty, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. Following demobilisation, he emigrated to Canada in 1948. He settled in Vancouver and initially worked for

Reginald “Sammy” Saunders (Staff 1947-1955)

Died 23rd March 2017

I was sorry to hear of the death of ‘Sammy’ Saunders reported in the last Old Ipswichian Journal. He was my French Master and I recall missing lessons to watch the Varsity boat race in his study. He and I fell out at some stage when I acted the goat whilst sitting on the steps in the old library. A beating was to follow but I refused to bend down. (The steps are still there in what is now the headmaster’s study). I don’t think he knew quite what to

do with me with the result that I became his fag in School House. I made his bed every day and ran errands to the town which was a great excuse to escape from the boarding house.

At the end of the summer term in 1955 'Sammy' left the school and 'Bounce' Thornbury took over as House Tutor for School House assisted by Clissold. ’Sammy’ made three resolutions before he left - to rub all the Latin names off

John Albert Clements (OI 1954 –62)

Born 8th May 1944, Died 24th July 2018

Macmillan Bloedel and then specialised in the inspection and testing of construction materials. He met his future wife, Michelle, through friends and married in 1951. Michelle survives him after 68 years of marriage. They had three children Tony, Christine and Jacquie and three grandsons Chris, Matt and Tim as well as three great grandchildren. He was immensely proud of all of them. He was a devoted family man who enjoyed gardening, travelling and long walks usually with a dog at his side. He was known as a consummate English gentleman with a great sense of humour. He will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew him. He died on 23rd May 2019 aged 95.

- Alan Wyatt (OI 1944 – 53)

Stonex's detention blackboard, drive his Javelin car across the 'sacred' turf of cricket square and throw a brick through the window of the Headmaster's garage. I understand that he completed all three tasks although the garage window was open at the time!

- Mike Fenn (OI 1948 – 59)

John Clements (Jac) gained a Queen's Scholarship Award after attending Whitehouse School Ipswich in 1954. Died following an unexpected diagnosis of an inoperable High Grade Glioma (brain tumour).

Dedicated, highly respected assistant Head teacher at The New Forest Academy, Hampshire. Keen and accomplished freshwater fisherman and golfer. Much loved father of four and a loyal husband of 52 years.

Bob Wyatt (OI 1944 – 47)

Died 27th March 2019

Bob was born on 5th September 1931 in Charlton South East London. After being evacuated on 3 occasions by 1944, he moved with the family to Ipswich where his father opened up a small bacon curing facility. He was sent, with his younger brother, to Ipswich School at the beginning of 1944. He was not a “sporty” type but enjoyed the OTC as it then was.

His interests at the time were collecting jazz music and anything associated with the War, especially if it had the capacity to explode. He had missed schooling during the evacuations and left aged 16, taking up a 5-year apprenticeship with local Electrical Engineers.

He excelled at night school and, after completing his training, he joined the REME for his National Service in 1952. He was commissioned on 19th November 1954 and remained in the Army after National Service, taking a number of short service commissions culminating in his joining the Royal Military Police.

On demobilisation, he became Transport Manager of the Automobile Association where he served, except for a brief period, until his retirement. He married in 1963 and moved to Wokingham where he lived until his death and where he brought up his son and two

stepchildren. He was a man of hobbies and a self-confessed hoarder with his house being more museum than cosy retreat. He had a library of over 10,000 books on military history and wrote extensively on the subject. There was also a fine collection of medals.

He re-built a vintage Austin 12 and also founded the Austin 12-4 Register for owners which subsequently became the international Austin 7 Club of which he was President for many years. He wrote a number of books on the Austin, including a biography of Lord Austin with Z. E. Lambert. He also served in the Territorial Military Police rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was appointed MBE for his military services and awarded the Territorial Decoration.

He became a Wokingham Town Councillor in 1969 and was its longest serving member. He was Mayor on two occasions and a borough councillor and Chairman of the District Council in 2002. He was appointed Wokingham Borough’s first Honorary Alderman in 2016 in recognition of his near 50 years of public service. He was for many years a Governor at Wescott Infant School and a Trustee of Wokingham United Charities. He worked as a Champion for older people and co-operated with Caritas to help fund and create Seaford Court for young homeless people. It

had been planned to make Bob an Honorary Freeman of Wokingham Town and the honour was presented to his family posthumously.

There was a civic funeral with a procession accompanied by a number of vintage Austins, some of which had travelled many miles to honour him. Construction workers on the route downed tools and removed their hard hats to pay respects. During a tribute to Bob, the current Mayor said:- His breadth of involvement in our community was staggering.

It spanned all age groups showing no boundaries as he worked tirelessly to include everyone. I liked to call him “Mr Wokingham”.

He never ignored his roots and always appreciated that his time at Ipswich School had been a major positive influence on his subsequent life. He was an enthusiastic member of the OI Club attending many functions including the School and London Dinners regularly for many years. He was Club President in 1993.

- Alan Wyatt (OI 1944 – 53)

Ernest Thomas (Former Staff 1971 – 97)

Died 7th October 2020

Ernest taught English at Ipswich School from 1971 until his retirement in 1997. In addition to his core role, he ran the Junior library, cross country running, was a resident tutor in the boarding community, and a leading member of the Drama department.

He was completely dedicated to teaching and to the welfare of his pupils. He was highly creative and imaginative, and greatly enjoyed sharing his love of literature, drama and film with his pupils. He did everything with meticulous care and attention to detail, maintaining the highest standards in all things.

He directed a great number of plays with the Mermaid Society for younger pupils, as well as Middle School and Sixth Form plays. He was also heavily involved in the life of the Common Room Players, both as an actor and director. It is perhaps a sign of how much times have changed that in the 1970s and 1980s, staff were able to spend a great deal of time rehearsing and performing a play which was performed in the last week of the summer term. The repertoire was ambitious and varied, ranging from Stoppard and Chekhov to Agatha Christie, and performed to a very high standard. Few modern teachers would find it possible to devote this amount of time at one of the busiest periods of the year. He was very reluctant to retire but when the time came to leave Ipswich School, he developed his teaching skills

in other settings. His main teaching had been with secondary age pupils but he rapidly developed a successful career with younger children. He was a much sought-after supply teacher in several local primary schools, with a particular expertise for nursery and reception age children (the Vick family can attest to his skills with young children as he was first choice as babysitter). He also taught ‘basic skills’ to adults, English as an additional language to adults new to this country, and prepared children for their first communion at St Mary Magdalen Church on Norwich Road.

He always maintained a youthful demeanour and it came as a considerable surprise to most people he encountered to learn of his age – not that he revealed that information to many people! He was extremely fit, and could be seen running along local lanes, parks and footpaths until about three years ago. Indeed, when he was in his seventies, he twice ran the ‘Exmoor Run’, a formidable course of ten miles of rugged moorland in North Devon. Ernest was an extraordinary character, undoubtedly ‘one of a kind’, and will be much missed.

- John Vick History department and Housemaster of Felaw at Ipswich School (1978 – 87)

Memories of Ernest:

He was a real character, very flamboyant which he played up to and gave him real identity in the school, but a true enthusiast for his subject . I can still recite large chunks of Julius Caesar which

I'm sorry to learn of the death of one of my 6th Form English A-level teachers, Ernest Thomas (Eggy) on 7th October 2020, who retired as an Ipswich Schoolmaster in 1997, and whom I last saw at [former Ipswich School Prep School master] Father Ivan Rudkin's funeral Mass at S. Thomas' Woodbridge. Quite flamboyant in his style, I was never quite sure how he put up with our A-level group, which boasted some real characters. His real loves, though, were drama and cross country.

- Father James Mather (OI 1972 – 82)

he drummed into us for English Literature O-level and Drama in many plays in the School. I remember doing a Mermaid Society production dressed as a Wizard when Hugh Casson came to the School to open the library in 1982. He also worked with the late Peter Beales running the Cross Country team and I remember him driving us to many fixtures and running the many cross country matches we ran in the Finn Valley - RIP.

- Bruce Finch (OI 1977 – 88)

He was an amazing teacher, and a great character . I recently re-read Animal Farm and found myself doing the characters' voices in my head the same way Eggy did when he read it out loud to our class. Sad to hear of his passing. RIP Mr Thomas.

- Peter MacLeod (OI 1970 – 81)

Derek Chapman (Former Staff)

Died 12 January 2020, aged 79

Husband of Barbara, father of Gary, Paul and Mark, grandfather and brother.

Memories of Derek:

I was in Dr. Chapman's 4B and 5B Maths class from 1980 to 1982. He was an extremely clear, methodical and patient teacher. Thanks to him I was able to pass my Maths O'Level despite my rather limited aptitude for the subject. Although I did not appreciate it at the time, he must have been a very humble man. After all, he had a PhD in Chemistry and yet was able to effectively teach something as mundane as Maths O'Level.

- Neil Armstrong (OI 1977 – 82)

Howard Tweddle (OI 1960 – 69)

Died 22nd April 2020

We are writing with the sad news that our brother Howard Tweddle died on 22nd April 2020. He was a pupil at the school from 1960 to 69, starting in Prep B and leaving from the sixth form. He was an outstanding musician and contributed to the musical life of the school throughout his time there.

He was also a brilliant scholar, particularly in maths and won an Open Scholarship to Pembroke College Cambridge to study Electrical Sciences.

Howard first worked in London and then Brussels. He moved to Ottawa, Canada for the rest of his career, working for many years for Mitel and more recently in start up companies, which he greatly enjoyed. Howard continued his deep love of music for the rest of his life, playing the double bass, bass guitar and piano in jazz bands in and around Ottawa. He is greatly missed by the music community. He was still working and playing until he was admitted to hospital at the end of

March. Howard had undergone a kidney transplant in 2014 which had implications for his immune system and although he was fit and the hospital worked hard to support him, he died from complications related to Covid-19.

Howard was married to Eveline and had three children, Eva, Terence and Mila and four grandchildren. He was a devoted and much loved father, grandfather, father in law and brother. He will be greatly missed by all the family, in England and in Canada. A musical memorial will be held at a later date.

- Jane Pope (Tweddle) and Jerry Tweddle (OI 1962 – 72)

Memories of Howard

I as so sorry to learn of Howard’s passing, it is a great loss and I extend my sincerest condolences to his widow and family.

I knew Howard throughout his school life, chiefly through our membership of Broke, rather than shared classroom studies. I got to know him best during his

It is hard to add much to the words of Jane and Jeremy, but here goes... I was very sad to learn of the death of Howard Tweddle. Howard made an immediate impact on teachers and fellow pupils alike when he joined the Prep in 1960.

It was immediately clear that he was immensely intelligent, excelling in every academic subject and in music. He was nevertheless modest and engaging and participated energetically in every aspect of school life, with the exception perhaps of a notable lack of enthusiasm for school team sports! Throughout our time at school he was a good friend as well as a challenge to keep up with academically.

Howard was back in touch just a few years ago when we compared notes on careers based on electrical engineering and increasingly of late with an emphasis on the environment. We tried to meet up when he was visiting East Anglia briefly for a family event, but sadly it did not happen. In our final year at School (1969), I recall we played on clarinet and piano our own arrangement of a wellknown song of the day. It went down well - except with the then Headmaster who did not approve of ‘pop songs’ at a school event. We survived unscathed and times have indeed changed!

- Edward Hyams (OI 1958 – 69)

last year, when he was head of house and I was one of his house prefects. Whilst, it may be ungenerous to say he was the best house captain that I encountered during my long tenure at the school, I do not remember a better one.

Howard was so far above his peers academically, there was no point trying to compete with him. Someone who knew him both at school and Cambridge described him as a genius, but he always carried both his musical and academical learning very lightly.

I recall that Howard once said that he had a photographic memory, or so close that it did not matter. Although, some remember him for his baggy rugger shorts! I have not seen Howard since he left school, but his name came up at the half century OIs Anniversary Leavers Lunch, so even after fifty years he had not been forgotten and demonstrates the respect that he was held in by his peers. Apart from being a clever person Howard was also a decent man, I do not believe that anyone can have a finer epitaph.

- Terence Blackford (OI 1957 – 69)

Stephen James Wilson Hughes (OI 1956 – 62)

Died November 2018

He was at the School from 1956 to 1962, a member of Westwood House, and a formidable athlete, His under-15 half-mile record outlived the imperial era, and so still stands! And with his friend Ian Chapman "swept the board" on his last School Sports Day.

- RGW (Dixie) Hughes (OI 1956 – 62)

Extract by Neville Davies, Royal Statistical Society

Colin Leslie Harrison (OI 1934 – 42)

Died 21st July 2018

Colin was born on 20th November 1923 and attended the School from 1934. He became Head of Rigaud House and School Prefect. He excelled in Athletics and, at the School Sports held on 9th May 1942, he was Victor Ludorum, winning the half mile in a time of 2mins 9secs as well as the quarter mile and hundred yards. He was second in the steeplechase. He was CSM in the OTC and gained second eleven colours for Hockey. He played Malvolio in Twelfth Night in 1941 and his performance was described in the School Magazine as “extremely good and a high level of acting”. He was also the School Librarian and Magazine Editor. He passed the Cambridge Previous examination.

On leaving School in July 1942, he joined the Army and was initially sent to Harrogate. He was picked for officer training and attended a Potential Officers’ course at University College Newcastle, then part of Durham University. He was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in late 1943.

After further training, he joined 323 Battery 81st Field Regiment Royal Artillery

in France in July 1944 and fought through Belgium and Holland, arriving eventually in Hamburg in time for VE day. Having learnt German at School, he then joined the War Crimes investigation team and assisted with investigations into the many atrocities committed by the enemy. He was one of about 40 officers, including Clement Freud, who travelled throughout Europe to gain evidence to prosecute those suspected of criminal acts. In his unpublished memoires of his experiences during the war, he described his team as “a mad undisciplined lot and HQ were not pleased to have us in their midst.” He was finally demobilised in September 1947 and became an undergraduate at Selwyn College Cambridge where he read Geography. He attended a surveying expedition to Zambia on behalf of the Colonial Office whilst an undergraduate. He had never lost his love of competitive running and had found tracks to practise on throughout his army service. He represented the British Army of the Rhine and ran in the 800 metres against a visiting team from Oxford University. The race was won by Roger Bannister. At Cambridge, he beat the Olympic runner,

John Mclearon (OI 1944 – 54) Died 2nd September 2020

Memories of John:

I remember John very well and was sorry to learn that he has died. John became a solicitor and I think he practiced in Tunbridge Wells. John came to a few London dinners and I particularly remember his support during my year as President of the Club.

- Karl Daniels (OI 1944 – 53)

We were contemporaries but nearly forty years of teaching here have rather overlaid memories of details. I think he

left school as I did in 1955 but I am hazy about when he appeared on the scene.

He trained in law as an articled clerk for a Solicitors' firm in Arcade Street in Ipswich and then in London. He ended up as a partner of a business in the Orpington area.

In 1965 we had a joint holiday in Switzerland, camping out with Malcolm Cockrill. The next year saw both their weddings which I attended. Since then, apart from occasional calls to the family (5 children) when we were on holiday in

Chris Brasher but lost to Bannister again at a meeting at Oxford. He was a member of the Achilles club and returned regularly to Cambridge for dinners and meetings. After graduating, he became a teacher initially at Allhallows School, Rousdon in Devon and subsequently was appointed Headmaster of Bedstone College. His first wife, Dorothy (Sally) by whom he had 3 sons died in 1972. He subsequently married Rosemary Franklin in 1981 and they travelled to many countries during their long and happy retirement. Rosemary and the 3 sons by his first marriage survive him. Just before his death on 21st July 2018, he was awarded the Legion D’honneur. His medals and other war memorabilia were presented to Ipswich School by Rosemary.

