A ONCE busy school close to the Ipswich town centre, the site of which is now the very busy roundabout system near St Peter's church and near to Stoke Bridge, was recalled by former pupil 91-year-old Mrs D Phillips, of Pimpernell Road, Ipswich, in a recent Kindred Spirits.

David Kindred

A ONCE busy school close to the Ipswich town centre, the site of which is now the very busy roundabout system near St Peter's church and near to Stoke Bridge, was recalled by former pupil 91-year-old Mrs D Phillips, of Pimpernell Road, Ipswich, in a recent Kindred Spirits.

Mrs Phillips recalled being in a play The Water Babies at the Public Hall in Westgate Street, Ipswich, in 1923, an amazing 86 years ago and wondered if any of those who took part are still around.

Phyllis Hood (nee Marshall) was also a “Water Baby” and she has sent me a photograph of the children taken by local studio photographers Broughton's of Ipswich. Phyllis then lived in Tanners Street, Ipswich, a tiny road between Tanners Lane and Curriers Lane, close to where the AXA buildings in Civic Drive are today.

Soon after the play Phyllis moved from St Peter's School to London Road School not far from Barrack Corner, then Ranelagh Road School. After school Phyllis had a career making ladies underwear at William Pretty's factory at Tower Ramparts.