A FORMER Ipswich woman who has not been to England for more than 30 years will be paying a visit later this month and is on the lookout for old friends.

A FORMER Ipswich woman who has not been to England for more than 30 years will be paying a visit later this month and is on the lookout for old friends.

Carol Rivers grew up in Ipswich but left the town for a new life in Tasmania in 1965, where she has lived ever since.

Now a mother of three, Carol, 59, became well known in Ipswich for her triumphs in a number of ballroom dancing competitions and was a regular at Arlington Ballroom. A number of her titles were won with former dance partner Tom Lait.

A former pupil of both the Bettina Marco School of Dancing and the Pat Faulds School of Dancing, Carol also performed with the Ipswich Operatic and Dramatic Society.

Carol's daughter Kylie Ward, 33, now lives in England and has been in Ipswich for a year after deciding she would like to see the town where her mother spent her childhood.

"I wanted to see where and how she grew up," said Kylie.

"The way of life here is completely different to Tasmania, everything is much faster moving – in Tasmania it is much more relaxed."

As well as being known for her dancing, Carol grew up on Wroxham Road and was a pupil of the former Nacton Road Girls School. She later went on to run a hairdressing salon in Fore Street.

Speaking from Tasmania, she said she is excited at the prospect of returning to the home town she has not seen for 32 years.

"I'm not sure what to expect, I can only imagine the old buildings and the way it looked back then so I can't picture how much it will have changed.

"I would like to meet up with any old friends I knew before, I lost contact with a lot of people so it would be great to see them again."

Carol will be arriving on May 27 and staying for three weeks. Anyone who remembers her and would like to meet up can contact Kylie on 07746 873281.