- Alan Wyatt (OI 1944 – 53)

the Tunbridge Wells area, contact was later intermittent.

John and Ruth visited us here in 2009 and I trekked down to Tunbridge Wells for his golden wedding anniversary celebration in 2016.

We kept in touch with landline phone calls, but I had heard nothing since January this year until reading of his death in the Daily Telegraph, September 2nd, aged 84.

- Michael Parkin (OI 1943 – 55)

John Barker (OI 1945 – 52)

Died 22 February 2019

John Barker has passed away on 22 February aged 85. John was at school from 1945-1952. He was a keen Rugby enthusiast which he continued long after he left school, making friends across the world. He was a dedicated Councillor serving on the Mildenhall Parish Council for over 40 years.

John also served on the St Edmundsbury Cathedral committee and ran the Mildenhall Messenger from 2004 to 2014.

Memories of John Barker:

Like several boys of his vintage John won a county scholarship to the School from Luther Road primary school and was a member of Holden House. His two passions were rugby and drama at both of which he excelled. He played for the 1st XV in 1949, described as very keen, 1950

when he was awarded half colours and in 1951 when he won full colours and from lock led the scrum very ably. He was both a house and school prefect and won the Senior Geography prize in 1952.

He was a good singer and actor. He played the part of Rev. Cano Chasuble in The Importance of Being Earnest in 1950 and the following year sang the part of Capt. Corcoran in HMS Pinafore which he played with considerable skill.

When Trevor Woods was President of the OI Club in 2015 I invited John and another five from the original cast to sing an extract from HMS Pinafore and at the age of eighty two John sang the Captain’s

part admirably – the singers received a standing ovation!

After leaving school he joined the Ipswich YMCA rugby club and for many years was manager of the colts and later on was manager of the Suffolk Colts. He was elected President of the Suffolk Rugby Union. Although not a player himself John was extremely keen on cricket and became a highly respected umpire, standing on many occasions for the OI Cricket Club

John became a teacher and eventually lived in Mildenhall with his wife Pat. He was a local councillor for many years. He was also a great supporter of the British Legion who were strongly represented at his funeral.

- Karl Daniels (OI 1944 – 53)

Guy Catchpole (OI 1936 - 44)

Died 16th December 2019

Guy was born in Felixstowe in 1926, the third son of Stanley and Nancy Catchpole. He was followed by a sister who sadly died aged just 2 – he tended her grave for almost 90 years. He missed a couple of years of primary education due to ill health – spending most of it on the local farm, which left him with a life-long interest in agriculture. The family moved to Ipswich where Guy followed brothers David and John to Ipswich School in 1936. It was always alleged that in his first music lesson the teacher asked whether he was related to David and John. “Yes Sir” was followed by “then get out of the room now!” Different times.

Guy remained at the School, playing 1st XV rugby, 2nd XI cricket, being head of Broke House - and to everyone’s surprise passing his School Certificate – until 1944 when he enlisted in the Rifle Brigade,

based outside York. As a third son he was spared active service but was deployed to the chaos that was Germany after the war. After he returned from the Army he started working as a “Gentleman Apprentice” breaking up pig iron for the major engineering manufacturer Ransomes Simms & Jefferies on Ipswich docks. The Gentlemen Apprentices wore white lab coats and were somewhat unkindly referred to as “The Ice Cream Men” by the rest of the workforce.

After moving into sales he was appointed the Ransomes agricultural machinery representative in Scotland for 6 or 7 years where he made many, many life-long friends and more importantly it was in Edinburgh that he met Myra and where they married in 1955. Those of you who remember him will understand why he was known as “the talkative Englishman.”

They soon moved to Haywards Heath in Sussex, where Guy covered the whole of southern England and the south Midlands selling and servicing agricultural machinery, while Myra manned the phones to farmers panicking about machine breakdowns in the middle of harvesting. In 1961 he was promoted to sales management in the grass machinery division, returning to Ipswich and renewing his relationship with the School. He was on the Old Ipswichians Committee and ran the New Year OI Ball for several years alongside George Notcutt and Tony Grass, and was President in the 1970s.

Guy remained Ipswich based but regularly travelled the world driving exports – Europe, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, the US – and they say the globalisation is recent!

It wasn’t all work and no play - he joined Woodbridge Golf Club in 1964,

served on the committee for several years before becoming Captain in 1977 and then President for 9 years, and an Honorary Life Member. Less than a year ago he still made sure he was at the golf club every Monday morning to catch up with old friends.

He was a keen fisherman with his cousin and life-long best friend Peter Cooper. He is survived by wife Myra, children Fiona and Stuart and grandchildren Zoe, Max, Nicola and Matthew.

- Stuart Catchpole (OI 1963 – 76)

Jeremy Syer Belcham (OI 1955 – 62) Died 24th May 2020

My brother, Jeremy Syer Belcham, died on 24th May 2020 in Cambridge, following a severe brain haemorrhage. For several years he had been suffering with dementia and moved into residential care last year.

Jeremy joined the Prep aged 9 in 1955 and left the Senior School in 1962 to undertake two years of study at Ipswich Civic College. During their school years, Jeremy and his two OI brothers, Leigh (1951-58) and Michael (1953 - 60), lived in Newbourne and sailed at Waldringfield. On leaving Civic College, he moved to Cambridge and joined the County Council Planning Dept. Working there for 40 years, he retired as an area planning officer with South Cambridgeshire DC in 2006.

Jeremy will be greatly missed by all who knew him but especially by his wife Yvonne, his daughters Jo and Claire and their families, and, of course, his two brothers and their families.

John Ireland (OI 1952 - 61)

Died 2019

John and I joined Ipswich School in 1952/1953. He was in the scholastic year behind me but after a while we met in the sporting arena and also the school choir, where he eventually succeeded me as bass soloist.

John was active in a number of sports but specialised in middle and long-distance running. Academically he shone in mathematics and the sciences and had an aptitude for carpentry (so useful for a future surgeon!). When it came to Latin, my main memory is of the Classics master, who was wont to translate surnames into Latin and addressed John as ‘Hibernicus’.

To me John was a splendid fellow, outgoing and warm-hearted. He took a healthy interest in others and was prepared to help those in need. He was also a bit of a rebel and not averse to the odd adventure, not always with official sanction.

On one occasion he and a couple of classmates, all still in their early teens, pretended to their parents that they were to spend half-term at one another’s homes but in fact held a competition to see who could travel the furthest on a specified, extremely limited budget, hitch-hiking and sleeping under the hedge. As proof, they were required to bring back a menu, pinched from a café or restaurant at their furthest destination. John arrived back early on the Monday morning brandishing a menu from a town in Shropshire, which was an unthinkable distance away.

Although we were both boarders John’s home was located close to the school, so he was able to pop home from time to time and often took me with him. His parents and two younger sisters Helen and Sarah were delightful and always made me feel at home. I was studying the piano, as was little Sarah, and Helen and her schoolfriend Judith were studying the flute. So sometimes we played music together.

John’s mother Mina Ireland presided at the dining-table. She was great fun and enjoyed lively conversation. More importantly she made sure we had plenty to eat as school food was not too appealing.

His father, Mike Ireland, a noted oral surgeon and jaw specialist, used to invite us into the drawingroom to listen to chamber music on his splendid electronic equipment - usually over a glass of sherry as we got a bit older. The talent for practical physics clearly ran in the family: in the days of its infancy, John’s father had built one of the first television sets, with sound, that any of us had seen.

All through our school days and beyond, people used to comment on how much John and I looked alike and we were often taken to be brothers. Having left school in 1960/1961, we each headed for London

On another occasion, he and a school friend, who like John was an adept sailor and a sea scout, stole out of the school in the middle of the night taking with them their bicycles. They rode down to the mooring on the Orwell where the school’s sailing boat was kept and, under the light of a full moon, and in a race against the tide, they pushed off, sailing down-river to the estuary, and then putting out to sea. Their heading was towards the Cork Lightship, which lay at anchor guarding sand banks some way off Harwich. Once they had made it to the lightship, they rounded it, and then, racing back in and up-river before the tide ran out, moored the boat, rode back to school and sneaked back into the boarding house, un-noticed.

where I read law at University College and John studied medicine at Kings and the Westminster Hospital, and in due course found ourselves sharing a flat in Pimlico. In 1968 after qualifying as a solicitor I flew off to Hong Kong to join a firm of solicitors. John came to visit me in May 1972 on the way home from his stint in New Guinea. Apparently, he had worked rather hard at the hospital - and the most common injuries were battered heads from falling coconuts! He arrived at Kai Tak airport looking slightly dishevelled in shorts and a beard, clutching a large net over his shoulder which he used as a knapsack. He was pleasantly surprised to find that, as I was at work, my then girlfriend Anita had come to pick him up in her chauffeur-driven Mercedes.

In September 1972 John got married to the lovely Shahla and settled down very happily with her and in due course their three children, Michael, Roya and David.

Sadly, I was unable to make it to the wedding having just started a new job in Hong Kong, but did at least attend the church service held in 1997 to celebrate the renewal of their vows after 25 years of marriage. Despite the distances involved we have kept in close touch and I have always valued the time spent with John and Shahla and the family. Apart from the usual socializing we have attended innumerable concerts and exhibitions over the years. We have also shared a passion for collecting antique clocks and oil-paintings by the East Anglian artist Edward Seago, who captured so brilliantly the seas and skies of our youth. Thank you John for the pleasure of your friendship over some six and a half decades, particularly during our formative years. You were indeed the brother I never had!

- Malcolm Barnet

(OI 1953 – 60)

Ivan 'Paddy' Hamilton, RW. Lt Cdr Royal Navy, and retired teacher of Ipswich School Died on 28th March 2020, aged 86

Ivan ‘Paddy’ Hamilton was a Maths teacher who also taught rugby and was an officer in the Royal Navy section of the School's CCF. I can remember a few details about him. He started his career as a Royal Navy officer and taught at RN Ganges (Shotley), he then taught Maths at Coplestone High School, finally finishing at Ipswich School.

His wife's name was Rosemary and they lived on Henley Road. Two of his children, John (a surgeon) and Angus were educated at Ipswich School. I believe that he also had two daughters, both of which were doctors (one of them was also a world class triathlete!)

Ivan was an amusing character. I knew him through adventure training in the CCF where he organised quite a few adventure training expeditions to such places as Loch Ewe in Scotland and the Italian Alps.

He also introduced sub aqua to the School as an extracurricular activity. I know Richard Welbourne inherited this from him, that Ivan generally taught snorkelling and Richard started the actual 'Paddy diving award' which enabled you to use proper sub aqua tanks as well.

He was an avid runner who ran around Christchurch Park well into his late 70s. Richard can recall him teaching the meteorology section of the A-level Geography syllabus.

Richard and I recollect he was at the School in the 1980s and believe he left around 1993.

- Bob Clayton (OI 1975 – 2017)

Memories of ‘Paddy’

I recall him very well: he made us do loads of exercise and stretching prior to rugby and was the only teacher who did this back in the early 1980s. Well ahead of his time.

- Iain Chesterman (OI 1973 – 84)

A Maths teacher like no other, no lesson was dull and who could forget the famous sideburn twisting ’wiggy’? Mr Hamilton helped me with my hardest subject and always had a story and a sharp wit. An unforgettable teacher and a 'hall of famer'.

- Patrick Ryder (OI 1986 – 93)

I have great memories of Paddy. A great mentor and a superb, and hugely understated, sportsman. If I could have been half the rugby talent Paddy was, I would have been very happy. "Form a circle.....one in each corner" was one of his immortal lines! A sad loss, in many ways.

- Peter Finch (OI 1973 – 84)

I first remember seeing Ivan Hamilton when I was in the Prep School in the early 1980s marching up Lime Avenue in his Royal Naval uniform to inspect Thursday afternoon CCF in the old Prep playground. I remember it distinctively because he wore a Royal Naval greatcoat, sported a striking white beard (like Sean Connery in the Hunt for Red October), and wore regular RN rank rather than the “wavy navy” of the other CCF officers so I wondered who he was.

A few years later I was in the RN CCF and joined the Royal Navy myself immediately after school and served for 20 years so I knew him a bit as he helped on that journey. He served as an Instructor Officer (leaving the Service as a Lieutenant Commander) sub specialising in Meteorology and was also a Ships Diving Officer. In the 1960s he had served in HMS PROTECTOR the RN patrol ship in the South Atlantic,

an experience he vividly brought to life in a general studies period during the Falklands War in 1982. The late John Le Mare got him to give a lecture about the geography of the Falklands and point out those places where the war was being fought using a map which extraordinarily the Geography Department had on a classroom wall. I remembered that lecture when serving in the Falklands myself in 2006 in HMS LIVERPOOL also as a Lieutenant Commander.

He has also served in RNAS Culdrose and the old boys training establishment at HMS GANGES at Shotley gate and one of the physics labs proudly sported a photograph from HMS ARTEMIS a conventional submarine which he had organised a visit to.

He taught physics initially and then math’s and was a keen rugby player with a loud “boy” delivered in his distinctive Ulster burr echoing down the rugby pitches on Notcutts during the rugby games he refereed. A passionate advocate of adventurous training which he taught on wet CCF afternoons I remember him and the late Gordon “Noddy” Paton leading the national CCF camp at Gareloch Head in Argyll where he led us over the Hills above Loch Long and Gareloch above the Faslane submarine base. We all had climb through the “Eye of the Cobbler” on a damp August day in 1986. “Boys ye’ll always remember this” he said as I am sure all did! Rest in Peace.

- Bruce Finch (OI 1977 – 88)

John William Bolton (OI 1946 - 57)

Died 4th February 2020

My father John, was quite a serious student at Ipswich school, he learnt ancient Greek and for many years studied Latin but his real passion at school was for maths and physics. John also loved all sport. I didn’t quite realise until looking at all his old photos how sporty he was. He was in Ipswich School's rugby, cricket and hockey teams.

On leaving school John first went into the City to work for ICI with a group of young students whilst also studying for an external degree in maths and physics at London university. After a couple of years, he moved back to a local firm Fisons to learn accountancy and then later joined his father’s garage Boltons of Ipswich which he managed until the late 1980s.

In the 1970s Dad, together with a group of Roundtable friends and the sculptor Bernald Renoylds helped build Rudolf the reindeer that still today, after almost 50 years, tours the streets of Ipswich at Christmas collecting money for Charity.

Later in Life John greatly enjoyed playing golf with his friends often at the 9-hole course in Stowmarket, he even achieved a hole in one a couple of years ago.

Annabel (also an OI), my sister, developed cancer in 1999 and sadly

died in 2000 at the age of just 33. Dad provided great comfort and support to Annabel. Both my mum (Judith) and dad have since had the joy of bringing up my sisters two children Natasha and Edward Courtney (also OIs) and surrounded them with the same love and security that they gave me and Annabel.

My family, Kate and our three boys William, Oliver and Thomas then moved back to Suffolk in 2000 so we could all be closer. Our sons along with Natasha and Edward all attended Ipswich School and had many happy and fulfilling years at the school. John would enjoy seeing his grandchildren growing up and participating in school events from nativity plays in the pre prep to sports days and more recently playing rugby for the school first XV.

John was kind, caring and gentle. He will be missed by all his family.

- James Bolton (OI 1975 – 86)

John Bolton, back row, fourth from left

Back row, second from right

With his grandchildren

John Bolton, right

A C (Tony) Ninham

Retired Teacher of Ipswich School (1965 - 70) Died 1st May 2020

Tony Ninham taught French at the school from 1965 to 1968. It was his first teaching post, he having studied at Durham University, and, in accordance with the practice of the time, he had spent a year at a school in Le Havre, a formative experience which he never forgot and which was the subject of frequent reminiscence.

