Essential Suffolk November 2014

November 2014 | Priceless

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NOVEMBER 2014

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@alanbrannandesign.co.uk

Cover: Fireworks and toffee apples – see page 14

| Welcome

WELCOME So the clocks have changed and the evenings are getting darker and darker – but November in Suffolk is going to be far from dull. It’s a month that promises to be busy, especially on the cultural front. There’s world class poetry and films to see at the Aldeburgh’s Poetry Festival and then at its Documentary Festival a week later. Both events have programmes with national and international appeal and if you happen to live inland, and don’t want to miss any of the amazing performances coming up, it might also be a good excuse to take a short November break at the seaside!

Away from the coast Ipswich has lots to look forward to as well – Agatha Christie’s award-winning Mousetrap is at the Regent Theatre as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations of the longest running stage play ever. Comedian Alan Davies, who gave an exclusive interview to Essential Suffolk, is in town too and the New Wolsey is hosting a UK premiere of A Farewell to Arms.

This month we’ve also taken a look at a little-known charity R.A.B.I. which does ground-breaking work for people who work in the agricultural industry and has recently spent £3 million upgrading its retirement home in Bury St Edmunds. With the centenary of the Great War in many people’s minds we’ve also discovered a hidden but incredibly photogenic World War One trench – on the outskirts of Ipswich.

Also don’t forget that November for increasing numbers will be ‘Movember’ when normally smooth faced men will grow facial hair in the name of raising awareness of prostate and testicular cancer. This may well scare the children and test the love of their nearest and dearest but, as the advice on page 41 shows, it is crucial that with 40,000 new cases of prostate cancer a year men become both more self-aware and willing to discuss concerns.

November, of course is very much a month when we’ve all got a certain event in December ticking away at the back of our minds – so if you want to get ahead our fashion pages this month are all about Christmas party dresses.

There are all your regular favourites too – where to eat out, our dog walk, Essential Faces and the very best homes to buy in our property section.

Meanwhile if you are wondering where to see the best firework displays in the county – check out our What’s On guide with a round-up of fireworks and other highlights on the entertainment front.

See all our Social photos at essentialsuffolk.com Follow us on twitter @EssentialSFK

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.

Don’t forget you can keep up to date with what’s going on by following us on Twitter @EssentialSFK and visiting our website essentialsuffolk.com Enjoy November

Anne Gould Anne Gould Editor

editor@achievemoremedia.co.uk

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.

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KITCHENS

BATHROOMS

BEDROOMS

HOME OFFICES

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LIBRARIES

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Contents

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24

30

44

62

72

FEATURES

24

Regent Theatre hosts the world’s longest running play

28 30

Suffolk’s Great War Trench

36

52

Pub Dog Walk

REGULARS

54

Food and Drink

13 14 16

62

Homes and Interiors

72

Gardening

75

Property

90 92

Motoring

The Mousetrap

Aldeburgh Documentary Festival

34

98

Celebrating its 20th anniversary

The hidden film set on the outskirts of Ipswich

R.A.B.I. Helping those in need from the farming community

Backing Enterprise

Comedian and actor on his return to stand-up

Suffolk in Brief News from around the county

Fireworks Bonfire parties and treats

What’s On Where to go and what to see in Suffolk this November

Mini Previews

Practical and inspirational help for Suffolk’s entrepreneurs

Alan Davies

Actor and patron of the Lapwing education charity Hugh Fraser on life in Suffolk

23 & 27 English National Opera at Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh Poetry Festival, A Farewell to Arms at the New Wolsey, Alexander Whitley at Jerwood Dance House

PEOPLE

08

My Suffolk

44

Fashion

Discovering the Bawdsey Peninsula from The Ramsholt Arms

Short break at The Bildeston Crown, recipe from Arabella Reeve plus the Food Gallery packed with ideas for eating out

Accessories that will make you house a home

Learn about your garden by visiting others

A selection of our county’s finest homes for sale

The Suzuki SX4 S-Cross

Essential Faces Highlights from Suffolk’s social calendar

Party clothes for the Christmas season

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Celebrity Interview | Alan Davies

The ever-young and ever-popular comedian and actor Alan Davies is in Ipswich this month. He talks to Anne Gould about his new show

LITTLE VICTORIES H

is publicity shots show him jumping aloft, his trademark curls flying wide and with a certain impish look in his eyes. Here’s Alan Davies having fun and doing what he loves best – being back on tour on the comedy stand-up circuit in the UK. Heaven knows how many other people would look forward to a 120-gig tour travelling backwards and forwards across the country from Cornwall to the Isle of Man, to Bristol and back again with 39 dates alone over the autumn.

Alan though, simply says, “It’s my work, it’s what I do. It’s actually quite relaxing.”

He explained, that it’s just three shows a week which allows to him to spend as much time as possible travelling home to his wife, Katie Maskell, and his young family – Susie and Robert, aged four and three respectively. “Wherever possible I like to get back home after the show so I can be with my children in the morning when they get up,” he explained. “I normally get the train to the theatre, am on stage for two hours and then a driver takes me home.”

Something that’s easily achieved when he visits Suffolk on November 7 – but then Ipswich is a town he’s very familiar with.

“I have played at The Regent a couple of times and, I think, I also did it when I was on tour 15 years ago.” As a keen Arsenal supporter he’s also visited Portman Road from time to time too – supporting his team - in the heady days when Ipswich were in the Premiership.

“We also played them in the League Cup in 2011 and I recall Ipswich won 1-0.”

Of course being an Essex boy he says Suffolk as a county is quite familiar, “It’s flat, it’s pleasant, there are a lot of country cottages and some of the coast is quite pretty.” One line understatement is one of the hallmarks of Alan’s comedy but it’s clear that there are other reasons why he’s very happy to be en route to Ipswich – and the 39 other venues on the autumn schedule. “I enjoy a live audience.” For many years he’s been heavily involved in TV playing the title role of the very popular detective series, Jonathan Creek and QI, the BBC 2 quiz show where he’s the permanent panellist alongside host Stephen Fry. “I started out doing stand-up but for a number of years I stopped and as a result stopped thinking of myself as a comedian. If anyone wanted to know what I did I’d say, ‘actor’.” But then two

years ago he rediscovered stand-up returning to a national tour with a show called, ‘Life Is Pain’. “Having been away from stand-up for so long, I initially returned to it rather unwillingly. But now I count my blessings, which is something you don’t always do when you’re younger.”

Alan reveals that, “From the outset, any gig is all about establishing a rapport with the audience. It has to go beyond your material – otherwise, you’re just a monologist. You go on stage emptyhanded (like a karate expert!) and have to find the audience. So you might start by talking to them about their town and towns nearby. Then get everyone to agree on what is the most rubbish village in the area. That’s one way of getting people to offer things up. It’s really important to have that interaction.

Although it often appears as if you’re not doing anything, the opening 10 minutes is a vital part of the show.

If you get that right, it sets the evening up perfectly.”

Alan is very grateful for the immense affection in which his loyal audience holds him. “They’ve made an effort to come out, they’ve booked the ‰

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Breaks Explore our Christmas and Twixmas packages on our website!

Book your Festive Breaks by calling Michelle on 01206 265825 or emailing michelle.white@stokebynayland.com

Nothing says ‘festive season’ like mulled wine, relaxing by an open fire, carol singers, delicious festive food and entertainment - all without having to lift a finger! Whether you choose to be our guest for Christmas or make the most of those days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve by staying for Twixmas, we are sure you’ll enjoy cosying up with us this year!

www.stokebynayland.com Keepers Lane, Leavenheath, Colchester CO6 4PZ Tel: 01206 262836

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Celebrity Interview | Alan Davies

babysitter. It’s important never to forget that they have come specifically to see you. Once you get that in your head, you have a huge sense of gratitude towards the audience. That transmits to them. I’m saying to them, ‘You’ve done your bit by buying the ticket, and you’re free to leave at any time. But now I’ll do my bit by trying to entertain you’.

Because they’ve especially come to see you, you get this terrific feeling of warmth from them. I love that.”

But, there are other reasons too; “Well all you have to do is book the theatres, write your own material and turn up and perform. There’s no-one in between you and the audience saying they want it like this or like that and it’s not cancelled after one series.” Also, TV can be very intense hard work, something like Jonathan Creek, for instance can involve 12-hour days on a film set. And of course making people laugh is something that, to Alan, just appears to come naturally – although he says that he did serve a five year apprenticeship on the comedy circuit when he was young. “Comedy is like learning to surf – sometimes you stand up and sometimes you fall off.” So is he really jumping for joy in those publicity shots? “We started shooting and then I jumped in the air and everyone decided that this could work. Then I did lots of jumping – my stylist, who used to be a dancer actually said I’d got good elevation but I think it’s an optical illusion that I’m far up in the air.

I think the ground has just been taken out. And as for the suit and stripy T-shirt she put me in. Well, I would never have done that myself!”

INFORMATION Alan Davies – Little Victories is at the Regent Theatre, Ipswich on November 7 Box office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

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UFFORD PARK WOODBRIDGE

Ice Skating & Christmas Market

The ‘coolest’ place in Woodbridge Take a stroll round the festive market stalls, endulge yourself with mulled wine and mince pies, and soak up the Christmas atmosphere.

Sunday 21st December FREE ENTRY

Ice Skating Charges (Time slots are limited and must be pre-booked)

2pm - 9pm

Child Adult Family Family

£3.50 (Toddler - 12 years old) £5.00 £10.00 (1 Adult & 2 Children) £12.50 (2 Adults & 2 Children)

t 0844 847 9467 w www.uffordpark.co.uk Yarmouth Road, Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1QW

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News

SUFFOLK in brief The Royal Hospital School has announced a new team of talented coaches to take girls’ netball to the next level. Miss Lucy Adams, a former Super League netball player, has taken over the key role as Head of Netball and she is supported by Miss Katie Chambers and Miss Jenny Monger who are delivering technical coaching sessions. The team is dedicated to developing individual ability within a cohesive team ethos, with the aim of establishing the Royal Hospital School as the leading school in the region for the sport.

Ipswich School girls and we hope they will wear the uniform with pride. The Year 7s certainly looked very smart when we saw them all in their new uniforms for the first time.” Ipswich School has been co-educational since 1974 when the first girl joined the Sixth Form to study maths and science, followed by a further five girls the following September. Now the school has almost 400 girls from the Nursery to the Sixth Form.

Glasswells, the region’s largest independent home department store, has been recognised within the industry by winning two Retailer of the Year awards this summer.

The first award came from the trade magazine Interiors Monthly, whose readers voted Glasswells as Best Furniture Retailer with three or more stores. The second award, Member of the Year, was judged and presented by the Associated Independent Stores (AIS). It is the fifth time the family company have won an AIS award within the last seven years, competing against some 300 other retailers ranging from single high street shops to flagship department stores across the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands. Paul Glasswell, Managing Director comments, “We’re over the moon to have been voted best retailer by two such influential organisations within our trade. The various suppliers that voted for us visit hundreds of retailers across the country and clearly they consider that the job we do is a very professional, efficient and good one.”

Forty years after the first girl joined Ipswich School, the new Year 7 girls at the school welcomed in a new uniform this autumn. Mrs Cura, Senior Deputy Head (Pastoral) said: “The uniform was introduced following a long consultation process involving pupils, staff and the Parents’ Forum.

Our girls can now be clearly identified as

One Ipswich company is looking for your support with their forthcoming festive fundraiser, raising valuable funds to help local families and individuals affected by poverty.

The Hearing Care Centre, which offers private hearing care across Suffolk and Norfolk, is again organising one of Suffolk’s biggest quiz events, all in aid of Families in Need (FIND) and their winter food bank appeal. The event is being held on Sunday 30th November 2014 (7.00pm), at Greshams Sports Club, on Tuddenham Road, Ipswich and your support is needed to make it a fantastic night. Karen Finch, MD of The Hearing Care Centre said “This promises to be a brilliant night out in the run up to Christmas. If you are looking for an inexpensive evening out to celebrate the festive season with friends, family and colleagues, then this is for you!” Teams for the quiz can include between 4 – 6 members.

Entry is £4.00pp (festive nibbles included), and there will be lots of cash prizes to be won (not just for the winners). To purchase tickets call The Hearing Care Centre on 01473 230330 or buy online at www.hearingcarecentre.co.uk/quiz.

offering professional help. To be held at The Granary Estates, Woodditton, near Newmarket, on Wednesday 12 November the CLA's renewables seminar and exhibition will feature a host of expert speakers and exhibitors. CLA Renewables Adviser Tom Beeley said “Renewable energy does not just come in the form of wind turbines or solar panels, and nor does it need to be large scale. There are opportunities under the Renewable Heat Incentive for business and landlords. Biomass heating multiple domestic properties has huge benefits, while ground source heat pumps are an option worth serious consideration by those looking at refurbishment.” Staged in association with Santander and Carter Jones, the event costs £15 for CLA members and £30 for nonmembers. A buffet lunch will be provided.

For further information or to book a place as either a delegate or an exhibitor, call the CLA East regional office on 01638 590429 or email east@cla.org.uk.

As part of the Suffolk Family Carers ‘8 days a week’ campaign – which aims to raise £250,000 to buy, equip and run a mobile family carers centre – ‘The Big Bash’ at The Froize in Chillesford saw guests enjoy a three course dinner prepared in The Froize kitchen by Stephen David and his team from Bespoke Catering along with a raffle, an auction and live music. The evening raised over £8,000. And David Grimwood from The Froize said “The event was a brilliant success! Every year we try to support local Suffolk charities and couldn’t think of a better charity this year than Suffolk Family Carers.

A special thank you to all my team members at The Froize for making the event run so smoothly and thank you to all those who gave their time and services for free to raise as much money as possible. We thoroughly enjoyed the event!”

The Country Land Association (CLA) are urging farmers and landowners considering renewable energy projects to attend an event giving practical advice on the range of available technologies and an opportunity to network with businesses

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

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NOVEMBER 2014

FIREWORKS NOVEMBER 1 Bury St Edmunds Charity Fireworks Display 2014

Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds, gates 6pm display 7.30pm Organised by Bury St Edmunds Round Table with proceeds distributed to local good causes and charities.

Tickets: In advance from Tesco and Sainsbury’s stores (Bury St Edmunds) or Apex Box Office 01284 758000 Information: www.buryroundtable.co.uk Stowlangtoft Bonfire and Grand Firework Display

Bonfire Field, Stowlangtoft, gates 6pm, display 7.15pm Grand charity bonfire night in support of St Georges Church and a nominated charity.

Entry: Adult £5 on the gate Spooky Fireworks Christchurch Park, Ipswich, gates 6pm,

display 8pm This year’s Fireworks in the Park will combine another fantastic firework display with a very special Halloween theme with spooky scare-fest surprises around every corner including a scare-fest procession through the park. Form up at the Reg Driver centre in the park at 7pm.

Tickets: In advance Adult £5, child £3 (on the gate Adult £7, Child £5) www.ipswichfireworks.co.uk

Heveningham Hall gates 5.30 pm

Bar and refreshments, fish & chips, BBQ, hog roast, candy floss, mulled wine Funfair and much more.

Tickets: in advance £15 per car on the gate £20 (up to 7 people). On foot adult £5, child (4 – 14) £3 All proceeds to Heveningham Hall Country Fair Trust fireworks@heveninghamhall.co.uk

NOVEMBER 7 Melford Hall Park, gates 6pm

Giant bonfire with Guys made by local schoolchildren, Fireworks and Fairground rides - fun for everyone.

Tickets: In advance adult £5, child £3 (on the night adult £7, child £5) available from The Bull Hotel, Cherrylane Garden Centre, Landers Bookshop Sproughton Bonfire, Fireworks and BBQ

NOVEMBER 2

Sproughton Millennium Green, 7pm

Aldeburgh Town Council Fireworks Display

Car parking available at the school in Church Lane (only £1/car) or car parking in village.

Entry by donation: Adult £4, child £2

Firework display on the Kings Field and refreshments at the Aldeburgh Community Centre 4.30pm There will be a small food village with Thai food, a barbeque and paella and the Community Centre will be open for drinks and entertainment.

Free entry

NOVEMBER 8 Stratford St Mary Community Fireworks Display

Stratford St Mary Primary School, gates 6pm Large fireworks display, bonfire, live music, hot food & drink / loads of family fun.

Tickets: In advance adult £4, child (3 – 14 years) £1 (on the gate adult £6, child £3) from the Primary school office, village shop and Hall Farm shop Information: Info@ssmfireworks.co.uk

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Fireworks

Fun on a stick!

Are you heading to a firework display or bonfire party?

Adrian Rawlinson shares a recipe for a treat to take along I find that smell is the most evocative of the senses. A wisp of smoke or a hint of firework gunpowder in the air quickly transports me back to my childhood and fond memories of bonfire night. While health and safety has mainly put an end to the spectacle of public bonfires and firework displays are now major events, I think there is still room for a little homespun fun and these simple toffee apples that remind me of ones my Grandma used to make are a perfect bonfire night treat.

For the toffee coating

METHOD

225 g Demerara or golden caster sugar 110 ml water 1/2 tsp vinegar 2 tbsp golden syrup (or black treacle if you want a bonfire toffee taste) 25 g butter

1. Thoroughly clean the apples to remove any waxy coating. This will help the toffee stick and give you the best possible result. To do this I recommend placing the apples in a bowl and pouring hot water over them. Remove with a slotted spoon, dry thoroughly and remove any stalks.

2. Once the apples are dry push a lollipop stick or wooden skewer in to the stalk end of each apple making sure it is in securely. Stand on a board covered with a sheet of greaseproof paper.

3. In a pan dissolve the sugar in the water over a moderate heat. When it has dissolved, stir in the vinegar, syrup and butter (and food colouring if using). Bring all the ingredients to a boil and cook without stirring until it reaches ‘hard-crack’ stage (138°C) or hardens into a ball when dropped in a jug of cold water. This should take around 10 minutes of boiling. If the toffee is still pliable boil for longer.

4. Once the toffee is ready, working quickly, dip each apple into the hot toffee turning it around so that each one is fully coated. Let any excess drip away and place on the greaseproof paper to harden.

5. If you're planning to keep them for a day or two, wrap the apples in cellophane.

Optional a few drops of red food colouring For the apples 6 apples 6 wooden ice lolly sticks or skewers

Curious Seed in association with

present

16 & 18 NOVEMBER 8yrs+

Compagnia TPO presents

Butterflies 13 – 22 DECEMBER 4yrs+

FAMILY TICKET

£25

FAMILY TICKET

£25

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NOVEMBER 2014

WHAT’S ON NOVEMBER 1

NOVEMBER 1 – 2

Night at the Museum

4x4 Deer Safaris

Suffolk Philharmonic Orchestra

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 4pm Sutton Hoo Discover Sutton Hoo at night with a special gruesome graves tour and exhibition visit.

Hot chocolate to warm up afterwards.

Tickets: Adults £12, child £9 family £40 (two adults and up to 3 children) Booking essential www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sutton-hoo Information: 01394 389714 or suttonhoo@nationaltrust.org.uk

RSPB Minsmere, near Dunwich An exclusive tour in our 4x4 vehicle in search of impressive herds of red deer. www.rspb.org.uk

Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture. Bruch: Violin Concerto in G Minor.Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.5. Leslie Olive, Conductor.

Tickets: £12-£34 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk Cockfield Gift and Craft Fair

Cockfield Village Hall, 10am – 1pm Gorgeous local gift and craft fair with wonderful stalls full of items perfect for Christmas gifts. Refreshments available and tombola in aid of EACH. Free entry and parking.

Information: thelilacbutterfly@yahoo.co.uk

Farmers Markets

Beccles, Beccles Heliport, 9am – 1pm Metfield, Village Hall, 9am – 12 noon Snape Maltings, 9.30am – 1pm Jimmy’s Farm, 10am – 4pm NOVEMBER 1 – 16 Christmas Craft and Gift Fair

Tithe Barn, Sproughton, 10am – 4pm Stalls including, jewellery, handbags, fresh and silk flowers, usborne books, cards, tropic skin care, forever living, food hampers and much more. All proceeds go to The St Elizabeth Hospice and the Sproughton Community Shop.

Entry: Free Information: 07969 525859 or zoronline.sales@gmail.com

Dracula

Mercury Theatre Colchester West End and Edinburgh Fringe sensations The Fitzrovia Radio Hour return with a production of Dracula as you’ve never heard it before. Clutch your crucifix and grasp your garlic as you are invited to take the role of the studio audience.

Box office: 01206 573948 www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

The Magnificent Music Hall

The New Wolsey Theatre Back by popular demand The Paper Moon Theatre Company presents The Magnificent Music Hall.

Box office: 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk Green Fair

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds Bury's sustainable living fair with a huge selection of stalls, demonstrations and live music. Come and get your bike or electronics repaired, sample woodworking, up-cycling, learn about renewables, activities for children and much more.

