Dave Morgan, chairman of Achilles Club in Ipswich has sent a cutting from a publication we printed here at Lower Brook Street (Ipswich in the 50s & 60s), and it shows the former Tower Ramparts Secondary School for Boys before it was demolished.

Mike Bacon

Dave Morgan, chairman of Achilles Club in Ipswich has sent a cutting from a publication we printed here at Lower Brook Street (Ipswich in the 50s & 60s), and it shows the former Tower Ramparts Secondary School for Boys before it was demolished.

Also pictured is the successful Senior League and East Suffolk Schools Cup finalists team in the 1950/51 season.

Dave gives us a few details of the photograph.

“Mr Heath, the long-serving and respected Head, was so keen to win the Senior Championship before he retired and, would you believe it, we achieved it and so did the following year's lads just before he left.

“Most of the lads came from the inner streets of town, the Wherstead Road area of Ipswich and the Dickens Road Estate, as did the girls who attended the separate, but related Christchurch Girls School, in Bolton Lane.

“We were a tough lot, but in particular, excelled at football.

“Bryan Burch was also an outstanding member of the team but he left school at Christmas. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, so far as the players are concerned, Brian Alldus, Brian Stannard and Mustard Ambler are no longer with us.

“Mr Freeman was both a form and sports master and played cricket for Ipswich and East Suffolk and the County team.

“Within two seasons, Syd Meekings, Brian Alldus, Paul Bines and myself were all members of a very successful Achilles' Minor League which won the Minor League and lost the Suffolk Minor Cup to HMS Ganges at Portman Road.

“We were so disgusted at our performance that we challenged them in the following October, and beat them 7-2 at Shotley.

A big thanks to Dave not only for the cutting, but especially for the words which help bring the picture and era to life.

Tower Ramparts School for Boys 1950/51

Back row, left to right: Mr Heath, Digger Austin, Syd Meekings, Tony Wagstaff, Brian Alldus, Mr Freeman

Middle row, left to right: Paul Bines, Ginger Catchpole, Brian Stannard (capt), Johnny Milbourne, Dave Morgan.

Front row, Des Brooks, Mustard Ambler

If you would like to contribute to Green'Un Gold, contact me: mike.bacon@archant.co.uk where you can scan in a photo and send in a few words.

Or send your photographs and words into me at: Green'Un Gold, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN. All photos will be returned.