Tony was born in Norwich in 1940, and he spent his early life there, including living through the war and its air-raids, a scary experience but one which the family’s sense of humour helped his parents, his brothers and him to survive. Awarded a scholarship to Norwich School, he gained a lifelong love of reading, especially French and biographies. He excelled at sport, and achieved distinction, being captain of rugby football, cricket, and hockey.

At Durham he was awarded the Palatinate (university sporting colours for hockey), and met Patricia (Pat) Henderson, whom he married in 1966, on the day of England’s victory in the football World Cup; it was said that a television was part of the equipment at the reception.

In 1970, Tony returned to Norwich School, where he was housemaster of the boarding house, and where he was able to generate and maintain a happy ‘family’ atmosphere, one which would have hardly been possible without Pat’s involvement and encouragement. In 1982, Tony was appointed headmaster of Smallwood Manor, the preparatory school associated with Denstone College. This was equally happy; taking over a school with about 100 boys aged 8 to 13, he oversaw the introduction of co-education and a pre-preparatory section, so that numbers rose to 200 in some years.

The last part of his life was a happy retirement in Harrogate, where Pat was able to care for him at home for most of a long final illness. He died in May 2020, a few months before the certainty that Norwich City, a team which he long supported enthusiastically, would be demoted from the Premier League, something which he would undoubtedly have regretted.

On a personal note, I was always glad to count Tony as a friend (we joined the staff at Ipswich at the same time), and a small treasure is Dr Blatchly’s photographic history, as it has a photograph of Tony taken in 1970. Unfortunately, we lost touch for a long period, but were able to regain it shortly before his death. I am sure that those who remember him would join me in wishing to extend their sympathy to Pat and his family.

On reaching the third form in 1965 we discovered that we were assigned to the new French master Mr A. C. Ninham. At the time I had no idea what an important influence he was to have upon my future life. Tony Ninham turned out to be an instinctive teacher who patiently navigated us through numerous linguistic complexities and was fortunately on the scene to help me on my way to A Level.

- Chris Berridge (Former Staff 1965

Memories of Tony:

– 68)

I remember Tony Ninham very well and believe that his appointment to teach French, may have been his first appointment after leaving Exeter university. Whilst he was at the School, I recall that he married, and his wife taught in the Prep. I was no language scholar and I knew Mr. Ninham through my membership of the Debating Society, during its golden years when it enjoyed much success in national competitions under the chairmanship of Tim Briden. The programme of outside events involved some travel, normally in Tony’s car, often with the active support of Mrs Ninham. There were also a number of debates at school, which Mr Ninham hosted. I live in Norwich and the Ninham family have strong links with this City. I cannot quite remember whether Tony was an old boy of King Edwards, Norwich, or returned to teach, or possibly both. You could certainly detect a Norfolk accent.

Some of the members of the Debating Society went on to distinguished legal careers and I am sure would acknowledge that it was their experience of public speaking at school that contributed to their success, largely due to Tony’s tutelage. He was a good man and a fine example to those of us, who had the privilege of knowing him. I regret his loss and send my condolences to his family.

- Terence Blackford (OI 1957 – 69)

It was however for his revival of the school Debating Society that Tony Ninham became best known. Under his direction regular lunchtime debates were held, often in the Holden library. These were lively, well-attended occasions, at which even the most reticent were encouraged to speak. The House Debating Competition flourished under his direction. In 1969, thanks to tony Ninham’s inspirational coaching, Simon Pudge and myself were runners-up in the National finals of the Observer Mace debating competition. This was followed in 1970 by local success in the English Speaking Union competition, where Robert Gower joined us in the team of three. In approaching these competitions Tony Ninham devoted much time and effort to his teams. He was an outstanding mentor bringing out unexpected talents in us. In my case, the confidence which Tony Ninham nurtured encouraged me to try for a career as a barrister.

There was of course much more to Tony Ninham’s time at Ipswich School. For instance he was responsible for the introduction of hockey, which he had played at university. His notable years at Ipswich came to an end in 1970 upon his appointment as a housemaster at Norwich, where he lived with his family in handsome apartments in the Cathedral Close. A headmastership in Staffordshire followed. Despite the passage of 50 years, there are many of us who will remember Tony Ninham with affection and respect, and who will be saddened by his death. Our deep sympathy will go to his family, in whom he took so much pleasure.

- Timothy Briden OI (1958 – 70)

Pam Blatchly Died 24th April 2020

Pam Blatchly, wife of former Headmaster Dr John Blatchly, sadly passed away on Friday 24th April 2020 aged 86. She will be remembered for the enormous amount she contributed to the School.

Pam was the eldest of four. Her father enlisted for service in WWII and died in Palestine. Thereafter she assisted her mother in looking after her siblings. Passing into grammar school, she showed much academic promise especially in French and English, but instead of university chose teacher-training in deference to family finances.

At church in Carshalton she met John Blatchly. They were married on New Year's Eve 1955. John's National Service took the couple to HMS Ganges at Shotley and to the RN School of Music at Deal (where Janet was born).

Then John's schoolmastering began with spells at King's School Bruton (where Mark was born), Eastbourne College (where Pam started a playgroup for staff children) and Charterhouse.

In 1972 Pam and John arrived at Ipswich School. They began by entertaining the entire staff in a series of homemade dinner parties. Pam threw herself into the role of Headmaster's wife, taking a keen interest in all aspects of

School life. She gave tremendous support to John in all his endeavours in School and beyond, making it possible for him to achieve so much, as he gratefully acknowledged.

Pam taught some Spanish, acted in three common room plays, expertly cultivated vegetables and soft fruit (notably her peerless asparagus and raspberries), and trained for the bench. She was to serve for 28 years as a magistrate: clear-minded, efficient and compassionate, regularly chairing both adult and juvenile courts.

Pam and John retired to a Victorian villa in the town. Pam lavished love and care on a beautifully kept garden, and continued to cook delicious food for a large circle of friends. Pam and John took great delight in their grandchildren who were now living next door. Pam continued to develop her formidable skill at bridge, enjoying membership of two clubs: Ipswich & Kesgrave, and Deben at Playford. She also maintained close editorial supervision of John's prose style.

Throughout her life Christianity was important to Pam; she attended St Maryle-Tower and explored her faith in study.

Charitable in thought and deed, and always mindful of her own good fortune, she worked locally for Save the Children.

Pam and John had two decades of happy and healthy retirement, always marvelling at their luck. They holidayed with family in Norfolk, with friends in Landmark Trust properties, in France, Italy and Egypt; they also had regular fortnights in sunny Crete.

Pam had a serious fall in October 2014. Until he discovered that he was dying of cancer, John proudly and devotedly looked after her, acquiring many basic skills he had never needed until now.

After he died in September 2015, Pam remained in the care home where they had briefly lived together. She gracefully accepted the limits of her long and slow decline; meeting her great-grandaughter last July gave her much pleasure.

Ill for only a few hours, she died peacefully at dawn on Friday 24th April.

So ended a rich and full life, lived chiefly for others. She is mourned by all her family and her many friends.

- Mark Blatchly

Memories of Pam:

My first encounter with Pamela Blatchly was being part of a group of third year kids (c.1980) that had been invited to the Headmaster's house for a series of weekly chats in the early afternoon. I remember her as a vivacious, fun-loving and highly intelligent person who could talk with ease about a wide variety of subjects.

- Neil Armstrong (OI 1977 - 82)

Richard Phillips (OI 1958 – 68)

Died peacefully in hospital after a short battle with cancer on 29th January 2020 aged 69 years.

Rick’s academic ability was recognised very early on and he was promoted a full year ahead of his peer group. In school, our paths did not really cross until we both took up German as well as French and we continued both subjects into A level.

As part of our German A level course Mike Butler arranged for a small group of us, including Rick and I, to take part in an exchange, for a whole term, with some students from a school in Ahrensburg, a small town north east of Hamburg. We set off from Harwich in early January 1967 and then travelled by train from the Hook of Holland to Hamburg where we were met by our host families.

We attended the local Hochschule every day and did our best to take part in their lessons. The host families were all very welcoming and we got on well with their sons who would come back to Ipswich in the summer term. Our time in Germany was a wonderful and edifying experience which was made even more special when, shortly before returning home in late March, our group flew from Hamburg to Berlin for a long weekend to visit Paul Sutton, who had elected to do his exchange there, the highlight of the visit being a coach tour which took us through Checkpoint Charlie into East Berlin.

In 1968 Rick took his A levels in German, French and English and gained a place at Christ’s College, Cambridge. Following his 3 years there he joined the family firm of Phillips and Piper, where his father, Dennis, also an OI, was managing director.

He worked there as a sales representative until the firm closed in June 1982. He then joined KimberleyClark, again in sales, for a few years before joining Greene King in their sales department until retirement in 2015. Rick and I formed a great friendship with John Fieldman, meeting up on

a regular basis and went on 3 canal holidays organised by John. We each met and courted our future wives in the mid 1970’s and attended each other’s weddings in 1976,77 & 78. Rick was best man for both myself and John and performed his duties in his usual impeccable style! We all had children of similar ages, though sadly John died soon after the birth of their second child in 1985.

Rick and Maggie had three children, two daughters and a son, and it was only last year that they became grandparents for the first time, when both of their daughters gave birth.

IAffable, modest, genial, gregarious, he had a wonderful sense of humour and a sharp wit and it was always a pleasure to be in his company.

He celebrated his 69th birthday in December last year and will be sorely missed by so many.

- Michael Atkinson (OI 1957 – 68)

Memories of Richard:

Oh dear – what terrible news; I am so sorry to hear of Rick’s death as I had no idea he was even ill. Rick – or Ricky as he was often known – and I lived next door to each other and as young children were inseparable; he was at 6 Paget Road and we lived at 11 Broughton Road and our gardens backed onto each other – so we had a gate put through and spent hours and hours playing together; all sorts of sports on their lovely garden which was laid to a grass tennis court and cycling, dens and adventures on ours - which was a bit of a tip!

We were in the same forms (A stream) – although Rick was much brighter than me and was always near the top and I languished towards the bottom! We were also in the same gang – much less threatening in those days than when the word is used today – with

people who also lived close by like Doug Bostock, Fraser Yates, Andy Blasby and Colin Loxton; later when we went to Ipswich School together we formed good friendships with others like Melvin Sullivan, Mike Hatch and Mike Atkinson. He was also close to people like Geoff Notcutt, Graham Hunt, David Podd and Steve Jewhurst.

Rick was always a loyal and dependable friend although as we grew older our lives took rather different paths and we rather lost touch; he had a great sense of humour and always had a light hearted approach to things; he lived near Cambridge and married Maggie and had 3 children I believe; he worked for brewers Greene King in Bury St Edmunds – only retiring a few years ago.

Rick and Maggie often brought a caravan to Suffolk and so we would meet up on the odd occasion to have a pint and a catch-up. Nevertheless, it seems like I have lost a brother due to the closeness of our relationship in those very early years.

Simpson (OI 1957 – 68)

Mike

Patricia Yelland (Former Staff)

Died 1st September 2020

As Douglas Yelland’s successor as Headmaster of the Preparatory School, my acquaintance with his much loved wife, Patricia, was only slight, but one particular memory still burns bright after thirty-five years.

Douglas and Patricia had for many years contributed significantly to the success of the Prep School Play presented annually in Great School. Douglas was wont to dedicate many hours over a number of weekends to the construction of the set. Some busy headmasters might have contented themselves with painting a window on a stage flat, but if the set called for a sash window, that is exactly what Douglas provided: a practicable, wooden sash window, fully glazed, capable of being raised and lowered.

When it came to costumes, Patricia’s department, she took the same approach. I remember examining a costume she had made which was in store in an attic in the Prep. It was a soldier’s tunic of the Napoleonic era, bright blue with red facings, cuffs, and epaulettes. It was exquisitely made, but the most telling detail was that the tunic was fully lined like a proper coat, a detail that could never have been appreciated by the audience nor, I suspect, by the young prep school boy privileged to wear it.

Douglas and Patricia Yelland embodied the very best of what is meant by ‘old school’: an unsung, modest determination to maintain the highest standards in all things, great and small.

- Nicholas Allen Former Headmaster of Ipswich Prep

Memories of Pat:

I was sorry to learn of Patricia Yelland's passing though happily she was granted

a long life. I remember her as Miss Horn initially, when I joined the Prep School community in 1963. The words which come to mind upon my remembrance of her are elegance, courtesy, and talent. Patricia would arrive at School driving her Triumph Herald and emerge from the vehicle always immaculately dressed with her hair and make-up quite perfect. Such style seemed to attend her all through the day. I remember her playing the piano at Assembly, her love of art, her slightly clipped way of speaking, her kindly and pastoral nature.

As a member of the School Scout Troop I attended the Marriage Blessing for her and Douglas in the School Chapel in the year 1970 I believe. We sat in the Chapel Gallery and were waiting to greet the happy couple with a Ceremonial Arch of Scout Staves as they emerged into the front gardens. Patricia was delighted and expressed her thanks to us in a typically gracious and heartfelt way.

Patricia was never my Form Teacher; she taught C1 while I was in C Remove under the watchful eye of Mrs Smedley (whose daughter in law, Judith Smedley, I admitted as Churchwarden during my Archidiaconal Visitations; us both agreeing that 'it's a very small world') but during the Prep School Play and other school occasions it was always good to receive the care and attention of Patricia

As Miss Horn in the prep school I can still vividly remember her wonderful drawing of a roman galley in green and gold undertaken in chalk on the roller blackboard.

- Jerry Pert (OI 1966 – 77)

who was invariably even-tempered, gracious and bearing a twinkle in her eye which hinted at a keen sense of fun, though quite properly revealed away from the attentions of small boys!

- The Venerable Dr Jonathan Smith (OI 1963 – 74)

Thank you very much for sending me this sad news. When Douglas Yelland first joined the Prep Staff, he lived as a paying guest with us in Holly Road. I had left Ipswich when he married Pat but knew it had happened.

- John Job (OI 1939 – 45)

Patricia Yelland: always “Mrs Yelland” - taught me in Prep D1 in 1977 - 78. She was a formidable woman, always immaculately attired and firm but fair with her pupils. She and Douggie ran the Prep in a very traditional but effective way with a dedicated team of “Masters”.

I remember her rigour across all subjects - I ascribe my numeracy to her traditional approach to mental arithmetic and her warmth when she read to the Form - last period on Saturday morning often Roald Dahl.

She played the piano in prep assembly daily with the same Hymnal use each term - term always started with 333 Part 1 and finished with 333 Part 2. If Prep D1 was ever late for Assembly - in those days the Prep was in Ivry Street in a huge Victorian house and Prep 1 stood on the vast staircase above the rest of the school - there would be a firm apology from her to “Mr Yelland” echoing above the boys standing in neat rows in the hall. Understandably it rarely occurred as culprits felt suitably shamed!. She was also a very talented calligrapher

and artist and maker of many costumes for innumerable prep plays. She and Douggie dedicated their careers to Ipswich Prep School and generations of pupils benefited from their skills and complete dedication to their professions in giving us life skills. Rest in peace.

- Bruce Finch

(OI 1977 – 88)

I remember well walking down the steps at the end of the first-floor corridor for Art lessons. Pupil overalls were hung

So sad to hear of Ms Horn’s passing. To some in the Junior Boarding House when Dougie Yelland and Ms Horn married, the shock of discovering Mr Yelland had a life other than reading horror stories on a Friday night and helping us craft perfect letters to our parents on a Sunday, was one of those formative events that stayed with us. May they both rest in peace.

- David Coates (OI 1966 – 75)

neatly awaiting our arrival in the studio, which seemed large to a Prep School boy but which, I suspect, was rather smaller in actuality.

