There was an idea in the village that not only would we like a distinctive village sign but we would like it to commemorate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.
Audrie Fitzjohn, who lived at 3 Sunnyhill offered a design, the result of which you see today. Audrie had been sailing in Waldringfield in the Dragonfly class for many years with her great friend, Joan Andrews. George Turner dubbed them “Gert and Daisy”, a term which stuck. She built the first house in Sunny Hill. Audrie was a brilliant photographer, a prize-winning member of the Ipswich Photographic Society, one among many of her talents.
Her artistic skills came to the fore & she produced a working sketch of the village sign we still have today. Her design was carried out by Jacobs, the blacksmiths at Kirton who were given some stick in their execution of her design! The Parish Council and the Playing Field Committee (as it was then) arranged a wonderful celebration to commemorate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. This took place on the playing field. Sir Peter Vanneck, the Lord Mayor of London for 1977., who at the time had a house opposite the village shop,dressed in his mayoral finery and Canon Waller loaned a old hay waggon. Sir Peter and Lady Vanneck drove around the village in this wagon, and stopped for an unveiling of the sign. On to the playing field where the village had congregated for a speech by Sir Peter, congratulations to Audrie, a barbecue with wine and beer and games for the children.
(Thanks to Harriet and David Earle)
Items to note in the design:
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The Crown connects to the Coronation.
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The Crown is modelled on the Royal Navy Crown as there are some connections.
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The sails on the crown represent boats going up and down river.
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The waves represent theDeben as a waterway.
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The Dinosaur represents the Coprolite Mining connection although a water dwelling Plesiosaur may not have been a Coprolite producer!
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The Sailing Barge for the various industries that have used Sailing Barges.
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There may be Viking style sail there?
Perhaps this will remind you of some of the topics discussed when you next visit us.
1978 EADT Village Sign Vann1978 EADT Village Sign Vanneckeck
