At the start of this year, an inorganic chemistry textbook was returned to the school after over 90 years since it was last borrowed by Geoffrey Marriott (OI 1922-30), the father of Richard Marriott (OI 1950-60).       

                                                                                                  
Geoffrey Marriott was a Queen’s scholar and studied at Ipswich School from 1922 to 1930. His career at school was a successful one and he went on to obtain a Ph.D. in Chemistry at University College Oxford, after being awarded an Open Scholarship to study there.

During the war, Marriott worked in the chemical industry and returned to Ipswich to manage the family building firm, V A Marriott, until his death in 1968. His son Richard was a pupil here in the 1950s and found the book when he was carrying out a recent house clear out.

The book comprises a fascinating overview of the scientific method from long ago; including Faraday’s discovery of electrolysis, Avogadro’s at the time hypothesized molar mass, Bohr’s model of the atom, and many more. Complimenting this, there were many interesting diagrams set up to demonstrate to the prospective student how certain experiments would be taking place. Even though these experiments were often less than safe, they still gave valuable insight into the reactions behind them, and quite often hold up today.

In 2018, a library book was returned to Ipswich School’s library, 50 years after it was previously borrowed by a pupil. We wonder what other old books or other school equipment may be still in the homes of Old Ipswichians?

Would you like to confess to still having an Ipswich School textbook, please email oldipswichian@ipswich.school with details, we would love to hear from you.

Harry R and Penny G, Year 13