Modest about her own considerable creative gifts, Miss Horn's elegance and attention to detail made a clear impression, even on a class of eight-year-olds. Her italic writing too was similarly stylish, leaving me surely highly frustrating to teach as a clumsy left-hander who was sadly inept as an artist. Nevertheless, I received great patience at her hands.

Pat's kindness, shared with Dougie, overflowed when, treated now as a friend, I was able to play the organ for their wedding in Chapel just after I had left the Senior School in 1970 (I guess that the ceremony was in 1971 or 1972). I remember feelings of surprise and delight when I received the invitation to share in their special day, helping them to choose the music and then to perform it on the day itself. Their mutual happiness shone through that day and lives on in my memory. May she and Dougie rest in peace.

- Robert Gower (OI 1960 – 70)

Patrick Benner CB (OI 1921 – 42)

Died on 14th July 2018.

Patrick Benner was born on 26th May 1923 and spent 11 years at the School, leaving mid-year when he was selected for a six months Army University course. He attended University College Oxford after having gained an Open Scholarship. He played a full part in various School activities. He was a School and House Prefect, a lance corporal in the JTC, Head Librarian, President of the Literary and Dramatic Society (acting in major roles in Twelfth Night and Charlie’s Aunt) as well as being Editor of the School Magazine and a member of the Chess Club and Scientific Society.

In 1943 he joined the Army and served as a cadet Engineer in the Royal

Engineers. After his military service he returned to Oxford and was placed in class 2 for an Honours Degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics in 1948. He then took the examination for the Administrative Grade of the Civil Service and gained 4th place – a remarkable achievement. He joined the Ministry of Health and served under Nye Bevan and, in 1955 and for 3 years thereafter, he became Private Secretary to four different Ministers. Various jobs followed including running Special Hospitals including Broadmoor and negotiating prices for drugs with the major pharmaceutical firms. In 1972, he was promoted to Deputy Secretary

Miss Horn was my first formmistress when I entered Prep C in September 1962. She gave me a wonderful start at Ipswich School, was kind and caring to me as a new entrant. I was looking around the 6th Form Centre before lock-down and realised that one of the study areas was Miss Horn’s classroom – good to see it has been re-purposed and is well used!

Having only recently caught up with Duggie's death, I am sorry to learn that Mrs Yelland has now died too. Mrs Yelland never taught me (I arrived in Prep C, rather than D), but my experience was of kindness.

- Father James Mather (OI 1972 – 82)

and went to the Cabinet Office for a 3 year spell at the end of which he was awarded a CB. He then returned to the department of Health until his retirement in 1984.

His twin daughters were born in 1964 and had the great thrill of witnessing their father receive his award at Buckingham Palace. He attended many OI London functions where he often met up with his school friend, John Powter. He died on the 14th July 2018 aged 95.

- Alan Wyatt (OI 1944 – 53)

- Richard Cooper (OI 1962 – 72)

Keith Sangster (OI 1948 – 59)

Died January 2020

After a long illness, Keith Sangster died peacefully at Glebe House Residential Home Hollesley.

Beloved husband to Victoria, father of Tanya, Giles, Holly, Jessica, James and Alexander, much loved brother of Bruce, and brother in law to Ingrid and a much loved grandfather and uncle. Keith was an award-winning horticulturalist, plant breeder and raconteur.

Memories of Keith:

So sorry to hear of Keith’s passing away. I don’t remember much of our school time in the same class for a while other than both of us suffering under the tyranny of some of the prefects who at that time had the authority to administer corporal punishment to pupils without trial.

One of my earliest memories of Keith was at his parent’s house in London Road. We sat in a tree eating delicious apples. When I commented on their sweetness he

told me without hesitation that the tree was a Worcester Pearmain. To me apples were either sweet or cookers but I knew then that Keith was entering the world of horticulture in the Thomson and Morgan family business.

After leaving school we used to play squash at the old Ipswich Airport on Nacton Road. There were one or two OIs including Mike Bolton and I remember one summer we all set off for a holiday in Cornwall where it rained a lot and we

complained that St Austell ale tasted awful compared with Tolly Cobbold. Unfortunately Keith and I lost touch in the late 60’s when I went overseas and Keith got married. Keith was always a kind and considerate person. If he met someone that he appreciated I remember he used to say “what a splendid fellow”. And that in many ways was what I thought Keith was. Sympathies to his brother Bruce and all the family.

That’s so sad, he was a stalwart of the OICC when I first started playing, lovely guy, solid opening bat, gray fielder - JRDC will no doubt regale us with some of his more amazing innings. I got him out of retirement to play a game for the 2nds in the late 80’s - he showed up the youngsters with his keenness and athleticism in the field!

- Steve Marks (OI 1960 – 68)

Rodney Cadman (OI 1943 – 50)

Died 4th March 2020

Although our paths had not crossed in the last sixty years, I remember Rodney very well despite being three years after him and this is not surprising given the richness of his School career.

Academically strong having joined the School with an Ipswich Borough Scholarship he gained his Higher Certificate and was awarded the Caroline Barnes prize for English. He was captain of Holden form 1948 to 50 and Captain of School in 1950. He was Editor of the School Magazine in his final year, acted in the School Plays for three years and was in the CCF.

The School magazines show in particular his very accomplished

sporting career. He played cricket for the 1st XI from 1948, played several fine innings as an opening bat and topped the batting averages in 1949 and 1950 being captain in his final year. He was a strong rugby player and played for the 1st XV from 1948 to 1950 being captain again in his last year. He played for both Suffolk and Norfolk-Suffolk Schools. He was also a fine athlete, winning four events in 1950 when he was Victor Ludorum.

He spent all is working life with Customs and Excise starting in London where he completed an English Degree with Birkbeck College. After moving to Manchester he returned to Ipswich 1971

where he was close to his family. He was married for sixty years to Kari who was a staff nurse from Norway and they had three daughters.

Rodney sang in the choir for many years at his local church, St Mary Stoke. He played cricket for the OI Cricket Club for a while, tennis and golf and had a great love for fell walking completing all two hundred and eleven Wainwrights.

- Karl Daniels (OI 1944 – 53)

- Malcolm Webster (OI 1948 – 59)

Philip Ind (OI 1944 – 51) Died 14th September 2020

Born in India Philip lived in Wickham Market to where his parents moved from Germany. His military father was stationed there until he was shot by an armed burglar. I remember Philip very well at School. He was in Sherrington House and a very accomplished rugby player gaining his 1st XV colours in 1951 still only fifteen.

The school lost a very good pupil when he left in 1951 gaining entry into Dartmouth for a naval career. Having completed his sea time as midshipman he joined the Royal Navy Engineering College. After serving on a nuclear submarine which he could not accept on ethical and moral grounds although he was certainly not a pacifist, he was called to the Church and entered St John’s College, Durham for his ordination.

It was there that he met his future wife, Marie-Therese, and together they went to Jerusalem for three years where Philip was head of maths and religious studies - large, lively classes of Christians and Moslems – and never a dull moment and which lead him later in life to study the interfaith movement. On returning to the UK he took up his first curacy at St John’s Church in Ipswich before moving on to Charlton Kings for four years.

Philip then became vicar of Gotherington in Gloucestershire until being appointed chaplain at Alleyns School in London for five years. He moved on to become assistant priest at St Georges’s in Beckenham before becoming vicar at St John’s in Bromley. It was there after a car crash that he discovered he had a serious heart condition leading to surgery. After his recovery he was appointed Priest in Charge of Hurley and Stubbings in Berkshire with the job of uniting them into a single benefice. His note in the OI magazine says’ It must be one of the most beautiful parishes in the country,

thank God we don’t get what we deserve ‘ – so illustrative of his modesty and humility. He lived for a while in Cookham Dean where he provided pastoral care and support for churches with interregnums.

Philip studied theology all his life and finished his London BD (Hons) Degree in 1982. Listening to a lecture given by Archbishop Rowan Williams in 2008 on civil and religious law in England was a lightbulb moment in his thinking about the Gospel and the interfaith movement.

His thesis for his Master’s in the London University MPhil degree on the relationship between Archbishop Rowan and Islam in the first decade of the 21st Century was extremely well received and marked something of a turning point in our culture’s understanding and assimilation of Islam. Subsequently he was invited to give papers at home and abroad.

Philip and his wife returned to live in Melton to be close to their daughter who teaches at Woodbridge School, their son working in the City at Lloyds.

He continued to help the church locally and was highly respected for the care he took in preparing his sermons. He was very fond of Ipswich School and the Chapel was a very special place for him. I enjoyed his company at one or two Ipswich OI Dinners which he attended. He found delight in the natural world, an enthusiastic and knowledgeable amateur ornithologist and it was while bird watching on Hazelwood Marsh that he collapsed and died.

- Karl Daniels (OI 1944 – 53)

Steve J Tidball

Former Head of Economics and Business (1993 - 12)

Died 15th September 2020

Memories of Steve:

I was taught Economics by Mr Tidball between 2000 and 2002. He was one of the best teachers I ever had - firm, fair, knowledgeable and passionate about his subject. I went on to read Economics at university and to be a don of the subject at Winchester College, a prestigious public school. I returned to Ipswich School in 2008 to teach a double lesson, with Steve observing - he gave me some very valuable insights, which helped me, as a trainee teacher, enormously - a generous man. His main phrase, which I am sure many others will relay, was: "Hard work comes first." This simple lifelong lesson is perhaps the most important one for anyone.

A very fond memory involved our Economics set going to the pub at the end of our time at Ipswich School. The pub did karaoke and we all sang "My Way" by Frank Sinatra. Steve made sure I led the singing with the microphone, as I was a music scholar at Ipswich School. I got very emotional during the performance (a tear might have been shed, but I tried to hide it).

What a wonderful way for our Economics set to end our time at Ipswich School. RIP, Sir. You have touched so many lives.

- Ben Ponniah (OI 1995 – 02)

I am really sad to hear this news. I was taught Economics by Steven from 2007 to 2009. The quality of his teaching was one of the reasons I pursued Economics as a degree. He was passionate about getting good results for his students, but he also managed to make his lessons fun and original. I still remember his love for the Rocky movies and Plymouth Argyle FC. I also remember how we students were trialled with his 'paper basket' challenge (with 'Eye of the Tiger' playing

in the background). Although I only knew Steven for two years, he had a really big impact on my own journey, so I am really thankful for his teaching and advice. I send my sincere condolences to his family and friends.

- Ross Taylor (OI 2007 – 09)

Very sad to hear about Steve. He clearly had a real love for the subject and was the reason many of my cohort (and I'm sure many others) continued our study of Economics at university. I have always wondered what happened to the "Essay or Glory" board when he retired. Thoughts with his family at this time.

- Thomas Fletcher (OI 1993 – 00)

This is sad news, such a great teacher. I certainly wouldn’t have achieved my B in Economics A-level without his positive influence! Great sense of humour but with a passion for his subject that made his lessons such fun.

- David Lord (OI 1989 – 96)

Steve taught me Economics in the old Prep building from 2009-2011. He took no prisoners in his class, the pace that he taught the content was fierce – he ensured everyone stepped up their game in the room. Steve had the best poker face going. It was worth checking the Plymouth Argyle result before stepping in on a Monday, so you were prepared! So many in the class smashed the Economics exams in that period, and

that’s down to Steve. He did not stand for sub-par work. He spoke about the (then) ongoing Global Financial Crisis in a way that us 16 year olds could understand. He made his subject exciting. I remember my parents’ confusion when I was choosing to watch Newsnight over Sky Sports News when I got home – Steve stirred something in us…

No doubt you’ve had a heap of messages about ‘essay or glory’. The game was simple. Throw something towards the bin – good accuracy gets you glory, but if you miss, you’re in for a late night explaining the difference between the FCA and PRA in 1,000 words. In my case, it was a risk often not worth taking.

This was an example of Mr Tidball’s humour – he would let you decide your own fate – it was up to you if your ego needed to push for the ‘glory’. It was always a highlight to see one of the tall poppies crash with a bad throw.

Steve – alongside Mr Marion and Mr Boyle – gave me confidence that I could pursue a career with a Business/ Economics angle. I wouldn’t have had 4 good years studying Banking and Finance at Loughborough without the A grade he helped me achieve. I have since pivoted towards advertising (now at a media agency in Australia), and I owe a lot to the Business Boys for their help.

Essay or Glory was the greatest game ever...

During his class you could opt for essay or glory. This meant you could throw an A4 bit of paper at his bin from your seat. Get it in and you got your name on a yellow bit of paper and a mini FA Cup to go on your desk. Miss and you had to write a full Economics essay. Neil Parry (OI) is only a CFA and Fund Manager because he missed so much. For my part, he was a great teacher who spent time to coach me to do and achieve more both in and out of School.

- Mike Card (OI 1993 – 00)

Steve lived near me in Kesgrave, and I’d occasionally see him out and about –but without prior knowledge of Argyle’s recent fortunes, it wasn’t worth risking the awkward ‘hello sir’ on the weekend. Please send my condolences to Steve’s friends and family back home. A no-nonsense guy with a unique teaching style, that inspired so many of us.

- Lewis Catlow (OI 1998 – 11)

Mr Tidball was unique, something only those that were taught by him would understand. After choosing Economics at A-level and meeting him for the first time with his very straight posture, dry sense of humour and scrawly handwriting; I soon realised he knew his stuff and how to teach a subject to kids who at that point had no prior knowledge of Economics. Whether it was a quiz before lunch with a correct answer seeing you running out the door, or his ability to transfer theory into world politics, there were never too many dull moments in his class. This of course carried over to his other passion, football, where many a good battle at Notcutts was had between teachers and the Sixth Form, resulting very often in some interesting banter during lesson time. My sincerest thoughts go out to his family and friends who he leaves behind.

- Rob Scutt (OI 1988 – 95)

I first met Steve when I became OCR's chief examiner in Economics. Steve had the difficult task of revising my draft question papers, something that he did in a fastidious way. He was also involved in developing a new syllabus when A-levels went modular. I really welcomed his input. He had a knack of keeping quiet in meetings and then making a telling point when most of us were struggling for inspiration.

Steve was a first-class economist. He had a broad and deep understanding of both micro and macro concepts. We often had lively discussions over lunch in Cambridge.

I also remember his love for Plymouth Argyle. I am a Huddersfield Town fan so you can imagine the conversation when we discussed the respective rises and falls of our two teams.

- Colin Bamford

Mr Tidball was a first class economist who also had an unprecedented ability to motivate young men and women to dedicate themselves to the subject. He enabled so many of us to reach the next step with the best possible preparation. His teaching of economics and of principles to live by continues decades after his last contact with pupils.

Many boys' first encounter with Mr Tidball was a fierce one: a loud, deep bellow to stop running in the corridor, to not fling school bags in corridors or any other infringement of orderly behaviour. Why should high standards wait until the Sixth form? Twenty four years on, we can still remember the trepidation of the first economics class: had curiosity for a new subject got the better of us? Would his bark be worse than his bite? As it turned out the answer was no and yes.

Mr Tidball set high expectations. Of himself and of his students. Our first class with him involved him writing on the board a table of the just departed Upper Sixths results. He promised us that he would provide us intensive support in the Lower Sixth, and provide us more freedom to take control in the Upper Sixth. Stay on his path, and success would follow. We were hooked.

Mr Tidball’s understanding of the value of psychology in economics education predated the integration of psychology into mainstream economic thought. On

the one hand, he wanted to instill a selfimposed discipline. Hard work comes first. The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. These terms were plastered around the classroom long before it became fashionable in elite sports teams. These aphorisms were not mere window dressing. They have stayed with us for more than two decades. On the other hand, Mr Tidball also understood the power of competition. No, not that game (yet). His possibly impromptu and certainly regular exit quizzes ensured students had their definitions nailed down. One of us still remembers beating the other by remembering what the abbreviation GFCF stood for.

