Tributes to Kingsfleet headteacher Peter Field of Felixstowe

In the days after his death, Peter Field’s family have been inundated with messages from former students from over the years.

For two decades, Peter was headteacher of Kingsfleet Primary School in Felixstowe, and then worked as a supply teacher at schools all over Felixstowe and Ipswich for many years.

“He never changed,” wrote one pupil. “He was always smiling, friendly and approachable.

“His eyes had a twinkle in them.”

A photo of Peter taken for the EADT in 1982, for Kingsfleet's 10th anniversary. (Image: Archant Archive) Peter was born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, on December 17, 1932, the only child of parents Elsie and Ronald.

Elsie worked as a cleaner, while Ronald was a bricklayer, as were both of Peter’s grandfathers, and he always remained proud of his working-class roots.

Upon leaving school, Peter’s first job was with TSB Bank; however, banking was never his true passion, and after completing his national service, Peter instead decided to train as a teacher.

It was while he was studying in London that Peter met the love of his life, Marion Frances.

It was ironic that the pair met in London, for they had both grown up St Albans – and later discovered that they had both been confirmed at St Albans Cathedral on the very same day.

Peter was smitten, and the happy couple soon tied the knot in July 1957. Soon, the couple were blessed with three children, Janet, David and Ian.

Later, they became grandparents to eight grandchildren, and great-grandparents to 10.

Peter and Marion Field on their wedding day in 1957. (Image: Family of Peter Field)

Peter and Marion Field holding their two eldest children, Janet and David. (Image: Family of Peter Field) Peter was known and loved by generations of schoolchildren in Felixstowe and Ipswich. (Image: Family of Peter Field) After qualifying as a teacher, Peter worked in several schools in Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Lincolnshire, where he served his first headship. The school was struggling, and Peter impressed the authorities with his efforts in turning the school around.

The family moved several more times in the intervening years, before Peter accepted the post of headteacher at Kingsfleet, a brand-new school in Felixstowe.

Peter relished the challenge of a completely blank slate. He threw himself into all aspects of building the school up, even helping to lay new paving stones around the school swimming pool.

As a teacher, Peter was firm but fair and earned the respect of students, parents and his colleagues alike. (Image: Family of Peter Field) Peter was a captain at Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club from 1982. (Image: Family of Peter Field) Peter pictured with his beloved wife of 60 years, Marion. (Image: Family of Peter Field) Teaching truly was Peter’s calling in life; he had a great affinity with children, and enjoyed spending time with them, telling funny, fantastical stories about the many famous people he claimed to have befriended.

During a family holiday to the Eden Camp in his later years, Peter’s daughter, Janet, recalls turning to find that her father had vanished.

He was eventually found in the middle of a group of spellbound youngsters on a school trip.

Having been seven when the Second World War broke out, Peter had a keen interest in the war, and was regaling the students with his tales of rationing while their teacher looked on.

He was also known for writing his own legendary school plays, with Peter taking great delight in coming up with his own lyrics to Gilbert and Sullivan songs for the children to perform.

“You’d meet him and you’d like him – it was as simple as that,” said Peter’s daughter, Janet Rhea. “You could talk to Dad, and you’d always come away feeling that you’d been heard and he was interested in what you’d said.”

Peter retired from Kingsfleet in the 1980s, but he had no intention of stopping work just yet. While he loved being a headteacher, his responsibilities meant that he could not spend as much time in the classroom as he would have liked, and so he took up supply work.

Over the years, Peter would teach in schools all over the area, including Trimley St Martin, Trimley St Mary, the former Causton, and Murrayfield and St Joseph’s in Ipswich.

Peter was a devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather. (Image: Family of Peter Field) Peter was enormously proud of his children's achievements. Pictured here with Marion, their daughter Janet and her husband when Janet graduated with a Master's degree. (Image: Family of Peter Field) Peter and Marion Field celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in 2017. (Image: Family of Peter Field) This new, flexible stage in his career also gave Peter the time to devote to his other great passion – golf.

Peter had played golf all his adult life, becoming captain of the Felixstowe Ferry Golf Course in 1982.

If the weather was dry, Marion knew to answer the telephone in the mornings, informing schools offering Peter a day’s supply that unfortunately, her husband was fully booked – while he set off for the golf course to enjoy a day with his buddies.

Peter was also a lifelong Chelsea fan, following the team with enthusiasm. He loved nothing more than talking football with his children, his grandchildren, and later his great-grandchildren.

As a father, he was also incredibly proud of each of his children, and was thrilled to see all three graduate from university.

Gradually, Peter took less and less supply work and spend his time with Marion.

The couple were a devoted partnership for many years. Janet said that Peter was her mother’s biggest supporter, and he was as proud of her achievements as he was about any of his own, encouraging her to pursue her creative interests with courses at college.

Peter and Marion were married for 60 years, celebrating their diamond anniversary in July 2017.

When Marion passed away later that year, Peter continued to write letters to her every day, each one signed GNML, for ‘goodnight, my love.’

Peter Field died on September 17, aged 91.