Edward Ardizzone

Edward Ardizzone was a writer and illustrator, mainly of children's books.

Born in French Indo-China in 1900, his family lived in Ipswich from 1905 to 1914, where he was educated at Ipswich School. While his parents were on foreign service, he was brought up with his two sisters by their grandmother at her house in Gainsborough Road.

He is noted for having illustrated the covers and contents of children’s stories. However, his best-known work is the Tim series featuring the maritime adventures of the eponymous hero. The most famous of the books "Tim All Alone" won the British Library Association’s Kate Greenaway medal for illustration in 1956.

It was in Ipswich, as he later wrote that he “… learnt to know and love the little coastal steamers that I have drawn so often in the Tim books.” Ardizzone recognised the true beauty and practicality of industrial usage in the early 20th century.

The plaque was unveiled on 15th March 2015 by Edward’s grandson Daniel Ardizzone.