Essay or glory was inspired. Most reading this will know the game, many will have played, some will have won. One paper ball, one bin, one roll of honour. We wonder how many essays were written (and marked) from those whose wrist limpened or whose aim wandered. How many received their highest mark for such an essay?

The respect for Mr Tidball’s knowledge of economics is not constrained to his pupils. As a senior examiner, his forensic ability to identify potential issues with questions was widely acknowledged, as was his ability to ensure a constructive discussion. His aim was to ensure that examinations, and their results, were fair to all students. He was a welcome addition to any examination meeting both inside and outside the formalities.

He will be widely missed in examination circles. His understanding of economics was such that on retirement from Sixth form teaching, Mr Tidball held a number of positions at higher education institutions at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. We were lucky to have such a teacher.

Mr Tidball offered pupils so much more than simply being an excellent teacher of economics. The trip to a twoday Ashridge Sixth Form Management Conference included many highlights, but the video of a mock interview built strong foundations for milk round interviews a few years later, the adventure filled trip

back from a nearby pub remains in the memory. He identified competitions for the most able. He ran the Sports Leadership option, without which, one of us would not have been able to leave for New Zealand on A-Level results day. His report writing went further than economics, with well-considered and impactful comments on personal development too.

So, yes, Mr Tidball had high expectations and a growl. He also cared deeply about his pupils’ progress. He ensured pupils had the tools to meet his demands. He began with highly detailed essay plans so that even the most unskilled essay writer, as one of us was, could soon become an accomplished writer, of economics essays at least. His sense of humour was as sharp as his eye for an incorrect label or imprecise definition.

A privilege of attending Ipswich school was that there were no shortage of teachers who could profoundly impact students. For us, Mr Tidball stood above even this fine crowd. This is no slight on Messers Gregory, Sinclair, Butterworth or the many others who were worthy. We feel lucky to have had him as a teacher. We feel a deep and personal regret that we re-established contact too late to sit with him through an Ipswich-Plymouth game. We take heart that he knew how much of an impact he had on our lives, and from his stated joy in hearing from so many other Old Ipswichian Economists during lockdown. We miss the discussions never had on, well, everything about the 21st century. Mr Tidball’s impact will live long. It was Gross Fixed Capital Formation, by the way. We think he would find this funny. And satisfying.

- Tim Kiddell (OI 1989 – 98)

- Tim Wyndham (OI 1991 – 98)

Raymond John Powter (OI 1933 – 40) Died on 4th September 2019

John was born on the 20th January 1923 and joined the School in 1933. Early studies included remedial Latin, important in those days, and he enjoyed Maths, Science and Rugby in the Senior School. He left after having taken School Certificate and moved to wartime Norwich where his parents had recently taken up residence. He then enrolled at the Technical College and his studies led to his obtaining an external London degree in Civil Engineering as well as a Mechanical Engineering professional qualification. He was accepted by Norwich County Council as an apprentice Civil Engineer where he gained valuable experience. He volunteered for the RAF Technical Branch in 1943 and was commissioned as a Wartime Flying Officer. His expertise was soon put to good use in the Airport Construction Unit. His unit was posted to Normandy not long after D Day and he was engaged close to the front managing the repair of recently surrendered airfields . His unit moved from Orleans in France to Holland and finally to north Germany. He returned to England in May 1945

Greg Kingston (OI 1980 - 91) Died 25th July 2020

Greg passed away suddenly in France on 25 July. He was a larger than life character that had time for everyone he met. Greg was a proud father, doting husband, loving son, supportive brother and enthusiastic great friend to many. His loss is unimaginable and the family would like Greg’s untimely death to help others and a charitable giving page has been set up. Two charities have been chosen in Greg’s memory. Firstly, Parkinson’s UK which was close to Greg’s heart and the disease had impacted his immediate family. The second charity SERVSC provide essential services to five NHS hospitals locally. Greg trained to be a volunteer but couldn’t commit to the time it takes to do this with the passion

and was then posted to the Philippines. Whilst on the converted cruise ship “the Mauritania”, Japan surrendered but his ship was re-directed nonetheless to Malaya. He disembarked at Singapore where he helped supervise the extension of a runway and upgrading of installations for post-war planes. On returning to the UK and whilst at Mill Green Camp he met his future wife, Pamela. He was demobbed in 1947, having attained the rank of Flight Lieutenant. He married and had a son, Martin, and daughter, Jane. He pursued a lifelong career in Civil Engineering, joining the Staffordshire County Council in 1949 and moving to the private sector with consulting engineers Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick and Partners in 1955. He spent 5 years as Project Engineer in Nyasaland (now Malawi) , an adventurous situation for a young family. He returned to England and was then involved in engineering the prestigious M6 motorway section past Shap Fell. He moved to the Head Office in Victoria and then to Basingstoke where he became an Associate Partner of the firm concerned with airport design and

that we all know he had. If you would like to donate in Greg’s memory, details can be found on the Old Ipswichians website. Greg lived life to the full, his memory will live on and should be remembered fondly.

Memories of Greg

I was at School for the same years as Greg, in fact we were, as I can recall in all the same classes up to A-level. My recollections of him were a person that enjoyed life, played sport hard (he was a foot taller than everyone else when we were 11/12 so was the go-to player in the rugby team and could hit the ball further than anyone else in the cricket season) and did well academically. One fond memory was his yellow Vauxhall Cavalier SRi which he had in the sixth form, he was late for our last sports day on the School field as coming over the humpback bridge on Tuddenham road the car had flown/jumped further in the air than he had intended. I never

building consultancy. He ran projects in Malaysia, the Middle East, the West Indies and Africa.

He always kept in touch with the School and attended reunions in London where he would meet his old school friend, Pat Benner. They also met up separately from time to time in London with Alan Smith, a classmate they had in common, together with their respective spouses . Whilst in Malawi he became good friends with Barry Rivron, an Old Ipswichian who had an opticians shop in Harare, meeting up for wildlife park expeditions.

John retired in 1987, making active contributions in Basingstoke, Hampshire as a School Governor, a member of Probus, and Deputy Chairman of the local League of Hospital Friends, living his last few years quietly in Hampshire with his wife of 70 years, Pam, his family nearby . They enjoyed walking in the Lakes and exploring the world cruising, both pastimes good subjects for his hobby of stills and video photography. He died on the 4th September 2019 aged 96, succeeded by his wife and two children.

- Alan Wyatt (OI 1944 – 53)

did see that car again! Unfortunately, we lost touch when School years ended but did occasionally bump into each other in Ipswich usually with a beer in his hand and a smile on his face. My sincerest thoughts go out to his family and children who he leaves behind at this difficult time.

- Simon Gladwell (OI 1980 – 91)

Anglesea Heights purchase expands

Ipswich School estate

At the beginning of January, it was announced that Ipswich School had purchased the Anglesea Heights complex from Bupa, as a long term investment for the school. Anglesea Heights, located at the top of Berners Street, and extending through to Ivry Street in Ipswich has a long history in Ipswich, and was formerly a care home run by Bupa.

Before this it was the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital, which opened in 1836. The purchase by Ipswich School complements other buildings which the school owns in Ivry Street, including Ipswich Prep School and The Lodge Day Nursery.

Headmaster Nicholas Weaver said: “We are very excited to have completed the purchase of Anglesea Heights, which is a long term investment for Ipswich School. It is part of our strategy to secure nearby land, should it become available, for our long term future, as we have in the

past with the purchase of land which now houses Ipswich Prep School.”

Mr Weaver added: “We recognise that Anglesea Heights, particularly the iconic centrepiece at the top of Berners Street, is a very important part of the town’s heritage, along with the other Ipswich School buildings in the area. We are sure that it will prove a long term asset with a great benefit for the future of the school and indeed the town.”

Although the school is still developing plans for the site as a whole, one of the buildings has been converted to enable the Prep to introduce a third Year 6 class from September 2019, to meet demand. Mr Wranek, Ipswich School's Bursar, oversaw the bidding process on behalf of the school, and was at the announcement along with Ewan Dodds CEO of Whybrow, the firm who were instructed by Mr Wranek as the school’s property consultant for the purchase.

Elmer Armstrong lands at Ipswich School

On Saturday 15 June, the waiting was over and the elephants on the Elmer's Big Parade Suffolk art trail were unveiled in their locations around Ipswich.

Ipswich School sponsored one of the large elephants, decorated by professional artists. Elmer Armstrong, the creation of Mik Richardson, landed outside the front of the school on Henley Road. Wearing a spacesuit, Elmer Armstrong celebrated 50 years since the first man walked on the moon.

There were 55 large elephants on the trail - all were excellent pieces of art and their interesting meanings were provided on the statues. There were also 84 mini elephants designed by local schools and clubs on the trail, with the ‘Learning Herds", including ‘I herd you had a dream’ Elmer by the Prep School and ‘Elmer Squared’ by the Senior School, sited in places such as Christchurch Mansion and the Tourist Information Centre.

During the school summer holidays a special Elmer Armstrong activity book was available from the School Reception Jasmine Servant, Year 10 and Ollie Burton, Year 9

We will remember them

On Sunday 10 November, the Ipswich School Chapel Choir, Combined Cadet Force, Old Ipswichians and other pupils and parents gathered in the Chapel for the annual Remembrance Service to honour those who lost their lives in the two World Wars, including those who were students here at Ipswich School.

A commemorative wreath was laid at the altar by Bob Clayton, former CCF Contingent Commander and Old

Ipswichian, cadets from the CCF led the intercessions and the Community Service Musicians gave a sombre performance of a Michael Nyman arrangement for the film Anne Frank.

During the service, an official memorial to the Remembrance Doves art installation was unveiled in the Memorial Chapel, to provide a lasting record of this event from 2018, which had commemorated the end of the Great War.

The next day – Armistice Day – pupils and staff gathered outside the library at 11am for the two minutes' silence which included a rendition of the Last Post by trumpeters Jamie Dilnot, Year 11, and Frankie Gorham, Year 12. With this final act of remembrance Ipswich School commemorated all those who had lost their lives in war.

Year 12

Vadan Khan,

Ipswich School was named as the top independent school in Suffolk in the Sunday Times Parent Power report in December 2019 – for the fourth year running.

The report, which ranks schools by their top A Level and GCSE exam grades, also showed that Ipswich School had climbed from 163rd to 149th in the country this year, taking it into the top 150 schools nationally.

Headmaster Mr Weaver said: “This year’s Parent Power report firmly cements Ipswich School’s place as the top independent school in Suffolk. We have good-sized year groups, not just a handful of pupils, and so this really is testament to the hours of hard work put in by all our students and staff to achieve the best results possible.

Top independent school in Suffolk –for the fourth year running DT in the community

“To see the school reach the top 150 of independent schools nationally is just the icing on the cake, and we hope this will provide a boost to the town of Ipswich itself as well.”

He added: “Although the Sunday Times tables are based on exam results, we have achieved this success alongside other great achievements in national sport competitions, superb music and drama performances and a wealth of cocurricular activity.

“This, along with our exemplary approach to pastoral care, is what makes us so successful and which ensures that our pupils are the best prepared for the world beyond school.”

Charity music concert

In February, the Britten Faculty of Music presented a charity concert at St Peter's by the Waterfront in Ipswich. This was held in aid of the Marine Conservation Society and raised £1,152 on the night.

Mrs Clark and three students from the DT department helped the Westerfield Beavers unity to gain their Building Badge.

They DT team prepared materials, boxed up aprons and tools and then shared their skills, with the Beavers using simple building techniques to nail and glue together pieces of wood to create their own boats complete with masts.

The evening featured several of the school’s ensembles, such as the Chamber Orchestra, Stage Band and Big Band, along with solo performances from a number of pupils, including Oliver Pigram on the clarinet sonata and Nadia Mason on the harp and vocalists Emily Cook, Guy Waddilove and Niamh Goldsmith. St Peter’s is one of the oldest buildings in Ipswich, and dates from the 15th Century. Cardinal Wolsey took over the church to become the college chapel for his adjacent school, and so has a special place in Ipswich School's history. Mrs Steensma said afterwards: “The evening was a good opportunity to showcase the wide variety of musical talent here at Ipswich School. Not only did we raise a super amount of money for a good cause, the students also put on outstanding and joyful performances!"

Ben Althen, Year 11

Student councillors visit Mayor

At the end of September, the student councillors from the Prep and Lower School councils visited the Mayor of Ipswich in the Town Hall. The group was met by the town steward and given a short tour of the building. The councillors then met the Mayor, Councillor Jane Riley, and her consort and husband in the parlour to discuss what it is like to be mayor.

Once the conversation was finished the group were shown some of the old certificates and paintings kept in the Town Hall, including one that showed Henley Road when it was just a field with some cows! The tour ended with a demonstration of the Mayor's ceremonial objects, including the town sword, one of the town’s maces and the mayor’s robe. As the Ipswich School and Prep

School pupils left they were asked to sign the visitors book, where names like Ed Sheeran and Elizabeth II were also written. With that done they made their way back to school. A fantastic start to our councillors' year!

Bertie Mitchem, Year 8

Charity fundraising

During the Michaelmas Term, Ipswich School students, staff and parents came together in order to raise funds for two exceptionally worthy local causes, Suffolk Mind and Ipswich Town Pastors. The total raised was £4,567 which was split between the two charities through our partnership with the Suffolk Community Foundation.

The funds were raised through a combination of events, such as the

retiring collections from the Festival of Music performances and refreshment sales, Chapel and Carol services and the School production of Little Shop of Horrors, as well as the annual Christmas Jumper Day. These donations will allow the charities to continue their vital work, whether that be through helping those in need after nights out in Ipswich or aiding people who are dealing with mental health issues in Suffolk.

The Marine Conservation Society was the focus for the Lent Term – both in terms of fundraising, but also awareness raising about how we can all do our part in reducing the use of plastics, which can find their way into the oceans. The final event of the term was Big Blue Day, where students and staff wore blue clothing in aid of the Society.

Young Musician of the Year

There were eight performers from Year 9 to Year 13 taking part in the grand finale of the Young Musician of the Year event.

The finalists - Edward Baines, piano; Rosie Boore, singing; Sebastian Williams, cello; Emily Cook, singing; Oliver Pigram, clarinet; Fred Double, percussion; Nadia Mason, harp and Alfie Buckley, trumpet –had all won or been highly commended in the advanced category of the annual music competition.

The evening began with a performance by the Clarinet Ensemble,

before each musician played their finest pieces in turn.

The adjudicator, Old Ipswichian and internationally renowned composer and conductor Ben Parry, clearly faced a difficult conundrum: how to decide between such high quality performances on such different instruments.

Whilst he made his decision, the audience was entertained with music from Jazz-IS

– who also performed a popular encore at the very end of the evening!

In making his judgement, Mr Parry praised each of the musicians, picking out his particular highlights from the music they had played or sung.

Finally, it was time to reveal the winner – Mr Parry said: “My job was very tough and it is so invidious to compare such different instruments. So I thought about the performance I heard which I would like to hear again…” and awarded the title to Nadia Mason from Year 13, for her performance on the harp.

Festival of Music

10-14 October 2019

Seeing shoppers fall silent as Ipswich School’s Chamber Orchestra appeared as a ‘flashmob’ to play Pachelbel’s Canon was a memorable moment as we celebrated the tenth anniversary of our Festival of Music in October 2019.

The week-long festival was opened by celebrated jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine, and also included vocal group The Swingles, a jazz night, space-themed family concert and a Big Band evening to finish the week.

