We are very sorry to notify you of the passing of Rodney Garratt, who taught modern languages, organised the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and community service, and latterly served as the School's reprographics and audio technician from 1971 until 2012.

Rodney passed away in September 2026. 

We are conscious that some people who knew Rodney during his time working 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 Rodney in the 2026-27 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

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was saddened to see the recent announcement of Rodney’s death.  Rodney taught me French to ‘O’ Level and I shall always be grateful for him helping me to pass in what was one of my weakest subjects.   This owed a lot to not wishing to disappoint Rodney due to our shared interest in car mechanics.  Rodney ran a group activity in car maintenance and I much enjoyed our afternoons at his house in Corder Road working on quite elderly cars, usually belonging to staff members.  I remember changing a gearbox in Mr Davies’ Vauxhall Viva and working on a Ford Anglia estate that Rodney bought from Bruce Andrews to do up and sell.  The latter was hardly a sedate driver and the car had, to put it mildly, seen better days.  But Rodney gave it a new lease of life.

Rodney’s daily use car was a former Anglia van, in a dirty yellow colour, that he had converted to an estate by cutting side windows and adding rear seats.  His other car was a massive Alvis that he used in summer to haul around an equally massive caravan.  Rodney enjoyed taking this “rig” to France where he said that even the feared Parisien motorists made way for him.

The early 70s oil crisis was still fresh in people’ minds and long before net zero was thought of Rodney decided to fit a wind generator to his house.  I supplied him with a car dynamo for the purpose which he fitted with an “American windmill” style blade and mounted the whole thing on the chimney.  I have no idea what the neighbours thought.  I’m sure he would have installed solar panels had they existed.  Rodney was far ahead of the game.

Keith Benjamin (OI 1967-1977)