Essential Suffolk April 2017 by Achieve More Media

April 2017 | Priceless

Essential SUFFOLK

SUFFOLK BROADLAND A New Nature Reserve for Suffolk Theatre | Food | Fashion | Homes & Interiors | Property

www.essentialsuffolk.com

CELEBRATING ALL THAT MAKES OUR COUNTY GREAT

MADE FOR LIFE DESIGN

MANUFACTURE

I N S TA L L

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APRIL 2017

| Welcome

Lesley Rawlinson Director lesley@achievemoremedia.co.uk T: 01473 809932 M: 07519 477583

Adrian Rawlinson Director adrian@achievemoremedia.co.uk T: 01473 809932 M: 07718 149307

Alison Watson Account Manager alison@achievemoremedia.co.uk T: 01473 809932 M: 07546 485204

Anne Gould Editor editor@achievemoremedia.co.uk M: 07411 701010

Paul Newman Designer paul@newman-design.com Cover: Barn Owl, Suffolk Wildlife Trust

WELCOME No matter how long you have lived in Suffolk and no matter how well you might think you know the place the reality is this county always has the element of surprise. Go north on the A12 beyond the turnings for Walberswick and Southwold in the direction of Lowestoft and the Waveney Valley, on the border with Norfolk, and you’ll discover a quite extraordinarily beautiful area that for many people is largely undiscovered and unseen. A new campaign by Suffolk Wildlife Trust, supported by David Attenborough no less, could change all that. The trust is seeking to raise £1 million to buy land surrounding Oulton, Castle and Carlton marshes to create a flagship nature reserve as part of the Broads National Park. This month Essential Suffolk has also explored other hidden gems – three home-grown artists; Georgie Mason, John O’Connor and Sophie Elinor Martin, who are gaining reputation far and wide. Plus we’ve been to DanceEast, which besides spearheading innovation and new ways of artistic expression is also using dance to help older people with health issues like dementia, fall prevention and Parkinson’s Disease. Of course there’s a whole lot more reading too – gardening, food, Easter days out, our ever popular Pub Dog Walk, fashion and property. In addition to the magazine we are also active online – our Facebook page regularly features the current Top Five Pub Walks with Darcy as selected by visitors to our website, you can follow and contact us on twitter @Essential SFK and always find additional content at www.essentialsuffolk.com

Anne Gould See all our social event photographs at essentialsuffolk.com @EssentialSFK

Anne Gould Editor

editor@achievemoremedia.co.uk

Essential Suffolk

TERMS AND CONDITIONS Copyright on all content is with Achieve More Media Limited. Reproduction in part or whole if forbidden without the express permission of the publishers. All prices, events and times were to the best of our knowledge correct at the time of going to press and you are encouraged to contact the venue prior to booking. All expressions and opinions within the publication are those of the editor including contributors. Essential Suffolk is a trading name of Achieve More Media Limited.

Essential SUFFOLK is Suffolk’s most exclusive magazine delivered only to individually selected homes, businesses and venues. It is brought to you each month with the valued support of our commercial partners. Please let them know you saw them here. To subscribe either:

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K I TC H E N S

B AT H R O O M S

BEDROOMS

HOME OFFICES

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LIBRARIES

01473 610 192 www.angliafactors.co.uk 34 GLOSTER ROAD, MARTLESHAM HEATH, IPSWICH IP5 3RD

Contents

11 38

FEATURES

REGULARS

Suffolk in Brief

What’s On

29 32 34 44

Broadland Suffolk Creating a new nature reserve for the county

Festival Season A look at Ink Festival and Alde Valley Spring Festival

Dancing for Health DanceEast helping overcome falls, dementia and Parkinson’s disease

Suffolk Artists The emerging talent of John O’Connor, Georgie Mason and Sophie Elinor Martin revealed

How to add individuality to your special day

Food & Drink

Homes & Interiors

Gardening

Property

Essential Faces

My Suffolk

25 years of Ufford Park, Chef ’s recipe from Bruisyard Hall and a gallery of ideas for eating out

News from around the county

Where to go and what to see in Suffolk in April plus five great Easter days out

Soft furnishings to complete your room

Love your soil

Mini Previews The Best of BE Festival at the New Wolsey, The Importance of Being Earnest at Avenue Theatre, Spamalot at Colchester Mercury and Woodbridge Choral Society at Snape Maltings

Fashion

Dog Walk

Weddings

New additions to your wardrobe this Spring

A selection of our county’s finest homes for sale

Highlights from Suffolk’s social calendar

Tikkii Mawson, Commodore of Aldeburgh Yacht Club

Rediscovering Haskeston and The Turk’s Head

EssentialSUFFOLK

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We share your vision We start every project with your end goal – the vision you have for your property. You may be a homeowner keen to extend or refurbish your house to create a stunning showpiece, or a commercial client wanting to refurbish or enhance a retail, industrial or office space. Whatever your needs, you can trust Samuel David Construction to create a breath-taking, yet practical, space with genuine ‘wow factor’.

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We believe in quality with affordability We’re always available: all our team are in-house, from builders to plumbers and plasterers. We’re a close-knit team that works seamlessly together. We love what we do and we care about doing a great job. Because most of our team work for us full-time , we stay in control of quality, timescales and costs, making the best use of time and pulling out all the stops to complete your job quickly yet without cutting corners.

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AFTER

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Suffolk Broads

The Broads might be associated with a neighbouring county to the north but, says Matt Gooch, Suffolk has the “best” broadland. Anne Gould looks at an innovative scheme for a new nature reserve

BROADLAND SUFFOLK

uch has been said, painted, created and even composed in praise of Suffolk’s wild landscape and beauty. With so much to see along our coast and river estuaries it’s sometimes tempting not to look just that bit further afield. A new venture by Suffolk Wildlife Trust however, means that many of us will, in the not too distant future, be exploring the hidden treasures in the Waveney Valley. The trust is planning to create a giant nature reserve at Carlton, Oulton and Castle Marshes to the west of Lowestoft and has launched a massive campaign to raise £1million to make it possible. Matt Gooch, the reserve warden explained that the trust has been given the unprecedented opportunity

to buy land flanking the existing nature reserve to form 1,000 acres of wildness as part the Broads National Park. “It’s incredibly exciting because our aim is to make this our flagship site in Suffolk and it will ultimately become the Suffolk Broads National Nature Reserve.” He said the land purchase, which totals £3.1 million has become possible thanks to help of the Heritage Lottery Fund and a legacy left by a long term member of Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Mrs. Jean Hannaford. However to complete the purchase the trust has to raise £1million in the next 18 months – with more than £386,000 already donated. ‰

EssentialSUFFOLK

APRIL 2017

Forming this reserve, the biggest attempted in the Trust’s 55year history, will lead to the creation of a mix of wet habitats that many nationally rare animals and plants depend on. Extending the reserve by purchasing the additional land they will be able to create a new reed bed which will be the largest in the Broads, supporting breeding marsh harriers and bitterns, as well as reed buntings, grasshopper warblers and lesser known species like white mantled wainscot moths, which are only found in Suffolk. A seven mile network of restored freshwater ditches will be amongst the best in the UK and will allow Broadland specialists including plants, water voles and the rare fen raft spiders to spread across the landscape. More than 150 acres of marsh, fen meadow and shallow pools will be created, with thousands of metres of soft muddy edges, for wintering wildfowl and nationally declining waders, like lapwings and redshanks, to feed. The area supports 30 per cent of the UK species and this also includes otters, barn owls, foxes and Chinese water deer. Matt says that much of the land that they want to buy has been reclaimed and is currently used for farming. The trust will be returning it to marshland, using old aerial photographs as a guide to locate the old dykes that were filled in when the land was drained. “There are also a couple of older people who live locally who remember how it used to be and they are helping us as well. Returning water to the landscape will attract birds and animals and increase the biodiversity,” he added. “Although this broad is not unique in terms of Broadland habitat in my view it’s the best broad – because it’s in Suffolk.”

Assistant Warden Jamie Smith is taking on the challenge of cycling 100 miles in the Tour De Broads South cycle event this month to raise money for Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Suffolk Broads land purchase. “As an Assistant Warden for Suffolk Wildlife Trust, I know how important it is to create more of this valuable habitat to extend the already beautifully managed Carlton and Oulton Marshes. This will benefit the UK’s most rare and cherished wildlife.” It’s been hard work because every hour of daylight is spent at work. “Weekends have been crucial for training. Last weekend I managed a windy 22 mile ride on the Saturday followed by a more speedy 11 mile ride on the Sunday.” You can sponsor Jamie in the event on his JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jamiesmithSWT

essentialsuffolk.com

Suffolk Broads This huge venture has wide support and not just from the Heritage Lottery Fund but also from Britain’s most loved and favourite naturalist, Sir David Attenborough. “England’s wildlife is under great and ever growing pressure. It is vital that we restore our land on a landscape scale so that it can support more wild plants and animals. Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s ambition to extend Carlton and Oulton Marshes is a unique opportunity to do just this and it has my whole-hearted support”. By supporting this project, says Sir David, “You will be investing not just in wildlife but in the happiness and fulfilment of thousands of people now and in the future.” Julian Roughton, chief executive of Suffolk Wildlife Trust added, “This is an opportunity to create wildness as far as the eye can see and restore a magnificent landscape in the UK’s most nature-rich National Park. Buying this land will create an amazing place for wildlife that people can enjoy forever. It’s an ambitious vision and raising £1million will enable us to make it happen.” Donations, he added, will effectively be tripled by the legacy gifts the Trust has already received, Gift Aid and through the charity’s approaches to funders like the Heritage Lottery Fund. INFORMATION www.suffolkbroads.org.uk

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News

SUFFOLK in brief Art For Cure has made a donation of £62,000 to Cancer Campaign In Suffolk to support specific breast cancer projects within the county over the next two years. Art For Cure’s second exhibition of art and sculpture was hosted in the beautiful house and gardens of Glemham Hall in May 2016 and an astonishing £175,000 was raised over the weekend for breast cancer care, research and support by the generous commissions of artists’ sold work. This recent donation of £62,000 to Cancer Campaign in Suffolk supports three breast cancer services in Suffolk, focusing on a new wig service and beauty treatments, the support of free complimentary treatment courses for those affected by cancer, as well as post-surgical breast exercise classes and a DVD. It comes on the back of a donation of £100,000 made in 2016 to the leading national breast cancer charity, Breast Cancer Now. To read more visit essentialsuffolk.com/art-for-cure-donation

Ufford Park’s Golf Club Captain Barry Heaney and Lady Captain Dianne Clarke chose EACH as their Captain’s Year charity for 2016 – 2017 and during that time have raised £3500 for the charity. The pair were delighted to present Hannah Walker of EACH with a cheque last month. Dianne, Barry and the team at EACH would like to thank Ufford Park members for their contributions to the charity during the year.

Local hearing care specialists, The Hearing Care Centre have taken it upon themselves to try and better educate the public about the help and support that there is out there for people affected by hearing loss and tinnitus. The Suffolk Hearing Care and Tinnitus Show which is free to attend, will take place on Monday April 3 (9am – 1.30pm) at Kesgrave Community Centre. As part of the event The Hearing Care Centre has managed to secure the time of one of the world’s most sought after experts on tinnitus – Professor David Baguley. Professor Baguley's will give attendees a better understanding about what tinnitus is, how it affects us and where researchers are at in their quest to find a solution to the problem. To read more visit essentialsuffolk.com/tinnitus-show

If you still haven’t found the New Year challenge you’re looking for then one local charity may have the answer. St Elizabeth Hospice has a limited number of places left on the London to Paris cycle ride that will take place later this year. The challenge will see a team of hospice supporters embark on the 300 mile cycle ride, setting off from London on September 19 and arriving in the French capital five days later. Joanne Rodger, Events and Challenges Manager at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “Everyone that took part in 2015 had a really enjoyable time and really embraced doing the challenge as a team. While hard work, you really do have a wonderful time over the week and come away with friends and memories for life.” The event is proudly being sponsored locally by Colourchange UPVC, who will be supplying all those taking part with London to Paris cycling shirts which will be worn during the event. Daryl Collins, owner of Colourchange UPVC, a specialist coloured conservatories and windows company based in Rendlesham, said: “I am delighted to be supporting this event. St Elizabeth Hospice provides incredible support for the community. One of my team was a member of the ride last time and we would thoroughly encourage others to participate in this rewarding event.” To confirm your place or for further information about the challenge call the team on 01473 707026 or email fundraising@stelizabethhospice.org.uk

Aldeburgh Yacht Club will be hosting its Classic Boat Weekend in June and is pleased to announce continuing support from Marshall Hatchick Solicitors and Demon Yachts. Last year’s event saw competitors from all corners of the UK and the organisers of this year’s event are hoping to build on those numbers with visitors from many local clubs. It is open to dinghies and dayboats designed before 1965 and built before 1985. The event will be held on June 10 and 11. Anyone interested should contact David Keates, secretary@aldeburghyc.org.uk or 01728 452562

Fynn Valley Golf Club has just been awarded the national title of ‘Most Welcoming Golf Club’ in the England Gold Awards held at Lord’s Cricket Ground on March 16. Jenny Holmes, company secretary said “After 26 years of promoting golf as a fantastic sport accessible to

everyone, regardless of age, ability, gender, occupation, we are delighted to have recognition with this award. If Essential Suffolk readers want to experience a Fynn Valley welcome please come and see us!” Find out more at www.fynn-valley.co.uk

Felixstowe based beautician Sarah-Anne Barham, owner and founder of Sarah-Anne’s Beauty has been named Lash Artist of the Year in the NovaLash annual LASHoff competition which was recently held in Houston, Texas. The worldwide award was judged by a highlyexperienced group of advanced master stylists, educators and beauty editors. “I feel incredibly honoured to be awarded Lash Artist of the Year,” Sarah-Anne said. “It means the world to me. I feel so proud to represent Team NovaLash as its brand ambassador as it will open up so many opportunities for me now and in the future. Dreams do come true – if you work hard and keep positive you can achieve anything you set your mind to.” As Lash Artist of the Year, Sarah-Anne has become a NovaLash brand ambassador. She will be a voice for the brand and will set an example for other aspiring lash artists to follow in the UK. She will also benefit from global media exposure for her talent while representing NovaLash at tradeshows and events in the UK and overseas. CEO and founder of NovaLash, Sophy Mersze said “Sarah-Anne demonstrated a true passion for lash artistry as seen through her meticulous application and attention to detail followed by her enthusiasm for the NovaLash brand. It is obvious that this passion has carried her to the top where she is an inspiration to other lash artists everywhere.” To contact Sarah-Anne visit Facebook and search for Sarah-Anne’s Beauty.

