Eastlife march 2017 (issuu) by Thompson Media Partners Ltd

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March 2017

Living life in the East

MARCH 2017

Make the most of where you live Issue 142

SPRING STYLE

with Norwich Fashion Week

Define Yourself. Mercedes-Benz A-Class Introducing the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Its sharp, sporty looks and bold contemporary interior still defines the revived generation of Mercedes-Benz, and with five model lines and a choice of engines available it offers the perfect opportunity to reflect your true individuality. Now with a larger media display, reversing camera with dynamic guidelines and CO2 emissions as low as 89 g/km, we understand the importance of detail. Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the A-Class range: urban 30.7(9.2)-72.4(3.9), extra urban 50.4(5.6)-88.3(3.2), combined 40.9(6.9)-80.7(3.5). CO2 emissions 162-89 g/km. Official EU regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. Whilst this offer is only available through Mercedes-Benz Finance, we do arrange finance behalf of other finance companies as well. Model featured is a Mercedes-Benz A 160 Sport £20,985 on-the-road (on-the-road price includes VAT, delivery, 12 months’ Road Fund Licence, number plates, first registration fee and fuel). Specification imagery may show optional features. Content relating to finance is promoted by Mercedes-Benz Finance. Your Retailer may offer finance on behalf of other companies. *Finance offer based on a A 160 Sport on a Mercedes-Benz Agility Agreement, on 10,000 miles per annum. Vehicle condition, excess mileage and other charges apply. †Payable if you exercise the option to purchase the car. †† Includes optional purchase payment, purchase activation fee and Retailer deposit contribution. Orders/credit approvals on selected A-Class models, between 1 January and 31 March 2017, registered by 30 June 2017. Guarantees may be required. Offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Some combinations of features/options may not be available. Credit provided subject to status by Mercedes-Benz Finance, MK15 8BA. Prices, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions correct at time of production.

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01/02/2017 09:56

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Be amongst the first to preview this outstanding collection of just seven individually designed 4, 5 & 6 bedroom detached properties within walking distance of Woodbridge town centre. Prices from £950,000 to £1,650,000.

TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST CALL 0800 151 0960 THECEDARS-WOODBRIDGE.CO.UK | SALES@THECEDARS-WOODBRIDGE.CO.UK THE CEDARS, THE GROVE, OFF PYTCHES ROAD, WOODBRIDGE, SUFFOLK, IP12 1EP Please note: All computer generated images are indicative of the properties at The Cedars, Woodbridge. No assumptions should be made as each property is individually designed and subject to change at any time, please contact the sales team for full details.

tel: 01473 234800 email: mturner@savills.com

BEFORE

AFTER

Straighten your smile today!

It’s never too late for a straighter smile Olympic snowboarder Jenny Jones underwent Invisalign® treatment at Museum Square Dental Centre, and 13 months later is feeling more confident than ever. “I just can’t stop smiling; honestly I’m so happy, the result is awesome!” Call 01945 583199 today, to find out more about how we can straighten your smile, just like Jenny’s

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23/01/2017 15:44

eastlife would like to thank its

CONTRIBUTORS ABBY KNIGHT Freelance writer and spa lover GERLA DE BOER Globetrotter foodie

NICOLA OSBORNE Mummy, blogger and frustrated novelist SUE COOKE Motoring journalist TRACEY DEAN Writer and photographer KATE GOULD Award-winning garden designer KATRINA OTTER Wedding planner extraordinaire COLLETTE HOEFKENS Artist and proprietor at Norton Way Gallery CLAIRE LANCASTER Lifestyle and interior blogger PUBLISHER Sean Thompson sean@eastlife.co.uk - 01954 267696 EDITOR Emma Kemsley emma@eastlife.co.uk - 01954 267904

A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR Finally, it’s starting to feel like spring! The weather is warming up and seasonal flowers are popping up everywhere. To make the most of this fabulous time of year, we’ve pulled together some great ideas to help you make the most of where you live. We’ve listed the best family attractions, provided a guide to travelling the Norfolk Coast and we’ve rounded up the best of Essex. With Mother’s Day also happening this month and Easter not too far away, we look at gift ideas and experiences for all kinds of mums, and have plenty of ideas for Easter days out – it never hurts to plan ahead! Remember, we love seeing your pictures from around the region, keep us updated with your spring snaps via social media! Have a great month! Emma Kemsley

PRODUCTION MANAGER Craig Lewis craig@eastlife.co.uk - 01954 268142

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ACCOUNTS / ENQUIRIES accounts@eastlife.co.uk - 01954 268129 SALES ENQUIRIES Darren Marshall - 07826 628680 Stewart Hedges - 07595 894557 Jim Leishman - 01954 267635

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EASTLIFE is published by Thompson Media Partners Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in part or in whole, without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. All times, prices and dates of events were correct at the time of going to press but readers are advised to ring and check before setting out. Printed by Buxton Press.

COVER IMAGE: Hannah Gilmore (at Sandra Reynolds) wears: Sydney Clark | Photographer: Antony Kelly | Stylist: Kate Cooper | HMUA: Cinta Kawashima at The Norwich School of Beauty and Charlie Munday, Hair and Media Make up, City College Norwich | Location: The Rooftop Bar, Union Building, Rose Lane

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MARCH 11-17 NEWS FLASH A round-up of monthly news and events

CONTENTS

19-23 MOTHER’S DAY MOMENTS Days out and gifts for mums 27-29 NORFOLK COAST A guide to exploring the coastline 35 DOG-FRIENDLY Tails About Town 37-41 LITTLE EAST Mum’s the Word and 10 spring days out 43-45 EDUCATION Expert advice and open days 47-49 FOOD & DRINK News and the Cambridge Foodie 51-57 HEALTH Teeth whitening, acupuncture and how to choose a care home

59-63 FASHION Spring shades, accessories and Norwich Fashion Week 65-67 WEDDINGS Etiquette and a real-life wedding 81-93 INTERIORS National Bed Month, gardens and property 95-97 ARTS Monthly column and the latest news 99-105 ESSEX The best of Essex and theatre listings 107-113 SUFFOLK Felixstowe and Stowmarket 117-125 NORFOLK Secret Norfolk and King’s Lynn 127-135 BEDS, BUCKS & HERTS Hatfield, Welwyn and Woburn 137-143 CAMBRIDGESHIRE Cambridge Cookery School and The Fens

31 69

75 93

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16/02/2017 09:10

NEWS FLASH

ENTRIES GATHERING PACE FOR PETERBOROUGH’S HALF MARATHON The 2017 Perkins Great Eastern Run, which takes place on 8 October, looks set to be the biggest yet with over 2,000 entries already committed. Now in its 12th year, the Perkins Great Eastern Run starts and finishes in the heart of historic Peterborough and takes in plenty of sights along the way. Not only does its fast, flat course give runners an excellent chance of a personal best, it’s lined throughout with supporters, giving runners excellent encouragement and support.

and the Anna’s Hope Fun Run at 10am. The event is a fun day out for spectators too, with family entertainment and a funfair at The Embankment.

Last year at one stage during the event more than 10,000 people gathered on The Embankment as runners crossed the finish line to cheers from an emphatic number of supporters and spectators.

If you sign up, training support is available. From July runners can take advantage of the race’s free weekly training sessions that take place at the Peterborough Embankment Athletics Track. The sessions cater for runners of all levels of fitness and experience and is an opportunity to meet race-day pacers who lead runners around the course at different times from start to finish

All runners that participate receive high-quality goody bags that are given out at the finish line, which include a technical t-shirt, a commemorative medal and other running-related treats.

In 2016 the city council-organised race had the highest turnout of runners in its 34-year history. A total of 4,262 runners ran the half marathon and 1,257 people took part in the Anna’s Hope Fun Run.

The half marathon action starts at 10.30am, following on from the wheelchair race at 10.25am

To sign up visit www.perkinsgreateasternrun.co.uk

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CELEBRATE ENGLISH TOURISM WEEK 25 MARCH – 2 APRIL WITH FREE WALKING TOURS OF NORWICH VisitNorwich will be working with Norwich Tourist Information Centre (TIC) during English Tourism Week, 25 March – 2 April, to launch two new 90-minute walking tours whilst at the same time inviting local people to join a walking tour for free inspiring them to become tourists in their own city. The new tours entitled ‘Words and Wanderings’ on 25 and 29 March at 2pm and ‘Passages Through the Past’ on 31 March and 1 April at 11am, will uncover places, people and stories throughout Norfolk history. The former tour is inspired by famous local writers and authors and the places they frequented. Included amongst others will be Julian of Norwich, Sir Thomas Browne and Harriet Martineau. The latter will take walkers through some of Norwich’s historic nooks and crannies. All tours are led by incredibly knowledgeable local guides who take enormous pride in sharing their stories and accounts with others.

Sir Peter Hungate Church Norwich Cathedral Quarter

The new tours will be part of a wider themed offer of walking tours which commence in April and run until October. Special tours take place during the year on selected dates themed around Nelson, Halloween and Christmas. Numbers are limited and those wanting to participate must book their free tickets by calling 01603 213999 more details are at www.thenorwichshop.co.uk

Organised by Visit Essex, the Essex Big Weekend is designed to encourage residents to rediscover the things to see and do in their home county - and to then spread the word about them. Residents can bid for available tickets to as many attractions as they wish from 16 February at www.essexbigweekend.co.uk, and two tickets per household will be allocated by ballot to the lucky winners (some family tickets will also be available). Rage at Adventure Island

BUSINESSES ARE LINING UP TO JOIN ESSEX’S FIRST BIG WEEKEND Excitement is building for the first ever Big Weekend in Essex taking place on 1 -2 April, when hundreds of residents will be able to visit some of the county’s finest tourist attractions for free. The event will see attractions across the county donating free tickets or experiences for residents to use over the weekend.

Dozens of attractions have already donated free tickets for the fun-filled weekend, including Barleylands Farm, 360 Play Basildon, Rye Karting, Rope Runners, Adventure Island and Colchester Zoo. Activities include family days out, adrenaline fuelled experiences and tours. The Big Weekend is just one event in a series of campaigns being planned by Visit Essex in 2017 to strengthen the county’s tourism offer. It is also part of the national English Tourism Week celebrations, organised by Visit England.

eastlife.co.uk

Home to the Collection of historic aircraft, vintage vehicles and moto rcycles, a period House and a 19th-Century Swiss Garden

Old Warden Aerodrome, Bedfordshire SG18 9EP l enquiries@shuttleworth.org l 01767 627927

There’s a whole range of events at Shuttleworth this Spring! Disabled Access Day on Saturday 11 March, Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea at The House on Sunday 26 March, Talk: Restoration of a Regency Gem on Sunday 26 March and a ‘Design your Garden’ Workshop in the Swiss Garden on Saturday 8 April.

www.shuttleworth.org/events East Life March 2017 HP.indd 1

27/01/2017 14:29:40

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Don’t put up with joint or muscle pain. Painful Shoulders, Hips or Knees? An invitation to find out more from a Consultant. If you are experiencing pain we can discuss the possible cause and give you advice and information on the treatment available, from physiotherapy to surgery. This is a perfect opportunity for you to find out more about, the range of orthopaedic treatments available, including a presentation by fully accredited Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons, Mr H Plaha and Mr R Ray. Get your questions answered or simply listen to some good advice.

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NORWICH FILM FESTIVAL WELCOMES STEPHEN FRY AS A PATRON Norwich Film Festival has announced actor, comedian; and national treasure, Stephen Fry as a Festival Patron. The Norfolk resident is known internationally for his work in film and television and came to prominence alongside long-standing collaborator, Hugh Laurie in the co-written A Bit of Fry & Laurie and the comedy drama Jeeves & Wooster. Stephen said: “A thriving film festival in my beloved home town gives me such pleasure. It was in Norwich that I learned to love film. Very proud now to be a patron of a festival that encourages people from Norfolk, Norwich and beyond to be enchanted, beguiled and entranced by all kinds of film that might not otherwise reach them.” The Norwich Film Festival will take place in November 2017. Submissions are now open.

Credit: Amanda Newham Williams

For more information visit www.norwichfilmfestival.co.uk/submit-your-film

No previous experience is required to join, just a willingness to get stuck in and give it a go. Will Prideaux, director of the project says: “We’re not looking for a Gary Barlow or an Alfie Boe, just guys who want to come along and enjoy singing together. Until you’ve tried it you can’t understand the buzz singing can bring.” Last year over 100 men participated, raising many thousands of pounds for the charity.

MEN UNITED IN SONG 2017: SUPPORTING PROSTATE CANCER UK Following its phenomenal success last year, Men United in Song is back for 2017, once again raising money for a worthy cause, Prostate Cancer UK. Launching in April, the project will sign up a minimum of 40 local men with a range of previous singing experience (including none!) to rehearse over 12 weeks for a gala charity concert on Saturday 24 June. Men United in Song kicks off with introduction sessions at the Broadway Theatre, Peterborough on Wednesday 29, Thursday 30 and Friday 31 March from 7-9pm.

In addition, award-winning choirs Peterborough Male Voice Choir, Peterborough Voices and Peterborough Youth Choir will be bringing the Brighouse and Rastrick Band to Broadway Theatre on 18 March. They have an established track record of collaborating with some of the world’s foremost brass bands, including Grimethorpe Colliery Band (of Brassed Off! fame), Black Dyke Band and the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment. In 2011 they were crowned ‘Champion Band of Great Britain’ at the Royal Albert Hall, and in 2016 the band performed The Floral Dance on the BBC’s The One Show Terry Wogan tribute episode. Tickets are available www.peterboroughmvchoir.org.uk

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This year Mother’s Day takes place on Sunday 26 March. It’s a great day to show your appreciation and give your mum the ultimate treat to thank her for all she does. Below are some ideas for what you can do on Mother’s Day for all types of mums… HARDWORKING MUMS SPA EXPERIENCE Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to treat your mum to a relaxing spa experience at the Seckford

LIFESTYLE

MOTHER’S DAY MOMENTS

Hall Spa in Suffolk. Their My ‘Kinda Mood’ spa experience is a tailored two hour indulgent facial and full body massage sure to leave your mum feeling pampered and refreshed. www.seckfordhallspa.com For more spa days visit www.eastlife.co.uk/article/best-spas-east-anglia BOAT TRIP A boat trip on the Norfolk Broads is just the ticket for mothers to relax and unwind. The Broad Tours Mother’s Day trip includes live commentary about the Broads and all mums accompanied by their children will be treated to a complimentary glass of wine. www.broadstours.co.uk HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE Celebrate Mother’s Day in style by treating your mum to a Virgin hot air balloon experience of a lifetime. She’ll be wowed as she witnesses the fantastic views and once landed will receive a glass of champagne along with a certificate signed by the Pilot and endorsed by Sir Richard Branson! Locations available throughout the East of England at www.virginballoonﬂights.co.uk

eastlife.co.uk

SHOPAHOLIC MUMS

FOODIE MUMS

TRIP TO THE MARKET The second annual Deepdale Spring Market perfectly falls on Mother’s Day weekend (24-26 March) with an array of stalls to browse. Over 50 local Norfolk artisans and producers will be in attendance with a variety of items on sale in the marquees and beach hut pop up shops. www.deepdalespringmarket.co.uk

SUNDAY LUNCH Treat mum to a fantastic à la carte Mother’s Day lunch menu at the Brudenell hotels AA two rosette restaurant. Located in Aldeburgh, Suffolk the floor to ceiling windows will let you take in the true beauty of the local seaside. All mums will also receive a small gift to take home. www.brudenellhotel.co.uk

PERSONAL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE intu Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex offers an independent free personal shopping experience to leave your mum feeling fabulous! A 30-minute consultation is followed by a one and a half hour shopping spree with a stylist on hand to suggest styles and colours that flatter and suit her personality. www.intu.co.uk/lakeside/centre-information/ shopping-at-the-centre ANTIQUE FAIR If your mum loves watching the likes of the Antiques Road Show and Bargain Hunt then she may enjoy browsing 70 stalls of antiques at the White Knight Bushey Meads Antiques Fair on Sunday 26 March. Taking place in Hertfordshire with plenty of quality antiques and collectables on offer who knows what you might discover. www.facebook.com/WhiteKnightFairs

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AFTERNOON TEA Mums will love being treated to a Mother’s Day afternoon tea at Peckover House and Garden in Cambridgeshire. Your visit to the Reed Barn Tea Room will include cakes and sandwiches beautifully presented on a vintage cake stand. After tea take a stroll in the gardens and enjoy the sights of early spring. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/peckover-house-and-garden/whats-on FOOD FESTIVAL This year’s eighth annual East of England food festival falls on Mother’s Day weekend (25-26 March) in its new home at the Hertfordshire County Showground. There’s delicious food stalls to browse and plenty of mouthwatering samples to try. Foodie mums will love the cooking demonstrations with Mother’s Day featuring a demo by much loved celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novell. www.oakleighfairs.co.uk/the-east-of-england-food-festival

ANIMAL LOVING MUMS AN AFRICAN THEMED PARK Africa Alive is an African themed park in Lowestoft set across 100 acres of beautiful countryside. Discover over 80 species of animals including rhinos, giraffe’s, lions and lemurs. Learn all about them at the feeding talks and you can even take a ride on the free safari road train! www.africa-alive.co.uk A TRIP TO THE FARM Marsh Farm in Essex is the perfect place to visit on Mother’s Day with mums getting free entry when with a full paying admission. Meet the animals including the new lambs and feed the birds in the walk through aviary. You can even groom a pony and enjoy a tractor ride throughout the park. www.marshfarm.co.uk A WILDLIFE PARK Ventura Wildlife’s Zoological Gardens opened last year making it one of the UK’s newest small zoos. Set within two acres of beautiful grounds this friendly zoo offers an interactive animal adventure ideal for mum and the whole family to meet. The zoo is home to a number of wild animal species and entrance includes a variety of keeper talks, animals feeds and indoor animal encounter shows which take place throughout the day. www.venturawildlife.co.uk

ADVENTURE SEEKING MUMS INDOOR SKY DIVE Twinwoods Adventure is a multi-activity adventure site just north of Bedford. It hosts a variety of exciting activities including indoor sky diving. If your mum would love this experience she’d be following in the likes of Daniel Craig’s footsteps. He used the Twinwoods body flight wind tunnel when training for the sky diving scene in James Bond, Quantum of Solace! www.twinwoodsadventure.com GO APE For a Mother’s Day she’ll never forget why not take her to Thetford Go Ape in Suffolk. Set within 50,000 acres of pine this tree top adventure will see the family spending three hours in the trees tackling the zip wires, tarzan swings, rope ladders, obstacles and crossings. For the ultimate adventure they also have a Segway experience that will have you zooming around the forest on two wheels. www.goape.co.uk WHITE WATER RAFTING A must for adrenaline seeking mums is a trip to Lee Valley to take on their white water rafting experience. You’ll have a raft guide on hand as you ride the waves on the same course used at the London 2012 Olympic Games! www.gowhitewater.co.uk

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2017 02 East Life Mothers Day QP.qxp_107mm h x 71mm w

Mother ’s Day Lunch

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accompanied by Mr Tim & his Saxophone between 12pm and 4pm

15A Blyburgate, Beccles, Suffolk NR34 9TB Telephone 01502 714234

Beautiful ﬂowers for any occasion delivered locally & nationwide

THE FLOWER SHOP

at Kersey Mill

Sunday 26th March

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a delicious lunch in The Park Restaurant and make her feel extra special.

£17.95 for 2 courses £21.95 for 3 courses

Children 5-12 years old half price Children under 5 years free

Two sittings available; 12 noon & 2:30pm. Booking essential. All Mums will be entered into a FREE prize draw.

Call 01473 805156

t 0844 477 1835 (local rate) w www.uffordpark.co.uk Yarmouth Road | Woodbridge | Suffolk | IP12 1QW

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MOTHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE Make your mum feel special this Mother’s Day (26 March), and spoil her with one of these little gems from some of the region’s finest brands and boutiques

BEAUTIFUL, LARGE PURE SILK SCARF Price: £30 Stockist: Tilley & Grace, Aldeburgh, Southwold and Holt

ELIE BEAUMONT KEW WATCH Price: £49 Stockist: Lilac Rose, 71 Bridge Street, Cambridge, CB2 1UR

SILVER & GOLD PLATED BRACELET, Price: £30 Stockist: La Boutique, St Johns House, St John’s Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1SJ

PINK MAXI POUCH BY SARAH HOLLIER, Price: £115 Stockist: www.sarahhollier.com

GPO BLUE WESTWOOD SPEAKER, Price: £99 Stockist: Berrys & Grey 4 & 5 The Royal Arcade, Norwich, NR2 1NQ

eastlife.co.uk

£200 ENGLISH ROSE BRACELET

Trollbeads Cambridge Discover the extensive range of luxury gold and silver jewellery, designed in Denmark. New collection now in store. Trollbeads Cambridge, 21 Market Street, Cambridge, CB2 3PA

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CoastalStoves.co.uk We are a family-run business and offer a wide and varied selection of woodburning, Multi-Fuel and Gas Stoves. In our showroom in Holt, we have several on display and below are just a small selection of those on offer...

Unit 3H Glaven Road, Hempstead Road Industrial Estate, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 6DL Opening hours: Mon - Fri 9.30am - 4.00pm, Saturday 9.30am - 2.30pm

Tel 01263 711593 Mobile 07880 658866

www.coastalstoves.co.uk

THE WELLS CRAB HOUSE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

38-40 Freeman street WELLS-NEXT-THE-SEA CALL US ON 01328 710456 WWW.WELLSCRABHOUSE.CO.UK

48 hours on the Norfolk Coast

In need of a little break? We headed to the sandy shores of Norfolk to find out how to make the most of a weekend getaway in this fine county

Written by Emma Kemsley Big skies, beautiful scenery and basking seals were all part of our recent trip to the north Norfolk coast. No matter how many times I visit this stretch of coastline I’m always taken aback by its beauty – and I don’t just mean its wind-swept dunes and sandy beaches. Dotted along the coastline, be it in the heart of the North, to the East or West are warm welcoming pubs, fresh seafood stands, fantastic farms shops and of course, cute and cosy cottages – all of which add to the essence of an enjoyable weekend break on the coast. WHERE TO STAY As a couple of couples and two dogs in tow, we made the base of our trip at Rosemary Cottage in Sea Palling. Available to hire at Sykes Cottages the dog-friendly, four bed cottage ticks all the right boxes. Beautifully restored by its owners, the cottage is the type of home you’d expect to find in a glossy interior magazine. Exposed beams, an open fire, woodland wilderness theme and earthy tones add an instant warmth to the home. I must admit, it’s rare to find a dog-friendly holiday rental that’s so beautiful. Once settled in, we headed straight for the beach, which is just a few minutes walk away. After a quick pit stop from the two dogs at the ‘Doggy Watering hole’ outside the seafront café and ice cream parlour, we walked for miles along the almost deserted beach to Waxham Sands and back. Firmly exhausted, the late afternoon was spent with tea and cake from our welcome pack and a snooze in front of the fire. If you’d prefer something out of the ordinary for your weekend away, an iconic landmark on the North Norfolk coast, The Old Lighthouse, Hunstanton, has

Waxham Sands

been given a top to bottom makeover ahead of its re-launch as a self-catering destination for holidaymakers looking to experience nature-in-the-raw. PLACES TO EAT Sea Palling is rather remote so it’s a great option for self-catering fans, but foodies will be pleased to know that a short five-minute driveway is fine dining at The Ingham Swan. Headed up by Great British Menu finalist Daniel Smith, the cosy 14th century inn has a fantastic a la carte menu and is committed to supporting local farmers and sourcing local produce with its ‘farm to fork’ initiative. Refreshed after a good night’s sleep, the next day of our trip was all about enjoying the best of Norfolk. The morning was spent tracking down a seal colony at Horsey, a must-do for any visitor! There’s also plenty of seal action at Blakeney, where you can hop aboard a boat trip. It was then a walk along the Norfolk Coastal Path, before heading to Cromer in search of fresh seafood.

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How to see more wildlife around the How see more coast andto in your garden wildlife around

the coast and in your garden?

visit us for: Binoculars Telescopes Bird Food & Feeders Books Wildlife Cameras Microscopes Magnifiers Clothing Advice & much more Guided bird walks & local information

ST ICKY EART H CAF E

Visit us for :Binoculars Telescopes Feeders Bird Food Advice Books Wildlife Cameras Microscopes & much more

Fun for all the family, and no artistic talent required, Sticky Earth Cafe is the perfect way to spend the morning, afternoon or even the whole day!

NOW IN ITS 16TH YEAR

Guided bird walks & the latest sightings

(01263) 519642

www.stickyearthcafe.co.uk 15 Church Street, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 9ES

Dalegate Market, Burnham, Deepdale PE31 8FB Dalegate Market, Burnham Deepdale PE31 8FB 01485 211223 01485 211223 10am-5pm 7 days a week Free parking

www.onestopnature.co.uk www.onestopnature.co.uk

Cafe

THE BLAKENEY

COTTAGE COMPANY

The Granary, High Street, Blakeney, North Norfolk NR25 7AL

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a seal trip for everyone who stays with us.

THE BLAKENEY COTTAGE COMPANY

Specialising in luxury self-catering holiday properties in North Norfolk from romantic hideaways to deluxe barn conversions with coastal views.

Tel: 01263 741777

bookings@blakeneycottagecompany.co.uk www.blakeneycottagecompany.co.uk

A trip to Norfolk wouldn’t be complete without sampling the local produce. You’ll be spoilt for choice of places to grab a bite, especially if you’re a seafood lover. Locally prepared and seasonal seafood dishes are always on the menu at The Wells Crab House, and if you’re visiting from Easter to October make a stop at The Crab Hut in Brancaster Staithe – while in the area stop by the White Horse for lunch or Eric’s Fish and Chip Shop in Thornham. The Cookies Crab Shop at Salthouse is another popular choice. We picked up our fresh produce at Davies Fish Shop in Cromer. The time of year meant choice was limited but we were thankful the mussels were in season, as they made a great edition to our home-cooked linguine later that evening. I couldn’t mention cooking without giving reference to how superbly wellequipped the kitchen is at Rosemary Cottage! We also picked up local ales at the Cromer Farm and Health Shop on Tucker Street for an evening tipple and stopped for lunch at The Gunton Arms; perhaps one of the best pubs I have visited. Surrounded by a private estate with herds of deer in the distance, upmarket, traditional and dog-friendly, it’s perfect for a lazy Norfolk afternoon. We settled in a little corner for a glass of wine and quick bite. One of the best things about Norfolk besides its glorious beaches, has to be its restaurant scene. Rustic pubs such as the The Salthouse Dun Cow and Stiffkey Red Lion, beachside cafes, check out Wells Beach Café and the Beach Café at Old Hunstanton, boutique hotels with restaurants, Titchwell Manor and The Globe Inn at Wells are among our favourite, and little quirky gems such as the Albatros, a Dutch boat-pub moored at the quay on Wells-next-the-Sea and the colourful Wiveton Hall Café, which reopens on 23 March. Better still, those of you with family dogs will be pleased to know they’re all dog-friendly. THINGS TO DO With 60 miles of coastline, if you’re planning a family getaway this spring, the Norfolk Coast really does have something for everyone. Animal lovers should stop by the Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary or Amazona Zoo in Cromer. Those with energy to burn will love Hilltop Outdoor Centre, Sheringham, home of the only Air Jump in Norfolk or hop aboard the North Norfolk Railway for a trip back in time. You can read our top 10 Norfolk attractions

recommended by Kett Country Cottages at www.eastlife.co.uk/article/10-family-fun-days-out-in-norfolk It’s no secret that Norfolk has a long history, evident in its many stately homes. There’s the Queens country retreat at Sandringham, the Palladian mansion of Holkham Hall, Houghton Hall which features globally renowned exhibitions and Blickling Hall near Aylsham, once home to the Boleyn family. But long before royalty set up home here, our ancestors were already leaving footprints. Two years ago 850,000 year-old human footprints were discovered at Happisburgh, the oldest yet found beyond Africa. Though they would’ve probably encountered mammoths rather than seals, we can completely understand why they chose to visit this big, bold and beautiful stretch of coastline!

