Eastlife May 2016 by Thompson Media Partners Ltd

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May 2016

Living life in the East

MAY 2016

LEVEL 42

Make the most of where you live

AT HOLKHAM HALL AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND

Issue 132

FEATURING:

GO WEST, BIG COUNTRY AND OTHER GUESTS

Introducing The New E-Class. Masterpiece of intelligence.

The new E-Class Saloon is engineered to deliver more comfort, more efficiency and a more connected drive than ever before.

Representative example New E 220 d SE Saloon with optional metallic paint 36 monthly payments of*(Term of agreement)

And available to test drive now at your nearest Robinsons Mercedes-Benz, experience the technology yourself. From £369* per month, meet the perfect balance between elegance and intelligence.

On-the-road price Customer deposit Retailer deposit contribution Optional purchase payment† Amount of credit Total amount payable††

What’s more, Service Care is available from £30^ per month.

Purchase activation fee† Representative APR Fixed interest rate

£369.00 £36,580.00 £5,999.00 £3,005.47 £17,975.00 £27,575.53 £40,273.47 £10.00 5.5% 5.33%

Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the new E-Class Saloon range: urban 44.1(6.4)-65.7(4.3), extra urban 61.4(4.6)-78.5(3.6), combined 54.3(5.2)-72.4(3.9). CO2 emissions 144-102 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. Model featured is a new Mercedes-Benz E 220 d SE Saloon at £36,580 on-the-road including optional metallic paint at £645 (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 new E 220 d SE Saloon on a Mercedes-Benz Agility Agreement. 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 new E-Class Saloon models excluding Mercedes-AMG E 63 models, between 1 April and 30 June 2016, registered by 30 September 2016. 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 print. ^Based on 3 services over 36 months on a Mercedes-Benz Service Care contract for a new E-Class model. Service Care plans for Mercedes-AMG models are available separately.

The best or nothing.

Robinsons Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz of Bury St Edmunds 01284 769676 Mercedes-Benz of Cambridge 01223 401100 Mercedes-Benz of Kings Lynn 01553 777307

East Life E-Class Ad.indd 1

Mercedes-Benz of Norwich 01603 751000 Mercedes-Benz of Peterborough 01733 294900 www.yourmercedes.co.uk

07/04/2016 09:57

eastlife would like to thank its

CONTRIBUTORS LIZ JANE MATTOCK Passionate freelance writer GERLA DE BOER Globetrotter foodie AMANDA FRENCH Lifestyle blogger & PR pro

NICOLA SHEEHAN Mummy, blogger and frustrated novelist SUE COOKE Motoring journalist COLLETTE HOEFKENS Proprietor at Norton Way Gallery KATE GOULD Award-winning garden designer KATRINA OTTER Wedding planner extraordinaire ALICE MORTIMER Freelance journo, list-writer, music junkie PUBLISHER Sean Thompson sean@eastlife.co.uk - 01954 267696 EDITOR Emma Kemsley emma@eastlife.co.uk - 01954 267904

A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR Dear Reader, When May arrives I really begin to get into the summer vibe, and no amount of rain is going to dampen my spirit. If you’re a keen festival-goer we have the ultimate guide to the festival season. Whatever your music preference you’re bound to find something to suit. This year the festival scene in East Anglia has boomed, in fact we couldn’t fit everything onto our pages, so head over to www.eastlife.co.uk for our full breakdown of festivals taking place this summer. With two bank holidays ahead, our area focuses are dedicated to making the most of our lovely towns with ideas of fun things to do and lots of events. Elsewhere we raise a toast to English Wine Week with some of East Anglia’s finest wines and have the final edit of our ‘We love Norfolk because...’ photo campaign, see the top photos on page 30.

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

Emma Kemsley

SOCIAL MEDIA Nicole Ranaweera nicole@eastlife.co.uk - 07921 235539

DON’T MISS US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

ACCOUNTS / ENQUIRIES accounts@eastlife.co.uk - 01954 268129 SALES ENQUIRIES Darren Marshall - 07826 628680 Stewart Hedges - 07595 894557 Jim Leishman - 01954 267635 HEAD OFFICE Unit 4, Avenue Business Park, Elsworth Cambridge, CB23 4EY 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.

