We are very sorry to notify you of the passing of Tony who was at the School from 1956 until 1963.

Tony sadly passed away on 21st January 2025.

We are conscious that some people who knew Tony during his time at the 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 usual practice, we would like to place an obituary for Tony in the 2024-25 OI Journal. If you know of any stories or memories which you can pass on to us so we can put them together for the publication we would be most grateful. Please address any contributions to me through oldipswichians@ipswich.school

Sally Webber
OI Chair

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Tony Hallett, inspirational naval officer who went on to lead rugby union into the professional era - link to article in the Telegraph

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I was very sorry to learn of Tony’s death.

We weren’t close friends but got on very well together bearing in mind he was a boarder and I was a day boy. We spent our last two years preparing for our History A Level at a time when Tony had reached the heights of School Rugby 1st Fifteen Captain . I managed two appearances to cover for injuries!

I am afraid we lost touch after we both left and went our separate ways.

Graham Cook (OI 1956-63)

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Feature in The Times - 5th March 2025

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Captain Tony (Slim) Hallett RN (Ret'd)
IPSWICH SCHOOL AND WESTWOOD. 1958-1963.

Captain Tony Halletts' Obituary has been written and reported in both the Daily Telegraph and Times. They describe a full life, well lived, reflecting on a man greatly respected by all whose life he touched; Ol Basil Tenwick wrote to friends earlier this year, on news of his death; " that whilst he only knew him from a distance at school it was obvious that he was a wonderful friend to his contemporaries and a big influence on those younger than him at Westwood". He further commented on that," we as old boys of the school should be justifiably proud that he too was an Old Ipswichian and should count ourselves lucky that we can say we knew him as a friend".

Both of our Service careers almost never actually happened. My final year at School completed and the culmination for Cpl lan saw us at annual CCF Camp at Tregantle Fort west of Plymouth. It was Tonys (L/Cpl Hallett} penultimate Year at School and Westwood, he was looking forward the following September to appointments as Head of House, Captain of Rugby and School Prefect. The final Exercise on Dartmoor completed, we were bussed/Green Army 4 Tonner into Torpoint, appropriately via the village of Antony for an evenings R&R. I was a legal imbiber of beer by then but most of my fellow Cadets failed that pertinent age test. Anyway in the transport back to the Fort amidst the singing and general bon vivant whilst passing through Antony, a beer bottle(empty) fatally and un-noticed fell out of the back, smashing in front of a car. The following morning the architects of the Run Ashore saw us two miscreants in front of our Senior Officers. We were duly put on the Plymouth express train at 10.00A.M. back home. I had a frosty 24 hours turnaround at home in Cheshire, and with some relief catching another train in Chester to attend the Regular Commissions Board at Westbury. Fortunately none of the flak caught up with me and I passed the Board into Sandhurst. Tony was apparently censured on return to School, but as I had left and was anyway senior, the matter sensibly remained in the mists of time. All's well that ends well- hooray.

Tony(Slim) passed Navy selection the following year into the Britannia Royal Navy College Dartmouth. This was something of a surprise to me as he had never expressed any love of the sea or desire to follow Nelson, or our only known School and County Naval Hero (Captain)Broke RN. An occasional paddle on the Deben at weekends or the Annual Fair at Dedham for a swim in the Stour at Dedham Mill with Tim Thorn, our third Musketeer, and on our annual end of summer term weekend Camp, summarised any perceived interest. Anyway Tony lived in the middle of England in Banbury famous for its Ales, Cross and Limestone dry walls

Regardless, his Service life was unstoppably upwards thereafter: he Captained Dartmouth at Rugby, packing down in his first season with 16 times England Lock, Mike Davies, a marked contrast to schoolboy rugby the previous season. Both Mike and Tony Captained the Royal Navy in 1966 and 1969 respectively. I feel obliged to say that In 1964 Dartmouth lost at home to the RMA Sandhurst and I got in at the corner! En Passant, 5 Ols, Colin Simpson, myself, Tim Thorn and Tony and I believe Tim's younger brother John, all Captained our respective Navy, Army and Airforce Academies and Colleges between 1963 and 1967.

School rivalries renewed! The incumbent School Rugby Masters, Peter Williams and John Nicholson must have been doing something right in training!