Director of the Britten Faculty of Music, Mrs Steensma said: “It was the perfect celebration to mark ten years of the festival. Everything went to plan and there were many ticket sales and happy customers.” The fact that so many of the concerts were sold out or nearly sold out certainly attests to this fact.

In terms of her favourite act or moment, Mrs Steensma said she was torn between the Family Concert, which was “such a highlight, seeing a roomful of children really engage with some amazing music,” and the return of OI Imogen Parry singing with The Swingles, particularly leading a workshop with the Show Choir, the former student led a capella group that she took part in during her own time at the school.

The Education and Outreach programmes were also a success this year, and there were a number of opportunities for Ipswich School pupils to perform alongside professional musicians, for example, singing with the jazz band at the Saturday night event. The visit of Oompah Brass on the final day of the festival was a highlight for many, and the group of five musicians led a workshop with brass players from the Prep and local primary schools, and also one for Senior School pupils.

Ben Althen, Year 12 and Jasmine Servant, Year 11

Surprising start to Festival

Fifteen pupils aged from 11 to 18 appeared as a ‘flashmob’ in Ipswich’s Buttermarket Shopping Centre on the first day of the Festival.

On violins, violas, cellos and double basses, the Chamber Orchestra pupils played Pachelbel’s Canon and Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, as well as a Trumpet Voluntary by Jeremiah Clarke where they were joined by gap year student and former pupil Alfie Buckley on trumpet.

Mrs Steensma, Director of Music, said afterwards: “We are very keen to take our music into the community, so it was lovely to show Ipswich shoppers the talents of our pupils. The pupils overcame any nerves to appear from shops and down the stairs and then started playing as if this was a normal occurrence!”

Novgorod Exchange

This year saw the 25th anniversary of the Ipswich School Russian exchange with Novgorod.

Among those on the trip was Sasha, the niece of the first person to come to Ipswich as part of the exchange, Kostya Krasnov. Kostya came to the Ipswich School in 1994, when the exchange took a very different form. He was one of 50 Sixth Form students from Eastern Europe who won scholarships to British independent schools, and travelled to Britain in order to study English. Unlike today, this early exchange saw only one Russian student come to Ipswich School, who stayed for the entire year.

The trip today has changed significantly since the 1990s, as now a large group of Russian students come over to Britain. For the first time, instead of Ipswich students returning to Russia in the Easter of the same year, current Year 12s will go to Russia in the Easter of 2020.

Improvements in technology also meant that students were able to communicate with their exchange partner before their arrival more easily, and so the exchange built upon their existing friendships. It was rather fitting for the niece of the first student to be coming to Ipswich as we entered a new stage in the relationship between the two schools.

During the visit, the students from Novgorod performed a Russian folk tale for Year 4 pupils from the Prep School,

who learn Russian as part of the school’s languages programme. They also spent time in Senior School Russian lessons, enabling both English and Russian students to practise their foreign language skills. The Russian students also visited London and Cambridge and enjoyed activities with their exchange partners.

We sat down with Sasha to ask her about her time in England.

Your uncle was the first Russian from Novgorod to come here on an exchangedid he tell you what to expect?

He said that people in England are really kind and openminded, but that I should be prepared for the windy weather, because the wind in Russia is very different to the wind in England.

What is the biggest difference between Ipswich and Novgorod?

Because we came in Spring the difference in weather is obvious: in Novgorod it’s -10 and snowy weather, while in England it’s +10 and sunny weather.

What have you enjoyed most about your time here?

Most of all I enjoyed meeting new people, learning new things about the country, its history and traditions.

How long have you been studying English?

I have been studying English for four years.

How many more years do you have at school, and what do you plan to do afterwards?

I have one year left at school, so I’m going to do state exams this year. After that I’m going to Saint Petersburg University. I want to travel a lot and become a good and interesting person.

Matt Brown, Year 12 and Jack Whitlow, Year 13

Sasha

Leaving staff

We have said farewell to a number of long-serving members of staff over the last few years. Here we pay tribute to the hard work and lasting legacies of just a few of them.

Zos joined Ipswich School in 2004 to become Head of Psychology and establish the new Psychology department. Since then, Psychology has become one of the most popular Sixth Form A Level choices, and she has seen countless students pick up her enthusiasm for the subject and take it on to further study at university.

We are all acutely aware that for Zos, the students always come first. No matter what she has on her agenda she is there for them. This has some implications, such as being known for turning up to lessons late on many occasions! As a head of section she is always being pulled in a million different directions, and unfortunately, her absence generally coincides with a big problem in the Sixth Form Centre. But that doesn’t mean she

Bryan Caley

Sports Development Manager

Bryan joined Ipswich School in August 2000, but he had actually been here long before that as he was a pupil from 1975 until 1982. As a pupil, he excelled at rugby playing scrum-half for the 1st XV from the then 5th form onwards, becoming captain in the 6th form.

He also played at 1st team level for Ipswich Rugby Club and was selected for Eastern Counties. This passion for the sport led him to return as Sports

switches off, indeed it just means she spends most bus/train journeys dealing with things on the phone.

Zos will be remembered for being non-judgemental, always there to talk to and being supportive. A great diplomat, Zos can defuse many an explosive situation with humility.

Zos knows the students inside out, and is able to refer to all elements of their strengths and weaknesses in order to ensure that the best outcome is achieved for all parties involved. She is great at last minute improvisation, and is renowned for having the best crowd-control whistle on the staffing body and for always having a reusable coffee cup in her hand.

The new style Sixth Form Leavers Day has gone from strength to strength with Zos at the helm. She ensures that

Development Manager, to market the school’s sports facilities and to provide coaching for rugby and cricket. In 2006 he was appointed as chief coach for the 1st XV, working with the head of rugby to develop the team and liaise with Ipswich Rugby Club on player development.

Bryan had also built up the lettings for the school facilities and following this success he took over the running of the House of Fun in 2008, the school summer holiday club for pupils and other children.

Bryan’s passion for the school and the sport he loved shone through in all that he did and this was no doubt passed on to the pupils he coached.

costumes are (mostly) decent, that good fun stays on the right side of the line, and that the coveted Golden Owl is ready to be awarded to the winning house after a morning of talent shows, tug of war and other competitions.

Of course, no Sixth Form leaving is complete without a video – and we are still not sure how she was overlooked by the Oscars committee for her starring role in 2018’s edition, making off on a grounds machine, leaving Andrew Calver on the very much slower grass-rolling machine.

Zos leaves us to fulfil a long-held ambition to study for a masters’ degree in Psychology and CBT. If her new counselling career does not go to plan (but of course it will, as who couldn’t fail to see an improvement in their state of mind after spending some time with Zos), whether we have the next Angie Watts, Bet Lynch, Peggie Mitchell or Pat Butcher behind the bar od the Brewers Arms, only time will tell. All we do know is that she will be greatly missed by all.

Andrew Calver Deputy Head of Sixth Form and Paul Cline, Head of Psychology

His enthusiasm and sense of fun made this a huge success with parents eagerly awaiting the opportunity to book their child onto the week of entertainment in August.

Bryan’s passion for the school and the sport he loved shone through in all that he did and this was no doubt passed on to the pupils he coached and the children attending the House of Fun, as well as to his friends and colleagues in the school.

Paul Wranek Bursar

Zos Austin

Head of Sixth Form

Steve Godfrey Head of German

Out on 99! Steve has been at Ipswich School since 1986, clocking up a fantastic 99 terms with us. For the majority of that time he has been the Head of German, but this masks many other important roles that he has held over the years; Head of School House, long-standing coach of the U16 boys hockey team, Common Room chairman, and of course Head of the Boarding House at Westwood, which he and his wife Debs ran very successfully for 16 years.Steve is a complete institution at school, and the place will never be the

Julia Rivington

English Teacher

Julia arrived in 2014 and although she was initially confined to the English Book Cupboard, she soon burst forth into Room 6, transforming it with her flair for style and bright lights. Anyone who has visited her classroom will have enjoyed her quirky posters, inspiring postcards, the ever changing “Mrs Rivington welcomes you …” quotations and the flash fiction display of superhuman creative writing.

Her insatiable energy and passion for words has had a huge impact on all her pupils, and all of us who have worked alongside her. It is a cliche but one which

same without him. Steve is a complete institution at school, and the place will never be the same without him.

The Modern Languages corridor will no doubt be a less tidy place after Steve’s retirement, given his penchant for radical tidying of communal spaces (scorched Earth approach to anything not bolted down); also potentially a quieter place, as we will no longer hear his explaining to a reluctant Year 9 class thundering down the corridor.

Steve has a sharp intellect and, naturally for one who has mastered the German case system and use of the subjunctive for reported speech, he is a bit of a stickler for grammar, which has made proof-reading subject reports such a celebratory and relaxing experience for him! Along with his championing of German and teaching of Year 8 and 9 French, Steve has accompanied a lifetime of trips to Europe, and has been tireless in giving of his own time and experience to make these opportunities as rewarding for the students as possible. I was enormously grateful for his presence on our early experimental Year 7 trip to Barcelona, and on another notable occasion, which

rings true (second cliche): Julia has gone above and beyond the call of duty every single working day, in the meticulously planned and inspiring lessons; the amazing resources she has so generously shared; the revision booklets collated for exam classes; the maintenance of our highest sixth form minds in the Dead Poets’ Society.

Her enthusiasm and passion extends from the heights of Shakespeare and Aubrey Beardsley to the minutiae of post-it notes and plenty of pens. Appointed the Queen of Stationery, she has made this humble aspect of teaching an art form we have all enjoyed. Julia’s stationery orders have felt like choosing from a menu at The Ritz - or do we mean WH Ritz?! From WIN sheets to post-it printing machines to feedback stamps to Teaching and Learning, Julia has shown us all how to be better teachers in so many ways.

Despite the lofty conversations on ‘Measure for Measure’ or Sylvia Plath emanating from her doorway, Julia is no airy literary enthusiast dealing in ideas and the nuance of language alone. She is full of practical reality, hard-hitting focus and a

typified his generosity, Steve finished the trip in just his vest, having donated his sweatshirt on a particularly rough Channel crossing to a vomit-soaked student. All in a day’s work…

Steve is a true son of Ipswich, having attended Northgate when it was Northgate Grammar, and then devoted his life to educating the sons and daughters of the town. He has truly earned his right to a long and restful retirement, which he could have taken earlier - he tells me that he just “didn’t know what I would do all day”.

The opportunity to engage in some serious grand-parenting support for Hannah, along with the enticing prospect of cheaper tickets at Portman Road next season, has ultimately proven too much, and he is hanging up his red pen for good. Whether in the MFL Department, the Common Room or Crossword club, his genial, unflappable presence will be irreplaceable. We will miss him.

Jon Thompson Head of French and Modern Foreign Languages

get-it-done attitude which means, indeed, that much has been achieved in her time here. She has transformed the learning of every student who has entered her classroom, from the highflying Oxbridge Sixth Former to the shy Lower School pupil just waiting for someone to write for.

Her character as much as her teaching is celebrated in the Thank You cards received from students; positive comments about her kindness and supportiveness would never be out of place. Her tutees have appreciated an amazing form tutor who is bright and cheerful to greet them each morning, and whose colourful Tutor Messages set the day up well. Far more important though, is the time and pastoral care invested in her tutees, which means she really does know them, and is ready to support them in the most apt manner for each situation. She is irreplaceable, and we have loved working alongside her. We will miss her so very much.

Nicki Carter Head of English

Fiona Robinson Maths Teacher

Fiona Robinson joined Ipswich School in 2001. She was, of course, at that time known as Fiona Lavelle before getting married to her husband, Paul, in 2015. I first met Fiona, briefly, when I came for interview in 2008 for the Head of Department vacancy - it became immediately apparent that she was an experienced and astute member of the maths department. She has played a vital role in ensuring that the foundations of the department have been solid and steady when helping to steer the department through many changes. She was a natural choice for the Second in Department position when this became available in 2015 and has continually gone above and beyond in her duties, making a significant impact on the department very much for the better.

Fiona loves mathematics and she doesn’t care who knows it - hence the

reason why she is never without the oversized ‘I heart Mathematics’ badge! She is passionate about the subject and wants everyone to feel the same and she finds it incomprehensible why they shouldn’t! Fiona has taught across the age and ability range and she has the reputation of being a no nonsense, reliable, and utterly professional teacher who all pupils have benefited from. However, it will undoubtedly be the Further Maths teaching that she will miss the most and her ability to guide our most able mathematicians successfully through the type of extreme mathematics that would make mere mortals shudder with fear, has been nothing short of incredible. As well as her day-to-day teaching, Fiona has been a pillar of pastoral strength in the Lower School tutoring team for many years. Parents of new Year 7 pupils who know Fiona would always be reassured

Yvette Morton Director of Admissions

Yvette has a really forensic knowledge of the school, accumulated over her 16 years at Ipswich School. She is much valued in giving personal tours, and her great attention to detail made sure that family requirements were remembered and addressed so that visitors had the best experience while they were here with her. But she has been so much more than our Admissions aficionado; she has been a fundamental part of the Lower School pastoral team. Time and again

parents quoted Mrs Morton as being that reassuring voice; that warm welcome and fountain of all knowledge. She always kept abreast of educational matters so that she would speak with authority when parents probed with technical questions.

The confidence that Yvette fostered with our feeder schools was massive. She understood the power of personal relationships and the trust that this gives headteachers as they match their pupils to the 'best fit' senior schools.

that their sons and daughters would be benefitting from the best possible care when joining the Senior School. As a Year 8 tutor, Fiona has been accompanying pupils on the Cumbria activity week for many, many years. Few Tutors, if any, can claim to have as many ‘tour medals’, and Mr Cliff has fondly crowned her Queen of The Cottage after her favourite spot by the shores of Derwentwater.

Let us also not forget all the other things that Fiona has been involved with at Ipswich School. She has been the passionate organiser of the yearly Christmas Shoebox Appeal, which must have seen thousands of boxes taken from Ipswich School to be delivered to children across the world. She has organised the Primary Schools activity on a Thursday afternoon, Board Games Club, Primary Maths Challenges, Ganzoni competitions and, of course, her role as treasurer for the Cake Club!

Fiona’s contribution to the school has been immeasurable and it is difficult to see quite how we will manage without her. The maths department will certainly see this as a big loss and she leaves behind some very large shoes to fill. We wish her the very best of luck and thank her for everything that she has done for us at Ipswich School.

Matthew Core Head of Mathematics

Hers is a unique role within the School, pulling together so many different facets of the organisation, from estates, to catering, invigilators, academic staff, bursary and administration.She has been the glue that has held open mornings, exams days and meetings for prospective parents together, and her attention to the smallest detail at these showcase events is something she should be proud of.

She leaves with our best wishes and we are sure she will take on her new grandparent duties with the same meticulous attention to detail that she gave to Ipswich School.

Development Office News

This year has flown by as the Development Office works alongside the Club committee to not only bring brilliant events to the Old Ipswichian community but to progress careers connections, correspondence and communication with all Old Ipswichians. Alongside this, we aim to support more children in the School via the Phoenix Fund and offer more opportunity to children in the region who can benefit from an Ipswich School education regardless of their financial background through the Founding Futures Bursary Fund. Please see the accompanying Impact Report to see how your support is helping to shape lives at Ipswich School.

Bursary Fund celebrates success

We are delighted to announce that the Founding Futures Bursary Fund has raised more than £300,000 to date.

The Ipswich School Community including Old Ipswichians, friends, parents and trusts have come together to give more opportunity to children in the region. As a result of your generosity three children attend the school on 100% bursary assistance. We are determined that children be given equal opportunity to access an education at Ipswich and therefore these bursaries are 100% transformational based on merit not means and hope to grow this number significantly over the coming years.