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Mr & Mrs M, Cold Norton. Lifestyle German Kitchen in True Handle-less Polar White Gloss

w w w . t e c - l i f e s t y l e . c o m Wycke Hill Business Park | Wycke Hill | Maldon | Essex CM9 6WH Tel: 01621 878488 | Email: info@tec-lifestyle.com Part of the Tec Supplies Group Limited

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09/03/2016 11:40

MAY 11-15 news flash A round-up of monthly news and events 19-25 FESTIVAL FEVER 2016’s best festivals 26-27 ENGLISH WINE WEEK Wine expert Matt Dicks gives us the lowdown on East Anglian’s finest 35-37 Little East Columnist Nicola Osbourne and the best attractions to visit this half term 43–47 Food & Drink Reviews and Cambridge’s best spots for tea and brunch 49-53 HEALTH Tips on clean eating and this year’s best races 57-59 Fashion How to pack stress free and your chance to win a £100 gift card at Braintree Freeport 60-63 Weddings Katrina Otter gives her final countdown tips. Plus, questions to ask your venue 95-101 Beds, Bucks & Herts Ampthill, Hitchin and this month’s events 104-115 SUFFOLK Family days out in Southwold, summer in Woodbridge and this month’s events 117-127 ESSEX Maldon, Saffron Walden and theatre listings 129-135 CAMBRIDGESHIRE Highlights of St Neots and Cambs events 137-145 NORFOLK Norfolk’s best afternoon teas, a day out in Holt, The Broads and May events

contents

30 39 65 79 141

OUNDLE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

• • • • • • • • • • •

Gabrieli Consort The Beat The Marian Consort Jamie Smith’s MABON The Roberts/Exall Jazz Quintet Lunchtime recitals including the 2016 Menuhin Junior Competition winner The Tin Pigeons The Bach Walk Grease at the outdoor cinema Illyria Open Air Theatre Oundle Food Festival

8-16 JULY 2016  OundleInternationalFestival  oundlemusic www.oundlefestival.org.uk

Retired Greyhound Trust

All g Do Breeds Welcome

Greyhound Extravaganza Greyhound Show & All Breeds Fun Dog Show

Sunday 29th May 2016 Held at the Animal Health Trust Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU

Registration from 9:00 am - Judging from 10:30 am For info contact the show organisers on 0845 602 2658 or 07787 701695

www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk

facebook.com/rgtrust | twitter.com/rgt_uk

Charity Numbers 269668 & SC044047

Presents

A Summer Celebration

A concert to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Ely Cathedral Girls’ Choir, ECOS and The Ely Imps, with special guests Lesley Garrett and John Rutter Saturday 25 June 2016 | 7.30pm

Tickets from £15 | Box office: 01353 660349 www.elycathedral.org

BRYAN FERRY JUNE

11th

Tickets

www.livepromotionsconcerts.co.uk Corporate hospitality tel: 01775 768661

BURGHLEY

n o i t a r b e l e C s SAT 27TH

80 GO WEST

AUG

WE CLOSE OUR EYES,

CALL ME, KING OF WISHFUL THINKING

FEATURING MARK KING…

FIELDS OF FIRE,

LESSONS IN LOVE, LEAVING ME NOW, SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, RUNNING IN THE FAMILY

IN A BIG COUNTRY

Plus

NATHAN MOORE

JAKI GRAHAM

FROM BROTHER BEYOND

NO. 1 U.S. HIT AIN’T NOBODY

HEAT WAVE

BOOGIE NIGHTS

HOLKHAM BOX OFFICE TEL: 01328 713111 KING’S LYNN CORN EXCHANGE TEL: 01553 764864 COURTESY OF THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF LEICESTER

BOOK ONLINE NOW AT WWW.LIVEPROMOTIONSCONCERTS.CO.UK

ADVERTORIAL

LEVEL 42

AT Holkham House

Having just completed a 36 date sold out UK & European tour ‘Sirens’, in October and November 2014, Level 42 could be forgiven for wanting to take things a little easier after 34 years in the saddle. “No way!”, says bassist and front man Mark King. “Touring the ‘Sirens’ EP has been about as much fun as I can remember having had on the road, and with the addition of the brass section I think the band has developed not only musically, but also in the way we present ourselves to our fans. Re-invention can be a wonderful thing!” To date the band and Mark have released 14 studio albums, seven live albums, the Sirens’ EP and six compilation albums. They have had 18 top 40 singles, including ‘Lessons in Love’, ‘Something About You’, ‘Leaving Me Now’, ‘Running in the Family’ and ‘Hot Water’, sold out Wembley Arena for a total of 21 nights and sold in excess of 30 million albums worldwide.

