Norfolk family inspired by musician and teacher Tony Ireland

I suspect you, like me, can remember the men and women who stood in front of the classroom and spoke to us on a whole range of subjects.

If we liked a teacher we tended to take more interest in the subject and that often helped to shape the path we took in later life.

This is one story which illustrates that so well.

I recently wrote a tribute to Mr Tony Ireland, a former teacher at Thorpe Hamlet School, Norwich, who spent many years encouraging his pupils to take an interest in music and the arts.

Young musicians inspired by music teacher Tony Ireland at Thorpe Hamlet School (Image: Ireland Family Photos)

Several of you remembered Tony, now aged 90,  who was also a much-loved musician playing in bands and groups across Norfolk.

And among them was Mary Thrower, then Mary Leonard, who first met her husband-to-be Neville when they were pupils at the then new school on Wolfe Road in the 1950s.

“We were lucky enough to be there when the school was brand new and even luckier that we had Tony Ireland to write the school operettas during the two years we were then before going on to grammar schools,” she said.

They were both in the cast of school operettas written by Tony. “I was always a fairy in the chorus wearing a crepe paper dress, Neville one of the stars,” she said. The photograph she has sent was taken in either 1955/6. 

A show at Thorpe Hamlet School in the 1950s featuring Mary and Neville who went on to fall in love, get married, and share a love of music (Image: Thrower Family Photos)

Mary and Neville met up again when they were in their 20s and got married in 1968. ”We went back to the school before the wedding and told Mr Sinclair, the headmaster who had always been kind and encouraging, us and he was tickled pink!"

“We also told our old form teacher, Mrs Chettleborough. She actually came to the church to see the wedding which brought the only tear to my eye on the day,” said Mary.

Mary and Neville Thrower, who were inspired to love music, by their teacher Tony Ireland (Image: Thrower Family Photos)Tony, and Mrs Restieaux, who took them for singing, gave them a strong interest in music. Neville went on to play the French Horn and became a member of the National Youth Orchestra along with being a founder member of the Mozart Orchestra in Norwich.

“His work in insurance took us all over the world and he found an orchestra or group to play in everywhere we were posted. He subsequently bought me a clarinet almost 20 years ago so I have had lots of fun in music too,” she added.

Neville Thrower, when he went on to play the French Horn at CNS (Image: Thrower Family Photos)

Both their sons are musical and now they have young grandchildren who are really into music in every way…playing, singing and dancing.

“Teachers like Tony really did inspire the children he taught and that love of music has been passed down the generations,” said Mary.