If you are interested in supporting the provision of bursaries at Ipswich School please get in touch with Nikki Brown, Development Director, Ipswich School.

I will forever be in gratitude for the bursary and scholarship schemes available at Ipswich and strongly believe in the potential they have for furthering social mobility in Suffolk and surrounding areas.

– Alex Yeandle (OI 2009-16)

Bursary and Scholarship Recipient

Phoenix Fund update

The Coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on our economy and therefore, some families that have chosen Ipswich School for their children will now find it more difficult to keep their children educated here. It is in these difficult times that the Phoenix Fund steps in.

The Phoenix Fund is accessed in times of difficulty for families whose change in circumstances could jeopardise their child’s education at Ipswich School. During the past few months it has been extremely humbling to receive donations from past pupils and parents who feel strongly that children who would ordinarily have had to leave the School, should stay to continue to be given the opportunities that are afforded by Ipswich.

Since June the fund has received donations totalling £16,000 with further Legacy pledges directed to this fund.

Now, during this unique time for the country, we will call upon the fund to help keep pupils educated at Ipswich School when their families face significant economic hardship. We are asking the Ipswich School community help us do this. We already know that a significant amount of families will struggle this year.

We will do our best to support them, but we need your help: if everyone on our mailing list gave just £10 a month, it would be enough to support 24 pupils in the School this next academic year and so, if you would like to help us continue children’s education at Ipswich School then please go to the website for more details or contact us.

Old Ipswichians Colin and Matt Scott: Why we support the Phoenix Fund

When we were children, our father John operated a fast-growing computer business: he bought a farm, and sent the two of us to Ipswich Prep School, which he had attended in the 1950s. But while we were still at the School, Dad was killed in an accident. Life became tough. We lost the farm and moved to central Ipswich, but even after a lot of belt-tightening, our mother – a full-time teacher – didn’t know how we could stay on at the School.

Ipswich School helped. Geoffrey Barnard – the Chairman of Governors and a lawyer – advised our mother on managing the insurance money to cover our school fees, and thanks to Matt’s academic scholarship, it lasted through the end of sixth form. We can’t overstate how important that continuity was in the first months and years after we lost our Dad.

The behavioural and emotional support the school gave us was so important. And, of course, the school gave us the support, confidence and education that led both of us to University, business school, Chartered Accountancy and our successful careers in finance and Management Consultancy – we have also managed to help a lot of people in all sorts of ways, thanks to the values the school instilled in us.

Ten years ago, we approached the school with a question: how could we help pupils who, like us, lost a parent at a critical point in their education? Now, by joining with the Phoenix Fund, we can help students stay in school and achieve their potential. We don’t need to know their names, just that our funds have been needed, allocated and used. That’s all that matters. And they are used every year for families who find themselves in the most difficult of circumstances.

We hope we can grow the support for the fund to help more children through times of crisis. Thank you.

ColinScott (OI 1975 - 86)

Matt Scott (OI 1976 - 85)

New grass surface for Lower Prep

In February the Children of the prep school enjoyed a celebratory Teddy Bear’s picnic on the new grass which was laid to transform the playground to an exciting grassy space. The children were so excited to explore and enjoy time with their friends.

Our pupils are thrilled to bits with their lush new grass, and their teddies enjoyed sharing sticky honey biscuits at our picnic. Not only does the grass look beautiful, but it feels amazing to play and walk on. There has been lots of rolling and tumbling, plus comfy chill out time in our new garden!

– Amanda Childs, Head of Ipswich Prep

The project was completed thanks to generous donations from the Friends of Ipswich School and members of the Old Ipswichian community. These improvements to the school, which support the children’s learning and overall experience, wouldn’t be possible without your generosity.

Reaching out during Covid

In March, when Boris Johnson announced the lockdown of the country we all became acutely aware of the impact that imposed isolation would have on those in society who already live alone. With that in mind we decided to reach out as best as we could under the current circumstances to Old Ipswichians, past staff members and friends of the School by telephoning and

writing to those who are over 70 and are statistically more likely to be isolated.

The Development Office team with help from some of the OI Committee members have had several conversations these past few months as well as sending out artwork and letters specifically designed by children in the Prep School for Old Ipswichians. We have had such lovely feedback and we know that it has brought a little cheer to those seemingly endless days spent at home

Careers visits/apprenticeship event

In October, pupils of the School were fortunate enough to gain a better insight into medicine from Emma Knights, OI (20082014) a junior doctor who graduated from the University of East Anglia (UEA) last year. She gave a talk that covered a variety of topics in medicine, ranging from how to convey what you’ve gained from work experience when applying to university, to expressing how unique the NHS is. Pupils were able to seek a wider perspective into the profession, and the number of different routes they can pursue such as cardiology, psychiatry

and general surgery. Additionally, those considering pursuing this career were also able to ask what university life was like on the whole, in which Emma told them what a typical week consisted of at UEA. The pupils really appreciated her time to share her thoughts and experiences with them.

In November, an apprenticeship event organised by the Careers Department saw some international and local companies gave their insight into what an apprenticeship would involve. Amy Bolton OI (2010-2017) of Willis Towers Watson and Kaizad Forouhar OI (2005-2013), of PwC gave valuable insight on their individual journeys and how their apprenticeships got them to the position they are currently in, their daily work experiences, what apprentices can expect when starting at the company and the advantage of taking such a route.

FOIS Donations

The Development Office helps to support The Friends of Ipswich School (FOIS) who have had another busy year and have been working hard to enhance the pupil experience at the school. In the Senior School new table tennis tables have been installed under the library which have been incredibly well received. FOIS have also supported the purchase of the new recycling bins, prep and senior school house t-shirts and the Festival of Music Family concert.

How to Support Ipswich School

Please get in touch if you would like to share your own bursary or scholarship story or if you would like to support the aims of the School. Please contact:

Nikki Brown, Development Director nlb@ipswich.school 01473 298961

Carrie Baker, Development Officer cab@ipswichschool 01473 408324

OI Club Events

Summer Lunch

Saturday 15th June 2019

Old Ipswichians gather for the Summer Lunch and meet Elmer Armstrong

Elmer Armstrong welcomed a crowd of former pupils to Ipswich School recently – celebrating over 50 years since they left the school.

The popular elephant, which is part of the Elmer’s Big Parade Suffolk art trail in aid of St Elizabeth hospice, is named for Neil Armstrong and the moon landings in 1969. Ipswich School and the Old Ipswichian Club welcomed back some former pupils who left the school over 50 years ago to attend the Old Ipswichians Summer Lunch. 82 former pupils, their families and other guests, came together to eat, drink and remember their time at Ipswich School.

Pupils who left the school before 1969 were invited to attend, and during the afternoon some of the OIs took the opportunity to tour the school premises, which have changed a great deal since their school days. The Blatchly Laboratories (named after the late Dr John Blatchly, a former headmaster), Mermagen Sports Centre and the new building housing the Britten Faculty of Music on the site of the former netball courts were all new elements of the school that the visitors were keen to see.

The afternoon was enjoyed by all, due to the delicious food and the opportunity to reminisce and catch up with old friends. A popular visit that many of the guests made was to their former form rooms, which current pupils, parents and staff were surprised to learn were situated in the current school gym. As well as this, some of the Old Ipswichians spent the remainder of their visit watching the U15 cricket team playing against The Perse School on the school field.

Sally Webber, Chairman of the Old Ipswichian Club said: “It was lovely to see so many former pupils and their guests coming together to celebrate the time that they spent at Ipswich School by recounting stories with fond anecdotes.”

Old Ipswichians at the front of Ipswich School with Elmer Armstrong

OI London Dinner

Thursday 23rd May 2019

Sixty five OIs gathered for an enjoyable evening at a beautiful location, The Crypt of the Bleeding Heart in Farringdon. The 6th Century venue was a wonderful setting for the event complemented by fine wine sponsored by Alchemy wines, run by David Rowledge (OI 1978 - 89).

After a fantastic meal, OIs were treated to speeches by two Headmasters. Nick Gregory (OI 1981 - 89), Headmaster of Wycliffe College in Gloucestershire reminisced about his time at the school and the impact of having both parents working there! He focused on the key characters that influenced and inspired him during his time at Ipswich School and the ones that left a positive lasting impression. Those gathered could resonate with his experiences of their time at the school. Nick Weaver then followed on behalf of the School updating everyone with the exciting developments that have taken place over the last year and plans for the future.

Several OIs continued their evening reminiscing at bars around Smithfields Market.

First Five Years Out Reunion

Thursday 19th December 2019

The Old Ipswichian Clubs’ “First Five Years Out” reunion took place just before Christmas on 19th December - convenient for those at University returning to Suffolk for family Christmas get-togethers. This year the event was open to OIs who had left the School between 2014 and 2019 and was once again held at Revolution, Ipswich.

It is always a concern at the time an event starts that there are only three people in the room, namely a member of the OI Committee, a School Development Officer

and bar staff. There shouldn’t have been any undue concern though, because the promise of a prosecco reception, free bar, camaraderie and laughs will always pull a crowd of Old Ipswichians! The private bar soon filled to a group of nearly thirty, including teachers Andrew Calver, David Beasant, Steve Godfrey and Bob Clayton. Clusters of former students moved between year groups, swapping stories of what was happening in their lives and sharing the common bond of a life intertwined with Ipswich School. If you could measure the outcome of the event by the number of smiles in the room, then it would be considered a huge success.

Perfect Pre-Christmas get together!

If, on the other hand you measure the success by the bar tab limit being reached, again it could be considered a favourable achievement!

Chapel Remembrance

Doves

Sunday 10th November 2019

On Sunday 10th November 2019 at the Ipswich School Remembrance Service, a plaque celebrating the Remembrance Dove art installation of 2018 was unveiled by OI Club Chairman Sally Webber and OI Club President William Coe. The unveiling and service was attended by past pupils, friends and parents of Ipswich School, many of whom have connections with OIs who served and gave their lives in The Great War. The Old Ipswichian Club are proud to have supported the project.

OI

v

School Cricket

Friday 21st June 2019

The Old Ipswichians had the pleasure of being asked to play the School 1st XI in a 40 over contest at Henley Road. Winning the toss the Old boys had a bat and managed to post a competitive target of around 180 with contributions throughout the innings. In reply the School batted with great skill and chased the target down with two overs to spare. Special mention goes to Joe McGregor who anchored the School innings and whose score in excess of 80 was a class above on the day.

A brilliant game of cricket with a mix of Old Ipswichians from different eras who enjoyed reminiscing about their time playing cricket at the School.

- Chris Swallow (OI 1988 - 90)

OI Reunion 1974 and 1979

40 and 45 Years Out

Saturday 13th July 2019

A time of flared trousers, glitter, rock and very, very dodgy haircuts. And the year in which the ten of us who convened in the school car park on a sunny day in July had left. Fortyfive years on and the dodgy haircuts were no more, but remarkably we were, each one of us visibly and quite clearly recognisable as the young men we once were. There was also an air of tremendous goodwill – a bit like meeting family you haven’t met since you were kids. You can’t recall how you were together, but you know you had a connection. Some of us started the day with a visit to the remarkably unchanged Greyhound, before returning to the School to sample some beige food (aka sarnies and sausage rolls) and to talk. A flood of names long forgotten were raised and discussed. Some good news, some not so good. And the talking continued as we walked round the School, astonished that the pool was still in operation, absorbing and remembering places not seen in decades - the chapel, the Sherwood Building, the Great School – and ending our tour on the restful benches in the pavilion. An excellent day all round.

OI 35 Year ReunionClass of 1984

Saturday 25th May 2019

How time flies! The now traditional 5-yearly Class of ’84 meet up seems to come around more and more quickly, this time for our 35-year reunion back at the school. The school kindly lent us the loggia for the event and the OI Club a substantial amount of money towards food and beverages, enabling us to not charge anything to those attending on this occasion. Some 20 OIs were able to make it, along with several better halves and relatives for what was a hugely enjoyable event. Perhaps it was the superb catering, or the choice of alcohol and soft drinks, but most likely the pleasure in seeing each other again.

Neil Armstrong (OI 1972 - 82) won the award for travelling the furthest to be there

OI Cross Country

Saturday 9th March 2019

OIs battled the challenging conditions at the 2019 Cross Country. Conditions for this years Cross Country at Fynn Valley were challenging. Whilst the ground was pretty firm, there was a strong head wind making running difficult in places.

It was great to see so many OIs ready to compete against the school, including some first timers. Richard Patient (OI 1967 -87) sporting an original circa 1980’s school

(Saudi Arabia), though he probably got there as quickly as Michael Elwell (OI 1979 - 84) did (from Lancashire). An excellent and informative tour of the school resulted in some groups of people inevitably going AWOL, perusing parts of the main building that have thankfully been refurbished since we were there. Mystery still surrounds the current whereabouts of the 4-yearly whole-school photos that used to adorn the main corridor walls from the staff Common Room through to what was the Holden library. Thankfully everyone reassembled in time to see and be moved

cross country vest a highlight ! Patrick Hudson (OI 1978 - 88) was once again first OI home with the team packing well to win this event for the 11th consecutive year.

From Fynn Valley we headed back to the school for a well-deserved chilli and refreshments. Thanks to Lee Morgan and James Fletcher from the school for organising from the school side.

All welcome - look out for this event and contact alistairdick120@gmail.com if you want to be added to the list.

- Alistair Dick (OI 1974 - 81)

The CCF 130th Anniversary Dinner

Saturday 4th May 2019

The School’s annual CCF Dinner this year marked its 130th anniversary, and as is our tradition OIs were invited to the event. Current officers and cadets, together with ex officers and cadets dined out in Great School in what was a lovely evening. The current officers were very pleased that some of our ex-cadets who had made significant contributions to the Contingent made it back, and it was really nice to catch up with all they had been up to. The meal provided by JLS catering was excellent and conversation flowed easily throughout the evening, which continued long after the expected cut off time.

Sqn Ldr Welbourne gave his annual report and the awards for best senior cadets as well as remembering the contributions of Dr John Blatchly and Lt Col John Le Mare to our CCF. He also mentioned some of his favourite recollections; picking out some of the ex-cadets in the audience that had made the CCF such a great organisation to be a part of. Lt Col Bob Clayton was the

by the Great War Remembrance Doves installation in and outside of the chapel. The five hours of the event flew by, with the majority then carrying on at The Greyhound afterwards. Even the diversion of several people changing a very flat tyre on my car during the day didn’t dampen the occasion, and my thanks for them for the reminder to me on how to do this!

A lot of very positive feedback has since been received from those who attended, and everyone is looking forward to the 40th in 2024. Our very grateful thanks to the school Development Director Nikki Brown for taking out most of her day and running this for us, along with Bob (“Lads”) Clayton for attending on behalf of the OI Committee. Our sincere appreciation too for the school and the OI Club in supporting this event: it almost certainly wouldn’t have taken place without you.

evening’s guest speaker and chose to share some of his best memories from his long service with the CCF both as Army Section Commander and Contingent Commander.

The now traditional end of evening photograph shows the guests who attended the event. It was great to see the likes of Alan Wyatt (OI 1944 - 53) and Peter Rolf (OI 1941 - 49) return as well as some younger OIs and key ex-officers of recent years dining with us. I hope we can grow the number of attendees for our 135th anniversary in 2024 when the OIs will once again be invited to join us.

- Richard Welbourne

Old Ipswichian Cross Country Team 2019

Club Events

Whisky Tasting

Friday 15th November 2019

A very enjoyable single malt scotch whisky tasting evening was held in the pavilion on 15th November, hosted by former president Tim Passmore and attended by around

Golf – Old Ipswichians v Old Framlinghamians

Records show that OIs first played against the OFs in 1957 at Woodbridge Golf Club at a time when the OFs were able to field a very strong team. The OFs fielded their Halford Hewitt team and to give them good practice the foursomes format was used.