More news can always be found at www.essentialsuffolk.com/content

EssentialSUFFOLK

APRIL 2017

WHAT’S ON APRIL 1 Farmers Markets

Beccles Heliport 9am – 1pm Metfield Village Hall 9am – 12 noon Snape Maltings 9.30am – 1pm ETO Family: Silver Electra

Britten Studios, Snape In 1937 Amelia Earhart, then the most famous woman on the planet, went missing in her silver Electra aeroplane as she was about to complete her pioneering roundthe-world flight. 40 years later, an old jar of freckle cream is discovered by an elderly woman on the beach. Tickets: £6 Box Office: 01728 687110 We’re Stuck

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, 10:30am Inspired by the latest educational neuroscience, this innovative interactive show will stretch your brain in unexpected directions. Tickets: £8 Box Office: 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

revolution (and musicals), in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. Winner of three Tony Awards, Urinetown is a hilarious satire of the legal system, capitalism, environmental irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, municipal politics – and musical theatre itself! “Darkly entertaining and exceptionally sharp” – Daily Telegraph. Tickets: £14 (concessions £12) Box Office: 01473 211498 www.easternangles.co.uk

APRIL 1 – 9 The Importance of Being Earnest

See mini preview page 25 Box Office: 01473 603388 www.redrosechain.com

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich Chester Tuffnut isn’t your ordinary treemole – in fact he is one of a kind. Chester likes wearing jumpers and sitting in his armchair, but most of all he loves adventure! The curious creatures in Woodland have gone so long without excitement; they’ve forgotten how to have fun. Luckily, Chester is on hand to bring happiness and laughter back to his new Woodland friends. Box Office: 01473 295900 Tickets: £8 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

APRIL 5 – 7 The Tiger who came to tea

Mercury Theatre, Colchester APRIL 2 Sklamberg & The Shepherds

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7:30pm

Ipswich Regent, 7:30pm

APRIL 1 – 8

Chester Tuffnet

Avenue Theatre, Ipswich

The Bootleg Beatles

The world’s most famous Beatles Tribute Band continues to draw critical acclaim from across the globe with their stunning recreation of the greatest song book of all time. Tickets: £31 Box Office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

APRIL 5

Following a smash-hit West End season, the tea-guzzling tiger is back on the road in this delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos! A stunning stage adaptation of the classic tale of teatime mayhem… expect to be surprised! Tickets: £13.50 Box Office: 01206 573948 www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

APRIL 7

Three renowned performers of Eastern European Jewish music come together in this exceptional new trio. Tickets: £12.50 / £5 U25s Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

Sinatra, Sequins & Swing

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7:30pm

Urinetown

Sir John Mills Theatre, Gatacre Road, Ipswich. 7:45pm

APRIL 4 The Battle of the Somme: Suffolk Youth Orchestra

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7:30pm

A drop of Hope… can save the world! Gallery Players are thrilled to announce the local premier or Urinetown – daring and original, a side-splitting send up of greed, love, 16

essentialsuffolk.com

As part of the international Somme100 film project, Suffolk Youth Orchestra will be performing Laura Rossi’s acclaimed score to the Imperial War Museum’s iconic 1916 silent film The Battle of the Somme by Geoffrey Malins and J B McDowell. Tickets: £12 - £5 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

The Capitol Years Live! With swing vocalists Kevin Fitzsimmons & Kitty La Roar, plus the 15-piece Pete Long Orchestra. Classic songs include Come Fly With Me,You Make Me Feel So Young, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Fever, Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend and many more. Tickets: £23 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

What’s On

APRIL 8

APRIL 9

The Searchers

Farmers Markets

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm

Assington, The Barn 10am – 2pm

Their famous hits including Sweets For My Sweet, Needles and Pins, Don’t Throw Your Love Away, Sugar & Spice and When You Walk In The Room, plus anecdotes and reminiscences. Tickets: £23 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

Woodbridge Choral Society

Gaze in amazement as Alice has tea with the Mad Hatter and avoids losing her head to the Queen of Hearts. Tickets: £12, children £10, family £40 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

Snape Maltings At Last –The Etta James Story

See mini preview page 25 Box office: 01728 687110 www.snapemaltings.co.uk

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm

APRIL 10 Goldilocks & the Three Bears Billy Ocean

Dance East Northern Ballet brings this classic children's story to life and is the perfect opportunity for your little ones to enjoy live ballet, music and theatre for the first time. Tickets: £10 Box Office: 01473 295230 www.danceeast.co.uk Farmers Markets

Halesworth Town Centre 9am – 1pm Woodbridge Community Centre 9am – 12.30pm

Ipswich Regent, 7pm Billy Ocean holds the prestigious title of being the biggest selling British black artist of all time. Billy has sold over 30 million records in his lifetime and has collected a pile of Gold and Platinum records across the world. Tickets: £48.50 Box Office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com Alice In Wonderland

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 2pm Take a wonderful voyage of mayhem and madness in this fast-paced Easter Pantomime.

Starring Vika Bull and The Essential R&B Band, this narrative concert tells the story of soul legend Etta James’ turbulent life and features some of her most beloved songs, including Tell Mama, Something’s Got A Hold On Me, I’d Rather Go Blind, and her iconic signature song At Last. Tickets: £22 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

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EssentialSUFFOLK

APRIL 2017

Marmen Quartet at Easter

APRIL 11 AND 12

APRIL 15

Orford Church, 12pm A Midsummer Night's Dream

John Peel Centre, Stowmarket. 7.30pm – 9.30pm The course of true love never did run smooth – such is the basis of our enchanting tale. Four young lovers, two feuding fairy factions and a group of amateur players caught in the middle. Spinning Wheel Youth Takeover is a unique opportunity for 15 – 25 year old aspiring actors, designers and technicians. Entry: £7 (concession £5) Information: amy@spinningwheeltheatre.com www.spinningwheeltheatre.com

Bach’s serene chorale prelude is said to have been written contemplating his own death and is his last numbered work whilst Beethoven’s monumental late quartet is dominated by one of his most sublime and spacious slow movements, one the composer himself described as a hymn of gratitude to the Almighty. Glass’s quartet moves toward a gently ruminative conclusion, as stark and insistent gestures soften and coalesce into heartfelt melody. Tickets: £5 – £13 Box Office: 01728 687110

Farmers Markets

Harkstead Village Hall 9am – 12 noon Aldeburgh Church Hall 9am – 12.30 Beccles Heliport 9am – 1pm Debenham Community Centre 9am – 1pm Aldeburgh Voices

Blythburgh Church, 3pm Blythburgh’s simple, lofty grandeur is the perfect setting for some of the most beautiful sacred music from the early twentieth century. Tickets: £4 – £16 Box Office: 01728 687110

Let’s Hang On

Ipswich Regent, 7.30pm APRIL 14 Bach: St John Passion

Snape Maltings Concert Hall, 7.30pm Written in 1724 for the Good Friday service at Leipzig’s Nikolaikirche, Bach’s St. John Passion was by far the most dramatic, rich and complex musical interpretation of the passion story the Leipzig audience had experienced. Tickets: £5-£24 Box Office: 01728 687110

Take a step back in time with an anthology of classic hits including Grease, December 1963 (Oh What a Night!), Sherry, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Beggin’, Walk Like A Man, Big Girls Don’t Cry, and many more, climaxing with a spectacular finale of, of course, Let’s Hang On! Tickets: £24 Box Office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

APRIL 16 AND 17 Omid Djalili

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 8pm Schmuck for a Night. Intelligent, sometimes provocative and always entertaining, his stand-up is a hugely energetic and captivating comedy masterclass. Tickets: £24.50 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

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essentialsuffolk.com

What’s On

APRIL 18 – 29

APRIL 20

APRIL 21 – MAY 3

How To Disappear…

Just an Ordinary Lawyer

Spamalot

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm

Mercury Theatre, Colchester

When a young executive reaches breaking point and decides to disappear, he pays a visit to a master of the craft in a seafront fortune teller’s in Southend. Haunted by visitations from a pathologist who swears he is already lying flat out on her slab, he begins to re-live the nightmarish final hours that see his body retrieved from the Thames, stripped of everything that made him who he was. Tickets: £10 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

Nigerian Tunji Sowande quietly breaks through multiple barriers to become Britain’s first black judge in 1978. Also a fine concert singer and keen cricket lover, he muses on international politics and history as they affect the black world from Africa to the USA and Britain, from the point of view of one who would rather watch sports and spread love and peace through the medium of song. Tickets: £16.50 Box Office: 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org

See mini preview page 27 Box Office: 01206 573948 www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

APRIL 22 Farmers Markets

Woodbridge Community Centre 9am – 12.30pm

APRIL 22 AND 23 APRIL 19 – 22 Ink Festival

APRIL 20 – 22

Halesworth Cut

26th East Anglian Beer Festival

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds More than 95 Real Ales and Ciders from local brewers are served direct from the casks, souvenir glasses available and free soft drinks for drivers. Tickets: £3 Box Office: 01284 758000 theapex.co.uk

The Wedding

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich In a blur of wedding dresses and contractual obligations, an extraordinary international ensemble shares their struggle between love and anger, creation and destruction, community and isolation. Tickets: £20.50 Box Office: 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

Spring is here!

The Butt & Oyster

The Fox Inn

Alde Valley Spring Festival

White House Farm, Great Glemham See feature pages 29 to 31 Aldevalleyspringfestival.co.uk

The Maybush

Why not visit The Butt & Oyster at Pin Mill or The Maybush at Waldringfield both with beautiful river views. Alternatively come and see us at The Fox Inn at Newbourn with its quiet pretty gardens festooned with beautiful flowers.

www.debeninns.co.uk The Coach & Horses Melton, Woodbridge IP12 1PD 01394 384851

Had a day at the coast? Call in at one of our other inns on your way home. The Swan at Westerfield, The Coach & Horses at Melton and The Wilford Bridge are all perfect spots for an evening meal. Fancy a walk? All our inns are dog friendly and suggested circular walks from each can be found on our website.

Get the Deben Inns app for our latest news and offers. Simply search Deben Inns in the app store and follow the simple instructions.

The Maybush Cliff Rd, Waldringfield IP12 4QL 01473 736215

APRIL 22 – MAY 21

The season for Al Fresco dining has arrived

Eating outdoors is one of life’s great pleasures and Deben Inns are blessed with some perfect venues to do it.

The Butt & Oyster Pin Mill, Ipswich IP9 1JW 01473 780764

See feature pages 29 to 31 Inkfestival.org

The Swan Westerfield Road Westerfield, IP6 9AJ 01473 251447

The Wilford Bridge Wilford Bridge Rd Melton, IP12 2PA 01394 386141

The Fox Inn The Street, Newbourne IP12 4NY 01473 736307

EssentialSUFFOLK

APRIL 2017

APRIL 23

APRIL 25

The Scarecrow’s Wedding

Where is Home?

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, 1:30pm

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, 7pm

Betty O’Barley and Harry O’Hay are excellent scarecrows (they scare a lot of crows). Harry loves Betty, and Betty loves Harry, so they decide to get married and Harry sets off to search for their wedding day essentials including a dress of feathers, a bunch of flowers and a necklace made from shells. Tickets: £16 Box Office: 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

Where Is Home? is a dance theatre show that explores and investigates themes of global human migration and displacement. Tickets: £26.50 Box Office: 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

Farmers Market

Lavenham Village Hall 10am – 1.30pm Suffolk Soul Singers Concert

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7:30pm An uplifting evening of soul and gospel influenced music: this dynamic community choir packs its performances with an exciting mix of old and new foot-stomping, fingersnapping songs, sung in rich four part harmony. Tickets: £12 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

Tasmin Little & Piers Lane

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm Brahms Sonata No. 2 in A major, Brahms Sonata No. 1 in G major, Brahms Sonatensatz, Brahms Sonata No. 3 in D minor. Tickets: £20 - £16 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

well signed from the village. Ample free parking. Refreshments and light lunches available. Entry: £3 (£2 after 1pm)

APRIL 27 Gino’s Italian Escape

Ipswich Regent, 8pm Join Gino D’Acampo for an evening of food and fun on Gino’s Italian Escape Live tour when he brings a piece of Italy to The Ipswich Regent Theatre. Tickets: £31 Box Office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

APRIL 27 AND 28 Best of BE Festival

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

APRIL 26

See mini preview page 27 Box office: 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

Shopping Day in aid of Cancer Research UK

Chamberlin Hall, Bildeston. 10am – 2pm Hot Footed ladies quality shoes and sandals, ladies clothes, jewellery, accessories for all and more. Everyone welcome. The hall is

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Whether you are looking for something romantic, dog-friendly or somewhere for a large family get-together, you’re sure to find the perfect holiday property with Suffolk Hideaways.

Call us on 01728 666 300 or visit www.suffolkhideaways.co.uk Thinking of letting your holiday home? If you are interested in letting out your holiday home then please call Suffolk Hideaways on 01728 666 300

What’s On

APRIL 28 Silk Road

Dance East, Ipswich

King King

Shakin Stevens

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 8pm

Ipswich Regent, 8pm

One of the most explosive rock-blues bands on the planet, King King has scored three hit singles on Planet Rock: ‘Crazy’, ‘Hurricane’ and most recently, ‘Rush Hour’. Tickets: £20 standing (£22 seated) Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

Shakin’ Stevens on his biggest ever UK tour visiting 33 towns and cities across England, Scotland and Wales in 2017. Tickets: £38 Box Office: 01473 433100

APRIL 30 APRIL 29 Stacey Kent

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7:30pm Internationally acclaimed and Grammynominated vocalist brings jazz standards & classics. Tickets: £22 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

José Agudo’s Silk Road is a fascinating and vibrant exploration through dance, of rituals that took place along this ancient trade route across Asia. Tickets: 7.30pm Box Office: 01473 295230 www.danceeast.co.uk

Imbalance

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, 7pm Combining exciting acrobatic skills and athletic dance, this energetic, thoughtprovoking performance explores our obsessive dependence with technology, asking whether our lives are ‘in’ or ‘out’ of balance? Tickets: £20.50 Box Office: 01473 295230 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

To see more event listings and tell us about your event visit essentialsuffolk.com/ whats-on-in-suffolk We cannot guarantee inclusion in print but all suitable listings will be included online

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FIVE OF THE BEST EASTER DAYS OUT SNAPE MALTINGS EASTER FARMERS’ MARKET Saturday 15 April, 9.30am – 1.30pm Visit this special Easter Farmers’ Market offering an exciting array of fresh produce – from vegetables, fruits and juices to locally-reared meats and delicious artisan bakes and makes. The market has a wonderful bustling atmosphere for visitors buying local foods and sweet treats for Easter direct from Suffolk’s artisan producers. A wonderful start to the Easter weekend for many, so arrive early to avoid disappointment.

When you come to the Market visit the collection of redeveloped Victorian industrial buildings for distinctive independent shops, cafes and galleries. 01728 688303 snapemaltings.co.uk/whats-on/

EASTON FARM PARK Spring is a perfect time of year on the farm with baby lambs, goats, piglets, chicks and lots more all running around and finding their feet in the lush new grass. At Easton Farm Park there are baby animals aplenty plus lots more fun for the whole family to enjoy – a big adventure playground, pony rides, hug a bunny, lamb feeding & a fab Easter Egg hunt over the Easter weekend. Open daily in the Easter holidays from 10:30am.

Easton Farm Park Easton, Woodbridge IP13 0EQ 01728 746475 www.eastonfarmpark.co.uk

FOOTGOLF at Stonham Barns FootGolf is the exciting new game that everyone can play! It’s a great way to bring friends and families together to enjoy the distinction, elegance and precision of golf with the passion, energy and fun of football in a great fun way. • It’s a game everyone can play, no experience required • For groups we organise the event for you including scoring, winners trophy, prizes and food if required • Good exercise in the fresh air • Great fun – good for team bonding in a relaxed environment • 18 holes – only takes around 90 mins to play

Book now and enjoy a unique and different event this year! Stonham Barns Shopping & Leisure Complex, Pettaugh Road, IP14 6AT 01449 711545 sales@stonhambarnsgolf.co.uk www.stonhambarnsgolf.co.uk

Welcome to YOXFORD ANTIQUES CENTRE With over 70 dealers under one roof, the Centre offers a huge range of antiques, collectables and vintage to browse and to buy. From books to grandfather clocks, jewellery to garden tools, there really is something here for everyone. With ample free parking, gardens where you are welcome to stroll or relax and meet our resident alpacas, and the popular Flying Goose Café on site, this is so much more than just a shopping trip! We open six days a week (closed Tuesdays).

Yoxford Antiques Centre On the A1120 between Yoxford and Peasenhall (IP17 3JW) 01728 668844 www.yoxfordantiques.com

GOLFING FUN FOR ALL AGES... JUST TURN UP, PAY AND PLAY! You are greeted by life sized dinosaurs, an erupting volcano and a giant dinosaur claw! The journey starts on a selfpropelled boat across the first of the water lagoons. Visit the Congo Jungle plane crash & the cannibal cooking pot! Pass through the abandoned temple and ride on a raft into the lost world! Great for children’s parties and corporate events!

