NOTCUTT, William. Passed May 31st, 2021

William was at the school from 1952-1965 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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John Skeates (OI 1953-64) writes:

I first met William in 1953, when I joined the Prep. at the age of 7 years.

We spent 11 years together and apart from the normal school activities, I remember William & I particularly enjoyed ourselves in the School’s 15th Ipswich Cub and Scout Group.

William had a slightly shorter stature than me, which he probably inherited from his father, George, but he was always far fitter than me, again probably because George was the School’s Head of Physical Education.

After our ‘A’ Levels William and I parted ways in 1964 when I left the School.

William went on to qualify as a Medical Doctor and we next met up in 1979, in Kingston, Jamaica. William was a doctor in Kingston hospital and I was visiting Kingston to take part in the formation of the 1st RoundTable in Jamaica.

At the time Bob Marley and Reggae were at their height so I asked William if he would take me around the Downtown shanty town area of Kingston where reggae was resounding out of the many corrugated iron shacks. William agreed to drive me around the area, in what I seem to remember was a Mini, but even though he worked in Kingston, he said that even he would not stop in that area and he would drive around slowly so that I could take some photographs and absorb the atmosphere, which we did. Ever since I’ve been a fan of Reggae and whenever I listen to it, it takes me back to the time William and I drove around that very evocative area.

I have attached a very old photo of the School’s Cub pack in Christchurch Park, William is in the bottom right-hand corner and I am in the middle holding the mug.

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John Singleton (OI 1957-64) writes:

I was at school from 1957 to 1964 and my memories of William revolve around the gymnastics team and CCF. 

I enclose two photos from 1962 - taken either by George Notcutt or John Nicholson in the gym -

The first is of the senior gym team and I believe the names are as follows: 

The static display on the horse:

myself JES    BD Peyton (in handstand)    Clarke    in front: Lamerton

Kneeling:   William Notcutt    facing     Belcham

Facing left kneeling:  Martin Seligman      Alnutt        Adams       facing right: Phillip Caston

The second photo is of the senior and junior gym teams

Top row:  Myself JES          BD Peyton               Clarke

Middle:  Alnutt      unknown       P Caston

Next row: M Seligman    William Notcutt    Lamerton      Belcham    Adams

Front row;   Lewcock   Geof Notcutt    unknown     unknown     Gilbert

Being short of stature, like BD Peyton, William was very good at the mat work and able to perfect the neck flicks and head and handsprings.

Not recorded on film was the gym display on the school field, possibly one speech day, but well remembered by John Nicholson.  I had just passed my driving test and was using my mother's car - a 1933 Hillman Minx - and someone had the idea to use this as a vaulting horse. 

The following routine was perfected: 

The senior gym team secreted themselves inside the car, all 10 of us, out of sight of the field, and at the nod from John, I drove it onto the field to the prepositioned trampette and mat layout. Whereupon the team starburst out of the car - threw a mat over the roof and carried out our gym routine. If you ask John about this he will fill in any gaps I may not remember.  

Concerning the CCF, William was a keen supporter and attended camps and Arduous Training in Wales, attaining, I believe the rank of Sergeant, he always had well-polished brasses, shiny boots, and cleanly Blanco'd webbing.

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David Wilson (OI 1954-65) writes:

William and I were in the same school year for many years. We weren’t close friends but I always remember we kept in touch for a while after leaving school. William went on the train as a doctor and then after qualifying got to work somewhere in South Africa. He did write occasionally of his experiences treating patients in an open hospital and it did sound very DIY!

I would imagine him operating on a table out in the open with limited resources and maybe a few medical books around for backup! I’m sure this work provided him with great groundwork to go on a have a successful career as a Doctor. Very sad to hear of his death.

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