Entry: Free Tel: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

NOVEMBER 2 Crimson Glory

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Hadleigh Town Hall Complex, 10am – 4pm Organised by Hadleigh Market Feoffment Charity this event will feature stalls selling foods, drinks and various crafts.

Refreshments available.

Entry: Adults £1, accompanied children U13 free, wheelchair users 50p (limited access).

NOVEMBER 4 – 8 A Farewell to Arms

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, See mini preview page 23

St John’s Church, Ipswich, 7pm Reflections on the Great War in music, word and images with Cantus Firmus Choir and Ensemble Entry: Free (retiring collection) debbie.cook@cantusfirmus.org.uk St Mary’s Church

Woodbridge, 3pm Piano recital by acclaimed young pianist Mathew Woodward. Supporting the Friends of St. Mary’s Church.

Tickets: £5 at the door with interval refreshments Jools Holland Ipswich Regent

To see more event listings for this month and beyond visit

Hadleigh Craft and Food Fair

The piano master will be bringing the greatest boogie-woogie party around the UK once again with his annual autumn / winter tour.

Box office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

NOVEMBER 6 Frank Skinner: Man in a Suit

Regent Theatre, Ipswich Frank Skinner extends his critically acclaimed new stand-up tour ‘Man In A Suit’ into Autumn 2014. ‘Exquisite and surprising… highly accomplished and very funny’ The Independent ‘(A) Beautifully crafted return to stand-up’ The Evening Standard ‘Man In A Suit sees the crown prince of laddism grow up’ Metro.

Box office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

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What’s On NOVEMBER 6 – 10 Southwold Literature Festival: Ways With Words

Alan Davies: Little Victories

Farmers Markets

Regent Theatre, Ipswich

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

See feature pages 8 to 11

St Edmunds Hall

The Swingle Singers

Royal Hospital School, Holbrook

Charles Spencer, Alan Johnson, Richard Coles and Timothy and Shane Spall will talk about life’s lessons, revolutionaries and predicaments (among other things).

Tickets: £11 Information: 01803 867373 www.wayswithwords.co.uk

For half a century, the Swingle Singers have pushed the boundaries of what the human voice can achieve. Their vocal agility and blend, combined with captivating showmanship, has thrilled generations of audiences around the globe. This will be an evening like no other!

Box office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

NOVEMBER 7 The Man Who Woke Up Dead

Halesworth Cut A taut thriller, influenced by 1950s film noir and the dystopian worlds of George Orwell.

The Man Who Woke Up Dead is a dark, claustrophobic nightmare, akin to the thrillers of Alfred Hitchcock, exploring the divide between fact and fiction. When everything you believe is shown to be false, holding on to any kind of truth becomes a deadly game.

Using their unique physical and cinematic style, Square Peg Theatre creates an elegant, bold and beautifully choreographed world from the empty stage.

Box Office: 0845 673 2123 | newcut.org

STUART CLAY TRAPS Country sports, fishing and clothing specialists We stock most makes of: • Shotgun, rifles and air rifles • Men’s, ladies and children’s clothing and boots • Sporting guns • Fishing tackle and equipment • Full range of fishing accessories and fresh bait Stockists of: • LE CHAMEAU • LAKSEN • HOGGS • AIGLE • DEER HUNTER • MUSTO • HUCKLECOTE

Stuart Clay Traps Ltd 3a & 3b Wilford Bridge Road Melton, Woodbridge Suffolk IP12 1RB 01394 385567 sales@stuartsgunsandtackle.com www.stuartsgunandtackle.com

NOVEMBER 7 – 9 Aldeburgh Poetry Festival

Snape Maltings

NOVEMBER 8 – 9 Brundibár

Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall

See mini preview page 23

NOVEMBER 8 Annual Ball

Bruisyard Hall To commemorate the centenary of the First World War with silent and live auction in aid of the SSAFA Armed Forces Charity. www.bruisyardhall.co.uk

Jubilee Opera presents this musical folk tale

by Hans Krasá. Fully staged performance by the children of Jubilee Opera with Piotr Lempa bass, The Southbank Sinfonia, conductor Alice farnham, directed by Frederic Wake-Walker Tickets: £15 Box office: 01728 687110 boxoffice@aldeburgh.co.uk

CREATING BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR SPACES As the summer turns to autumn it is the perfect time to think about the planting and impact you want to achieve in the garden next spring and summer.

Planting at this time of year gives the plants a chance to establish and develop their roots so they become strong and healthy before the winter weather ensues and will guarantee healthy semi-established plants ready for that vibrant spring and summer blast of colour.

It is an exciting time here at Gilman-Earle Design, our lovely team is expanding and has now moved to a new office located at: Basepoint, Unit 39, 70-72 The Havens, Ransomes Europark, Ipswich, IP3 9SJ. (opposite Makro).

If you would like to discuss your garden aspirations and plans for next year, please give us a call to book in an appointment and pop in to see us for a cup of tea/coffee at our new office.

Office telephone 01473 722828 Gemma Gilman-Earle 07881 627472 William Gilman-Earle 07970 849773

info@gilman-earledesign.com www.gilman-earledesign.com

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NOVEMBER 2014

NOVEMBER 9 Henschel Quartet

St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt, 4pm The Stour Valley Arts and Music's (SVAM) 64th season’s second concert, given by The Heschel Quartet. This internationally acclaimed quartet celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

Ticket Prices: £12.50 Information: 01206 298426 or weatheralld@btinternet.com Farmers Markets

Assington, The Barn, 10am – 2pm

NOVEMBER 10

Scottish singer/songwriter, most famous for his role as founder member and front man of Del Amitri. Currently a successful solo artist, Justin Currie's music is dominated by strong imagery and storytelling.

Tickets: £22 (£20 in advance) Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

Romanian Doinas, Hungarian Czadas and beautiful ballads such as the theme to Schindler's List.

Tickets: £16 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

NOVEMBER 13 One Night of Elvis

NOVEMBER 11 – 15

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds This Is My Family

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich A Sheffield Theatres Production of a brand new musical from the writer of Calendar Girls.

Box office: 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

Justin Currie

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm

Europe’s most successful Elvis Presley tribute artist, Lee Memphis King presents the ultimate tribute to The King – celebrating the entire career of the musical legend, accompanied by his world class band and backing singers.

Tickets: £20 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

NOVEMBER 12 Understanding Pruning

Woodbridge Community Hall, 7.30pm

Budapest Café Orchestra

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds Led by jazz violin superstar Christian Garrick, The Budapest Café Orchestra combines immense skill and profound musicianship as they play traditional folk and gypsy music from across the Balkans and Russia. The hugely entertaining show features Klezmer,

Talk with Anne Tweddle, propagation officer for the Suffolk Plant Heritage Group

We’ve saved the best till last! Join us for the end of our Autumn Season.

DRAMA

A FAREWELL TO ARMS

THIS IS MY FAMILY

SHOWING FROM TUE 4 TUE 4 — SAT SAT 8 NOV 8 NOV

SHOWING FROM TUE 11 TUE 11 — SAT SAT 15 NOV 15 NOV NOV

Acclaimed theatre makers imitating the dog bring their unique theatrical vision to this adaptation of A Farewell To Arms Arms,, one of the great love stories of the twentieth century.

This fast-moving, laugh-out-loud and hugely moving new musical from the writer of Calendar Girls goes to the heart of the question: what exactly is the point of family in the modern age?

MUSICAL

Book online now at wolseytheatre.co.uk or call our friendly Ticket Sales Assistants on 01473 295900

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What’s On NOVEMBER 14

Kingfisher Sinfonietta Orchestral Concert

Alexander Whitely Dance Company

St Mary’s Church, Woodbridge, 7.30pm

Jerwood Dance House, Ipswich

Suffolk Sinfonia

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds

NOVEMBER 14 – 15

This is an unusual orchestral concert of music by fathers and sons. The popular Kingfisher Sinfonietta is directed by Beth Spendlove.

Tickets: £12, £10 concessions at the door (or from Woodbridge Violins)

English Touring Opera

Separate Tables

Snape Maltings

Halesworth Cut

See mini preview page 27

By Open Space Theatre Company. In a small seaside hotel, affection, love and desire linger on in lives consumed by loneliness and disappointment. Rattigan’s sensitive portrayal of middle-class hypocrisy is packed with humour and compassion.

Box Office: 0845 673 2123 newcut.org

See mini preview page 27

NOVEMBER 14 – 16 Aldeburgh Documentary Festival

Aldeburgh Cinema See feature pages 28 to 29

Quiz in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice NOVEMBER 15 Farmers Markets

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

Ipswich Sports Club, Henley Road, Ipswich Tickets: £5 Information: 07825 699 539 or eccles.h@ntlworld.com

The delightful Johann Strauss Overture to Die Fledermaus opens this new season of concerts and together with the lively Morning Papers Waltz, sets the tone for one of Tchaikovsky’s most popular Symphonies, the “Little Russian”.

Tickets: £10, £8 concessions Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk Dark Side of the Wall; Pink Floyd Tribute Act

The Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh You’re in for an exceptional night with a full on concert dedicated to the band’s original, progressive and psychedelic music. Organised by the White Lion Hotel the evening includes a 4-course meal, pre-concert entertainment and the best seats in the house at the Jubilee Hall.

Tickets: £50 a person or £20 per person concert ticket only www.whitelion.co.uk

To see more event listings for this month and beyond visit

essentialsuffolk.com

Two and three course menus from just £13.50 and special Christmas Day dining too Get the Deben Inns app for our latest news and offers. Simply search Deben Inns in the app store and follow the simple instructions.

www.debeninns.co.uk

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

The Maybush Cliff Rd, Waldringfield, IP12 4QL 01473 736215

The Coach & Horses Melton, Woodbridge, IP12 1PD 01394 384851

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

The Swan Westerfield Road, Westerfield, IP6 9AJ 01473 251447

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

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NOVEMBER 2014

NOVEMBER 15 – 16

NOVEMBER 16

NOVEMBER 16 AND 18

Woodbridge Christmas Holistic Fayre

EACH Christmas Craft and Gift Fair

Chalk About

Greshams Sports and Social Club, 12 noon – 4.30pm

Jerwood Dance House, Ipswich

Woodbridge Community Hall, 10am – 4pm A ‘Holistic and Music Festival Experience’ admission includes prize draw and workshops Entry: Adult £3.50, concession £2.50 Information: Chris Cozens 07969 770741 www.lifearts.co.uk

With more than 45 amazing stalls selling a variety of gifts such as cards, cakes, jewellery, body products and much more.

Refreshments available.

Parking and admission free.

When This Rotten War is Over

Ipswich School, 3.30pm Craft Markets

Blackthorpe Barns, Rougham (Also November 22 & 23 and November 29 & 30) Every weekend there are more than 60 exhibitors offering a wonderful mix of elegantly hand decorated glassware, stunning ceramics and intricately designed jewellery through to gorgeous handbags and clothing, striking sculpture and distinctive wooden creations and so much more. The fabulous collections are 100% British and all beautifully handcrafted by the exhibitors themselves.

Tickets: £2 www.blackthorpebarns.com

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Ipswich Choral Society presents Fauré Requiem Mass, Songs and poetry reflecting the First World War. Tickets: Adult £12, concession £10, child £4 Information: 01473 738324 Giant Charity Christmas Craft and Gift Fayre

Cameo Hotel, Ipswich, 10am – 4pm With over 60 stalls selling locally made crafts and quality gifts. In aid of FIND – Ipswich Families in Need Entry: Adult £1 Information: Jan on 07950 153149

Curious Seed in association with Moko Dance – Chalk About is a playful, funny and sometimes moving look at how we see ourselves and others, featuring dance, chat and one perfect scene containing everything you could wish for.

Tickets: £10 adult, £7 concessions, £25 Family Ticket (valid Sunday performance) Box Office: 01473 295230 www.danceeast.co.uk

NOVEMBER 17 – 22 Ipswich Regent

The Mousetrap See feature pages 24 to 26 Box office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

To see more event listings for this month and beyond visit

essentialsuffolk.com

What’s On NOVEMBER 20 La Traviata

more with entertainment during the event.

Information: Jay Harvey 07736 826180 or jay.harvey@ipswich.gov.uk

Colchester Mercury Award-winning OperaUpClose presents Verdi’s famous masterpiece.

Box office: 01206 573948 www.mercurytheatre.oc.uk

NOVEMBER 22 ‘Not From the High Street’ Christmas Fayre

The Institute Hall, Stratford St Mary, 10.30am – 3pm The fayre will include children’s games and activities, Santa’s grotto, stalls with unique and locally made Christmas gifts, and much more.

All money raised from the event will go towards much needed resources for ABC preschool.

Entry: Adults £1.50 Information: Laurie 07817 683360 or abc.preschool@tesco.net

Mark Bruce Company – Dracula

Jerwood Dance House, Ipswich 7.30pm One of the UK’s most celebrated and ground-breaking dance companies makes its Jerwood DanceHouse debut for one night only with a stunning adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic gothic horror novel. Winner of the prestigious South Bank Sky Arts Award for Dance, this critically acclaimed production should not be missed.

Tickets: £10, £7 concessions Box Office: 01473 295230 www.danceeast.co.uk

Blue Cross Christmas Fete

St Mary’s Church Hall, Felixstowe, 10am – 2pm NOVEMBER 21 – 23 Ipswich Christmas Market

10am – 6pm (4pm Sunday) Ipswich Town Centre features a wide range of local and national traders selling a fantastic range of quality gifts, fashions, artisan products, crafts, grocery foods and much

Join staff and volunteers from the Blue Cross Centre in Felixstowe at the Christmas Fayre and help raise money for sick and homeless pets. Blue Cross Christmas cards, raffle, refreshments and lovely Christmas gifts on sale.

Entry: By donation Information: 0300 7771480 or felixstowe@bluecross.org.uk

IT'S A NUTCRACKER CHRISTMAS AT BARRETTS

www.barretts.co.uk/shop

Come and see our stunning displays of Christmas decorations, wreaths & garlands, gifts, candles, advent calendars, stockings, Christmas tableware, & German musical snow globes

Barretts

of Woodbridge

40 The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge Free customer car park T: 01394 384300 E: sales@barretts.co.uk www.barretts.co.uk

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What’s On

NOVEMBER 2014

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar

NOVEMBER 24

NOVEMBER 29

Joe Brown

Aldeburgh Christmas Lights Switch On

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds

Aldeburgh Town Centre

A show packed with timeless classics, with Joe’s effervescent delivery and humorous reminiscences.

Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

The lighting of the Christmas Tree and the trees lining Aldeburgh High Street including Christmas Carol singers, shops open for late night shopping, mulled wine, mince pies, live music, and lots more. Finishing with fireworks on the beach, outside The Brudenell, at 5pm.

NOVEMBER 26

Ipswich orchestral Society Autumn Concert

Christmas Craft and Gift Fayre

Grand Hall, Corn Exchange, Ipswich

The Cut, Halesworth Following the success of its much-praised Richard III, RoughCast takes its production of Shakespeare’s classic political thriller on tour. “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!”

Box Office: 0845 673 2123 newcut.org Mendlesham Christmas Gift & Craft fair

Mendlesham Community Centre, noon – 4.30pm in aid of The Dogs Trust. Avoid all the hassle and stress of shopping and come along to browse in peace and choose form a huge variety of original gifts that will delight friends and family.

‘We Are Handmade’ Contemporary Christmas Craft & Design Fair

The Old School, Long Melford, 10am – 4pm With over 45 stalls, this event will offer shoppers beautifully designed and handcrafted gifts and decorations for Christmas. The latest in contemporary and vintage inspired handmade items including jewellery, clothes, bags, prints, soaps, cards, soft furnishings and home wares, pottery and much more.

Entry: Free Information: 07824 888 346 or dee@marbleevents.co.uk Farmers Markets

Fynn Valley Golf Club, 6 – 9pm A large selection of locally made crafts and gifts. Stands include Planet Bean Coffee, jewellery , scarves, cheese, homemade jams & pickles, candles , handbags, glassware , handmade cards, umbrellas, cushions & quilts, and much more.

Entry: £2.50 includes glass of mulled wine Information: Jan Harlott 01473 785267

NOVEMBER 27 Christmas Bazaar

Woodbridge Methodist Church, 10am – 12pm Stalls include home-made cakes & preserves, tombola, bric-a-brac, books, clothes, raffle & games. In aid of Age Uk's New Horizons Club.

Information: 07841 460383

Woodbridge, Community Centre, 9am – 1pm Festive Ladies Charity Shopping Evening

Ufford Park Woodbridge Hotel, Golf & Spa NOVEMBER 23 Farmers Market

Lavenham Village Hall 10am – 1.30pm Christmas Shopping Day

Tithe Barn, Sproughton, 10am – 4pm Event in aid of Suffolk Family Carers and Somersham Ward (Cancer Care). A variety of stalls including jewellery, bags, cards & stationery, gift ideas for children and adults alike, beauty treatments and more.

Christmas Up-Market Greshams Sports Club, Ipswich, 11am to 4.30pm The chance to browse and buy from selected exhibitors, offering the very best in jewellery, handbags, accessories, photography, interiors, food and gifts raising funds for Suffolk Age UK. Entry: £2 Information: jo.reeder@ageuksuffolk.org or 01473 353071

Enjoy an evening of Christmas Shopping with a glass of fizz and canapés. With festive stalls including designer handbags, purses and scarves, gift vouchers, Christmas gifts, jewellery, cakes and much more.

Entry: £5 (50% to Marie Curie) Tickets must be booked and pre-paid Booking & Information: 01394 383555 ext. 300 Paul Carrick

Regent Theatre, Ipswich Legendary Sheffield-born singer, songwriter and former frontman of Ace, Squeeze and Mike & The Mechanics returns to the road.

Box office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

NOVEMBER 29 Farmers Market

Sudbury, St Peters, Market Hill, 9.30am – 2pm

Featuring soloist Laura van der Heijden who won the title BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2012 aged just 15.

Box office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com Aldeburgh Music Club

Snape Maltings, 7.30pm With Suffolk Baroque Players conducted

by Edmond Fivet, performing Handel’s Alexander’s Feasts. Soloists Lucy Hall – soprano, Christopher Bowen – tenor and Adrian Powter – bass. www.aldeburgh.co.uk Sweet Chorus with ‘Django Lives’

Seckford Theatre Woodbridge This Show is a tribute to the marvellous, unique Quintet of the Hot Club De France, which featured the talents of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. www.aclassact.org.uk

NOVEMBER 30 Kingfisher Sinfonietta Orchestral Concert

Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh, 4pm The programme includes Holst – A Moorside Suite for Strings and R Strauss Duet – Concertino for Clarinet and Bassoon.

Tickets: £12, £10 concessions at the door or in advance from Caramel Boutique 01728 452141 Aldeburgh High Street or 01728 687467 Snape Maltings Festive Themed Quiz Night Greshams Sports Club, Ipswich, 7pm Organised by the Hearing Care Centre this is their eighth trivia fund raiser and is in support of FIND local food bank appeal.

Teams of 4 – 6 members Entry: £4 per head including nibbles in advance from Hearing Care Centre or buy online www.hearingcarecentre.co.uk/quiz

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

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Essential November 2014 100pp_Layout 1 16/10/2014 13:33 Page 23

Mini Previews

A FAREWELL TO ARMS

ALDEBURGH POETRY FESTIVAL

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich.

November 4 – 8

Venues in Aldeburgh & Snape Maltings.

November 7 – 9

This month theatre audiences in Suffolk have the opportunity see the first ever UK stage adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's seminal First World War novel, A Farewell to Arms. It’s being brought to the New Wolsey by Imitating The Dog, one of the UK’s most original and innovative performance theatre companies. Made famous on Broadway

by Laurence Stallings, A Farewell to Arms was subsequently made into an Oscar-nominated film in 1932 featuring Gary Cooper and then remade in 1957 with Rock Hudson and Jennifer Jones.

In this adaptation, Imitating The Dog will fuse video projection, beautiful stage design and original music to create an extraordinary version of Hemingway’s powerful tale of love and the brutality of modern warfare. It’s guaranteed to be something special as Imitating The Dog devises performances that experiment with the role of story-telling and narrative to UK and international acclaim. The company uses a combination of digital media, design and physical performance, to create off-kilter worlds within which public and private obsessions are explored.

Based on the author’s reallife experience in 1918 in Italy, the novel tells the story of Frederic Henry, an American ambulance driver for the Italian army and his relationship with English nurse Catherine Barkley. Against the backdrop of the war they discover the redemptive power of love and experience the loss of innocence as they attempt to cement their relationship in a time of devastating conflict.