Rosemary Cottage is available to hire at Sykes Cottage (www.sykescottages.co.uk) £399 for a 2-night break

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EOR2252-ADV0035-EoE-62x90.5mm-002.pdf

The Epping Ongar Railway is a fantastic, great value and accessible day out for the family. We are extremely easy to get to - our heritage buses pick you up from right outside Epping Underground and Shenfield stations.

2017

RIENCE

3 EXPE

2017

We are open every weekend, Bank Holiday and Wednesdays in the school holidays from 1 April to the end of October.

LU REAT VA ONE G OUT! DAY

* Not all experiences may be available on all operating days.

eorailway.co.uk

Holiday homes for sale and Touring Park

The The ideal ideal base base from from which which to to explore the stunning Suffolk explore the stunning Suffolk coast coast and and countryside, countryside, or or just just relax and put your feet up. relax and put your feet up. 01728 01728 831655 831655 www.cakesandale.co.uk www.cakesandale.co.uk reception@cakesandale.co.uk reception@cakesandale.co.uk

14/02/2017

17:17

TOP EASTER events

The first bank holiday of the year is on the horizon, grab your diary and get cracking with your Easter plans…

EASTER AT HOLKHAM HALL, 14-17 APRIL A Field to Fork Experience, flower displays, origami, quiz, Kiddy Cook in the old kitchen, fluffy friends and face painting – there’s enough to keep the whole family hopping along all day! Prices from: adult £5, Child (2-16 years) £2.50. www.holkham.co.uk/events/easter-at-holkham EASTER TRAIL AT THE MUSEUM OF THE BROADS, 29 MARCH – 19 APRIL Enjoy a fun family trail around the Museum with plenty of craft activities. You may also win an Easter themed prize, plus Falcon displays will run Tuesday to Thursday. Price: adult £5.50, Child (5-18) £2.50 www.museumofthebroads.org.uk ALL ABOUT DOGS AT TRINITY PARK, SUFFOLK, 16-17 APRIL Get the whole family involved with an Easter day out. This fun event features arena displays, expert advice, shopping and lots of fun have-a-go activities including the popular dog shows. Price: adult £7.50, child £2. www.allaboutdogsshow.co.uk EASTER EGG HUNT AT BLAKE HOUSE CRAFT CENTRE, ESSEX, 14-17 APRIL From 10am to 4pm, Blake House Craft Centre will be buzzing with exciting Easter fun. There’s plenty of kid’s activities including an egg hunt and bouncy castle, plus all businesses will be open for the weekend selling lots of Easter gifts. www.blakehousecraftcentre.co.uk EASTER MEDIEVAL JOUSTING AT KNEBWORTH HOUSE, 16-17 APRIL The annual event returns! Costumed knights will show off their skills in a fantastic display of horsemanship. There are two scheduled jousting displays on both days at about 12.30 and 2.30pm. Later in the afternoon after the jousting bouts, visitors will be able to meet and chat to the performers. Price: £9.50 per person. www.knebworthhouse.com

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2017 02 East Life Easter QP.qxp_107mm h x 71mm w 20/02/2017

Easter Sunday Lunch Ufford Park Woodbridge

Sunday 16th April Celebrate Easter with a delicious 2 or 3 course meal in our ‘new look’ Park Restaurant, accompanied by Mr Tim & his Saxophone. Pre-booking is essential. *Book early for the children’s activities & Easter egg hunt.

£17.95 for 2 courses|£21.95 for 3 courses * Terms & conditions apply. Subject to availability.

t 0844 477 1835 (local rate) w www.uffordpark.co.uk Yarmouth Road | Woodbridge | Suffolk | IP12 1QW Amazona Zoo Logo paws

Under 4’s go FREE Braziliant value: Admission still at 2014 prices!! Amazona Zoo Rainforest Springs logo

South American Animal Adventure

...and now you can stay! (August only)

cromercamping.com

amazonazoo.co.uk

Knebworth Eastlife full page v3_Layout 1 09/02/2017 14:32 Page 1

A FANTASTIC DAY OUT

HISTORY ❖ GARDENS DISCOVERY ❖ ADVENTURE

Enjoy the historic House, Park and Gardens or Discover the Dinosaur Trail & Fort Knebworth Adventure Playground and our exciting play equipment new for 2017! A fascinating house full of stories & 28 acres of delightful gardens to explore... and much more! We have something for everyone.

T: 01438 810931

www.knebworthhouse.com Knebworth House Gardens & Park, Knebworth, Hertfordshire SG1 2AX Many seasonal events included. Entry to Knebworth House extra. Discounted family tickets.

DOG FRIENDLY

Tails About Town Written by Emma Kemsley

BEACH BUDDIES Yes, we’ve been to the beach again! We’re on a mission to make the most of our beach days before the bucket and spade brigade descend and a ban is put on all pooches. This month Fletcher had company on his trip to the seaside, his leggy girlfriend Juno; a rescue staffy cross breed. We’re still wondering whether she’s crossed with a horse, she’s huge! Though she seems to have some kind of body dysmorphic disorder and assumes she is the size of a Chihuahua. My friend and I (and husbands), headed for the Norfolk Coast to unleash our rascals. With miles of empty sandy beach – what could possibly go wrong? In a bid to tire them out before settling into our holiday rental by Sykes Cottage, we headed to Sea Palling to make footsteps and paw prints on the shore. Running and rolling along the sand, bouncing from boulder to boulder and paddling their paws, Fletcher and Juno established themselves as the best of beach buddies! Hoping they’d be a little worn out, we headed to a pub for red wine to warm up in front of a fire, oh how wrong we were! The problem with Fletcher is that no amount of walk is ever long enough, he simply doesn’t tire, if there’s fun to be had he’ll just keep going, and going, and going… Not wanting to miss out Juno adopted the same mentality. So there we were, drinks in hands and demented dogs play fighting in a pub. Not wanting to be banned from ever returning to Norfolk again, we quickly returned to the cottage, where eventually they quietened down. Well, the rolling around stopped, but they still thought it was a great idea to smack each other round the head – it was a long evening! My favourite thing about Norfolk is that most establishments are happy to welcome dogs. I love that cafes and pubs have ‘watering holes’ outside, The Red Lion in Cromer even has a doggy barrel – we didn’t go inside for lunch as the tables crammed together were a recipe for disaster, but the food did smell amazing! The fact most restaurants are dog-friendly meant that our pooches were able to enjoy the weekend as much as we were – I wish the rest of the UK would take note from our Norfolk dog-loving businesses!

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TRANSPORT & ENGINEERING HERITAGE IN OUR COUNTY TOWN

EACH gift in every Will makes a difference

Over 100 major exhibits - all made or used in Ipswich!

OPEN EVERY SUNDAY and BANK HOLIDAY 11am - 4pm from 19th MARCH to 26th NOVEMBER Plus MONDAY to FRIDAY 1pm - 4pm during EASTER, SUMMER & AUTUMN School Holidays

See website for details and special events

Contact Maddy Dodsworth

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on Facebook & Google Streetview!

on 01223 204913

The Old Trolleybus Depot, Cobham Road, Ipswich IP3 9JD

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GIFT SHOP - TEA ROOM - WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

enquiries@ipswichtransportmuseum.co.uk

Welcome to High Lodge, Darsham

A Unique Venue Situated in 100 acres of woodland and delightful countryside, High Lodge offers a range of leisure activities for all the family to enjoy, relaxing short breaks and good food in our refurbished cafe.

This is Golf...give it a try? visit: www.highlodge.co.uk/activities/golf-in-suffolk

12-2.30pm every Sunday

Have-a-Go Clay Shooting

visit the website www.highlodge.co.uk email info@highlodge.co.uk tel 01986 784347 find us just off the A12 near Darsham Suffolk IP17 3QT

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BOBB-IN & SEW NOW SUPPLYING WOOL & TAKING IN ALTERATIONS

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FABRIC, WOOL, HABERDASHERY,TUITION & SOCIAL SEWING GROUPS Open 5 days a week Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat 10:00-5:00 Weds 12:00-5:00 Closed Tuesday and Sunday Open 5 days a week Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat Weds 12.00 - 5.00 Free / Disabled Parking

Closed Tuesday and Sunday - Free / Disabled Parking Find us at the Raptor Foundation St Ives Road, Woodhurst, Huntingdon PE28 3BT 01487 842546

LITTLE EAST

MUM’s

THE WORD ATTENDANCE AWARDS I love school assemblies. Not just to bask in the excellence of my child but I love seeing the kids swelling with pride, beaming as they show off their long practiced dance routine or drinking in the applause as they win ‘most improved handwriting’ or ‘dedicated litter picker’ and I’m generally there applauding the loudest; I can’t help it, it’s a weakness. There was one ‘award’ recently that I stayed silent & stony faced for however: the attendance awards. I just don’t get it. Why are we congratulating children on having a good bill of health? Why should the epileptic child who needs bed rest post seizure be punished? Why are we celebrating the parents who send their children to school even though they have tummy bugs because they want

to keep up their shining 100% record? I know that school attendance is important but is encouraging coming in no matter what really the way to go? In my previous incarnation as a Ward Sister I was responsible for infection control. I would send nurses home for coughing and spluttering over the other staff and patients; I’d rather have had one nurse tucked up at home than a ward resembling some kind of cold virus orgy. The schools also have rules in place to stop the spread of infection but then they ram this insistence on never having a day off school down the kids throats. I’m tempted to set up some kind of benevolent reward day for sick kids; a trip to Alton Towers for the weak stomached perhaps or a solidarity cinema jaunt for my fellow chronically ill comrades. There, I admit it, I have an ulterior motive: my name is Nicola Osborne and I have the worst health record known to man. In fact, it’s so bad I’m pretty sure I should get a reward; that I’d applaud for. Read more from Nicola at www.raggydollywrites.wordpress.com or follow her on Twitter @Osborneosaurus

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SPRING EVENTS 2017

HANDS ON DAY Sun 2 April Try your hand at being a guard, signalman, crossing keeper or experience a ride on the footplate of a steam engine!

EASTER DAY OUT WITH THOMAS TM Fri 14 to Mon 17 April Enjoy steam train rides on Thomas and friends, storytelling with the Fat Controller and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities in the Imagination Station all day.

MAY B ANK HOLIDAY FUN DAYS Sun 30 April & Mon 1 May Join us for diesel train rides, bouncy castle, treasure hunt, Scalextric layout, live music and real ale from the local Colchester Brewery.

VISIT EARM.CO.UK FOR EVENT DETAILS

OPEN DAILY FROM 10:00 TO 16:30 Chappel Station, Colchester, Essex, CO6 2DS | 01206 242524 | www.earm.co.uk

TOP 10

SPRING DAYS OUT FOR FAMILIES Hooray, spring is here, and some of our favourite attractions are gearing up for a new season of family fun. We’ve picked some of the best in the region to help plan your day out… GO APE! High Lodge Forest Centre, Thetford This award-winning treetop forest adventure is set in the heart of Britain’s largest lowland pine forest. The course is centred on 30 miles of trails from which to explore 50,000 acres of forest. Children as young as six can monkey around on Tree Top Junior while older children can swing through the trees like Tarzan on the Tree Top Adventure, fly through the sky on a zip wire or glide through the forest on a Segway. Price: Tree Top Adventure, £33 (16+ years)/£25 (10-15 years), Tree Top Junior, £18, Forest Segway £35. www.goape.co.uk

Go Ape

High Ropes’ for big kids and grown ups, where you’ll be faced with over 20 challenging elements at 40ft! Price: Monkey Trail Low Ropes, £10, Hawks View High Ropes £15. www.vertigoadventures.co.uk

SEA-LIFE ADVENTURE Southend Seafront, Essex Following a £680,000 redevelopment the popular south Essex attraction has virtually doubled in size! Having re-opened last month, there’s some amazing new additions to its famous collection of aquatic exhibits. It now features lots of new animal attractions, including penguins, meerkats, otters and a Royal Python, over 40 displays and an active conservation programme. Price: Children from £8.95, adults £12.95. www.sealifeadventure.co.uk

BRESSINGHAM STEAM MUSEUM Low Road, Bressingham, Norfolk IP22 2AA Here, you can explore one of Europe’s leading steam collections, take a ride on Bressingham’s famous Victorian ‘Gallopers’, journey over five miles of narrow-gauge steam railway, or visit the ‘Dad’s Army’ exhibition. Picnic in the beautiful gardens or dine in one of two restaurants and make the fun go on all day. Price: adult £13.40, child £9.09 www.bressingham.co.uk

VERTIGO ADVENTURES Stanborough Park North, Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6DF Take family fun to new heights! The attraction, one of the toughest high and low-ropes courses in the country, opened last summer and offers several exhilarating activities as well as the ropes challenges. There’s low ropes for little ones and the ‘Hawks View

WOBURN SAFARI PARK Woburn Park, Crawley Rd, Milton Keynes, MK17 9QN You’ll need to devote a whole day to take in everything at Woburn. Drive through the safari park with over 1,000 animals in natural groups: rhinos, giraffes, lions, tigers, elephants, monkeys, and much more. There’s a foot and road safari, too, and daily animal demonstrations and feeding times. Children

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Suffolk Punch Trust

can also enjoy the swan boats, Great Woburn Railway and Go Ape. www.woburnsafari.co.uk SUFFOLK PUNCH TRUST Sink Farm, St Davids Lane, Woodbridge IP12 3JR From stables and farm yard animals to heritage exhibitions and walking trails, The Suffolk Punch Trust has plenty to see and do. In addition to the horses, farm animals include pigs, cattle, sheep and chickens. There’s also the opportunity to meet the resident rabbits and guinea pigs at the Pets Paddocks. Those looking to make the most of the spring weather can explore the great outdoors with one of three walking trails which extend from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. Price: adult £9, children £5, under 5 free. www.suffolkpunchtrust.org BEWILDERWOOD Horning Road, Hoveton NR12 8JW BeWILDerwood offers an exciting, magical forest experience for the whole family. Parents play alongside their children in an imaginative adventure park, full of enchanting treehouses and intriguing characters. The setting for ‘A Boggle at BeWILDerwood’, a book by local children’s author, Tom Blofeld, the park is a world of mystical creatures and fun adventures. Price: adult £16.50, child £14.50. www.bewilderwood.co.uk DUXFORD IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM Duxford, Cambridge CB22 4QR A museum boasting impressive exhibitions, along

Southend Sea Life Adventure

with an array of family activities, Duxford has plenty for you and your kids to get stuck into. Let your little ones explore their exciting playground, Activity Zone, whilst you relax in one of the green picnic areas. Open daily from 10am, this historic airfield will keep you and kids occupied all day long. Price: adult £16.35, child £8.15 www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford PUNTING, CAMBRIDGE Although it may set you back a few pounds, punting is well-worth breaking into the wallet for, providing a relaxing boating experience along the River Cam. Enjoy fantastic views of world-famous landmarks, Cambridge Colleges and historic scenery. Do some research on punt operators to find the best deals. Scudamores is highly recommended (www.scudamores.com) Want to make the most of your day in the city? Turn to page 141 for more Cambridge events. MOUNTFITCHET CASTLE Stansted, Essex CM24 8SP This reconstructed Castle and Norman Village offers the chance to experience Norman England life as it was in 1066. The village behind the castle walls is complete with costumed characters, knights, and animals. Visit the extraordinary House on the Hill Toy Museum, packed with some 80,000 toys, a rock and roll exhibition, and a dinosaur park. Price: Adults: £10.50, Children: (3-13yrs) £8.50 www.mountfitchetcastle.com

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Hinchingbrooke is a remarkable state school, set in acres of beautiful grounds and adjoining a country park. Hinchingbrooke House was formerly the family home of the Cromwells and of the Earls of inspiration from its heritage and gives both staff and students a very special pride and a sense of identity. Our mission is to inspire We aim for all students to be nurtured as uniquely talented

through their learning and the development of their intellectual, creative, physical and emotional capabilities. We are thrilled for all of our students whose 2016 A-Level results have reﬂected their hard work and have enabled them to progress to their choice of university or the planned next steps in their career. These outstanding results, which have improved at all measures A*-B (46%), A* -C (76%) and A*-E (99%), are the school’s highest for ﬁve years.

Brampton Road, Huntingdon Cambridgeshire PE29 3BN T: 01480 375700 | F: 01480 420536 E: communications@hinchbk.cambs.sch.uk www.hinchingbrookeschool.net

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EDUCATION

HOW MICROSOFT OFFICE SPECIALIST TRAINING IN SCHOOLS WILL BENEFIT OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE JOB PROSPECTS Written by Fleur Sexton

Over the coming months you may hear your child mention that they are receiving Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) training at school and be wondering what it is - and why! The prestigious MOS qualifications are globally-recognised and improve employability for students by validating their skills in Excel, Word and PowerPoint, which then helps them to progress towards their career goals. The Key Stage 4 learners who receive MOS Office Suite training can achieve a GCSE A* to C equivalent for this valuable vocational qualification, which is used by employers to validate the proficiency of their employees in computing skills. It is really timely in the month that the UK celebrates National Careers Week (March 6-10) that parents and teachers alike get right behind initiatives like this and work to make sure our children are well-prepared for the world of work. This is particularly in light of the latest news on youth unemployment. High youth unemployment is costing the British economy £45bn per year, according to research from PwC, as well as of course being a personal disaster for the young people involved. 16-24 year-olds account for nearly 40 per cent of the UK’s unemployment total and young people are three times more likely to be unemployed than the rest of the working population. Vocational education and training, such as the MOS qualification, can be key to taking that first step on the employment ladder.

MOS certification shows an extra level of commitment to a prospective employer. For school leavers looking for a first role, it makes their CV stand out from all the others. And if applying for a role that heavily depends on being proficient in Microsoft Office programmes, having an internationally recognised qualification in something essential to that role will give any new employer peace of mind. Getting started on a career path has always been challenging – but if we all work together to ensure that the links between schools, skills and future pathways run smoothly it will help the younger generation to get that all important first job.

Fleur Sexton is joint managing director of education training providers Pet-Xi www.pet-xi.co.uk

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Your daughter is unique, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s achieve her potential.

We welcome you to our 2017 Open Mornings: Saturday 25th March: 10 - 12.30 Friday 28th April: 9 - 12.30

Excellent independent boarding and day

Tel: 01462 670 511

school located in Letchworth Garden City

admissions@st-francis.herts.sch.uk

for girls aged 3 - 18 years.

www.st-francis.herts.sch.uk

St Mary's ad Eastlife Jan 2017 2016 107mm h x 148mm w_Layout 1 12/12/2016 11:53 Page 1

Happy girls are high achievers. Come along to our Spring Open Days: Lower School and Kindergarten (for girls and boys aged 3-4) Saturday 18 March, 9.30-11.30; Senior School (girls aged 11-16) Tuesday 28 Feb 2017, 10.30-12 & Saturday 4 March 2017, 10-1

St Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Colchester

For more information, please contact our Registrar, 01206 216420 registrar@stmaryscolchester.org.uk www.stmaryscolchester.org.uk

SCHOOL OPEN DAYS KEY OPEN DAYS TAKING PLACE THIS SPRING...

ESSEX

Walden School Walden School, Mount Pleasant Road, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 3EB TEL: 01799 525351 OPEN DAY: 9 March, 9.30am The school provides education for both boys and girls aged 3 – 18. www.waldenschool.co.uk St Mary’s School for Girls 91 Lexden Road, Colchester CO3 3RB TEL: 01206 572544 OPEN DAYS: Kindergarten and lower school: 18 March, 9.30am – 11.30am A high achieving independent school for girls aged 3-16 with a focus on building confidence and academic achievement. www.stmaryscolchester.org.uk

HERTS & BEDS

St Francis College Broadway, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3PJ TEL: 01462 670511 OPEN DAYS: 25 March 2017, 10am - 12.30pm. The Headmistress will be speaking at 11am Friday 28 April 2017, 9am - 12.30pm. Visit the school on a normal ‘working’ morning The college has been educating girls for over 75 years, and offers boarding and day education for ages 13-18. www.st-francis.herts.sch.uk Bishop’s Stortford College Maze Green Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 2PJ TEL: 01279 838575 PRE-PREP OPEN MORNING: Saturday 22 April,

9.30am – 12 noon The Pre-Prep Open Morning provides opportunities to view the facilities and discuss with staff the learning environment and breadth of opportunities at the College. www.bishopsstortfordcollege.org Hinchingbrooke School Brampton Road, Huntingdon PE29 3BN TEL: 01480 375700 OPEN DAY: Contact for further details A remarkable state school, which encourages learning and the development of intellectual, creative, physical and emotional capabilities. www.hinchingbrookeschool.net

CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Cambridge Regional College Kings Hedges Road, Milton, Cambridge CB4 2QT TEL: 01223 418200 OPEN DAY: 4 March, 9.30am – 12.30pm A further education college with excellent full-time and part-time courses, apprenticeships and Higher Education. www.camre.ac.uk

SUFFOLK

South Lee School Nowton Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 2BT TEL: 01284 754654 OPEN DAY: Saturday 4 March, 10am-12noon An independent day school and nursery for boys and girls from 2-13 years of age. It provides a stimulating and caring environment, where every child is encouraged to attain the highest academic standard of which he or she is capable, and to prepare them for senior school. www.southlee.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK

FOOD & DRINKNews NEW ARTISAN BAKERY GIVES CAMBRIDGE A LITTLE TASTE OF ITALY A new artisan bakery, offering authentic Italian street-style snacks, has launched in Cambridge at developer Downing Student’s The Railyard student accommodation development. ‘Zio Mario’ is the brainchild of a former corporate executive, Roberto Cavicchia, who left a successful 23-year corporate career to pursue his dream of opening a traditional bakery.

Zio Mario

The café has opened at developer Downing’s The Railyard development – taking a ground floor corner unit in the complex, which also houses student accommodation in the upper levels. Italian street-style snacks take centre stage on Roberto’s innovative menu with dishes like Farinata a delicious pancake made from chickpea flour baked in a heavy copper pot offering an authentic experience. Other treats include sweet, light Italian muffins and Focaccia bursting with Mediterranean flavours. Visit Zio Mario at 21 Station Place, Cambridge www.ziomario.co.uk

GRUB’S UP - ST JOHN’S COLLEGE GETS A TASTE FOR EDIBLE INSECTS A Cambridge College has been looking at the growing market for edible insects as part of an initiative to raise awareness about sustainable food. Students and staff at St John’s College recently attended an insect tasting session arranged by the Catering Department. On the menu were Cricket Biscuits, made by the Chefs at St John’s, Queen Leafcutter Ants, Butter Fudge with Buffalo Worms and Mopane Worms – to name a few. While there are no immediate plans to put bug burgers or cricket fritters on College menus, those attending were able to hear about the possibility of insects becoming a more established part of our diet in the future, we might have to seek out other sources of protein.

Insect tasting at St John’s College

THE PARK RESTAURANT AT UFFORD PARK HOTEL UNDERGOES TRANSFORMATIONAL REFURBISHMENT Following extensive refurbishmen, Ufford Park Hotel’s ‘Park Restaurant’, has undergone a transformation. Soft furnishings and lighting have been replaced and there is now the addition of two booths designed to seat 5-7 people.

FOOD DIARY: 4 March Essex Vegan Festival Charter Hall, Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1YH 6 March Varsity Hotel Astronomy Master Class & Dining Experience Varsity Hotel, Cambridge

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Outside Caterers

We We can can cater cater for for almost almost any any occasion, occasion, from birthday parties, hen parties, from birthday parties, hen parties, corporate corporate events, events, funerals, funerals, baby baby showers showers and and weddings. weddings. We We can can supply supply aa full full waitress waitress service service and vintage crockery and vintage crockery if if desired. desired.

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CAMBRIDGEFOODIE Gerla de Boer, founder of the Cambridge Food Tour (www.cambridgefoodtour.com), shares her wisdom of the city’s cuisine…

ARE YOU READY FOR THE SEASON? Or should I ask: “are you ready for the change?” Our diet existed of local seasonal food, sometimes preserved by our mothers and grand mothers to make it last longer. I can hear you think, “come on, we’ve moved on!” We are very fortunate to source almost anything we like to have on our plate. From Asian to Scandi food, the ingredients are widely available. So it came to a huge shock to me, when I was travelling through New Zealand and I was told, that there were no apples as they weren’t in season. New Zealand relies mainly on local food and there is very little imported. It is amazing how creative you become if you are faced with only a selected offering. I thoroughly enjoyed the creative use of local produce such as beetroot and sweetcorn. Boring vegetables to many, but very tasty if you put your creative mind to it! On my return to the UK, I was faced with harsh reality. No spinach, aubergines, courgettes and broccoli due to bad weather in Spain and Italy. My life stopped. How on earth was I going to make my favourite dishes and juices? I soon landed with both feet on the ground. Did I ever have these during my childhood at this time of the year? No, my mum would dish up kale, carrots, sauerkraut, swede, sprouts and celeriac.

Needless to say that seasonal food is fresher and more nutritious. If you have ever grown your own vegetables, you know the difference in flavour. WHAT’S IN SEASON? Find out at Eat the Season - www.eattheseasons.co.uk ARE YOU READY FOR THE CHANGE? Keen to eat local? It is right on your doorstep! FARMSHOPS Radmore Farmshop | Cambridge Farmers Outlet Hilary’s Wholesale Cambridge | Cambridge Food Collective | Country Kitchen Haslingfield LOCAL FOOD Local market Milk - Milk & More - www.milkandmore.co.uk Sustainable Food Cambridge Allotment Society Cambridge Sustainable Food Cambridge Allotment Society Cambridge RESTAURANTS Stem & Glory - www.stemandglory.uk Allotment Café - allotmentcafe.com/blog.html Co Fifteen - www.cofifteen.co.uk The Pint Shop - pintshop.co.uk

Maybe it is time to rethink our way of eating? More local or seasonal? I am a huge fan of supporting local suppliers. Is it necessary to export our produce and then buy the same back from other countries? Or dump our own and import? Milk is a good example. Most of the milk in the supermarkets is imported. What is wrong with the milkman? It takes a little more planning, but you know where it comes from and we create local jobs. Eating local means we are reconnecting with nature’s cycle too. Important as most of us live urban lives.

