We are very sorry to notify you of the passing of Mike who was at the School from 1946 until 1957.

We have recently been informed that Mike passed away in 2022.  

We are conscious that some people who knew Mike 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 Mike in the 2025-26 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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Michael was born in Westerfield Rd, Ipswich, on June 10, 1939.
His early war-time childhood was spent in Abergavenny, in Wales. His father, an analytical chemist, worked on bomb development at a nearby armaments facility.
The family eventually returned to Ipswich, where they first lived in Fonnereau Rd, eventually settling at 12 Westerfield Rd. Michael’s mother’s family, the Shermans, lived at 9 Northgate St. His grandfather, John Albert Sherman, was a local architect. 9 Northgate St was a much-loved home.  Michael spent most of his school life at Ipswich School, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He always spoke very fondly the school and of the opportunities it provided. He spoke well of his masters and particularly recalled enjoying Fives. He was a keen army cadet, I believe rising to the rank of Cadet Colour Sergeant. We had a photo of him greeting the Duke of Edinburgh, who once visited the school.  Michael was a keen, competitive tennis player. He formed several lifelong friendships through the Ipswich Tennis Club.
In 1957, following school, Michael studied at St John’s College, Cambridge, reading Mathematics and Physics. On graduation, he and his friend Peter Pleasance adventured to Papua New Guinea, working their passage as ship’s pursers. They initially volunteered in the Solomons. Health issues forced Peter to Brisbane, Australia for treatment, where he began tutoring at The University of Queensland. In the meantime, Mike moved to Port Moresby. He worked for the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), travelling around the Highlands doing cropping surveys. The New Guinea Highlands were quite primitive at the time. This experience provided Mike with a retinue of adventurous stories akin to Indiana Jones.
In 1963, Peter wrote to Michael to say that he was returning to England, and offered Mike his job at Queensland University. Mike flew to Brisbane, took up a tutoring position in the Mathematics Department, joined squash and tennis teams, took up Bridge and settled in Brisbane. Over several decades he became a Senior Lecturer, specializing in teaching Maths to Engineering undergraduates; an A-Grade Squash player; an A-Grade tennis player and a Bridge Silver Grand Master. A very popular teacher, he was the recipient of several teaching awards. On retirement he was awarded membership into Stanford Who’s Who.
I met Mike in 1979, when I was undertaking post graduate studies in school counselling at Queensland University. We married in 1980, spending time in 1980-81 at Sussex University, where Mike had a sabbatical. Our only child, Robert, was born in 1983. We were keen bushwalkers, campers and travellers; and embarked on many adventures around Australia. When I recently sold our somewhat elderly 4WD vehicle, it had done 300,000 kilometres, mostly ours. We travelled both at home and overseas at every opportunity. And, of course, maintained our links with East Anglia.
Mike sadly developed cancer in 2021-2022. He passed away on November 9, 2022, aged 83, following arduous treatment. He was – and is - much loved and is sorely missed.
Marilyn Pemberton
Brisbane
January 2026.