If you have any information or photos on the history of the village please let us know.
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In September 2005 around 70 residents of Harkstead from the 1940s and 50s, and many of their partners, assembled in the village hall. They came from across the county, and in some cases across the country. Although some still live locally, many had not met since they were teenagers in the village and had set off into the world. Name badges, with names as they were in youth, were worn as a reminder since faces had changed over the 50 or so years: the Gallingtons, the Abbotts, the Godbolds, the Westmacotts and so many more.
A good day was enjoyed by all, and those attending thanked the organisers; Jim Grimwood; Robin Paine; Wendy Sadler (nee Abbott); Michael Billett and Olive Tobin (nee Williams) for their considerable efforts in making the reunion happen.
To assist with the nostalgia, a number of photographs from the 40s and 50s were on display. The challenge was to recognise the faces from so long ago. A number of photos from those days are included in this website.
Many of those attending, most of whom were in their 60s and 70s, were surprised to see one of their teachers. For those who attended secondary school at Holbrook, which was most, Miss Nunn was a well known teacher at the school. Now 96 years old, she enjoyed chatting to her former pupils.
In the Photo Gallery on this website you can see an album with photographs contributed by those attending. It includes separate albums for named and general photographs. If you wish to take a copy of any of these, a reminder that "Right click" on the image; select "save picture as" will allow you to capture the image on your computer. To download the best copy select 'Full Size' on each photo before downloading.
Only a few weeks after the event Robin Paine who, like the other organisers, worked so tirelessly to make sure that the reunion was a success, sadly died. However he did at least see his work come to fruition and have the pleasure of meeting up with some of his old friends again, which is something he said had particularly given him so much pleasure and satisfaction.
A copy of the original Harkstead Reunion website can be accessed by clicking here.
Laura Brockman is looking for historical photos of Harkstead. If you have any photos or information which might be of interest please contact Laura on lrm_brockman@yahoo.co.uk.
My connection with Harkstead is via my Great Grand father John Alfred Smith died 1847 and my Grandfather Ernest Alfred Smith 1887 - 1977. My family are buried to the left hand side of the entrance to the church.
They were both schoolmasters during their lives at the village school and were organists in the church. My mother is 88 years old on March 1st and I was wondering if anyone in the village has any archive pictures of that period in time which I could copy and give to her for a present. All family photos of that time have been lost in a fire many years ago and it would be nice to let her revisit the past in any way I can.
If you can help me in any way I would be very grateful.
Laura Brockman on behalf of Margaret Lester Ambrose (nee Smith)
Michael was born at Walnut Tree lane, Harkstead but spent most of his boyhood at the Nook, now known as Rectory cottages, where the family were to move to. Like his Mother and sister, Audrey, he was a regular churchgoer and all three sang in the church choir. As a boy Michael excelled at football and in his late teens was a prolific goalscorer with Chelmondiston Lads and later a much feared centre forward with the Lilywhites of Woolverstone. His good looks and charming manners evidently made him a hit with the girls judging by a poem entitled ‘Mike’ thought to have been written about him around 1941 by two lovesick girls, Jean and Dot, which was found on a scrap of paper beneath the organ in the village church in 1995. The poem can be found in the Village’s Millennium book.
His first job on leaving Holbrook school was with the boat building firm of Webb’s at Pin Mill where he also learned to make coffins but soon he was to join the Royal Marines where he was proud to wear the uniform and ever since has continued his Naval interest as a member of the local Naval association.
He met and courted his wife Diana who being a town girl set him an ultimatum... ‘move to the town with me or forget about marriage'. Having a strong bond with Harkstead this proved difficult for Michael but it is said that love will draw you further than gunpowder can blow you and so they married and settled in Ipswich where they raised three children, Susan, Jennifer and Stephen. He was a follower of Ipswich Town and also joined Diana in worship as a member of Museum Street Methodist chapel. He spent most of his married life working for various small local firms as a painter and decorator until a rare disease meant he had to undergo a major operation and have a Liver transplant in the early 1990's. His faith together with the support of Diana and his family saw him recover although needing lifelong medication and regular health checks.
On his retirement he paid frequent visits to his beloved Harkstead and would even walk from Holbrook along by the shore in order to recapture some of his boyhood memories of his old village before meeting up with some old friends at the church run coffee mornings. He always supported St Mary's church and deep down always longed to return to the village to end his days. Sadly he lost Diana in May of 2008 and with a new disease, Diabetes, now affecting his own health he never recovered from her death and despite one or two trips back to his beloved Harkstead he spent his final few weeks in hospital undergoing painful surgery before joining his beloved Diana in February 2009.
He will always be remembered in his old home village as there are many photos of him taken over the years which are kept in the archives of the history club. Also like many young boys who pumped air for the church organ his initials are among many etched for posterity somewhere on the back of the organ. Apart from those years in my own early childhood when I remember playing football with Michael using two Fir trees as goal posts our paths never crossed again until about 1998 when like Michael I too started visiting my family roots in Harkstead. From that time he became and remained a very good friend and was instrumental in helping to organise a reunion of old war time Harkstead school chums in 2005 which he told me was a day he would never forget. I will always remember Michael as a quiet, meek and generous man and someone who simply loved Harkstead.
Jim Grimwood