This month Aldeburgh Poetry Festival, in its 26th year will be saying goodbye to Naomi Jaffa who, as Director of the Poetry Trust, has helped to steer this event towards international renown. She’s stepping down after 22 years in charge with three days that offer a mix of well known or international names, lesser-known voices, exceptional newcomers and a fresh line-up of 30 poets from twelve countries.

The festival will feature more than 60 interconnecting events, across ten venues in Aldeburgh and at Snape including readings, workshops, discussions, craft-talks, close-readings, performances and exhibitions. The four main readings always form the backbone of the programme. Friday night gets the weekend off to a powerful start with America’s Dan O’Brien who won the 2013 Fenton Aldeburgh First Collection prize for War Reporter; Selima Hill who occupies a unique place in British poetry; and Tom Pickard, revivifying the rich oral tradition of his Northumbrian roots.

Saturday morning presents Scotland’s exceptional Jen Hadfield, cosmopolitan Julian Stannard (UK), and the movingly truthful Ellen Doré Watson (USA). During the evening session Volker Braun bears witness to the hope, anguish, and disappointment of recent European history; Kathleen Jamie makes enlightening sense of our place in the natural world; and from Australia, Bronwyn Lea pursues self-knowledge in poised narratives. On Sunday afternoon there’s yet another worldclass trio, from America, the darkly hilarious and tender Thomas Lux; South Africa’s Finuala Dowling who walks the tragi-comic tightrope of her life with aplomb; and finally, Adélia Prado, Brazil’s best-loved contemporary poet, making her UK debut at Aldeburgh.

In the lead roles will be Jude Monk McGowan (The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable, National Theatre/Punchdrunk and the recent screen adaptation of Anna Karenina) as Frederic Henry and Laura Atherton (The Zero Hour, Imitating The Dog) as Catherine Barkley.

Other roles will be played by Morven Macbeth, Joshua Johnson, Mat Pendergast and Marco Rossi.

According to Naomi, “There are at least five compelling reasons to be at the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival each November.

The poets – so many discoveries. The poems – language really working. The sheer range of events. The place – Suffolk, of course, but also where you can get to in your head and in your heart. And finally the unforgettable experience of sharing so much with so many interesting people. I’m bound to be back next year as a punter!”

INFORMATION Box office: 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

INFORMATION Box Office: 01728 687110 www.aldeburgh.co.uk | www.thepoetrytrust.org

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NOVEMBER 2014

IT’S A

mystery!

Agatha Christie’s masterpiece – The Mousetrap – is a record breaking play that’s run and run for more than 60 years and is in Ipswich from November 17 – 22.

Essential Suffolk looks at its glorious past and hears from its owner Mathew Pritchard

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Preview | The Mousetrap

Essential November 2014 100pp_Layout 1 16/10/2014 13:34 Page 25

W

hen The Mousetrap opened in November 1952 with Richard Attenborough and Sheila Sim in the leading roles, it was only seven years since Hitler had died.

Much essential food was still rationed, Winston Churchill was Prime Minister and Stalin was ruler of Russia. It was the year Princess Elizabeth began her long reign as Queen, television programmes ended at 10.30 pm and the entire TV listings only occupied three and a half lines. Since then Agatha Christie became a Dame of the British Empire, her books have sold in their billions around the world, there have been productions of The Mousetrap in 50 languages and there is rarely a night without a performance somewhere in the world.

What’s more, the phenomenal success of this play has also been a powerful force for good. Agatha Christie gave her grandson, Mathew Prichard, the royalties from The Mousetrap for his ninth birthday. In recent years he has donated them to the benefit of charities for the arts and other causes, especially in Wales. Mathew Prichard CBE is Chairman of Agatha Christie Ltd and Mousetrap Theatre Projects is now London’s leading theatre education charity. It takes 12,000 disadvantaged young people to the best of London

theatre each year, who would not otherwise have that opportunity. It is supported by virtually every theatre and producer in London and by the Society of London Theatre, as well as numerous generous donors.

Having achieved many world records at The Ambassadors Theatre, where it opened, it moved to the St. Martin’s Theatre in March 1974 without missing a performance and in its new home it has achieved many more world records.

The Mousetrap became the world’s longest running production on 12 April 1958, exceeding the run of “Chu-ChinChow”, on its 2,239th performance.

The Mousetrap has four entries in the Guinness Book of Records, including: for the ‘longest continuous run of any show in the world’; ‘most durable’ actor (David Raven, who played Major Metcalf for 4,575 performances from 22nd July 1957 until 23rd November 1968); and ‘longest serving understudy’ (Nancy Seabrooke, who stood by as Mrs Boyle 6,240 times until 12th March 1994, and actually did so 72 times).

In March 1956, the film rights were sold but under the proviso that the film could not be released until six months after the end of the West End run. The film has yet to be made!

The Mousetrap inheritance Mathew Pritchard I suppose it took some time for it to sink in that I had a famous grandmother known to the world as Agatha Christie.

I first remember her during the years when I was at preparatory school and her house at Wallingford was nearby.

We used to have enjoyable ‘exeats’ on Sundays and it was, I think, then that the first glimmers of truth came through.

Very sensibly, the headmaster of my school insisted on initialling all books that came into the school. I came back from Wallingford clutching the latest Agatha Christie and wondering, quite genuinely, whether the Head could possibly find any reason for withholding the coveted signature. There was, however, one occasion when my book took a terribly long time to re-appear.

Later I realised that the headmaster’s wife had taken the opportunity to read it! In such small ways, therefore, I did become aware that I had a talented grandmother. Not that it made a great deal of difference to me.

She was just a marvellous grandmother and someone nice to have around.

I think perhaps there were four things which, more than anything else endeared her to me. ‰

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Preview | The Mousetrap

NOVEMBER 2014

The first was her modesty. To the outside world I suppose this appeared as shyness, but to us she was always infinitely more interested in what we were thinking and doing than in herself. She could manage to write a book almost without one noticing and sometimes she used to read the new one to us in the summer down in Devonshire. She did so partly, I suspect, to test audience reaction, but partly to entertain us on the inevitable wet afternoons when, no doubt, I was rather difficult to amuse!

We all tried to guess, and my mother was the only one who was ever right. I think most of my friends who met her during those years were quite astonished that such a mild, gentle grandmother could really be the authoress of all those stories of intrigue, murder and jealousy.

Her next great characteristic was her generosity. It is by now well-known that she gave me The Mousetrap for my ninth birthday. I do not, I’m afraid, remember much about the actual presentation (if there was one) and

probably nobody realised until much later what a marvellous present it was, but it is perhaps worth remembering that my grandmother had been through many times in her life when money was not plentiful. It was therefore incredibly generous of her to give away such a play to her grandson, as in 1952 her books were only approaching the enormous success they have now become. It is also a mistake to think of her generosity only in terms of money. She loved giving pleasure to others – good food, a holiday, a present, or a birthday ode.

She loved enjoying herself, and also to see others around her enjoying themselves.

The third thing I always enjoyed was her enthusiasm. Despite her modesty or shyness, it was never far below the surface. I think she always had a love/fright relationship with the theatre.

Although I am sure she found the experience very wearing, she always enjoyed other people’s enthusiasm for her plays and found it infectious. I went to The Mousetrap several times with her in varying company – family parties,

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girlfriends, and the Eton cricket team when I was captain in 1962. I would say we all enjoyed the play and my grandmother’s company in equal pleasure. But she was enthusiastic about other people’s plays as well, about archaeology, opera and perhaps above all about food! In short, she was an exciting person to be with because she always tried to look on the good side of things and people; she always found something to enthuse about.

It is inevitable perhaps that my own impressions of my grandmother are rather personal ones. She was, above all, a family person and though everybody, from the literary world, from the world of archaeology and from the stage has good reason to be grateful to her it is her family who have the most to be grateful for – her kindness, her charity, and for just being herself.

INFORMATION Box office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com www.the-mousetrap.co.uk

Essential November 2014 100pp_Layout 1 16/10/2014 13:41 Page 27

Mini Previews

THE MEASURES TAKEN/THE GRIT IN THE OYSTER Jerwood Dancehouse, Ipswich.

November 14 Dance East has an exciting programme for November and first up is a performance not to miss, created by leading new British choreographer Alexander Whitley. Desciribed by the Metro as ‘a dancer turned one-to-watch choreographer’ he’s showcasing an exciting bill of two works in his company’s inaugural tour. A Sadler’s Wells New Wave Associate and DanceEast Associate Artist, Whitley’s influences include technology, philosophy and design.

Following his Royal Ballet School training, Whitley earned a solid reputation as a dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet, Rambert, Michael Clark, Sydney Dance Company and Wayne McGregor/ Random Dance and was twice nominated for the Critics' Circle award. Whitley’s fresh presence on the UK choreographic scene earned him a 2014 South Bank Award nomination. He has created works for The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Wayne McGregor / Random Dance, Rambert and the BalletBoyz.

ENGLISH TOURING OPERA Snape Maltings.

November 14 and 15 Two rarely performed jewels in the opera repertoire, Haydn’s Life on the Moon and Handel’s Ottone will be performed at Snape Maltings this month. They are being brought to Suffolk by the Olivier Award-winning opera company English Touring Opera returning as part of its season of opera and sacred music from across the eighteenth century.

Haydn’s comedy Life on the Moon sees a young heiress and her maid teaming up with a fake ‘astronomer’ and his servant to trick her Scrooge-like father out of his fortune by persuading him that he has been transported to the Moon.

ETO’s new production is directed by Cal McCrystal, the Comedy Director for the West End hit comedy One Man, Two Guvnors, and conducted by Christopher Bucknall.

Handel’s Ottone is set in Europe around 1000AD. The title character, the King of Germany, is about to marry his Byzantine bride but is threatened by a bloody attempted coup.

One of the most popular operas of Handel’s day, Ottone combines complex characters and a treasure trove of famous arias. This new production is directed by ETO general director James Conway and conducted by baroque specialist Jonathan Peter Kenny.

The Measures Taken, commissioned by the Royal Opera House in collaboration with digital artists Marshmallow Laser Feast, previewed at the Jerwood DanceHouse in June 2013 as a work in progress during the DanceEast Rough Cuts season. This visually striking and kinetically charged work explores our interdependent relationship with technology. The Grit in the Oyster sets a trio of dancers against Thomas Adès’ Piano Quintet to explore themes of obsession and transformation. It was commissioned

by Sadler’s Wells for Thomas Adès: See the Music, Hear the Dance.

Both operas are sung in English and performed in full costume with period instrument orchestra The Old Street Band. James Conway, ETO General Director, says, “Ottone and Life on the Moon are both rarely-performed jewels but could not be more different. Ottone is an opera I have wanted to do for years, for its strange, profound story and the fascinating history behind it, and the Haydn is simply hilarious. I’m delighted to be bringing both operas to Snape Maltings”.

INFORMATION Box Office: 01473 295230 www.danceeast.co.uk

INFORMATION Box office: 01728 687110 www.aldeburgh.co.uk

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NOVEMBER 2014

REELING IN THE YEARS

Aldeburgh Documentary Film Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary with, as ever, an incredible programme including a film about Britain’s oldest projectionist – Saxmundham man Neville Parry. Anne Gould reports

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here was a time when cinema projectionists were considered by some to be the final part of the movie-making business. It was their job to make sure the print was good in order that the film ran with the best possible sound and visual quality, to ensure, that it was correctly wound onto two projection reels loaded side by side and be ready to fix problems should they arise. Tucked away out of sight in a small attic room it was a role that involved skill and dedication with little time to actually watch the silver screen. With precious spools of film in their charge the enjoyment of movie-goers was very much their responsibility – not surprising then that they’ve been immortalised by

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directors in everything from Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Junior to Tornatore’s Cinema Paradiso right through to Tarantino’s Inglorious Bastards.

Digital innovation has meant these skills of old are no longer needed and projectionists are simply dying out.

So as a tribute to Neville Parry, who has worked at Aldeburgh Cinema for more than 40 years, the festival is showing a film about his life and work. Thomas Gerstenmeyer, the Executive Director of the Festival, said the idea was first suggested by Alan Eklid at the Aldeburgh Cinema Club who felt Neville’s knowledge should be recorded for posterity. “Originally it was going to be a short video but when we found

director/producer Jon Saward, the media and film lecturer at Suffolk New College who specialises in personal stories, it became a 35mm film.

Neville is now nearly 82 and lives in Saxmundham. He stepped down as our Chief Projectionist in April but still has very close connections with the cinema.

We believe he is one of the oldest projectionists in Britain, if not the world.”

In A Life Illuminated his story is told through interviews with friends and colleagues, the use of re-enactments, archive footage and plenty of behind the scenes shots. With Neville’s local connections this is likely to be a very popular film but over the last 20 years

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Aldeburgh Documentary Film Festival

the festival has grown in such stature that it’s almost always sold out.

“We have six sessions catering for 250 people and last year every ticket was sold,” says Thomas. The festival’s early beginnings in the ‘90s were organised by documentarian Molly Dineen with writer Craig Brown as curator. It was aimed at local people but since then through reputation it’s just grown and grown featuring many acclaimed awardwinning film makers. Sir David Attenborough, Nick Broomfield, Melvin Bragg, Hugh Fearnely Whittingstall, Stephen Fry, Michael Portillo, Griff Rhys Jones and Louis Theroux are among the famous names who’ve appeared here.

In 2010 the actress Diana Quick, who has a home in Suffolk, came on board as Artistic Director. Thomas says her intention has always been to show that fact is more riveting than fiction. Writing in the Guardian, she explained, “Where once you had pure reportage, now you have an investigation into the truth, a truth that can be subjective.

Documentaries often appear to be one thing, then, once you’re inside they take you somewhere fresh, unexpected and truly life-enhancing.” As its grown the festival has also attracted visitors from an audience beyond Suffolk, mostly from London and across the UK but from Paris and Europe as well. Thomas says that this year’s theme is the common

ground between local and global, the political and the human, the individual and the universal. There are films covering everything from wine making to the pro-democracy movement and coming to terms with moral duty.

Along the way are life-affirming personal stories of love, loss and adversities overcome.

Choosing the programme has taken Thomas to some of the world’s most famous film festivals including Cannes, London and Edinburgh. On his travels he’s picked up the British Premiere of a film called Natural Resistance, made by Jonathan Nossiter, which he saw in Bologna. It’s a story about four winemakers in Italy, the European ‘Natural Wine’ revolution and how their views are encountering resistance. Meanwhile Oscar-winner, John Battsek is also taking part showing a film called The Green Prince, about an extraordinary real life Palestinian/Israeli spy story. It tells of Mosab Yousef, the son of Palestinian agitator and Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef. Mosab grows up angry and ready to fight Israel, he’s arrested for smuggling guns and while in detention agrees to spy for Israel. It’s based on Yousef’s memoir, Son of Hamas, The Green Prince, and was screened to much acclaim at The Sundance Film Festival.

For those who want to know more John Battsek will be on stage himself too with a discussion – How to Win Oscars with

Riveting Stories.

This year a Lifetime Achievement Award is also being awarded to Roger Graef, who besides being an acclaimed writer, director, producer and filmmaker and a founding board member of Channel Four, took part in the first ever Aldeburgh Documentary Film Festival with a film A Space Between Words – Diplomacy.

INFORMATION www.aldeburghcinema.co.uk

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NOVEMBER 2014

This year Armistice Day will have special poignancy because of the centenary of the Great War, but for one Suffolk man 2014 has seen the launch of a quest to ensure that no-one ever forgets. Anne Gould reports

THE TRENCH

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Suffolk Trenches

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omewhere on the outskirts of Ipswich lies a stretch of land that is forever France. With its evil looking rolls of barbed wire, sunken waterlogged trenches, mud and wilderness it’s like stepping back into a world that has now passed out of living memory. The guns have long grown quiet over the battlefields of the Somme, Flanders and the Vimy Ridge at Arras, but over the last decade they’ve rung out time and again near Ipswich.

Taff Gillingham, of Khaki Devil, is a film advisor specialising in military history with particular expertise in the

1914-18 war and he explained the trench in Ipswich was constructed back in 2003 as a film set. Since then it’s been used on numerous occasions on TV for adverts and programmes like Blue Peter and the BBC’s landmark Somme documentary. Most famously Downton Abbey used it for its war scenes in the second series where Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) got shot in the back.

Television journalists and writers Jeremy Paxman and Dan Snow have called on Taff and visited on several occasions.

Even the Great British Bake Off has been there – with Mel Giedroyc talking about food in the First World War and

Photographs courtesy of ITV’s Downton Abbey

most recently, in September’s sunshine, the whole site was covered in life-like snow – made out of tiny pieces of photographic paper – for a TV advert featuring more than 100 extras, that’s going to be broadcast later this month.

“It was quite astonishing. The snow looked real, but once they finished filming they simply vacuumed it up and it was gone.”

Taff originally built this film set following a BBC programme back in 2001, called The Trench involving 25 young men from Hull and mirroring the lives of the 16th East Yorkshire Regiment. Khaki Devil provided military uniforms, equipment and arms and built a trench on location he said, but it had to be ploughed back in. He then realised there was a need for a permanent trench, so scouted round on the outskirts of Ipswich, his home town, to find the right piece of land. It has been specially constructed according to original army specifications and is the largest such trench in the UK. But it isn’t quite historically accurate, he says, because all the corners have been widened out so directors can get the correct camera angles.

To begin with there was just a British trench on the low ground but since then a German trench has been added at the top of the hill as well. However, Taff quickly realised that something more was needed because every time the trench has been featured in the media he gets lots of fascinated local people stopping by to take a look and he says it’s not ideal. So with Kev Smith and Tracey Mackenzie, fellow directors of Khaki Devil, they set about looking for a piece of land to create an education facility that offers something more.

There wasn’t anything suitable in Ipswich but now he’s found some land in Hawstead, near Bury St Edmunds and is hopeful that by the end of next year it will be open to the public.

Taff says there’s a lot of public misinformation about the war and he’s hoping that his installation/exhibition will explode some of the myths about the numbers of men killed, what they ate, the problems the army had with ‰

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Suffolk Trenches

infectious diseases and more. “There’s this idea that soldiers were stuck in trenches the whole time but the records show that they actually spent some time playing football behind the lines.”

He also says the army went to huge efforts, for instance, to make sure the men were properly fed – it wasn’t all meagre rations – proper hot meals were provided to everyone every day, mostly under cover of darkness. So now he’s going to be creating more trenches, built to accurate specifications complete with right angled corners and there’s also to be a parade ground with army huts for exhibits.

To his delight these buildings have all come to him for free. “We were planning to rebuild using original army specifications but one day I was at Ipswich Labour Club and discovered they had a building there that had been relocated from Colchester Barracks in 1936. It was going to be removed to make way for a new extension and so I offered to take it down for them.

Look East became interested in the story and did some filming.” After the piece was broadcast the phone started ringing with people from all over the country offering huts that they no longer used. Some of them had been lived in as private houses, one was a WI hall but all have their own stories.

“What’s nice is that they’re not only original but they’ve all come with 100 years of social history.” Taff added, “We are not creating this exhibition to generate huge amounts of money, our driving passion is to have somewhere where future generations of people from Suffolk can learn about this war and what it was like for local people who fought in it.”

INFOMRATION www.khakidevil.co.uk

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NOVEMBER 2014

FOR FARMERS IN NEED

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution is a little known charity that works with the farming community and makes a world of difference to those in need. Anne Gould visited its newly refurbished retirement home in Bury St Edmunds

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here’s a popular assumption that farmers are wealthy landowners, driving around in flashy fourwheel drives with pockets deep enough to pay cash for eye-wateringly expensive bits of farm machinery. The truth is somewhat different; farmworkers are not always well paid, a quarter of all farmers live on or below the poverty line and whatever their respective bank balances they all work in an industry that’s inevitably at the mercy of the elements.

Floods, prolonged snowfall, drought and diseases like foot and mouth can strike and decimate rainy day funds.

Just like everyone else life, for farmers, can also have a habit of throwing curve balls like accident, illness, bereavement or family breakdown that are impossible to predict no matter how much work has been put into a watertight business plan.

It’s at times like these, when things are hard, that the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (R.A.B.I.) – a national welfare charity that works with farming community in England and Wales – can step in to help.

Duke of Gloucester cuts the first turf

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According to Chief Executive Paul Burrows, every year the charity gives out £2 million in grants, helping between 1500 and 2000 cases. “We literally help people of all age groups from the age of two to 102,” he explained. The charity doesn’t come to the aid of failing businesses but will help anyone who works within the farming world who is in real need – paying for all sorts of things from absolute basics to perhaps more major funds such as support and care for a terminally ill child. In addition to this, R.A.B.I. does much to help those

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The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution in old age with its two retirement homes, one of which is Manson House, in the heart of Bury St Edmunds.