Continuing, Tony's area of expertise was Logistics, and as a Supply Officer, [Purser, SI. Pusser] he served at various different management levels on two Aircraft Carriers, it may have been three, but recall gets sunk in the mists of time; certainly two. Hermes and Invincible, and the Frigate Eskimo. He sailed Home Waters, the Middle East and Far East: Anecdotally, I believe it was on a "run ashore" in Singapore, Bugis Street, an interesting pleasure dome with lots of red lights, that Tony acquired a Tattoo - a Pint Mug; placed, as I recall, on his upper right arm. I suspect that peer pressure was resisted to have something more feminine and "Matelot like"! Sadly now Bugis Street has gone, incorporated into greater Singapore as flats. Nevertheless It was a de-compression stopover for thousands of Servicemen over millenia who recall any visit to Bugis well into their dotage. Tony's deep sea postings were interspersed with numerous shore establishment appointments in Southern England, at Chatham, Portsmouth and the Far East. Significantly, an indication that Tony was destined for greater things occurred when an appointment came, early in his career as Flag Lieutenant to the Commodore Far East in Hong Kong (Flags). The next highest profile appointment was ADC to the Queen! His service in the Navy as a Supply Guru extended later in his career as Secretary(2ic) to various Admirals. His service highlight was probably involvement at MOD Northwood. the Tri-Service HQ for the Falklands War in 1982. maintaining the Fleet for war and getting all the land forces into place thousands of miles away. He retired in 1995 despite being on course for Admiral before retiring early aged fifty. Despite the demands of a busy R.N. schedule he had managed to meet and subsequently marry his future life partner and beautiful wife Faith, nee Holland -Martin. With whom he had three sons. Apparently, their initial introductions occurred, as reported by a reliable witness, Tim Thorn, at the Denmark Pub, a well known watering hole in Kensington: others say it was Hong Kong. Choose your favourite option. I fancy Hong Kong. with horse racing, a fast social scene, hot nights and lots of smart uniforms!

He retained his close association with Richmond Rugby Club steering them with the 'gang of four' through a late 1990s critical financial crisis and rescuing the Club from Bankruptcy and for a while he owned the club. I am told by a member that he occasionally turned out for the aged 'Richmond Heavies'. Charlie Lingard, a noted Ol, part time golfer and Bon Viveur(ant?), recalled being summoned to Richmond by Slim for lunch and a few Ales. He arrived home very late!

All this while he had continued as a navy rugby selector, and had also assumed the role of Chairman of the Royal Navy Rugby Union. Significantly, as the RN representative, he had been automatically elected member of the Twickenham Grounds Committee: Subsequently taking over as Chairman on leaving the RN. This placed him four square, at the sharp end of the re-build of Twickenham West Stand and an inevitable sequence of events. 

In time and in parallel, international rugby was experiencing the 'Amateur to Professional' crises. Will Carling's description of the RFU Committees 50 old Farts' article, caused a minor earthquake amongst the old guard. Into this maelstrom stepped Tony as the new Secretary of the RFU. Accepting the reins of power from old guard secretary Dudley Woods to this appointment was described by Tony as accepting the biggest 'hospital pass' in history! The outcomes are well documented in history. He managed the re-build of the West Stand, commissioned and erected the 3 iconic rugby bronzes at the entrance to the west stand, advocated Italy for the 5 Nations and had views eventually adopted, about the 'way ahead' for England and professional Rugby. A man with vision but without the votes, resulting in his controversial and regrettable resignation. Especially as many of his proposals for changes to the game and how they should be implemented were eventually adopted by the RFU and International Rugby.

He could now relax and concentrate on his new purchase, the Restaurant Pissaros on the Thames and indulge his love of food and drink. It was a natural choice, requiring all the skills with which he had been familiar in the Navy. Feeding the multitude and using

His God given bonhomie and social skills to ensure its success. However, a bigger project suddenly beckoned, the Olympic Games. Using his contractual and other skills he secured with other partners the Cleaning contract for many of the venues. The cleaning business was established and run successfully with other ventures until his final days.