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Ufford Park Hotel Yarmouth Road, Melton Woodbridge, IP12 1QW 01394 382836 golf@uffordpark.co.uk congorapids.co.uk

Mini Previews

WOODBRIDGE CHORAL SOCIETY Snape Maltings. April 9 Woodbridge has special connections with Viking heritage – and not least because its home to Sutton Hoo, the site of one of the best undisturbed Anglo-Saxon burial ships ever found. So visitors to Snape Maltings on April 9, might be interested to see a 40ft scale model of Sae Wyfling, King Raedwald’s Anglo Saxon ship, on display. It’s a herald of things to come on the Waterfront at Woodbridge this summer but it’s been brought to the Maltings for a world premiere – an excerpt of Jana Rowland’s community opera, The King’s River.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Avenue Theatre, Ipswich. April 1 – 9 It’s Oscar Wilde’s world-famous play but new and reimagined thanks to the genius of Suffolk theatre company, Red Rose Chain. The Importance of Being Earnest is widely regarded as one of the funniest plays in the English language, bursting with wordplay, wooing and waltzes! Joanna Carrick’s interpretation will take you on a surreal journey through the heightened absurdity of Wilde’s words, hilariously distorting the lens through which we view the past. Cucumber sandwich anyone? An unbelievable, immersive tale, guaranteed to delight dapper ladies and gents throughout the land! The cast includes Red Rose Chain favourite Laurence Pears, fresh from his sell-out performances in West End hits The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong to play the charming and cheeky Algernon ‘Algy’ Moncrieff. Alongside is RRC Associate Artist, Lawrence Russell as the seemingly straight-laced Jack Worthing – this is a dream comedy pairing not to be missed!

King Raedwald’s Return is a cantata taken from The King’s River, and is just one of the pieces included in Woodbridge Choral Society’s concert, under the baton of Andrew Leach. The opera commemorates King Raedwald, the earliest Christian king of East Anglia, who, it is thought, was buried at Sutton Hoo in AD 624, and the discovery of the burial ship and treasure in the 1930s.

Red Rose Chain has dementia-friendly performances and matinee tea parties, please give their friendly box office team a call to talk through your visit.

INFORMATION Tickets: Evenings – adults £21, over 60s £17.50, concessions £10. Matinees – all tickets £10 Box Office: 01473 603388 www.redrosechain.com

The five soloists taking part are from the Royal Northern College of Music. Benjamin Lewis (baritone), Michaela Parry (mezzo) and Aidan Edwards (baritone) each of whom has won the Elizabeth Harwood prize. Isabella Gage (soprano) and Alexander Banfield (tenor) who are post graduate singers. The programme also includes, Handel Zadok the Priest, Purcell Dido’s Lament, Verdi Pieta, Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Britten The Courtly Dances from Gloriana.

INFORMATION Tickets: £7.50 – £22 Box office: 01728 687110 www.snapemaltings.co.uk

EssentialSUFFOLK

OPPORTUNITY “At all levels of the school, pupils’ attitudes to learning are excellent. They have naturally enquiring minds, eagerly express their own perceptive opinions and question probingly. They are enthusiastic and willing learners with a thirst for knowledge.” ISI Report 2016

FORTHCOMING OPEN MORNINGS 2017

QUEEN’S HOUSE & THE ABBEY OPEN MORNING Saturday 6 May 10am to 12.30pm

SENIOR SCHOOL DROP-IN MORNING Friday 5 May 9.30am to 12 noon

For more information, or to book a personal visit, please contact our admissions team: 01394 615041 www.woodbridgeschool.org.uk

Mini Previews

BEST OF BE FESTIVAL New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich. April 27 and 28 Travel across Europe in one exhilarating night with three of BE Festival’s favourite stage performances from across the continent. Late spring marks the annual tour of Birmingham’s BE Festival as performers pack their bags and journey up and down the country with three of their favourite European shows from last year's summer festival.

SPAMALOT Mercury Theatre Colchester. April 21 – May 13

With the impending political separation of the UK from Europe, festival organisers believe there has never been a better time to celebrate cross continental creativity. The directors of Birmingham’s BE Festival are Spaniards, Miguel Oyarzun and Isla Aguilar who came across the idea of building a pan-European festival community back in 2009. In those eight years, the festival's resolve to showcase a range of new and emerging performers from across Europe, has grown ever stronger.

What’s not to love about Monty Python? Unsurprising then that The Mercury Theatre Colchester is looking forward to its first musical of the season, Eric Idle’s hysterical masterpiece, Spamalot. Lovingly ripped off from the hugely successful 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot is a riotous comedy full of misfit knights, killer rabbits, dancing nuns and ferocious Frenchmen. We join King Arthur as he travels around the land, gathering his Knights of the Round Table. This band of hapless adventurers is then tasked with a divine mission to locate the elusive Holy Grail – with uproarious consequences. With comic tunes including Brave Sir Robin, We’re Knights of the Round Table and perennial favourite Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, Spamalot audiences are sure to be dancing in the aisles.

Each year the festival invites performers and companies to a festival of performing arts with a whole range of genrebending and border-crossing theatre, dance, circus, visual arts, comedy, food and music shows with activities, debates and workshops.

Spamalot will be directed by Daniel Buckroyd, Artistic Director of the Mercury Theatre Colchester. Daniel said, “Spamalot is an incredible show, and we’re looking forward to giving it the Made in Colchester treatment. We’ve assembled a brilliantly talented cast of 11 performers, including some Mercury favourites. Around half of the Colchester cast will also tour the UK with this production.”

The following year it sends three favourites on the road – giving theatres and audiences around the country a sense of the ethos of the festival where creative disciplines are blurred and the relationships between audience and artist, stage and auditorium are reconfigured. Every date of the tour includes three separate shows, each lasting 30 minutes, with companies from Italy, Switzerland and Germany on stage.

INFORMATION Tickets: £27 – £12 Box Office: 01206 573948 www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

INFORMATION Tickets: £10 – £20.50 Box office: 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

EssentialSUFFOLK

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LIFE IS IN THE DETAILS THE NEW V40 R-DESIGN With its distinctive 17” Diamond Cut Alloys, adaptive digital display, Thor’s Hammer headlights and more, the new Volvo V40 R-Design is crafted down to the last detail. And when you experience all these details working in harmony, the car truly comes to life.

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The V40 T2 R-Design. Including maintenance. Initial rental is £2,388, 8,000 miles per annum, with a 24 month agreement and excess mileage charges apply. FIND OUT MORE AT M.R.KING & SONS OR VISIT VOLVOCARSHALESWORTH.CO.UK

Official fuel consumption for the Volvo V40 T2 R-Design (manual) in MPG (1/100km): Urban 38.7 (7.3), Extra Urban 61.4 (4.6), Combined 50.4 (5.6). CO2 emissions 127g/km. MPG figures are obtained from laboratory testing intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not reflect real driving results. *Important information: M.R.King & Sons Ltd trading as M.R.King & Sons is acting as introducer. Contract hire provided by Lex Autolease Limited trading as Volvo Car Leasing, SK3 ORB. 18s & over, subject to status. You will not own the vehicle and it must be returned in good condition to avoid further charges. Excess mileage charges 17.28p per mile. Subject to availability at participating dealers. Offer ends 31/03/17. Maintenance includes routine servicing, tyres, replacement parts and repairs due to fair wear and tear. Repairs or replacements from accidental/malicious damage and damage caused by driver misuse/abuse are excluded. The vehicle must be serviced in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines and by an approved service dealer. Not available with other promotions.

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Festivals

INK& ART Spring is here and this month Suffolk’s year of festivals is getting off to a brilliant start. Anne Gould reports

he richness of Suffolk’s cultural and artistic life is something that can come as a surprise to newcomers and visitors. We are a county where we love to celebrate and how better to achieve this than with a festival. This month there are two events for the diary – the by now famous Alde Valley Spring Festival and the comparative newcomer, Ink.

INK FESTIVAL The Cut, Halesworth. April 22 and 23

East Anglia’s premier short new drama and film festival is now in its third year and encompasses new short plays, films, kids' film school and talks from industry professionals. Championing the best new scripts from East Anglian writers working with professional directors, actors and technicians the event this year, at Halesworth Cut, promises a jam-packed weekend of over 25 new short stage productions, radio plays and films.

Ink will include short stage productions, radio plays and films, inspiring workshops and talks from industry professionals. Highlights include the premiere of Stitchers – written by awardwinning novelist and writer Esther Freud who has a home in Suffolk. This looks like being a real treat as it’s being directed by Ink patron Helen Atkinson Wood, who has twice been nominated Best Female Comedy Performer. ‰

EssentialSUFFOLK

APRIL 2017

Jill Freud, Esther’s aunt and founder of Suffolk Summer Theatre, will be in a radio play, Libby Purves will be talking about ‘What gets a new play noticed’ and actor Bernard Hill, of Lord of the Rings and Titanic fame, will be on stage. For those who are interested in the musical side of performance composer Denis King (Black Beauty and Love Joy theme tunes) will give a talk on how to write lyrics for songs. Ink also has a work by its youngest playwright, a 13-year-old who has won best under 18 category previously in another competition. Among the films being shown are The Third Date by Nick Woolger and Adam Collier,

Ghostnets by Mark Bousfield and Jackpot by Huw Brenthall. Plus, as Ink aims to create a dynamic and exciting festival that offers something for everyone, this year its teaming up with the Young Filmmakers Club and MissAdventures Theatre Company to create a jam-packed and exciting children’s programme. This will include a children’s drama workshop and performance by Norfolk’s MissAdventures Theatre Company, as well as a film school with the Young Filmmakers Club.

ALDE VALLEY SPRING FESTIVAL White House Farm, Great Glemham. April 22 to May 21

INFORMATION www.inkfestival.org

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Festivals Once again the Alde Valley Spring Festival has produced an exciting programme that is focused on art but extends way beyond that to celebrate all that is good in our county. The Festival Exhibition and Open Studios has twin themes this year of ‘Quercus & Co – A Celebration of the English Oak, Woodland & local Wildlife’ and ‘Handmade’. Festival director Jason Gathorne-Hardy says his aim is, “To really celebrate the Alde Valley and East Suffolk – and also to encourage visitors to come for a few days or weekend and really embed in the area, to relax and explore on foot or by bike or car share to really get to know Suffolk and its landscape, arts, crafts and local shops in the towns and villages.” The number of artists taking part in the main Festival Exhibition this year has been reduced in order to make the visual arts more focused. “We are showing a new bronze and maquettes by Craig Hudson from a series called To the Moon and Back, which features his family dog Marley. The largest piece being a life size bronze of Marley, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier / Lurcher cross, carrying a 12ft branch. “The bronzes by Laurence Edwards are also striking this year - and it is a delight to be able to show works by Kate Giles, whose paintings are sublime. They are in their own alcove – with beautiful new bronzes by Freddy Morris from his Tangle and Variations series.” Also on show in The Old Tackroom are pigmented / hand-coloured bronzes from Maggi Hambling's Aftermath Series. It is the first time any have been shown in Suffolk, after exhibitions in London, including Somerset House.

The number of workshop residencies for traditional / heritage crafts has been expanded for 2017 with the theme, ‘Handmade’. These workshops will be open to the public at weekends and bank holidays with opportunities for visitors to talk to makers and buy or commission works from them through the Spring Festival sales desk. Craft practices represented in the 2017 workshop residency programme include chair making, knife making, spinning and felt making, bronze casting, tile making, sign writing, stained glass,

musical instrument making, leather work, spoon making and basketry. There will also be static displays of tree surgery and saw milling. The programme of events also includes writing, farm suppers, festival talks, the festival shop, Hedge Quarters pop up tea rooms, farm nature walks, farmyard cinema and the finale weekend’s Big Spring Picnic.

INFORMATION www.aldevalleyspringfestival.co.uk

EssentialSUFFOLK

APRIL 2017

THE ELIXIR OF LIFE?

In many ways dance is a universal language and the joy of moving to music appears to be timeless. Anne Gould talks to DanceEast about how dance, whatever your age, just happens to be good for your health as well

atch a toddler bounce, lopsidedly jig about and giggle when their favourite song comes on the television. Look into the eyes of an older person when they hear a lyrical tune that makes them swing and sway or tap their toes. What you’ll see is the harmonious joy of moving to music, something almost primal that’s so hardwired into our DNA that it doesn’t seem to fade over time or advancing years. You might not have been gifted with twinkle toes, the ability to hot foot it across the ballroom or the sublime artistry and athleticism of a ballet dancer but moving to music is very natural – and as various programmes at DanceEast are showing it can help combat illness and the ravages of age. Lucy Bayliss, Head of Creative Programmes at DanceEast explained they are currently running three different health courses to help elderly

essentialsuffolk.com

people with dementia, Parkinson’s disease and for fall prevention too. So far the results are remarkable. Of course DanceEast has always held an age inclusive policy for dance and since 2009, very much as a forerunner of what’s become a national and international creative movement, it’s also run ‘A Time to Dance’ aimed at the 50 plus age group. This has grown and grown and spawned a creative performance group – Encore East – which has shown its work in Ipswich, Suffolk and even at Sadler’s Wells. Lucy says the first dedicated health programme that DanceEast became involved with was Dance for Parkinson’s – set up through English National Ballet in various locations across the country, including at Jerwood Dance House in Ipswich. “The results have been overwhelmingly positive and successful,” says Lucy. Dancing has been shown to help relieve symptoms,

encourage relaxation and create a supportive social network too. “This has encouraged us to start looking at other areas and in January this year we launched Dance for Health classes for people with dementia.” Funded by a grant from Suffolk County Council Innovation Fund the weekly class at Jerwood Dance House currently attracts about 12 people and is supported by a teacher and volunteers. “The wonderful thing about this class is that the carers are involved in the class too, it gives them an opportunity to get out and enjoy themselves.” Of course it’s long been known that people with dementia often respond very positively to music and singing and this programme, says Lucy, allows them to tap into positive emotions. But it’s not just about the benefits of physical activity – each session has a social side when people have the opportunity to

Dance for Health

talk to each other, create friendships and a shared community. “Our funding will take us through to Autumn 2018 but we are already looking at alternative funding that could help us after that.” Meanwhile DanceEast has also become involved in a course that helps people who have either fallen or who are at risk of falling. It incorporates movements from two postural styles – FAME and OTAGO – which are evidence based programmes that have been shown to reduce the incidence of falls by 55 per cent.

It’s funded by Public Health in Southend and the arts and health charity AESOP and has already proved popular. If it was financially possible, she said, they’d love to run something similar in Ipswich as well. Of course you don’t have to be ill or have a condition to enjoy the health benefits of creative dance, says Lucy. A Time to Dance, which meets at the Ipswich Waterfront Dance House every Wednesday has been offering dance classes for older people for some years now and is part of a movement across the country which is gaining popularity.

“Falls for elderly people are a huge and costly problem for the NHS and reducing injury could have a big impact. Our classes, which have been launched in Southend, aim to help people with balance and control. Its exercise but the main thing is that people have a good time just like any other dance activity.”

