"Lost in Time, like Tears in The Rain"

On 24 August, 2024 Old Boys and some IHS staff met at Ipswich Harbour for the last-ever WHS Reunion cruise - at least organised by me. I do not know for certain how the mind of a slug works, but I am guessing that it is not really involved much in the past (except by instinct) or future. Humans, however, are a different matter (literally). It was a beautiful day with beautiful people, and I was especially glad personally to meet up with some OBs I had not seen since schooldays: Dave Dibbin and John Dye for a start - and with Ian Suter who came on one of the early 2000s cruises. I was of course preoccupied with the present, but invading my mind simultaneously were also memories of the past - of those cruises and of WHS days - and in particular as I stood on the decks of the very same barge where former masters and boys had stood in the early 2000s I was of course thinking about their passing, that I would never see them again.

Death is normal, but that doesn't make it any easier to accept. Logically (as I do not believe in "God") I never WILL see them again, but emotionally it is still somehow impossible to believe: so stong and vivid is the memory of their lifeforce both from my schooldays and those cruises.

Well, Death is the price of Life and Grief is the price of Love. And in the end the pain is so much worth it for the love we had. Here are a few memories ......


Brian Workman and another OB. The latter was a long-time contributor on the Peter Rooney site, but I have forgotten his name .....

Both have died in recent years. I don't know much about the OB on the right. I had never met Brian either until that barge day, but it was a privilege to do so. He was a WHS legend, one of the three best cricketers ever to go to WHS and Head Boy in 56/57.

He commanded huge universal respect from boys and masters alike. As far as I know he was the ONLY OB invited to write an article for "Janus" once he had left.


Michael Shakeshaft and Barry Salmon, both absolute WHS legends who devoted almost all their professional careers to WHS.

They had a good time on the barge and it was a huge pleasure to see them after so many years.

 

There are profiles of both here: https://www.whs-archives.net/staff/def2.htm

Jim Atkinson is on the right.

Jim came on a couple of cruises but then died quite fast from MND, hideously cruel luck so soon after his retirement from a distinguished career in the Diplomatic Service.

 

Jim Atkinson

 

Barry Salmon, with Merlin Channon on the right. Merlin preceeded Barry and at the time we all thought he was irreplaceable - but then Barry arrived!

 

Both were inspiring and
unforgettable music teachers.


R.I.P. Ian Thompson (Corners 66-73) - who did a huge amount after
WHS in conserving records
used to help build these archives.

 

M.A.R.P. - Malcolm Poole,
universally known as "Stretch"

 

... once more on the river where he had spent
SO many hours during his long WHS career.

 

BELOW: Some POST CRUISE meetings in the early 2000s



 



Derek Thornbery and Ben Turner ,

two more WHS legends

 

BELOW: A number of IHS staff joined us last year. They were all very friendly and seemed to have a good time.