The charity has been involved with the property since the 1950s and has always prided itself on offering high quality 24-hour care with a friendly family atmosphere. Now, thanks to a substantial legacy from a farmer in Hertfordshire, the property has benefitted from a £5 million building project, refurbishment and renovation to make it fit for the 21st century. The scheme has involved substantial building to create 23 self-contained apartments in independent blocks and extending and refurbishing the main house to provide 31 ensuite residential rooms, some of which are large enough to accommodate couples. Work has also included creating a new kitchen, dining room and seating areas in the main gardens.

It’s been a challenging scheme as Manson House, in Northgate Street, is a Grade II listed property and, because of its age and location close to the centre of Bury St Edmunds, it has taken time.

The Duke of Gloucester, who is the President of R.A.B.I. and an architect with a passion for old buildings, cut the turf on the development back in 2012.

But even before construction proper could get underway archaeological investigations were necessary which revealed that the site was used back during the 12th-14th centuries for small scale industry. It also showed that during

the years when the Abbey at Bury St Edmunds reigned supreme, the site had been a mediaeval rubbish tip – which meant that contractors had to pile 15 metres into the ground before building could begin.

The current Manson House was built 154 years ago but it wasn’t until 1974 that R.A.B.I. took over its management and ownership. In that time it has always gone to great lengths to achieve the highest possible standards for residents, which is reflected in the latest inspection from the Care Quality Commission.

This new project, carried out by Kier Construction, has allowed the charity to improve its facilities even further, with beautifully appointed rooms throughout.

Those downstairs have french windows opening onto decking with raised flower beds, should residents want to do some gardening. There’s to be Wi-Fi throughout with computer tablets (and help from staff if necessary) so residents can not only access the internet but also stay in contact with loved ones – children, grandchildren and other family members by Skype. The charity also brought mood boards into Manson House, so existing residents could help choose colour schemes, fabrics and flooring and make their own rooms as personal as possible.

Of course a three year building project can cause a great deal of upheaval but the dedicated staff at the home, headed up by Carole Smith, have gone to great

lengths to ensure the minimum of disruption and it has been a testament to the team that during the works all residents have chosen to stay rather than move to temporary accommodation which was offered. It’s been planned with military precision says Carole, as they knew residents would have to move rooms but they’ve done all they can to minimise any disturbance. She says that the work has meant that the home is now bigger, but not surprisingly, much of that accommodation has already been reserved. Every effort is made, says Carole, to make Manson House a home from home and once the builders have left and things have settled her next plan is to start fund-raising to buy a mini bus.

“We already organise outings and events but we have to organise them in advance. I’d really like a mini-bus so if the weather is nice we can simply pack up and take people to places like Nowton Park or Felixstowe.”

Stephen Miles, Suffolk farmer and former High Sheriff of Suffolk, is a great advocate of both R.A.B.I and in particular Manson House where his mother is a resident. “R.A.B.I is a great charity but it is still relatively unknown and we need to change that. We live in a county with both a great agricultural heritage and future and the support that the charity offers is invaluable to those involved in the industry.”

INFORMATION www.rabi.org.uk

Carole Smith, Paul Burrows & Stephen Miles

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NOVEMBER 2014

ENTERPRISE IN THE EAST Necessity, as ever, is the mother of invention – which in the last five years has led to a business revolution across the nation. As the economy starts to pick up Anne Gould looks at help available for entrepreneurs in Suffolk

O

nce upon a time you had to be a certain sort of breed to go into business and then along came digital disruption, Lehman Brothers, recession and everything changed. Suddenly thousands of people from right across the career spectrum had their P45s and in some places the only option to avoid the dole queue was to work for yourself and start your own business. For many, technological advances meant their jobs had disappeared completely so it was simply a case of dusting themselves down and re-inventing themselves, while for others it was a matter of picking up where they had left off by being independent and becoming self-employed.

Six years on and there are more people not just working for themselves but creating employment opportunities for others too. The good news for people in Suffolk is that there’s also real help available to help grow your business, whether you are a start-up, an established family company, a digital innovator or something in between. Essential Suffolk (ourselves one of the new wave of entrepreneurs) looks at three organisations; New Anglia Growth Hub, Eastern Enterprise Hub and Menta which all work in different ways to make a difference.

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New Anglia Growth Hub Based at Felaw Maltings in Ipswich but with a mandate to cover the whole of Norfolk and Suffolk, this organisation is very much the new kid on the block. It’s only been open for four months but already it has made a real difference to 600 businesses across the region. Growth Hub Manager, John Stenhouse, explained that they offer free advice to any business at any stage of development and provide in-depth analysis to help companies move forward.

“We are not sector specific and it does not matter what your legal status might be, we can offer advice and help you access funding to further growth.” What happens, he explained, is that when companies get in touch they are given a business advisor who will work with them in-depth at their premises to understand what they do and suggest the help that can be offered. “We don’t have the funding ourselves but we know what is available and who is entitled to access it.” In addition through the Innovation Voucher Scheme there’s access to the University of East Anglia, Norwich University for the Arts and

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Business Enterprise

University Campus Suffolk giving a whole range of support.

This includes management consulting, specialist mentoring, use of labs and equipment and student interns.

The New Anglia Growth Hub has been set up through the regional growth fund and, as only the third to have set up across the country, is leading the way in what it offers. John explained, “ Every hub does it slightly differently but we are the only one to offer the unique blend of help to everyone who needs it.” So far they’ve found quite a number of businesses that just don’t realise they are entitled to help. For instance, John said, there was one established traditional Suffolk family business and the Managing Director didn’t believe they were entitled to any help. “I asked if they exported to Europe and they said no but actually they were selling to Ireland.”

This resulted in some help and this business has been able to take a leap forward in export markets they had never believed they could access before.

One company they have helped is Earl Soham Brewery in Debenham which has been awarded £3,750 towards the cost of a new delivery van. Following a steady increase in demand, the brewery realised it needed to adjust its distribution strategy and needed a new van to do it. Morgan Potter, Growth Hub Adviser, identified that the brewery would be eligible for help through Grants4Growth, which is available through Breckland Council. “The application was submitted, processed and approved in a mere two weeks.” John Bjornson the brewery owner added, “This funding has allowed us to finance the new van and continue our strategy to deliver 30% growth within the next two years as well as safeguarding jobs. I’m amazed how quick the process has been and I’m grateful to all those involved in helping us with our expansion plans.”

INFORMATION www.newangliagrowthhub.co.uk

Eastern Enterprise Hub High on the fifth floor overlooking Ipswich Waterfront the Eastern Enterprise Hub offers students something very special – a peek beyond their horizons to something completely new. Set up four years ago as a not for profit organisation, it has helped more than 100 entrepreneurs to set up in business and through work with social spin out organisations from county councils has also helped create more than 1,300 jobs. Chief Executive Simon Mead says that from its early beginnings, when the hub was supported by local business leaders and Suffolk County Council, the hub has grown across the whole region.

There are now 12 programmes running in Ipswich including a School for Social Enterprise, Ipswich18, ReCreate, Suffolk Family Focus and Creative Employment offering internships.

In Colchester the hub has an Essex HQ at the football ground supported by the county and borough councils and the university and in addition to its enterprise programmes there’s a computer games hub for developers. And says Simon, in Norwich, they work with PricewaterhouseCoopers who let them use one of their boardrooms for a programme aimed at environmental entrepreneurs.

The hub is entirely self-funded and revenues come through selling courses and programmes funded by borough and county councils and sponsorship from local companies too.

The programmes are mostly devised around 20 stages which aim to give people a wide range of skills ranging from finance, marketing and leadership to social media, communication skills and overcoming problems through action learning sets.

Ipswich fashion designer Sarah Chatterton, of SLC-SLC is one of the success stories from the EEH - as a member of the ReCreate scheme. “I started my business part-time in 2011 but went full-time in August 2013 about the time I started the course. The hub was really supportive and it was fantastic to learn alongside other like-minded creative people.” What it really taught her was the value of talking to people about what she does, networking and social media. As a result her business has grown with a national audience; she has had publicity in The Times and she’s now employing three people. “I have even started talking to another designer because as the business moves forward I may need help on the creative side too,” says Sarah.

INFORMATION www.eehub.co.uk ‰

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Business Enterprise

NOVEMBER 2014

MENTA Working right across Suffolk, MENTA has been helping businesses start and grow for 30 years. It’s a long standing, not for profit enterprise offering a wide range of assistance including everything from affordable office space and courses right through to networking events. According to Chief Executive Alex Till MENTA helps in excess of 1,200 businesses every year and every pound that they make is reinvested to help the people of Suffolk. He and his team of nine full-timers, work with people from the age of 13 upwards – there are even special courses under the Go Menta Create Your Future which specialise in the gaming and music industries for teenagers. But there’s also oneto-one advice available from experienced advisors, training and support courses at venues across Suffolk, workshops, regular networking events at Seckford Hall near Woodbridge and at the Apex in Bury St Edmunds. There’s an annual trade fair which has grown so much in stature it now gets more than 700 visitors from across the country bringing national recognition, not just to MENTA but the businesses involved too.

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MENTA also has easy access rooms for people who want office space, conference rooms, training areas and can offer a virtual office service too. Alex says they work from various locations - the HQ is in Bury St Edmunds but they also work from Ip-City in Ipswich and have office space in Felixstowe and Haverhill as well. Their latest project @theRec in Stowmarket has taken a more innovative approach to business premises. “We’ve taken two 40ft containers, put them on the Recreation Ground and painted them bright orange as a centre where people can access help,” he explained. Of course over the years they’ve helped enormous numbers of people succeed, but, says Alex one story stands out.

Rikki Baker (MendMyl) lived in Haverhill and had a young family but was cleaning crabs in Lowestoft by day and in the evening he was mending phones and selling them on eBay to make a living. He came to MENTA for advice about the phone repairs and, after borrowing £2,000 from his grandfather, set up in business. Then, says Alex, he just happened to do some work for Stephen Fry who tweeted to his 4.5million followers how thrilled he was with Rikki’s work. So within three or four hours Rikki found himself with a global business – offering a 48 hour turnaround on repairs. “It changed the business dynamic so he needed help again and came to us to help find a solution.”

INFORMATION www.menta.org.uk

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Business Profile | Barker Gotelee

SO,YOU’RE SETTING UP YOUR OWN BUSINESS

Clare Richards Head of the Corporate and Commercial Team at Barker Gotelee

Running your own business can offer so many rewards in life, far beyond the obvious financial benefits. Before taking a life-changing step to go it alone there are clearly some very important points to consider and decisions to be made. Head of the Corporate and Commercial Team at Barker Gotelee Solicitors, Clare Richards, guides us through the minefield and highlights some of the key points to think about What are you going to do?

Having a good idea may be the starting point of a successful business, but this alone is not going to be enough. Having a very clear idea about how you are going to make money from your good idea is vital to the sustainability of your business.

A well thought out business plan is crucial to getting off on the right foot.

The legal structure It’s advisable to give consideration to how big you’d eventually like your business to grow. The bigger you’re hoping it will be, the more formal the structure should be. If all you are aiming for is a relatively small business, then an informal arrangement is often sufficient.

It is possible to change the formal structure once the business is formed but it can be easier and cheaper to get it right from the start.

Once you decide on the structure, whether it be sole trader, partnership or limited company, for example, you then need to consider factors such as will you have premises and employees? Will you be looking to create a production line and a factory?

Insurance and liability Ensuring that both your assets and employees are protected by insurance goes without saying, but limiting your liability is also a key consideration – particularly when something you make is a component of a product manufactured by somebody else. Clear terms of business should be used that state where your liability begins and ends. An insurance broker can assist you in deciding what insurance cover is relevant and necessary to put in place.

Suppliers, customers and contracts Careful thought needs to be given to

where your supplies come from, as well as the nature of the contracts between you and your suppliers. If you need a very specialist component from one of your suppliers, which is critical to the success of your business, you need to know that you have a readily available supply on terms that are helpful to you.

Knowing who your customers are, where they are coming from and how you are going to reach them, is also vital to the future of your business. Again, appropriate contracts need to be in place with your customers.

It is essential to think about payment terms when discussing contracts. For example, if somebody places a large order, do you need to take a deposit?

You might normally sell using very simple contracts, but with orders over a certain size, it may be beneficial to have a more formal written contract.

The company name Choosing a name for your company which is appropriate now, and will continue to be suitable as your business grows, is important. You should check to ensure that the name is not being used by someone else for a similar type of business and need to be careful that your business name, trademarks and brand identity are not copying somebody else’s.

Protecting that name, which may involve buying associated website domain names and acquiring any necessary trademarks, is also a key consideration.

Funding and support When taking on premises and employees, it is important to consider how much funding may be needed.

There are a number of potential options

available, such as a family member making an investment, or a commercial loan from a bank.

Banks and trade associations can be useful sources of information when setting up a business, as can local events and workshops. Take any opportunity to ask for advice and learn all you can from a variety of sources.

Industry standards and regulations There are regulations surrounding a number of industries that you need to be aware of before setting up a business.

Seeking advice early on can ensure that you are compliant and avoid the many possible pitfalls Speak to the experts It is advisable to seek legal advice as soon as you decide you’re ready to set up your business. You may not need a solicitor to act on your behalf, initially, but having professional advice at that early stage can be invaluable. It’s clearly much easier to get the structure right and agreements between joint owners/shareholders in place at the outset rather than try to amend things later down the line.

Clare Richards comments on Barker Gotelee’s personal approach, “We are with businesses every step of the way.

We pride ourselves on being extremely approachable and offering the very best advice to our clients. My colleague, Elaine Mann, and I take real pleasure in seeing a new business thrive.”

Clare Richards can be contacted at Barker Gotelee on 01473 611211

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Finance

NOVEMBER 2014

DO YOU KNOW ALL OF THE COSTS OF YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO? Following the Retail Distribution Review all charges and fees taken from your investments must be explicit. This means you should be able to see clearly the costs incurred at each level of managing your investments. Most recommended investment portfolios are created using collective investment funds to pool investors’ money. Typically there will be annual costs for the underlying fund holdings, the platform which the fund is held on and a fee for the adviser or stockbroker who is reviewing and maintaining the portfolio.

Collective investment funds have annual costs ranging from 0.07% up to 1.5% and even beyond. Active funds will characteristically have higher annual costs than index tracking funds: this is due to the additional costs involved in investment selection; with an index tracker this doesn’t need to occur.

The platform charge allows for holding investments via a fund supermarket or wrap. Both options allow easy access to the underlying investments from many different providers in different tax wrappers, for example ISAs, Personal Pensions or a General Investment Account. The typical platform we use charges 0.24% annually; one direct to investor platform charges 0.45% annually on the first £250,000 invested.

If your investments are placed with an independent financial adviser or stockbroker there is likely to be an Adviser Ongoing

ANDREWGILMOUR

AG AND ASSOCIATES

osteopathy and physiotherapy sports injury treatment • Osteopathy • Physiotherapy • Sports & Exercise and Musculosketal Medicine • Physiotherapy -based Pilates

As you can see the ongoing charges for an investment portfolio are made up from three main elements, the funds, the platform and the adviser/stockbroker charges and any one of these could make the charges within an investment portfolio high.

At Scrutton Bland we have worked hard to reduce the overall annual cost by utilising model portfolios of index tracking collective investment funds. For a £250,000 portfolio invested via Scrutton Bland this equates to a total annual charge (including the funds, platform and adviser fee) of 1.24% (£3,100) per annum.

If the average fund charge was 0.7% instead of our average 0.22% this would equate to an additional annual charge of £1,200. Being aware of all the costs incurred by a portfolio can make a big difference to performance as these charges are incurred annually.

If you are currently looking for investment advice or would like to review the costs of an existing portfolio you have, please do contact me on: james.wright@scruttonbland.co.uk or 01473 267000. Scrutton Bland Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

Glebe House Residential Retirement Home, Hollesley, Woodbridge Glebe House is a fine Victorian former rectory situated in the heart of the Suffolk Heritage Coast – offering a unique and caring environment for the care of the elderly in their retirement.

We offer: • Long term care • Early stage of dementia care • Short term care • NVQ trained dedicated staff • Respite holiday care

• Individual care planning • Day care • Activities & outings • Convalescent stay • Traditional home cooking

• Chronic pain management programmes • MRI and Imaging Services • Nutrition and Naturopathy

www.gilmourosteo.co.uk e-mail: reception@gilmourosteo.co.uk essentialsuffolk.com

Fee of some description. This will typically be in the form of a percentage of the investments’ value (normally ranging from 0.5% to 1%) and will cover the costs of an annual review service.

• Psychotherapy including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Tollgate Cottage, Yarmouth Road Melton, Woodbridge, IP12 1QF 01394 387818

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James Wright

Please contact us for further information, to request a brochure or to arrange a visit.

Glebe House Retirement Home Rectory Road, Hollesley, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 3SJ

t:01394 410298 www.glebehouseretirement.co.uk

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Health

Mr Gautam Banerjee Consultant Urologist

REMEMBER MOVEMBER! This month we focus on men’s health – in November men across the UK will volunteer to grow a moustache to draw attention to male health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health. Movember, as the annual campaign is known, is a partnership between groups including the charity Prostate Cancer UK and The Institute of Cancer Research.

Stereotypically, men are the first to complain when it comes to ‘man flu’, but when it comes to more serious health problems, men are often too shy or embarrassed to go forward and speak to a health professional. Consultant Urologist at Nuffield Health Ipswich Hospital, Mr Gautam Banerjee, feels it is important men are given the opportunity to express their concerns and provided with reliable and up-to-date information to allow them to make decisions about their health and treatment.

with you. The most commonly used ones are blood tests, a physical examination of the prostate (known as a digital rectal examination or DRE) and a biopsy. The PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test can give an indication of prostate cancer and further tests are required, but is not totally reliable as PSA can also be raised due to a large non-cancerous growth of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), a urinary tract infection or inflammation of the prostate. Therefore many men with a raised PSA do not have cancer, a few men with low PSA have cancer, and the further tests like biopsy have risks associated with them”, explains Mr Banerjee.

Many prostate cancers however are often not life-threatening and may not need surgery or other radical treatments.

Active surveillance is now a common treatment option for men with low risk and low-grade prostate cancer.

PROSTATE CANCER TESTICULAR CANCER The most common cancer in UK men is prostate cancer, and around 40,000 new cases are diagnosed each year (source: Prostate Cancer UK). It occurs when some of the cells in the prostate reproduce far more rapidly than normal, resulting in a tumour. Most prostate cancers develop without men experiencing any symptoms in the early stages therefore, if you experience urinary issues or blood in your urine, the message is clear – consult your GP without delay, as early diagnosis is key.

HOW IS PROSTATE CANCER TESTED FOR? “There is no single test for prostate cancer. All the tests used to help diagnose the condition have benefits and risks, which your doctor should discuss

Testicular cancer more commonly occurs in young and middle aged men.

Each year in the UK around 2,000 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer (source: Macmillan). Treatment of testicular cancer is very effective and nearly all men are cured.

Mr Banerjee is keen to stress the importance of self-checking for men.

“From puberty onwards, it’s important that men check their testicles regularly (once a month). By doing this, each individual will soon get to learn what feels normal for them. Check for lumps, any swelling, differences between the testicles, or anything unusual. Most lumps aren’t cancer and lumps or swellings can be caused by other conditions, but it’s very important you

have anything unfamiliar checked by your GP as soon as possible. Testicular cancer is nearly always curable, particularly when it’s found and treated early”.

No matter what your age, the most important thing is to stay healthy.

Knowing your family history is one of the most powerful tools to understanding your health. Follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly, reduce your alcohol consumption and don’t smoke.

Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and certain cancers can be linked to a poor lifestyle.

Every man should strive to maintain a healthy lifestyle and take action when he experiences a problem. Regular checks and talking to someone about your concerns could help to reduce the risks associated with many common men’s health issues.

Mr Banerjee is a Consultant Urological Surgeon with a private practice at Nuffield Health Ipswich Hospital, and is the Lead Clinician in Urology and General Surgery, Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust.

He has been a consultant at Ipswich Hospital for the past 11 years, and involved in private practice since 2002.

He has developed innovative surgical techniques like minimally invasive/keyhole surgery for kidney stones and kidney cancer, and laser operations for prostate and bladder cancer. Mr Banerjee is a keen follower of sports especially cricket and football and lives in Ipswich with his wife and two children.