Pam Candler, one of the founder members of this group, is 75 and says the group includes 15 people who travel from as far as Diss and Colchester for the sessions. “I used to live in Brightlingsea but only recently have moved to Ipswich because of these classes.” Unlike the majority of the

group, Pam has former dance training, with Rambert, but says the people who come along are of mixed ability, are aged from 55 upwards and it’s not all female, there are currently two men in the group but others are welcome. Taught by Mary Davies, the group has also formed Encore East – which gives performances for those who want to be more creative. “We were invited to perform at Sadler’s Wells two years ago as part of the Elixir Festival, which celebrates lifelong creativity and older artists and we are keeping our fingers crossed that we get to go again,” she added. “These classes are very satisfying, they help us keep active and over the years we’ve made friends and really got to know each other well too.” INFORMATION For more information about any of these classes visit www.danceeast.co.uk

EssentialSUFFOLK

APRIL 2017

You may not have heard of them yet, but these artists from Suffolk are all starting to make a name for themselves. Essential Suffolk takes a look at their work

HIDDEN TALENT I

n the world of art, Suffolk can be rightly proud of its heritage with connections to some of the biggest names and finest paintings in the country. So after Gainsborough and Constable, Munnings and Hambling – who will take on the baton to be our next eminent artist? Obviously time will tell but the three following artists could well be in the running.

Georgie Mason Georgie Mason is a young awardwinning artist from Kettlebaston in Suffolk whose experimentation with materials has led her to ‘paint’ with Polyfilla and mud. She’s swapped her paintbrushes for tools like windscreen wipers and the art world is starting to sit up and take notice. Since leaving university in 2014 she has been working as a professional artist with a studio in East London. Georgie’s artistic interest is in capturing the majesty and power of the natural world around her. She paints dynamic and original land/seascapes from memories and sketches of places she’s visited. With an exhibition, ‘Views from a Train’, coming up at Lavenham Hall Gallery this month there’s also going to be an opportunity to see her work close at hand. She says that it is the process of making the painting – scraping back and adding layers, taking risks and making

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discoveries – that really interests her. Georgie has never been influenced by sometimes-ephemeral trends of the contemporary art world, and instead focuses on the aesthetic, creating timeless pieces she herself would want on her wall. Her work has certainly captured the imagination of those around her as shown by an impressive list of achievements and awards in her short career. She won the Young Artists’ Prize at the Bath Society of Artists Annual Exhibition in 2015, was a finalist for the Cheffins Art Prize in Cambridge in 2015 and was shortlisted for the National Open Art Prize in 2016. Last year her work was also accepted for the highly prestigious Royal Academy Summer Exhibition – and sold on the opening day. Georgie’s Lavenham show will be based around her travels to Scotland at the end of 2016 and to Chile and Argentina earlier this year. On these trips she harvests ideas and inspiration. She says “I enjoy making sketches on the move – you have to work very fast and choose what to represent, maybe a colour or a detail that stands out. I like the fact that they capture just a quick impression of

what you saw. These can be inspirational starting points for larger pieces back in the studio.” These trips may sound like the glamorous expeditions from the age of the romantics. The reality is very different. As Georgie explains in relation to her Scottish trip last year. “I spent two weeks, alone for the most part, staying in log cabins and budget B&Bs in the North of Scotland. It was important to me to get as far away from normal London life as possible – to be completely immersed in nature and have time to really think. The trips involve a lot of drudgery to reach moments of inspiration.” Last month, Georgie was guest judge at the Young Art East competition for Suffolk school children. See the winners’ photographs on page 87.

INFORMATION ‘Views from a Train’ will be at The Lavenham Hall Gallery & Sculpture Garden, Hall Road, Lavenham, from April 29 to May 7. Open 11am to 6:30pm daily Contact 01787 249841 or 07710 329050 dentonsculpture@aol.com www.katedenton.com

Suffolk Artists

John O’connor On the picturesque estuary border between Essex and Suffolk there is a hidden artist’s retreat, which although it remains a secret to the general public, is known and receives commissions from across the globe. Sculptor John O’Connor works prolifically away from the hustle and bustle but over the last 18 years his work has become increasingly popular and is now much sought after and he has exhibited across Europe continually during his career. His interest in creating sculpture began as a hobby, which he soon discovered could be used to translate his thoughts and emotions into tangible forms, inspiring and captivating his imagination. He found that sculpture compelled him to explore the relationship between the intellectual and physical worlds, places where selfexpression and freedom could be fully embraced. As his passion for sculpture emerged, he decided to attend art school where he could cultivate his knowledge and develop his practical techniques. John trained at The Art Academy in London (then known as The Sculpture Academy) and works predominantly in bronze. His sculptures vary in size, from small works at around 25cm to life-sized. They reflect the determination and the fragility of humanity – a rare treat for the eyes and the soul in equal measure.

So where can you see his work? Amidst the glamour of celebrities and the household names of the garden design world John will be exhibiting his art works on his own stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and is once again working in collaboration with award winning garden designer James Basson. He will also be exhibiting at two other RHS shows, Chatsworth House and Hampton Court Flower Show. John also has various other events planned for this year including a collaborative exhibition on the female form at The Garage Gallery, Aldeburgh in June and next year is showing at the 2018 Art For Cure exhibition at Glemham Hall.

INFORMATION www.johnoconnorsculptor.co.uk

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Suffolk Artists

Sophie Elinor Martin You may not be familiar with the name but there’s every chance you might have seen her work. Suffolk and London artist Sophie Elinor Martin was exhibited locally at last year’s Art for Cure at Glemham Hall and she also had a sculpture in the Pigs Gone Wild event in Ipswich. Her paintings have been sold across the world and she’s shown far and wide at the Affordable Art Fair and the David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year event, and most recently her work is on show at Retreat East – a luxury private member's country club in Hemingstone.

Her website describes her as, “An animal artist like no other” and so far she has specialised in pictures of cows, stags, bears, hares, bees and various dogs including Basset Hounds, Foxhounds and Dachshunds. Combining traditional and contemporary materials such as spraypaint, plywood and charcoal – Sophie says that she aims to capture the shifting soulfulness of each and every animal she works on. INFORMATION www.semartspace.com

EssentialSUFFOLK

APRIL 2017

SPRING! SPRING! SPRING! A new season brings the chance to refresh your wardrobe with some effortless favourites. We’ve chosen these wonderfully wearable spring highlights from local independent retailers

Part Two Georgia blouse also available in navy £89.95, matching scarf available Laura Jane Boutique

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Lebek blue print top £78 Adams Apple

Fashion

Rofa jacket £199 Holly Blue Boutique

Soaked in Luxury Marella roll neck top £54.99 Laura Jane Boutique

Animal print top £42 Ninni Noo Boutique

Gold toe trainers £49.99 Ninni Noo Boutique

Flower and birds print top £48 Ninni Noo Boutique

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EssentialSUFFOLK

Fashion

APRIL 2017

Essential SUFFOLK

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STOCKISTS Adams Apple 70 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 384685 Caramel Snape Maltings. T: 01728 687467 www.caramel-aldeburgh.co.uk Holly Blue Boutique 72 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 382300 Laura Jane Boutique 89/91 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 386686 Moose Lifestyle & Interiors 20a Market Hill, Woodbridge. T: 01394382691 Blue butterfly print scarf £18.95 Ninni Noo Boutique 57 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 388655 Moose Lifestyle & Interiors Adams Apple April 2017 v3.qxp_Layout 1 14/03/2017 08:23 Page 1 Vintage Angels Hall Farm, Saxmundham Road, Aldeburgh. T: 07879 630461

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APRIL 2017

YOUR DAY, YOUR WAY

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Weddings

We are about to embark on the wedding season and if you want your wedding to shine and really stand out from the rest you need to give it the individual touch. Essential Suffolk spoke to East Anglian Wedding Planner of the Year Louise Perry for some advice

f you are getting married this year the chances are you might well have latched on to the green and cream floral trend. According to wedding planner Louise Perry, weddings this year will be marked out with lots of foliage and lots of texture with not a hint of pastel – let alone reds, or pinks or yellows or blues in any combination.

Getting ready for the Big Day... As a boutique day spa in the centre of Woodbridge we often prepare local brides and bridal parties for the ‘big day’ either with a specific bridal package or chosen treatments with a group of friends.

Wedding trends are becoming so marked that, like hemline lengths in decades past, you might one day look back at the pictures and even be able to guess the year a marriage took place by the look of it all. Trends apart Louise, who works right across East Anglia and into London, says she doesn’t encourage her clients to go for big themes. ‰

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APRIL 2017

“You don’t want to look back at your pictures or video in ten years’ time and not be happy.” So how do you make sure that your one special day is unique and stands out for you and your guests for all the right reasons? Louise says, in her experience, despite the huge myriad of options available, most people still go for something that is fairly traditional with a formal sit down meal. “Yes you do get couples who want something very Bo-Ho with a Tipi and festival theme and I had one bride who bought a dress specifically because she wanted her ceremony in a castle but that’s not for everyone. However I really feel it’s important that couples think of something that is really personal and include an element of whatever that is in their event. It’s these touches that really say something about the couple and their life together.” For some it’s very easy, they might have families with a different heritage or culture or even religions. “We had a wedding with a couple where there was Greek and Chinese heritage so the evening reception featured food from both countries. There was another couple where the groom was Canadian so we got some Mountie hats and used them as part of their day. One bride had a very favourite bloom that her mother always used to grow in the garden and that became her ‘special’ touch.

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Weddings “Another, whose husband to be was huge Arsenal fan, was given a surprise wedding cake that was a replica of the Emirates Stadium. We also had a couple who were snowboarders and they had a really classic white wedding cake but the topper had snowboards on it to represent their shared love of their sport.” Louise said that these individual touches can be used in various ways, perhaps as part of the table decorations, favours on the table, with food choices, maybe even flowers or music. “If these special touches are not quite so obvious I tell clients to go away and really think about the sort of thing they like, maybe the holidays they have been on, the things they share and then we will work to see how they can incorporate it into the wedding. I remember one wedding that came at the end of a long distance romance so we did something special with the tables at the reception, giving each one what appeared to be a random number. However each number represented special things like the number of miles they had flown to see each other. For the guests who were curious the explanation for the numbers could be found underneath the tables!”

INFORMATION Louise Perry is a bespoke award-winning, international luxury wedding planner. www.louiseperryweddings.com

YOur DreAm SuffOlk weDDINg A magnificent Tudor house set in beautiful gardens, Seckford Hall is the perfect venue for your dream wedding in Suﬀolk. Let our dedicated team organise your big day and help create fabulous, lasting memories.

New for 2017 Informal wedding Open evenings We are excited to be hosting informal wedding open evenings throughout 2017, giving you the perfect opportunity to come along to the hotel and view our Lakeside suite set up beautifully for a wedding, together with unmissable special oﬀers. Join us at our next Wedding Open Evening on ursday 20th April, 4pm to 8pm or call our Wedding co-ordinator, Bekka, on 01394 385678 for an informal chat or to book a wedding appointment.

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EssentialSUFFOLK

Health

APRIL 2017

BE BOWEL AWARE Each year, April is host to campaigns to raise awareness of two medical conditions which have their own distinctive set of symptoms but which need careful attention to noticing any changes in those signs – bowel cancer and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). What is bowel cancer? Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is spearheaded by leading charity Bowel Cancer UK to start a national conversation about bowel cancer, encouraging as many people as possible to open up and talk about the disease with family, friends, workmates or neighbours. Bowel cancer is also referred to as colorectal, colon or rectal cancer. Nearly all develop in the large bowel – two-thirds of these are in the colon and one-third in the rectum. Most bowel cancers develop from polyps, which are usually noncancerous and, once detected if caught early enough can be removed easily and successfully. The risk of bowel cancer increases with age, with over 80% occurring in people who are 60 or over (Source: Public Health England). That is why screening is so crucial, as it can detect the disease at an early stage in people with no symptoms, therefore any treatment required is likely to be more effective. Public Health England is leading the way in reminding men and women, between the ages of 60 to 74, to complete their bowel cancer screening home test kits and return them. The key message is to pay attention to your body so you notice when something is different. New symptoms can indicate something has changed; fluctuations that seem normal can be signs of something more serious and should not be ignored. What symptoms should I look out for? You should see your GP if you notice any changes in normal bowel habits that continue for more than three weeks. These include: diarrhoea, constipation frequency of passing stool.

Other symptoms of bowel cancer can be: bleeding from the bottom and/or blood in stools, unexplained weight loss, vomiting, feeling bloated, extreme tiredness for no obvious reason, a pain or lump in the abdomen. If you are worried about any symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor – early detection can make all the difference. Over 90% or people who are diagnosed at the earliest stage are successfully treated. The good news is bowel cancer is relatively rare in people under 50. Only around 2,400 people are diagnosed under the age of 50 every year in the UK, which is just 6% of the 41,000 people diagnosed annually (source: Bowel Cancer UK). Am I more at risk than others? Both men and women can be affected, and family history can play a part. People with a first degree relative (such as mother, father, brother, sister, child) under 45 or with two or more first degree relatives with bowel cancer may be considered for further testing. A sedentary lifestyle and a poor diet low in fresh fruit and vegetables may increase the risk, as can a high intake of red and processed meat, smoking and excess alcohol. Treatment and outlook Bowel cancer can be treated using a combination of different options, depending on where the cancer is exactly and how far it has advanced at the time of diagnosis. If it is confined to the bowel, surgery will usually be able to completely remove it. Overall, between seven and eight in every 10 people with bowel cancer will live at least one year after diagnosis and more than half of those diagnosed will live at least another 10 years (source: Cancer Research UK). What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? April is also IBS awareness month, which is a very common disorder of the gastrointestinal (digestive) tract. If you have IBS you are not alone – IBS is thought to affect up to one in five people

at some point in their life, usually developing between the ages of 20 to 30 with around twice as many women being affected as men (source: NHS.uk). Yet many people remain undiagnosed and unaware that their symptoms indicate a medical condition. Typical symptoms are abdominal pain or cramping and irregular bowel function, including diarrhoea which may be followed by constipation a few days later. Although there is currently no cure for IBS, there are ways to improve symptoms and feel better. What causes IBS? The exact causes of IBS are unknown although several factors including a change in diet or stress and anxiety are thought to trigger it. IBS can also develop after recovery from another gastrointestinal disorder such as food poisoning. The common food triggers are: alcohol, fizzy drinks, chocolate, caffeine in drinks – such as tea, coffee or cola, processed snacks – such as crisps and biscuits, fatty or fried food. If you have signs of IBS, it is crucial to get an accurate diagnosis. Visit your GP in the first instance who may recommend tests to rule out any other gastrointestinal disorders. Working with your doctor and being proactive in managing your own health are important in effectively handling the symptoms. How is IBS treated? The symptoms of IBS often ease or settle without treatment, and any treatment will depend on the particular symptoms being experienced. It could include dietary restrictions so you may be asked to keep a food diary to help identify foods that may trigger symptoms. There are medications available to ease intestinal spasms (antispasm medication) which may also be recommended, as could diarrhoea or constipation remedies. Anxiety or depression can exacerbate IBS symptoms but with appropriate medical and psychological treatment if required, you should be able to live a normal, full and active life with IBS.

Call 01473 851960 for further information on how to book an appointment with a consultant or private GP. Nuffield Health Ipswich Hospital offers a comprehensive range of general surgery, colorectal and gastroenterology services, and extensive diagnostic and imaging facilities. If you are worried about either of these conditions, or have any concerns or questions, contact us for details of how to access services. www.nuffieldhealth.com/ipswichhospital 48

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Finance

TIME TO REVIEW YOUR WILL? Neil Hewitt, financial planning director at Scrutton Bland explains the new change to Inheritance Tax rules. Until 2007, it was standard advice to people whose estates would potentially be liable to pay Inheritance Tax to include a trust in their will, into which part of the value of the estate would pass. However, in most cases, this is no longer appropriate. The reason for setting up the trust was that Inheritance Tax is not payable on the first slice of the value of an estate, referred to as the ‘nil rate band’, which currently stands at £325,000. However, estates passing between spouses and civil partners are wholly exempt from Inheritance Tax, so the nil rate band would not be used. The trusts traditionally drafted by solicitors to address the issue would name the deceased’s spouse as a beneficiary, but avoided the tax consequences which would have arisen if the assets had been bequeathed directly to the spouse. However, as increases in house prices pushed the value of an increasing number of estates above the nil rate band, the Government decided to allow all spouses to achieve a similar objective to the trust arrangement, by permitting the value of the nil rate band to be transferred to the surviving spouse. Many wills still include these trusts, and they continue to be effective and indeed to offer some advantages over the transferable nil rate band.

