John Petley
John William Petley was an assistant school master at Stowupland Council School at the time when the head master was Arthur Bramhall, he seems to have only spent 3 years at Stowupland but he was leaving here to take up a position of head master at Great Glemham schools. (taken from the Evening Star, 8th November 1909).
In 1908 he took part in a concert at the school put on by the Stowupland Instrumental Society, possibly singing amongst other pieces ‘The Deathless Army’.{Stowmarket Weekly Post, 02 April 1908}
The Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society for April 1909 listed J.W. Petley of Stowupland Council School as an entrant in the Teachers examination in Cottage and Allotment Gardening. {retrieved by Neil Langridge in 2024}
From other press reports we know he was a supporter of Stowupland’s football, cricket and Quoits clubs as well as being ‘a great help with the choir”.
The press report said the presentation was made at the Social Club – Room, but we are nor sure where this was. and as well as being presented with this testimonial he also received a purse of money and an ‘albert chain’.
112 names were recorded on the illuminated address. The testimonial is signed at the bottom W. Phillippo, Stowmarket.
In 1911 a William Ernest Phillippo was listed as a solicitors clerk which probably explains his skill at calligraphy, (his name is also included as a subscriber).
His father Mr William Phillippo was a police officer. He started his career in 1862 in Lowestoft, working at various stations across the county before spending his last 8 years as a Police Inspector in Stowmarket. He had 2 sons George Alfread and William Ernest, and one daughter Mrs H.A. Orsbourn.
According to Ena Carter’s notes a later generation of Phillippo’s was assocaited with the Bell Inn in Stowmarket.