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HEALTH

PEARLY

WHITES

I often get asked by patients, family and friends about tooth whitening. Do the whitening toothpastes work? What about lasers? What about the strips? And my personal favourite - does coconut oil work? So let me be very clear: yes, coconut oil does have several health benefits, but unfortunately sloshing coconut oil around your mouth for a quarter of an hour every day will not make your teeth whiter! Ok let’s start from the beginning; teeth can be discoloured for several reasons, and it is so important that you see your dentist to find out the reasons why. Teeth may look yellow due to decay (rotting teeth), discoloured old fillings, and acid wear and erosion. So really going to see anyone who is not a health professional, who cannot provide you with the appropriate diagnosis is not the best way to resolve the concerns. At the end of the day if you were concerned about the discolouration of your skin would you go to a beautician rather than a dermatologist? Incidentally it is also the law – no one other than a dental professional can whiten teeth. Now assuming that your teeth are free from health problems, whitening is one of the most effective and efficient ways to improve the appearance of your teeth. Performed by a dental professional, it’s very safe and no long term detrimental health effects have been proven. Some whitening toothpastes however can be ineffective and cause more harm than good. They basically have abrasive particles which wear down the teeth, and although they aim to remove stains from the teeth, they often damage the enamel. Now let’s talk lasers. Lasers seem to be the ‘Holy Grail’ to solve all our problems in today’s world. However, lasers are no longer permitted for tooth whitening and the term has incorrectly been misconstrued.

Philips however offers an in-surgery tooth whitening option which dentists can use to treat patients. This is not a laser treatment - it uses light technology. The treatment can only be undertaken by a dentist or hygienist who will apply peroxide-based gel on the teeth for several 15 minute cycles which is activated using a special lamp directed towards the teeth. Zoom! chairside system whitens teeth by up to six shades in an hour for time-poor patients who want immediate results. Tests have also shown that the LED technology in its WhiteSpeed lamp makes it 40% more effective than non-light activated systems. However I recommend patients ‘top up’ the effects with a Philips’ home whitening treatment - the actual gold standard of tooth whitening. This requires the dentist to make a bespoke mouth guard called a tray by taking moulds of your teeth. These trays act as a reservoir for a small amount of peroxide gel (at a safe level which doesn’t damage the tooth enamel) which is dotted into the tray by the patient (the dentist explains how) and placed over the teeth. For more information visit www.philips.co.uk

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AGEGRACEFULLY NOT DIS-GRACEFULLY

Written by Adrienne Schuter

It’s the age of eternal youth. With the advances of cosmetic surgery, botox and fillers today a woman of fifty plus can look thirty. Photos of certain ageing celebrities show them still looking incredibly youthful, at a whispered cost of millions. Facial acupuncture, however, is considered to be a more natural, and less expensive, way to hold back the years. Adrienne Schuter went make-up free to put it to the test. I work out, swim, walk and do yoga so physically I am doing all the right things but my face is beginning to age. Not choosing to undergo any cosmetic treatment, I hate needles and surgery, I began to look for something else and found by chance Mei Rong, or facial acupuncture. Today you will find a Mei Rong department in almost every hospital in China which offers acupuncture treatment for medicinal as well as cosmetic purposes. So in spite of my morbid fear of needles, I thought I’d give it a go. Local acupuncturist Rebecca Geanty is trained in the Five Elements, or Mei Rong, facial rejuvenation and carries out procedures at Treat, her natural health clinic in Norwich (www.treatnorwich.co.uk) So with gritted teeth and fingers crossed I went to my first session. Rebecca qualified seven years ago and was totally sympathetic about my needle fear. She pointed out the treatment itself isn’t just about sticking sharp pins into the face but also the use of different sized facial rollers, two smooth and one prickly. The idea is to stimulate the blood and collagen which plumps up the skin by rolling round and over the face. Then needles are used to fine tune the work. Rebecca was quite realistic: “It varies, on how deep or how many lines you have. But some of my clients have seen the beginnings of a change a couple of days after their treatment. But on the whole I suggest one session a week for six to eight weeks.”

WEEK 1

WEEK 8

The actual treatment takes place in the peace of a private room, while lying on a couch. Cleaning my face of any residue make-up Rebecca gently massaged my face asking me which areas of my face I was particularly keen to treat. Aware of my aversion to all sharp things Rebecca suggested a breathing exercise as the needles were inserted which helped enormously. About 20 needles were used all round my face and I hardly felt them going in but I did feel a slight buzzing sensation going round my body, rather like an electric current. “That’s really good,” Rebecca assured me, “you obviously react well to acupuncture as that is the energy circulating and doing its work.” Surprisingly even after such a relaxing 30 minutes I felt remarkably energised, and incredibly hungry which is a good sign, apparently. At home my face was a glow and the next day my skin felt definitely plumper. I’ve had eight sessions so far over two months and definitely see an improvement in my skin and the slight fading of lines. I also feel more energised and am sleeping better. The results are never going to be as immediate or as smooth as botox or fillers and I will have to have quarterly ‘top-ups’, but it looks more natural. I am aging gracefully and for me that’s a positive result.

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How to choose a CARE HOME Choosing to move to a care home can be one of the biggest decisions we make as we grow older. If the prospect is on the horizon for you or a loved one, we spoke to some of the leading care homes and charities in the region to bring you expert advice… According to recent research, more than half of over-75s are living alone, with around 5 million of these saying that the television is their main source of company. Alarmingly, evidence suggests that extreme loneliness can even prove fatal, with the risk of early death increasing by 14%, as a result of poorer diets, worse lifestyle choices (ie alcohol or tobacco) and less exercise than those who have a network of friends or family. Perhaps less surprisingly it seems that the lonely are also more likely to suffer from mental health problems. Choosing a care home is a ma jor decision so it’s important to fully understand the facts and choices available. Age UK is able to offer free comprehensive guidelines and advice. Helen Taylor, Operational Manager Ipswich, Babergh and Mid Suffolk for Age UK Suffolk, said: “If you are considering a move to a care home, a good first step is to request a free care assessment from the Social Services department of your local council. Asking for a care assessment does not mean that a move into a care home is inevitable. The assessor will look at your needs and decide whether a care home is appropriate, or whether care or support in your own home would be adequate to meet your needs. “If the assessor feels that you need a care home, they will advise on what level of care you might need, for example, is nursing care required and this will help you to decide what sort of care homes you need to look for. “

Following the care assessment, a financial assessment will also be carried out to see if you can get any help with the cost of a care home. The rules around paying for long term care are complex, but Age UK have a range of factsheets on this subject, which can be downloaded from their website www.ageuk.org.uk or requested in paper format from Age UK Advice on 0800 678 1174. Your local Age UK Information and Advice Service should be able to talk through the steps involved in finding extra care, either at home or in a care home. The East of England is home to a fantastic selection of care homes that offer care and services for all needs. Amanda Valentine-Bunce, marketing manager at Signature Care’s Bentley House in Hertford (www.signature-care-homes.co.uk) gave us an insight into how to choose the right home for your require-

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AGE UK SUFFOLK SUGGEST DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN FIND A LOCAL CARE HOME:• Ask friends, relatives or neighbours about their experiences, a personal recommendation can be a good starting point. • Your local council should be able to provide a list of homes , and your local Age UK may also be able to provide a list. • The Elderly Accommodation Counsel has a database of care homes in the UK. Tel 0800 377 7070 www.eac.org.uk • The Care Quality Commission inspects and regulates care homes. Their website has details of homes and you can see a copy of the latest CQC inspection report on the home. Tel 03000 61 61 61 www.cqc.org.uk • Websites www.bettercaring.org and www.findmegoodcare.co.uk are also sources of information. ments: “Many older people won’t entertain the idea of moving into a care home, but not all care homes are the same, you will soon realise once inside a home whether your loved one would like it, feel at home. Speak to staff, chat to residents and meet the teams who head each department. Go back again and stay for tea or lunch. “One step inside Bentley House and you will think you are in a luxury hotel. Loneliness is a never a problem here – there is a huge range of varied entertainment to choose from seven days a week, with opportunities to make many new friends. Our residents can enjoy either our restaurant dining or our bistro for a more casual dining experience, together with lounges, Signature café, a library (including a computer suite), hair salon and spa.” For many the finance can be a daunting prospect, but Amanda explains help is available: “In order to help prospective residents and their families evaluate the affordability of various care options, Signature works with a specialist team of highly experienced Independent Financial Advisors, all who are members of SOLLA and thus have specific knowledge and expertise in the care fees marketplace. “The team can help you understand the options available to you and in most instances there’s no obligation or fees for their advice. They have given many families and residents peace of mind over the years and are available to meet you at one of our homes or visit you in yours.”

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FASHION

COLOUR

MIXING!

Written by Ruth Essex

RICHARD OF YORK GAVE BATTLE IN VAIN! Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet: The colours of the rainbow or colour wheel. Our eyes are drawn to colour, and we process this information faster than any other aspect of how someone looks. How you combine colours can give a personal touch to your outfit and express your personality. For those who are a bit nervous of colour, there are some guidelines that make mixing colours easier. Whilst you can wear as many colours as you like, multiple colours can be tiring on the eyes. However, three colours work well if you want to create interest, for example; black, white and pink. Try the ma jority of the colour in the neutral, e.g. black jeans and blazer (60%), and smaller proportions of the highlight colour of white shirt (30%) and dash of pink lipstick and a handbag (10%). A similar formula is used in interior design to add interest and balance to the colours used in a room. Monochromatic dressing is wearing different shades of the same colour such as different shades of blue. If you are feeling more adventurous, why not consider pinks and reds? People with low contrast between their hair, skin and eyes look particularly good in monochrome; think Gwyneth Paltrow. Analogue colours are harmonious colours, next to each other in the colour wheel, such as red and purple. It is a less commonly worn combination and appeals to those with a sense of drama. You can add a neutral such as cream, if you want to tone it down a little. This principle works well for combining autumnal colours such as rusts, golds and browns.

SS17 at River Island

Another alternative is to select colours that are on opposite sides of the colour wheel, known as complementary colours. Green and red would be an example or why not try yellow and purple? Again, more adventurous than a neutral and a colour, but they are combinations that work. You can create new outfits just by changing how you combine items you already have in your wardrobe, so why not experiment a little and head into spring with some new colour combinations? Ruth Essex is an image consultant at Mycolourcoach.co.uk | Tel: 07900 910 666

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events filler_Layout 1 21/02/2012 15:05 Page 1

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FASHION IN THE CITY CALLING ALL FASHION FANS! IT’S TIME TO GET YOURSELF FROW AT THIS YEAR’S NORWICH FASHION WEEK

will cover top-to-toe fashion looks, from dramatic hair styles and gorgeous glasses through to glamourous body art. VIP tickets provide access to the VIP area, complimentary drink upon arrival and a reserved premium view seat. THE VINTAGE SHOW SPONSORED BY ZAKS AUTHENTIC AMERICAN DINERS Sunday 12 March, 8pm Ticket price: £10 | VIP ticket price: £17.50 With the city famed for its vintage scene, this show captures the essence of Norwich’s vintage boutiques and styling through the ages. The NFW17 show will give you the chance to admire the city’s best vintage offerings, with a cheeky nod towards the disco glamour of Studio 54. Image Anthony Kelly

Taking place 9-17 March, OPEN will once again be home to Norfolk’s most stylish event, NFW17. The biggest and best to date, we’ve got you covered, here’s those important dates for the diary: THE MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORWICH RETAILERS SHOW THURSDAY 9 MARCH, 8PM Ticket price: £15 | VIP ticket price: £22.50 The launch show of NFW17, this event showcases independent and high-street retailers, plus highlights key future trends. A firm favourite with fashionistas across the city who are looking to spot key items for their spring and summer wardrobes. VIP tickets provide access to the VIP area, complimentary drink upon arrival and a reserved premium view seat. THE DIPPLE & CONWAY HAIR AND MAKE-UP SHOW FRIDAY 10 MARCH, 8PM Ticket price: £10 | VIP ticket price: £17.50 This lively show celebrates the creative collaboration between stylists, designers and make-up artists. This year the event has been given a theatrical vibe and

THE BRASTED’S AND NORWICH COSMETIC CLINIC DESIGNERS SHOW TUESDAY 14 MARCH, 8PM Ticket price: £10 | VIP ticket price: £17.50 Unveiling the very best of Norwich’s home-grown designers, tailors, milliners and stylists. Those looking for the next big thing, or hoping to be inspired by home-grown talent, shouldn’t miss out on this year’s show. FASHION EXCESS FRIDAY 17 MARCH, 9PM Ticket price: £8 in advance, £10 on the door | VIP ticket price: £15 A fusion of the latest fashion from independents, local designers and the high street, with live music from up and coming bands. This show is perfect for those who love mixing up their style and rocking an individual look. Headline act for this year is dance floor ready disco pop duo EKKAH.

Visit www.eastlife.co.uk to find out how you could win VIP tickets

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WEDDINGS

THE WEDDING

GURU

MODERN WEDDING ETIQUETTE Planning a wedding can at times be complex and confusing, especially now that couples have the freedom to plan whatever style of day they’d like! Now I know that the mere mention of the word ‘etiquette’ can conjure up visions of formal gatherings, receiving lines, unspoken rules and an added layer of stress however, before you stop reading you can breathe a sigh of relief because I’m here to tell you that modern wedding etiquette can actually makes things easier and way more relaxed. So, whether you’re planning or attending a wedding, here’s all you need to know about modern-day dos and don’ts. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES It’s always great to have some support around you, especially on your wedding day and that’s why your wedding party is so utterly invaluable. However, the modern wedding party can include whomever you like and they can do whatever you need them to do. For example, I was ‘Best Man’ at my Brother’s wedding, I’ve worked at weddings where the Bride’s Best Friend has given a speech, where the Mother and Father of the Bride have both escorted their daughter up the aisle and where female Ushers welcomed guests into the ceremony. In 2017, say goodbye to old role etiquette and simply choose the best person for the job. THE FIRST LOOK The age-old tradition of the Bride and Groom not seeing each other ahead of their ceremony is starting to be overshadowed by the rise in popularity of ‘The First Look’. This gives couples the chance to meet, in private, before they take their vows and share this very special moment together before jointly making their way to their ceremony. GUESTS AND INVITATIONS If only modern weddings had found a way to keep everyone happy when it comes to the guest list! That said, couples are now taking control of their guest lists like never before and it’s great to see an increasing

Written by Katrina Otter

number of lists full of people that the couple can’t do without rather than names that have been included through a sense of obligation. DINING, SEATING AND DANCING As with everything else, the wedding breakfast has undergone a radical makeover of late. Buffets or three course sit-down meals are still great options but food trucks, live food stalls and sharing banquets (to name but a few) have now been added to the mix. We could also talk about doughnut walls, ice cream stations and super creative canapés! In short, if you’re a bit of a foodie or if you’d like something a bit different, the possibilities are endless. MONEY I’ve saved this thorny topic until last because, in some ways, it’s the simplest. Gone are the expectations that the Bride’s family will shoulder all of the monetary burden and now, most weddings are at least partly financed by the couple themselves. You know your own financial situation, you know what’s affordable so frankly, whatever you ‘should’ do can never be as important as what you ‘can’ do. As long as you know what your budget is, it’s really nothing to do with anyone else. Weddings are no longer a ‘one size fits all’ occasion and we should have the confidence to create our own brilliantly personal, utterly individual weddings!

Katrina Otter is a Cambridgeshire based wedding planner and event organiser. www.katrinaotterweddings.co.uk

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THE MOST AMAZING DAY OF OUR

LIVES

Written by Serena Saunders

When you own a wedding venue, and the day finally comes to actually get married yourselves, you begin to feel the pressure build. Holding our wedding at the Sheene Mill was a ‘no brainer’! Whilst I admit, I was a little worried about the potential added pressure and the concept of being ‘at work’ at first, I also recognise how beautiful our venue is and could think of no place better for us both to get married. The Sheene Mill is so much more than just a venue to us – it is, quite literally our home. I worked at the Sheene Mill from the age of 11, when my parents owned the business, to then come back 10 years after they left to own the business together with my partner, Jordan. It has been the home to so many of my happy memories, from my childhood swims in the river to the recent years.

Jordan and his best men arrived by helicopter and I, by horse and carriage. Walking into the Sheene Mill everything suddenly became very real. The place looked absolutely beautiful, and for a moment I felt so proud of my staff and of our lovely venue.

Selecting the suppliers was perhaps slightly easier for us than most, we see a lot of different wedding suppliers on a regular basis, so were able to pick our favourite suppliers, people that we had built a relationship up with and people who we felt would really look after us.

Bridesmaids dressed in long champagne gold maxi dresses, the groomsmen smart in their grey tails with champagne gold, the pavilion a beautiful deep red, cream and soft peach flowers draping softly from the railings and arching over where Jordan and I had said our vows. Big flower displays lined our walkway.

Unfortunately, finding the dress was not so straightforward, I looked everywhere locally and what felt like every single shop in London too. It was a very hard decision to make. Seeing hundreds of wedding dresses each year meant I didn’t get that same ‘wow’ feeling that perhaps other brides experience – I just felt like I’d seen it all before!

The magician entertained guests before we sat down to an eight course wedding breakfast. The cake was five tiers of perfection; set off by a gold leaf tier, a soft lace and pearl design and absolutely stunning cascading flowers down both sides.

Finally, happy to have my dress sorted, I went ‘to town’ with the decorations, and bought in a fantastic venue dresser to help. Then in a moment of craziness we arranged for our wedding to be filmed by a major television broadcaster (that certainly added some pressure) and subsequently began to ‘prepare’ the venue, so that we knew it would look at its absolute best. After what felt like years, the day finally came!

After our first dance, gold confetti filled the room, and our friends all ‘jumped’ on us! We took the opportunity to relax, and enjoy some time with everyone on the dance floor. We danced, we laughed, we ate (some more!) and we partied hard! We can’t thank our staff and suppliers enough for all their efforts and for making our wedding day the most amazing day of our lives - I just wish we could do it all again!

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Train Fares

CONSUMER

Martin Lewis Talks...

The only way to find the cheapest rail ticket is to throw all logic out of the window. Things are improving a touch. Some train firms have recently announced simplification trials from May so you don’t pay more for travelling ‘any permitted route’ and ‘airline-style’ mix-and-match ticketing, so if you change trains and see that the price of two journeys is cheaper than one, it’ll show you that. Yet even this won’t guarantee when you book a ticket, you’ll get the cheapest price. So here are my key tips to keep ticket costs on the rails… 1. TRY SPLITTING YOUR TICKETS (IT WON’T BE SHOWN EVEN UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM) Split-ticketing is where instead of buying one ticket for the journey, you buy multiple tickets for different parts of the same journey, which perversely, illogically and ridiculously, often works out cheaper. 2. BOOK 12 WEEKS EARLY FOR CHEAPER FARES Most people know if you book early you’ll get cheaper train tickets. But the key time to look is 12 weeks before you want to travel, as that’s when the time table is set so most operators start to launch their advance tickets then – meaning you get the best availability on cheap fares. 3. GET A (DISCOUNTED) RAILCARD Annual national railcards usually reduce the bill by a third. The main cards are… • Family & Friends Railcard. You and up to three other adults (two can be named on the card) get a third off the fare, providing you’re travelling with between one and four kids, who get 60% off. • 2TogetherRailcard. This works for two people providing they’re travelling together and both named (and photographed) on the card. So you could have one with your spouse, and another with someone you go to the weekly football with. • Senior Railcard. This gets over 60’s a third off the fare. • 16-25 Railcard. Gives a third off fares travelling at any time. • Disabled persons railcard. Gives a third off for you and an adult companion, any time any day. • Network Railcard. This is for those living in southern England. Up to three adults can travel with you and get a third off and up to four children get 60% off.

4. GET EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNTS – LATE There’s generally a certain number of advance tickets available for each journey. Don’t assume you can’t get these if you’re travelling tomorrow, always check. If they’re still available most train firms let you book them up to 6pm or 11.59pm the day before travel, and CrossCountry trains until 15 minutes before the train leaves. 5. TRAIN DELAYED, GET YOUR MONEY BACK Usually if you’re delayed over 30 minutes (it varies by firm) most companies operate a ‘Delay Repay scheme’, which if you ask pays out at least 50% of the fare regardless of whether the delay was its fault or not (though some now pay 25% for 15 minute delays). You can get this as cash or cheque, not just in rail vouchers as it used to be. If you’ve a season ticket, again it depends on the firm, you can sometimes claim per delay, for a cluster of delays, or not at all. 6. PAID FOR YOUR SEASON TICKET (OR EVEN PART OF IT) ON A CREDIT CARD, YOU COULD GET COMPENSATION Section 75 rules mean if you pay or part-pay for something on a credit card for something that costs between £100-£30,000, even if it was just a penny, then the credit card company is JOINTLY liable along with retailers (so in this case Southern Rail) for making sure customers receive the goods or services they paid for. Read more advice at www.moneysavingexpert.com/latesttip

eastlife.co.uk 69

IN THE

SPOTLIGHT:

SOUTH LEE SCHOOL

parents these days. I also really get a buzz from witnessing the pupil’s successes. I am quite competitive for my pupils and look forward to the emails and letters from the senior schools offering places. The pupils work hard and deserve their moments of success. It is what life is all about.

FACT FILE NAME: Mervyn (Fyn) Watch COMPANY: South Lee School LOCATION: Bury St. Edmunds

ABOUT COMPANY: Co-Ed, Day – Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep School for pupils aged 2 to 13. WHAT ROLE DO YOU PLAY AT THE SCHOOL: Headmaster WHAT AREAS DO YOU COVER IN EAST OF ENGLAND? Most of our pupils come from Bury St. Edmunds or the villages immediately surrounding the town. We have some pupils who come to us from beyond Sudbury and some from Newmarket, so currently run two bus services to enable parents in those areas to have access to the education offered at South Lee. WHAT MAKES YOUR SCHOOL UNIQUE? We are a small, very friendly school which focuses on nurturing and bringing out the very best in our children. Children are fully supported by our caring, professional and motivated staff who provide each child with a broad and relevant education, setting high expectations and celebrating effort, curiosity and perseverance. WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR LINE OF WORK? I have two parts to this answer. Obviously I enjoy working with children, although as Headmaster I probably spend nearly as much time with the

WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS’ BIGGEST CHALLENGE? Like all of the Prep schools in the area, our biggest challenge is pupil retention. Parents are very discerning and they demand value for money, coupled with excellence and the right amount of support for their children. We need to be constantly evolving and reviewing to ensure that we are adopting best practice and meeting these demands. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO VISIT IN EAST ANGLIA? My favourite place to visit in East Anglia is Brancaster beach. As a family we go and always walk to the same place, have a picnic and wait to see if we can spot the seals. The first time we went my youngest son crept right up to them and just sat and watched. WHAT EVENTS ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR? We have just agreed to sponsor the production of Honk, a charming twist on Hans Christian Anderson’s Ugly Duckling, at the Theatre Royal on Sunday 21 May, which is part of the Bury Festival. South Lee will also have a stand at various local events including the East Anglian Game Fair, South Suffolk Show and Paws in the Park just up the road from the school in Nowton Park. We are also involved with Bury St. Edmunds Rugby Club, and have pupils in many of the mini teams. WHAT CAN EASTLIFE READERS EXPECT FROM SOUTH LEE SCHOOL THIS YEAR? I would hope that they will see our school as an excellent option if they are considering private education for the first time. Our Early Years department is arguably one of the best in the area. I would be happy to meet anyone interested in having a look for themselves and showing them what we have to offer. Alternatively, do come to our Open Morning on Saturday 4 March from 10am12noon. www.southlee.co.uk

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MOTORING

THE NEW KIA RIO

FACTS AT

GLANCE

MODEL: Kia Rio 2 PRICE: £ 13,745 otr ENGINE: 1.25 litre petrol with 83hp PERFORMANCE: 0-60 in 12.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 107 mph CO2 EMISSIONS: 109 g/km COMBINED FUEL CONSUMPTION: 58.8 MPG

Written by Sue Cooke Twitter @cookecars According to research from Gocompare.com car insurance, occupations in the health or medical professions dominate the top ten list of the most accident prone drivers with high car insurance claims. Dr Craig Knight, who specialises in the psychology of working environments blames it partly on occupational stress which doesn’t help with concentration and partly driving in hospital car parks which are notorious accident black spots! But I and probably many others are at fault of driving while stressed, tired or frustrated which can lead to accidents, so I welcome the new technology which Kia offers as standard (on Grade 2 and above) on its new fourth generation Rio. Autonomous Emergency braking with pedestrian recognition detects sudden and potentially dangerous braking by a vehicle ahead, and activates the brakes. At speeds between 5mph and 50mph the Rio will come to a complete stop, avoiding many potential collisions. It is also able to detect pedestrians who wander into its path and applies the brakes in the same way. A new feature – Straight Line Stability – senses any difference in applied brake pressure between the right and left of the car and intervenes to keep it straight and Lane Departure warning senses when the car is about to veer off course without the indicators being activated and warns the driver.

Good news for all drivers and while you will pay around £1,100 more for this important new vehicle for Kia in the UK, much of the optional equipment in the previous model is now standard. But the Rio has a lot of competition in the B segment and in my opinion, the exterior design of this new car does little to attract buyers away from the competition like the Renault Clio or the new Citroen C3. The Rio is Kia’s global best-selling vehicle and the new model, which will only be sold as a five door, went on sale on 1 February. There are 10 versions in three trim grades. The interior which has a good quality feel is ladled with standard equipment, which on Grade 1 includes air conditioning, front electric windows with an automatic function on the driver’s side, remote locking, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors, a 3.8-inch display screen, Bluetooth, automatic light control, bi-function projection headlamps and cornering lights and LED daytime running lights. Retail will be the predominant sales and there is a choice of seven engines. For fleet buyers there are two diesel engines but Kia expects the best-selling engine to be the 1.25 litre petrol with 83hp which Kia says is an easy-going entry-level power unit, ideally suited to urban driving. The new Kia Rio has a lot to offer with its standard high technology which might be of interest to the high insurance claiming milkmen (6.09%), health and safety executives (6.83%) and optometrists (9.34%).

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the course has matured to one of

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At St Ives (Hunts) Golf Club, did you know we offer: • A unique Championship Golf Course offering year-round golf • Golf & Social membership (from £50) • Corporate membership packages available • Highly competitive green fees • Visitors & Golf Societies welcome • The most outstanding golf practice facilities in Cambridgeshire • Coaching from a nationally renowned PGA Professional • Well-stocked Golf Shop providing expert advice • Modern and well-furnished event/function venue • Tranquil and photogenic venue for weddings and key celebrations • Call today on 01480 499920 to find out more, or alternatively visit: www.stivesgolfclub.co.uk

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28/11/2016 10:01

A-CLASS OF ITS OWN

The sporty hatchback car has a long association with boy racers. They conjure up images of bad boys called Gary burning rubber in supermarket car parks and shaking windowpanes out of their frames with loud bass-driven music blasting out of their car speakers. But what if you could combine the youthful exuberance of a hot hatch with the style, luxury and comfort of a premium manufacturer? Mercedes-Benz is hoping to fill that gap with their striking new look A-Class range of hot hatchbacks. This new range is a radical departure from the old conservatively styled A-Class. Now the cars look lean and aggressive with the sinuous curves you’d expect from the brand. Inside you get a range of high quality trim options and Mercedes’ trademark dials and buttons, which look and feel fantastic. As a driver this interior makes you feel like you’re in control of a seriously sporty vehicle. But a car needs to have the performance to match its looks if it’s to be a true sporty hatchback, and the A-Class doesn’t disappoint. The top of the range Mercedes-AMG A 45 4MATIC has a 1,991cc engine, which delivers 381hp. This gives it an acceleration of 0 to 62mph in just 4.2 seconds and a maximum speed (electronically limited) of 155mph. But even the more modest options come with impressive engine specs.