In short they have proven to be one of the most successful British bands of the 1980s, and with the recent re-issues of the bands vast catalogue on Universal Music, and inclusion on BBC Radio 2’s Sounds of the Eighties compilation album currently in the charts, it is clear they continue to be a benchmark for British Jazz Funk at the highest level. 2015 will see Level 42 kicking off the year with a tour of Japan, then into the festival season across the UK and Europe. Level 42 Mark King bass/vocals Mike Lindup keys/vocals Nathan King guitar/vocals Sean Freeman sax/vocals Dan Carpenter trumpet/vocals Nichol Thomson trombone/vocals Pete Ray Biggin drums For tickets visit www.livepromotionsconcerts.co.uk

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Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th June

Book your tickets online at: woburnabbey.co.uk/gardenshow Woburn Abbey, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9WA J2936 WA Garden Show Eastlife ad 168x240+3_Apr16.indd 1

11/04/2016 09:59

the latest news and events from around the region

Win tickets to see The Corrs at Newmarket Nights The Corrs are the first act to take the stage at this year’s Newmarket Nights on the 17 June and we have two pairs of tickets up for grabs! The date will also mark the beginning of celebrations for Newmarket Racecourses in their landmark 350th year as The Home of Horseracing. To enter visit our Facebook page at www.facebook. com/eastlifemag and tells us your favourite song from The Corrs – it’s that easy! Full details and terms and conditions can be found at www.eastlife.co.uk. Newmarket Nights offers a value for money experience, alongside a show-stopping headlining performance by some of the worlds biggest artists. The action kicks off earlier in the day with a six race card - giving fans the chance to witness powerful equine athletes who are stars in their own right, and enjoy the thrilling drama and spectacle of them racing for glory. Tickets for all shows are available now from thejockeyclublive.co.uk

NEWS FLASH

Bank holiday event at IWM Duxford May Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 May, will see the American Air Show at IWM Duxford, celebrating the reopening of the newly-transformed American Air Museum . Over the weekend, vibrant flying displays will be accompanied by evocative living history, veterans’ voices and powerful film and music to show the developing relationship between Britain and America through the World Wars, Cold War and into the present day. In addition to the dynamic flying display, visitors will be able to meet living history groups representing the United States Air Force in the Second World War and during the Vietnam era, listen to nostalgic music performed by Miss Holliday Swing, The Bluebird Belles and Pete Wayre and explore the newly-transformed American Air Museum, containing the best collection of American aircraft on display outside North America. www.iwm.org.uk/duxford

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The Glasswells

PLATINUM

SALE

Bury St. Edmunds | Ipswich | glasswells.co.uk

GW0613 East Life Mag May16.indd 1

04/04/2016 09:50

A once in a lifetime opportunity at Peterborough Cathedral Peterborough Cathedral is inviting adventure-loving individuals to take part in a sponsored abseil down the side of the famous West Front. All the proceeds from this once in a lifetime opportunity will go towards the Peterborough 900 Campaign, which is raising funds to improve facilities for visitors and worshippers at the Cathedral leading up to its 900th anniversary in 2018. The abseil, which is supervised by Derby Mountain Rescue, will take place on Friday 8 - Saturday 9 July. Anyone over the age of 16, who is in good health, is eligible to take part in the challenge. Each participant is booked in for a specific time slot and is encouraged to raise sponsorship of around ÂŁ250. The event has already proved very popular with over 100 people already signed up. A limited number of spaces are available and anyone interested is invited to register online as soon as possible at shop.peterborugh-cathedral.org.uk/abseil. There is a ÂŁ50 registration fee and full health and safety details will be given, as well as advice on setting up an online sponsorship page.

