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Winter talk and social: January 2025

East Coast Gaffers and friends gathered this afternoon at the Ipswich Unitarian Meeting House for their first social event of the 2025 calendar. This wonderful building has its origins in the 17th century when a group of Dissenters (also known as Presbyterians and Independents or Congregationalists) met in Ipswich. Following this, the Presbyterians built the Meeting House in 1699. Now a Grade I listed building it has recently undergone extensive restoration work. The timber interior frame retains many historic features including wig pegs, a huge Dutch brass chandelier and spy hole used in times of persecution to check for approaching mobs as worshippers left the building.

After an introduction from John Warren, (OGA and Ipswich Maritime Trust) we settled down in the original box pews for our talk, on Admiral Sir Philip Broke, 1st Baronet, given by Cathy Shelbourne. We were introduced to this local Ipswich boy, born at Broke Hall on the River Orwell and buried in the Admirals’ church, St Martins, Nacton. Despite many local place names in his memory, significant numbers of people remain ignorant of his achievements. After growing up with a fascination for small boats and gunpowder Broke left Ipswich School to become a midshipman in the Royal Navy. The culmination of his successful career was as commander of ‘HMS Shannon’, blockading the American coast. Daring to take on the much more powerful American frigate ‘USS Chesapeake’ off Boston in 1812, firing a broadside and boarding her, she struck colours to the ‘Shannon’ in less than 15 minutes.

Cathy’s illustrated talk was interesting, informative and engaging providing us with an excellent insight into Broke’s local connections as well as naval history of the 19th century. The setting added to the ambience of the occasion as the light filtered through the beautiful pastel colour of the original glass in the Meeting House windows.

After the talk we gathered round to chat and enjoy tea and home-made cakes. Our thanks go to the Meeting House staff, John and Jodi Warren and Cathy Shelbourne for providing an excellent social event on a rather chilly January afternoon.

Report & photos: Beverley Yates