Comments for Kindred Spirit

Comment on Tower Ramparts School, Ipswich by Duncan Kirkwood

Duncan Kirkwood — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:05:05 +0000

I read this account of Tower Ramparts with interest. I was a pupil at Westbourne Boys where we ‘shared’ Mr Bates Wilkinson – he was a choir master for several other schools and also St Mary le Tower. He also directed Westbourne’s memorable performance of Handel’s Messiah (with the help of a few experienced adult soloists and musicians) at All Saints Church Ipswich in 1958. I recall Bates Wilkinson drove one of the first ‘new shape’ Ford Anglia cars and he lived in Castle Road adjacent to Westbourne. He was a very proficient organist – and he could swear like a trooper when annoyed. Mr Rose also taught maths and technical drawing at Westbourne before he moved to Tower Ramparts, “to be a more senior Head of Dept” I recall him telling us before he left. He also used to boast about his wife’s home made bread. All these little anecdotes ‘stick’ when we are young and impressionable.

Best wishes

Duncan Kirkwood

Comment on Bluesville – Live Music in Ipswich by Susan Finch (Nee Marshall )

Susan Finch (Nee Marshall ) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 20:10:25 +0000

I started to go to Bluesville in about ’63. We used to have such great times, at the Baths Hall and Manor ballroom.
When I think of what Ron & Nanda had to put up with – drying our tears, getting us sobered up before catching the bus home ( and facing our parents ! ) They were so
good to us – I would love to say thank you to them.
Looking at the photo of the Move playing at the Baths Hall, I spotted myself in the crowd ! I think standing next to Pinky ( Maureen Irwin ) I wonder what happened to her – Anyone know ?

Comment on Bluesville – Live Music in Ipswich by Stephanie

Stephanie — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:24:00 +0000

Hi I loved the article. My mom gave me an original poster advertising the Led Zeppelin show that Nanda and Ron presented there. Her brother brought back to America for her when she was 6. My uncle was stationed over there and knew what a fan my mom was. Please let me know if anyone is interrested in the poster its in great condition! -Steph

Comment on HMS Ganges by jim sheppard

jim sheppard — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:38:03 +0000

i boxed against hms ganges 62 and 63 i was in reform school and all our team thought the ganges regime was a lot tougher then ours any members from those teams like to hear from yous

Comment on HMS Ganges by Philip Worth

Philip Worth — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:00:02 +0000

Fantastic article and insight into Life then. My father was a button boy at Ganges and I am trying to find out some details and dates.

Comment on HMS Ganges by alan tobin

alan tobin — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 06:56:44 +0000

Hi
i’m a x ganges boy and very proud of it.yes things wrere hard but if one towed thwe line much easier. i would love to see the disapline applied in todays society and what a difference it would make. i salute all men who went through ganges .as i believe there are none better.
go the shotley shuffle.

Comment on Smart memories of an Ipswich school by kitt morgan

kitt morgan — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:39:05 +0000

I am living in Cornwall I born in Ipswich and miss my old pals i moved from 39 Bond street in 1974 I attended St Helens school I would love to see old school Photos and maybe in contact with old pals but have not been back to Ipswich in 37 years and I often think of those people that I grew up with I miss the life style, my heart and soul belongs there thats my home.. if you can help me with quest I would be so happy even if its in a small way kitt morgan

Comment on Harsh life in a 1930s Ipswich children’s home. by jennifer

jennifer — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:39:40 +0000

me too, my grandfather was brought up there in 1910 and I did not find out until after his death, it was never talked about either.

Comment on Bluesville – Live Music in Ipswich by Linda Jennings

Linda Jennings — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:13:56 +0000

My dear old Dad was Mr. Fred Zetter, who leased Ipswich Baths Hall to Nanda and Ron Lesley for many years and became good friends with them. My friend, Susan Hollingsworth as she was at the time, would come with me (we were both fifteen at the time) on Saturdays and Mondays andI well remember, when the stomp jive was popular, the bouncing floor with the swimming pool underneath it. My dad would have nightmares that the floor would collapse and several hundred people would crash through to the empty pool below! They were fantastic days. We would dance until exhausted and were privileged to meet many of the bands, who would go to my dad’s office during their breaks to cool off, have a drink, etc. How I wish I had photos of that time. All of us who enjoyed those times are now in our sixties and seventies! Unbelievable! Still kids at heart.

Comment on Smart memories of an Ipswich school by Graham Woolnough

Graham Woolnough — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 21:36:03 +0000

I enjoyed reading these memories of Landseer. I wonder if you remember me?

Graham