Everything Goes! At The Bure Valley Railway The Bank Holiday Weekend is set to be busy for The Bure Valley Railway, Norfolk, as all available engines, coaches and rolling stock will be in action. There will be a special intensive timetable in operation throughout the weekend to allow visitors the opportunity to see as many different locomotives as possible hard at work over the nine miles between Aylsham and Wroxham. To keep younger visitors entertained there will a competition on the train journey, with a free prize for every correct entry. The workshop at Aylsham will be open throughout the weekend and staff will be on hand to answer any questions. Trains will be running from both Aylsham and Wroxham and fares allow unlimited travel on the day of issue. Children under 5 travel free. www.bvrw.co.uk

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. PETS PADDOCK . TRACTOR-TRAILER RIDES . HERITAGE MUSEUM . HERITAGE GARDEN . HEAVY HORSE TRAINING . CAFE

There is so much to see and do. Come and see our magnificent Suffolk Punch Horses and join us for a fascinating trip into Suffolkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rural past. Enjoy our rare breed farm animals, tractor tours and cafe. Coach parties, groups, children's parties and conferences catered for. Please check our website for opening times and admission. Just 30 minutes from Ipswich and an hour from Colchester or Bury St Edmunds. The Suffolk Punch Trust, Hollesley, IP12 3JR I 01394 411327 I www.suffolkpunchtrust.org I info@suffolkpunchtrust.org Registered charity:charity: 1100596 Registered 1100596

Discover Newmarket launches 350 Walking Tour 2016 marks 350 years of making history, a key anniversary that celebrates the ‘Home of Horseracing’. As part of the exciting and varied programme of events planned, Discover Newmarket have announced details of a special 350 Walking Tour. The tour will run before racing on each of the Summer Saturday fixtures at Newmarket Racecourses throughout the summer and will take two hours. Starting at 9am on the top of the high street at the Bill Tutte Memorial, the tour will take in sights of historical interest including Palace House, the Jockey Club Rooms, All Saints Church and Tattersalls. The tour will conclude at Nancy’s Tea Shop where walkers will enjoy Nancy’s delicious breakfast tier. Pre-booking is essential. www.discovernewmarket.co.uk

John Bunyan Boat takes to the water for the new cruising season With the arrival of spring the John Bunyan Community Boat takes to the river again for its fourth season on Bedford’s River Great Ouse. The 2016 programme starts on Sunday 1 May cruising from Priory Marina, calling in at Sovereigns Quay (next to the Star Rowing Club) and cruising up to Kempston. On Thursday afternoons the cruises run from Sovereigns Quay towards Cardington Lock. Other regular public cruises include a three-hour cruise to Great Barford to The Anchor for lunch, a cruise from the Town Centre to The Barns Hotel for Afternoon Tea, a Saturday evening Fish & Chip Supper Cruise, the very popular Sunset Cruise and Afternoon Tea Cruises run in conjunction with The Bedford Swan Hotel. The highly acclaimed Thursday evening Jazz Cruises continue on a monthly basis featuring top jazz musicians. www.johnbunyanboat.org

Paws in the Park Make the most of the great outdoors with your pooch on Sunday 15 May at The Ditchingham Estate with the ‘Paws in the Park’ fundraiser. The walk begins at 11.30am, where owners and their dogs can walk either a two, five or seven-mile route on the private estate. All funds raised will be donated to All Hallows Healthcare Trust and The Friends of All Hallows. Adults £5, children and dogs free to attend. www.ditchinghamestate.com