Matches continued more or less annually until 1963 and became more evenly balanced. Reports indicate that the matches were played in a great spirit and any intentions to return home early fell by the wayside as most enjoyable evenings were spent in the clubhouse long before the breathalyser had been invented.

OIs who played in the matches are Geoffrey Barnard, Stuart Betts, John Blundell, Cedric Catton, Peter Cooper, Roger Cooper, Granville Haskell, P.A. Leggett, K.F. Marks, Pat Mermagen, L.Nelson, Ian Pearce, L.F.Pope C.J. Secretan, Savage, H.R. Smith, C.O.P. West and L.E.H. Williams

Forty years later through my friendship

20 Old Ipswichians. It proved to be a very enjoyable and interesting evening. Overall, eight different malts were presented, starting with one of the most well-known global brands, Glenfiddich. Next up was a classic Speyside “The Glenlivet 12-year-old” which is one of the most popular drams in

with Norman Porter, at the time President of the Old Framlinghamian Society, we decided the time was right to renew old golf rivalry and a match took place at Woodbridge Golf Club in June 2003. Rather than foursomes as originally played the contest comprised six 4 Ball Better ball matches.

Whilst at school most of the players had played against each other at cricket or rugby and old rivalries, but more importantly old friendships, were

the large USA market - it slipped down a treat and was very popular with all those present. The Speyside theme continued with a particularly smooth version of, “The Macallan” which is aged in two different barrels. Again, proving popular there was not a single drop left at the end of the evening.

We then moved across to the west coast of Scotland and sampled a 12-yearold, “Bowmore” from Islay. This time opinion was much divided with some of us (myself included) really enjoying that distinctive taste. On the other hand, somebody else described the experience as akin to drinking cleaning fluid!

Back to the Highlands and the Dalwhinnie distillery we sampled the new version of “Winter’s Gold” served chilled and it did not disappoint. Lastly it was over the sea to Skye to sample the Talisker which has a highly distinctive fiery and peppery nose with a long, bold after taste and some described it as very pungent - which it is!

Overall, a great evening accompanied by a first-class buffet and who knows, perhaps the event can be repeated again soon!

- Tim Passmore (OI 1966 - 77)

renewed and remembered. The matches continued for seventeen years and sadly as the main players became older it was decided to finish in 2019. The OFs had a slight advantage in results but they were of secondary importance as OIs and OFs enjoyed playing together on a beautiful course and renewing or making new friendships. We were fortunate to have good weather in all years except for one when the match was interrupted by rain but still finished.

OIs who played over the last seventeen years were John Alexander, Peter Ballam, Guy Catchpole, Bryan Caley, David Cordle, Karl Daniels, Mark Daniels, Ewan Dodds, John Edwards, Richard Evans, Nigel Farthing, James Gardiner, Tony Greengrass, Peter Hatcher, David Knights, Peter Miller, David Moore, Ged Palmer, Shyam Patel, Tony Pennington, Bob Porter, John Rendle, David Richold, Peter Rolph, Steve Runnacles, Robin Shurety, Colin Simpson, Henry Staunton, Barry Squirrell, John Thorn, Bill Whitfield, Mike Wootton and Alan Wyatt.

- Karl Daniels (OI 1944 - 53)

2019 OI Wrecked

Cricketers’ Golf Reunion

A great time had by all

The newly built clubhouse, bar, restaurant and function room of Tony Tyrell’s Fynn Valley Golf Club made a fabulous, if incongruous, setting for the 28th annual get together of the OI Wrecked Cricketers’ Golf Club. Not so much a club, more a bunch of relics from the School 1st XIs from the 1950s and 60s, invited to relive glory days whilst enjoying a Texas scramble. Held on the first Friday in August each year, the gathering is masterminded by former arch intimidator of batsmen, ‘The Flying Terror’, Tim Thorn.

There were complaints of drives not being as long as they once were, of no Ian Hammond or substitute, to drive the drinks buggy (or strand it) but the general bonhomie and fellowship was as strong as always. The muscles may not be as robust as they once were, but the banter and wit were as caustic and hilarious as ever, making it another memorable day.

The ‘Club’ came about after a couple of years of letting the Old Framlinghamians score over 300 in the annual OI v OF cricket match and from a desire to avoid future ignominy. Eighteen holes in the morning for the Thorn Trophy were followed by a sumptuous (and alcoholic) lunch, and then another post-lunch competition for the 9 Hole Trophy (and not a buggy between the lot of them). Tony Tyrell, Roger Green and Mick Simpson won the Thorn Trophy on count back from Martin Seligman, Steve Marks, David Knights and Simon Woolfries, both with a course gross total of 69 (-1) and only 3 strokes

separating the first team from the last. The 9 Hole Trophy was even closer with only a 2-stroke difference between the teams. The winners of the 9 Hole Trophy were Charlie Lingard, Henry Staunton, Simon Woolfries and Steve Marks with a oneunder par round of 33, one shot ahead of Chad Chapman, Mick Simpson, Simon Marks and John Collett.

A massive thank you to Tony Tyrell and the Fynn Valley staff for hosting the event so fantastically well and Tim Thorn for organising it.

- Peter Boughton (OI 1958 - 69)

OI AGM and Ipswich Dinner

Saturday 21st December 2019

On a festive evening in late December, 140 OIs reunited and celebrated at the AGM and Ipswich Dinner. The buzz in the Great School was palpable as snowflake projections stretched across the ceiling and the table dressings glittered. Guests of all ages mingled in the bar in the Little School before the dinner commenced. It was great to see so many young OIs attending alongside some golden oldies!

We were treated to four incredible courses, ending with a stellar cheese board to accompany some equally stellar speeches. Chris Swallow (OI 1993 - 00) recounted fond memories of his school days, shining a light onto the inspiring teachers who helped to forge both his cricketing and marketing careers. The Headmaster took us through the highlights of school life in 2019, even throwing in a nostalgic reference to social cheesecake for our young OIs! Finally, incoming president Tim Kiddell roused excitement for next year with a few words on writing speeches for the Prime Minister. All in all, it was a very enjoyable and successful evening. It was a joy to bring so many members of our community together to celebrate.

School Speech Day and Leavers Reception

5th July 2019

The 2019 Ipswich School speech day took place on July 5th on the Henley Road School field. Speeches from Headmaster Nicholas Weaver, Chairman of the Governors and Old Ipswichian, Henry Staunton (OI 1962 - 67) and this year’s guest speaker, scientist, author, BBC Radio 4 presenter and Old Ipswichian Dr Adam Rutherford (1982 - 93).

Recent political events both at home and abroad have seen manners and compassion be challenged by hostility and cruelty, so it seemed appropriate that all speeches talked to the importance of kindness as a positive trait to nurture.

Chairman of Governors, Henry Staunton opened proceedings reminding the audience of sacrifices made in the two World Wars and looked back to the Remembrance Doves art installation which had enthralled visitors in November 2018. He also retold the story of OI Philip Pells who fell in Caen, days after D-Day. He

Rugby 7s

December 2019

It’s all about the ball.

Once again, the OI players outnumbered the current school players and created two large teams for the event. The pitch was very heavy after all the rain, but the weather was mild and sunny; allowing some good rugby to be played. The mixed OI and school sides played a couple of games and then had a break to sample some of the catering before playing again and starting their own kicking competition. This innovation will be encouraged again next year, and a trophy awarded for the best kicker at the event.

It is always nice to see the players getting on so well and enjoying playing again in the competition. The challenge to eat all the food at the end was accepted by players and spectators and the catch-up conversations took place well after the last beer had been drunk.

The winning team captain was Will Brown (OI 2006 - 17), who collected the John Nicholson Cup. The player of

Pupils encouraged to just be kind at Ipswich School Speech Day

concluded his speech with the words of Audrey Hepburn: “People are blessed with two hands - one to help themselves and one to help others.”

Headmaster Nicholas Weaver spoke of the positive relationships which underpin life at Ipswich School. Using the words of Liverpool FC manager Jurgen Klopp: “Each person here is responsible for the wonderful year we have had,’’ Mr Weaver highlighted that these are the words that encapsulate Ipswich School and reminded attendees that they are responsible for successful relationships in every room they enter.

Guest speaker, OI Dr Adam Rutherford, entertained the audience of pupils, parents, staff and invited guests with confessions from his school career. Dr Rutherford shared nine points which he felt people should consider to make the most of the opportunities in their lives. The importance of making a difference, making the most of new technology and being aware of the privileged position of being an Ipswich School pupil were among them. He also advised students to: “Fail better. Get good at failing but learn from your mistakes. Don’t make the same ones over and over again.” Dr Rutherford concluded his speech simply with the words: “Just be kind”.

After Prize Giving, members of the Upper 6th attended their Leavers Chapel Service, arriving as Ipswichians, and leaving as OIs. Club Chairman, Sally Webber, presented each with their Club badge, and information of upcoming Club events. All then retired to the marquee on School field for a champagne reception, sponsored by the Club.

the tournament, voted by the players themselves, was current school player Rory Clayton. In the first game alone he distinguished himself by scoring two good tries and never once lost his elf hat which was a clear additional law this year.

My thanks to David Slade for officiating, the groundsmen, Bob Clayton, Bryan Caley, and a special thanks to the spectators and players for making such a pleasant afternoon.

- Richard Welbourne

Players preparing for the next scrum!

Club Events

OI 30 Year ReunionClass of 1989

Saturday 22nd June 2019

A glorious summers day and a cricket match on the school field meant that our 30-year reunion spilled out of the loggia and onto Lime Avenue.

Eighteen 1989 leavers attended and with a few children, partners and teachers, there was a wonderful atmosphere. A couple of drinks eased some initial nerves before we were treated to a tour of the school by Bob Clayton. A new music school, a new sports hall and a new prep all impressed but it was the things that hadn’t changed that were enjoyed more, The Great School, the library, the swimming pool, the chapel and even Bob himself all made the memories flood back. Amazing to see some, deep in thought, quietly staring at a classroom or even just at a single desk.

Back at the Loggia, old yearbook photographs of pupils and staff decorated the walls, which were painstakingly scanned and printed by David Owen (OI 1981 - 89) and were gratefully received. They started many conversations and rekindled lost memories, some people hadn’t changed, others unrecognisable.

Our sincere thanks to Bob for the fantastic tour, the school catering staff for the beautiful food (there’s one change for the better) but especially to Development Manager, James Fletcher and the OI club for making the whole day a great success.

- Carl Hatcher (OI 1982 - 89)

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting

held in the Dining Hall at Ipswich School at 6.30pm on Saturday 21st December 2019

In attendance:

William Coe (President), Tim Kiddell (Vice President), Sally Webber (Chairman), Clare Lock (Secretary), Steve Runnacles (Treasurer), Nicholas Weaver (Headmaster) and those signing the attendance register: Tim Passmore, John Graham, Peter Boughton, James Davey, Karl Daniels, Richard Staines, Oliver Pitt, Richard Passmore, John Ward, Richard Welbourne, Paul Wranek, John Caudle, Bob Clayton, Ian Galbraith, Trevor Woods, Geoffrey Bell-Jones, John Felgate, John Skeates, Bob Porter, Terry Cracknell, Chris Jeffery, Geoffrey Cook, Guy Main.

1.0 Apologies for absence:

Apologies for absence were received from: Mike Fenn, Leigh Belcham, Iain Chesterman, David Coe and Chris Warnes.

Members were welcomed to the AGM by the President, William Coe.

2.0 Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting:

Minutes of the last meeting were agreed as a correct record Proposed by Bob Clayton and Seconded by James Davey. Matters Arising: There were no matters arising from the minutes.

3.0 Chairman’s report:

Sally Webber presented her Chairman’s Report for 2019 as follows: Sally Webber reported that last year members raised concerns over cost but it was felt the older OIs could subsidise the younger OIs and as such it was felt not to change the cost and that over half of the attendees for the 2019 Ipswich Dinner were less than 10 years out. Secondly, over the course of 2019 we have aimed to increase the number of new OIs attending events.

Sally recorded her sincere thanks to everyone on the committee and also thanks to the School for all their help and support.

Sally showed a presentation of pictures to the AGM of the events of 2019. Proposed by Guy Main and Seconded by John Graham the Chairman’s report was adopted.

4.0 Treasurer’s report:

Steve Runnacles circulated copies of the Annual Accounts for the year end July 2019, noting that these had been published on the Club’s website for over two weeks prior to the meeting. A copy is attached to these minutes.

The Treasurer reported on an annual surplus of £10,670 compared to £13,332 in the previous year. Subscriptions were £3,000 less than in 2018 which was a record year. As explained to the AGM in previous years, the figure of annual subscriptions received from leavers depends on the number of leavers and the number of leavers who have paid the OI subs. While the subs received in 2020 are marginally down on 2019, the numbers of pupils going through the School are now higher than they have been for some time, this points to strong subscription levels in the future. The Committee understand the relationship between the number of pupils and those paying the Club subscriptions and are actively promoting the Club to increase the “conversion rate”.

Expenditure fell marginally during the year. The deficit on the London Dinner was reduced during the year to around £900 which in turn allowed the Committee to fund other events designed to involve more members of the Club.

The Club also made two notable donations to the School during the year. The first was the donation of £50,000 to the Wolsey Appeal and the second was £6,000 to the First World War Memorial in the Chapel. After taking into account the two donations mentioned above and the surplus for the year, the Club has reserves of nearly £25,000 and is forecast to record a similar level of surpluses over the next few years.

Proposed by Tim Passmore and Seconded by Henry Staunton, the Annual Accounts and Treasurer’s Report for the year end 31st July 2019 were received and approved.

5.0 Election of President for 2020:

Proposed by Sally Webber and Seconded by Henry Staunton, Tim Kiddell was elected President for 2020. This was approved by the AGM.

6.0 Election of Vice President for 2020:

Proposed by Geoffery Cook and Seconded by Geoffrey Bell-Jones, Joanna Carrick was elected Vice President for 2020. This was approved by the AGM.

7.0 Appointment of Officers:

William Coe recorded his thanks to Sally Webber for her 4 years as Chairman and Clare Lock for her 4 years as Secretary and as Editor of the journal who are both stepping down this year as Officers of the Club.

Proposed by John Graham and seconded by Guy Main, Iain Chesterman was elected as Chairman, William Coe was elected as Secretary, and Steve Runnacles as Treasurer. This was approved by the AGM.

8.0 Election of new Committee members:

Proposed by James Davey and seconded by Peter Boughton, John Caudle, Sally Webber and Clare Lock were elected as Committee members for the three years 2020 to 2022.

These were approved by the AGM.

9.0 Proposed rule change:

The Committee have recommended a rule change in relation to teachers becoming OIs. The current rules state that a teacher must serve five years before they can become an OI. It is suggested that this is reduced to a minimum of two years on the recommendation of the Headmaster. Suggested wording was put forward as below. John Caudle recommended changing the wording to read ‘membership may be granted’.

RULE 3 – ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP:

3.5 Staff membership is granted to all teaching staff of the School, and to other staff at the discretion of the Committee, normally provided they have served as a member of Ipswich School staff for two or more years. The Headmaster shall recommend those staff who are eligible in the Autumn Term, for approval by the Committee.

Proposed by John Ward and Seconded by John Caudle. All business being concluded the meeting closed at 7pm

Income & expenditure account for the year end 31st July 2019

Balance sheet as of 31st July 2019

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Predominantly an academic day school, but with boarding style commitment to the development of personal skills that will help take these able students a lot further than exam results alone.

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