Written by Ben Attenborough

I drove an automatic version and found it an incredibly easy car to drive. Putting the handbrake on is as easy as pushing and holding the brake and starting off from this ‘hold’ mode just requires a tap on the accelerator. Parking assist makes finding a place to park as well as getting into it a breeze (at slow speeds the car will look for suitable spaces and inform you when it has found one. It will then optionally steer you into the space while you control the car’s speed). Other goodies include lane control and warning lights if you get too close to the vehicle in front. So if you want the car to be a comfortable road cruiser or smart city vehicle the system has you covered. And if you want to open up you can activate ‘sport’ mode. This stiffens the suspension, adjusts the gear ratios and gives the engine a bit more grunt. Perfect for some weekend driving fun. Conversely the car has an ‘eco’ mode which helps you conserve fuel on those long commutes. The A-Class comprises a range of options including the SE, Sport, AMG Line, 250 AMG and Mercedes-AMG A 45, with prices between £20,000 and £48,000. Different options include Mercedes’ unique four-wheel drive system, the 4Matic, manual or auto gearboxes, petrol and diesel choices as well as additional options. To find your nearest Robinsons dealership, where you can checkout the entire Mercedes-Benz range, visit: www.robinsonsmotorgroup.co.uk/mercedes-benz

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L E T ’ S J U S T S AY W E W E N T T H R O U G H A F E W.

WIDER, LOWER, LONGER. WE’VE CHANGED EVERYTHING. EXCEPT THE NAME. THE NEW HONDA CIVIC.

BOOK YOUR TEST DRIVE

JOHN BANKS HONDA JOHN BANKS HONDA JOHN BANKS HONDA Honda House, Felixstowe Road, Nacton, Nacton, Ipswich IP10 0DE 01473 365133 www.ipswich-honda.co.uk

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GENERATION

J o h n B a n k s H o n d a c e l e b ra te s th e a r r i va l of th e n ew C i v i c

John Banks Honda is delighted to announce the arrival of the first new 2017 Honda Civic models in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge. Having just taken delivery of the first demonstrators, John Banks are excited to see how it is received by the early customers to take it for a drive and experience the new seating position, greater visibility and onboard technology. Certainly the initial feedback from current Civic owners who were invited to the showroom to preview the new model was very positive, with customers impressed by the confident statement and sportier design. Built in Britain at the factory in Swindon and exported world-wide, this latest Honda Civic is the tenth generation and builds on the notable success of past models. It is the result of the largest research and development project Honda has ever undertaken for a single model. The result is that the Honda Civic is distinctive thanks to its stand-out design, comes with greater refinement than ever before, and is exciting to drive due to the new engines. Customers will be able to

choose from either a 1.0 or 1.5 turbo charged petrol engine with either a manual or automatic transmission. Mark Banks said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Honda Civic has always been a strong seller for us but this latest generation model is set to move the game on substantially. With its sporty driving, class-leading space and advanced safety, the all-new Honda Civic is a compelling buy. It even comes with the very latest in advanced connectivity.â&#x20AC;? It is set to be a thrilling year for Honda and John Banks with the diesel Civic set to follow, and the Civic Type-R, having already claimed a prestigious award. The high-performance version of the Civic, took the highly acclaimed What Car? Award for the most anticipated car of 2017. This is an award voted for by the thousands of readers of What Car? magazine and marks out the hot hatch Civic as the most eagerly anticipated car of the year. Those interested in viewing and test driving the all-new Honda Civic are invited to contact and visit the John Banks Honda dealerships in Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge or Ipswich. Visit www.johnbanks.co.uk for further details

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00137-Homebrands Advert 240x168.indd 1

18/01/2017 15:29

HOME & GARDEN

SLEEP EASY

THIS SPRING

Written by Claire Lancaster (www.notestoself.co.uk)

With 31 days dedicated to highlighting improved sleep, National Bed Month in March is the ideal time to kit out bedrooms for a season of good sleep. Your bedroom is your personal sanctuary a space that allows you to rest, rejuvenate and introspect, and often it is the room in which many of us spend most of our time at home! And with each passing year, it seems homeowners across the planet are veering more and more towards this idea of a reclusive and comfortable personal hub when it comes to designing and decorating their bedrooms. As the first two months of 2017 rush past us, we take a look at the top trends that will shape bedrooms in the months ahead.

600 thread count organic sateen Seville Bed Linen Collection from the Fine Cotton Company, priced from £80 for sheets and £45 for a pillow case.

BEDROOM LOOKS If you are looking to give your bedroom a quick style makeover, 2017 is a good time to consider going down the Nordic path. Scandinavian-inspired décor, accessories, bedside tables and even fabulous bed frames are currently on top of the trends chart, and this is a style that will also help you in creating a more organized bedroom. Almost every decorating trend plays into the Scandinavian-inspired setting, including hues such as grey and off-white, warm wooden accents and a love for interiors drenched in a

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We also have a huge range of kitchenware including paul hollywood and james martin signature utensils in our cook shop. visit our showroom at: 3 -23 Suffolk Road, Lowestoft NR32 1DZ or call us on: 01502 528599 www.kerrys.uk.com

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INVEST IN NATURAL BED LINENS Choose natural and organic materials for your bed linens to help combat allergies and aid better sleep. Cotton, silk and other natural fibres are breathable, allowing ventilation that draws moisture away from the body. Investing in high quality cotton bed linen can make a huge difference to the quality of sleep with its natural temperature-regulating qualities, keeping us warm in winter and cool in the summer. INNOVATIVE BREATHABLE BEDDING Don’t overlook what’s inside your duvet cover and pillow case. The breathability of your duvet is important for a great night’s sleep. Experts claim that more breathable your duvet the better night’s sleep you will enjoy, and that’s why the sleep experts at The Fine Bedding Company developed Breathe, the brand’s most breathable duvet yet – with clever climate control that regulates body temperature for a great night’s sleep.

Breathe Duvet & Pillows, The Fine Bedding Company www.finebedding.co.uk

flood of natural light! And the best part is that even your affordable IKEA bedroom finds complement this soothing style. Bedheads and specifically upholstered bedheads are also a hot topic this year. Upholstered bedheads will replace timber bed frames as a luxury craze. You can opt for a classic neutral style in a plain colour that complements your linens, or add a little more extravagance by opting for a velvet bedhead. Also on the rise for bedrooms in 2017 are charging stations incorporated into bedside tables a tech necessity to charge phones, iPads, tablets, kindles, etc. Regulate Sleep Patterns with Black Out Blinds Daylight saving starts this year on 26 March at 1am. As our clocks ‘spring’ forward, so begins the march towards British summertime. Changes in temperature, lighter evenings and more allergens can signify that uncomfortable nights and poor sleep lie ahead. Help to regulate sleep patterns with blackout blinds or curtains with a heavy lining. They’ll block natural light and help trick the body into believing it’s night time.

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THINKING OF

A NEW KITCHEN

WHY NOT REFACE RATHER THAN REPLACE?

Replacement doors Replace worn-out, damaged and out-of-fashion cabinet doors with made-to-measure fittings in a fantastic choice of colour, finishes and designs, for base and wall units.

Island units If space allows, we can install a central island unit, fit it out with storage racks, baskets and cupboards and finish it off with fashionable waterfall ends.

At Granite Transformations, we offer a complete package for updating your kitchen work surfaces, splashbacks, cabinet doors and appliances. Fitting stunning new worktops is fast and effective, with each top custom-made to your exact specifications. There is no need to remove your old worktops, since we simply fit our beautiful, hardwearing surfaces straight on top, meaning no dust, debris or disruption and ensuring complete peace of mind. To complete the new look, we can also supply and fit made-to-measure replacement cabinet doors and drawer fronts in a wide choice of colours, finishes and styles.

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SPRING TIPS

Jobs to do in your Garden this Spring

Kate Gould is an award-winning garden designer with more than a decade’s hands-on experience transforming gardens of all sizes. www.kategouldgardens.com

FREE PLANTS Spring is one of the best times to get new plants for free by lifting and dividing your Herbaceous perennials and replanting them as two or more plants. This is a great way to fill your beds and it’s not difficult, you just lift them out, divide into the number you desire (you can literally use a saw to do this) and they will respond really well. Add a handful of slow release plant food into the ground as you replant and then simply wait for the warmer weather to kickstart new growth. This is a good time to think about stakes, if any of these perennials are of the taller variety. Many plants have a tendency to flop over as they grow so putting stakes in place now for support will save trying to force them into hard ground later in the year when the job is much more difficult.

FEEDING Mulching and feeding is so important in the spring and surprisingly overlooked by many a budding gardener. Mulching with a good organic compost or well-rotted manure will provide nutrients for the soil, suppress weed growth in early summer and help the soil retain moisture. Take care not to pile it up around the stem of the plants though as this can cause scorching and even collapse. Then feed with a good slow-release organic fertilizer. Remember that if your plants are pH specific, like Rhododendrons and Azaleas, you will need a specific acidic feed.

LAWN LIFE Lawns are perhaps one of the most challenging areas of the garden to get right, you need to put a lot of effort into keeping a good lawn and this is even more important if you have dogs. You can

start now by raking out any thatch so that the early spring light can get to the base of the lawn which will allow the grass to thicken out nicely and green up. Aerating the lawn is also important to give roots a better growing space and aid drainage. You can do this with a fork but it’s quite fun to buy special lawn shoes with tines in them and just use your body weight to make the holes as you walk around the garden.

NESTING Spring is of course nesting season so place any nest boxes in their positions early on so that the birds have time to get used to them and you may find that a broody pair settle into one. To encourage other sorts of exciting wildlife into your garden you can buy things like little ‘bee hotels’ which are really lovely for Mason Bees. Specially made ‘hedgehog homes’ and fences with cut out holes at the bottom so hedgehogs can travel between gardens are lovely to use and you can even buy butterfly habitats and shelters for frogs and toads if you have a pond.

BBQ SEASON Take some time now to wash everything down and check that it’s all working so that you are ready for the first round of BBQ’s when the sun does come out. Similarly check your cushions, wash your furniture down and make sure that your BBQ tools are clean and ready to go. Pulling out the garden furniture and sweeping behind it is a good job to get out of the way now.

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SALES

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PARTS

Sat 8:00 - 12:00

Suppliers of all leading makes of agricultural, domestic & professional groundcare equipment. Visit our Dunmow showroom to see our full range of petrol mowers & grass machinery to suit all gardens & needs.

Full after sales service back up with spares and repairs.

Established over twenty years ago, we specialise in the design and fabrication of bespoke steel products ranging from estate fencing, gates, tree guards and garden arches. Each product is handcrafted using the highest quality materials and the latest techniques to not only tailor the product to your own requirements, but to ensure that your investment will last for many years to come.

HIRE We have a fleet of Groundcare & Woodchippers Short Term Hire 1 day to 1 year Or Contract Hire 1 - 5 years www.georgebrownshire.co.uk

Suffolk Blinds

GARDEN DESIGN & L ANDSCAPING

C o m pa n y

Bespoke and Made to Measure Shutters and Blinds Competetive prices Home measuring and fitting service Quality materials Expert friendly advice

free no obligation quotes family run business Suffolk Blinds Company, Stowmarket Road, Rattlesden, Suffolk IP30 0RR Tel: 01449 736 909 | Mob: 07979 550 204 www.suffolkblinds.com

Design - Paving - Driveways Decking - Fencing - Turfing Planting - and Much More FREE Quotations and Fully Insured 30 mile radius of Cambridge

01223 750 311 or 07857 833 138 www.cityscapescambridge.co.uk

Bring the benefits of a real fire into your home... Visit the largest display of traditional and contemporary wood burning stoves and gas fires in East Anglia today.

INFO@COLNESTOVES.COM COLNESTOVES.COM

Our Essex showroom: 42 Halstead Rd Earls Colne Colchester Essex CO6 2NL Tel. 01787 222608

Our Suffolk showroom: Overland Park, Great Whelnetham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP30 0UL Tel. 01284 388188

WE OFFER A COMPLETE DESIGN, BUILD AND INSTALLATION SERVICE

Living near a top restaurant can add to property values According to the latest research from the Halifax, the average price of a house in the same postcode as a restaurant with a Michelin star is £527,690, compared with an average of £351,834 for the wider local area, equating to a 33% premium. Indeed, over the past decade, the average house price of all properties close to Michelin-starred restaurants has risen by a significant 64%. Michael Houlden, head of Strutt & Parker’s Cambridge office says: “We often hear about Ofsted rated schools and proximity to train stations having big effects on home values, but to be within walking distance of a highly rated restaurant may come as a surprise to some.” “We are lucky enough to have some great restaurants here in Cambridge, such as Cambridge Chop House and Steak and Honour, and although they might not all be Michelin starred, they certainly get foodies ears pricking. The nation’s relationship with food over the past few years has certainly blossomed - shows like the Great British Bake Off and Masterchef have raised our expectations and willingness to experiment with new flavours. London is certainly one of the foodie capitals of the world, having an impact on the surrounding counties. So even being able to walk to a top gastro-pub in the area is a huge plus point for buyers.”

PROPERTY

TOP TABLE

In London, the premium to be near a Michelin-starred restaurant is even higher. For example, properties near Michelin-starred La Trompette in Chiswick, west London, are 109% higher than the average. Other top locations on the list include properties close to Michelin-starred Northcote Manor in Blackburn, commanding a premium of 128%, as well as homes near Michelin-starred Alimentum in Cambridge, commanding a 113% premium. Remarkably, some of the UK’s best known restaurants did not feature on Haliax’s list. Houses in Bray, home to Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck, are in fact 16% cheaper than the local area. Similarly, homes close to the Olive Room in Ilfracombe, north Devon, are 22% down. “This shows that it is not just top food that can lift a location,” says Michael Houlden. “I think it has to be a combination of lots of elements that combine to make a true property hotspot, including transport links, top schools, shops and regeneration. Expensive restaurants often arrive in already wellserved locations to ensure enough footfall, so I think it’s worth watching those smaller spots where a great restaurant has only just arrived - it’s a useful indicator of future affluence and it could very well put a village on the map.”

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SHOWING THIS APRIL AT THEATRE ROYAL BURY ST EDMUNDS

SEE THE STARS OF THE FUTURE!

AS YOU LIKE IT

Over 60 antiques dealers under one roof selling a wide range of antiques, collectables and vintage items.

WEDS 26 - THURS 27

Visit our Arts & Crafts Beach Huts and The Flying Goose Café.

HYSTERIA

There are five acres of open gardens and fields to enjoy and ample free parking. We are open 6 days a week: Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 5. 00pm Sundays and Bank Holidays 10.00am to 4.00pm Closed Tuesdays.

BURY FAIR

FRI 28 - SAT 29

01728 668844

www.yoxfordantiques.com Find us on the A1120, between Yoxford and Peasenhall (IP17 3JW).

Box Office 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org

With over a decade of supplying the highest quality giclée print and framing services around, Bob & Gary really are the only people to visit in 2017 for your fine art print & framing.

@TheatreRoyalBSE

VK GALLERY Fine Art & Contemporary Craft

Thrown, Formed & Fired: A Celebration in Ceramic Art 27th February - 31st March 2017 Call us on 01223 904032 E-mail us at info@photoartgb.com Visit us at www.photoartgb.com Rectory Farm 1 Brewery Road Pampisford Cambridge CB22 3EN the best of Suffolk

18a Bridge Street, St Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 5EG info@vkgallery.co.uk 01480 498130

www.vkgallery.co.uk 51

Ceramic Square Bowl by David Gee

Written by Collette Hoefkens, proprietor at Norton Way Gallery and an artist in her own right.

ARTS

THE ARTS COLUMN

Section by Tracey Shayer

51 Norton Way, N, Letchworth Garden City, Herts SG6 1BH Tel: 01462 685139 www.nortonwaygallery.com

With a hint of spring just around the corner, embrace winter’s diminishing fury and head for Tiptree in Essex. March is the month that the excellent Sculpt Gallery opens its doors for its annual calendar of events.

The themes of colour, texture and layering are also integral to the organically sumptuous ceramics of David Gee. His meticulously crafted pots and plates are the “canvas” for his innovative textures and glazes.

The gallery’s opening show will be a departure from their usual exclusively three-dimensional displays. This exhibition is a wonderful combination of abstract paintings from East Anglian Artist, Tracey Shayer and London based ceramicist David Gee.

As an established ceramist David has gained huge popularity for his rich and warm, white earthenware pieces. Drawing inspiration from the patterns and movement found in nature and everyday surfaces, he has developed exciting new shapes and surface treatments, producing a completely a new body of work for this latest exhibition. His combination of oxides and underglazes together with his originality and extensive experience create a bounty of depth, character and beauty.

Tracey is an exciting newcomer to the art scene. She took up painting in 2014 and held her first exhibition in Harpenden in 2015. The following year she showed at the prestigious Hignell Gallery in Mayfair. Her current collaboration at the Sculpt Gallery will be only her third public presentation and will include work spanning the first three years of her career. Self-taught, Tracey’s paintings are instinctive and responsive. Using only knives, she allows the intricate and spontaneous application of ink, oil and acrylic to dictate its own progress. Building up in layers, she sometimes enjoys painting over previous works; enriching the sense of depth and mystery. She is fascinated with the idea of what lies beneath.

The exhibition is open on Saturdays, 11am until 4pm and weekdays by arrangement. For further information visit www.sculptgallery.com or contact gallery owner Debra Blik on 07980768616. 4-18 March 2017 Tracey Shayer & David Gee Sculpt Gallery, Priory Mews, Braxted Park Road, Tiptree (Nr Gt Braxted), Essex, CO5 0QB Tel: 07980768616 | www.sculptgallery.com

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MARCH ARTS NEWS #LEFTTURN This interesting exhibition features 125 left-handed portraits and new work by Manuela Hübner at Espresso Library, East Road, Cambridge, available from 11 March – 4 May,

Portrait by Manuela Hübner

Right-handed since childhood, Manuela was forced to use her non-dominant left hand in the summer of 2015. What became apparent was a lot of untapped potential. Continuing to explore the left, she roamed through cafés and public places, sketching people. The popular Espresso Library – one of Cambridge’s coffee, culture and art hubs – eventually became her preferred hunting ground. Here, the idea of a Wall of Faces was born.

Image: David Gillinwater - Aldeburgh Studio Trail

ALDEBURGH STUDIO TRAIL ARTISTS PREVIEW EXHIBITION 2017 marks the fifth year of the successful Aldeburgh Studio Trail in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, which runs during the last three weekends of June and coincides with the Aldeburgh Festival. This year, as a preview to the trail, many of the artists will be showing their work at The Aldeburgh Gallery from 9 – 15 March. Works will include painting, printing, jewellery, ceramics and sculpture. www.aldeburghstudiotrail.co.uk

NEW MURAL UNVEILED IN NORWICH Norwich, the City of Stories, has displayed another eye-catching art installation thanks to Norwich Business Improvement District (BID) and the Virgin Money Lounge. Designed by local artist Dereck Jackson, it embraces the cities affinity with literature and can be seen at the Virgin Money Lounge on Castle Street.

The drawings on show were created over a period of three and a half months and document the journey of what happens when you explore, play and persevere. They offer interesting insights into the peaks, troughs and plateaus of a learning curve whilst illustrating the stages of artistic style development and the sheer power of pursuing a vision. The exhibition is also a tribute to beauty and human connections – to all the people who have lent their face to this project by allowing Manuela to capture their features and character, and not least to the Espresso Library for taking a gamble with this unusual and organic enterprise. All portraits are for sale. A gallery of all faces can be viewed at www.manuelahubner.com

INKPOTS AT ALDEBURGH ARTS GALLERY ‘Inkpots’ are a diverse and flourishing group of contemporary printmakers graduating together from the The Curwen Print Study Centre in 2016 and continuing to print and exhibit together. March 2017 sees them at The Aldeburgh Gallery, from 16-22, where a selection of woodcut, lino, collagraph and silk screen prints will be for sale from £35. www.josephvalentine.co.uk/aag/contact.php

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SHOWS JUNE Sat 13th Tues 16th Sat 11 July Dancing Queen the Concert

Fri 19 June The Carpenters Story

Fri 19th Sat 20th Sat 27th

JULY

Ultimate Elton & The Rocket Band - 7.30pm When You’re Smiling – 2.00pm The Carpenters Story – 7.30pm Dance House Presents – Catch A Rising Star – 2.30pm & 7.30pm The World’s Most Popular Musicals with The Westenders – 7.30pm

SHOWS

Dancing Queen The Concert – 7.30pm JUNE Derek Acorah – The Psychic Ether Tour Sat 13th Ultimate Elton & The JUNE 2015 – 7.30 pm Rocket Band - 7.30pm Sat 13th Ultimate Elton & The Mon 27th BandJethro – 7.30pm Tues 16th When You’re Smiling – Rocket - 7.30pm 2.00pm Tues 16th AUGUST When You’re Smiling – Sat 11 July Fri 19th The Carpenters Story – Fri 19 June 2.00pm Fri Dancing 7th QueenChampions the Concert of Rock – The The Carpenters Story 7.30pm Sat 11 July Fri 19th The Carpenters Story – Fri 19 June Supreme Queen Concert Sat 20th Dance House Presents Dancing Queen the Concert The Carpenters Story 7.30pm Show That’s Rocking the Fri 21 Aug Sat 29 Aug – Catch A Rising Star – Sat 20th Dance HouseNation Presents – 7.30pm Soul Legends Bublè Fever 2.30pm & 7.30pm – Catch A Rising Star – Sun 9th & 7.30pm You Are Invited to Marty Sat 27th The World’s Most Popular 2.30pm MacDonald’s Farm – Musicals with The Sat 27th The World’s Pongo’s Most Popular Party – 2.00pm Westenders – 7.30pm Musicals with– The Starring the voices of Westenders – 7.30pm JULY Cbeebies Justin Fletcher and Nicole Davis Sat 11th Dancing Queen The Mon 27 July Sun 9 Aug JULY MARCH Jethro Pongo’s Concert – 7.30pm Thurs 13thParty LDN Wrestling – Summer Sat 11th Dancing Queen The Mon 27 July Sun 9 Aug Derek Acorah – Showdown - 7.30pm Fri 17th Jethro Pongo’s Party Concert Saturday 4th – 7.30pm LEE NELSON The Psychic Ether Tour FriDerek 14th AcorahChas & Dave – 7.30pm Princes Theatre proudly supports Fri 17th Friday – 10th SOMEONE LIKE YOU – 2015 – 7.30 pm 2017Festival The Saturday Clacton 4th SeaMarch & Beach The Psychic Ether Tour Sat 15th Freddie 7.30pm on 4th 5th July 2015. LEE&NELSON TheStarr Adele– Songbook Mon 27th Jethro – 7.30pm 2015 – 7.30 pm Fri 21st Soul Legends – 7.30pm 18th– 7.30pm KING OF POP – AUGUST Mon 27thSaturday Jethro Fri 28th The Dreamboys – 7.30pm The Legend Continues Champions of Rock – The AUGUST Sat 29th Bublè Fever – StarringFri 7th Box Office: 01255 686633 Book Online: www.essex-live.co.uk Supreme Queen Concert Friday 24th PASHA – – 7.30pm Rickie Arthur Fri 7th Champions of Rock – The www.tendringdc.gov.uk Let’s Dance The Night Away Show That’s Rocking the Fri 21 Aug Sat 29 Aug Queen Concert Supreme Soul Legends Bublè Fever the STEELE & FRIENDS – Nation – 7.30pm Fri 21 Aug Sat 29 Aug FridayShow 31st That’s Rocking BARRY Sun 9th You Are Invited to Marty Nation – 7.30pm Soul Legends Bublè Fever The Orbison Story MacDonald’s Farm – Sun 9th You Are Invited to Marty Pongo’s Party – 2.00pm MacDonald’s Farm – – Starring the voices of Friday 10th March 2017 Saturday 8th March 2017 Pongo’s Party – 2.00pm APRIL Cbeebies Justin Fletcher SOMEONE LIKE YOU SEVEN DRUNKEN NIGHTS – Starring the voices of The Adele Songbook The Story of the Dubliners and Nicole Davis Saturday 1st Justin Fletcher THE FUREYS Cbeebies Thurs 13th LDN Wrestling – Summer and Nicole Davis Saturday 8th SEVEN DRUNKEN NIGHTS – Showdown - 7.30pm Thurs 13th LDN Wrestling – Summer Box Office The Story of the Dubliners Fri 14th Chas & Dave – 7.30pm Princes Theatre proudly supports Showdown - 7.30pm The Clacton Sea & Beach Festival 01255 686633 Sat 15th Freddie Starr – 7.30pm Sun 9th & Mon 10th ROBIN HOOD – Easter Pantomime Fri 14th Chas & Dave – 7.30pm Princes Theatre proudly supports on 4th & 5th July 2015. The Clacton Sea & BeachWebsite Festival Fri ALL 21st THE LUCK Soul –Legends – 7.30pm Sat 15th Freddie Starr – 7.30pm Saturday 15th SOME GUYS HAVE on 4th & 5th July 2015. 28th The Dreamboys – 7.30pm www.princestheatre.co.ukFri 21st Soul Legends – 7.30pm The Rod Stewart Fri Story Sat 29th Bublè Fever – Starring Box Office: 01255Fri 686633 Book Online: www.essex-live.co.uk 28th Friday The Dreamboys – 7.30pm 21st THE ILLEGAL EAGLES Rickie Arthur – 7.30pm Sat 29th Bublè Fever – Starring Box Office:Sunday 01255 Book2017 Online: www.essex-live.co.uk www.tendringdc.gov.uk 9th &686633 Monday 10th March Saturday 22nd ARRIVAL UK – The Ultimate Abba Show Rickie Arthur – 7.30pm ROBIN HOOD Mon 27 July Jethro

Sun 9 Aug Pongo’s Party

Sat 11th

SHOWSFri 17th

UPCOMING SHOWS

www.tendringdc.gov.uk Easter Pantomine

9 APRIL - 3PM & 7PM | 10 APRIL - 2.30PM 01255 68 66 33 | princestheatre.co.uk PRICE: £14, CONCESSIONS £13, FAMILY OF 4 £47*

CLACTON

Subject to booking fee

ESSEX

The best of

Everything you wanted to know... Article courtesy of Visit Essex

With over 2,000 years of history, 350 miles of glorious coastline (one of the longest of any county in the UK) and oodles of culture there’s loads more to Essex than TOWIE – why not come and discover it for yourself? We’ve pulled together some of the best bits: ESSEX IS BEST FOR … SHOPPING 1 - Set in a relaxing village environment, Freeport Braintree is the premier outlet in Essex that offers an escape from the stresses of city shopping. A wide choice of fashion, homeware, fragrances, accessories and gift ideas from more than 85 designer and high street stores with up 60% off everyday prices. Parking is totally free for up to 6 hours. 2 - Chelmsford has not one, but two, shopping centres – The Meadows and High Chelmer - offering all the high street names as well as exciting independent retailers and boutique stores. When it’s time to rest those feet there is no shortage of restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs for you to grab a drink or a bite to eat. 3 – The Royals and The Victoria – at either end of the High Street, has lots of great places to pick up a present in between. Maybe take a walk along the world’s longest pleasure pier whilst you’re here? 4 - Lion Walk Shopping Centre and Red Lion Yard are Colchester’s premier shopping destinations. They are located right in the heart of the city, off the High Street, and offer a mix of local independent retailers alongside the top High Street brands. ESSEX IS BEST FOR…HISTORIC HOMES AND GARDENS 1 - A palace in all but name, Audley End is not just one of Essex’s grandest country houses but one of the nation’s. Amongst the Jacobean splendour, the history of the house and people who lived and

Audley End House

worked there down the centuries is brought to life. 2 – Tucked away amongst the picturesque back streets of medieval market town Saffron Walden is Bridge End Garden. Consisting of seven, lovingly restored interlinked gardens, Bridge End is a Grade II-listed evocation of the Victorian taste for both formal and practical horticulture. 3 - The exotic-sounding Forgotten Gardens of Easton Lodge are a ‘must’ for romantics and keen gardeners alike. Easton Lodge was originally built by Henry Maynard, former Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I. 4 - Not far from Southend’s beaches and expansive waterfront sits Southchurch Hall and Gardens. Originally built in the 1300s, the medieval moated manor house is wonderfully preserved with its interiors laid out in a series of period rooms, including a great open hall reflecting life in the later Middle Ages, a Tudor kitchen and display rooms.

eastlife.co.uk

W H E R E N AT U R A L TA L E N T S F L O U R I S H

Full, flexi or weekly BOARDING available

Here at Walden School we pride ourselves on delivering a balanced and rounded education by energising creativity and independent thought and

building mindfulness, so pupils become an asset to society. With specialist teachers, extensive facilities and the option to board; either full, weekly or flexi,

S A F F R O N WA L D E N

C B 11 3 E B

we think youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll agree we have a lot to offer. Call

01799 525351

to arrange an individual tour, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be delighted to

www.waldenschool.co.uk

welcome you to Walden School.

admissions@waldenschool.co.uk

An independent day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 3 to 18

BEST FOR…FAMILY DAYS OUT 1 - Get ready for free range family fun at Barleylands Farm Park. Packed with excitement there’s so much to do whatever the weather. Say hello to farmyard friends big and small, meet birds of prey, handle reptiles, run wild in the indoor play, or jump aboard the tractor & trailer ride and join in changing daily activities. 2 – Adventure Island is a family-friendly, free admission theme park located in Southend-on-Sea and surrounding the entrance of the world’s longest pleasure pier. With over 50 rides and attractions, Adventure Island has plenty of fun-filled things to do for the whole family!