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TWO LOUS FORM FRONT LINE AGAINST CANCER AS THEY RACE FOR LIFE TWO CAMBRIDGE friends – who’ve both been diagnosed with cancer - are recruiting local women to join them on the front line against the disease by signing up to Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life. Lou Walch, who has cervical cancer, and Louise Walpole, who has been through treatment for breast cancer, are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their friends and family in the fight against cancer by entering Race for Life 5k at Parker’s Piece on Sunday 17th July. They are being joined by friend Karen Dennison, Lou’s goddaughter Heidi Dickson, who’s eight, and Louise Walpole’s daughter Natalie, who’s 13. They are expecting around 15 others to join their team and are urging other mums, daughters, sisters and friends to form their own mini regiments at the event by signing up at www.raceforlife.org Lou Walch, who has two sons - Dane, 15, and Ben, 12, was diagnosed with Stage 3 cervical cancer in October 2015. She is going through chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Despite the side effects of treatment she is determined to Race for Life this year. Lou, 35, said: “It was difficult when I was first diagnosed, we had a quiet journey home from the hospital. My sons know what’s happening and are both really strong kids. Matthew, my husband, has been great and has taken over everything that needs doing at home. “At first the doctors said I might never be cured, that they’d have to keep the cancer under control, but the tumour has shrunk so much and all of my scans have come back really positive, so we’ll see what happens. “I’ve taken part in Race for Life with my goddaughter twice before, this year will be different. I am determined to get around the course, I don’t care how I do it but I will do it. If I’m not well enough to walk, my friends and goddaughter will push me round in a wheelchair. Whatever it takes, I’ll be there to join the pink army.”

Joining Lou at Race for Life will be friends Karen Dennison and Louise Walpole. Louise was given the all clear from breast cancer last year. The news came as a huge relief as her husband lost his battle to kidney cancer six years ago. Louise feared her children would lose both parents to the disease. The mum of six, who’s 49, also lost her parents to the disease and couldn’t believe it had struck the family again. Louise Walpole said: “Fourteen years ago I lost my mum, she was 66 and had a brain tumour. My dad was gone within the year. He had stomach cancer but he’d hidden it from us because he’d seen the effect mum’s treatment had on her. My husband Iain put off going to the doctor as well and he was diagnosed too late. “Treatments have come on so much since then and that’s down to research. People have taken part in Race for Life for Iain in the past and then they took part for me, they’ve all raised money for research and to help beat cancer. Last year I took part for myself. I did it to raise money but I also wanted to celebrate winning my battle. Now we’re coming back in 2016 to run for Lou.”

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring women-only series of 5k and 10k events which raises millions of pounds every year to help fund life-saving research.

There are two events in 2016. The popular 5k course is back along with the 10k route, which is returning for a second year. Both start at Parkers Piece at 11am on Sunday 17 July.

Danielle Glavin, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the East, said: “Every day, around 89 people are diagnosed with cancer in the region*. That’s why we need women of all shapes and sizes to pull on their leggings, lace up their trainers and show their support.

Money raised through Race for Life allows Cancer Research UK’s doctors, nurses and scientists to advance research which is helping to save the lives of men, women and children across the East.

“Race for Life events are not competitive. They are not about being fit or fast. Taking part is about being part of a collective force of powerful women - of all ages leading the charge against cancer. “There are lots of different events to choose from - with 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy events there’s something to suit everyone. We’re urging women to pick the event that puts fire in their bellies and sign up as soon as possible.” Last year, 5983 women took part in Race for Life in Cambridge and raised a fantastic £369,316. This year, organisers need 7300 women and girls to stride out to help raise £445,000.

Danielle Glavin added: “One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives. Thanks to advances in research more people are surviving than ever before, but there’s still more work to be done. The fight is on and we’re rallying women across the city to join us at the starting line. “We know that the ladies of Cambridge are ready to limber up, stride out and take on the challenge so we urge them to sign up now and help bring us one step closer to the day when all cancers are cured.” To support Lou’s team visit https://www.justgiving.com/teams/run-for-lou

TO ENTER RACE FOR LIFE, VISIT

raceforlife.org

Every summer brings new and innovative festivals, whether you’re looking for big-name headliners, folk festivals, food and drink, arts and culture you’re bound to find it in a field in East Anglia. Read our festival guide for 2016 if you’re looking to have fun in the mud this summer… LOCAL FESTIVALS 20-29 MAY, BURY ST EDMUNDS FESTIVAL, SUFFOLK Expect 10 days jam-packed with entertainment in venues around the town. The festival offers a selection of international artists as well as home-grown talent. This year highly anticipated performances include violinist Nigel Kennedy, film director Lord Puttnam, Irish Country star Nathan