Neil Hewitt

All this will change from 6 April 2017, when an additional nil rate band, known as the family home allowance, will be introduced for the benefit of home owners. This entitles ‘direct descendants’ of a deceased person who have inherited the family home to an additional £100,000 allowance, on top of their existing £325,000 Inheritance Tax exemption. This allowance will increase each year until it reaches £175,000 by the tax year 2020/21. Combining the nil rate band and the family home allowance will eventually provide exemption from tax for estates worth £1 million. However, it is only available if the home goes to ‘direct descendants’, so would not apply if the property is left to nieces or nephews for example, or brothers or sisters. It will also not be available for trust arrangements, which is why wills containing such arrangements may need to be re-written. The family home allowance is clawed back from estates worth over £2 million, so in these cases it might be advantageous to keep the trust arrangements in place. For more advice on Inheritance Tax, trusts and financial planning for your future, contact Neil at neil.hewitt@scruttonbland.co.uk or call 01473 267000 or Scrutton Bland are running a series of regional roadshows on Inheritance Tax planning, see our website www.scruttonbland.co.uk or phone for more details. Scrutton Bland Financial Services Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Quality Carpets & Flooring Excellent Service Highly Competitive Prices from the Largest Independent Stockists in the area Established in 1981 EB Carpets have over 30 years of successful trading in which time we have built a reputation for supplying quality products with service to match. A family firm we are the area’s largest independent stockist of all types of floor coverings and our fully trained team can advise on the ideal solutions for both domestic and commercial use. We recognise our customers want both quality and value for money and pride ourselves on consistently delivering both. We are happy to offer free estimates so whatever you are looking for please give us a call. We look forward to helping you.

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EssentialSUFFOLK

APRIL 2017

SOMETHING IN THE AIR

The Air Manage Suffolk team: (left to right) Ollie Weller, Tim Day and Harry Embleton

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Business Profile | Air Manage Suffolk

With a track record of success in London, a new entrant to the holiday let market called Air Manage Suffolk is coming to the coast. Essential Suffolk finds out more

n August 2014 Tim Day, an estate agent in London, decided to holiday let his own apartment in Earl’s Court on airbnb (the globally successful holiday letting platform) while he was on holiday in Italy. “It really was a nobrainer… the rent I got from letting my flat to a Japanese couple for three weeks paid for the entire cost of my summer holiday” enthused Tim. He continued to offer his property on airbnb for weekend stays and within a very short space of time, bookings started to fill up. “It was an interesting exercise for me to go through, in that I was doing everything from the cleaning and pressing the bed linen down to the actual check-in. It was hands-on and at times fairly hectic, but it taught me about providing good service and the need to maintain standards”. After such a positive experience from holiday letting his own property on airbnb, Tim then went on to offer his own clients an airbnb management service which gave them a lucrative alternative to long term letting and allowed them to stay in their property when they wanted. “It was quickly apparent that owners in London liked the flexibility that holiday letting gave them”. Fast forward to present day and Tim and his team at Air Manage now represent over 50 properties in London and have generated 450 glowing reviews on airbnb. After Tim bought a house in Orford last year, it was an obvious move to take his Air Manage brand to Suffolk. “We have a proven track record in London and we are now entering the Suffolk holiday letting market with something completely different”. Tim's vision of making an impact in the Suffolk Coastal market moved ahead swiftly when he teamed up with Harry Embleton and Ollie Weller both of whom grew up around Aldeburgh and share Tim’s entrepreneurial spirit and desire to offer owners and guests an entirely different holiday letting experience. From this Air Manage Suffolk was born.

Essential Suffolk magazine was interested to hear how Air Manage Suffolk would be able to compete in a relatively crowded market place. “We are mindful that we have strong competitors; however we are seriously raising the bar here. After extensive work we have produced a service offer that exceeds anything that is currently available and really takes full advantage of both the traditional and modern methods of holiday letting.” It is clear that Tim and Harry have toiled hard to scrutinise every single aspect of the current market. “We realised that owners were being locked into what we consider unfavourable contracts with minimal hands-on management – we will be changing this.” Tim is confident that the model that Air Manage Suffolk has adopted is based on flexibility, trust and customer service. “The ability for every guest to leave an honest review online, in a prominent position, means that we take the utmost care in providing an impeccable service because we appreciate that we are held directly accountable to reviews.” They certainly have made a good impression in London and are fully equipped to repeat that in Suffolk. They aim to check in all guests on arrival and are on hand to answer any queries guests may have 24/7. They are offering owners favourable payment terms whereby they pay the rental income within a week of the guest moving in. When guests leave a property, they send in their team of professional cleaners that will also replenish household items. “The bottom line is that our landlords will make more money and we sort out the cleaning”. Air Manage Suffolk will not only be using the airbnb holiday let platform to market their properties but also Owners Direct & holidaylettings.co.uk (part of the Trip Advisor group). “The sum of the parts is that we will be giving our properties significant online marketing exposure which will drive enquiries and bookings for our clients”.

INFORMATION If you have a property or accommodation that you’d like to let and are interested in our innovative flexible service contact Harry Embleton on 01728 677 989, email hello@airmanagesuffolk.com or visit our website at www.airmanagesuffolk.com

EssentialSUFFOLK

APRIL 2017

PUB WALKS

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with Darcy This month Darcy revisits Hasketon near Woodbridge and the impressive Turks Head

Oaktree Farm

Hall Farm

9 8

Alternative route

Last month we brought you Darcy’s longest pub walk to date exploring the countryside around Westleton and Dunwich. This month we bring you one of her shortest, but none the less enjoyable ones, from the labyrinth village that is Hasketon. For such a small village I always think that Hasketon has more ways in and out than many major towns. It always seems there is a new way to approach it and for me still has many surprise moments of “ahh so this is where that path/road emerges…” This month’s walk, a combination of fields, picturesque paths and quiet roads, has helped me join up a few more pieces of the jigsaw and, at just over two miles, is a perfect walk when time may not be on your side. My wife has already earmarked it as excellent for an evening ‘stroll’ obviously followed by refreshment at the extremely dog friendly Turks Head. I think if our dogs could express a preference they too would highly recommend it but I think that may in part have something to do with the gravy bone treats the friendly bar staff shower them with!

www.christchurchvets.co.uk

Red Barn HASKETON 2

Works

La Mill

3 Mill Farm

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13 PH 1 14

THE WALK Distance: Approx. 2.25 miles Time: Approx. 45 minutes to 1 hour Terrain: Varied. Paths, quiet country lanes, field edges. Stops: The Turks Head Ordinance Survey Map: Explorer 212 Start Point OS reference: 247 507 As always please keep your dog under close control and follow any advisory signs. For a printable version of this and previous walks go to: www.essentialsuffolk.com/dog-walks where you will also find more pictures of each walk route.

1. From the pub turn right and walk on the road for approx. 100yds until you reach a Footpath (FP) sign on your left by Lantern House. 2. Turn left and follow the woodland path as it opens out into a meadow. Cross a small wooden bridge and continue to the road. 3. At the road turn right and walk for approx. 60 yds. until you reach a FP sign on your right. 4. Turn right and follow the path which skirts equestrian paddocks. In quick succession pass through a metal gate, cross the stile (or the gate to its side) and then another metal gate. Continue through to the right hand corner of field where there is a small gate in the hedge and small access road for the work units. Pass through the gate and turn left until you reach the road. 5. At the road turn right and walk for approx. 110yds where you will come to a FP sign on your left. (*See note) 6. Follow the path across the field aiming for the trees that you will see in front of you. Once you reach the trees continue straight ahead with the trees now on your left and continue until you reach the road. 7. At the road turn right and walk for approx. 250 yds. until you meet a junction. 8. At the junction turn left and follow the road for a further 250 yds. until you meet a FP sign on your right. 9. Turn right and follow the path straight ahead until you reach a track. 10. Turn right and walk until you come to a junction with a house on your right. 11. At the road turn left and walk for approx. 350 yds. until you meet a FP sign on your right. 12. At the sign turn right and follow the track until you come to ‘Red Barn’ on your right. 13. As you pass ‘Red Barn’ you will see a FP yellow disc immediately on your left by the wooden gate.Turn left and head diagonally across the field heading for the metal gate, continue across the field and through the next metal gate then turn right. 14. At the road turn right and return to The Turks Head. * Depending on the time of year and weather the section across the field from point 6 to 7 could prove heavy underfoot.To avoid this stretch continue on the road ignoring point 6 and re-join the route at point 8 (see map).

In Suffolk we are blessed with fabulous produce and we like to take full advantage of it creating imaginative seasonal dishes, from a humble sandwich to a fabulous Sunday roast. We have a regularly changing list of local ales, an extensive collection of gins and an excellent wine list. Our next ‘Beer Cider and Gin Festival’ is from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th April, with spicy street food and live music.

GREAT FOOD GREAT BEER AND FABULOUS WINES DOGS MUDDY BOOTS AND MUDDY CHILDREN WELCOME Monday to Thursday, 11am –11pm Friday to Saturday, 11am – 12 midnight Sunday, 11am to 8pm The Turks Head, Low Road, Hasketon Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 6JG 01394 610343 info@theturksheadhasketon.co.uk www.theturksheadhasketon.co.uk

EssentialSUFFOLK

APRIL 2017

PERFECT PARTNERS April is here and with it the start of the English asparagus season. Lee Griffin, Head Chef at Bruisyard Hall, has shared his mouth watering recipe pairing these delightful green spears with another of Suffolk’s great products; pork. It’s a dish packed with flavour and following Lee’s instructions simple to prepare

Photograph by Adrian Rawlinson

Having trained as a baker, Lee Griffin took his first Chef de Partie position at the 2-Rosette Swan Hotel in Southwold in 2006. He moved to Cambridge in 2009 to gain valuable experience at the 2-Michelin starred Mid-Summer House and the busy Hotel du Vin. A move to Stoke by Nayland Golf Club in 2012, under Executive Chef Alan Paton, saw Lee land his first Sous Chef position. In 2015 he moved to the newly opening Greyfriars 5-star hotel to set up the

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kitchen and develop and launch the new menus. Tragically, a close family bereavement meant Lee had to take some time out and head back to his family home in Suffolk. During this time, he worked at Bruisyard Hall when he could – helping out with weddings and events. So, when they offered him the Head Chef position last year, he was delighted to accept. “I’ve not looked back” said Lee, “It’s a fulfilling job in a beautiful place, working with a great team. I feel very lucky.”

Chef’s Recipe | Bruisyard Hall

Pork fillet stuffed with sun dried tomato and basil served with garlic butter fondant potato, asparagus and basil oil INGREDIENTS Serves 2 1 trimmed pork fillet (approx. 400g) 200g sun-dried tomatoes drained and refrigerated 1 bunch of fresh basil 60g Parma ham 2 large Maris Piper potatoes 250g (one bundle) of trimmed asparagus 2 cloves of garlic, minced 300ml chicken stock 250ml extra virgin olive oil 150g butter Salt & pepper

METHOD 1. Butterfly the pork fillet – keeping the fillet as one piece of meat, gently make a cut lengthways down the middle of the fillet – about half way through and with a rolling pin, gently flatten the meat so it’s an even 1.5cm thick. 2. Lay out three pieces of cling film approx. 10cm larger than the pork fillet on all sides. Put the three pieces on top of each other and rub with a cloth to eradicate any air bubbles. On the cling film, lay the Parma ham gently overlapping. Lay the pork fillet in the middle of the Parma ham ready to wrap it up. 3. In a blender, blitz the sun-dried tomatoes, half the basil and a pinch of salt 4. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C. 5. Peel the potatoes and cut the ends off, push through a 6cm cutter or cut into an even rectangle if you don’t have a cutter – level off the top and bottom. 6. Add a splash of olive oil into the non-stick frying pan and place over a medium heat and shallow fry your potatoes until they are golden on all sides then set aside the frying pan for later. 7. Simmer your chicken stock and add 150g of butter, a pinch of salt and pepper and the minced garlic cloves then place the potatoes and stock in a small ovenproof dish, making sure the liquid comes three-quarters of the way up the potatoes – set aside for the moment. 8. Take the sundried tomato mix and place it slightly off centre along the length of the pork fillet, leaving 3cm free of the mixture at each end. 9. Carefully roll up the fillet in the Parma ham using the cling film to aid you. Twist the ends of the cling film so it’s really tight all over. Then set aside in the fridge for half an hour. 10. To make the basil oil, blend 200ml of extra virgin olive oil, the rest of the basil, a pinch of salt and pepper in a blender until smooth. 11. Put the fondant potatoes in the oven and set a timer for 45 mins. 12. Get the pork fillet from the fridge and add a dash of olive oil to your frying pan. Remove the cling film from the pork and fry over a high heat until golden brown all over. 13. Transfer to an ovenproof dish and, when there is 15 mins of cooking time left on the fondant potatoes, place the pork in the oven. 14. Put a pan of water on to boil with a pinch of salt and simmer your asparagus for 3 – 4 minutes. 15. In a clean frying pan, melt a nob of butter with a pinch of salt and pepper. 16. Drain the asparagus and pop it in the melted butter on a low heat for 3 minutes. There should still be a light crunch to the stems. 17. With 5 minutes cooking time left on the potatoes, take the pork out of the oven and place on a chopping board to rest. 18. Once the 45 minutes have elapsed, remove the fondant potatoes from the oven and pat dry with kitchen roll. Place the potatoes on the plates. 19. Trim the ends off the pork fillet and slice diagonally into approx. 2.5cm slices and add to the plates. 20. To finish add the asparagus and drizzle the basil oil over the dish.