West Street Vineyard

BEST FOR….FOOD BASED FUN 1 - It doesn’t come much more authentic than The Company Shed Dining on Mersea Island. Opened 20 years ago to simply sell cockles and prawns to locals, it has evolved into one of the most renowned seafood restaurants in the country. Owner Heather Haward is reluctant to call her business a restaurant, owing to the fact that customers must bring their own bread and drink to accompany the fresh fish and shellfish. 2 – West Street Vineyard in Coggeshall. The only working vineyard in England where guests can try wines from across the country - they have over 50 English wines on their list including of course all the outstanding ones produced in Essex. Enjoy lunch overlooking the boutique vineyard with 3000 vines and the River Blackwater beyond.

3 - Little monkeys will go wild at the prospect of a trip to Colchester Zoo! Rated as one of the top twenty in the world, it is a sanctuary for a number of endangered and vulnerable species; including leopards, tigers and lions, bears, Komodo dragons, noble orangutans and stunningly cute Red Pandas. 4 - The Royal Gunpowder Mills is a 170-acre oasis of natural beauty and heritage with an extraordinary history of explosives and research into rocket fuels. Children are at the heart of fun Science Shows in the Mad Lab and activities such as making and launching a rocket.

www.visitessex.com is a terrific source of ideas and inspiration. Whether you fancy rural or coastal, cultural or active or simply sampling the culinary delights of land and sea, the Visit Essex website is jam-packed with information.

3 – If you love airplanes and food, then this place is ideal for you! The striking, fully sound-proofed 1935 Rooftop Restaurant and Bar sits at the top of the five-storey Holiday Inn at London Southend Airport. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Essex countryside and watch a plane taking off or landing at the airport whilst you eat. 4 - The Mistley Kitchen in Manningtree is a renowned cookery school that offers one-day recreational, hands-on and bespoke cookery workshops. Established in 2001 by American-born chef Sherri Singleton, the workshops have developed into a destination for keen cooks of all abilities from around the country.

Adventure Island

eastlife.co.uk

101

rock n roll productions presents

Based on the life and music of the small faces written by carol harrison

The Coolest Musical Ever

See Jeremy Hardy live as he celebrates his 4th a stand-up. “A SMILE-INDUCING NIGHT

“FUNNYdecade FIERY AND BRAVE... as YOU’LL HAVE A ROCKING NIGHT OUT” DAILY STAR SUNDAY

THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

OF MOD NOSTALGIA” THE SUNDAY EXPRESS

Mon 1st - Wed 3rd May

Civic Theatre, Chelmsford Wednesday 29 March - Saturday 1 April Tickets: £25.00 Conc: £23.00

Tuesday 4 - Saturday 8 April Civic Theatre, Chelmsford Tickets £25.00 Conc: £23.00

www.chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres Box office: 01245 606 505

chelmsford.gov.uk/theatres Box Office: 01245 606 505

Our New Showroom is Now Open! In addition to our established Colchester Showroom, we are pleased to announce the opening of our New Showroom:

OVERLAND PARK, GREAT WHELNETHAM Please come along and see our extensive range of stoves and fireplaces on display. Whether it’s wood, multifuel, gas or renewable energy, you will find a wide choice to suit your style and heating requirements.

WE OFFER A COMPLETE DESIGN, BUILD AND INSTALLATION SERVICE

CONTEMPORARY

TRADITIONAL

Brookhill Park, 42 Halstead Road, Earls Colne, Colchester, Essex CO6 2NL Tel 01787 222608 Overland Park, Great Whelnetham, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP30 0UL Tel 01284 388188

info@colnestoves.com | colnestoves.com

RANGE COOKERS

Brookhill Park, 42 Halstead Road, Earls Colne, Colchester, Essex CO6 2NL Tel 01787 222608

info@colnebiomass.com | colnebiomass.com

WHAT’S ON in Essex THEATRE, FILM AND SHOWS 24 Feb - 11 Mar Bang, Bang John Cleese collaborates with the Mercury Theatre Colchester to bring this rarely performed comedy classic to the stage, directed by veteran of theatre, television and radio, Nicky Henson. Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, CO1 1PT. 01206 573948 www.mercurytheatre.co.uk 6-Mar Ross Noble - Brain Dump Everybody’s favourite randomist is back. As always Ross has lots of stuff backing up in his head and it’s time to let it all out. Famed for his super quick freewheeling style and highly imaginative flights of fancy, a Ross Noble show is always an unmissable event. Civic Theatre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG. 01245 606505 www.chelmsford.gov.uk 7-11 Mar Ushers Set in a West End theatre, it follows a working shift in the lives of the stagiest people in the theatre - the front of house staff, portraying the hilarious, ridiculous and frequently moving stories of ice-cream and programme sellers who dare to dream. Palace Theatre, 430 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LA. 01702 351135. www.southendtheatres.org.uk 7-11 Mar Invincible With the recession biting hard, Emily and Oliver have decided to downsize and shift their middle-class London lifestyle to a small town in the north of England. One night they open their doors and invite next door neighbours, Dawn and Alan into their home. Over the course of a disastrous evening of olives, anchovies, Karl Marx and abstract art; class and culture collide where the consequences are as tragic as they are hilarious. Palace Theatre, 430 London Road, Westcliff-onSea, SS0 9LA. 01702 351135. www.southendtheatres.org.uk 9-Mar Henning Wehn - Westphalia is not an Option Join German Comedy Ambassador Henning for an evening of Teutonic jolliness. The Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Harlow, CM20 1LS 01279 431945. www.playhouseharlow.com 9-Mar I am Beast Sparkle and Dark return with a visually stunning exploration of the power of grief and childish imagination Cramphorn Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG. 01245 606505 www.chelmsford.gov.uk 9-11 Mar In Search of England Colchester author, writer and journalist Neil D’Arcy-Jones’ play about nationality, immigration and love makes its hometown debut following a hit run in London. Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate

Colchester, CO1 1PT. 01206 573948. www.mercurytheatre.co.uk 12-Mar Justin’s Party A brand new show packed full of fantastic songs, dances and hilarious games guaranteed to make it the party of the year! Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 7RA. 01702 351135. www.southendtheatres.org.uk 14-18 Mar The Winter’s Tale ‘The Winter’s Tale’ tells of a delusional and paranoid king who tears his family apart. But this is the new Shakespeare, after he completed his great tragedies, and the tough struggle for redemption yields flickers of hope. Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, CO1 1PT. 01206 573948. www.mercurytheatre.co.uk 14-18 Mar A Midsummer Night’s Dream ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ deals with the universal theme of love and its complications. Cramphorn, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG. 01245 606505 www.chelmsford.gov.uk 15-16 Mar The Tiger Who Came to Tea The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big, stripy tiger! Civic Theatre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG 01245 606505. www.chelmsford.gov.uk 15-18 Mar Ghost Writer A year ago Edward lost his wife Ruby to an overdose of naughty pills. Since then he has fallen into a depression and lives in a friend’s attic struggling to get over his writer’s block. On the anniversary of her death, Ruby returns as an apparition to haunt Edward, and let him know there was more to her death than previously thought. Together they must try and unravel what really happened that night. Palace Theatre, 430 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LA. 01702 351135 www.southendtheatres.org.uk 15 Mar - 1 Apr The Worse Wedding Ever This laugh-out-loud comedy about preparations for a family wedding was a huge hit when it premiered at Salisbury Playhouse in 2014. Features a live wedding band. Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT. 01708 443333. www.queens-theatre.co.uk 16-Mar Seann Walsh Plus Support With a keen observational mind, Seann can spot the absurdity in everything and convert it to perfectly delivered stand-up comedy. Palace Theatre, 430 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LA. 01702 351135. www.southendtheatres.org.uk

17-Mar The Sensational 60s Experience 2017 Seven legendary names take to the stage and deliver to you a night never to be forgotten. With the definite feel good factor this is the must see 60s show for 2017. West Cliff Theatre, Tower Road. Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1LE. 01255 433344 www.westcliffclacton.co.uk 17-Mar George Egg – Anarchist Cook If you like food and cooking then you’ll like this. A cocktail of stand-up comedy, striking innovation and extreme multi-tasking. Braintree Arts Theatre, Notley Road, Braintree, CM7 1WY 01376 556 354. www.braintreeartstheatre.com 18-Mar Menopause The Musical This hysterical show packed full of one-liners about night sweats, hot flushes and memory loss is backed by an instantly recognisable soundtrack of innuendo-laden versions of 60s, 70s and 80s pop classics. West Cliff Theatre, Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1LE 01255 433344. www.westcliffclacton.co.uk 21-Mar The Arsenal Legends Come and Join: *Paul Merson now on Sky Sports as a pundit along with *Perry Groves and *Ray Parlour as they discuss games, dressing room/training ground stories, managers, fall outs and everything you wanted to know about a successful football club! Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 7RA. 01702 351135. www.southendtheatres.org.uk 22-25 Mar Alice’s Adventures Lose yourself in a world of magic & mystery; the Mad Hatter, grins without cats, white rabbits, eat me drink me potions & cakes and shrinking Alice. Spot your favourite childhood characters as they tumble through wonderland and the looking glass. Civic Theatre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG. 01245 606505 www.chelmsford.gov.uk 24-Mar Jack The Ripper - The Real Truth For the past 128 years this mystery has captivated the imagination of people worldwide and still does today. Cramphorn, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG. 01245 606505 www.chelmsford.gov.uk 24, 30 & 31 Mar Mamma Mia & More Featuring original cast members of the West End hit Mamma Mia, these exceptional singers combine their talent and voices to bring you a night to remember from the sell-out show and record-breaking movie. Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 7RA. 01702 351135 www.southendtheatres.org.uk 24-25 Mar Spring Awakening Gary Owen speeds Wedekind’s

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provocative and notorious play into the present, where sex offers an incendiary narrative to young lives already at risk in a dangerous world they cannot control. Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, CO1 1PT. 01206 573948. www.mercurytheatre.co.uk 25-Mar Cirque Enchantment This concert style cirque production features stunning choreography, breathtaking vocals and mesmerising circus performers. Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 7RA. 01702 351135. www.southendtheatres.org.uk 26-Mar Barry Cyrer and Colin Sell Cryer and Sell combine to entertain you with songs, jokes and the amazing realization that they’re still here. Join them before they come apart! Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT. 01708 443333. www.queens-theatre.co.uk 29 Mar - 1 Apr SODS Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Dirty Rotten Scoundrels springs to life in a bustling casino on the French Riviera. Among the glitz and glamour of the Casino, Lawrence, a con artist and general smooth talking tyke, is working a crowd of wealthy women with the intention of tricking them out of money. Palace Theatre, 430 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LA. 01702 351135 www.southendtheatres.org.uk 31-Mar Whitney Queen of the Night A stunning celebration of the music and life of one of the greatest singers of our time. This award-winning production features a stellar line-up with rising West End star Rebecca Freckleton delivering a breathtaking performance as Whitney. Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 7RA. 01702 351135 www.southendtheatres.org.uk MUSIC 8-Mar Take That Experience As Take That celebrate an incredible 25 years as the UK’s number one boy band, the Take That Experience mark a decade together as the ultimate tribute act with their best show yet! Civic Theatre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG. 01245 606505. www.chelmsford.gov.uk 10-Mar Someone Like You - The Adele Songbook ‘Someone Like You’ is an immaculate celebration of one of our generation’s finest singer-songwriters. Princes Theatre, Station Road. Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1SE. 01255 686633. www.tendringdc.gov.uk › Leisure › Princes Theatre 12-Mar Michael Petrov (cello) with Alexander Ullman (piano) The second of our Palace Theatre chamber music concerts will feature the brilliant young Bulgarian cellist Michael Petrov. Palace Theatre, 430 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LA 01702 351135. www.southendtheatres.org.uk 12-Mar Seven Drunken Nights Telling the story of a career spanning 50 years and evoking the spirit of Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna, Jim McCann, Ciaran Bourke and John Sheahan, this hugely talented cast of musicians and singers bring the music of this iconic group to life. Civic Theatre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG 01245 606505. www.chelmsford.gov.uk

15-Mar Komedia Entertainment and Live Nation Presents Count Arthur Strong Using stories and other things that are secret, Count Arthur Strong, showbiz legend, pays tribute to one of the best musicals he can remember. Palace Theatre, 430 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LA. 01702 351135 www.southendtheatres.org.uk

31-Mar Classic Rock USA Classic Rock USA is a heart pumping, drum beating, pulsating Rock extravaganza featuring over 25 hits from Brian Adams, Jon Bon Jovi and the ‘Boss ‘himself Bruce Springsteen. West Cliff Theatre, Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1LE. 01255 433344. www.westcliffclacton.co.uk

16-Mar Let’s Hang On ‘Let’s Hang On’ returns to take you on a musical journey through the history of one of the most successful bands of all time - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons! The Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Harlow, CM20 1LS. 01279 431945 www.playhouseharlow.com

ARTS AND EXHIBITIONS 23 Feb - 2 Apr Captured Moments Paintings by Alan Burgess which evoke moments when a stretch of landscape or a single tree took on a special significance. This is an exhibition full of lively paintings in a variety of media. The Gallery, Parndon Mill, Harlow CM20 2HP. 01279 426042 www.parndonmill.co.uk

18-Mar The King of Pop - The Legend Continues Get ready to moonwalk the night away as Navi brilliantly recreates all the magical classics. Princes Theatre, Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1SE 01255 686633. www.tendringdc.gov.uk › Leisure › Princes Theatre 18-Mar Songs For The End Of The World Inspired by Philip K Dick’s post-apocalyptic novel Dr. Bloodmoney, Ziggy Stardust and 1950s rock’n’roll, this is a show like no other. The Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Harlow, CM20 1LS. 01279 431945 www.playhouseharlow.com 24-Mar Chas and Dave Over the past two years, Chas & Dave have had a new hit album That’s What Happens, headlined The Royal Variety Show, sold out The Royal Albert Hall London, performed an arena tour with Status Quo and performed at the Ve Day Concert which was televised on BBC TV. Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester. CO1 1PT. 01206 573948 www.mercurytheatre.co.uk 26-Mar Patsy Cline – The Concert She Never Gave An evening of song, laughter and legendary stories is promised when you come along to this enthralling tribute to the music, life and times of Patsy Cline. West Cliff Theatre, Tower Road, Clactonon-Sea, CO15 1LE. 01255 433344. www.westcliffclacton.co.uk 26-Mar The Daisy Bowlers The Daisy Bowlers choose beautiful songs from the 20s to 50s; they bring new life to them with humour and fabulous arrangements. Cramphorn Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG. 01245 606505. www.chelmsford.gov.uk 29 Mar - 1 Apr All or Nothing In 1964, a new phenomenon exploded onto the dingy British streets. It was the essence of all that was cool. It was Mod. Mods stuck two fingers up at the class-ridden society and its dull redundant culture. They were working-class free spirits who rode sexy streamlined Italian Vespas or Lambrettas.Civic Theatre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG. 01245 606505 www.chelmsford.gov.uk 30-Mar The ELO Experience This incredible show which accurately reproduces the songs and sounds and takes you on a magical musical journey through time. West Cliff Theatre, Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1LE. 01255 433344. www.westcliffclacton.co.uk

4 Mar - 1 Apr Modern British and Contemporary Original Prints Barbara Hepworth, Damien Hirst, William Scott, Bridget Riley, David Hockney, Grayson Perry, Mary Fedden, Alan Davie, Terry Frost, Victor Pasmore and many more. Hayletts Gallery, 2 High Street, Maldon, CM9 5PJ. 01621 851669 www.haylettsgallery.com 16 Mar - 28 Apr Paperwork Prints and drawings of Jane’s are held in the permanent collections of several museums nationally and internationally, Gibberd Gallery, The Water Gardens, Harlo, CM20 1WG. 01279 446404 www.gibberdgallery.co.uk SPECIAL EVENTS 1-31 Mar Essex Book Festival Essex Book Festival is one of the highlights of Essex’s cultural calendar. Each March it hosts 60+ events in over 30 venues across the County, including theatres, libraries, schools, universities, through to cafes and art galleries. Various Essex Venues, CO4 3SQ 01206 872739. essexbookfestival.org.uk 7-Mar Heritage Talks - The Care of Historic Buildings Heritage Winter Talks - The care and repair of historic buildings: the approach of the SPAB by Douglas Kent. Doors open 7pm. Free admission. The Quaker Hall, Butt Lane, Maldon, CM9 5HD. 01621 854477 11-12 Mar Oakleigh Spring Fair Returning to Cressing Temple Barns, the opening season event returns to Cressing Temple with a selection of food, home and craft stalls. Cressing Temple Barns, Witham Road, Cressing, CM77 8PD. www.oakleighfairs.co.uk 11-Mar Stargazing Join Essex Wildlife Trust and North Essex Astronomical Society to look at the night sky through large telescopes at Abberton Reservoir. NEAS members give talks throughout the evening. Abberton Reservoir Visitor Centre Church Road, Colchester, CO2 0EU 01206 738172. www.essexwt.org.uk ANTIQUES AND AUCTIONS 4-Mar Flea Market Come along and enjoy stalls including vintage and secondhand goods, antiques, collectables and crafts. 8.30am-3pm. Maldon Town Hall, Market Hill, Maldon, CM9 4RL. 01621 850940 5-Mar Antiques Fair Free Parking. Entry £1. Mountnessing Village Hall, Roman Road, Mountnessing

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One of the UK’s most popular seaside resorts which first became fashionable as a place to enjoy sun, sea and sand in the 1880s, it has retained many of its attractive Victorian and Edwardian houses and hotels from that period. The seafront is an impressive four miles long and the wide promenade stretches almost the whole length from the beach at Languard Point to Felixstowe Ferry. With all the attractions you’d expect from a seaside holiday resort including quaint old-fashioned beach huts, fish and chips shops, a family fun fair, amusements arcade and a public bowling green, there are plenty of great cafes and restaurants to enjoy, too. Image - Visit Felixstowe

Visit Café Bencotto for some delicious Mediterranean-style delights such as pasta and grills you can see being cooked from their open plan kitchen or - for afternoon tea with a fantastic view - visit The View Point Café at Landguard Peninsula where you can sit in or outside and watch the hustle and bustle of the cargo and commercial ships go by. It’s here you’ll find the Harwich Harbour Ferry, a foot and cycle ferry that’s been running since 1912 and still operates and hourly ferry to Harwich between April and October. Just along the promenade is the popular Spa Pavilion Theatre which has lovely views of the water and two cafes and restaurants. The original art deco theatre has a great programme of events on all year round from local theatre companies to big names in touring productions. Just north of the town are the six Martello towers that were originally built to prevent a Napoleonic invasion and stand along Felixstowe’s coast going up towards the picturesque town of Aldeburgh. Now five of these towers are privately owned and one has recently been converted into a distinctive family home.

While you’re visiting Felixstowe it’s worth stopping off at the fishing village of Old Felixstowe: situated at the mouth of the River Deben it has its own art gallery, golf course, cottages to rent for a short break, a working busy yard as well as pubs and restaurants along the river, you can stop for a drink and something to eat. Or why not take home some fresh fish from The Shed fish stall and cook up your own spring time paella? Perfect. WHAT’S ON – THE BIGGEST EVENTS TAKING PLACE THIS SUMMER: • 1 May: Rotary Club of Felixstowe Charity Fun Run • 7 May: 47th Ipswich to Felixstowe Vehicle Road Run • 21 May: Rotary Club of Felixstowe Landguard Kite, Craft, Kids and Car Festival • 24 and 25 June: Suffolk Armed Forces Weekend • 1 and 2 July: Felixstowe Book Festival • 22 and 23 July: Felixstowe Carnival • 12 August: Felixstowe Multi-Cultural Festival • 3 September: Art on the Prom For further details on all events visit www.visitfelixstowe.org.uk/what-s-on

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A small town set in the heart of rural Suffolk on the River Gipping, Stowmarket has an interesting history, architecture and cultural scene. Here are some great reasons to visit: ATTRACTIONS Even though it has grown in size and population, Stowmarket hasn’t lost its charm. It boasts a variety of listed buildings, typical of Suffolk’s towns and villages, notably St Peter & St Mary’s Church. Not to be missed is the Museum of East Anglian Life (www.eastanglianlife.org.uk) one of the UK’s leading open-air museums. Here you can discover the history and natural world of East Anglia on a beautiful 75 acre site, learn about fascinating East Anglian crafts and traditional Gypsy culture, get steamed up with powerful engines and meet friendly animals including rare breeds of cattle and sheep. Visitors can explore 15 splendidly restored historic buildings including the renowned Abbot’s Hall. Next month don’t miss out on the Easter Fun Day on 16 April. Feed the lambs, watch sheepdog demonstrations and take park in fun activities such as the Easter egg hunt and seedling workshop. What better way to see the Suffolk countryside than by hopping aboard a steam rail? The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Museum at Brockford, just outside

Stowmarket runs regular steam trains. The next train is set to depart at Easter from 16-17 April. www.mslr.org.uk PLACES TO EAT From independent restaurants and cafes to cosy country pubs, you’ll find plenty of place to enjoy a bite to eat. Just outside Stowmarket alongside the wheat fields of Forward Green is The Dog & Shepherd. The pub has been part of the community for many years and has always been somewhere special for both locals and passers-by. Winchester’s Wine Bar & Bistro situated on the High Street is perfect for lunch, light bites or a casual drink. The bistro offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere and plays host to evening events such as themed nights, quizzes, tastings and music sessions. SHOPPING With its mix of high street stores and independent retailers, Stowmarket is a great Suffolk shopping spot. You’ll find plenty of stores to browse, and when you can’t carry your shopping bags any further, put your feet up at one of the many wonderful tea rooms. If you’re a fan of markets, stop by the street market held in the Town Centre every Thursday and Saturday, or visit the Farmers’ Market held on the first Friday of every month.

