Former employees of an Ipswich engineering company attended a reunion lunch. 

Ex-workers of Ransomes and Rapier, often described as the "Rolls Royce" of engineering, held the reunion at the Kesgrave Social Club on Edmonton Road on Sunday, April 14. 

The company, which closed for the last time in 1988, was a huge operation in Ipswich, making cranes so large that they could only be assembled on site.  

The firm produced guns, tank turrets and shells during the First World War as well as mobile cranes, sluice gates, railway turntables and other major engineering projects employing thousands of workers.

It was also responsible for building the first railway in China.

Generations of families worked in the factories in the 1970s and '80s but after going through times the firm closed in 1988, prompting workers to march in protest through Ipswich town centre. 

Regular reunions have since been held by workers, originally organised by Elizabeth Townsend and later former employee Derek Clarke. 

On April 14, they reunited once again, for lunch.

Lunch comprised of a range of toasties, sandwiches, salads and drinks.