Weddings -Pa rt ies -C el ebr ation s -E v en ts

Book Now for Christmas 2017

BRUS. XMAS AD. V3.indd 1

Bruisyard Hall, Bruisyard, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 2EJ Email: info@bruisyardhall.com Tel: 01728 639 000 www.bruisyardhall.com

10/03/2017 14:35

EssentialSUFFOLK

APRIL 2017

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Business Profile | Ufford Park, Woodbridge Hotel, Golf and Spa

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS AT UFFORD PARK It’s midweek in early March on a cold blustery late winter day at the tail end of what might traditionally be thought of, in the hotel trade, as low season. Never mind the weather or the time of year though, finding a free parking space at Ufford Park, Woodbridge Hotel, Golf and Spa necessitates driving round and round a huge car park to spot someone who’s on their way out. What better testament is there that business is positively thriving at this beautiful 90bedroom resort in the heart of peaceful Suffolk countryside. Inside there are new mums with their babies enjoying a coffee, gym and spa members are heading in and out, there’s a formal dinner underway for retired gentlemen in the dining room, the golf course is busy and all the meeting rooms are in use. “It’s incredible to think that it’s 25 years this April since my parents first opened the doors for business and to see how much it’s changed,” says Managing Director Tarnia Robertson. “My parents Colin and Shirley Aldous first brought the property in 1991 as a shell, as the former owners went bankrupt. They had retired from their successful building business and my father had taken up golf and used to come up here to play but then saw an opportunity. The initial plan was just to develop the property and then get someone in to run it.” However, she said, they became more and more involved and the business, built around a beautiful 18-hole par 71 golf parkland course, has just grown and grown. What started as a hotel with 25 rooms, a bar, restaurant, swimming pool, health club and the Doctorgolf Academy has not only expanded physically but it’s reputation as a perfect short break holiday destination for

golfers, families, spa breaks, corporate guests and dog owners too now spreads far and wide. Today the hotel has 90 rooms, of which two thirds have benefitted from an ongoing upgrade and refurbishment programme, the spa now includes a thermal suite, beautiful treatment rooms and also an on-site hairdressing salon. Plus Ufford Park is also a haven for golfers – built on free draining land – the course is always reliable, it never floods and can be played on all year round. For those seeking something more there’s also a two-tier driving range, Adventure Golf course and AmericanGolf superstore on site too. It also has an ever-popular well-equipped and modern health club and is popular for business conferences and weddings/ events as well. Tarnia, who took over the management of the hotel, when her parents retired again two years ago, reflects that, as a family-run business they survived the recession while many others didn’t. “In the last four or five years as the economy has started to improve things have been looking up.” This has given her an opportunity to really invest in the hotel, not just modernising and upgrading the bedrooms with new beds and decor but right throughout with the public rooms too. “In the next five years we’ll complete upgrading and refurbishing all our rooms, we’ll be improving the bar, modernising the flooring, looking at the irrigation system on the golf course with further investment in the health club and changing rooms.” Not all investment of course is quite so obvious – for instance they’ve recently had to change all the keys on the bedrooms doors because replacement

Ufford Park, Woodbridge Hotel, Golf and Spa is celebrating 25 years in business. Managing Director Tarnia Robertson talks to Essential Suffolk about this landmark anniversary parts are no longer available – there’s a similar story with some equipment at the spa as well. What she’s doing appears to be working though with customers and a lot of repeat business locally and right across East Anglia, London and into Kent. But Tarnia has also been mindful to invest in the business too recognising that her staff are a key part of what the hotel does. “We have 60 people who work here full time and in peak season there are a further 60 -70 casual workers.” In looking to the future, when she took over as MD, Tarnia decided to visit and work in every part of the business and that included everything from doing a stint as night manager and working in the kitchen. This has given her an insight into what their problems are and how things could be improved. “I felt it was important to introduce systems and structures so I could work with heads of departments to improve the way everything runs.” Part of this includes regular training – consultants in hospitality coaching visit every other month for instance. She has also introduced regular meeting structures so that as a business they could look at driving revenue, which in turn can be used to reinvest in the business. On May 4th Tarnia and everyone at the hotel will be celebrating their 25th anniversary – a time perhaps to reflect on the successes of the past. It’s also, says Tarnia, “An exciting new chapter to look forward to.

INFORMATION Ufford Park, Yarmouth Rd, Melton, Woodbridge, IP12 1QW Tel: 0844 847 9467 reception@uffordpark.co.uk www.uffordpark.co.uk

EssentialSUFFOLK

APRIL 2017

The Coach & Horses

The Oyster Inn

The Fox

The Coach & Horses located just outside of Woodbridge, has extremely good access to the A12 with ample parking. Originally a staging inn or coach house, it’s historical role is equally well served today providing great family food. We offer a great combination of quality, value and atmosphere that the Deben Inns are renowned for. See our website for details of our menus.

Recently renovated, The Oyster Inn is a 17th century pub in the village of Butley between Woodbridge and Orford. It has reopened as a traditional village pub, serving real ale and home-style pub food. The pub is open for simple lunches and dinner daily, and welcomes cyclists and weary walkers. Situated next to Rendlesham Forest, the pub is dog-friendly and has a landscaped beer garden and plenty of parking.

Imagine a chocolate box style village pub, beaming with pinkness, beautiful tranquil gardens and flowers around the door. Add a loyal and friendly clientele and great food and you’ll wish you had discovered us sooner. Fine locally sourced food is offered seven days a week, all day at weekends and this is complimented by an ever changing range of guest ales and wines. See our website for details of our menus.

Open: Sunday to Thursday, 11am to 11pm. Friday and Saturday, 11am to 11.30pm. Food served: Monday to Thursday, 12 noon to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm. Friday to Sunday, all day.

Open: Monday to Saturday 11am to 11pm Sunday 12 noon to 10.30pm Food served 7 days a week.

Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1PD

The Street, Butley, Woodbridge Suffolk IP12 3NZ

The Street, Newbourne, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 4NY

01394 384851 coachandhorses@debeninns.co.uk www.debeninns.co.uk

01394 459722 contact@butleyoyster.com www.butleyoyster.com

01473 736307 fox@debeninns.co.uk www.debeninns.co.uk

The Fountain

Sibton White Horse

Butt & Oyster

Located in the lovely old village of Tuddenham St Martin, three miles north of Ipswich, informal bistro style restaurant set in an oldie worldy 16th century country pub with great food, great service and great value. Full A La Carte menu plus set price menus; two courses £14.95, three courses £17.95. Current specials always included on the website. Sunday lunch served 12 noon to 7pm. Covered heated patio and spacious beer garden.

A 16th century unspoilt destination inn set in the heart of the Suffolk countryside. A memorable experience is waiting at The Good Pub Guide’s Suffolk Dining Pub of the Year 2016.’ Relax with a pint of local cask beer or a glass of wine beside the log burner and absorb the atmosphere and charm of such a wonderful building. Indulge in our delicious thoughtfully crafted menu. Built upon local, seasonal ingredients we offer an easy and unpretentious service, grounded in the tradition of the English inn.

The Butt & Oyster is one of the best known public houses in Suffolk renowned for its good beer, good food and great views. As you eat watch the changing tides on traditional timeless shores. Understand an artist’s inspiration with Thames barges, swans and the river, enjoying the finest Suffolk ales whilst being tempted by the wonderful aromas which welcome you. See our website for details of our menus.

Open: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 11pm Sunday, 12 noon to 10.30pm Food served 7 days a week.

Open: Monday to Friday, 12 noon to 2pm and 6pm to 9pm. Saturday, 12 noon to 2pm and 6pm to 9.30pm. Sunday, 12pm to 7pm

Open: 12pm to 2.30pm Tuesday to Saturday, 6.30pm to 11pm. Monday to Saturday 12pm to 3pm, 6.45pm to 10.30pm Sunday

The Street, Tuddenham St. Martin, IP6 9BT

Halesworth Road, Sibton, Nr. Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 2JJ

01473 785377 fountainpub@btconnect.com www.tuddenhamfountain.co.uk

01728 660337 info@sibtonwhitehorseinn.co.uk www.sibtonwhitehorseinn.co.uk

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Open: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 11pm. Sunday, 12pm to 10.30pm Food served 7 days a week. Pin Mill, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 1JW 01473 780764 buttandoyster@debeninns.co.uk www.debeninns.co.uk

Food Gallery

The Artisan Smokehouse

The Maybush

Ufford Park

The Maybush Inn sits on the banks of the Deben in Waldringfield. The busy riverside pub and restaurant affords panoramic views across the river and beyond. The Maybush has become famous for its excellent food offering with a wide range and varied menu including local game, meats and fresh seafood. Vegetarian options and children’s menu available. Food offers are available throughout the week. See our website for details.

Open every day,The Park Restaurant offers a relaxed atmosphere, local produce and a seasonally-changing menu. You can enjoy Sunday Lunch in both the restaurant and bar and this is priced accordingly. Join us Easter Sunday, 16th April and sit back and relax with local saxophonist playing between12 noon until 2pm. Afternoon Tea is served throughout the year and this is priced at just £15.95 per person. All party sizes can be accommodated. Open to all; non-members welcome.

Open: Monday to Saturday 11am to 11pm Sunday 12 noon to 10.30pm Food served 7 days a week.

Open: Monday to Sunday 6.30pm to 9.30pm Sunday Lunch in The Park Restaurant served 12 noon – 2pm

Open: Thursday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm. Please see website for variations in opening. Food served all day – breakfast until 11.30am

Cliff Road, Waldringfield, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 4QL

Yarmouth Road, Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1QW

Goose Barn, Back Road, Falkenham, IP10 0QR

01473 736215 maybush@debeninns.co.uk www.debeninns.co.uk

0844 847 9467 reception@uffordpark.co.uk www.uffordpark.co.uk

01394 448414 info@artisansmokehouse.co.uk www.artisansmokehouse.co.uk

Seckford Hall

Fynn Valley

The Turks Head

Open to everyone, not just golfers, this is the place you bring your family and friends for a wide range of tempting meals prepared by our talented chefs. Enjoy a home made bar meal or daily special in the cosy Courtyard Bar, utilising great local produce. Al fresco dining in the sheltered Courtyard is a popular option. Sunday Lunches are served in The Terrace overlooking the golf course, all freshly roasted on the day and children eat free! The spacious Valley Room is perfect for large family celebrations. Full details of our menus and offers can be found on our website.

At The Turk’s Head we serve local ales, fantastic wines & beautifully executed food using the abundance of local produce Suffolk has to offer. We have launched a set lunch menu from Monday to Friday, £15 for two courses, £18 for three. We are hosting our next ‘Supper and Quiz Night’ on 19th April. We will be hosting our second ‘Beer, Cider and Gin Festival’ from 28th to 30th April. Dogs, muddy boots and muddy children welcome.

1530 Restaurant Perfect for business or pleasure, the talented team of chefs at Seckford Hall turn local produce into mouth-watering dishes, with seasonally changing menus. The philosophy of 1530 is to offer the freshest food, cooked simply and beautifully presented, in a classic style at reasonable prices. Quote ‘Essential Suffolk magazine’ when ordering a main course in our 1530 restaurant and receive a complimentary glass of house red or white wine. Offer available until 30.4.17. Open: Lunch: A la carte 12pm – 2pm daily. Afternoon Tea: served 3pm – 5pm daily. Bar: Tudor Bar menu served 12pm – 6pm daily. Dinner: A la carte Sun to Thurs 6.30pm – 9.30pm, Fri and Sat 6.30pm –10pm Seckford Hall Hotel, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 6NU 01394 385678 reception@seckford.co.uk www.seckford.co.uk

Café & Deli Set in the lovely village of Falkenham, near Felixstowe, with wonderful countryside views. Join us in our licensed café, where all the smoked foods are hand-made on site. Enjoy breakfast, coffee & cake, and light meals including smoked meat and fish platters, cheese boards, sandwiches and salads. While you’re here why not grab something to take home from our deli, which stocks a wide range of products, including our own award-winning smoked foods.

Open: Open every lunchtime and Tuesday – Saturday evenings.

Open: Monday to Thursday 11am to 11pm, Friday to Saturday 11am to 12am, Sunday 11am to 8pm

Fynn Valley Golf Club, Witnesham, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP6 9JA

Low Road, Hasketon, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 6JG

01473 785202 restaurant@fynn-valley.co.uk www.fynn-valley.co.uk

01394 610343 info@theturksheadhasketon.co.uk www.theturksheadhasketon.co.uk

EssentialSUFFOLK

Making an entrance with Hall Brothers’ Staircases & Flooring First impressions count and that’s why it’s important that your hallway creates a warm welcome. Maybe it could benefit from a re-vamp, with a stunning new staircase or high quality wooden flooring? Perhaps you want to introduce a more contemporary feel to your property that will add value too? Whatever type of home you live in – a period property, a barn conversion or a modern house – Hall Brothers’ staircase designs will complement your style and space. We can also offer wooden flooring to match and feature windows to complete the look.

Traditional skills

At Hall Brothers, Builders & Joiners, we’re traditional craftsmen who take an oldfashioned pride in our work.

A hand-crafted staircase gives us the perfect opportunity to showcase our traditional skills to create a stunning focal point in your home. Whether this is creating a new one from scratch or refurbishing your existing staircase with oak cladding, each project is unique to each customer so you can be sure it is made to measure and complements your home.

Our three-generation family business was started by Reginald Hall and then Roy Hall and is now run by two brothers, Philip and Richard, who share a love for wood and an eye for detail. With customers throughout East Anglia, we have built up an outstanding reputation for exceptional standards of design, executed with meticulous attention to detail and the highest quality construction.

When it comes to the finishing touches, we’ll also advise on exactly the right spindles, balustrades, newels and handrails to complement the overall design. And why not complete the look with our high quality wood flooring that will last for generations and provide a perfect entrance to your home? Options include purpose machined solid wooden tongue and groove flooring or natural wood veneered flooring and you can choose from Oak, Maple or Douglas Fir timber to match your staircase, with an oiled or lacquered finish.

Individual touch Our highly experienced team will work with you to create a staircase design that in unique to you, your space and style. From straight flights to winding or turning with angled, half and quarter landings, each staircase is made individually from our range of top grade FAS hardwoods. We also believe in using oversized and thicker strings – the timbers that form the backbone of the construction – to give greater strength and to reduce movement. If you are looking for a more contemporary look, we can incorporate features such as glass side panels for a stunning finish.

For more information on our staircases and flooring – or any of our products including windows and doors, kitchens or orangeries and garden rooms – please visit our website www.hall-brothers.co.uk or telephone 01473 365167 / 01206 298746 to request our brochure.

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Traditional craftsmanship, first-class products – A love for wood and an eye for detail For 50 years we have been creating beautifully-crafted products from wood. Every project is as individual as our client’s brief and designed to complement the home it is for, whether it is a period property, a barn conversion or a contemporary residence. For more information call 01206 298746 / 01473 365167 or visit www.hall-brothers.co.uk

SOFT FOCUS Bespoke cushions: top and middle one-off Batik cushion (pair available –100% cotton), bottom is ‘Simla Silk’ in Harbour (100% silk) Red House Textiles

There are some stunning fabric choices this Spring, and these beautiful ranges are available from leading independent Suffolk retailers Choosing cushions can seem like a bit of a minefield as there are so many variables; size, shape, filling, colour and texture to name a few. The key is to decide which will remain firm and then set your creativity free. For example these colourful scatter cushions (above right) from Rendall & Wright are a uniform size and shape but use bold colours and textures that reflect the overall room scheme. Alternatively this window-seat collection from Neptune (below) mixes sizes, shapes and textures but within a narrow colour palette. Whatever your need we hope you’ll find inspiration in the next few pages.

Studio G ‘Wilderness Collection’ frabirc from £15 per metre Barretts of Woodbridge

essentialsuffolk.com

Arthur stool (available in 49 fabrics) from £405, scatter cushions from the extensive range availabe at Neptune

Homes & Interiors

Little Venice Rendall & Wright

Rendall & Wright April 17 half B.qxp_Layout 1 17/03/2017 11:51 Page 1

Rendall Wright

Award winning interior design, creating beautiful, elegant and timeless interiors in the heart of Suffolk

01787 375076 â&#x20AC;˘ info@rendallandwright.com www.rendallandwright.com EssentialSUFFOLK

APRIL 2017

Sanderson Art of the Garden Fabric from £46 Wallpaper from£54 per roll Barretts of Woodbridge

'Silwood Silk' in French Grey (100% silk) Red House Textiles

Harlequin Momentum 8 fabric from £32m, wallpaper from £54 roll Barretts of Woodbridge

THE LUXURY OF WOOL UNDERFOOT... Suffolk Carpet Weavers is a name synonymous with quality carpets made right here in Great Britain. Although over the years the company has moved away from weaving their own carpets on the premises, their eye for detail and knowledge of what makes a really good flooring which lasts hasn’t changed. Since their move to showrooms at Martlesham they now also offer a wide range of luxury vinyl floorings too. Customers return time and time again due to their ability to create something bespoke, if needed, at factory prices, whether it’s a complete flooring solution for your home or office or maybe just a simple rug, whipped and bound to match your current carpets. No matter how large or small the job – the team at Suffolk Carpet Weavers are happy to advise you.