For more information on how to book a private consultation with Mr Banerjee at Nuffield Health Ipswich Hospital, get in touch 01473 279179, or visit www.nuffieldhealth.com/ipswichhospital

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NOVEMBER 2014

ALEXANDERS COLLEGE WELCOMES UK STUDENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME

New Headmaster, Graham Gamble

At a time when parents are looking for more from independent education, Alexanders College, the independent school located in 120 acres of historic parkland on the River Deben in Suffolk, is exceptionally well placed to offer its students a unique, competitive edge

T

he main thing that makes the difference at Alexanders is the extra-ordinary, international character of its students. These are the students that British school leavers will be studying alongside at leading universities, and then working and doing business with after graduation. Students like Anastasia from Russia, Wen Xiu from China or Victoria from Switzerland: the advantages of learning through to A Level in such an internationally-minded environment will stay with Alexanders students for the rest of their lives.

For over four decades, Alexanders College has been teaching students to work together peacefully, productively and with dedication to academic achievement. Our teachers are experienced and skilled in making all this happen and in providing programmes of study that are highly individualised to meet the needs of young learners who join the school at 11 years old.

Weekly or termly boarding programmes provide the kind of strong, characterbuilding education that has defined

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British independent schools for generations. As Kurt Hahn, the founder of Gordonstoun was fond of saying, at Alexanders our students always find ‘plus est en vous’ – there is more in you than you ever thought.

Graham Gamble is the newly appointed Headmaster of Alexanders College. He was formerly Headmaster of The English School, Nicosia, one of the most academically high-performing schools in Europe. Graham Gamble also has experience leading an American school in the Netherlands and in developing international education in many parts of the world.

He is especially experienced in providing detailed advice on university application, not just to British establishments but also with regard to colleges in Europe, the United States and Canada.

Alexanders College has benefitted from a major investment in sports, science and boarding facilities in the past year, providing additional capacity for the new student intake.

Graham Gamble says, “We face an incredibly exciting future at Alexanders College, with interest in private education in the UK on the rise, and our unique position in one of Britain’s most iconic coastal locations. Our new facilities, including a state of the art Science Centre, the Sports Dome and our Sailing Club on the River Deben, are bound to appeal to students from Suffolk just as much as those from overseas. We have students here from all over the world, working and enjoying student life together.”

Graham Gamble graduated in Italian and English Literature and Education Management from Edinburgh and Bath universities respectively, before working in independent schools in the UK, Europe and the United States. The focus at Alexanders will be on the delivery of traditional GCSEs and A levels, leading to university admission in this country or abroad.

Alexanders College was formerly run as an international school, which has endowed it with a vital international

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Education Profile | Alexanders College

culture to the benefit of all young people who study at the College.

Graham Gamble says, “When the school was established in the early 1970s, globalisation was a new concept, and an uncertain one. Today, it’s clear that a global outlook is an advantageous element of any child’s education. We are certain that there are many UK families who will want the kind of education that is on offer here. Indeed, how could you not want your son or daughter to gain that extra vital edge by learning with and learning from citizens of those countries who will help to grow the world’s economy in years to come?”

To enquire about a place at Alexanders College In the first instance, please contact Headmaster, Graham Gamble, direct tel: 01394 411633 or email: graham.gamble@alexanderscollege.co.uk Graham Gamble insists on a personal approach to the admission of students at Alexanders College and he will be delighted to meet parents and students to discuss possibilities.

SCHOOL INFORMATION

FEES 2014-15

Alexanders College offers a range of GCSE and GCE A Levels, in small classes.

A programme of sports and other activities runs daily after school and a range of clubs, including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, is open to everyone. A weekend programme involving excursions to Ipswich, Cambridge or occasionally to London completes the week.

• Full boarding fees are presently £8,950.00 per term.

• Weekly boarding fees will be in the region of £6,500.00 per term.

• Day fees will be in the region of £4,500 per term (with flexi-boarding a possibility).

Alexanders College is primarily a boarding school, offering the traditional British boarding experience for which this country is renowned. Weekly boarding is an option for students living locally.

Day students will be welcome, with flexi-boarding available when needed.

Scholarships of up to 25% of fees are available to students who can demonstrate particular talents academically or in sport, art or music.

Sixth Form students have their own Senior House overlooking the Deben Estuary, whilst younger students live in boarding houses on campus.

Transport from Ipswich or Woodbridge can be provided at additional cost.

Bursaries are available to assist students whose families might not otherwise be able to send their children to Alexanders. Each family’s financial circumstances will be examined by the Bursar through an entirely confidential process.

Alexanders College, Bawdsey, Suffolk IP12 3AZ. Tel: 01394 411633 Alexanders College is one of the SKOLA Group of Schools owned and managed

by ICS Education LLP.

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NOVEMBER 2014

WE’RE HAVING A PARTY! Lunch time drinks, evening cocktails or dancing the night away you’ll be ready to enjoy the season in these specially chosen outfits from leading independent Suffolk retailers

Apanage dress £160, Holly Blue Boutique

Set leather look dress £229, Marianna

BACK TO black

Sargossa black Momento comfortable heels (the secret's in the sole) £175, Marianna

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Save the Queen black and plum dress £255, Darcy B

Perpetual party favourites

Black dress with sequin skirt by DKNY £345, Chattertons

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Fashion

Aria black lace dress £85, Adams Apple

Megan dress £150, O&C Butcher

Bianco Levrin black velvet long coat £327, Caramel

Ted Baker studded clutch £149, Coes

Marella sheer sleeve metallic dress £205, Coes

Black jumpsuit with lace back £55, Ninni Noo Boutique

Navy dress with black leather panel

by Body Frock £289, Chattertons

Cavalli Class black dress £499, Darcy B

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CARAMEL速 140 High Street, Aldeburgh Suffolk IP15 5AQ

CARAMEL速 Snape Maltings, Snape Suffolk IP17 1SP

01728 452141

01728 687467

www.caramel-aldeburgh.co.uk

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Fashion

Markberg Rachel belt in black £55, Hannah Stowe

Oui necklace £55, O&C Butcher Just Cavalli sequin dress £679, Darcy B

Sparkly court shoes £60, Hannah Stowe

JOIN THE glitterati

Make the room sparkle

Sequined long blue dress £120 from a large selection of vintage garments from Vintage Angels

Anya Hindmarch Georgina clutch bag £450, Collen & Clare

Sparkly bead neck jumper £145, Collen & Clare

Almost Famous floral metallic dress £139, Coes

Frank Lyman silver sparkly top £135, Frank Lyman black vest £45, matching trousers £74, Caramel

Rosemunde gold jacket £199, Marianna

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DRESS TO IMPRESS THIS PARTY SEASON… Joseph Ribkoff Day at Darcy B Following winning the award for Best Womens Wear brand for the second year running, to celebrate, Darcy B boutique in Woodbridge invites you to celebrate with the Joseph Ribkoff team on Thursday, 6th November from 11am – 4pm and enjoy 10% discount off the Ribkoff Collection!

A must visit for any Ribkoff fan!

The Hill House 13 Market Hill Framlingham Suffolk IP13 9AN Tel: 01728 720 052

NEW STORE OPENING HADLEIGH 25th October 2014

HALL STREET long melford

23 Market Hill Woodbridge Suffolk IP12 4LX Tel: 01394 388 880

hadleigh

01787 464828

01473 822554

hall street, long melford, suffolk co10 9jl

99 high street, hadleigh, suffolk ip7 5ej

Timberland Henri Lloyd Eden Park

@hall_street @hall_street

Duchamp Scotch & Sod Sodaa Sand

www.hall-street.co.uk

KITTYS JULES

EXCITING NEW BOUTIQUE

NOW OPEN

Effortless Ladies Clothing and Accessories Featuring the beautiful 'Made in Italy' clothing range

Fabulous new footwear boutique Open Monday to Saturday 9.30am – 5.15pm 20a Market Hill, Woodbridge IP12 4LU Tel: 01394 382691 www.hannahstowe.co.uk | hello@hannahstowe.co.uk

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Come and see us Stonham Barns, Market Place, Pettaugh Road Stonham Aspal, Suffolk IP14 6AT

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK KittysJules@mail.com Kitty (Kate): 07969 570255 Jules (Julia): 07885 022491

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Fashion

Aria print dress with black lace sleeves £120, Necklace £15, Adams Apple

Pomodoro black and red dress £75, Necklace £7, Adams Apple

KEEP IT colourful

Sandwich Nitefall short sleeved dress £105, Sandwich Jersey legging £29, Fleur

Add a dash of brilliance

Animal print hair court shoe £72, Hannah Stowe

Unisa Nianta kid suede court shoes £99.95, O&C Butcher

Ted Baker embellished top £109, Coes

Black and red dress (also available in green and black) £75, Ninni Noo Boutique

STOCKISTS Adams Apple 70 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 384685 Caramel 140 High Street, Aldeburgh and Snape Maltings. T: 01728 452141 www.caramel-aldeburgh.co.uk Chattertons 80 High Street, Southwold & 18 Market Hill, Woodbridge. T: 01394 385757 www.chattertonshop.co.uk Coes 20 – 28 Norwich Road, Ipswich. T: 01473 256061 www.coes.co.uk Collen & Clare 25 Market Place, Southwold & 164 High Street, Aldeburgh. T: 01502 724823 www.collenandclare.com Darcy B Market Hill Framlingham & Woodbridge. T: 01728 720052 www.darcy-b.co.uk Fleur 166 High Street, Aldeburgh. T: 01728 454822 www.fleuraldeburgh.co.uk Hannah Stowe 20a Market Hill, Woodbridge. T: 01394 382691 www.hannahstowe.co.uk Holly Blue Boutique 72 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 382300 Marianna 33a St Peter’s Street, Ipswich. T: 01473 225666 www.mariannaboutique.co.uk Ninni Noo Boutique 12 Quay Street, Woodbridge. T: 01394 388655 O&C Butcher 129 – 131 High Street, Aldeburgh. T: 01728 452229 www.ocbutcher.co.uk Vintage Angels Hall Farm, Saxmundham Road, Aldeburgh. T: 07879 630461

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Fashion

NOVEMBER 2014

Now that you’ve selected your stunning new outfit we share some valuable advice from Sarah Allen, of Sweet Dreams in Woodbridge, on how to look 10lbs slimmer in your party dress

DON’T jiggle ALL THE WAY! THE RIGHT BRA

lost some of the fullness from the top of your bust. The bra raises the horizontal line of the bust giving it a corseted shape and a lift from underneath.

Lay the best possible foundation for your outfit by first choosing your bra.

The type of bra you will need will be determined by the cut of your outfit.

Take a good look at the straps, sleeves and anything else around the bust area.

What fabric is it made of? Does it have cap sleeves, wide straps a low back or is it totally strapless? There are three key eveningwear bra shapes.

l

The Plunge: The perfect va va voom bra for V-neck outfits, available with or without padding depending on the level of cleavage you want to achieve.

THE RIGHT LINGERIE

The strapless: Wear this bra with strapless, halter-neck and off the shoulder outfits. Black is a useful colour but buy one in skin tone and you can use it throughout the year. Strapless bras are now available up to a GG cup so don’t feel excluded from this shape if you have a fuller bust. However, it is essential that you get fitted for a strapless bra or it will fall down.

The Balconette: Great for dresses with wide apart straps or sleeves and low or sweetheart necklines. This shape is particularly good if you feel you have

The answer is ‘shapewear’ – it’s what 90% of Hollywood celebrities are wearing to look trim on the red carpet.

The great thing about shapewear is that it immediately trims off lumps, bumps and bulges. The right shapewear can give you curves in all the right places as well as lifting the parts that need a little ‘oomph’. It’s perfect for the festive season and your little black dress.

Tips for buying shapewear: l

l

Take your outfit with you when you buy your underwear.

Choose your shapewear depending on

l

l

where your problem areas are. Do you need to flatten your stomach, create a waist, lift your bottom, trim your hips and thighs or all of the above?

Choose the level of control – shapewear really has come a long way since the restrictive corsets of the 1950’s. Modern fabric technology means that it can not only help you look good and feel more confident but also be comfortable and improve posture. Shapewear comes in different levels of control from extra firm (this will help you drop a dress size) to light control (smoothes and eradicates VPL). You may find some of the extra firm pieces a little difficult to wriggle into initially but persevere.

New designs mean that you can wear your own bra with many of the shapewear dresses and bodies. This is particularly good news for those of us who have a favourite bra!

Get professionally fitted by a lingerie expert. They will be able to give advice on different bra shapes and shapewear to compliment your body shape and outfit.

Now all you have to do is enjoy the party!

Mariejo Jane in Dune, strapless bra £74.95, Sweet Dreams

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Prima Donna Couture shape dress with hidden brief, available in black and nude S-XXL £88.95, Sweet Dreams

Miraclesuit soft comfort thigh slimmer M-2XL £46.95 available in nude or black, Sweet Dreams

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A CHRISTMAS PARTY VENUE LIKE NO OTHER Thursday ‘Night Fever’ 11th & 18th December, from 7pm £29 per person – Includes a 2-course meal & disco P.A.R.T.Y Nights Friday 5th, 12th & 19th December, from 7pm £39 per person – Includes a glass of fizz on arrival, a 3-course meal, coffee and a fabulous disco by Crystal Sounds Tribute Nights Saturday 6th, 13th & 20th December, from 7pm £45 per person – Includes a 3-course meal, coffee and one of our fantastic live acts.

Dress code smart/casual Please contact our Events Team T: 01728 452176 E: events@thorpeness.co.uk www.thorpenesscountryclub.co.uk/christmas

Winter Warmers DAY BOAT CUTTLEFISH

braised with onion, celery, tomato & ginger

riday

y to F onda

ES HTIM.30pm C N U 2 L Y 12-

M

ONL

Find us at the

REAL SCAMPI IN A BASKET

with French fries, tartare sauce, lemon and parsley

TIGER PRAWN TIKKA MASALA with pilau rice and homemade naan bread

HAND-PICKED CRAB SPRING ROLL

with guacamole, chilli jam and rustic salad

Dish & Dri n only k £13

LINE-CAUGHT COD FLORENTINE

Celebrate winter on the coast with these new hearty dishes each matched with a drink. Available now and all winter at the Seafood & Grill.

Book now on : 01728 452 071

Hotel, The Parade, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, IP15 5BU or visit: brudenellhotel.co.uk/Winter-Warmers/

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NOVEMBER 2014

PUB WALKS with Darcy With shorter days and daylight at a premium this month Darcy visits Ramsholt for a glorious walk that can be completed in one or two parts Regular readers of Essential Suffolk will recall that last month we visited the Ramsholt Arms for our dining review.

Not only did we have a lovely meal but we also discovered that it was a very dog friendly pub and, with a reputation for beautiful walks on its doorstep, we headed straight back with Darcy.

From the pub the walk initially heads through some woodland before revealing vast open vistas towards the river and the beautiful All Saints church. If there is any Suffolk church with a more idyllic setting I am yet to discover it.

The church is a pivotal aspect of the walk. For those in a rush it can mark the point of immediate return skipping from point three of the route to point seven (turning left after the church instead of right before it). If the short loop is chosen the walk can easily be done in 30 minutes. For those wanting to experience the full delight (and why wouldn’t you?) the church – the first time – marks the midway point. From here the walk follows gentle tracks and again delivers great views initially ‘in land’ and then, shortly after passing the HQ of shellfish producers Simpers of Suffolk, once again revealing magnificent river views.

After reaching the church for the second time the route then heads back to The Ramsholt Arms crossing meadows and ultimately by the river. On wet days wellies would be advised if only for this final stretch but if you do get damp you will be very welcome to dry off beside the fire in the pub! Every cloud…

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Sponsored by

www.christchurchvets.co.uk

6

5

Ramsholt Lodge Farm

Princess Mary Wood

Rowan Hill Wood

4

3

7 8 RAMSHOLT PH 9

1

2

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THE WALK Distance: Approx. 2.5 miles Time: Approx.1 hour (option for 30 minutes) Terrain: Easy. Farm tracks, woodland paths and short stretches of quiet roads.

Stops: The Ramsholt Arms Ordinance Survey Map: Explorer 197 Start Point OS reference: 307 415 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 car park turn left and walk up the hill for approx.175 yds until you come to a bridleway sign on your left just before a brick wall.

2. Turn left at the sign and follow the path as it initially passes to the right of a cottage and then left having passed another cottage. Continue until you reach the road.

3. At the road turn left and walk to the church (approx. 400 yds).

4. Just after the church follow the bridleway sign on your right.

5. As you meet the hedge turn left and continue straight ahead heading towards Ramsholt Lodge Farm (shown on the map).

6. At the end of the track you will come to a white gate with a sign reading ‘private land’. Turn left (you will shortly pass the home of the excellent Simpers of Suffolk so ensure that your dog is on a lead for this stretch). Having passed Simpers continue to follow the track back to the church while enjoying the fabulous views of the Deben through the trees to your right.

7. Just before the church follow the bridleway sign to your right. After a short distance you will meet a triple bridleway sign. Keep to the right.

8. Pass through a wooden gate and turn immediately right until you reach a large tree on your right (approx. 50yds). At this point you will see that the path turns to your left taking you towards the river. Head for another wooden gate at the right hand side of the woods ahead of you.

9. Once you have reached the gate go through it, or over the style to the right of it and head up the bank in front of you which emerges to reveal the river.Turn left here which takes you back to the Ramsholt Arms.

At low tide you can walk on the ‘beach’ beside the river. Should you arrive at high tide there is also a higher path that will keep your feet dry.

Come and see us at The Ramsholt Arms this winter...

With spectacular views, glorious walks and our new warming woodburner we are the perfect spot for lazy Sunday lunches, cosy evening dinners, Christmas parties and family gatherings.

Sample our winter menu including...

Ramsholt fish and chips, treacle braised shin of beef, famous Ramsholt burger and Jim’s chicken, tarragon and mushroom pie.

We are very dog friendly and always have complimentary treats for our four legged friends.

We look forward to welcoming you.

For bookings please call: 01394 411209 For current opening times log onto www.theramsholtarms.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

The Ramsholt Arms, Dock Road, Ramsholt, Suffolk, IP12 3AB

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Lesley Rawlinson enjoys a short break in the heart of the Suffolk countryside at The Bildeston Crown

WHERE THE A

s the nights draw in and temperatures drop I have favourite places to be. I’m an outdoorsy type at heart, but hunkering down in a cosy chair in front of a roaring fire is pretty high on my list of priorities at this time of year and one of my very favourites is at The Bildeston Crown. Nestled almost at the centre of the triangular space between Ipswich, Sudbury and Stowmarket, Bildeston is perfectly positioned for exploring the historic Suffolk wool towns and chocolate box villages like Kersey and Chelsworth but quite frankly, once you’ve checked in at The Crown it’s unlikely you’ll want to leave.

It’s a clever chameleon of a hotel too – one of those places that manages to mould to your needs, matching moods and expectations effortlessly. With past visits we’ve enjoyed the white table clothed elegant dining experience that is ‘Ingrams’, complete with private lounge and terrace, and perfect for a special celebration. On another occasion the more relaxed but equally impressive brasserie was our choice however, for this mid-week stay-over, we were in the mood for something even easier.

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a long day in the office, complete with our trusty Golden Retriever Darcy in tow, we were looking forward to an evening to just ‘chill’.

The building was originally a 15th Century coaching inn and over time has been carefully renovated and refurbished to provide a comfortable and stylish base while retaining all the character of exposed beams and enormous open fireplaces. Recent redecoration has seen the classical influence of General Manager Alice Gibbons come to the fore and you just feel yourself being drawn in by the deep, inky tones used throughout the reception areas and bar. I’m completely in love with the bespoke hand decorated walls

by Adam Calkin; the murals are calm but colourful and have added another dimension to a space that quietly beckons you to stay... relax... unwind.

With nothing to do but install ourselves in the perfectly positioned leather wingbacks in front of the fire I could feel the ever present mental ‘to-do list’ temporarily file itself away for the evening while we placed ourselves in the safe hands of the team at The Crown.

I don’t know how they do it but they

never fail to impress. Friendly but not intrusive, attentive but not interfering, perfectly courteous but not sycophantic – the staff at the Bildeston Crown have good measure of what good service feels like.

We’d reserved a table in the bar and so as Darcy slept at our feet, clearly settled, it was time to take a look at the menu.

I mentioned that malleability, that willingness to ‘be’ what the customer needs – well it’s a value that’s well illustrated with the restaurant and bar menu. Seven out of the nine starters on offer could also be ordered as a main course dish. That’s the kind of thinking that fills me with joy. It means I can eat a meal that suits me. So often, particularly at a lunch time, or maybe for a lighter supper, I fancy a starter-style dish but as a stand-alone meal and here there’s plenty of choice. Mind you – on this occasion I was in more of a ‘glass of red and a casserole’ type mood - it was probably still at least 15o outside but the rain and wind had me in winter eating mode.

Salmon and coriander fish cake caught my eye straight away. Served with creamy spinach and salad the dish had ‘comforting starter’ written all over it.