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WHAT’S ON in Suffolk THEATRE, FILM AND SHOWS 3-Mar Cilla and the Shades of the 60s Featuring brand new arrangements of music from artists including the Beatles and Dusty Springfield. Marina Theatre, The Marina, Lowestoft, NR32 1HH. 01502 533200. www.marinatheatre.co.uk 4-Mar The Railway Children A new made-for-television film, again starring Jenny Agutter, this time playing the part of Mother, was released in 2000 and the story was introduced to legions of new fans. Marina Theatre, The Marina, Lowestoft, NR32 1HH. 01502 533200 www.marinatheatre.co.uk 4-Mar My Dog’s Got No Nose This one-man comedy play by Ron Aldridge, takes us on a journey through the events surrounding a stand-up comedian’s first ever public performance. Fisher Theatre, Broad Street, Bungay, NR35 1EE. 01986 897130 www.fishertheatre.org 6-10 Mar Bent This powerful play is emotional, heart-breaking, and an absolutely amazing testament to the endurance and courage of Holocaust detainees. Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org 7-11 Mar Lilies On The Land A revealing, funny, wonderfully moving and utterly captivating portrait of some of Britain’s pluckiest, unsung heroes. Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org 7-9 Mar Frankenstein A brand new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Gothic horror masterpiece fusing ensemble storytelling, live music, puppetry and stunning theatricality. Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org 11-Mar Sandman This solo piece of physical theatre fuses high-energy storytelling, expressive physicality and puppetry to immerse you in an emotionally intense and thrilling nightmare world. The Seagull, 19-75 Morton Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0JH 01502 589726. www.theseagull.co.uk 14-Mar Menopause The Musical This hysterical show packed full of one-liners about night sweats, hot flushes and memory loss is backed by an instantly recognisable soundtrack of innuendo-laden versions of 60s, 70s and 80s pop classics. Ipswich Regent Theatre, 3 Saint Helen’s Street, Ipswich, IP4 1HE 01473 433100. apps.ipswich.gov.uk/PEO 14-15 Mar The Machine Stops Set in a dystopian world where humans

have retreated far underground, one man questions his dependency on technology. Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org 14-15 Mar The Sound of Murder An unlovable man, he has no friends, is arrogant, controlling, sadistic and cruel. His wife, starved of love and denied children of her own, has met another man. In their cottage in Surrey, a tape recorder has been left on during a conversation between his wife and her lover in which the latter plans the author’s murder. Charles’ secretary listens to the tape and hears the murder plot. Marina Theatre, The Marina, Lowestoft NR32 1HH. 01502 533200 www.marinatheatre.co.uk 15-Mar ‘Allo, ‘Allo The play follows the adventures of René, the hapless café owner in war-torn occupied France, as he and his wife Edith struggle to keep for themselves a priceless portrait stolen by the Nazis and kept in a sausage in their cellar. Haverhill Arts Centre, High Street Haverhill, CB9 8AR. 01440 714140. www.haverhillartscentre.co.uk 16-Mar Rob Beckett - Mouth Of The South A brand-new show of funnies and he’s taking on the big issues like Kit Kats and flatbread! Marina Theatre, The Marina, Lowestoft, NR32 1HH. 01502 533200. www.marinatheatre.co.uk 17-Mar Mr Darcy Loses The Plot Award-winning comedy duo LipService, makers of Withering Looks and Inspector Norse celebrate Jane Austen’s life 200 years on. Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. 01284 769505. www.theatreroyal.org 20-24 Mar Dirty Dancing This worldwide smash hit tells the classic story of Baby and Johnny, two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds, who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Ipswich Regent Theatre, 3 Saint Helen’s Street, Ipswich, IP4 1HE. 01473 433100. apps.ipswich.gov.uk/PEO 21-25 Mar Oklahoma! This Rodgers and Hammerstein classic has won countless awards and dazzled critics on both sides of the Atlantic time and again. Theatre Royal, Westgate StreetBury St Edmunds IP33 1QR 01284 769505. www.theatreroyal.org 21-Mar FILM: The Artist’s Garden This documentary is the story of how American impressionism was tied to a desire to preserve nature in a rapidly urbanizing nation. Haverhill Arts Centre, High Street, Haverhill, CB9 8AR. 01440 714140. www.haverhillartscentre.co.uk

22-Mar Olivia A show set in Victorian times, tracing the steps of Olivia from downtrodden orphan to star of the stage. Haverhill Arts Centre, High Street, Haverhill, CB9 8AR. 01440 714140. www.haverhillartscentre.co.uk 22-23 Mar Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom Join Ben and Holly, and their friends on this exciting, enchanting and magical musical adventure packed full of games, songs and laughter. Marina Theatre, The Marina, Lowestoft, NR32 1HH. 01502 533200. www.marinatheatre.co.uk 29-31 Mar The Musketeers France is in turmoil. The King is in danger. And there are dastardly plots at work. Oh, and there’s a hot-headed swashbuckler looking to make a name for himself. It all adds up to chaotic evening of swords, capes and possibly some swinging from chandeliers! All in a day’s work for the hardy heroes at Fabba. The Seagull, 19-75 Morton Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0JH. 01502 589726 www.theseagull.co.uk MUSIC 4-Mar The Sensational 60s Experience Seven legendary names take to the stage and deliver to you a night never to be forgotten. With the definite feel good factor this is must see 60’s show for 2017. Ipswich Regent Theatre, 3 Saint Helen’s Street, Ipswich, IP4 1HE. 01473 433100 apps.ipswich.gov.uk/PEO 5-Mar An Evening With Ruthie Henshall and her Band Join Ruthie and her band, with special guests Kerry Ellis, Tim Howar and stars of Eric and Little Ern for an unforgettable evening. Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. 01284 769505. www.theatreroyal.org 10-Mar Albert Lee A double Grammy Award winner, Albert Lee is undoubtedly one of the finest guitarists the world has ever seen. The Apex, 1 Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD. 01284 758000. www.theapex.co.uk 10-Mar Forever Jackson ‘Forever Jackson’ captures the moment with superb musicianship, electrifying choreography and stunning video and special effects. Marina Theatre, The Marina, Lowestoft, NR32 1HH. 01502 533200. www.marinatheatre.co.uk 11-Mar Paul Carrack in Concert This much-loved blue-eyed soul singer and firm favourite with Radio 2 listeners continues to stride forward on a hot streak of creativity that shows no signs of slowing down. Ipswich Regent Theatre, 3 Saint Helen’s Street, Ipswich, IP4 1HE 01473 433100. apps.ipswich.gov.uk/PEO 11-Mar Think Floyd Think Floyd’s brand new production for

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2017 features music from all 15 Pink Floyd albums. Marina Theatre, The Marina, Lowestoft, NR32 1HH. 01502 533200. www.marinatheatre.co.uk 11-Mar Boogie Night ‘Boogie Night’ returns to the Apex with Ultimate Earth Wind & Fire’s Greatest Hits, The Stevie Wonder Songbook featuring Nat Augustin and Heatwave’s Donovan Blackwood. The Apex, 1 Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD. 01284 758000. www.theapex.co.uk 12-Mar Music Hall Extravaganza! A team of singers and dancers performing all your favourite old time songs. It’ll be ‘Comedy all the way’! Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. 01284 769505. www.theatreroyal.org 16-Mar The Haywood Sisters – It Takes Three Girls An evening of vintage retro chic heaven! Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org 17-Mar An Evening of Solo Acoustic Guitar with Jon Buck This month Jon entertains with a mix of classic tunes, contemporary standards and some original pieces. Fisher Theatre, Broad Street, Bungay, NR35 1EE. 01986 897130. www.fishertheatre.org 18-Mar The Rat Pack Show Sensational swing singers Paul & Stephen Amer will be joined by their live fivepiece band as they perform hit after hit of swing classics made famous by the Rat Pack’s residence at the famous Las Vegas Sands. Fisher Theatre, Broad Street, Bungay, NR35 1EE. 01986 897130 www.fishertheatre.org 18-Mar Gin City This five piece band driven by boogie woogie keyboard, harmonica and guitar. The band fronted by Carol Nicholls on vocals also has drums and bass guitar to produce a very full sound. The Seagull, 19-75 Morton Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0JH 01502 589726. www.theseagull.co.uk 22-Mar Laura Marling (solo) One of just a handful of solo dates, this tour follows the release of her sixth album, Semper Femina. The Apex, 1 Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD. 01284 758000. www.theapex.co.uk 24-Mar Bella Musica ‘Bella Musica’ is a concert-style show which combines the talent of a Canadian Musical Theatre Singer, a London’s Guildhall-Trained Soprano, a Stunning Swing Specialist and a Female Multi-Instrumentalist playing electric violin, soprano/alto saxophone, pan-pipes and flute. The Seagull, 19-75 Morton Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0JH. 01502 589726 www.theseagull.co.uk 25-Mar And Finally… Phil Collins ‘And Finally… This amazing eleven piece band which includes the ‘And Finally Horns’ faithfully re-create all the classic hits from the Phil Collins and Genesis timeless back catalogue. Marina Theatre, The Marina, Lowestoft, NR32 1HH. 01502 533200. www.marinatheatre.co.uk 25-Mar Simply Swing This two hour show will not only take you

back in time musically but visually too with the help of our large screen that proves swing is still going strong. Haverhill Arts Centre, High Street, Haverhill, CB9 8AR. 01440 714140 www.haverhillartscentre.co.uk 30-Mar Madama Butterfly Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is one of the most popular of all operas, with ravishing music and a heartbreaking story of a loving geisha deserted by a callous American husband. Fisher Theatre, Broad Street, Bungay, NR35 1EE. 01986 897130. www.fishertheatre.org 30-Mar The Three Degrees The Three Degrees are an American female vocal group, formed in 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The group has remained a trio with 2 original members since Sheila Ferguson left many moons ago. The Apex, 1 Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD. 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk 31-Mar Sincerely Yours – The Vera Lynn Story ‘Sincerely Yours – The Vera Lynn Story’ will take you on a journey through the early career of Vera Lynn, the most famous lady of WW2, the forces sweetheart who captured the hearts of a nation. Marina Theatre, The Marina, Lowestoft, NR32 1HH. 01502 533200 www.marinatheatre.co.uk 31-Mar JD King’s Elvis The sensational hit new tribute touring show is wowing audiences around the world with a stunning recreation of Elvis Presley at his very best. Haverhill Arts Centre, High Street, Haverhill, CB9 8AR 01440 714140. www.haverhillartscentre.co.uk ARTS & EXHIBITIONS 1-5 Mar Bruce Lee Exhibition Kudos Memorabilia present an exhibition of timeless iconic photographs, fine art prints and ephemera celebrating the remarkable life and career of martial arts legend, Bruce Lee. The Apex, 1 Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD 01284 758000. www.theapex.co.uk 3-Mar The Fall of Yarmouth Suspension Bridge: A Local and National Disaster - by Gareth Davies This talk will explore such fundamental issues as: what happened, why did it happen, and could it have been prevented, as well as the legacy of the disaster up to the present day. Fisher Theatre, Broad Street, Bungay, NR35 1EE. 01986 897130 www.fishertheatre.org 9-15 Mar Aldeburgh Studio Trail This year, as a preview to the trail, many of the artists will be showing their work, which include painting, printing, jewellery, ceramics & sculpture. The Aldeburgh Gallery, 143 High Street, Aldeburgh, IP15 5AN. www.aldeburghstudiotrail.co.uk 16-22 Mar Inkpots ‘Inkpots’ are a diverse and flourishing group of contemporary printmaker. March 2017 sees them at The Aldeburgh Gallery, where a selection of woodcut, lino, collagraph and silk screen prints will be for sale from £35. Aldeburgh Arts Gallery, 143 High Street, Aldeburgh, IP15 5AN. 07515 684088.

www.josephvalentine.co.uk 21-22 Mar Affinity and Kindred ‘Affinity and Kindred’ is a collection of colour photographs made in Norfolk and the Outer Hebrides between 2012 and 2015 by Richard Denyer. The Cut, New Cut, Halesworth, IP19 8BY. 0300 3033 211 newcut.org 23-Mar Claudette Davies presents: Textiles from my Travels Handicrafts fascinated Claudette from an early age and magpie-like she collected textiles in a somewhat undisciplined way, but never more so than the four years working in Pakistan. Fisher Theatre, Broad Street, Bungay, NR35 1EE. 01986 897130. www.fishertheatre.org 24 Mar - 29 May Masters of Invention A new collection of paintings and sculpture by some of the most influential graffiti artists of the past 40 years combined with unseen sketches and photographs, to build a powerful picture of 40,000 years of creative – and often audacious - handmade lettering. Snape Maltings, Near Aldeburgh, IP17 1SR 01728 688 303. www.snapemaltings.co.uk 31 Mar - 30 Apr Spring Art Exhibition The Cathedral Art Club are pleased to present their Spring Art Exhibition at Moyse’s Hall Museum, Bury St Edmunds A colourful and vibrant collection of work in oils, watercolours and mixed media. Moyse’s Hall Museum, Cornhill, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1DX SPECIAL EVENTS 5-Mar The Savvy Wedding Show A wedding show which will show off this venue and some of Suffolks finest wedding suppliers. Free entry. 11am-4pm. Gippeswyk Hall, Gippeswyk Avenue, Ipswich, IP2 9AF. 07453 571541 11-Mar Our Story: Jorvik Viking Excavations An illustrated talk about the amazing finds from Viking York or Jorvik (866-1066 AD) at Coppergate, including original object and replica handling. West Stow English Village, Icklingham Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP28 6HG 28-Mar Tea Dance A community event with live music, dancing and a delicious Afternoon Tea. All welcome – whether to tear up the dance floor or to simply sit back and enjoy the festivities! Suitable for all ages and abilities. From £12 to £15. Snape Maltings, Near Aldeburgh, IP17 1SR. 01728 688 303. www.snapemaltings.co.uk ANTIQUES AND AUCTIONS 4-Mar Halesworth Brocante Antique & Vintage Market Held on the first Saturday of each month and will have 30 plus brocanteurs selling a wide range of goods. 1950/60s homeware and vintage wall art and small pieces of antique furniture. Admission is free, open 9.30-3.30pm. The Old Print Works, Halesworth, IP19 8AP. 19-Mar Newmarket Racecourse Antique and 20th Century Fair Over 220 inside stands plus outside stands of Antiques, Art Deco and Collectables. Antique valuation roadshow. Free valuations and appraisals. Entry £4 - 9.30am-4pm. Newmarket Racecourse (Rowley Mile), Newmarket, CB8 0TF.

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W&M SMITH

March is the month when it all seems to happen and colour, type of flower, finish, stems, bushes or posies, W & M Smith try to provide something for each garlands and not forgetting from the cheapest to the March thisevent year is veryyour busy month the Irish out there celebrate their big Everybody’s at home however much you for. talk to calendar asawell own personal celebration. most expensive. budget is catered withif several to remember. on March them, a range of silk pot plants are in So you aredates planning a party or a socialday gathering and17th with St Patrick’s Day. then For this we stock a rangeforward of stock, including orchids, geraniums, would like something to decorate your venue The Looking to April and thinking of Easter with March 1st is St David’s Day and at decorations, balloons, banners, pansies, lavenders, cyclamen well Pightle Barn is where you are advised to visit. rabbits, chicks and eggs, the ‘Easter’ room is well as stocked W & M Smith we have silk daffodils napkins, cake decs etc. as herbsOld andfashioned ivy. up with all sorts of goodies. chenille fluffy in abundance, single stems, bunches From table covers and serviettes to balloons and table yellow chicks, wooden rabbits on sticks and hangers. and potted.The Plenty to choose But the Pightle Barn is bursting at the sprinkles. colour range infrom. all of theseBefore areasMarch is the ends, the clocks spring With the weather being so mild forward an hour and Easter comes seams with loads of other goodies largest around and if by chance you require a different Eggs, real blown ones to brightly coloured plastic onesas the daffs may along. range of Spring on made well. Baskets, terracotta flower pots, hue then in Wyour & M garden Smith will gowell that extra mile toThe try and as wellitems as some of polystyrene or cardboard for be overitbut flowers have offerto atconsider. W & M Smith is as to always one Artificial galvanised containers, candles, source forartificial you or offer alternatives for you you decorate. flowers to mark the season improved so much in recent years,gas cylinders not to be missed. Chickens either fluffy, daffodils, ribbons,tulips, glasssnowdrops, vases, napkins, Not only can you hire the helium to inflate are also on show, crocus, you can hardly tell the difference clockwork, ceramic, resin, fabric or cellophane bags rolls, sugar balloons yourself but they also offer to do this for you magnolia, grape hyacinths, forsythia, and blossom, pussy between fake We have them alletc available. craft items, tissue, balloons, banners, and deliver toand yourreal. venue at a little extrafeathered. cost on top. willow etc. Bunny rabbits are not forgotten neither cardboard and wooden letters, A few days later on the 6th March are little ducklings or lambs. decoupage paperswith and boards, glues………. Mother’s Day is the main event in March and for this The ‘Cake board Room’ is over flowing is Mothering Sunday. No Mum there is a wide range of containers to use for floral arboxes, baking cases, icing and pastes and much more, deserves to be and The Wicker, Flower wise we offer so a range A real cave is what so many rangements in forgotten a variety of finishes. ceramic, if youwhich fancy is having a goaladdin’s at making your own Easter Pightlegalvanized, Barn is where youthe will list findgoes on. said be the largesteggs, in theW area. of ourmoulds customers refer to theand barnedas. glass, wood, Newtostock has & MFor Smith have in several sizes that something a bit different thenot spring season can find not to finish So come and see for yourself beenlittle added in recent weeks so if you have been for you ible decorations themalong off with. from theyou norm giveplenty as a gift. only daffodils but tulips, anemones, what is tucked away in this quiet a while willto have fresh items to look at. Or if a gift voucher is the easy snowdrops, forsythia,Come blossoms, of Middlewood Green. along and paycorner us a visit, we look forward option these are available tooimproved for any over crocus, hyacinth, muscari, pussy wilSilk flower quality has much the years to seeing you soon. amount wish spend. ButBarn still is vastlow, catkins, iris and the list goes on. Look forward to seeing you soon and the you choice atto The Pightle including more is happening this month when If you struggle to keep plants alive

Richard Allington Kitchens FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTES & SURVEYS

We now offer a supply only made to measure service at superstore prices Tel: 01953 459817 Mob: 07754 630453 14 Connaught Road, Attleborough

NORFOLK

SECRET NORFOLK Life in a Fine County

The month of March brings to mind Spring, Mother’s Day and means that Easter (and a nice long weekend) is now only just around the corner. In my mind, this can only really mean one thing…chocolate! Renowned for their chocolately goodness, this is my list of Top 5 Norfolk Chocolatiers. A perfect read for the chocoholic in your life! 1. BOOJA BOOJA Diary, gluten and soya free, Booja Booja chocolates are made using simple organic ingredients. Whilst based in Norfolk, their range of chocolate truffles and dairy-free ice-cream, are sold in independent health food stores, farm shops and delis nationwide, along with Waitrose, Holland and Barrett and Ocado. In the words of Mister Booja Booja himself: “Everyone needs a little booja-booja now and then…” www.boojabooja.com

2. DIGBYS FINE CHOCOLATES Digby’s has shops in the Royal Arcade in Norwich, Cromer and Alysham. Offering a fabulous range of tantalising delights from the very upmarket Belgian and English chocolates to the superb liquorice treats from Finland and Holland plus everything delicious in between. www.digbyschocolates.com

3. GNAW CHOCOLATE Handcrafted chocolate from Norwich, Gnawfolk, is

Written by Nicole Ranaweera

mixed up with natural flavours, chewy chunks, sugary caramels, sweetshop treats, and exotic spices. Apparently there was a big hole in many-a-Norfolk-chocoholic’s tummy waiting to be filled by these deliciously different Gnaw flavours. Gnaw chocolates are available all around the UK and in 20 faraway countries! www.gnawchocolate.co.uk

4. THE CHOCOLATE DELI Dale is a self-taught chocolatier who not only creates stunning chocolate, both to look at and to eat, but also runs chocolate workshops in The Chocolate Deli’s new shop in Wells. Learn the basics and enjoy making your own or pop in to sample some of their amazing creations. www.thechocolatedeli.co.uk

5. SAFFIRE CHOCOLATES Saffire Chocolates in Taverham are true artisan chocolatiers, creating everything by hand and using their own recipes and the finest ingredients. Running workshops and hen parties, this chocolatier caters for every true chocoholic! saﬃre-chocolates.co.uk

Don’t forget to join our Facebook group to keep up to date with 100s of events across Norfolk this Spring! What’s On in Norfolk with Eastlife: www.facebook.com/groups/805222059608791

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Two fabulous restaurants and real ale pubs

Le Strange Brasserie and Oak Bar

Garden Brasserie and Bar

The Brasserie and bar are open daily for meals and Sunday lunch. The Oak Bar also serves afternoon teas which can be taken on the terrace in fine weather or in the comfort of our lounge.

Enjoy wonderful views of the walled garden whilst dining from our extensive brasserie menu, chef â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daily specials or traditional Sunday lunch menu. Afternoon tea is also served and can be enjoyed in the lounge, bar or on the patio in fine weather.

Ancient Mariner Inn

The Farmers Arms Inn

A traditional pub, with beer gardens offering unrivalled views of the beach and sea.

A charming country-style pub with a warm welcome and excellent food and drink.

Le Strange Arms Hotel

Knights Hill Hotel & Spa

Golf Course Road, Old Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 6JJ Telephone: 01485 534411 Email: reception@lestrangearms.co.uk

South Wootton, Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 3HQ Telephone: 01553 675566 Email: reception@knightshill.co.uk

Find out more online at www.abacushotels.co.uk

WHAT’S ON IN KING’S LYNN King’s Lynn is a vibrant market town. Its mix of history and modern flare, makes it a popular place to visit. Tours, shopping and entertainment are all on the agenda. If you’re planning a trip this spring, check out these fun-filled events: FIT4WORK GAMES, 8 MARCH Organised jointly by Alive Leisure and Active Norfolk, the games offer an opportunity for colleagues to get together and show off their team work and sporting skills against teams from other local businesses. Kicking off at 6pm and finishing at 9pm, the West Norfolk Fit4Work Games promises to be an action packed event, providing teams a great chance for a bit of team bonding with colleagues as well as an opportunity to network with local businesses. www.activenorfolk.org/west KING’S LYNN FICTION FESTIVAL, 10-12 MARCH Held at the Town Hall this annual event presents some great contemporary writers. You’ll be able to meet the authors, hear them read and purchase books. Buy tickets at www.lynnlitfests.com HERMAN DE VRIES AT GROUNDWORK GALLERY, 11 MARCH – 30 JUNE A must for all art-lovers! The first exhibition in the UK of the work of herman de vries occupies the spring season at GroundWork gallery, King’s Lynn. herman

herman de vries exhibition

Peter Pan on Ice

de vries, now aged 85, is a grand figure in the world of art and environment, renowned for his sensitive attention to nature. This exhibition is all about stones and earth, presenting the artist’s assemblages of the world’s natural resources. PETER PAN ON ICE AT KING’S LYNN CORN EXCHANGE, 15-19 MARCH For five days, the world-renowned Russian Ice Stars brings a new adaptation of this famous fantasy adventure Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie to the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange. Packed with all your favourite characters the story is perfectly recreated in this spectacular adaptation on ice. www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk GRAND EAST ANGLIA RUN, 30 APRIL The Grand East Anglia Run (Gear) 10K is set for a change of pace in 2017, as new organisers Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All take over its staging. The 2017 run route will follow the same as the popular 2016 course, which takes in the town centre, the River Ouse pathway, The Walks and a number of iconic, historical buildings such as the Red Mount, the Custom House and Greyfriars Tower. Once again there will aslo be the Bespak Mini Gear - a 1.2-mile but new for 2017 is launch of the Bespak Gear 10K Corporate Challenge. Further details at www.runforall.com/10k/gear or www.grandeastangliarun.co.uk

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Welcome to the home of Bressingham Steam & Gardens, generations of fun for everyone since 1961. Take a trip on one of the four railways at Bressingham, the collection of working locomotives will take you round our magnificent gardens and woodland, or ride on the steam Gallopers. A trip to the locomotive sheds brings the power and the glory of mighty steam engineering up close. The National Dad's Army collection lets you wander through Walmington-on-Sea looking at original props and vehicles from the series, you'd be a stupid boy to miss it! Whether your passion is Gardens, Steam, Exhibits, Rides or even a mixture of them all, we are confident that Bressingham has something for all.

PEPPA PIG VISITS Sun 16 April 2016 to Mon 17 April 2016 Peppa Pig will be making personal appearances at intervals on each day, included in the standard unlimited train rides price. We will have a Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Entertainer onsite and Zoo-Tastic with their small petting zoo.

DAD'S ARMY Bressingham has been the official home to the Dads Army Appreciation Society's collection since 2000. The exhibition comprises a recreation of Walmington-on-Sea the fictional home to Captain Mainwaring and his men.

STEAM

ADVERTORIAL

Bressingham Steam & Gardens

What better way to explore the beautiful gardens and woodlands of Bressingham than by climbing aboard a magnificent steam engine! With more than four miles of narrow-gauge steam lines and four journeys to choose from, it's the perfect way to relax and enjoy the scenery! The 2 1/2 mile (4km) long track of the Nursery Railway (2ft gauge) leaves from the museum building and passes the locomotive sheds and the lake before crossing over the Waveney Valley Line, where passengers get their first sight of the 15-inch (0.38m) gauge engines waiting to begin their journey from Lakeside station. Turning eastwards, flanked by woods and dykes, the line travels through an area of birch and oak trees, before once again crossing over the 15-inch-gauge line. When both railways are operating, passengers will often see the larger-gauge locomotive giving way to the Nursery Line. There are views of Roydon Church and the wilder expanse of Wortham Ling to the south. On the return leg, visitors get an excellent view of the old Nurseries returning back to Nature. The locomotives running on this line include George Sholto and Gwynedd. The Garden Railway operates from the Dell Garden and the coach park. Its track, which runs alongside the perimeter of the Gardens, has been lengthened to 1,350 yards (1,234m) and now has a gauge of 10 1/4 inches (0.26m). Designed and built by Bressingham's own engineering team, the line's new locomotive was named Alan Bloom and pulls up to sixty people in three carriages. With modifications to suit the Garden Railway, the locomotive was modelled on the Hunslet Engine Company's Quarry design. Trains on the Waveney Valley Railway (15" gauge) leave the Lakeside station travelling east, stopping to allow trains on the Nursery Line to pass before turning south over the Bressingham Drain and running out over low-lying water meadows. Turning west along the infant River Waveney and the Norfolk-Suffolk county boundary, the line runs through banks of mature rhododendrons to turn north and recrosses Bressingham Drain. Here the Waveney Valley Line runs alongside the standard-gauge track. The locomotive running on this line currently is St Christopher.

WE MEND YOU MOW Now taking bookings for servicing

Cobra mowers - petrol mowers from £169.00 inc VAT also electric for smaller gardens from £89.99 inc VAT

R&B

Turf & Groundcare Machinary Repair Specialists The Workshop Marsh Farm Wolferton King’s Lynn PE31 6HB

Tel:01485 540 645 email:randbgroundcare@googlemail.com

Experience wind power from the top of a modern windmill Make the 300 step journey up a modern windmill, take a look at world record breaking Children's electric transport, and activities enjoy some amazing available plant-based food 13 – 17 Feb at the café. Plus a daily film

BURNHAM

MARKET PINE STATION GARAGE, CREAKE ROAD Tel: 01328 738 009 Mobile: 07917 202529

www.burnham-market-pine.co.uk

For opening times and to book your turbine tour call us on 01760 726 100.

