Ladies and Gentlemen ...... what a pleasure it is to see so many old friends here today, and to make so many new ones, not least among the wonderful IHS staff who have made us feel so welcome in their beautiful school.

All of us here share memories of amazing and life-changing experiences on this stupendous site, which to me each time I return still seems like home. This day will become another unforgettable memory of the times and companionship we shared in what was indeed our home for some of the most formative years of our lives.

This day is also astonishing for being possible at all. When our school closed for ever, it was heartbreaking, though the writing had been on the wall for some years. What had been and still felt to many of us like our spiritual home had died - and yet, what an incredible silver lining there turned out to be. Berners House and grounds were not taken over by the military; they were not turned into a prison, a borstal, a health centre, an asylum, a secret government germ warfare facility or bought by a Russian oligarch but by another SCHOOL - and not just ANY school, but one with which we had had warm and frequent associations since the day WHS opened in 1950.

Some of my own most vivid memories are of artistic productions enhanced by girls from the then Ipswich High School for Girls. And IHS was always in my mind the creme de la creme of girls’ schools - and indeed of girls! The frequent collaboration between our schools was a wonderful thing, and not only because of the educational and artistic links. Without this association how would we have met such lovely girls to walk hand-in-hand with through Christchurch Park - or even down Orwell Side?! One of my favourite poems is Shakespeare’s: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” the full beauty of which I only appreciated after meeting an IHS girl - and that thanks to an artistic production!

Yes, the association then and now between our schools was beautiful, but it was far from inevitable; it did not happen by chance, but through the foresight and humanity of a succession of Heads and teachers of both schools, for which we are eternally grateful.

1990 was indeed a dark year for we OBs, but when IHS took over the premises, the prospect of perhaps being able to return one day to once again wander around the grounds as we did in our young days was indeed a wonderful thing. And so it has proved. Since day one of their move from Westerfield Road, IHS has been most extraordinarily welcoming to WHS OBs, far beyond what one might call the bounds of expectation and/or duty. I have been back several times since the turn of the century and always met with the greatest charm and kindness. This event today reflects the appreciation, humanity and empathy that IHS and its staff have always shown us, and it is very humbling. So, thank you sincerely to all those involved, and in particular to those at the sharp end today of catering for our every need and wish in terms of entertainment, sustenance and relaxation. I was particularly touched by the presentation in the old WHS staffroom of what memorabilia there remain of the old school - all organized and laid out for easy perusal.

Today is a happy day, but a totally cloud-free sky of happiness is an elusive thing, so before we give three hearty cheers for IHS let us finish with a thought and prayer for those who have passed, and others who could not be with us today for reasons of illness and/or disability.

CS