Issue 8 Summer 2013


Diamond Lunch


after by the Red Arrows. Somebody told me it had something to do with the Queen’s birthday, but I didn’t believe that, being quite convinced that it was arranged specifically for our reunion by our innovative new Chairman, Guy Main!


Tours over, we returned to the Dining Room from whence we had emerged and set about a delicious School Lunch. Not like those I remembered, but edible on this occasion!


Over lunch I enjoyed my usual exchange of banter with my friend (I think!) Graham Papenfus as we thoroughly enjoy scoring points off each other. I think we finished up roughly even, but he would tell you, no doubt, that he won by a small margin!


Karl Daniels, Christine Cain, Wendy Callis, David Callis, Peter White, Eddie Alcock


When I became Chairman of Suffolk County Council I needed a Consort to accompany me on my engagements. I asked my sister Christine – she readily agreed.


When I became President of the OI Club I asked her to accompany me on my social engagements – she readily agreed.


When I received my invitation to this year’s Diamond Lunch (those who left Ipswich School prior to 1957) I asked her if she would care to accompany me – she once again readily agreed, because she loves meeting people and talking to them and she loves even more meeting again, those whose acquaintance she has already made.


Thus on the morning of Saturday 15th June we arrived in the Dining Room of Ipswich School to be greeted with coffee and good company.


We soon fell into the habit of meeting and greeting those we already knew and just as swiftly, those we didn’t. Among those I already knew were several from my time at the School in the late forties/early fifties, and it was good to reminisce. Christine was soon talking to the wife of one such; it emerged that she had grown up within a ‘stone’s throw’ of where we had grown up and we soon compiled an amazing list of mutually remembered names. Remarkable how the least expected comes out of these reunions!


So a half hour whizzed by and soon we were invited to tour the school in manageable party sizes. Whilst I had done this before, Christine hadn’t so we set off on the tour, noting how many buildings were still recognisable but altered, and where new ones encroached on what had once been open space. A game of “I spy” amused us ancients seeking notable landmarks like The Prefects’ Board, where the dreaded notice would appear each morning proclaiming: “The following are wanted in the Prefects’ Room at Break today”. If your name was on the list, what had you done? Would it warrant a beating by a burly and possibly sadistic prefect? Not all memories at reunions are good ones!


A new attraction had also been laid on; we enjoyed a fly-past by a very large aircraft escorted by three fighters, followed shortly


I couldn’t stay for the Cricket or to view the Archives, but that didn’t matter, as the latter I have done before and the former was rained off shortly after we left!


In summary – a most enjoyable way to spend part of a Saturday and with thanks to the School for their hospitality and the Club for the arrangements.


Eddy GN Alcock 1949-1954 Season Songs


For the 2008 President’s Concert, the OI Club commissioned Ben Parry (‘77-‘83) to write Season Songs to the poems of Cecil Lay, who attended the School from 1898-1904. They are performed here by current OI President Richard Edgar-Wilson


(‘70-‘81) with Sam Wilson (2001-2010) on marimba. On the disc Richard also performs works by Ben’s father John Parry, Benjamin Britten (Winter Words) and the School’s Director of Music, Andrew Leach.


The recommended retail price is £13.99, but we have a limited number of CDs at the special bargain price of £10 (+ £2p&p), of which £5 will be donated to the New Music School Campaign.


To take advantage of this special offer whilst also helping to support the building of our new Music School, please send a cheque (made payable to Ipswich School) to Lindy Hacker, Development Office, Ipswich School, Henley Road, Ipswich, IP1 3SR. For more information telephone Lindy on 01473 298961 or email lxh@ipswich.suffolk.sch.uk


2


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8