We know that Sean will be sadly missed by his family, friends and former pupils and colleagues at Ipswich School. 

We are conscious that some people from his time as a teacher at the School may not be in contact with us and we would ask 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 Sean in the 2022-2023 OI Journal and would be very grateful for any stories or memories you may wish to share which we could put together for the publication. Please address any contributions to me through oldipswichians@ipswich.school.

Nicholas Allen

OI Chairman

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No big stories to tell however I have very fond memories of Mr Boyle hosting 5-a-side sessions after school. They are some of my best memories at Ipswich and he was always a very cheerful and welcoming man in general. He may not have remembered me but I will remember him very fondly as one of my favourite teachers at Ipswich. Hope Mrs Boyle and the rest of his family are doing okay.

Danny O'Riordan (OI 2010-17)

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Sad to hear about Sean. 

Always a character, unique approach to business studies when I was there. Then a fantastic football manager, some of my happiest memories at school with Sean. Remember always with a smile on his face, and Irish quick wit! 

Josh Turner (OI 1997-2009)

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I am so sorry to hear of Sean's passing. He was a great friend and colleague of my late father, Steve Tidball. He was such a lovely man. Please pass on my condolences to Sean's family. 

Louise Pergande (Tidball) (OI 1998-2008)

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I would like to post a heartfelt message to Mr Boyle and his family. I am really saddened to hear the passing of Mr Boyle, as one of the more recent leavers (2013 - 2018), I have very fond and recent memories of Mr Boyle, particularly in my 6th Form years. 

Games afternoon on a Tuesday with Mr Boyle was something I looked forward to ever since Year 10, and nearly all of my best memories of Mr Boyle  are associated with football, something that truly unites everybody. Whether it was the St Georges Park Football Tour in 2016 or the away day victories in First XI football, there was never a dull moment when Mr Boyle was about, he would always make it a light-hearted encounter. His presence was thoroughly appreciated by me and all my peers, particularly the football boys, and there was never a moment without banter whenever we bumped into Mr Boyle outside lessons.

I have some photos of the Year 13 Football vs Rugby match with Mr Boyle at the centre of them, I’m sure this will be heart warming to see and I would like to share them in the obituary.

Abdullah Karim (2013-18)

Editor's note: Thank you for the photograph Abdullah which has been passed on to the editor of the OI Journal.

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Two highlights of my time at Ipswich School wouldn’t have happened without Mr Boyle. Firstly – his teaching. He was one third of the Business Boys, up on the top floor of the old Prep school, with Mr Tidball and Mr Marion. Learning both Business Studies and Economics at A Level, I spent a good chunk of 2009-2011 up there. He had a relaxed teaching style that brought the best out of a lot of us. Results in the group were good, but plenty of time was spent discussing other things; how half of Mr Boyle’s teeth weren’t really his (he was ‘competitive’ on the sport's field), the size of his calf muscles, his goal playing for a Vets team on the weekend, challenging students to arm wrestles, revelling in his kids’ successes, and disagreeing on who should play up front for the School Football First XI against Wymondham College in the upcoming fixture. 

My Boyle, alongside the other Business/Economics teachers, fuelled my enthusiasm for sport and business. I wouldn’t have made the uni entry requirements without him, and I wouldn’t have gained the confidence to lead (and freedom to initially do it badly at School) without him either. He sacrificed time and effort to give a small group of lads who liked football (but were no good at hockey or rugby) the chance to represent the School and play together. I was his Football Captain in Year 13, and went on to study Business at university. I now work at a marketing agency, and I still play sport each weekend. Really, I just wanted to be him. Sending thoughts and wishes to his family and all at the School. 

Lewis Catlow (OI 1998-2011)

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Myself and a large number of our wider school friendship group were so saddened to hear the news. Sean was a wonderful man and a great character at the School. For some, a tactical genius and rampaging player-manager on the football field, for others a dedicated business studies or economics teacher, for myself a warm-hearted and supportive 6th form tutor.

Time spent with Sean was always memorable whether he was regaling us with hilarious anecdotes or discussing his broader life experiences - his own upbringing in Northern Ireland, time spent in the United States, his work at other schools and being a very proud husband and father. This was a real education, ensuring we left with a wider worldview as well as exam results, with a lot of laughs along the way. At a time that can be quite pressured for young people, I'm sure his warm and genial approach helped so many get the best out of themselves.

Sean's legacy lives on in nicknames of our friends, our own happy memories of our time at Ipswich School and, of course, in the achievements of his students.  I would like to express deepest sympathies to his wife and their children at this very sad time. Sean will be sadly missed and never forgotten.

Chris White (1996-2005) 

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I am so sad to hear of Sean’s passing. I only have such fond memories of a man who was synonymous with Ipswich School for so long. As the coach of the football team, he played such a big part of my time in Sixth Form, as he did for many of my closest friends. All of us would sit together in his office during lunch breaks discussing the next fixtures and tactics for school matches, as well as general banter.

Some won’t realise how much time he put in not only organising the matches for us to play, but also all the afternoons and evenings he gave up to drive us several hours to and from the edges of Norfolk for games.

My favourite story is the following. We faced a tricky School’s FA cup tie away at Bungay school. Given our long trip and unlikely odds of victory, Sean promised to take us to McDonald’s on the way home if we found a way to win (a tempting reward for a bunch of teenage lads). Following a hard-fought 0-0 draw and sensational penalty shootout win, Sean followed through on his promise, only adding to the delight of a very happy team. 

Sean will be missed by so many. My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

Aled Kite (OI 2010-2017)