Image: Standon Calling

LIFESTYLE

FESTIVAL FEVER

Carter, and the winners of BBC2’s Naked Choir competition, The Sons of Pitches. www.buryfestival.co.uk 8-16 JULY, THE OUNDLE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, CAMBS The festival is going all out to live up to this year’s theme ‘the voice’. Visitors can expect a fantastic music ranging from soul, jazz, folk and classical, an open-air theatre performance of Roald Dahl’s ‘Danny, The Champion of The World’ and new to the festivities this year an outdoor cinema, which will be showing ‘Grease’. Add this to Party at the Wharf and the Food Festival, it’s clear to see why the festival appeals to all! Artistic director Kenneth Richardson says: “The festival is an important expression of creativity within the region and of local identity: it demonstrates to the outside world that Oundle is a place where interesting things happen. It is also important to the local economy bringing people into the town.” www.oundlefestival.org.uk

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Featuring

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15-24 July, IF: Milton Keynes International Festival, Bucks Now in its fourth edition, IF: Milton Keynes International Festival has become an essential part of the UK’s cultural summer calendar. Produced by The Stables every two years, the festival transforms the city centre and green spaces of Milton Keynes, creating unforgettable experiences for residents and visitors alike. Festival-goers will enjoy 10 extraordinary days of outdoor and large-scale performance, stand-up comedy, live music, family activities, intriguing free events and pop-ups. This year’s locations include centre:mk, South Willen Lake Park, Milton Keynes Central Station, the Theatre District, Xscape and a host of unexpected places in and around the city. www.ifmiltonkeynes.org

Red Rooster

15-17 July, Brentwood Festival, Essex Each year the festival grows in popularity. Held at the Brentwood Centre, guests are treated to a weekend of live music, food, a festival market and fairground. This year’s headliners include Soul II Soul, Level 42 and The Boomtown Rats. Camping facilities are available. www.brentwoodfestival.co.uk Music Festivals 1-16 July, Wymondham Music Festival, Norfolk The festival fortnight kicks off on the evening of Friday 1 July at Central Hall with the Festival Ceilidh, featuring Whirligig at 7.30pm. The following day will officially launch the festival fortnight with performances held in the Market Place. The Festival’s largest event, the Jazz Picnic returns to Becketswell on 4 July from 6.30pm-9pm with Simon Nelson’s Dixie Mix, and the popular Teddy Bear’s Picnic for the under 5s will be at King’s Head Meadow on 10 July, 11am to 1pm. There’s also lots in store for folk and classical music fans plus an exciting exhibition celebrating the festival’s 21-year history at Wymondham Arts Centre. The annual Town Busking Day is also on the menu, taking place on Saturday 28 May, 11am-2pm, and there are two Market Place music sessions on Saturdays 11 and 25 June, both 10am12noon. www.wymfest.org.uk 8-10 July, Ely Folk Festival, Ely, CambS Set to be better than the last, the Ely Folk Festival returns with an impressive guest list and programme of workshops, concerts, Morris displays and ceilidhs. The family-friendly festival is based on a single site, which includes marquees, camping facilities, food stalls, trade stands, a real-ale bar and children’s entertainment. www.elyfolkfestival.co.uk

Secret Garden Party - image Nick Caro

28-29 May, Leestock Music Festival, Long Melford, Suffolk Held in the grounds of Melford Hall the festival raises money for national charity the Willow Foundation, which supports seriously ill young adults. This year’s headliners include The Feeling, The Hoosiers, New Town Kings and Lucy Spraggan. www.leestock.org 10-26 June, Aldeburgh Music Festival, Suffolk A 17-day celebration with birds, circus and pianos at its heart. This year the festival begins with the spectacular verve of circus artistry as the richly-hued surrealism of Rimbaud’s poetry inspires Illuminations – Struan Leslie’s newly-commissioned staging of music by Britten and others. There’s also a four-concert residency from the French orchestra Les Siècles; a series that juxtaposes contemporaries Britten and Michael Tippett; concerts that look back 100 years and premieres of new pieces inspired by the war co-commissioned with 14-18 NOW. www.aldeburgh.co.uk 2-4 June, Red Rooster, Euston Hall, Suffolk The Suffolk Rhythm & Blues festival returns for its third year. Headliners include James Hunter Six and King Khan & The Shrines. This year Red Rooster