FULL STANDARD RANGE OR MADE TO YOUR SPECIFICATIONS IN NEW OR RECLAIMED TIMBER, WAXED OR PAINTED, ANY COLOUR OPEN TUE - SAT 10.00 - 5.30 SUN/BANK HOLIDAYS 11.30 - 5.30

www.greenbritaincentre.co.uk

BEST QUALITY AND PRICES IN THE AREA

WHAT’S ON in Norfolk THEATRE, FILM AND SHOWS 25 Feb - 25 Mar MAMMA MIA! This irresistibly funny show has been thrilling audiences all around the world and now the party comes to Norwich for the first time, so there’s never been a better time to see this unforgettable musical at the Theatre Royal. Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre Street, Norwich, NR2 1RL. 01603 630000 www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk 4-Mar Menopause the Musical This hysterical show packed full of one-liners about night sweats, hot flushes and memory loss is backed by an instantly recognisable soundtrack of innuendo-laden versions of 60s, 70s and 80s pop classics. King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 1JW. 01553 764864. www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk 5-7 Mar David O’Doherty: Big Time David O’Doherty – the Aldi Bublé, the Ryanair Enya – is delighted to present a brand new show of talking and songs played on a crappy keyboard from 1986. Norwich Playhouse, 42 - 58 St. George’s Street, Norwich, NR3 1AB. 01603 598598 www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk 7-8 Mar The Witch on the Broom Tall Stories’ magical musical stage adaptation of ‘Room on the Broom’ by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler flies into town! King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 1JW. 01553 764864. www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk 8-9 Mar Romeo and Juliet The show drives through action-packed thrills and tender intimacy to crushing loss. Norwich Playhouse, 42 - 58 St. George’s Street, Norwich, NR3 1AB. 01603 598598. www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk 10-11 Mar Ruby Wax: Frazzled Ruby Wax is a much loved US born comedian, actor and writer, along with being the ‘it girl’ of mental health campaigning. Norwich Playhouse, 42 - 58 St. George’s Street, Norwich, NR3 1AB. 01603 598598. www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk 11-Mar Great Expectations – The Musical This show is full of romance, revenge, adventure and music and dance that is guaranteed to leave audiences happy and leaving the theatre with the catchy songs ringing in their ears. Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton, PE36 5AH. 01485 532252. www.princesshunstanton.co.uk 15-Mar John Shuttleworth: My last Will and Tasty Mint A recent health scare (well, a mild bout of sciatica) has made John focus on his mortality, and the many things he needs to do before the inevitable move into a hospice. Can sole agent, Ken Worthing-

ton pull out the stops and make John a star before his retirement? Norwich Playhouse, 42 - 58 St. George’s Street, Norwich, NR3 1AB. 01603 598598 www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk 15-Mar Tony Stockwell Psychic Medium During his 20 years working as a medium, he has constantly sought to improve and push the boundaries of his communication with those who have passed to the other side. Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton, PE36 5AH. 01485 532252. www.princesshunstanton.co.uk 15-19 Mar Peter Pan on Ice Packed with all your favourite characters including Tiger Lilly, Mr Smee and the vengeful Captain Hook whose appetite for revenge is perfectly recreated in this spectacular adaptation on ice. King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 1JW 01553 764864. www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk 16-Mar Camille-Osullivan: The Carny Dream Dark, sexy, fierce, amusing and mesmerizing, Camille transforms each song she performs into an intense, emotional and theatrical experience, inextricably drawing her audience into a world illuminated by the dark and the light. Norwich Playhouse, 42 - 58 St. George’s Street, Norwich, NR3 1AB. 01603 598598. www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk 16-18 Mar The Sheringham Players: A Trio of Plays in One Act For the fourth year running, the theatre presents its popular mix of drama, comedy, and intrigue. Sheringham Little Theatre, 2 Station Road, Sheringham, NR26 8RE. 01263 822347. www.sheringhamlittletheatre.com

Playhouse, 42 - 58 St. George’s Street, Norwich, NR3 1AB. 01603 598598 www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk 24-Mar Paul Eastwood Live A great value fun filled night out, get your self down the pier and enjoy the best in British stand up. Cromer Pavilion Theatre, Cromer, NR27 9HE. 01263 512495 www.cromerpier.com 24-25 Mar Waiting for Godot A tragi-comedy in two acts. Why are we here, that is the question. And we are blessed in this, that we happen to know the answer. Yes, in this immense confusion one thing alone is clear. We are waiting for Godot to come. Westacre Theatre, River Road, Westacre, PE32 1UD 01760 755800. www.westacretheatre.com 27 Mar - 4 Apr Abigail’s Party Hilarious and horribly compelling, Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party is an undisputed classic. Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre Street, Norwich, NR2 1RL. 01603 630000 www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk 28-Mar The Magnificent Bearded Lady Dame Nature is a bearded lady who has been looking after her facial furniture for as long as she can remember. Sheringham Little Theatre, 2 Station Road, Sheringham, NR26 8RE. 01263 822347 www.sheringhamlittletheatre.com 28-Mar Private Peaceful ‘Private Peaceful’ relives the life of Private Tommo Peaceful, a young First World War soldier awaiting the firing squad at dawn. Maddermarket Theatre, St Johns Alley, Norwich, NR2 1DR. 01603 620917 www.maddermarket.co.uk

18-22 Mar David Walliams’ the First Hippo on the Moon A fantastical adventure featuring puppetry, music, mayhem and a giant space race to the moon! Norwich Playhouse, 42 - 58 St. George’s Street, Norwich, NR3 1AB. 01603 598598 www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk

29-Mar The Man Who Was Hamlet With a brilliant script and a five-star performance, award-winning actor George Dillon reveals the comical, tragical and utterly scandalous history of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, who many believe was the true ‘William Shake-speare’. Maddermarket Theatre, St Johns Alley, Norwich, NR2 1DR. 01603 620917 www.maddermarket.co.uk

21-Mar Jonny & the Baptists: Eat the Poor Setting out to explore the gap between rich and poor, Jonny & the Baptists’ lives turn upside down when Jonny betrays Paddy for financial gain. As Jonny enjoys the highlife with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jerry Hall, Paddy falls into homelessness and despair. Norwich Playhouse, 42 - 58 St. George’s Street, Norwich, NR3 1AB. 01603 598598. www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk

30-Mar The Little Bit Boys Admire - The Marie Lloyd Story It is 1922 and Marie Lloyd is in concert. She is joined by cross-dressing, male-impersonator, Vesta Tilley. Hear about their amazing lives, the Music Hall Strike and even murderer Dr Crippen. Marie and Vesta will sing many of their most famous songs, so do join in! Maddermarket Theatre, St Johns Alley, Norwich, NR2 1DR 01603 620917. www.maddermarket.co.uk

23-Mar Give Me Your Love Theatre legends Jon Haynes and David Woods of Ridiculusmus are back with a funny, fragile and profound fable based on groundbreaking medical research and real-life war testimonies. Norwich

30 Mar - 1 Apr Burying Your Brother in the Pavement Tom and Luke were never close and now Luke is dead Tom isn’t sure how he feels. As he runs from the funeral to the council estate where his brother was killed, his

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W EDDI NG

FAY R E

Start your love story on Sunday 2 April 2017. King’s Lynn Town Hall’s Wedding Fayre is a great place to look for inspiration for your wedding! Come along for FREE between 10.30am - 3pm, to browse a range of suppliers and wedding specialists, from photographers to flowers, and everything in between, that will help make your special day sparkle! All brides will receive a free goody bag and complimentary drink from our bar. To pre-register your free bridal place, visit www.kingslynntownhall.com/weddingfayre King’s Lynn Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn PE30 5DQ Tel: 01553 777775 townhall@west-norfolk.gov.uk www.kingslynntownhall.co.uk

A stunning new exhibition Dispelling the myths, revealing the truth Open everyday to 29 Oct 2017 10am – 5pm Dereham, Norfolk, NR20 4DR Tel 01362 860563 www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/ Gressenhall

Voices from the Workhouse has been generously supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and DCMS/Wolfson Museums & Galleries Improvement Fund and other supporters

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journey of discovery begins. Meeting grotesque and flamboyant characters along the way, this compelling, funny and honest play is about grief, love and learning to understanding people a little more closely. Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre Street, Norwich, NR2 1RL 01603 630000. www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk 31-Mar Bourgeois & Maurice Riotous original songs meet hyper surreal, high fashion, in this provocative, thought-provoking and hysterical catwalk through the quagmire of current affairs. Don’t miss B&M at their furious, fabulous best. Norwich Playhouse, 42 - 58 St. George’s Street, Norwich, NR3 1AB 01603 598598. www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk MUSIC 4-Mar Blake British harmony trio Blake present a brand new tour featuring the finest songs from stage and screen, with projections & lighting that bring the cinematic magic to life. Cromer Pavilion Theatre, Cromer NR27 9HE. 01263 512495 www.cromerpier.com 10-Mar Arrival - The Hits of ABBA This high energy show features the vast catalogue of hits loved by many generations including Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen, Waterloo, Super Trouper, Voulez Vous and more. King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 1JW . 01553 764864. www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk 10-11 Mar Opera Anywhere: The Mikado This exciting company has proved to be a foundation to launch the careers of numerous established singers, many of whom now perform for International Opera Houses. Sheringham Little Theatre, 2 Station Road, Sheringham, NR26 8RE 01263 822347. www.sheringhamlittletheatre.com 14-Mar The Jazz Worriers Dean Masser and Neil Yates have decided to stop worrying about the state of the world in general and play some uplifting jazz to raise their spirits, and they’re ready to share the good vibes with you! Maddermarket Theatre, St Johns Alley, Norwich, NR2 1DR. 01603 620917 www.maddermarket.co.uk 17-Mar Mammal Hands Mammal Hands are a trio of like-minded musicians: Nick Smart piano, Jesse Barrett drums and tabla, and Jordan Smart saxophones. Norwich Arts Centre, St. Benedict’s Street, Norwich, NR2 4PG 01603 660352. norwichartscentre.co.uk 18-Mar Bootleg Swing Downtown Chicago speakeasy meets Parisian Moulin Rouge. Sizzling Swing from live seven piece house band. Norwich Arts Centre, St. Benedict’s Street, Norwich, NR2 4PG. 01603 660352 norwichartscentre.co.uk 18-Mar The Billy Joel Songbook Following on from his highly-acclaimed reunion concerts in the USA with Billy Joel’s original touring band, Elio Pace delivers this sensational tour celebrating the phenomenal music of Billy Joel. Cromer Pavilion Theatre, Cromer, NR27 9HE. 01263 512495. www.cromerpier.com

18-Mar The Temperance Seven How many questions have been asked and left unanswered? How many conflicting stories told? Yet the legend remains untouched regarding this remarkable troupe of unforgettable alchominstrels. Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton, PE36 5AH. 01485 532252. www.princesshunstanton.co.uk 19-Mar Diggin’ the Blues by Roots Special guests Fran McGillivray and Mike Burke “The blues are the roots, everything else is the fruits” – Willie Dixon’s famous quote captures perfectly and poetically the immense influence the Blues has had. Sheringham Little Theatre, 2 Station Road, Sheringham, NR26 8RE 01263 822347. www.sheringhamlittletheatre.com

foundations and radical thought. Norwich Cathedral, 65 The Close, Norwich, NR1 4DH. 01603 218300. www.cathedral.org.uk SPECIAL EVENTS 4-Mar Mind, Body and Spirit Fair 2017 A celebration of all things spiritual therapies, crystals, gifts, readings, free healing and sample treatments, books, candles, magic and more. 10am - 5pm. The Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich. NR2 1TF. www.theforumnorwich.co.uk 5-Mar The Stunning Spring Wedding Fair in Norwich From venues to outfits, transport to decoration. Over 50 exhibitors. 10am-4pm. Free entry. The Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich, NR2 1TF. www.theforumnorwich.co.uk

23-Mar You Win Again This spectacular production tells the incredible story of The Brothers Gibb in an all new musical experience through the eyes of their manager. Cromer Pavilion Theatre, Cromer, NR27 9HE. 01263 512495 www.cromerpier.com

17-Mar St Winnold’s Day Parade at Downham Market Parade leaves Downham Market Town Council Offices at 9am with the procession making its way to Downham Market Town Hall. Town Centre, Downham Market, PE38 9. 01366 387770

25-Mar Showaddywaddy ‘The Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the World’ is a bold statement but Showaddywaddy has lived up to that title as they recently celebrated their 40th anniversary. Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton, PE36 5AH. 01485 532252 www.princesshunstanton.co.uk

24-26 Mar Deepdale Spring Market Dalegate Market will host 30+ Norfolk artisans and producers in a large marquee (Dalegate Tent), the beach hut pop up shops and many outside stalls. Dalegate Market, Main Road, Burnham Deepdale, PE31 8FB. 01485 210305. www.dalegate market.co.uk/spring-market

26-Mar Opera Boys The UK’s finest classically trained young voices combine in a powerhouse of vocal harmony to deliver a stunning blend of music ranging from Opera to Pop, and everything in between. Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton, PE36 5AH. 01485 532252. www.princesshunstanton.co.uk

31 Mar - 1 Apr Modern Country Crafts Fairs Browse the variety of different markets available for a fantastic selection of handmade jewellery, clothes, beauty, health products and more. The Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich, NR2 1TF moderncountrycrafts.com

31-Mar Francois & The Atlas Mountains An open collective, Fránçois and The Atlas Mountains has become over the years, a four-piece band. Norwich Arts Centre, St. Benedict’s Street, Norwich, NR2 4PG. 01603 660352. norwichartscentre.co.uk ARTS & EXHIBITIONS 1-29 Mar Drop in and Draw Come and release your artistic side - all the materials you need are provided. All welcome, regardless of ability. Every Wednesday, 2.15pm – 4.15pm. The Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich, NR2 1TF www.theforumnorwich.co.uk 5-Mar Henry Moore’s Shelter Drawings Explore the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection in a variety of new ways in the company of friendly and knowledgeable Sainsbury Centre Guides. Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, UEA, Norwich, NR4 7TJ. scva.ac.uk 4 Mar - 25 Jun Small Stories: At Home in a Dolls’ House Take a peek behind closed doors and discover the Small Stories of the tiny inhabitants of twelve of the V&A Museum of Childhood’s most treasured dolls’ houses. Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, Castle Hill, Norwich, NR1 3JU. 01603 493625. www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk 23-Mar ‘Georgian Norwich’ Talk In the 18th century Norwich enjoyed a period of wealth, which is reflected in the architecture of the city, its social

ANTIQUES AND AUCTIONS 5 & 19 Mar American & Classic Car Display at Anchor Plaza Join the East Coast Pirates Car Club throughout the year to enjoy some of the finest classic vehicles ever to be produced by Uncle Sam. Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, NR30 2EN. 01493 440539. www.eastcoastpirates.co.uk 12 & 26 Mar Blakeney Antique & Collectors Fair Maximum 24 tables. Well attended throughout the year. Free parking. Open 10am-4pm. Admission £1. Blakeney Village Hall, Blakeney, NR25 7NQ 21-Mar Antiques & Collectors Fair Community Hall Dealers in glass, porcelain, ceramics, books, coins, medals,jewellery, retro accessories, shabby chic and small furniture and much more. Free Admission. Community Hall, Garden Street, Cromer, NR27 9HH. 07501 782821 25-Mar Antiques and Vintage Fair Browse the collections and see if you can find the one-off piece you’ve been looking for. Expect ceramics, glass, silver, jewellery and more. The Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich, NR2 1TF www.theforumnorwich.co.uk 26-Mar Hingham Antiques Fair Stands to include furniture, jewellery, ceramics, glass, vintage, textiles, clocks, lighting and much more. Entry £1. The Sports Hall, Springfield Way, Hingham, NR9 4BH. 01953 483691

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HATFIELD & WELWYN The two Hertfordshire locations have grown enormously over recent years, and offer everything you’d expect from a modern town. Standing side by side in the same borough, it’s easy to visit both in one day, here’s how to make the most of your trip: HATFIELD The town has largely grown up around the gates of its most famous attraction, Hatfield House. The Jacobean house is great to explore and is an ideal family day out with its gardens, play area and park farm. Stop by the Stable Yard Shops which features a wide range of exclusive retailers. The stores have been lovingly created from an area of Hatfield House which used to play home to the stables. Hatfield House hosts regular events so check what’s on before visiting. An Antiques Market is held on the third Saturday of every month and a Farmer’s Market is held on the third Sunday of each month. There’s also the Art and Design Gallery, The Weston Auditorium and music venue The Forum at the

University of Hertfordshire. In addition to the town centre, shopping can be enjoyed at The Galleria, an outlet shopping centre with 80 stores. WELWYN Welwyn village is often referred to as ‘Old Welwyn’ to distinguish it from the newer settlement of Welwyn Garden City. One of the main attractions is The Hawthorne Theatre (www.hawthornetheatre.co.uk), which is also home to The New Maynard Gallery. The theatre is a fully appointed, 370 seat live arts venue and hosts some of the finest professional theatre, live music, dance and comedy in the South Herts region. When the weather warms up head to Stanborough Park, a beautiful countryside park, covering an area of 126 acres, on the outskirts of Welwyn Garden City. Awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award, it is a great place for a family picnic, leisurely stroll or enjoy the rowing boats and pedalos on the lake.

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From the lovely open fires to the ample beer garden which is undergoing a refurbishment this April. This is the perfect place to while away those long summer afternoons and enjoy a spot of al fresco dining. Don't forget to bring your furry friend along with you as they are very welcome in our bar areas and our garden. We have sought to highlight diversity in the menus. You will find modern British cuisine elegantly presented alongside an offering of traditional pub meals such as the homemade beef burgers and fresh fish and chips. While the food served is certainly of restaurant standard, The Red Lion has not forgotten its status as a pub - we have a wonderful premium gin menu, craft ales and an extensive wine menu. This is what the Red Lion is all about.

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A GUIDE TO WOBURN Written by Kate Chaundy

Recorded in the Domesday Book back in 1086 as a small hamlet, Woburn today is a beautiful and thriving village full of quaint shops, excellent restaurants and steeped in history. Whilst exploring, make sure you stop off at the various independent gift, art and antique shops that line the main street or enjoy a tipple in one of the many village pubs. PLACES WORTH A VISIT: Woburn Abbey and Gardens: Set in the tranquility of a 3,000 acre deer park, Woburn Abbey has been the family residence of the Earls and Dukes of Bedford for nearly 400 years. There are 22 rooms on public display and Woburn Abbey houses one of the most important private art collections in the world. In 1804 Humphrey Repton created the designs for Woburn Abbey Gardens. Today his designs can be enjoyed within 28 acres of award-winning, beautiful and historic gardens. www.woburnvillage.co.uk Farmers Market: If you are lucky enough to be visiting on the third Sunday of the month, make sure you visit the Woburn Farmers’ Market held on ‘the Pitchings’ in the village centre. Here you will be able to buy local foods and products directly from farmers and experience the long-standing market tradition of the village. www.woburnvillage.co.uk The Woburn Hotel: Located in the heart of the Georgian village of Woburn, The Woburn Hotel, with four AA stars, is the gateway to The Woburn Estate and the home of afternoon tea, popularised in the 1840s by Duchess Anna Maria, wife of the 7th Duke. www.woburnvillage.co.uk Woburn Golf Club: This is for serious golf fans with time to spare or those interested in looking around a club with an impressive tournament history, having hosted in excess of 50 Professional Tournaments. The club offers mid-week green fee packages for individual golfers and small groups. www.woburngolf.co.uk The Red Lion in Milton Bryan: Head outside of Woburn to the beautiful little village of Milton Bryan, and you’ll find the Red Lion; a delightful gastro pub serving up tasty seasonal food and an impressive

The Sculpture Gallery

selection of beer and wine. Under new ownership since last September, the pub has been completely refurbished. It features a lovely garden for warmer days, welcomes children and dogs, and has an exciting events calendar – stop by for the pub quiz later this month. www.miltonbryanpub.co.uk Zoohause: Those with a keen eye for interior design, trends and homewares should head straight to Zoohause; a fantastic store offering one-off pieces of furniture and home furnishings. Much of the furniture is designed and built in the UK using reclaimed and aged wood. Located on the market place it is a must-visit if you’re redecorating, love interior design or just fancy a browse. www.zoohause.co.uk FOR THE KIDS: Woburn Safari Park: Woburn Safari Park is home to over 80 species of animals, including many that are endangered. With activities that suit the whole family, start the day on the road safari where you can see lions, tigers and bears before heading off on the foot safari where you can hear keeper talks and see a number of different animal demonstrations. www.woburnsafari.co.uk It may not be until June but pop the Woburn Village Open Gardens Day and Scarecrow Competition in the diary as it’s not one to be missed. Wander the town and find the dozen gardens open around the village, some with amazingly designed scarecrows where you can vote for your favourite. 10.30-5.30pm, £5 entry, June 17 2017. www.woburnvillage.co.uk

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WHAT’S ON in Beds, Bucks & Herts THEATRE, FILM AND SHOWS 4-Mar Whitney – Queen of the Night A stunning celebration of the music and life of one of the greatest singers of our time. Rhodes Theatre, 1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG. 01279 710200. www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk 7-11 Mar Cyrano Set in the golden age of musketeers, Deborah McAndrew’s lively new adaptation brings fresh vigour to this swashbuckling tale of unrequited love. Add to this Northern Broadsides’ musical panache, acclaimed charisma and exuberant performance style and you have a delightful evening of pure drama that will lift your spirits and make your heart ache. Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1JZ 01923 235455. www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk 7-11 Mar Fantastic Mr Fox Mr Fox is smart, clever and rather fantastic, but he doesn’t realise how determined the farmers are to get revenge. Can he hatch a plan to save his family and friends? Milton Keynes Theatre, Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 3NZ. 0844 8717652. www.atgtickets.com 7-11 Mar CHESS The Musical The story of a chess tournament where we see the principal pawns; the American Grandmaster and the Russian Champion fight for the title and the affections of the Hungarian-American female. Hertford Theatre, The Wash, Hertford, SG14 1PS 01992 531500. www.hertfordtheatre.com 9-11 Mar High School Musical On Stage BSMTC’s Youth production of this family show contains all your favourite characters, energetic dance numbers and well known songs all accompanied by a live band. Rhodes Theatre, 1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG. 01279 710200. www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk 10-Mar All the Little Lights Poignant, moving and darkly funny, this award-winning new play tells the searing story of three girls slipping through the cracks in society, desperately searching for friendship, family and themselves. Quarry Theatre, 26 St Peter’s Street, Bedford, MK40 2NN. 01234 362337 www.quarrytheatre.org.uk 12-Mar The Journey A poetry show in which the twists and turns of the routes we take through life are expressed in their darker and lighter moods through the original work of local writers. The Place Theatre, Bradgate Road, Bedford, MK40 3DE. 01234 354321 www.theplacebedford.org 13-18 Mar The Play That Goes Wrong ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ is guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter!

Milton Keynes Theatre, Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 3NZ. 0844 8717652. www.atgtickets.com 13-Mar William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play Acclaimed stars of the West End stage, the Reduced Shakespeare Company, are back with another barnstormingly irreverent and breathtakingly hilarious celebration of our cultural heritage – as seen through the eyes of three Americans wearing trainers. Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UG. 0844 871 7607 www.atgtickets.com

much more! Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 0753993. www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk 22-23 Mar WNO: La Bohème When Annabel Arden’s sensitive and insightful production was first performed in 2012, it was welcomed with open arms by both audiences and critics. Milton Keynes Theatre, Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 3NZ. 0844 8717652. www.atgtickets.com

15-Mar Screaming Blue Murder Comedy Club Presenting the comedy stars of tomorrow today! Compere Andrew Bird introduces rising star Hari Sriskantha; headliner is Debra-Jane Appelby. The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Milton Keynes, MK17 8LU 01908 280800. www.stables.org

22-25 Mar Tartuffe Tartuffe is a confidence trickster posing as a holy man. His wealthy victim Monsieur Orgon has become so besotted with him that he is eager to hand over all his possessions. His pretty young daughter is promised to Tartuffe as a bride. Tartuffe also has his eye (well more than an eye) on Orgon’s wife. The Court Theatre, Station Road, Tring, HP23 5QY. www.courttheatre.co.uk

17-Mar The Chimpanzees of Happytown Follow the story of Chutney the chimp as he and his beautiful tree help to spread colour and happiness throughout the town. The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Milton Keynes, MK17 8LU. 01908 280800. www.stables.org

23-25 Mar Beowulf Some stories can never be forgotten. They last generations because they remind us of who we are and what we can become. Quarry Theatre, 26 St Peter’s Street, Bedford, MK40 2NN 01234 362337. www.quarrytheatre.org.uk

17-Mar Menopause The Musical ‘Menopause the Musical’ is heading out on another UK wide tour. This hysterical show packed full of one-liners about night sweats, hot flushes and memory loss is backed by an instantly recognisable soundtrack of innuendo-laden versions of 60s, 70s and 80s pop classics. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 0753993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

23-Mar Meet Fred Meet Fred, the two foot tall cloth puppet that fights prejudice every day. He just wants to be a regular guy, part of the real world, to get a job and meet a girl, but when threatened with losing his PLA (Puppetry Living Allowance), Fred’s life begins to spiral out of his control. Hertford Theatre, The Wash, Hertford, SG14 1PS. 01992 531500 www.hertfordtheatre.com

18-Mar Magic of Motown 2017 Prepare yourself for 40 back-to-back classic Motown hits, glittering costume changes, dazzling dance moves and outstanding musicianship in this explosive concert experience. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN 0845 0753993. www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

23-24 Mar The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show Eric’s well-known books captivated readers with his iconic colourful hand painted tissue paper collage illustrations and distinctively simple stories, introducing generations of children to a bigger, brighter world – and to their first experience of reading itself. Hertford Theatre, The Wash, Hertford, SG14 1PS 01992 531500. www.hertfordtheatre.com

18-Mar Little Howard’s Big Show For Kids Following the success of their TV show ‘Little Howard’s Big Question’ (CBBC) real human Big Howard and animated six-year-old Little Howard are bringing their family comedy show to Watford Palace Theatre. Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1JZ 01923 235455. www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk 19-Mar Big Fish Little Fish - Family Rave Award-winning, bonkers family fun with ‘Big Fish Little Fish family rave’ in Watford! World class DJs on the decks playing classic club tracks with bubbles, glowsticks, glitter, crafts, play, club visuals, giant balloons, legendary parachute dance, licensed bar and so

27 Mar - 1 Apr Shirley Valentine Willy Russell’s heart-warming comedy premiered in 1986 and took the world by storm. It was adapted into an Oscar nominated film. Milton Keynes Theatre, Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 3NZ. 0844 8717652. www.atgtickets.com 27-28 Mar Fanny - a New MusicHall Fanny is rehearsing for her Drury Lane debut during the times of the infamous Contagious Diseases Acts of the 1860s. As she works on her songs with Arthur, her long-suffering pianist, it becomes apparent that things are not all as they seem. Fanny tells the funny and tragic story of her friend Elsie using music hall

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For a visit that’s never ‘run of the mill’

FROGMORE PAPER MILL

Fourdrinier Way, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP3 9RY Plenty to see and do for all ages at the world’s oldest mechanised paper mill... birthplace of paper’s industrial revolution. Still working, still making paper. ● Group Visits ● Schools ● Activities ● Coaches ● Hand Papermaking ● Letterpress Printing ● Mill Tours ● Boat Trips ● Café and Shop Phone us on 01442 234600 for details of our special group tour package www.thepapertrail.org.uk Charity No 1079008

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Come Comealong alongand and visit visit Lee Lee Valley Boat Cent Broxbourne the heart Valley Boat in Centre at of Lee Valley Regio and experience a boat Broxbourne in the hearttrip of along the tranqu onLee theValley RiverRegional Lee. Whether Park you prefer to sp day just an hour on the andorexperience a boat trip river or enjoy a m cruising along, all tastes are catered for. along the tranquil parkland Situated midway between Enfield and Hertford on the River Lee. Whether you prefer to spend just off the A1 A1170 will find free parking opposite the Boat Cen the daywhere or justyou an hour on the river or enjoy a For information visit websites: mealfurther while cruising along,please all tastes areour catered for. Come along and visit & Lee Valley Boat Centre at www.leevalleyboats.co.uk www.riverleecruises.co.uk Comebetween along and visit LeeHertford Valley Boat Centre at Situated in the Enfield heart ofand Lee Valley Regional Park Call usBroxbourne onmidway 01992 462085 or email leevalleyboats@btconne Broxbourne in the heart of Lee Valley Regional Pa just offand the experience A10 on A1170 youalong will find a where boat trip the tranquil parkland and experience a Centre. boat trip along the tranquil park free parking opposite the Boat on the River Lee. Whether you prefer to spend the on the River Lee. Whether you prefer to spend th day or justoran hour on visit the river or enjoy a meal while For further information please day just an hour onour thewebsites: river or enjoy a meal wh cruising along, all tastes are catered for. Special lunch, afternoon tea, fish & chip cruising along, all tastes are catered for. www.leevalleyboats.co.uk & off midway between Enfield and Hertford just on on Situated midway between Enfield and Hertford justthe off A10 the A10 supper and jazz evening cruises also Situated A1170A1170 wherewhere you will find free parking opposite the Boat Centre. www.riverleecruises.co.uk you will find free parking opposite the Boat Centre. available. We also offer charter hire for For further information visit our websites: For further information please visit462085 our websites: Callplease us on 01992 or your group or special event. www.leevalleyboats.co.uk & www.riverleecruises.co.uk www.leevalleyboats.co.uk & www.riverleecruises.co.uk email leevalleyboats@btconnect.com Call usCall on us 01992 462085 or email leevalleyboats@btconnect.com on 01992 462085 or email leevalleyboats@btconnect.com