With over 60 years expertise in the industry they can tell you what type of product is best for individual room types. From something tough and stain resistant for those heavy traffic areas to a softer and more luxurious carpet for those places where you take time to relax. They even stock a small selection of remnants too. For helpful and friendly advice from the experts, call in to their showrooms at Unit 5, Bridge Business Park, Top Street, Martlesham Heath, IP12 4RB, call them on 01394 610202, Like them on Facebook or take a look at www.suffolkcarpetweavers.com

Suffolk Carpet Weavers Unit 5 Bridge Business Park,Top Street Martlesham IP12 4RB

essentialsuffolk.com

Open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm Saturdays 9am – 1pm (excluding bank holidays)

01394 610202 www.suffolkcarpetweavers.com

Homes & Interiors

Essential SUFFOLK

always proud ~ to feature ~

LOCAL RETAILERS

20% off fabrics by Sanderson, Morris & Co, Harlequin and Fryetts (image is Fryetts) Glasswells

Olivia armchair (available in 49 fabrics) from ÂŁ1210, scatter cushions and throw from the extensive range availabe at Neptune

Large George sofa (available in 49 fabrics) from ÂŁ1910, scatter cushions from the extensive range availabe at Neptune

EssentialSUFFOLK

Homes & Interiors

APRIL 2017

Clarke & Clarke Castle Garden fabric from £35 per metre Barretts of Woodbridge

'Butterfly' in Taupe (100% silk) Red House Textiles

Bespoke cushions (left to right) ‘Nila’ in Indian Rust (Cotton/Flax mix), ‘Elmas’ in Charcoal Grey and Indian Rust (Cotton/Flax mix), One-off Batik cushion (pair available – 100% cotton), One-off Batik cushion (pair available-100% cotton), ‘Karo’ in Fawn (Cotton/Flax mix), One-off Batik cushion (pair available – 100% cotton), ‘Honeycomb’ in Ivory on Natural (100% silk) Red House Textiles

STOCKISTS Barretts of Woodbridge 40 – 42 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 384300 www.barretts.co.uk Glasswells Ranelagh Road, Ipswich or Newmarket Road Bury St Edmunds T: 01473 253164 www.glasswells.co.uk Neptune 43 – 45 St Andrew’s St South, Bury St Edmunds. T: 01284 731025 www.neptuneburystedmunds.com Red House Textiles Red House Stables, The Red House, High Street, Ufford, Woodbridge. T: 01394 548110 www.redhousetextiles.com Rendall & Wright T: 01787 375076 www.rendallandwright.co.uk 66

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Antiques & Auctions

HIDDEN TALENTS

James Neal

Marmite and an artist in our midst Gatherings such as parties, weddings and even funerals often provide little nuggets which can act as the basis for an article in this splendid publication. I am often quizzed on what has been the rarest object the firm has been asked to sell or value and the choice is wide and very varied. Trends and changing lifestyles can play havoc with values and there will be many reading this article who will have encountered this phenomenon. How many of you for instance have items of Georgian furniture on your home insurance contents list which rise inexorably in insurance value on an index linked basis and have slid dramatically in market value over the same period. It’s well worth checking if you can improve your premium. But back to rarities. Advertising material can make considerable sums when marketed correctly to the right audience so you can understand that I was perplexed when my eyes alighted Woodbridge interiors April 17 1 10/03/2017 on a familiarly shaped jarhlf.qxp_Layout but with a one off label. 13:25 Page 1

Kitchens

For those of you who are lovers of marmite, you will be pleased to know of a jar residing on a shelf in Woodbridge which is probably rarer than one of the four Jane Austen ‘plastic’ five pound notes. As you will see from the illustration this fine jar is a triumph of marketing under the new brand ‘Hawkeeno’. Goodness knows the real value of this one off jar especially if the contents remain intact. I am not sure if this is an example of fake news, fake labelling or an Oscar winning performance, but I do know the owner is truly impressed by this original item. More recently, my wife and I attended the gathering at Woodbridge Golf Club after a wonderful service for a brave lady who had fought cancer with fierce determination to the end. There on the wall was her strikingly lifelike portrait, which to my surprise was the work of a well-known local Chartered Surveyor. Talk about hidden talents! I understand the individual, who has ticked the box for no publicity, so sadly no name I’m afraid, is now working his way through fourteen members of his own family. As to value, like the jar mentioned earlier, these portraits will be priceless!

Bathrooms

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APRIL 2017

NOT DIGGING IT If you want a good and fruitful garden it all starts with the soil and as garden designer and writer Catharine Howard discovers some people say you can dispense with the back-breaking digging too

week or two back I went to the Garden Press Event buried in the depths of the Barbican. Humming and hawing over whether to attend, it seemed a long jump from Framlingham. Wrong, wrong, wrong. On arrival, a bright pink cupcake got pressed into my hand and spluttering, I fell into the hands of the soil magicians. What bliss – how often does the nerdy opportunity to talk soil structure for several hours on end with a range of enthusiasts happen? When I came face to face with Charles Dowding, I really knew where my anorak was. “Charles who?” said my husband. To those of us who grow vegetables, he is the legend of No Dig and if you follow the principles that

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Dowding has tried and tested, labouring will be cut down exponentially and the health of your soil will burgeon. It is simple – digging destroys intricate soil structure and the beneficial microorganisms that dwell in it. Turned soil causes buried seeds to germinate. The use of mulches, fleeces over young crops and early diligence with a hoe are the ways to go. I have his Vegetable Garden Diary at my elbow and I love that it reminds me to prepare a new area for planting by spreading cardboard over it. The weeds will be smothered and insects and worms will get busy with processing the rotting roots. The husband is less keen on the cardboard look but it I am going to trial it and will report back.

By complete coincidence I have just got my hands on a book called ‘Good Soil’ co-written by some very savvy and design conscious Swedish ladies. How is it that a tome largely about ‘poo’ is so alluring that I can barely put it down?

Gardening

From pig muck to calcified seaweed the whole gamut of soil improving materials is lavishly illustrated and written about. I recommend this book to all new millennial gardeners. It is all too easy to start with the plant and completely ignore the exigencies of the growing medium. RFA-796-85568 Suffolk East A5 Ad-R2.pdf

24/05/2016

I remember Christopher Lloyd, now on his way to garden beatification, stating that as much should be spent on the hole as on the plant. ‘Good Soil’ takes the reader through the required plant nutrients, how to tell what soil you have from the colonising weeds and a myriad of other lore that is normally dull and in dusty text books.

And so it is that we should attend to our own compost heaps. I spend a bit of time teaching school children of the delights of recycling garden waste to feed their plants. Composted material will be great for ‘gross feeders’ and under this label consider roses, peonies, dahlias and all the vegetable crops. Add to this, generous helpings to any shrub that has been pruned heavily. Contrary to old fashioned lore, it is not a good idea to give doses of compost to perennials. It will encourage sappy growth and a failure to be selfsupporting. Consider a notion called ecological amplitude. To take the botanists’ path, it is to understand the place in nature that a given plant comes from and to emulate those conditions. A plant of the dry steppe, given a wetter nutrient soil might just burgeon crazily without the usual limiting factors. Author and designer Henk Gerritsen along with Piet Oudolf paid enormous attention to the performance of plants. The idea and book of ‘Dream Plants for the Natural Garden’ takes account of ‰

12:26

07970 100073 david@gardendesignsuffolk.com gardendesignsuffolk.com

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Gardening

APRIL 2017

lack of nutrients keeps heavy deep rooting weeds at bay. I have included a picture of a micro meadow sown into this sort of ground. To come full circle, my admiration for soil rests with the industrious activity of the immeasurable micro-organisms working under my feet. The gardener wants to do all he can to increase their activity – a mulch of rotted leaf mould or soil improver heaved onto the autumn or spring beds will go down a treat with the legions of invisible organisms. One last word: use mycorrhizal fungi when you are planting perennials, trees or shrubs. These take carbon from the host and go out and bond with beneficial fungi in the earth, encouraging the spread of healthy roots.

soil but also how the plant behaves. It all begins and ends with knowing your soil and the ‘Good Soil’ tome encourages the reader to gain that knowledge like a

cook familiar with a recipe. Don’t worry if your soil is completely barren and scraped thin. This is exactly what opportunistic meadow flowers like. The

INFORMATION Catharine Howard is a Suffolk based gardener, plantswoman and designer with many years’ experience in creating and renovating gardens. For a consultation contact her at www.thegardeningcoach.co.uk

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Property

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PROPERTY 72 73 75 76 77 79 81 82 83 84 92

Grier & Partners Jackson-Stops & Staff Savills Clarke & Simpson Neals Flick & Son Best Estates Jennie Jones Fenn Wright Bedfords Hopkins Homes

74 Woodbridge

78 Tattingstone

80 Broke Hall Park

82 Cratfield EssentialSUFFOLK

COMING SOON â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6 DUPLEX APARTMENTS THE OLD MALTINGS, LOWER STREET STRATFORD ST MARY Prices on application

A rather special and imaginative conversion of an historic Old Maltings set in the heart of Constable Country into 6 Duplex Apartments that creatively combines the traditional presence of this significant building together with retention of vaulted ceilings and existing timbers with the benefits of interior design and contemporary living space.

Each 3 Bedroom Duplex has been individually designed to take advantage of its position over 2 floors within the building and offer extremely generous living space, especially for those downsizing, ranging between 1450 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1750 sq. feet. In addition four apartments will enjoy lift access and Plots 5 and 6 will also benefit from basement / garden rooms of approx. 750 sq. feet each, balconies and outdoor space.

The finish will be a luxury high-end specification with beautiful kitchens set in an open plan environment, luxury bathrooms, gas heating, alarm system and a secure undercroft garage with 2 allocated spaces each, electric charging point as well as basement storage for bicycles etc.

Stratford St Mary is a beautiful village set in the Dedham Vale with local shop, pubs and renowned Talbooth and Milsoms restaurants. All within easy reach of Manningtree Railway station for the London commuter who relishes a Constable Country lifestyle.

PRE REGISTER YOUR INTEREST.

T: (01206) 299222 E: enquiries@grierandpartners.co.uk www.grierandpartners.co.uk

The Old Shop The Street, East Bergholt Colchester, Suffolk CO7 6TF

jackson-stops.co.uk Specialists in prime residential property

Aldeburgh Beach Front

Framlingham

an elegantly appointed 3 storey beach front house with panoramic coastal views, set nicely back from aldeburgh’s iconic crag Path.

a classic Suﬀolk farmhouse standing in 2 1 ⁄ 2 acres of gardens and grounds set oﬀ a 1 ⁄ 4 mile long private driveway.

● 3 reception rooms ● kitchen ● Study/bedroom 5 ● 4 bedrooms ● 3 bath/shower rooms ● Part-walled front garden

Guide £1,500,000

● 2 reception rooms ● Study ● kitchen & morning room ● 6 bedrooms ● 2 bath/shower rooms ● Granary annexe barn (requiring formalisation) ● Brick cart lodge garaging ● Paddocks

Guide £850,000

Offton

Melton Park

a meticulously maintained modern house with a large south facing garden with stream frontage and ﬁne rural views.

enjoying a tucked away setting next to the old chapel and with ﬁne rural views over the surrounding countryside.

Guide £665,000

Guide £495,000

● 2 reception rooms ● Stunning garden room ● kitchen/breakfast room ● Study ● 4 bedrooms ● oﬃce/playroom (potential annexe ﬂat) ● 3 bath/shower rooms ● Garaging & cart lodge ● about ½ an acre ● epc-d

● Spacious detached house ● Sitting room ● kitchen/breakfast room ● Large conservatory ● Study ● 3 bedrooms ● 4 bath/shower rooms ● Garaging ● Landscaped gardens ● ePc-d

Jonathan Penn or Tim Dansie 01473 218218 @jackson-stops.co.uk Thinking of selling? Contact us for a FREE market appraisal ational reach a network of London & Regional offices Callthrough Tim Dansie, Jonathan Penn or James Squirrell 01473 218218 ipswich@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

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Local & National reach through People Property Places

APRIL 2017

THE OLD GRANARY COTTAGE FACTS LOCATION: WOODBRIDGE GUIDE PRICE: £575,000 AGENT: MORTIMERS

ICONIC LOCATION Located in one of the most beautiful and iconic settings in Suffolk this is a rare opportunity to live on the Woodbridge quayside next to the famous Tide Mill. The Grade II listed Old Granary Cottage is set over three floors and is beautifully presented throughout. It is deceptively spacious and has been the present owner’s home for the last 20 years. Prospective buyers are not only investing in a charming period property but have the pleasure of enjoying the ever-amazing estuary landscape; with changing skies, wildlife and the yachts and barges on the river. Inside the property the entrance hall leads to the ensuite guest bedroom which offers views across the river to Sutton

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Hoo. On the first floor is the sitting room and kitchen which has windows to the front, side and rear aspects providing superb views of the river Deben, Sutton Hoo, Tide Mill and marina. The sitting room is clad in wood tongue and groove with a Delft shelf, all finished in a lime wash finish giving the room a nautical Gustavian style. There’s also an antique wall-mounted glazed bookcase a feature free-standing Esse electric stove standing on a tiled hearth, and exposed pine timber floor. The galley kitchen has views over the marina, is fully fitted with a range of base and wall units with roll-edge worktop and cupboards and drawers under.

Stairs from the sitting/dining room lead to the second floor, the master bedroom and bathroom. The bedroom is a good size, offering lots of room for large bedroom furniture and has views across the river to Sutton Hoo. Outside, to the front there is a small shingle area for alfresco dining which extends round to the side of the property.

INFORMATION Mortimers 01394 386688 To see more pictures of this property visit www.essentialsuffolk.com/property

Sibton, Nr Saxmundham From £195,000 to £550,000 The Croft is being constructed by local builders, Badger Building Ltd, and is a small development of just seven new homes ranging from 2 to 5 bedrooms. The designs have been carefully considered to provide the convenience of modern living and energy eﬃciency within a traditionally built home. Plot 2 – 2 bed terrace; Plot 3 – 3 bed terrace; Plots 4 and 6 – 4 bed detached houses with double garages; Plot 5 – 5 bed detached house with double garage; Plot 7 – 3 bed detached bungalow with double garage. Ref: 5692

Walpole, Nr Halesworth £297,000

Framlingham £295,000

A 4 bedroom detached cottage presented in a beautiful yet rustic style, situated on the edge of the village of Walpole, just a few minutes from Halesworth. Entrance hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, utility room and downstairs shower room. 4 first floor bedrooms and bathroom. Oﬀ-road parking. Impressive former forge, now used as a store/workshop. Rear garden. EPC = D Ref: 5608

A detached house situated on the outskirts of the town, yet within walking distance of the shops and Market Hill. Entrance porch, kitchen/dining room, inner hallway, cloakroom and sitting room. 3 bedrooms and bathroom on the first floor. Gardens to front and rear. Ample parking for approximately 5 cars. EPC = C Ref: 5699

Stradbroke £295,000

Badingham, Nr Framlingham £227,500

A beautifully presented semi-detached cottage close to the centre of this well served village. Entrance hall, sitting room, dining room, study/bedroom 3, kitchen, inner hallway and cloakroom. 2 bedrooms and bathroom. Attractive front and rear gardens. Garage and oﬀ-road parking. EPC = E Ref: 5696

A semi-detached cottage situated in a pleasant position within the village of Badingham, within walking distance of the pub. Hallway, cloakroom, sitting room, dining room and kitchen. 3 first floor double bedrooms and bathroom. Garden of approximately 60' x 50'. 2 parking spaces and garage. EPC = E Ref: 5693

Clarke and Simpson, Well Close Square, Framlingham, Suﬀolk, IP13 9DU

T: 01728 724200

www.clarkeandsimpson.co.uk

APRIL 2017

BIRCHWOOD HOUSE FACTS LOCATION: TATTINGSTONE GUIDE PRICE: £895,000 AGENT: FENN WRIGHT

BIG SKY LIVING Set in seven acres on the edge of Alton Water this five bedroomed property enjoys a unique and idyllic postion in one of the most beautiful but perhaps lesser known parts of Suffolk. It was built in 1976 as a replacement farmhouse when Alton Water was farmed and was designed by the present owners to take full advantage of the open landscape and the rising and setting sun. The house, which includes two substantial outbuildings – a grain store and a tractor barn, is in need of some updating. Downstairs there’s a generous reception hall, the triple aspect sitting room is situated to the west featuring a brick fireplace with a log burning stove and there is a bay recess with doors giving access to the gardens. Next door is a study which overlooks the rear garden and to the right of the hall is the dining room which leads to a small inner hall and access to the utility room, larder cupboard and the kitchen which has

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recently been fitted out in oak fronted units under a granite worktop.From the kitchen a rear hall gives access to the garden, cloakroom and the annexe accommodation. The annexe has a delightful sitting room overlooking the front garden, a double aspect bedroom which leads onto an ensuite shower room. On the first floor there’s a spacious landing with a number of storage cupboards and airing cupboard.The master bedroom overlooks the garden and has a door giving access into a walkin loft which could be partially converted into an ensuite. There are three further good sized bedrooms, bedrooms and a large modern bathroom with a three piece suite. Outside, Birchwood House is situated centrally within its grounds with a private access to the house.There are lawned

gardens either side of the driveway with some established trees and spreading conifers. To the north east of the property is a large vegetable garden while to the south west is a fenced paddock of approximately 1.96 acres which leads down to Alton Water. There is a further acre paddock across the other side of the lane. Beyond the grain store and tractor barn is another grass area which could make potential paddocks extending to approximately 2.1 acres. In addition there is a timber framed stable block with two loose boxes 11'6" x 11'3" each, tack room and hay store 20' x 11' but is in need of a certain amount of attention. In all the gardens and grounds extend to approximately 7 acres.

