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).
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.