The final paragraphs will be dedicated to our time at School and Westwood. Tony arrived at the newly established Westwood House in the September cohort of 1958. Until about 1956 it had been an overflow for School House. In 1957 Westwood was granted autonomy by Peter Mermagen with its own rights to participate separately as a House in Sport and all other competitive activities from Chess to declamations. Thereby joining day houses, Sherrington, Rigaud, Holden and Felaw and Broke. We had no successes or failures to look back on and a chance to write our own history!

Competition and inclusiveness was key. We were undermanned at all sports levels consequently everyone had to try their hands at all events. We could usually fill about 60-70% of the requirement for most teams with the remaining places being filled by enthusiasts. As a boarding house though we had an advantage and could spend time practising and training at all hours, often in my case to the detriment of study.

Our Housemaster 'Spud' Marsden and his Wife, with Matron Mrs Humphries(always with a needle and thread in hand) all entered into the spirit of the challenge throughout our time at Westwood and Peter Hill and his Family on takeover from Spud Marsden continued the movement and support. The House colours tie was designed in Slims year and was proudly won and worn for sporting and some other non sporting activities. We won the main sports of Cricket and Rugby competing in house matches and had more than our fair share of representation in the 1st X1, XV and Athletics; even Eton Fives which game was still played until recently by Westwood seniors (over 70) such as Mick Fenn(a transferee from School House), Simon Woolfries and Peter Boughton at the highest level until recent years. Chris Hopwoods somersault over the high horse was the never to be forgotten highlight of the gym competition one year.

My social life at Westwood revolved in latter years, as previously mentioned, around the Three Musketeers, Tim Thorn, Tony Hallett and self. Tim's Mother, and Father, a lecturer at the technical and Engineering University used to return from the Sudan every summer. Our exeats and sundays were spent at their home at Little Blakenham. Wonderful sunday lunches were looked forward to and eaten with gusto. (By then we three had all experienced beer and its superior taste to water). The handy small pub on the way to Little Blakenham, being only a short bike ride from Westwood also became an habitual fixture thereafter. The trend was thus set for successive Westwoodians throughout the year to go cycling at 1130 to return in time for the excellent 1.00pm Sunday lunch at Westwood.

We three spent summer holidays together before and on leaving school, hitchhiking around England, camping in Guernsey, snorkelling and later spending holidays in Cornwall.

Anywhere we could throw and kick a rugby ball around for a couple of weeks. Even after we had all left school.

Finally, An apocryphal story by Peter Dixon relates that Peter Hill was for some reason visiting the Inkerman on Norwich X roads; possibly for Tennis or more likely the same reason as the remainder of Westwood at one time or another. In conversation with the Publican he was informed that he was very impressed by the tall new master that regularly popped in for a pint! Both Martin Seligman and Peter, both keen Sunday lunchers, recall that Slim's enthusiasm was infectious, highlighted by his notable training sessions prior to house matches. He was always approachable, willing to help and give advice. At the other end of the spectrum he was equally proficient at looking after the younger house members in the absence of parental guidance; i.e. teaching Henry Staunton the skills of shaving. Full circle; our last run ashore at Westwood, was the penultimate day at school before attending that fateful Tregantle CCF Camp. We asked our Matron Mrs Humphries and Mrs Hill out to a thank you Dinner. They chose a very smart 16th/17th Century moated hotel somewhere near Ipswich; Mrs Hill drove us to the Dinner Venue for 7.00pm. I was a bit naive as to the protocols of such events, although it seemed to be going well. The Sommelier brought the Wine List, Slim took it, briefly glanced at it without reading, and ordered a Rhone 57 Chateau Neuf Du Pape! I realised then that I was in the presence of greatness, and I never forgot the name of the best wine in France.

His final few years were blighted with cancer and other illnesses, all bravely borne, although Tim says that both Slim and the Doctors referred to him(self) as Lazarus He was able to make the occasional summer visit with Tim to the Old Wrecked Cricketers Golf Championship(OWCGC) risking a fast jet car trip to Fynn Valley Golf Club, and have the opportunity to meet many of his old chums, and deliver the 'on course refreshments'. He will be sadly missed and more than few glasses will be raised at lunch in August this year at lunch.

"At the end of the game, all the pieces go back into the box, and the King and Pawn are equal".

Ol lan Chapman. Westwood and Ipswich School (OI 1957-62)