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Short Break | Bildeston Crown

hearth IS I was almost swayed by the langoustine and smoked prawn platter and if my husband (Adrian) hadn’t chosen the garlic butter snails with French baguette I could have been tempted to go for them too - but he’s a generous diner and always willing to share. Both dishes were superb; the subtle flavours of the fish cake were well matched with the creamy spinach whereas the snails packed incredible garlic punch that stood strongly alone with the simple freshly baked bread to accompany.

On to mains and beef Bourguignon was an easy choice given my previously mentioned mind-set. The lovely twist with this dish is that it’s cleverly served with the rich casserole in an earthenware dish and accompanied by an individually sized copper saucepan, complete with lid to keeps the mashed potatoes lovely and hot. The tiny button mushrooms melted in the mouth along with the beautifully braised beef in its rich gravy. Adrian’s choice was a little more difficult to make. Burgers are always tempting as a bar meal and with the option for stilton or Suffolk gold cheese within I could see his mental ‘taste versus calories’ calculator going into overdrive. If I were a betting girl

I’d have put money on his choosing bouillabaisse with saffron potatoes or maybe even rack of Nedging lamb in parsley crumb but instead he ordered the 9oz Red Poll rib eye steak. Complete with Béarnaise sauce it was indeed another triumph, well presented and perfectly cooked to order.

Tempting as the desserts sounded – poached pear and cinnamon crème Brulee, chocolate fondant or rum and raisin soufflé in particular – we were pleasantly full and returned to the fireside to finish our wine before retiring for the evening. Now at this point I generally segue to breakfast but – not so fast. The rooms at the Bildeston Crown each have an individual style and are all furnished and finished, exactly as you’d expect, to the highest of standards. Our room was warm, welcoming and luxurious with a stunning bathroom complete with double ended bath and indulgent rainfall shower. But above all of this I must mention the bed; simply huge. If you’re lucky enough to spend your nights in an oversized bed on a regular basis then you’ll certainly feel at home however if, like me, a regular double is the norm then you’ll probably revel – as I did – in being able to adopt

the starfish position without annoying your partner! Luxury comes in all shapes and sizes and that was one big box ticked for me.

Rested and refreshed we were thoughtfully shown to a breakfast table that had been especially reserved for us in the bar rather than the restaurant – so that Darcy could accompany us.

This was a lovely touch, we hadn’t had to think of it for ourselves in advance and check that it would be OK, again the team were a reliable step ahead.

As with our evening meal the breakfast was faultless. Great Suffolk ingredients for the cooked English options as well as a good choice of continental meats and pastries – did we really have to leave?

I could have stayed. A bracing walk with Darcy and then back to the fireside with a good book or a game of Scrabble and I’d have been in my element but not to be this time. A treat to be revisited, and soon I hope.

INFORMATION The Bildeston Crown High Street, Bildeston, Suffolk, IP7 7EB 01449 740510 thebildestoncrown.com

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NOVEMBER 2014

rustic ROUNDS The origins of these freeform circular pastries lie in French cuisine but have been adapted to suit palettes all over the world. This version is a very versatile option as a light meal or even, in miniature, a canapĂŠ

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Chef’s Recipe | Arabella Reeve Catering Arabella Reeve is a creative and innovative cook, who offers a specialised catering service with personally designed menus to fit your tastes, giving your event a really personal touch. With more than 10 years of experience Arabella has worked for a varied clientele including HRH The Queen, as well as other royal families from around the world. She delights in using top quality ingredients that are sourced locally as everything is freshly prepared. Whether you’re catering for a family wedding, a shooting party or a board room lunch her experienced team will coordinate all catering aspects.

Tomato Galettes with a Rough Pesto INGREDIENTS Serves 4 – 6

Tomato Galette 125g puff pastry (block or ready rolled) at room temperature 250g cherry tomatoes Tomato Paste 125g sundried tomatoes (drained weight) 2 tbsp tomato puree Salt and pepper to taste Pesto 3 tbsp Parmesan (roughly grated) Extra virgin olive oil Basil – 1 good handful of just the leaves Salt and pepper

METHOD 1. Preheat the oven to 190°C 2. To make the pastry discs, dust your work surface with flour, roll out the puff pastry to about 3mm thick. If you have ready rolled skip this step.

3. With your round pastry cutter cut out circles, then put them on a baking tray lined with parchment and prick each circle with a fork.

4. Cook the discs in the oven for five minutes before checking them and carefully turning them over with a palette knife, pressing down the discs to stop them rising. Put them back in the oven for another five minutes. They should be a light golden colour and flaky, if not turn them over once more. Remembering to flatten them each time so you end up with light golden flat discs.

5. Whilst your pastry discs are cooking make the tomato paste. Using a hand blender or food processor blitz the drained sundried tomatoes with the tomato puree to a rough paste; this should only take a few seconds, add seasoning to taste.

6. Once the pastry discs are cooked allow them to cool before spreading the tomato paste on each of the discs.

7. To peel the cherry tomatoes boil a kettle and slit the skin of the tomatoes.

Put the tomatoes in a bowl large enough to take the water also. Pour the boiling water over the tomatoes and leave for 30 seconds or until the skin starts to come away from the tomatoes. Then immediately drain them and plunge into cold water (this stops the tomatoes from cooking which would cause them to be too soft to slice).

Slice the tomatoes horizontally into thin slices.

8. Arrange your sliced tomatoes on to your pastry discs in a circular pattern. At this point you can refrigerate your galettes until later.

9. To make the pesto; blitz the olive oil with your basil leaves until it becomes a puree.

Then add the parmesan and blitz again for a few seconds so you still have a rough pesto.

Add seasoning to taste being careful with the salt, there is a lot of salt in the parmesan already.

10.Cook your galettes in the oven for 8 – 10 minutes, take out of the oven and carefully using a palette knife transfer onto plates and serve with the pesto.

CHEF’S TIP The galettes can be made smaller and served as a canapé, wonderful at Christmas time with the festive colours of red and green.

WHATEVER EVENT YOU ARE CELEBRATING, LET US MAKE IT A SUCCESS...

WEDDINGS BIRTHDAY PARTIES LARGE DINNER PARTIES SHOOTING PARTIES GARDEN PARTIES BUFFETS COCKTAIL PARTIES CORPORATE EVENTS DIRECTORS LUNCHES BOARDROOM LUNCHES For more information please contact us on: 07769 685456 or arabella@arabellareeve.co.uk or visit us at: www.arabellareeve.co.uk

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NOVEMBER 2014

The Bildeston Crown

The Froize

Seckford Hall

The Bildeston Crown is a 15th Century coaching inn steeped in history and located in the glorious Suffolk countryside.

The brasserie style menu offers a wonderful selection of classic French and English food

by Head Chef Delphine Barrais. The service is warm and friendly with the emphasis on relaxed dinning. Please view our website to browse the menu. This year the hotel and restaurant is open for Christmas and New Year, offering the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing break.

David Grimwood’s lovely Freehouse Restaurant The Froize, is all about the food and the people who eat it! Top quality, seasonal fresh food, sourced locally, cooked with love and passion and served with a smile! Christmas is approaching and at this special time of year the Froize welcomes you to celebrate with them and taste the magical yuletide food from their party menu! Decked with an enormous Christmas tree, flickering fires, mistletoe and holly, you can enjoy the festive frivolities and the warm hospitality for just £25 pp!

1530 at Seckford Hall Hotel is Suffolk’s newest fine dining destination. Ideal for business and pleasure the talented team of chefs turn local produce into mouth-watering dishes, with seasonally changing menus.

Relaxed, stylish and comfortable, full of character but unpretentious the new classical design has stunning statement lighting and an eclectic mix of colours, mirroring the Tudor charm of the hotel. See what everyone is talking about and experience the tradition, history and good taste at 1530.

Open: Food service is from 12 noon to 2.45pm and 7pm to 9.45pm daily (9pm Sundays)

Open: Lunch every day except Monday and for supper on Friday and Saturday.

Booking advised

Open: Lunch and dinner 7 days a week Light snacks served all day

High Street, Bildeston, Suffolk, IP7 7EB

Chillesford, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 3PU

Seckford Hall Hotel, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 6NU

01449 740510 reception@thebildestoncrown.co.uk www.thebildestoncrown.com

01394 450282 dine@thefrozie.co.uk www.froize.co.uk

01394 385678 reception@seckford.co.uk www.seckford.co.uk

The Fox

Shepherd & Dog

The Maybush

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. Food offers are available throughout the week.

See our website for details.

Set amongst the fields of Forward Green the pub boasts a modern interior with a relaxing atmosphere. Our menus showcase seasonal ingredients at their best. We bake our own bread and make all our own ice creams.

Bar food is served all day and we now offer Afternoon Tea between 2-5pm, advance booking required. We have a children’s menu available and dogs are welcome in the bar.

Booking is advised for the Eaterie.

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

Open: 7 days a week. Bar: Monday from 5pm and Tuesday to Sunday from 11am.

Eaterie: Wednesday to Sunday 12 noon to 3pm and 6.30 to 9.30pm

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

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

Forward Green, Earl Stonham, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 5HN

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

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

01449 711685 info@theshepherdanddog.com www.theshepherdanddog.com

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

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Food Gallery

Ufford Park

The Dog

The Galley

With the cold weather looming, what better way to warm up than to join us in The Park Restaurant, at Ufford Park and experience the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere of the hotel. Our seasonally changing menu offers lots of locally produced food and with Sunday Lunch making a welcome return, why not sit back and enjoy the delicious food we offer whilst taking in the beautiful views across the golf course. A bar snack menu is also served all day. Open to all, non-members welcome.

Award Winning Public House, Restaurant & Bar. Our menu constantly evolves to reflect the changing seasons and celebrates the very best of locally sourced produce. Our ‘Specials Board’ is inspired by the prime seasonal ingredients available each day and the entire menu is complemented by a carefully selected wine list. New guest beer every week. Real ales and rustic ciders. Save 20% off food orders everyday between 5.30 and 6.30pm. Set price menu one course £7.50, two courses £10 or three courses £13.

Open: Monday – Closed. Tuesday to Thursday 12 noon to 2.30pm and 5.30 to 11pm. Friday, Saturday and Sunday – open all day. Food Served 12 noon to 2pm (2.30 Sunday) and 5.30pm to 9pm daily The Green, Grundisburgh, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 6TA

The Galley in Woodbridge is a family run restaurant offering vibrant and exciting menus, using fresh local produce, in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. For those wishing to hold a celebration or business lunch, there re private dining rooms available.

New autumn menu – Light lunch, two course £11, three course £14. Fine festive dining at the Galley – Come and join in the festive celebrations and enjoy a delicious 3 course festive menu for your Christmas Party at just £30 per person.

01473 735267 www.grundisburghdog.co.uk

01394 380055 www.thegalley.uk.com

Fynn Valley

The Peacock Inn

The Middleton Bell

Open to everyone, not just golfers, we are the place you bring your family and friends for a wide range of tempting meals prepared by our talented chefs. Meals can be eaten in our cosy Courtyard Bar, The Terrace overlooking the golf course or utilising the entire spacious Valley Room on busier occasions. Full details of our menus and offers can be found on our website.

Situated opposite the picturesque bridge in the village of Chelsworth, The Peacock is a traditional half-timbered 14th century Inn, with cosy log fires and three rosette silver accommodation. Perfectly positioned for touring, walking and cycling in the beautiful surrounding countryside. Offering a selection of real ales and seasonal homemade food.

Try our Sunday roast in a relaxed atmosphere, bookings advisable, dogs welcome.

Set in the beautiful village of Middleton the award winning Value Pub of the Year 2012 Bell Inn offers top quality food using the best local produce at prices that ensure you will want to return again and again. Dine in the garden, traditional bar area or the beamed restaurant and enjoy home cooked food and ales directly from the cask. The Bell is the perfect venue to meet friends and family.

Open: Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm. Sunday, 12pm to 6pm (Food served 12pm to 2.30pm and 6pm to 9pm daily)

Open: Bar: Monday 6pm to 11pm, Tuesday to Friday – Lunch, 12 noon to 3pm, Evening, 6pm to 11pm, Saturday: 12 noon – midnight. Sunday: 12 noon to 10.30pm Food served Tuesday – Sunday Booking advisable please call for details

Open: Monday to Sunday 6.30pm to 9.30pm Sunday Lunch served 12 noon to 2pm Yarmouth Road, Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1QW 0844 847 9467 enquiries@uffordpark.co.uk www.uffordpark.co.uk

Open: Open lunch and evening except closed all day Monday and Sunday evenings.

Fynn Valley Golf Club, Witnesham, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP6 9JA 01473 785202 restaurant@fynn-valley.co.uk www.fynn-valley.co.uk

37 The Street, Chelsworth, Suffolk, IP7 7HU 01449 743952 wilcri@aol.com www.thepeacockchelsworth.com

Open: 7 days a week, lunch 12 noon to 2.15pm, dinner 6pm to late (early bird diner 6 – 7pm) 21 Market Hill, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 4LX

The Street, Middleton, Suffolk, IP17 3NN 01728 648286

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Food Gallery

NOVEMBER 2014

The Fountain

The Angel

The White Horse

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.

Parties welcome from two to 45 people. Full A La Carte menu and a set two or three course menu. Current specials always included on the website. Covered heated patio and spacious beer garden.

Using the best local ingredients from the excellent producers on our doorstep, we prepare great tasty food here on the premises and aim sell it to you at a reasonable price. Mon-Fri we offer a choice of tasty home cooked lunches for £5, in addition to our full menu. Sunday roasts and our homemade burgers are a speciality. We are equally proud of our drinks offering with 6 real ales (listed in the 2013 CAMRA Good Beer Guide), draught Suffolk Cyder & lagers, and East Anglia’s widest range of spirits with over 220 gins.

Open: Monday to Friday, 12 noon to 3pm and 5pm to close. Open all day at weekends

You’re always sure of a warm welcome at The White Horse. A fabulous little spot in Old Felixstowe, where you’ll find a range of fine guest ales and delicious personally selected wines. The menu is made up of fresh, locally sourced produce, including daily seasonal specials and a wonderful traditional Sunday roast – all prepared by a talented team of AA Rosette winning chefs. Please see our website for details of forthcoming events or contact us about private hire of our beautifully converted stables.

The Street, Tuddenham St. Martin, IP6 9BT

Theatre Street, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 4NE (Just off the Market Hill)

The White Horse, Church Road, Old Felixstowe, Suffolk, IP11 9NF

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

01394 383808 mail@theangelwoodbridge.co.uk www.theangelwoodbridge.co.uk

01394 277496 bookings@thewhitehorse-felixstowe.co.uk www.thewhitehorse-felixstowe.co.uk

Arlingtons

The Plough & Sail

Sibton White Horse

Buzzing brasserie style restaurant with café bar set within the building converted from the Arlingtons Ballroom. The perfect venue to catch up with friends, talk business, celebrate special occasions. French style menu served in typical informal Brasserie manner offering a large selection of freshly prepared Suffolk reared meat dishes and vegetarian choices as well as fish & shellfish from sustainable sources. Plus takeaway deli, breakfast from 8am, light meals and homemade cakes throughout the day.

After two years at the helm of the Plough & Sail located at Snape Maltings, local twins Alex and Oliver Burnside’s passion for creating a quality dining pub serving a seasonallychanging menu is ever stronger. Enjoy ‘traditional’ pub food for lunch and in the evenings a modern ‘restaurant style’ menu alongside an extensive selection of ales, spirits and quality wines. Pre and post concert dining is available and booking is advised.

“We look forward to welcoming you soon.”

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 2015.’ 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.

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: All day every day. Food served 12 noon until 2.30pm and 6pm until 9.30pm on weekdays, all day at weekends

13 Museum Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1HE

Snape Maltings, Snape Bridge, Snape, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 1SR

Open: 12pm to 2.30pm Tuesday to Saturday, 6.30pm to 11pm. Monday to Saturday 12pm to 3pm, 6.45pm to 10.30pm Sunday Halesworth Road, Sibton, Nr. Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 2JJ

01473 230293 enquiries@arlingtonsbrasserie.co.uk www.arlingtonsbrasserie.co.uk

01728 688413 alexburnside@hotmail.com www.theploughandsailsnape.co.uk

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

Open: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 11pm Sunday, 12 noon to 10.30pm Open: Monday to Sunday, 8am to 10pm

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Have you heard...

“This is Limehouse. If you like what you see, you will love the hidden details.”

See those stunning details at neptune.com/limehouse

neptuneburystedmunds.com AVAILABLE AT: PICTURED:

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Neptune Design Centre Bury St Edmunds Barton Road, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP32 7BE | 01284 731025 Price of this Limehouse Kitchen; island and complete wall run including cabinets not in shot is £11,500.

This is our most advanced design yet with 60 registered designs and 9 patent applications.

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Essential November 2014 100pp_Layout 1 16/10/2014 13:50 Page 62

NOVEMBER 2014

While colour schemes and furniture styles can make a big impact it’s often the finishing touches that make your room special and really part of your home. These accessories from leading independent Suffolk retailers will give you plenty of inspiration Harrison clock from £60, Neptune Design Centre

Penhaligon clock (13”) £49, Barretts of Woodbridge Covent Garden dreamy pink clock £21.99, Glasswells

tick tock

clock these stylish time pieces

Chaville clock was £127.99 now £69.99, Glasswells

Oxford clock in burnt orange or vanilla (15”) £47, Barretts of Woodbridge

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Camden clock in sea blue (12”) £43, Barretts of Woodbridge

Emerson clock was £37.50 now £29.99, Glasswells

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Homes & Interiors Dynamo pendant RRP £83.50 now £69.99, Glasswells

Edith touch table lamp £29.99, Glasswells

Bloomsbury lamp with damson shade from £105, Neptune Design Centre

shine a light bright ideas for every room

Cross floor lamp with natural shade £143, Barretts of Woodbridge

Cooper and wood retro table lamp £165 House & Garden

Dynamo table lamp RRP £90 now £69.99, Glasswells

Blyton table Lamp RRP £66 now £55.99, GLasswells

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NOVEMBER 2014

Dartmoor botanical prints £160 each, Neptune Design Centre Chepstow standing mirror RRP £186 now £137.99, Glasswells

Porter photo frames from £16, Neptune Design Centre

WOODBRIDGE INTERIORS

• Large kitchen and bathroom showroom • Villeroy & Boch, Matki Aqata & Hans Grohe • German kitchen furniture, Corian & Neff • Full installation service • Free design

Kitchen and Bathroom showroom Smithfield, Melton Road, Melton, nr. Woodbridge, IP12 1NG

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Tel: 01394 386390 www.woodbridgeinteriors.co.uk

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Homes & Interiors

Buckingham mirror 100 x 100cm (painted in French grey) ÂŁ270, Neptune Design Centre

Floral multimount photo frame ÂŁ16.50, Glasswells

Memory frame for nine pictures in a collection of colours, House & Garden

in the frame

mirrors, artworks and photographs give your space personality

The Cookshop at Elmers Large Selection, Competitive Prices

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A selection of candlesticks from £25, House & Garden

Bronte verveine scented candle (set of 2) £20, Neptune Design Centre

finishing touches small additions make a big difference

Ornamental wooden duck was £11.50 now £9.99, Glasswells

Tondo tea light holder £29.99, Glasswells

Tealights in a collection of colours from House & Garden

Boughton hydrangea bouquet with vase £210, Neptune Design Centre

Cotswold heather check throw (natural) £100, Neptune Design Centre 66

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Heart basket was £76.99 now £59.99, Glasswells

Essential November 2014 100pp_Layout 1 16/10/2014 13:51 Page 67

Homes & Interiors

Wooden carved lapwing £41, Barretts of Woodbridge

Ashby artichoke £15, Neptune Design Centre

Wooden carved pheasant block £108, Barretts of Woodbridge

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 House & Garden Snape Maltings, Snape, Nr Aldeburgh. T: 01728 688303 www.snapemaltings.co.uk Neptune Design Centre Ltd Barton Road, Bury St Edmunds. T: 01284 731025 www.neptuneburystedmunds.com

Quality Qualit y Carpets & F Flooring looring Excellent Ex cellent Servic Service e Highly C Competitive ompetitive P Prices rices from the Lar from Largest gest Independent Stockists Stockists in the area area Established in 1981 EB Carpets ha have ve over over 30 years years of successful successful trading in which time we we have have built a reputation reputation for for supplying trading quality quality products products with service service to to match. match.

A family family firm we we are are the area’s area’s largest largest independent stockist stockist of all types types of floor coverings coverings and our fully trained trained team team can advise on the ideal solutions for for both domestic and commercial commercial use.

We We recognise recognise our customers customers want want both quality quality and value value for for money money and pride ourselves ourselves on consistently consistently delivering delivering both.

We We are are happy happy to to offer offer free free estimates estimates so whatever whatever you you are are looking for for please give give us a call. We We look forward forward to to helping you. you.

