We are very sorry to notify you of the passing of Marion, wife of the late Ian Prior who taught at the School from 1956 until 1991.

Marion passed away on 24th January, aged 90 years.

We are conscious that some people who knew Marion during her 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 Marion 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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Old Ipswichians who attended the Prep in the early 1990s will remember Marion as a gifted teacher in Year 4 (Prep C).  Marion had taught for many years at St Margaret’s CEVAP School and was finally persuaded to come and work at the Prep where she immediately established herself as a valued member of the common room.  For the first time in many years her holidays matched exactly her husband Ian’s, which enabled them to spend more time together in their house in France.  Marion very much enjoyed teaching at the Prep where she was free of the constraints of the National Curriculum and where the smaller classes allowed her to focus on meeting the educational needs of all the boys in her class.

Nicholas Allen
Headmaster Ipswich Preparatory School 1987 - 1994

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I was a slightly innocent junior House Master when Ian and Marion ran Highwood Boarding House.
During the 1976 summer holiday burn out (the hottest for aeons) her family went off to their house in France. Marion entrusted me with a rather expensive Chinese pot plant, a much loved cat and some goldfish.
In the first week, the cat went missing seemingly never to return. Ads were placed but alas no-one had seen it. In the heat the immaculate plant gave up the ghost taking a bow before passing out. In the fourth, the goldfish snuffed it.
I began to look for jobs in The Times Educational Supplement.
A day before they returned their cat magically reappeared. My efforts of giving the holy plant mouth to mouth worked. But the goldfish? Surely one goldfish is just the same as another. Surely.
I had lost two stone in the meantime but I had saved the day. On the quiet I had to tell Marion about the goldfish changing colour but Mark, her son, was not such a push-over. I said it must be a miracle.
Marion was magical. It was an absolute pleasure to host her for lunch in the House of Commons before she moved permanently to France. She was kind, gentle and up for a story.

Derek Wyatt
Former Staff 1973-78

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I was at Highwood when Ian Prior was housemaster.

I remember a time when John Hargreaves and myself had fitted a device to our study door as articles had been removed whilst we were in class. We were aware of the culprits, however, matron made an unsolicited entry and received an electric shock.

Ian was later giving us a reprimand, but it was somewhat softened by Mrs. Prior, Marion, giggling as she walked past his study door. We were both grateful for that.

Nick Rawet OI 1961-71