Issue 7 Winter 2012-13 Ipswich Dinner demonstrates community


From left: John Ward, Social Secretary; Nicholas Weaver, Headmaster; Revd Andrew Turner James Davey, Chairman; Karl Daniels, Chairman of Governors; Eddy Alcock,President; Leigh Belcham, Secretary


One would be hard pushed to find a better demonstration of Ipswich School as a community than the OI Club’s annual Ipswich Dinner.


Held in the Great School on 15th December, following the club’s Annual General Meeting, this black-tie event brought together nearly 90 OIs and guests for a most enjoyable evening. Old friendships were renewed – some after more than 40 years – and new friendships made. The school’s head boy and head girl, together with the head boy and head girl of each house, ensured that the average age was held at a reasonable level. The presence of two former headmasters, John Blatchly and Ian Galbraith, as well as the present head, Nicholas Weaver, reinforced the club’s close relationship to the school, while Richard Welbourne, Andrew Leach and Bob Clayton, having contributed much to the club’s programme over recent years, represented the school’s past and present staff.


After an excellent meal of traditional Christmas fare, retired Wing Commander, Revd Andrew Turner OI (’60-’71) spoke of his pastoral and spiritual work as an RAF chaplain to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. He began by admitting that, in the light of his failure at Ipswich School to impress the CCF commanding officer, the chaplain or the master in charge of “declamations”, he wondered quite why he had been invited to speak. But his stories of ministry to some very frightened and traumatised servicemen


and their families, interspersed with light-hearted incidents, some involving members of the Royal Family, held his listeners’ attention and earned sustained applause.


Headmaster Nicholas Weaver, responding to the toast to the School and the Club, related some of the school’s academic and sporting successes during the year, and spoke appreciatively of the club’s support for the school, particularly for the New Music School Appeal.


The club President, Eddy Alcock, mentioned that his President’s Event in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, had raised over £4,000 in memory of former teacher, Gordon Paton. He then handed his Presidential medallion to his successor, Richard Wilson, together with the traditional “Chief’s signet”, first presented in 1950 by OI President Charles Partridge. Retiring Archivist, John Blatchly, was presented with an engraved pewter salver, following which presentations were made to James Davey and Leigh Belcham, outgoing chairman and secretary respectively.


The evening ended with the President inviting several guests to join him in a glass of port, donated by John Blatchly. According to tradition, this was initially poured from a port magnum, first filled on the day Prince Albert laid the Foundation Stone of the new School, into matching decanters presented to commemorate the OI Club Centenary 1889-1989.


James Davey’s presentation to retiring Secretary, Leigh Belcham


4 John Blatchly


Revd Andrew Turner, guest speaker


New Chairman Guy Main’s presentation to James Davey


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