GRIMWADE, Peter. Passed January 2021

Peter was at the school from 1944-1954 and will be sadly missed by his friends and family.

We are conscious that many people from this time at school may not be in contact with us and we would be very grateful if you could pass on this information to those that you know.

As is the usual practice, we would like to place an obituary for him in the next OI Journal and would be very grateful if anyone felt they could come forward to write one. Alternatively, if you know of any stories or memories, please pass them on so we could put them together for the publication. Address any contributions to me through oldipswichians@ipswich.school or in the comments below.

With best wishes

Iain Chesterman
OI Chairman

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Karl Daniels (OI 1944-53) writes:

Peter sadly died in January 2021 from Covid. He joined the Prep in 1944 moving on to the Senior School in 1946 and Rigaud House. He was a very good all rounder and had a very successful school life.

From an early age, he shone at sport and played for the various teams. He played rugby for the 1st XV from 1952 to 1954 when he lead the scrum from wing forward and in one year won every match.. He loved cricket and was a strong member of the cricket Ist XI for three years. He was an aggressive opening bat and scored a century against Suffolk Club & ground in his last year.

Peter was also captain of hockey and a school prefect. He sailed through his A levels and on leaving school he began national service being commissioned into The Northamptonshire Regiment. He was posted to Hong Kong which he visited subsequently on business with his close friend David Coe.

After national service Peter ran the family business, J H Grimwade, mens’ and womens’ outfitters, which was founded in 1844, and was situated on a prominent site on Cornhill and although the business closed in 1996 ‘Grimwades’ is often referred to in Ipswich affairs. He became a JP, latterly chairman of the bench, and for a while was a Liberal Town Councillor. He was also a trustee of the King George V playing field in Ipswich.

Peter’s love of cricket continued as he played for the OIs from 1957 to 1981. Because of business commitments, Peter could only play for the OI Cricket Club on Sundays and he played most years in the OI Cricket Week. He played many fine innings, topping the batting averages several times, and in all scored ten centuries, including three in successive years against the Old Framlinghamians. He was also a very good close fielder, often at short leg. After retiring from cricket he supported the Old Ipswichian & Copdock Cricket Club.

Peter was married to Margaret who died some years ago and had four daughters and eight grandchildren.

Peter was a great supporter of the school and the OI Club. As one of his contemporaries said ‘Peter was an instant reminder of what Ipswich School is about. He had a special dignity and loyalty and was an Ipswichian to the core, a great loss to Ipswich School and the Ipswich community’.