Colourful scenes captured from the past

David Kindred

IMPRESSIVE colour photographs of Ipswich from the 1960s taken by former Ipswich man Alan Valentine, who now lives in Newcastle, were featured recently in Kindred Spirits.

Included were photographs of a steam locomotive working at the sugar beet factory in Sproughton Road, Ipswich, and of a major fire at Wellard Tyres, which was where Cardinal Park is today.

Mr B Ward, of Bramford Road, Ipswich, said: “Thank you for your picture of the steam locomotive, which I remember very well. “When we first came to live in Bramford Road there were no houses in between my home and the sugar beet factory and we could see the little locomotive working.

“Our two young sons then aged five and three years christened the loco “Edward”, after the engine of that name in the “Thomas the Tank Engine” stories.

“There was much excitement when “he” could be seen chuffing about and cries of “Oh look daddy, there's Edward!”

“Strangely, I remember “Edward” as blue, whereas from the photo he is plainly green. It was good to see him again after all these years. I believe he went to an honourable retirement in a steam museum.”

James Anderson sent me an e-mail recalling his time working for Wellard Tyres.

“I worked at Wellard Tyres for a few years as a foreman running the tyre shop.

“My wife worked nearby at Churchman's cigarette factory and we were able to meet up for lunch. The manager was Roger Folkes. “He controlled the other sites at Lowestoft and Romford. Also at that time we re-shoed old car and truck brake shoes. We had to chip away with a chisel at all the brass rivets which held the shoes on.

“I always thought there could be a fire as the place was made entirely of wood and there was a big stove in the middle of the floor which was our only heating.

“We used to burn whatever we could find to keep us warm. I left Wellard's to take up a position with Norfolk Tyres which had just started up in Ipswich at the time just off Bramford Road.”