I was invited by a local primary school to talk to their six and seven year-olds about Famous Ipswich People. The Mayor (John Cook) had been in the week before and John Field was due the following week to illustrate Carl Giles. I needed to maintain a gender balance: three females as well as three males, so Nina Layard, Edith Maud Cook and Margaret Catchpole. The choice of males was from a much larger and diverse pool: Big John Cobbold, Robert Ransome, and Edward Ardizzone. My next problem was ‘Will six-year-olds understand archaeologist, entrepreneur, and agricultural implements?’.

A surprising number of the youngsters had: a) been to the seaside, b) dug in the sand and also had c) found some old coins or other ancient (in their terms) artefacts. Nina Layard wasn’t the challenge I had expected.

We were on our way. However, keeping the attention of those who were not engaging was difficult. It is so easy to ask the first hand to shoot up for the answer when what ‘teacher’ should be doing is asking those whose hands have not responded, whose mind was wandering and whose thoughts were on something entirely different. They were, however, fascinated by the exploits of the horse thief and her sentence: ‘transportation’ to Australia and her decision to stay there. But they were even more attentive to the unfortunate exploits of the turn-of-the-century parachutist who met her fate falling from a factory roof in Coventry.

The overall outcome was that individuals, like each of the children present, could become successful in their own field; they just need to work hard and stick at it. 

 

Heritage Open Days (HOD). It may seem a little early to mention Heritage Open Days, but we have a team, led by Neil Thompson, working on what should be a very popular occasion.

Adopting the Wolsey 550 theme, we are busy persuading the building owners in St Peters Street to join the party. Wolsey ‘walked this way’, between the river (Wolsey’s Gate) and Curzon Plain (Wolsey’s Statue); you can too, inspecting the Tudor buildings along the way. He didn’t call in at the Thomas Wolsey, it’s only been a pub for 50 years, but you can – the first floor front room is panelled and there are decorative plaster ceilings throughout.  

Potentially 30 other buildings will be open to visitors including the Ancient House and Pykenham’s Gate House where we will need volunteers. No experience or in-depth knowledge required, just an hour or so sitting at the door welcoming visitors from far and wide. If you are willing to help please email the Hon. Secretary (details on page 27).

In addition to the customary HOD weekend, from 11th to 15th September we are organising a week of ‘walks and talks’ all with a loose Tudor theme. John Warren will explain the changes and tolerances to religion in this country in the 16th and 17th centuries and there will be at least two walks incorporating Tudor buildings. Details on page 21.

 

Membership fee increase.  You will not be surprised to learn that the cost of almost everything has gone up since the end of the pandemic, not least the cost of holding the Society’s AGM, the Awards evening and distribution of the Newsletter. To maintain the benefits that you have come to expect from the Society it became necessary to ask members at April’s Annual General Meeting to approve an increase in the cost of membership. This proposal was unanimously approved. You will find, enclosed with this Newsletter, a form for your bank requesting a change in the amount you pay as a membership fee. Please complete the form and send it to your bank, a simple task that will ensure that you receive the Newsletter in 2024.

New membership fees: £15 for individual membership; £20 for couple/family membership.

John Norman

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