MEMORIES of Ipswich Airport came flooding back as former workers reunited.

The reunion and an exhibition of photographs and memorabilia about its history was organised by members of the Ipswich Airport Association.

The sixth reunion was held at Ipswich Transport Museum on Saturday and was attended by more than 60 people.

Nigel Roberts, one of the Ipswich Airport Association directors, said: “We had lots of people who used to work at the airport and some who flew from the airport as well as a number of people interested in the aviation industry and history of Ipswich Airport. It was a very good-natured event and very interesting too.”

The airport was opened on June 26, 1930, by the Duke of Windsor, who described the airfield as “one of the finest in the country”.

During the Second World War it was home to several squadrons of spitfires as well as Blenheim bombers. Post-1945, scheduled services were re-established, and in later years it was mainly used for training, private and air taxi flights, although scheduled flights were revived in 1986 when Suckling Airways started trips to Amsterdam and Manchester.

Over recent years, the Ipswich Airport Association has held five reunions at Ipswich Transport Museum.

Mr Roberts added: “We had lots of exhibits including Star stories from back in the day, history documents that someone brought along and memorabilia from people who used to work there. It was a chance for former colleagues to reminisce with a combination of a historical exhibition and a community event. Everyone had a great time and people have been coming year-on-year.”

The airport in Nacton Road closed in 1997 to make way for the Ravenswood housing development despite a ten-year fight to keep it by campaigners.

Visit www.ipswichairport.info for more information.