The arrival of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh is inevitably a vivid memory for me as a young man having been assigned the privilege of undertaking the welcome. I was to read words written for me by the Headmaster but beautifully scripted by a gentleman whose name I have forgotten. The scroll is now held in the school archive. I was stationed alongside the site of the new hall and my heart beat a little faster as HRH approached flanked by the then Headmaster and Chairman of the Governors. Duly introduced and having made my bow, I stepped back to the microphone and heard him ask if the address was to be in Latin. How was he to know that Latin had given me up some 3 years previously! The address was short and completed by the words “God Save the Queen, God Save the Duke of Edinburgh” to which the assembled and well rehearsed throng shouted “Vivant, Vivant, Vivant”. (this was a repeat of the Festival Of Britain Pageant in Christchurch Park in 1951 when the School's contribution was a performance of the C19th Foundation Stone laying by Prince Albert) My duties did not end at that point. In due course I was to invite HRH to come and meet the Prefects and he joined me to walk to the Prefects Room. This was the Duke at his informal best, conversation was relaxed and hilarious. The laughter could be heard outside. My lasting memory is of his departure when he stepped past the Headmaster and party and shook my hand, wishing me “Good Luck”.

I also have fond memories of the original 'Big School Hall' hastily demolished some three years previously. Sadly the honours boards that lined the walls were not saved (with one exception). At Assembly, there was always competition to sit on the 'chicken perches' at the back of the hall. There were some memorable performances on the stage, Colin Nears playing the lead in Faust comes to mind as well as being compelled to help paint the scenery. Morning assembly for the junior forms would be in the hall and I remember 'Jimmy' Young announcing that the Queen's first child Charles had been born the previous night. “You will all live to see him crowned King” he said “but I won't”. Neither sadly, did many of my contemporaries. Yes, the old hall was not well constructed but that was not the cause of its demise,
that was the discovery of dry rot. I was subsequently fascinated to witness the pointing of the exposed wall following demolition. Soot was added to the cement to ensure matching of other walls in the quad.

Jeremy Barr (OI 1946-56) - May 1956

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I was a day pupil, both in the Prep department and then in what is now Lower School, leaving at the age of 14 in July 1972.  My parents moved away from the area and, being one of 4 children, could not afford for me to board.  Although I said my goodbyes at the end of the summer term that year, I was able to go on to spend a week away with the Chapel Choir singing Evensong at St Asaph Cathedral before sad, final farewells. I remember Great School very well indeed.  Although weekday assemblies took place in chapel, on a Wednesday we would foregather in Great School where, after prayers, the senior prefects would take over from the then Headmaster, Patrick Mermagen.  I recall these as mostly minor "crime reports" and an up-date on social and other curricular activities for the ensuing week... The large stage was hidden behind enormous, heavy, tapestry curtains featuring embroideries of the school itself and other Ipswich landmarks.  They were truly magnificent and must have dated from 1956.  

Great School also had a fine J W Walker organ with a mobile console at floor level, the organ pipes being hidden high up in the galleries over the stage itself and speaking through a gold painted grill above the curtains.  I did learn to play the organ, as also the violin, at school and would be allowed to practise on it, as also the Henry Willis organ in the chapel gallery. Great School was the venue for countless plays, concerts, musical productions and so forth.  I took part in many plays as a member of "The Mermaid Society" for aspiring young thespians, as also a production of Oliver! I returned to the school some 5 years or more ago to speak to senior students about a career at the Bar and, specifically, the family law Bar.  That over, I sat quietly for a few minutes in chapel, precisely where I had stood at the end of the pew as a chorister all those years ago.  Nothing had changed. Understandably, the curtains in Great School had had to be removed through age and decay, if nothing else.  But I was saddened to see that the organ had been removed.  In terms of "organ longevity", it was barely middle-aged!  Such a shame...

Anthony Kirk (OI 1968-72)