INFORMATION Fenn Wright 01473 358400 To see more pictures of this property visit www.essentialsuffolk.com/property

APRIL 2017

ORCHARD MEADOW HOUSE FACTS LOCATION: BROKE HALL PARK, NACTON GUIDE PRICE: ÂŁ1,750,000 AGENT: SAVILLS

LUXURY HOME BY THE ORWELL On the banks of the River Orwell in the village of Nacton, Orchard Meadow House is a superb property with six bedrooms set in mature gardens and grounds in Broke Hall Park. Constructed in the late â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;80s this beautiful house has been recently renovated to an exceptional standard by the current owners. The property has enormous character with features that include exposed beams, open fireplaces, exposed wooden floors and full height windows that look out directly towards the River Orwell.

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Leading off the dining Hall is a bespoke home cinema with ceiling projector and eight reclining leather seats, above which is a function bar. The kitchen/breakfast room also has full height windows looking out towards the river and has been fully fitted with a John Lewis kitchen with Corian work surfaces and a large L shaped central island. The master bedroom is a particular feature of the house, with its own drawing room and luxury en-suite bathroom.

Orchard Meadow House is situated in the peaceful setting of Broke Hall Park within a 45-acre Repton-designed deer park and resting on the banks of the River Orwell, opposite Pin Mill. The property also comes with shares in a part owned 16-acre meadow which is located between the park and the foreshore.

INFORMATION Savills 01473 234831 To see more pictures of this property visit www.essentialsuffolk.com/property

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APRIL 2017

ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME SCHOOL FARM FACTS LOCATION: CRATFIELD, NR HALESWORTH GUIDE PRICE: £500,000 AGENT: JENNIE JONES

School Farm at Cratfield is an exclusive development of bespoke homes built by Jordan Developments. The houses which are situated at the heart of this pretty, rural Suffolk village, back onto open farmland and enjoy a wonderful aspect with views across unspoilt undulating countryside. Plot 4 is a beautiful four bedroom detached house occupying a generous sized plot abutting fields and the neighbouring pond and has spectacular views towards the pretty village church.

There is a fabulous open fireplace with a double faced wood burner, centralised between the dining room and the sitting room. The superbly appointed kitchen/ breakfast room opens through to a large family room which opens onto the rear patio. There is a very useful utility room and a ground floor cloak-room. The well-proportioned bedrooms are served by a very smart and contemporary bathroom and en-suite shower room. The accommodation is centrally heated by an air source heat pump with

underfloor heating on the ground floor and radiators at first floor level. Outside there is a block paved driveway to the front which leads to the integral garage. The garden which faces south west is enclosed and laid to lawn with a large Indian sandstone paved patio.

INFORMATION Jennie Jones 01728 605511 To see more pictures of this property visit www.essentialsuffolk.com/property

SOUTHWOLD

SAXMUNDHAM

KNODISHALL

£430,000

Immaculate individual 3 bed detached bungalow. Very large open plan sitting/dining room, smart oak kitchen/breakfast room, Double integral garage, large mature private rear garden Gas-fired central heating.. UPVC double glazing. Walking distance of village amenities. EPC –C

ALDEBURGH—GUIDE PRICE £950,000 A brand new Architect designed house situated in large secluded landscaped garden on the edge of the town. Arranged on two floors the accommodation includes 5 first floor double bedrooms, fabulous open plan living rom and kitchen/dining room which will open out on to a terrace, media room/snug, study, ensuite bathroom, ensuite shower room, family bathroom, master bedroom with dressing and sitting area to take advantage of the views of the garden towards the sea. The developers anticipate complete of the house by the Autumn of 2017. (This is intended to be indicative only and may be subject to change).

SUDBOURNE

GUIDE PRICE

Saxmundham 01728 605511 Southwold 01502 722065 www.jennie-jones.com

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£600,000

Beautiful late 17th/early 18th Century Grade II listed detached 3 bed thatched cottage. 3 receptions, kitchen, garden room, shower room, utility/study, bathroom. Exposed timbers, brick floor etc. Attractive garden and cart lodge.

SWEFFLING £375,000

Detached 3 bed bungalow. 2 reception room with wood burners, farmhouse kitchen, utility room, shower room, landing/study, room, bathroom, large double plot garden, large garage & workshop. Oil-fired ch. UPVC double glazing & solar panel. Backing on to farmland with rural views. EPC-E

CRANSFORD £315,000

An enchanting 2 bed thatched cottage with large sitting room, farmhouse kitchen/diner, cloaks, bathroom, garden and gardens studio. EPC-F

Melton, Woodbridge

Kirton

A well-presented individual detached family home occupying a non-estate position with a private rear garden on the outskirts of this popular village to the south east of Ipswich.

An imposing detached family house situated in an elevated position offering versatile accommodation occupying delightful gardens extending to approximately one acre.

Guide Price £650,000

Ufford

• • • • • • • •

6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms 4 reception rooms Kitchen/breakfast room Utility room Self-contained annexe Grounds approaching one acre Elevated position Walking distance of Woodbridge town centre • Close to Melton Park & Tennis Courts • EPC Rating G Guide Price £1,250,000

Ufford An imposing detached family home standing in grounds of approx. a third of an acre. The property has been built to a high specification by the current owners and benefits from spacious and versatile accommodation and an NHBC Warranty.

An attractive period farmhouse with a wealth of exposed beams situated on the outskirts of this popular village. The property benefits from a substantial timber framed barn with the potential for a number of different uses, subject to planning permission. Guide Price £575,000

• 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms • 3 receptions, kitchen/ breakfast room • Grounds approaching 0.4 acres • Wealth of character, requires some updating • Within easy reach of Woodbridge • Substantial barn, EPC Rating TBC

• Impressive master bedroom suite • Guest bedroom with ensuite • 3 further bedrooms • Open plan kitchen/breakfast/ family room • Utility room & cloakroom • South facing rear garden • Double garage with studio above • EPC Rating B Guide Price £850,000

• • • • •

5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms Kitchen/breakfast room & utility 3 reception rooms Detached double garage Planning permission to convert garage loft • Ample off road parking • Secluded rear garden • EPC Rating C

TOWN, COUNTRY & COASTAL HOUSE SPECIALISTS SINCE 1966 bedfords.co.uk

DENNINGTON An idyllic Grade II Listed 16th Century home with an extensive two storey 15th Century stable block requiring renovation all in around 3.4 acres. 3 reception rooms, 4 bedrooms, artist studio and moat.

Guide: £950,000

Aldeburgh 01728 454 505

YOXFORD An exceptional collection of four new build homes designed by the award-winning architectural practice, HAT Projects. Features include Clearburn technology energy efficient wood burning stoves and numerous design details, such as bespoke bannisters and window seats.

Guide: £495,000 to £525,000

Aldeburgh 01728 454 505

To view more, or purchase, photographs from this event visit essentialsuffolk.com

Long Melford Swan & Duck Deli The latest addition to the Long Melford Swan – Duck Deli – was opened in style as guests enjoyed a glass of bubbles and mouth-watering canapés with a chance to shop for delicious and unusual artisan products. Andrew Macmillan, head of family run Stuart Inns, spoke warmly of his pride and his joy at the achievements of his family and their talented team. Lorna Pissarro, George Cubitt

Ollie Macmillan, Andrew Macmillan

Sean Garnham, Caroline Edwards

Louis & Anna Brooks (& Bertie)

Graham Pentelow, Rachel Brown

Carrie Chipperfield, Richard Bryson

Becky Lane,Trish Williams

Matthew South, Jacqueline French

Phil Roper, Carl Lawrence

Matt Cotter, Edward Olszak

David & Marilyn Smith

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Essential Faces

Cake & Revolution at Ipswich Museum A black tie gala charity celebration of women for 350 people organised by Cake & Revolution WI, at Ipswich Museum; the result of a competition to take over the museum for an evening. Coinciding with International Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day a considerable sum for Lighthouse Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aid was raised. With a bar from Beer & Co and compered by the superb Tallulah Goodtimes, guests were treated to entertainment by a formidable array of female performers and lots of cake!

Sharon Turner, Kirsty Wilmot, Laura Finbow

Jennifer Kemp, Linda Kemp

Sue Hall

Graham & Helen Addison

Juliet Harvey, Oliver Gravell, Louise Buttery, Katie Beaven 86

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Abigail Harper

Gail Minter, Angie England, Porscha Robinson-Foster

Amanda Glasper, Miranda Acres,Victoria Norfolk

Kelly Chamberlain, Kerry Pearson

Laura Squirell, Andy Sampson, Lesley Guest, Sam Sampson, Deborah Johnson

To view more, or purchase, photographs from these events visit essentialsuffolk.com

Young Art East Anglia 2017 Now in its 15th year, Young Art East Anglia celebrates the creativity of children while supporting Cancer Research UK. This year’s theme – Out Of This World – has seen 1500 entries from 55 Suffolk schools whittled down to 360 finalists. The final winners were chosen by Suffolk artist Georgie Mason (see page 34) for their impact, use of colour and interpretation of the theme. Recipients of the Highly Commended awards

Georgie Mason with Years 5&6 first prize winner Millie Bennett

Georgie Mason with Years 3&4 first prize winner Zoe Payne

Georgie Mason with Reception,Years 1&2 first prize winner Digby Pearson

Georgie Mason with Years 5&6 second prize winner Kitty Martin

Georgie Mason with Years 3&4 second prize winner Tabitha Noton

Georgie Mason with Years 5&6 third prize winner Amelia Prowse

Georgie Mason with Years 3&4 third prize winner Poppy Savage

Georgie Mason with Reception,Years 1&2 third prize winner Florence Gibbons (centre)

Young Art East Anglia Team: Alex Carey, Bella Derrick, Claire Harrington, April Birtwistle, Jan King, Miranda Hiscocks, Heidi Norman (& Sarah O’Brien not photographed)

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EssentialSUFFOLK

My Suffolk

APRIL 2017

Do you have any favourite restaurants? For special occasions I would always choose the Wentworth Hotel which is a lovely family run hotel that has a style all of its own as well as fabulous food. For the more casual evening and reasonably new to Aldeburgh is Sea Spice – an exotic Indian restaurant with delicious food, as well as an old favourite being The Regatta. We feel very fortunate that we don’t have to venture far in Aldeburgh to find somewhere lovely to eat. In the summer Eliza’s Thai food from DP’s is simply delicious.

Tikkii Mawson grew up in Aldeburgh and is now the Commodore of Aldeburgh Yacht Club. She tells us about ‘her Suffolk’ How did you come to live in Suffolk or where you born here? I was born in Nigeria but my family returned to the UK when I was a baby. My Mother had spent her summer holidays in Aldeburgh throughout her childhood. As she had loved the place so much my parents chose to settle there. My great grandfather bought them what was then the North Wing of the Old Vicarage in Aldeburgh for a remarkable £2,000. It was a most wonderful old ramshackle house with an acre of garden. I think I can safely say it was the most idyllic place to grow up, climbing trees in the winter, romping around the marshes and living on the beach and in the sea in the summer. What do you think make the county so attractive? For me it is access to the water. We have the most fabulous coastline with some gorgeous towns and villages that are either nestled next to the sea or rivers. I love the sea and the river. As a child I honestly believed that the world began at Aldeburgh because you were not permitted beyond the gate just past the Martello Tower and all you could see was the sea and the river! Obviously I now know differently particularly since I discovered sailing and all the beautiful places beyond.

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Where is the best place to go or a pint? My favourite place would always be Aldeburgh Yacht Club, which has unsurpassed views of the River Alde. I love the atmosphere there. Come rain or shine you are either huddled in the club house watching the weather trying to do its worst to those hardy souls sailing in it, or basking in the sun on the terrace. Is there somewhere you like to escape to for ‘thinking time’? My most favourite place would always be in a boat of any description on the River Alde. A particularly beautiful spot that I can never get enough of is a beach known as Little Japan. You can only really get there by boat and the tide has to be high to get to it. On a glorious sunny day the water is warm and I feel like I am in paradise. Do you have hobbies? I have come to love sailing, whether it be going for a potter on the river or racing. I feel very fortunate that I was invited to join the crew on a friend’s 32ft cruiser where we race most Wednesday evenings during the sailing season from Aldeburgh Yacht Club, as well as venturing further afield to Ramsholt and Levington. I think over the years my biggest hobby has become the Yacht Club which I am very passionate about. Having seen the amazing benefits it has had on my children (now 24 and 26) and if I am honest for myself too. It is an amazing place to learn to sail or operate a motor boat; a place from an early age to make friends for life, develop independence and confidence on and off the water as well as to enjoy probably one of the most amazing locations there is to be had on the East Coast. Having got involved with Junior

sailing when my two were learning to sail I seem to have continued to be involved from hoisting flags to running our Regatta Ball and now rather remarkably find myself as Commodore! Do you walk, run or cycle? I like to cycle and we have some really lovely country lanes and paths to cycle on all of which feel in reach for someone who is not as fit as she probably could be. For example Thorpeness, Dunwich, Orford and Snape are all very ‘doable’ even for me! What do you think are the highlights of the Suffolk Coast? Quite frankly I love it all, however seeing the county’s river banks and scenery from a boat offers one an entirely different perspective on the countryside as we know it. I have visited Woodbridge more times than I can recall yet when I sailed up the Deben to the Tide Mill it was like seeing it for the very first time. We have some beautiful estuaries that I would say are a true highlight. And away from the coast? I think we have some fantastic schools in the area that offer something for everyone whether it be the state or private system. We also have some lovely market towns Framlingham I think would be my favourite with its great coffee shops and some lovely unique shops. Not to mention of course the numerous golfing opportunities for those that partake and of course bird watching. I genuinely believe Suffolk and perhaps more particularly Aldeburgh offers something for everyone! Where would you take people on a tour of Suffolk? The Sailors Path walk from Aldeburgh to Snape is a lovely walk (or cycle ride). Visiting Snape Maltings whether to go to a concert or visit the Lettering Arts Gallery, or enjoy the amazing variety of shopping opportunities that are there. Walberswick is a wonderful place to walk along the beach or go crabbing all rounded up by a delicious lunch at The Anchor. If you had one picture or view that illustrates Suffolk where would it be? A sunset from the terrace of Aldeburgh Yacht Club or sunrise from Aldeburgh beach.

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