My #parklife: Lynne Mortimer
“Our parks are welcoming to everyone. Generations of Ipswich families, mine included, have grown up with these spaces at the heart of their lives. Ipswich wouldn’t be Ipswich without them.”
When I met with Lynne, a former Mayor of Ipswich who has lived in the town all her life, it was immediately clear that parks are at the very centre of her story. Now 70, she spends much of her time enjoying them with her grandchildren, but her memories stretch back to the late 1950s when, for decades, Ipswich’s green spaces had been shaping family life and community spirit.
Childhood adventures
Lynne grew up on the Chantry estate in the 1960s. At just five years old, she was already making her way across the main London Road to spend hours roaming Chantry Park. “My dad took me to Chantry Park to watch the cricket, although I was more of a nuisance than a spectator.”
Her uncle Dick worked as a park-keeper at Holywells Park, living in a small cottage by the gates. “He let me follow him on his rounds,” she remembers, “checking the ponds and chatting to Nelson, the one-eyed swan.”
And there were tales of elephants! (‘twas before my time!’, says Lynne)
“There are archive pictures of a parade of circus elephants walking from the railway station right through Ipswich in the 1950s, making their way from the station up to the circus ground at the corner of Ranelagh Road and London Road. The circuses were regular visitors to the town and, notably, famous showman and circus owner Billy Smart was in Ipswich with his troupe when he died. The flags were at half-mast on all the town’s public buildings as a mark of respect.”
The magic of the Co-op Fete
Perhaps Lynne’s fondest memories are of the Co-op Fete in Christchurch Park. “In July, the Co-op held a fair in Christchurch Park. My nana – who worked for the Co-op during the war and after, was assigned to the tea tent. She’d hand out paper bags with a sandwich, a sausage roll and a cake (all squashed in together). We thought it was magic. Ipswich looked forward to it all year. There were motorcycle stunt teams, children’s races, a fairground, fireworks… in times when many families couldn’t afford holidays, this was the highlight of the year. The week after the fete came the flower show, with a great marquee and the unforgettable aroma of warm greenery.”
Generations in the parks
The joy continues today with her grandchildren. “As soon as they arrive from Essex, the first thing they say is, ‘Can we go to the park?’ They want to see the ducks, feed the squirrels, find the Gruffalo, play on the swings and buy an ice cream. The park always comes first.”
A Mayor’s pride
When Lynne became Mayor of Ipswich, her love for the town only deepened. “It was the greatest honour of my life. I met so many incredible people who quietly make this town better. Ipswich has wonderful history and heritage, yes, but it’s the people and the communities that make it special. Did you know at least 20 languages are spoken here? That’s something to be proud of.”
ITFC promotion celebrations
“I’ll never forget climbing onto the top deck of the Ipswich Town bus to celebrate promotion to the Premier League. This was just after my hip operation but somehow I just floated up those stairs! Once I was up there, surrounded by the players (who were very jolly) and looking out at tens of thousands of people in Christchurch Park, it was pure joy. It wasn’t just about football; it was about the whole town coming together to celebrate. And where better to do this than in the park?”
Looking forward …
“Our parks are welcoming to everyone. Generations of Ipswich families, mine included, have grown up with these spaces at the heart of their lives. Ipswich wouldn’t be Ipswich without them.”
If you would like to share your Parklife Ipswich story with us, please get in touch.
