We are very sorry to notify you of the passing of David, who attended the School from 1951 to 1962. 

David passed away peacefully on 24th January at his care home on the North Norfolk coast, after battling a long term illness.

We are conscious that some people who knew David 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 David 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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David Brown followed his older brother Peter to the Prep School at the age of seven, during the headmastership of Mr Gleave. He later recalled his time in the Upper School with particular fondness, finding it more enjoyable, if academically demanding at times, with a number of memorable and challenging teachers. Sport was a central part of David’s school life. He participated enthusiastically in swimming, rugby, cricket and golf, but it was running in which he achieved his greatest success. He took particular pride in completing the School’s annual steeplechase, an achievement he remembered as a significant personal milestone. David was also an active member of the Army section of the CCF and greatly enjoyed the discipline and camaraderie of parade ground life. He recalled with enthusiasm exercises on Salisbury Plain firing 25-pounder artillery guns, signalling duties at Colchester Barracks, and the annual summer camps, all of which left a lasting impression. Academically, David’s strongest interests lay in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.

He retained warm memories of his mathematics and science teachers — Grice, Briden and Glover — who helped shape his academic direction. He also formed enduring friendships with contemporaries Michael Blakey, Peter Loxton and John Leggett. David’s success at A level led him from Ipswich School to Aberdeen University to read Physics. His studies there built on the firm scientific foundations laid at school and included early work in designing and building electronic circuits using the then-emerging technology of transistors. Following graduation, David embarked on a distinguished career in telecommunications and electronics, working for Texas Instruments, Marconi, and later the Post Office Telecommunications Research Laboratories at Dollis Hill and Martlesham Heath. He contributed to the development of the first digital telephone exchanges, digital microwave transmission systems and, later, fibre-optic communication networks. After the formation of British Telecom, he went on to work at BT Headquarters in London, contributing to the modernisation of the national network. 

After taking early retirement from BT in 1994, David gave generously of his time to public service. He became deeply involved with Coeliac UK, serving on its management committee and later as Chairman, where he played a key role in shaping the organisation as it exists today. He also served as a lay inspector of Further Education and Sixth Form Colleges and was elected an Ipswich Borough Councillor for the St Margaret’s Ward.  In later years, David retired fully and enjoyed travelling, sequence dancing, cooking and DIY. He eventually moved from Ipswich to the North Norfolk coast, where he spent his final years in Cromer. David leaves behind his wife Jennifer, daughters Josephine and Emma, and his son Nicholas (81–89).

Nick Shearing-Brown - David's Son