ALLEN, Tess

1921 - 2004

Thelma Erna Fodisch, was the daughter of Otto Fodisch of Bechuanaland, now the Republic of Botswana. She married at Bulawayo, Zimbabwe in 1943, Edgar Franceys Allen (March 1914-12 April 2000) and they had two children, Jill (born 1944) and John F. (born 1945). As Mrs. E. F. Allen or Mrs Tess Allen, an associate member of the Ipswich Art Club 1959-1980, a sculptor who exhibited from 'Felcourt', The Avenue, Copdock, Ipswich in 1959, two sculptures 'John' (head) and 'Malay Girl' (head) and in 1962 a bronze 'Jill Allen' who was her daughter. Tess Allen was a regular exhibitor showing in 1964 'A Boy for a Fountain' and her last exhibit seems to have been in 1968 'Spring' (plaster). In 2002 Thelma Erna Allen was living at the Old Rectory Nursing Home, Church Lane, Barham, Ipswich where she died on 25 February 2004 and was buried beside her husband at St Peter's churchyard, Copdock.