School's oldest 'old girl' dies aged 109

Former Ipswich High pupil Joan Kersey, seen here aged 108, was a regular visitor to the school

A school's oldest former pupil who was given a special birthday celebration when she turned 108 last year, has died.

Joan Kersey was a regular visitor to Ipswich High School where she spoke about her time there, according to Dan Browning, head teacher of the independent school, which moved to nearby Woolverstone in the 1990s.

On social media Mr Browning said of the school's oldest "old girl": "We were all impressed by her memory and ability to name classmates and teachers when she looked at old school photos.

"She was a very important part of our IHS family and we will miss her kindness and sense of fun."

The school was formerly a girls' school based on Westerfield Road in the centre of Ipswich.

It moved to Woolverstone Hall on the Shotley peninsula in early 1990s, and has recently been bought by owners with links to China and become fully co-educational.

Noteable former pupils include the late June Brown, who played Dot Cotton in the BBC's EastEnders.

Ms Kersey, who died aged 109, lived in Tattingstone near Ipswich, where she served as a warden at St Mary's Church, for more than 50 years.

Fellow warden, Linda Smalley described her as a "charming, lovely lady... a very faithful, loyal servant" to the church.

"She was a very caring lady and could remember everyone's names, even at her age. An absolutely amazing lady. Everybody loved her," she said.

'Old girl' Joan Kersey was treated to a special school dinner in March last year