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April to October public cruises every Thursday and Sunday

Details at www.johnbunyanboat.org or phone 01946 817 456 for public cruises and 0330 123 9511 for charters. Educational discounts available. John Bunyan Boat - Supporting the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust

performance to spin her tale. The Court Theatre, Station Road, Tring, HP23 5QY www.courttheatre.co.uk 27-29 Mar The Sound of Murder Charles Norbury is a successful writer of children’s books but he doesn’t like children. An unlovable man, he has no friends, is arrogant, controlling, sadistic and cruel. His wife, starved of love and denied children of her own, has met another man. In their cottage in Surrey, a tape recorder has been left on during a conversation between his wife and her lover in which the latter plans the author’s murder. Charles’ secretary listens to the tape and hears the murder plot. The Gordon Craig Theatre, Lytton Way, Stevenage, SG1 1LZ. 01438 363200 www.gordon-craig.co.uk 27 Mar - 1 Apr Thoroughly Modern Millie This hilarious musical comedy features spectacular dance routines and great songs. Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UG 0844 871 7607. www.atgtickets.com 30 Mar - 1 Apr The Wedding Singer Join us back when hair was big and shoulders were padded. Based on the hit movie, if you love 80s music, this is the show for you! Hertford Theatre, The Wash, Hertford, SG14 1PS. 01992 531500 www.hertfordtheatre.com 31 Mar-22 Apr I Capture The Castle Set in the bohemian England of the 1930s, this warm and sharply funny coming-of-age story from the author of 101 Dalmatians is set to stunning original music by Steven Edis, with influences of swing, tango, beguine, English folksong and a hint of Cole Porter! Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road, Watford WD17 1JZ. 01923 235455. www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk MUSIC 5-Mar John Fisher as Gary Barlow Jon Fisher is fast becoming the UK’s top tribute artist with his definitive portrayal, uncanny sound and eerily close look of the nation’s favourite - Gary Barlow. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 0753993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk 7-11 Mar Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story Forget feel good, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story is FEEL GREAT! Experience the drama, passion and excitement as a cast of phenomenally talented actors and musicians tell Buddy Holly’s story, from his meteoric rise to fame, to his final legendary performance at The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street Aylesbury, HP20 1UG. 0844 871 7607 www.atgtickets.com 12-Mar Skerryvore The band have released six albums, including Decade in 2015, celebrating 10 years on the road. The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Milton Keynes, MK17 8LU. 01908 280800. www.stables.org 16-Mar A Country Night in Nashville ‘A Country Night In Nashville’ recreates the scene of a buzzing Honky Tonk in downtown Nashville, perfectly capturing the energy and atmosphere of an evening in the home of Country Music. Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UG. 0844 871 7607. www.atgtickets.com

18-Mar Broadway and Beyond This thrilling mix of live music, movement and wit is performed by eight versatile West End professionals; comprising three all–singing, all-dancing actors accompanied by five musicians. Rhodes Theatre, 1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG. 01279 710200. www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk 22-Mar Oysters 3 John Jones, Alan Prosser and Ian Telfer, the three founder members and creative heart of folk-rock legends Oysterband, invite you to an evening of fresh acoustic performance and off-the-wall stories. The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Milton Keynes, MK17 8LU. 01908 280800 www.stables.org 22-Mar Halfway to Paradise: The Billy Fury Story A shy young boy from Liverpool is re-christened Billy Fury and becomes one of Britain’s best loved rock stars. Now in its 16th year and still furiously rockin’, his own band, Fury’s Tornados, re-live his timeless hits - Last Night Was Made For Love, I Will, Jealousy, Halfway to Paradise and many, many more. Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UG. 0844 871 7607 www.atgtickets.com 26-Mar Ultimate Bublé For Mothers Day Critically acclaimed tribute artist Mark Daniels performs the biggest hits of Michael Bublé in this stunning tribute show. Mark’s mesmerising likeness to the modern day Canadian crooner will have fans of Michael Bublé and big band music dancing at the tables - after enjoying their Sunday lunch! Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 0753993, www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk 31-Mar Thank You For The Music Saturday night and the lights are low... Watford is the place to go...join the fantabba-ulous party of the year as the 40th anniversary of ABBA’s greatest hit Dancing Queen is celebrated in sequin-spangled style. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 0753993. www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk ARTS AND EXHIBITIONS 7 Feb - 4 Mar Richard Sutton Richard’s approach to art is broad, satirical, comical – and scientific – bringing together different elements to create a whole. Different styles, trends and movements are drawn upon including cartoon animation, modern twentieth century and classical art, as well as Dark Age Viking and Celtic art. Courtyard Arts & Community Centre, Port Vale, Hertford, SG14 3AA 01992 509596. www.courtyardarts.org.uk 6-30 Mar Member’s Show All the members pitch in to create an exciting display of their work. The Eagle Gallery, 101 Castle Road, Bedford, MK40 3QP. 01234 346995. www.eaglegalleryartists.co.uk SPECIAL EVENTS 16-Mar Roman Stortford Re-visited – Bishop’s Stortford History Society Bishop’s Stortford History Society present Roman Stortford Re-visited, a talk by Chris Lydamore, Curator of Bishop’s Stortford Museum. Rhodes Theatre, 1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG. 01279 710200

www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk 18-Mar Muddy Mayhem If crawling under nets, clambering over walls and blundering through the park’s ditches is your idea of fun, then you’ll love this 5k obstacle challenge. This mudtastic fundraiser is raising money for Garden House Hospice, which provides a wide range of services for patients, their carers, and families facing a life limiting illness; we are proud to support such a great cause. Knebworth House, SG1 2AX 01438 812661. www.knebworthhouse.com 26-Mar Dogs and Daffs Charity Walk Come along to the Stable Yard at Hatfield House with your pooch and stroll the grounds of Hatfield Park. There are four rambles for all abilities including one which is suitable for wheelchairs or parents with buggies. The walk will be followed by a fun dog show in the Stable Yard where proud owners can show off their faithful friends in categories such as ‘Most handsome dog’, ‘Dog most like it’s owner’ and ‘Prettiest Bitch’. A vet will be on hand during the day to discuss the benefits of micro-chipping and pet owners will also have the chance to have a professional photo taken. Hatfield House, Hatfield, AL9 5NQ. 01707 287010 www.hatfield-house.co.uk/events 26-Mar Knebworth Parish Open Day Knebworth Parish residents are invited to visit the House, Gardens and Park for free. Knebworth House, Knebworth, SG1 2AX. 01438 812661 www.knebworthhouse.com ANTIQUES AND AUCTIONS 5-Mar Bishop’s Stortford Antiques Fair 23 stalls with varied collectables, glass, vintage, Victoriana and furniture. Proving to be a very well attended and successful fair. 9.30am-4pm Bishop’s Stortford Football Club, Woodside Park, Dunmow Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 5RG 01279 503576 18-Mar Stable Yard Antiques and Collectables Market The free monthly antiques market features a huge range of antiques and collectibles. Pick up unusual curiosities including furniture, mirrors, hats and ornaments! 10am - 5pm. Hatfield House, Hatfield, AL9 5NQ 01707 287010 www.hatfield-house.co.uk/events 19-Mar Biggleswade Antique & Vintage Fair Over 45 stalls offering a wide range of antiques from silver, quality jewellery, vintage, pictures, books, china, postcards and small furniture. 9.30am-4.pm. Admission £1.50. The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, SG18 8JH 01480 382432 25-Mar Bedfordshire’s Antiques & Collectors Fair Pottery, figures, glass, coins, stamps and postcards. At some fairs there may also be a few sellers of vintage, retro and small handmade items. 10am- 4pm. Entry £1. St Pauls Church, St Pauls Square , Bedford, MK40 1SQ 26-Mar Bushy Antique & Collectables Fair With up to 70 dealers in two halls. Coldharbour Lane, Bushey, WD23 4PA 07951 014022

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CAMBRIDGE SCENE

CAMBRIDGESHIRE

THE

Written by Tracey Dean

I was really excited to discover that the awardwinning Cambridge Cookery School based off of Hills Road run classes in the art of making sushi. I absolutely love sushi and I have always wanted to learn how to make this Japanese delight! Their three hour hands on Sushi Making Master Class is set in a beautifully spacious contemporary kitchen and teaches participants to make a variety of sushi. From discovering how to make sushi rice and vinegar to learning fish and vegetable cutting techniques, the class equips you with all the knowledge you need to make sushi in the comfort of your own home. The teacher, an expert Chef, demonstrated how to make each type of sushi and wowed the room with her chopping techniques and extensive knowledge. After each demonstration the class recreated what

we were shown with the Chef and two assistants on hand to answer any questions. My personal highlight of the evening was making uramaki also known as the inside out roll. Rolling this incorrectly sees it fall to pieces (this happened to me at the start!) but as I practiced throughout the evening I began to get the technique. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d highly recommend this class to everyone! It was a fun packed enjoyable evening with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We used high quality ingredients to make the sushi and were given boxes to take home all the delicious food we had made. It was great to learn a new skill and the teacher was fantastic at demonstrating the techniques in an easy to follow way. The class left me feeling inspired to make sushi and my newfound knowledge along with the recipe pack provided will have me recreating what I have learnt for all my friends and family. For more information visit: www.cambridgecookeryschool.com

Read more from Tracey at www.traceydean.co.uk or follow her on Twitter @TraceyDeanBlog

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You can enjoy • The history and heritage of the Market Towns • The expanive landscape, with spectacular skies • A leisurely trip along our waterways • Enjoy cultural activities at our annual events

tourism@fenland.gov.uk www.visitcambridgeshirefens.org fenland-dc visitcambridgeshirefens

Discover the fascinating Fens history, explore some of our hidden gems or enjoy the great outdoors. There is plenty to keep the whole family entertained. The Fens has a unique landscape, formed by nature and shaped by people over more than 6,000 years. the picturesque countryside and four unique historic market towns make the fens an ideal place to relax and unwind.

Fenland is a beautiful rural district in the county of Cambridgeshire that lies east of Peterborough and North of Cambridge, and shares boundaries with Lincolnshire and Norfolk.

Fenland FULL PAGE.indd 1

10/02/2014 17:13

MAKE TIME FOR MARCH, WISBECH AND CHATTERIS Written by Abby Knight

Tucked away deep in the countryside with the Fenlands of Cambridgeshire as a dramatic backdrop, March is an impressive market town that dates back to Roman times. The river Nene runs right through the town and the narrow boats that glide along the banks together with the wildlife including swans and Mallard ducks makes it the perfect place for budding artists. Discover all you need to know about March and the surrounding towns of Wisbech and Chatteris at the District Museum which also features a replica of a Fenland Cottage, and make the trip to the imposing St. Wendreda’s church with its stunning Medieval stain glass windows. There are plenty of places to eat and drink in the town including the Cock Inn serving tasty homemade food and a selection of great beers. Just a few miles away is the prosperous Georgian town of Wisbech which grew up around its port trading from the medieval times but really flourishing in the 17th century when the fens were drained. The Georgian streets and houses of Wisbech were the setting for the BBC’s popular David Copperfield drama which also featured the Norman castle, built in 1072.

Wisbech is also where Octavia Hill co-founder of the National Trust was born and her family home opened as a museum in 1995. If you have a taste of real ales, pay a visit to the Elgood Brewery that has been a working brewery for over 200 years. The Elgood family mashed their first brew in 1878 and the original brewery garden has recently been restored and is open to visitors. Just a few miles from Wisbech and close to Ely and Huntingdon is the pretty town of Chatteris. Renowned for its fabulous Christmas tree lights display each year which have featured on BBC’s Look East it also has some great places to eat and drink including The Bramley House which doubles as a cosy guesthouse and the George Inn, open for lunch and dinner. Or for a really tasty treat, stop off at West Park Street at the Petrou Brothers Fish Shop that serves a great value fish supper and has won many awards, including National Fish and Chip Shop of the year. However long you plan to stay in the Fenlands, you’re sure to find some great things to see and do.

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Peterborough City Council presents

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Principal sponsor

L VE RUNNING L VE CHALLENGE

Sunday 8 October 2017

One of the UK’s fastest half marathons

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09/02/2017 17:57

WHAT’S ON in Cambridgeshire THEATRE, FILM AND SHOWS 7-11 Mar Arden of Faversham ‘Arden of Faversham’ will invite you into a world ruled by coercion, classism and patriarchy – a world of the 1590s, a world of the 1920s, and a world of today. ADC Theatre, Park Street, Cambridge, CB5 8AS. 01223 359547. www.adctheatre.com

EDITOR’S CHOICE

11-Mar Gary Delaney ‘There’s Something About Gary’... and that something is he likes to write and perform jokes. An awful lot of them. He thinks a good joke should be like a drunk Glaswegian, short and punchy. Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF. 01733 207239. www.vivacity-peterborough.com

7-8 Mar Hysteria An acknowledged modern classic, Terry Johnson’s hilarious farce explores the fallout when two of the twentieth century’s most brilliant and original minds collide. Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF. 01733 207239 www.vivacity-peterborough.com

12-19 Mar Footlights Cambridge Footlights are the world-famous comedy troupe who first aired the talents of some of the foremost British comedians and actors of this century. Cambridge Arts Theatre, St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ. 01223 503333. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

8-11 Mar The Shape of Things Love. Art. Manipulation. ‘The Shape of Things’ brings all three together whilst asking where the boundaries between them lie. Corpus Playroom, 10 St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ. 01223 300085. www.corpusplayroom.com 8-Mar Cock and Bull ‘Cock and Bull’ sees three females convene to perform their own, alternative, party conference. Exploring power, voice, agency and sustainability, they use the most heard phrases from Conservative governmental rhetoric, to dismantle and redress dominant paradigms of power and politics. The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX. 01223 511511. www.junction.co.uk 9-11 Mar Our Lady of Lahore This is a story about an elderly Pakistani landlord, and his relationship with a young country girl. Corpus Playroom, 10 St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ. 01223 300085. www.corpusplayroom.com 10-Mar The Noise Next Door: Uproar! An anarchic evening of side-splitting jokes, jaw-dropping characters, and mind-blowing songs. Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF. 01733 207239. www.vivacity-peterborough.com 10-Mar Henning Wehn: Westphalia is not an option Join German Comedy Ambassador Henning Wehn for an evening of Teutonic jolliness at its best. The Cresset, Bretton Centre, Peterborough, PE3 8DX 01733 265705. www.cresset.co.uk 11-Mar Tiff Stevenson: Seven ‘Seven’ is inspired by a gig Tiff did in David Lynch’s nightclub in Paris last year, just one month before the Bataclan attacks. The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX. 01223 511511 www.junction.co.uk

Peterborough, PE1 1EF. 01733 207239 www.vivacity-peterborough.com

BAROQUE MASTERWORKS SATURDAY 1 APRIL, 7.30PM AT PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL Handel’s Coronation Anthems and Vivaldi’s Gloria performed in the beautiful setting of Peterborough Cathedral by the Cathedral Choir, Youth Choir and Festival Chorus, with Instruments of Time and Truth, directed by Steven Grahl. Tickets: £20, £15 (U18s half price), online via www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk or call 01832 274734. 11-Mar Josh Howie’s Messed Up Fresh from creating and starring in his own BBC Radio 4 sitcom and having performed his unique brand of painfully honest stand-up at the top comedy clubs and festivals in the UK and internationally, Josh Howie is embarking on his first UK tour. The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX, 01223 511511 www.junction.co.uk 12-Mar Stories in the Dark Full of twinkling lights, vibrant colours and just a touch of darkness, the story tent provides the perfect storytelling adventure for 2-7 year olds. The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX. 01223 511511. www.junction.co.uk 11-Mar Jamali Maddix Fresh from a complete sellout run at the Edinburgh festival Jamali brings his debut hour here. Do not miss this highly anticipated debut from a truly unique talent. Key Theatre, Embankment Road,

13-Mar Nora Invites A hat trick of hysterical and sublime duets by renowned choreographers; performed by dancers Eleanor Sikorski and Flora Wellesley Wesley (Nora). Mumford Theatre, East Road, Cambridge CB1 1PT. 0845 196 2320. www.anglia.ac.uk 14-18 Mar Escaped Alone Three old friends and a neighbour. A summer of afternoons in the back yard. Tea and catastrophe. Cambridge Arts Theatre, St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ. 01223 503333. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com 15-25 Mar How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying It follows the story of window-cleaner J. Pierrepont Finch who discovers a handbook called ‘How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying’. He begins his rise and climbs the corporate ladder from a window washer to a corporate executive and throughout his journey, he meets and tackles familiar yet powerful dangers from the boss’ desperate nephew to backstabbing co-workers and of course, true love. ADC Theatre, Park Street, Cambridge, CB5 8AS. 01223 359547 www.adctheatre.com 16-18 Mar High School Musical by Rare Productions This stage version features a talented and enthusiastic cast of local young people and includes all the hit songs from the films. The Cresset, Bretton Centre, Peterborough, PE3 8DX. 01733 265705 www.cresset.co.uk 17-11 Mar Silver Lining ‘Silver Lining’ is a hilarious new comedy by writer, actor, presenter and political activist Sandi Toksvig. Cambridge Arts Theatre, St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ. 01223 503333 www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

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Brand new bigger showroom Now Open Come and visit us at Unit 2J Merlin Court, Lancaster Way Business Park, Witchford. CB6 3GN

We offer a full bespoke lighting design service from conception to installation

Witchford lighting Centre Ltd www.witchfordlighting.co.uk 01353 664108

Brighouse and Rastrick Band

Broadway Theatre Peterborough, 18th March 7.30pm

Tickets from ÂŁ15 on 0333 666 3366 or at www.peterboroughmvchoir.org.uk

22-Mar An Evening with an Immigrant Inua will tell his ridiculous, fantastic, poignant immigrant-story of escaping fundamentalist Islam, directing an arts festival at his college in Dublin, performing solo shows at the National Theatre, and drinking wine with the Queen of England, all the while without a country to belong to or place to call home. Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF. 01733 207239. www.vivacity-peterborough.com 23-Mar Breath Control ‘Breath Control’ is about the inhalations and exhalations that form the melody, rhythm and punctuation of our everyday existence. The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX. 01223 511511 www.junction.co.uk 24-Mar Mitch Benn: Don’t Fear the Reaper Mitch confronts his - and YOUR mortality with hilarious (and tuneful) consequences. Join him! It’s time you’re not getting back! The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX. 01223 511511 www.junction.co.uk 27 Mar - 8 Apr La Strada La Strada ‘The Road’, a metaphor for life, is a deeply impassioned tale of love and loss, set against the backdrop of a country still reeling from the devastating effects of the Second World War. Cambridge Arts Theatre, St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ. 01223 503333 www.cambridgeartstheatre.com 27-Mar Metamorphosis Awe-inspiring visuals amongst a darkly funny and deeply disturbing modern masterpiece promise a jaw-dropping, belly-ache of an experience. Mumford Theatre, East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1PT. 0845 196 2320. www.anglia.ac.uk 29-Mar 10,000 litres Evangelia Kolyra creates unusual, quirky and remarkable work offering visceral experiences. Mumford Theatre, East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1PT. 0845 196 2320 www.anglia.ac.uk 30-31 Mar The Electric Rodeo Circus With the flick of a switch The Master sends current coursing and his stage is illuminated by a phosphorescent glow. The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX. 01223 511511/ www.junction.co.uk MUSIC 7-Mar G4 - Live in Concert Due to the overwhelming demand for G4, the multi-platinum selling vocal harmony group will be back on the road in 2017. The Cresset, Bretton Centre, Peterborough, PE3 8DX. 01733 265705 www.cresset.co.uk 8-Mar You Win Again - The Story of The Bee Gees A musical theatre show celebrating the story of the Bee Gees is long overdue, according to the producers of Y’ou Win Again’, which is coming to town. The Cresset, Bretton Centre, Peterborough, PE3 8DX/ 01733 265705 www.cresset.co.uk 10-Mar Camille O’Sullivan : The Carny Dream Dark, sexy, fierce, amusing and mesmerizing, Camille transforms each song she performs into an intense, emotional and

theatrical experience, inextricably drawing her audience into a world illuminated by the dark and the light. Expect joy and pure passion. The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX. 01223 511511 www.junction.co.uk 14-Mar Benjamin Francis Leftwich Benjamin Francis Leftwich is a singer/ songwriter from York who has the sort of voice, delivery and material that tiptoes in to your soul, makes a big old comfy featherbed and refuses to leave. The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX. 01223 511511. www.junction.co.uk 15-Mar Songs for the End of the World Inspired by Philip K Dick’s post-apocalyptic novel Dr. Bloodmoney, Ziggy Stardust and 1950s rock’n’roll, Songs for the End of the World is a show like no other. Mumford Theatre, East Road, Cambridge CB1 1PT. 0845 196 2320. www.anglia.ac.uk 17-18 Mar Peterborough Music Festival An annual competition which has been part of Peterborough’s heritage since 1925. Join in a week of exceptional musical performances by the region’s best young musicians. Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF. 01733 207239. www.vivacity-peterborough.com 18-Mar Emily Maguire Best-known for her strong, thought-provoking lyrics and supremely expressive vocals, Emily Maguire’s songs have been played regularly on Radio 2 and have won her fans across the globe. The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX 01223 511511. www.junction.co.uk 24-Mar Patsy Cline An evening of song, laughter and legendary stories is promised when you come along to this enthralling tribute to the music, life and times of one of the world’s biggest country music stars: Patsy Cline. Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF. 01733 207239. www.vivacity-peterborough.com 25-Mar Sklamberg and The Shepherds Three renowned performers of Eastern European Jewish music come together in this exceptional new trio: Lorin Sklamberg, co-founder of the legendary Klezmatics; innovative clarinetist Merlin Shepherd, and the remarkable vocalist/ pianist Polina Shepherd, originally from Siberia. The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX. 01223 511511. www.junction.co.uk 27-Mar Ben Haenow His 2014 television journey from the first judges’ audition in Newcastle to being crowned The X Factor winner three months later may have seemed effortless, but Ben had been battling to achieve his dream for the best part of two decades. The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX. 01223 511511 www.junction.co.uk 29-Mar You’ve Got A Friend From the creators of the smash hit show ‘The Simon & Garfunkel Story’, ’You’ve Got A Friend’ celebrates two of the World’s greatest songwriters of all time - James Taylor and Carole King. Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF, 01733 207239. www.vivacity-peterborough.com

30-Mar Sam Bailey: Sing My Heart Out Hot off the back of her portrayal of Mama Morton in the critically-acclaimed show Chicago, X Factor winner Sam Bailey returns to the stage with her very own live show. The Cresset, Bretton Centre, Peterborough, PE3 8DX. 01733 265705 www.cresset.co.uk ARTS & EXHIBITIONS 23 Feb - 19 Mar Breath of Fresh Air Craftwork, glass, jewellery, painting, picture and sculpture. Byard Art, 14 King’s Parade, Cambridge, CB2 1SJ. 01223 464646. www.byardart.co.uk 7 Mar - 4 Jun Madonnas and Miracles Peer through the keyhole of the Italian Renaissance home and discover a hidden world of religious devotion. Bringing together a wealth of objects, including jewellery, ceramics, books, sculptures and paintings, the exhibition invites us into a domestic sphere that was charged with spiritual significance. The Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RB. 01223 332900. www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk 11 Mar - 2 Apr A Fine Line A ceramics show curated by Katharina Klug, featuring work by Karen Bunting, Jane Cairns, Carina Ciscato, Jo Davies, Alison Graham, Joanna Howells, Charlotte Jones, Chris Keenan, Jeremy Nichols, Lara Scobie, Jill Shaddock, Barry Stedman, Louisa Taylor and more. Cambridge Contemporary Art, 6 Trinity St, Cambridge, CB2 1SU. 01223 324222 www.cambridgegallery.co.uk 14 Mar - 10 Sep Honey from Many Flowers: Carl Wilhelm Kolbe and Salomon Gessner’s Idylls Salomon Gessner (1730–88) was a Swiss artist and writer. After his death his family invited a German printmaker, Carl Wilhelm Kolbe (1759–1835), to produce prints after a set of Gessner’s landscape drawings, which capture the Romantic period’s preoccupation with the pastoral idyll and delight in the natural world. The Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1RB. 01223 332900 www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk SPECIAL EVENTS 4-Mar Saint’s Crafters Craft Fair Popular craft fair held every month selling high quality and some unusual homemade arts & crafts, with free entry. Free Church, Market Hill, St Ives, PE27 5AL 18-Mar Papworth Panier Market See what local businesses have to offer. There will be Indian food, cakes, preservatives, baby clothes, cushions, slimming world, Gill Hardiman (Artist), Arbonne, plants, toys and much more. Ermine Street South, Papworth, CB23 3RD ANTIQUES AND AUCTIONS 5-Mar Great Chishill Antiques & Vintage Fair Approximately 20 stalls packed full of antiques, collectables and vintage items to entice dealers and collectors. Great Chishill Village Hall, Hall Lane, SG8 8SH 077206 47696. www.flapperfortunes.co.uk 12-Mar Peterborough Book Fair Up to 14 dealers will offer a wide range of books and ephemera covering a wide variety of subjects. Free parking. Entry £1. 10am- 4pm. Highgate Hall Overend, Elton, PE8 6RU.

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Men United In Song 40 MEN WANTED! We want YOU to perform live on stage in a charity fundraising concert... • • • • • •

12 week project Starting from scratch in April 2017 Your chance to learn to sing No previous experience needed Professional direction and support Great social opportunities

call NOW on 01733 425194 info@peterboroughmvchoir.org.uk www.peterboroughmvchoir.org.uk #MenUnitedInSong

15th April 2017

Doors open 6.30pm Sit down at 7.30pm Finish Late

Throughout the evening we will be having a raffle and auction of which proceeds will go to the EACH Charity

Drink on Arrival 3 Course Meal After Dinner Coffee

Tickets £40 per person

Slepe Hall Hotel Ramsey Road St Ives. PE27 5RB or call 01480 463122 www.slepehallhotel.co.uk

COMEDY NIGHT IN THE BRUNEL SUITE

COMEDIAN TONY ROSCOE

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COMPETITION! WIN A PERSONALISED DOG COAT!

Getting married? We’ve searched the East of England to bring you info on all things wedding to help prepare you for your special day! ‘Like; our page for all your wedding needs at www.facebook.com/eastlifeweddings

FUN - FOOD - FITNESS - FASHION - FESTIVALS It’s all on our Instagram @eastlifemag

We’re offering you the chance to win a best-selling, personalised dog coat! Eastlife has teamed up with PetPyjamas to offer you this great prize. Enter at: www.eastlife.co.uk/arti cle/win-personalised-dog-coat WIN YOUR PERFECT PROM DRESS! We have teamed up with Dusk Till Dawn to offer one lucky reader a voucher for up to £200 to spend on a prom dress. www.eastlife.co.uk/article/ win-perfect-prom-dress WIN VIP TICKETS TO NORWICH FASHION WEEK Norwich Fashion Week 2017 are offering one lucky reader the chance to win two limited edition VIP tickets to The Designers Show, this year sponsored by Norwich Cosmetic Clinic and Brasted’s, on Tuesday 14 March. Visit www.eastlife.co.uk to enter

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