SPECIAL OFFERS SPECIAL EACH MONTH EACH

RUGS AND ROLL ROLL END OFFERS

CHOICE OF OVER OVER 150 ROLLS ROLLS IN STOCK STOCK W any g enuine writt en quote quote fr om an retail outlet Wee will beat any genuine written from anyy retail

EB Carpets & F Flooring looring 246-248 2 46-248 High Str Street, eet, Walton, Walton, Felixstowe Felixstowe T:: (0 T (01394) 1394) 282538 282538 email:info@ebcarpetsandflooring.co.uk email:info@ebcarpetsandflooring.co.uk

• FFAMILY AMILLY R RUN UN BUSINES BUSINESS S • UPLIFT OF EXIS EXISTING TING CARPETS CARPETS

• ALL FL FLOOR OOR PREP PREPARATION ARATION • DOMESTIC DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL

• FREE LLOCAL OCAL DELIVERY DELIVERY • FREE ESTIMATES ESTIMATES

a woodburning warm your home with gy Gr stove from East een Ener

26 Quayside, Woodbridge, IP12 1BH

EXPERT PERSONAL SERVICE • EXPER T PERS ONAL SER VICE EssentialSUFFOLK

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Business Profile | Rendall & Wright

As Rendall & Wright enters its ninth year in business, Essential Suffolk caught up with co-directors Lindsey Rendall and Helen Wright

COMPLETE DESIGN EXCELLENCE R

endall & Wright was co-founded in September 2006 by interior designer Lindsey Rendall and project co-ordinator Helen Wright.

Having previously worked together in London for an established interiors firm, they decided to collaborate and bring their design knowledge and efficient operational skills to Suffolk. Lindsey spent her childhood in Hadleigh and after ten years living in Surrey and London she decided the time was right to move home to Suffolk to have a family of her own. After a few weekend visits to Suffolk, a glass of wine or two and a business proposal from Lindsey, Helen and her husband agreed to also uproot their city lives to start a new life and business in the country.

The past eight years has seen Rendall & Wright attract a nationwide clientele base and complete over 40 residential developments along with commercial projects which include show homes, holiday lodges, hotel, heath spa and restaurant design. Lindsey Rendall became a full member of the British Institute of Interior Design in 2010 and in June 2013 was invited to sit on the membership committee and in June 2014 she became chair of the student committee. The BIID works to give recognition to professionals in the Industry, to encourage new and student designers and also to change perception

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of what an interior designer does.

“There is often the idea that an interior designer purely adds finishing touches to a home” says Lindsey “but that’s a far cry from the services that should be on offer. Instructing an interior designer at the right time is key to getting the best out of your development”.

(CPD). With projects featured in 25 Beautiful Homes, Ideal Home Magazine, Interior Design Yearbook 2012, 2013 and 2014, Interior Design Today, Beautiful Kitchens, Real Homes, Design et al, The Style Bible 2014, and Suffolk Magazine Rendall & Wright is carving out a firm place within the industry. She has contributed on numerous occasions to the ‘Ask The Designer’ section for Interior Design Today magazine and has written trend reports for the Interior Yearbook and features for In Design Magazine, The English Home and various other online magazine articles.

Helen commented, “We often find we’re appointed once the build or renovation is underway meaning that key areas can’t be changed without added cost but appointing a designer in the early stages ensures you get the very best from your design.” Lindsey likes to be involved with a project ideally from the outset, looking at the architect’s plans and talking with the client about how they will use the house, which ensures any minor structural interior changes can be made. Lindsey added, “good design starts with function and regardless of how beautifully a property may have been completed, if it doesn’t flow and function properly then it hasn’t been designed well”. She works closely with her clients discussing lighting schemes, kitchen and bathroom design, flooring, colours, storage, furniture and finally fabrics and those allimportant finishes touches to make their house a home.

Lindsey and Helen were delighted to win two highly prestigious awards last year; The Design et al Property Redevelopment Award and the Five Star Award for Best Interior Design, Private Residence, East of England presented by the UK Property awards. With an array of newly completed projects ready to photograph and five local developments underway Rendall & Wright looks set for another very successful, undoubtedly award winning, year.

Lindsey continues to be passionate about design, constantly looking for new inspiration and to expand her architectural, design and business knowledge through continued learning

For further information about Rendall & Wright and the services provided visit www.rendallandwright.com or contact on 01787 880289

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Antiques & Auctions

POSTCARD FROM PORTUGAL

James Neal

OCTOBER ’14

Our annual pilgrimage to Portugal this year was filled with mixed emotions as the long range forecast predicted rain would be falling on virtually every day of our stay. Thankfully the ‘Weather Gods’ conspired against the forecasters and a great time was enjoyed by one and all, largely in glorious sunshine

O

n previous visits a trip has been made to an antique shop in the nearby village of Odiáxere which lies on the old N125 road. It is believed, as a result of finds made by scholars, that the village has its roots in the Neolithic period and it is also home to one of the most beautiful churches you may encounter when journeying through Portugal.

Somewhat disappointingly we failed in our quest to meet up with the proprietor who, whenever we had previously seen him, wore a brown buttoned up engineer’s coat. His eclectic stock had previously included post cards of warships, ancient Hoovers and numerous models of Elvis (usually wearing dark glasses), scattered among the more traditional items of furniture, ceramics, glass and general bric-a-brac.

Possibly fearing the worst and in faltering Portuguese, we asked the locals where our missing man might be found and were relieved to know that he was likely to have moved lock, stock and barrel to another village some distance away. The very thought of moving all his vast stock was enough to drive anyone to drink but, in keeping with the need to report accurately, this did not include your correspondent who was taking his duties so very seriously!

In the quest to bring you something original I entered another premises further down the same street which looked somewhat intriguing.

The interior was crammed with unexpected ‘delights’ and it would be rude not to show you what I found to demonstrate the lengths I was prepared to go to in search of something completely different!

I thought you might also appreciate the sign in the neighbouring shop window.

I decided not to investigate further as the sun was shining by now and I heard the far distant cry of a beach-side sun bed calling out!

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BEAUTIFUL SPACES FOR YOUR HOME AND GARDEN

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NOVEMBER 2014

A GARDEN VISIT why would you bother?

If you’re looking for inspiration or something different for your garden Catharine Howard explains why other people’s ideas can make all the difference

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Gardening

I

spend a good deal of my time visiting gardens and the answer might be why bother? After all, it’s easy enough to reach for a glossy magazine or coffee table tome and wallow inside the alluring pages of plant combinations.

The truth is that there are gardens that are pure art – Litttle Sparta in the Pentland Hills outside Edinburgh, is one and the garden of Piet Oudolf in the outreach zone of the Netherlands is another. I’ve hit the jack pot and been to both very recently. The memory of them makes my heart sing, even without the need to go and dwell lovingly on the photographs.

Early last month four of us made a pilgrimage to Piet Oudolf’s famous, magical and artistic garden. It was quite a journey, I can tell you. Unholy early start, plane journey to Eindhoven along with many disappointed Galatasary fans (lost 4.1 to Arsenal the day before, then a drive that at last left suburbia behind and took us deep into dairy country.

Huge herds of Friesians and speedy tractors made up the landscape and the traffic. We got there and almost shook with excitement to see Piet on the move in his garden. Do you know the man?

Well let me fill you in. He might now be 86 but he has made a huge imprint on planting design all over the world.

Stateside commissions include The High Line in New York and the Lurie Park in Chicago. In the UK his biggest plantings are at Trentham Park in Staffs, Scampson Hall - Yorkshire and nearer to home at Pensthorpe, near Fakenham.

He lectures on sustainable urban planting at Sheffield University. I think the correct terminology is ‘Ecological Urbanisation’ and if this term is new to you, be on the alert for it; it is the necessity to plant up the worst bits of towns and bring colour in for pollinating insects. Stretch your mind back to the

Olympic Park and those colourful swatches of pictorial meadows. Piet is working with those guys.

But I digress. Piet Oudolf is Dutch, of course – I once asked a Dutchman how to pronounce it – Piet as in peat and surname like someone falling off a bicycle whilst saying ‘outdoors’. He is a veteran plantsman and had his own nursery (recently closed down) in the east of the Netherlands at Hummelo.

He has developed and bred a strain of perennials that do not need high maintenance and tying up. Perennials are plants that die back to their rootstock to overwinter – what most of us call flowers. Oudolf plants them in enormous drifts, with flowering grasses romping through. The style is distinctive and much copied as ‘New Perennial’.

He is both designer and plant breeder.

I read somewhere that he cycled round the country lanes, taking plants from the wayside and then cross breeding them to come up with strong, sturdy offspring.

His eye is very sure – the man originally trained as an architect – and the plants are put together in groups that tantalise and make you drool with the excellence of their harmony. Better still, they prop each other up physically. The borders and drifts in the Hummelo garden reveal artistry. ‰

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Gardening

NOVEMBER 2014

We are in dog-days of autumn and shape, form and texture are so sure and composed in an utterly compelling way.

A dissected acer, choisya and fruiting ivy clump was one such composition.

The recipe with the perennials and grasses is simple; a choice of perennials with big seed heads that are not chopped back before February. The winter effect is of fabulous blackened silhouettes piercing though a backdrop of flowing, shimmering grasses.

When we arrived Piet was helping a Yorkshire nurseryman with a trowel to dig up stock plants. He then hurried back to his office and drawing board.

Anya his wife, a svelte 70 year old, beckoned us to lose ourselves in our surroundings. We almost had the place to ourselves and sat basking in the kind autumn light. And then she showed us round. I asked her about maintenance.

There are sizeable beds where the couch grass looks like it is making an investigation. Everything gets cut down in February – the entire ‘canvas’, as it were. This takes one very strong farmer 8 days and several container loads of extraneous matter – and let me assure you that the garden is not that big.

A good hoeing and they are ready for growth to come round again.

His palette of plants are not rich feeders and prefer poor soil. A collaboration between him and renowned garden writer Dr Kingsbury ‘Planting: A New Perspective’ makes a thorough study of the growing habits of different plants and from that their suitability for co-habiting. In the meanwhile Oudolf has to be one of the greatest living garden artists – and just check my photo – elegant Anya is wearing the same colours as the beds behind her.

Brooding purples with a splash of vibrant yellow. Perfectly suited to co-habiting with her plants.

INFORMATION Catharine Howard is a designer and gardening coach with many years of practical experience in creating and renovating gardens. For a consultation or garden design contact her at www.thegardeningcoach.co.uk

NOW OPEN New showroom at Notcutts Garden Centre Woodbridge

Perfectly crafted timber windows and doors Visit one of our showrooms to view our extensive range of high performance windows and doors.

Bury St Edmunds 8 Fornham Business Court Hall Farm, Bury Drift, Fornham St Martin Suffolk IP31 1SL 01284 760222

www.burgess-group.com 74

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Ingatestone The Old Forge 53 High Street, Ingatestone Essex CM4 0AT 01277 350950

Woodbridge Notcutts Garden Centre Ipswich Road, Woodbridge Suffolk IP12 4AF 01394 386666

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Property

Essential

PROPERTY 76 77 79 80 80 81 83 85 86

Hamilton Smith Grier & Partners Clarke & Simpson Jennie Jones ECR Properties Castle Estates Jackson-Stops & Staff Fenn Wright Savills

78 Woodbridge

82 Campsea Ashe

84 Old Martlesham EssentialSUFFOLK

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MELTON PARK GUIDE PRICE £550,000 An attractive 4 bedroom detached house built by Hopkins homes. Sitting room, kitchen/breakfast room, utility, cloakroom, dining room, conservatory, study, master bedroom with en-suite, guess room with en-suite, family bathroom. Double garage and attractive gardens. EPC: D

LETHERINGHAM GUIDE PRICE £250,000 A rare opportunity to acquire this charming 3 bedroom period cottage which benefits from a generous sized plot, UPVC d/g, multi-fuel central heating.

Sitting room, kitchen/dining room, family bathroom. Brick and timber workshop/storage shed. EPC: E

WOODBRIDGE

WOODBRIDGE GUIDE PRICE £350,000 A charming 3 bedroom period town house which is located in the town centre. Sitting room, kitchen/breakfast room, 3 bedrooms and bathroom.

Lovely garden which backs onto mature tress. EPC: D

WOODBRIDGE GUIDE PRICE £460,000 A spacious 4 bedroom detached house. Sitting room, dining room, cloakroom, kitchen/breakfast room, utility, master bedroom with dressing room and en-suite, 3 further bedrooms and family bathroom, double garage and garden. EPC: tbc.

WOODBRIDGE GUIDE PRICE £350,000 A modern 4 bedroom detached house. Sitting room, dining room, kitchen, cloakroom, utility, master bedroom with en-suite, family bathroom, large attached garage and gardens. EPC: tbc

WOODBRIDGE GUIDE PRICE £250,000 An established 2 bedroom semi-detached house in the centre of Woodbridge.

Sitting room, kitchen/dining room, 2 bedrooms and bathroom, southerly garden. EPC: tbc

AG SA RE LE ED

OLD MARTLESHAM GUIDE PRICE £695,000 An impressive and spacious 5 bedroom detached house which offers good sized family accommodation. Sitting room, dining room, study, kitchen/breakfast room, utility, cloakroom, master bedroom with en-suite, family bathroom, large garage and ample parking. Lovely gardens. EPC: D

GUIDE PRICE £400,000

THIS PROPERTY IS NOW SALE AGREED. More detached houses required in Woodbridge. Call for a free valuation.

Hamilton Smith Woodbridge | woodbridge@hamilton-smith.com | 01394 386688

www.rightmove.co.uk

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NOVEMBER 2014

KINGSWOOD FACTS LOCATION: WOODBRIDGE GUIDE PRICE: ÂŁ700,000 AGENT: FENN WRIGHT

BEST OF ALL WORLDS There are modern homes and modern homes but Kingswood, a prestigious fivebedroom detached family property, offers the very best of the old and the new.

Built in 2011 to a high specification, it has an impressive list of 21st century facilities and refinements including a 10-year NHBC guarantee and gas-fired underfloor heating.

However it also has a wonderful location, in an elevated position on Ipswich Road in Woodbridge and has been built with a beautiful traditional appearance including mellow red brick elevations contrasting with the painted render and timber to the gables.

No detail has been left to chance with much thought given to the layout of the

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accommodation with the principle receptions rooms – drawing room, dining room, kitchen and study located off a generous hallway.

For new owners who might want more there is also potential for a sun room to be built, which will allow the kitchen/breakfast room and drawing room to be connected.

The first floor bedrooms are completed by three ensuites and a family bathroom and the master suite has additional benefit of an ensuite dressing room as well as the ensuite bathroom.

Kingswood also has beautiful gardens surrounding the house all of which have been been attractively landscaped.

There is a pedestrian gate and paths leading up to the front door from Ipswich Road flanked by sloping lawns on either side with young trees and beds planted with a number of shrubs.

The area beyond the sitting room is enclosed in part by a brick wall with an interwoven fence above.

There is a large lawn area to the eastern side of the property as well as a patio area and an integral double garage with twin up and over doors and power and light connected.

INFORMATION Fenn Wright 01473 358 400 To see more pictures of this property visit www.essentialsuffolk.com/property

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Earl Soham Guide Price £750,000

Middleton Moor Guide Price £695,000

A striking light and spacious five bedroom farmhouse with mature and attractive grounds of 2½ acres. Brick and timber framed traditional barns/garaging/studio with planning permission to be converted Ref: P5183 to holiday lets. EPC = C

An eminent five bedroom period house in a standalone position with grounds of over ½ an acre and enjoying undulating field views. Large integrated garage. Landscaped front and rear gardens. EPC = E

Earl Soham Guide Price £650,000

Framlingham Guide Price £649,500

An attractive six bedroom period farmhouse set within mature gardens and grounds extending to 2½ acres, on the edge of the village of Earl Soham. Timber framed Suffolk barn with scope for conversion.

A charming. four bedroom farmhouse sitting in lovely grounds of about 2 acres, located within walking distance of the centre of Framlingham.

Gardens, paddocks, stables, multiple outbuildings, double cart lodge Ref: P5201 and further single cart lodge.

Ref: P5197

Ref: P5199

Ufford Guide Price £340,000

Stradbroke Guide Price £295,000

A most attractive and detached period cottage, recently redecorated and providing flexible and bright accommodation. Ample off-road parking to the front of the property. Pretty rear garden of 85’ x 30’ with Ref: P5189 summerhouse. EPC = D

A well maintained three bedroom bungalow with Agricultural Occupancy Condition. Swedish style cabin with sitting room and office.

Garage. Pretty gardens and attractive block of land extending to 2¾ acres.

Ref: P5196 50’ x 17’ outbuilding. EPC = E

Stradbroke Guide Price £260,000

Hacheston Guide Price £240,000

A three bedroom detached modern house, built in a traditional style, located in the well served village of Stradbroke. Detached garage and parking. Lovely well-stocked gardens to the front and rear. EPC = C

A brick and flint three bedroom detached cottage situated in the village of Hacheston. Double garage and parking. Small front garden and secluded rear garden. EPC = E Ref: P5069

Ref: P5133

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

T: 01728 724200

www.clarkeandsimpson.co.uk

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ALDEBURGH

SNAPE

PRICE £525,000

EASTBRIDGE GUIDE PRICE £350,000 Modern 4 bed detached close to Minsmere and coastal path. Sitting room, utility, kitchen/ diner, en suite, garage & garden. EPC-D

ALDEBURGH

PRICE £398,500

FRISTON

Immaculate detached house finished to a high standard with reception hall, 2 reception rooms, conservatory, contemporary kitchen/dining room, utility, cloaks, 3 double bedrooms, en suite, study, driveway, garden. EPC-C

A beautifully presented three bedroom semi-detached cottage close to beach, river and town centre. Lobby, cloaks, kitchen/diner, sitting room, en suite, bathroom, first floor balcony, utility shed, private sunny rear garden. EPC.-D

£399,995

Detached modern 3 bed executive house, cloaks, sitting room, open plan kitchen/diner, utility, en suite, bathroom, garage, lovely garden. EPC-C

Aldeburgh 01728 454622

SNAPE GUIDE PRICE £425,000

SAXMUNDHAM £279,000

19thCentury detached cottage, hall cloaks, 2 reception, kitchen/diner, studio, utility, en suite, galleried landing, driveway & garden. EPC-E

Modern detached 5/6 bed house, cloaks, study,2 reception, kitchen/diner, utility ensuite, bathroom, garden, double garage. EPC-C

Saxmundham 01728 605511 www.jennie-jones.com

£485,000

Beautifully presented modern 4 bedroom detached house with views over countryside. Hall, cloaks, study, 2 reception, farmhouse kitchen/dining room utility, en suite, bathroom, landscaped garden, double garage, summer house. EPC-C

THORPENESS

£595,000

A stunning conversion of the Landmark Ogilvie Hall, close to the meare, beach, golf and country club, 5 beds, 4 baths, EPC-C

Southwold 01502 722065

EQUESTRIAN & LIFESTYLE

Guide £1.65m

Finchingfield, Essex/Suffolk/Cambs borders. Immaculate equestrian/show centre with extensive purpose-built equestrian facilities • three bedroom family home • three bedroom managers lodge • office/toilet block • 15 loose boxes • tack room • 83m x 47m and 23m x 47m outdoor schools • further outbuildings • lake • paddocks • 20 ACRES (stms) • further 23 ACRES (stms) by separate negotiation.

EER E and E

Excess £699,000 Near Diss Beautifully presented equestrian property • immaculate renovated three bedroom home • stable yard with five loose boxes and tack room • kennels • manège • large barn • stable block with planning consent for annexe • village location • 8 ACRES (stms) • further 5 ACRES (stms) to rent by separate negotiation • EER F

we look from all angles as well as equestrian ... look no further

WANTED for waiting buyers (normal fees apply) • Suffolk Property with lake, 3 bed, 5 acres plus, outbuildings, potential income. Offer on own property, budget to £650k • Norfolk/Suffolk 3 bed plus with 10 acres plus for small stud. Sold, budget to £800k

E S TAT E A G E N C Y F O R E Q U E S T R I A N A N D L I F E S T Y L E P R O P E RT I E S

www.ecrproperties.com 01449 711727 / 07767 327327 80

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NOVEMBER 2014

MISSION COTTAGES FACTS LOCATION: CAMPSEA ASHE GUIDE PRICE: £430,000 AGENT: CLARKE & SIMPSON

VILLAGE LIVING With its five bedrooms, large gardens and views over the Suffolk countryside, Mission Cottages in Campsea Ashe has all the ingredients of a great family home.

This semi-detached property, dating from the mid-19th century, offers something special too – it’s a building with a real community history because it used to be the reading room for the village.

Three years ago Mission Cottages underwent major renovation, completed to a high standard, and today offers wellpresented spacious and comfortable accommodation over two floors.

It also has the potential for annexe accommodation incorporating the utility room and bedrooms on the ground floor if needed. The house has a light and spacious entrance hall with windows and doors overlooking the garden.

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Downstairs the kitchen offers an attractive range of cabinets plus a one and a half bowl stainless steel Rangemaster sink with granite style composite drainer and mixer tap.

There’s an integrated dishwasher, fridge freezer, Bosch double fan assisted oven with separate five ring gas hob.

Next door is the dining room (3.62m x 3.34m) and the sitting room (5.55m x 3.52m) which has a feature fireplace complete with a wood burning stove and french doors to the outside.

Access to bedrooms four, (which has an en-suite) and five which are both on the ground floor is via the hall. Bedroom five can also be used as a study.

There are three further bedrooms upstairs – the first of which has an attractive vaulted ceiling and stripped pine floorboards.

The family bathroom which has has large bath and a corner shower unit is also upstairs.

Outside the house is approached off the road through a five bar gate onto a large shingled drive offering ample parking together with a turning area. The front garden is paved with a lawned area together with weave fencing along the road. There is a hard standing and planning permission for a double garage.

The rear garden is also laid to lawn with timber fencing and hedging and backs onto farmland.

INFORMATION Clarke & Simpson 01728 724200 To see more pictures of this property visit www.essentialsuffolk.com/property

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jackson-stops.co.uk

Barham Green – Accessible

Woolverstone – Riverside

A delightful country residence set amidst secluded and secure gardens & grounds.

3 reception rooms. Stunning central kitchen/breakfast/family room & conservatory.

Luxury master suite, 4 further bedrooms & 2 bathrooms. Barn with snooker room & gym. Garaging, office. Tennis court. About 3.5 acres.

A spectacular Lutyens style mansion in a unique riverside location, with uninterrupted views over the River Orwell. 5 reception rooms. Master suite, 6 further bedrooms, 3 with en suites. 2 annexes. Leisure complex with indoor pool, gym, treatment room & showers. Garaging for 4 cars with offices above. Boat house with office above.

Wide veranda terraces. Gardens and grounds, about 3 acres.

Guide Price £1,500,000

New Guide £2,950,000

Framsden – Development Opportunity

Dedham – Constable Country

A rare find. Available as a whole or in 2 Lots. Lot 1 Derelict Grade II Listed 6 bedroom farmhouse set in 3.6 acres. Lot 2 Traditional timber framed barn set in 2.5 acres, with Planning Permission for conversion to a single dwelling.

A handsome Raymond Erith designed house within easy walking distance of the village centre. 2 reception rooms, study. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Garage/store.

Mature garden.

Guide Price LOT 1 £375,000 and LOT 2 £275,000

New Guide £835,000

Contact Jonathan Penn, Tim Dansie or James Squirrell 01473 218218 ipswich@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

People Property Places

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NOVEMBER 2014

UPLAND HOUSE FACTS LOCATION: OLD MARTLESHAM GUIDE PRICE: £695,000 AGENT: HAMILTON SMITH, WOODBRIDGE

A HOME OF SUBSTANCE There’s a lot that doesn’t initially meet the eye in the village of Old Martlesham because these days it’s not only been bypassed but it has a network of private roads tucked away out of sight.

won’t disappoint with fitted base and wall units in medium oak with roll-edge worktop over a pull-out under-fridge, pull-out larder cupboard and an additional low-level pull-out cupboard.

Upland House, an impressive and spacious individual five bedroom detached house, is accessed from one of these roads. The property has a roomy entrance hall and leading off is a large sitting room, which has double glazed patio doors to the rear and a feature fireplace with gas coal-effect fire, marble hearth and timber surround.

Downstairs there’s also a utility room with a worktop, space and plumbing for washing machine, tumble drier and fridge/freezer. There’s also a cloakroom and study/family room.

There’s a good sized dining room too, which also has patio doors out to the garden but also provides access to the kitchen and hall. In keeping with the generous proportions of the whole property the kitchen/breakfast room

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Upstairs is a spacious galleried landing.

The large master bedroom is ensuite and has built-in furniture including three double wardrobes, dressing table with drawers and additional built-in drawers.

The property also has four further good sized bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Outside Upland House is approached along a lengthy gravel driveway.

There is ample parking for many cars and access to a large attached garage.

The front garden is mainly laid to gravel with mature flower and shrub borders.

Meanwhile the back garden is enclosed by timber fencing with mature flower and shrub borders, many of which contain species not native to this country. There is a large feature raised pond with established plants surrounding it and a further area at the rear of the garden with another feature pond. The garden also has a large garden shed and workshop an attractive summerhouse and greenhouse too.

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

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Suffolk, based in Ipswich

01473 358 400 Specialists in the sale of town, village and country houses.

Experts in equestrian property.

Waldringfield

Layham

A stunning Victorian four bedroom cottage set on the edge of the picturesque Brett Valley and is ideal for the commuter require access to mainline stations and the A12.

A unique family home constructed in a New England style to a high specification, with superb views across farmland to the River Deben.

• Wonderful grounds & retains many fine features • 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms • 3 reception rooms • Kitchen/breakfast room • Utility room • Substantial outbuilding • EPC Rating TBC

Guide Price £600,000 Burtsall

• • • • •

4 bedrooms 3 bathrooms 3 reception rooms kitchen/family/dining room Large windows to maximise the superb views • C-Bus intelligence system • Double garage/workshop • Local sailing amenities

Guide Price £885,000 Monks Eleigh

An immaculately presented detached family house in delightful south facing gardens on the outskirts of this picturesque village.

• • • • •

5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms 2 reception rooms Wrap-around conservatory Double garage & parking EPC Rating E

Guide Price £485,000

suffolk@fennwright.co.uk Associated London office: Park Lane, Mayfair: 020 7409 8438

A traditional detached farmhouse located on the outskirts of Ipswich with substantial equestrian facilities along with a number of outbuildings and barns. There are paddocks attached to the property approaching 4.65 acres.

• • • • • • •

3 bedrooms 3 reception rooms 2 bathrooms Equestrian facilities Range of outbuildings 4.65 acres EPC Rating E

Guide Price £895,000

fennwright.co.uk

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Essential November 2014 100pp_Layout 1 16/10/2014 14:44 Page 89

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Motoring

ESSENTIAL FACTS l l l l l l l l

Max speed: 108 mph 0-62 mph: 13.0 secs Combined mpg: 64.2 Engine: 1598 cc, 4 cylinder, 16 valve, turbo diesel Max. power (bhp): 118 at 3750 rpm Max. torque (Ib/ft): 236 at 1750 rpm CO2: 114 g/km Price: £23,549

SUZUKI SX4 S-CROSS Tim Barnes-Clay reviews the latest crossover model from Suzuki Crossovers are popular in today’s motoring marketplace. But what is a crossover? Well, it’s a sport utility vehicle (SUV) with a chassis more similar to a car than a traditional truck-based SUV. Most come with either two or fourwheel-drive and having the fundamental elements of a car means a more contented ride. They also tend to return better fuel economy because of lighter construction and smaller engines.

Suzuki’s SX4 S-Cross is one of the better value choices of this type of motor, although you may not have heard much about it. That’s because it’s pretty new and the Japanese automaker is a fairly small player in the UK car scene.

Suzuki punches pretty hard above its weight though and, if the S-Cross is anything to go by, the manufacturer is only going to grow in strength in this country. It’s a well made machine, packed with equipment and, even at flagship level, it only costs £23,549.

The SX4 S-Cross’s bold and sporty design offers ample room for passengers and luggage. The design of the front seats offer excellent support and hold you firmly in place, even on tight curves.

Behind the wheel, the instrument cluster helps you focus on driving. For instance, an outsized speedometer and tachometer border a multi information display that shows anything from fuel consumption to time and outside temperature.

High-rigidity in a car’s body is essential to handling, comfort, safety and performance. That’s why the SX4 SCross incorporates a large proportion of high-tensile steel for strength and lightness, helping to provide greater handling stability.

The engine options are 1.6-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel. I drove the latter, in top of the range SZ5 DDiS 120 guise and equipped with Suzuki’s four-wheeldrive ALLGRIP system.

The four-wheel-drive technology leaves no room for doubt that the SX4 S-Cross is the perfect fusion of familyfriendliness, safety and performance.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s no hardcore mud-plugger, but it’ll handle dirt, grass, snow, sand and a bit more – so it’s perfect for mini-adventures.

The four-wheel-drive system is so adept because it has a variety of settings – AUTO, SPORT, SNOW, and LOCK.

You can select your desired mode for the terrain you find yourself on via a push and turn dial on the centre console.

It works like this: AUTO prioritises fuel economy in typical driving conditions.

The system uses two-wheel-drive by default and will switch to four-wheeldrive if wheel spin is detected.

The SPORT setting is best for twisty roads. It makes maximum use of fourwheel-drive in response to how hard you press the accelerator. The SNOW option is optimal for snowy, unpaved and other slippery surfaces and uses four-wheel-drive all the time. LOCK is designed for extricating the car from snow, mud or sand. It does this by distributing high turning power to the rear wheels continually.

Safety equipment hasn’t been overlooked either. Features include seven airbags for occupants and the bonnet provides impact absorption which lessens injury if the car hits a pedestrian. In fact, the SX4 S-Cross has been rated one of Europe‘s safest cars, according to independent crash testing results from Euro NCAP, receiving the maximum five-star rating.

INFORMATION John Banks 01473 654550

EssentialSUFFOLK

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Essential Faces

Dance East At the launch of a new choreographic development fund Dance East invited guests to the world premiere performance of James Cousins Company’s Without Stars & There We Have Been.

The evening began with a speech from the Royal Ballet’s Gary Avis with both Brendan Keaney and Deborah Bull addressing the audience to explain how the fund will be used.

Mike & Jessamy Reynolds, Tim Fargher, Caroline Spurrier, Elizabeth Fargher

Alan Swerdlow, Assis Carreiro

Ed Fargher, Kari Hegarty

Sylvia Patsalides, Martin Pike

Lynn Turner, Linda Sharp, Nicki Porter

Sarah Spence, David Robbie, Miranda Kendall

Brendan Keaney, Deborah Bull, Gary Avis

Rachel Tarkenter, Lorna James

John & Lindi Carrington

Sallie Davies, Chris Burke

0844 499 1630

(local rate)

www.uffordpark.co.uk

Christmas Party Nights from £25 per person

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

Woodbridge Art Club Last December Woodbridge Art Club, on the quay near the Tide Mill, was flooded in the storms. It’s been out of action all year but reopened in September with an evening for members and guests to see the newly refurbished building.

Pat & Malcolm McPherson

Mike Sugden, Barbara Ray, Peter & Kate Davie

Margaret Hampton, Jo Corston

Bryan King, Don Tucker

Andy & Marilyn Wright, Michele Parsons

Deborah de Furneaux-Hutton, Judy Mattin

Inga Hove, Jill Roberts, Jane Hutchinson

C Geoff & Yvonne Holdcroft

0844 499 1630

Diana Cameron, Sheila Fitzpatrick, Jacky Fitzpatrick, Rosemary Judge

(local rate)

www.uffordpark.co.uk

Christmas Day Lunch ÂŁ67.95 per adult

Jan Ballard, Hana Ballard

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Essential Faces

Eve Charity Ball Ipswich High School hosted its bi-annual Charity Ball at the end of September in aid of the Eve Appeal East Anglia and the IHS Annual Fund, raising more than ÂŁ12,000 for the two charities. Nearly 300 guests partied the night away, with a superb meal by Milsom Catering and dancing to the Steve Linton Band, along with the added enjoyment of the casino and silent auction.

Zoe Le Cornu, Gemma Parker, Helena Negus

Marian Godwin, Patricia Veenbaas

Phil Moura, Mark Pettit

Louise & Simon Smith, Andrew Farmer, Catherine Beresford

Barnaby Rufford, Oona Carlin

Ed & Marianna Morgan

Diane Spence, Lorraine Deville, Amanda Males, Eileen Fisher

C Rob Scott, Chris Jermyn

0844 499 1630

Harvey & Sarah Allen

(local rate)

www.uffordpark.co.uk

Boxing Day Lunch ÂŁ24.95 per adult

David & Katie Nelson

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

Marianna Ten Year Celebration Emma Lloyd and the team at Marianna celebrated their 10 years anniversary in style with invited guests and shoppers enjoying champagne cocktails as they browsed the 2014 Autumn / Winter collection.

Sarah Jaques, Emma Lloyd

Jan Johns, Cathy Doe

Judi Newman, Alison Williams

Sam Denny Hodson, Janet Scantlebury

Ingrid Kibble, Valerie Jordan

Julie Nicholls, Emma Lloyd, Holly Nicholls & Jenson

Melissa Billen, Emma Lloyd

0844 499 1630

Kim Glazebrook-Reed, Emma Lloyd, Alison Bischoff

Alison Bischoff, Jo Whyte

(local rate)

www.uffordpark.co.uk

Sarah Gregory, Kirsty Watling

Take time out between Christmas and New Year with rooms from only ÂŁ34.50 per person (based on double occupancy)

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Essential Faces

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

The ‘Big Bash’ at The Froize As part of the Suffolk Family Carers ‘8 days a week’ campaign – which aims to raise £250,000 to buy, equip and run a mobile family carers centre – ‘The Big Bash’ at the Froize saw guests enjoy a three course dinner prepared in the Froize kitchen by Stephen David and his team from Bespoke Catering along with a raffle, an auction and live music.

The evening raised over £8,000.

Stephen David, David Grimwood

Bill & Jane Kemball

John Matthews, Lina Perkins, Jeanette Brierley, Edward Wells, Jonathan Wingfield

Mark Murphy, Karen Finch, Lesley Dolphin, Pauline Lunney, Melvyn Howe

Nick & Annette Hulme, Sylvia Knights, Robin Dillaway

John & Anne Riches, Gina & Stuart Cooper

Christopher Rayner Green, Lynn & Steve Tricker

0844 499 1630

(local rate)

www.uffordpark.co.uk

Lewis Lawson, Hannah Mortimer, Emily Bowman, Naomi & Alex Tarry, Annette Mason-Gordon, Jade Brewer, Matthew Piercy

New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner £89 per person New Year’s Eve Family Disco £49 per person

Directory

Essential

DIRECTORY HOMES AND GARDENS

Beautifully hand crafted, bespoke kitchens, cabinets and furniture

KITCHEN | DINING | LIVING B E D R O O M | B AT H R O O M

3

Visit our beautiful showroom Barton Road, Bury St Edmunds 01284 731025

www.orwellsfurniture.co.uk

www.neptuneburystedmunds.com

:TP[OĂ„ LSK 4LS[VU >VVKIYPKNL 07 5/ Telephone

www.angliafactors.co.uk

MOTORING

PRINTING

Kitchen & Bathroom specialists Designing rooms to relax and enjoy at the heart of your home Woodbridge interiors smithfield.melton.suffolk.ip12 1nG 01394 386390 www.woodbridgeinteriors.co.uk

Creating beautiful spaces for home and garden Whatever your project, call us for a free estimate T: 01394 766837 E: sdconstruction@ btinternet.com M: 07889 129746 samueldavidconstruction.co.uk

justtileswoodbridge.co.uk

Do you have a book to self-publish?

We can help you turn your idea into a reality

Gipping Gipping td Press Press LLtd www.gippingpress.co.uk Tel: 01449 721599 enquiries@gippingpress.co.uk

Sales, Service & Repair The Woodlands, Badley, Needham Market, Suffolk, IP6 8RS Tel: 01449 774222 service@derrickwells.com

CHRISTMAS

DO YOU HAVE CHICKENS?

PHILIP J TURNBULL & SON

Keep them safe with CLUCK ‘N’ SHUT from just ÂŁ115 A light activated chicken coop door opening and closing device Cluck ‘n’ Shut gives you peace of mind and keeps your chickens safe.

Battery operated – no mains power required Fully automated – just sit back and relax Aluminium door that will not rust Waterproof enclosure

DECKWORLD ARE ALSO YOUR LOCAL IPSWICH SUPPLIER OF HOT TUBS VISIT OUR SHOWROOM FOR LATE SEASON DEALS. HOT TUB CHEMICALS ALWAYS IN STOCK. Felixstowe Road, Ipswich, IP10 ODE (Opposite the Shepherd and Dog) Tel: (01473) 655777 www.deckworld.co.uk

Locally produced Prime Farm Fresh TURKEYS AND CHICKENS Free Range or Barn Reared Specialising in Christmas poultry for over 45 years We supply retail farm gate sales and local businesses, butchers and farm shops Please call for our brochure Gosbeck Hall, Gosbeck, Ipswich 01473 890210 turnbullturkeys@btinternet.com

To advertise call 01473 809932, we’ll be happy to help and advise you EssentialSUFFOLK

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My Suffolk

NOVEMBER 2014

This month’s My Suffolk is from actor Hugh Fraser – perhaps best known for playing Captain Hastings in TV’s Agatha Christie’s Poirot. His film credits include Patriot Games, 101 Dalmatians, Clint Eastwood’s Firefox and The Man in the Iron Mask and he’s also the patron of Lapwing Education, which provides bespoke education to marginalised young people in Suffolk

Where were you born and how did you come to live in Suffolk?

I was born in London but my family moved to Sutton Coldfield when I was six. I moved back to London to begin drama school aged eighteen and stayed until I relocated to Woodbridge three years ago. My connection with Suffolk began when I was in Oliver Neville’s company at the Arts Theatre in Ipswich in the 1960s. It was fortnightly repertory so there was not much free time to explore Suffolk but I often journeyed to Felixstowe on Sundays with various members of the company for a bit of sea air and R & R. Years later I became friends with Roger Deakin, the writer and conservationist, who lived in Mellis, near Diss. I stayed with Roger at weekends and he imparted his love for the county to me. After Roger sadly passed away, I subsequently spent a couple of holidays in Southwold.

What makes the county special?

For me it’s the quiet beauty of the landscape, the wonderful variety of trees and, best of all, the Suffolk coastline.

How do you like to relax?

I love walking by the sea, mostly at Bawdsey, Walberswick, Dunwich and Southwold. I find walking to be a wonderful way to relax and recharge.

I also walk in Tunstall Forest and across the marshes from Snape Maltings towards the church at Iken. River walks on the banks of the Deben, here in Woodbridge, are a delight. One can go

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up or downstream and experience the calm of the river and the varied and colourful avian life. There are many more walks that I look forward to exploring in the future.

Have you got any hobbies?

I play guitar and bass, currently with Kimberley Moore, a singer-songwriter from Norwich. Our next gig is at the Waterfront in Norwich on November 29.

Where do you like to eat out?

The Table in Woodbridge is a favourite haunt with a varied menu and excellent service. Also the British Larder at Bromeswell and not forgetting the Royal Bengal Indian Restaurant in Woodbridge.

The East Coast Diner (also Woodbridge) does great take away pizza for TV dinners! For a real gourmet experience I head for The Pier at Southwold and enjoy the excellent fish and chips.

Where do you like to shop?

I’m afraid I’m a reluctant shopper, as my wardrobe sadly testifies. I do notice a fine selection of women’s boutiques here in Woodbridge on Market Hill and there is a traditional gent’s outfitters in the Thoroughfare that has some sturdy looking tweed jackets in the window.

Are there some special places in Suffolk that you’d recommend?

Snape Maltings is a very interesting place to visit. Apart from the building itself there are some beautiful artworks and sculptures in the grounds and an appealing selection of shops and restaurants. The Pump Street Bakery in Orford is perfect if one is keen on gaining body weight. Aldeburgh is a lovely seaside town with a beautiful beach.

Early morning visitors can watch the intrepid swimmers who brave the waves throughout the year, in all weathers!

Adnams, Aspalls or Greene King?

I’m afraid I’m teetotal and so not in a position to make a judgement but a straw telephone poll of my beer-swilling friends came back with a unanimous shout for Adnams.

Is there one picture you’d take to sum up our county?

It would have to be The Haywain.

Where would you take newcomers on a tour of the county?

First on the itinerary would be a visit to RSPB nature reserve at Minsmere, followed by the Anglo Saxon Royal Burial Site at Sutton Hoo and then on to Framlingham Castle, where Mary Tudor took refuge. From there we would travel to Aldeburgh to see the Moot Hall, and then along the beach to the Napoleonic Martello Tower at the south end of the town. Some sustenance at one of the two excellent fish and chip shops in the High Street (there’s a theme developing here) would round off their day in Suffolk.

To find out more about Lapwing visit: www.lapwingeducation.com

www.foxwoodceramics.co.uk

SHOWROOM 36–38 Woodbridge Road (A1214), Rushmere St Andrew, Ipswich, IP5 1BH. 01473 617050 | info@foxwoodceramics.co.uk