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Norfolk & Norwich Festival

also introduces new late-night hotspot, The Howlin’ Woods. Designed in the style of an old-school Southern record store, resident DJs will be spinning the finest RnB, Soul and Rock n Roll ‘til the early hours, whilst the bar serves some of the finest shots on the planet. Red Rooster aims to champion the very best in R’n’B, Americana, Blues, Soul, Roots and Country, the perfect destination for a ‘Deep South’ weekend of music, food and culture. www.redrooster.org.uk 18 June, Culford’s Opera in the Park, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk This magical outdoor concert this year features highlights from Mozart’s sublime opera The Magic Flute, as well as other opera favourites, all staged in Culford Hall’s beautiful grounds and performed by the acclaimed London Festival Opera. Guests are invited to arrive from 5pm to enjoy a picnic in the grounds. Adult tickets £37. www.culford.co.uk/opera 10-12 June, Homegrown Music Festival, Barrow, Suffolk Homegrown Music Festival will return to Barrow for a long weekend of live music from the best of East Anglia’s signed and unsigned talent. This year see’s the addition of a yoga tent and science activity tent, plus kids 14 and under go free! www.homegrownfest.co.uk

Holt Festival

21-24 July, Secret Garden Party, Abbots Ripton, Cambs Let your imagination run wild this summer as you explore The Gardeners Guide To The Galaxy. The festival programme will evolve around the theme with plenty of fun and quirky activities. Highlights include the colourful paint fight, water activities on the lake, the Spiritual Playground and The Lost Woods to name a few! Dance the day and night away with music from Caribou, Air, Primal Scream and many many more. The camping accommodation is extensive with Royal Safari Tents, Bell and Lotus Tents, Suite Hits, Sleep Huts, Yurts, Tipis and Vintage Showman Caravans available to choose from. www.secretgardenparty.com 23 – 26 June, Leigh Folk Festival, Leigh on Sea, Essex A fabulous free festival that draws visitors from far and wide, expect a diverse mix of music and entertainment. The pastoral, village fete atmosphere of the Library Gardens and the bustling, waterfront location of Old Leigh are both fundamental to the spirit of the weekend, and offer a natural, unpretentious welcome to visitors. www.leighfolkfestival.com 24 July, Folk by the Oak, Hatfield House, Herts The one day festival offers award-winning musicians and inspiring new talent across two stages. The day

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Shop Shop and and be be inspired! inspired!

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also features crafts and a creative family area for children. www.folkbytheoak.com 28-31 July, Cambridge Folk Festival, Cherry Hinton Hall, Cambs One of the longest running and most famous folk festivals in the world, the festival attracts thousands each year. It’s renowned for its mix of music and great line-up of artists. Over 40 acts will be taking to the stage, The Den will provide a platform for upand-coming artists, while The Hub is a music-making area exclusively for young people aged 10-18. Camping facilities, children’s entertainment, music workshops and other entertainment will also be available. www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk/folk-festival 29-31 July, Standon Calling, Herts Standon Calling is all about music and fun! This year is set to be even bigger as headliners Jess Glynne, Kelis and Suede take to the stage. Let your imagination run wild with this year’s theme ‘Legend of the Lost Seas’, enjoy premium camping at the Lavish Lands campsite and let kids get in on the action with a jam-packed programme of activities. From toddlers to teens there’s plenty to keep them entertained including trapeze lessons, multi-sensory mini raves and a family swimming pool! www.standon-calling.com 6 August, Eastern Electrics, Hatfield House, Herts For a third year Hatfield House will be transformed into a playground for big kids, soundtracked by the hottest names from the worlds of house, techno, garage, bass and disco, plus quite a bit in-between. Music aside, there’ll be plenty of the usual escapes on-site, expect fairground rides, dancers, highquality food vendors, mysterious woodland areas and much more. www.easternelectrics.com Arts & CulturE 13-28 May, Norfolk & Norwich Festival The programme, which spans performance, theatre, music, visual arts, literature and events for children, includes world premieres, concerts and one-off events, including a number of free outdoor events across the festival. The Garden Party will return to the festival for the middle weekend showcasing sound installations, circus, live music, dance and a scrap-metal fire breathing dragon. Follow us on Instagram @eastlifemag for our live snaps from the festival! www.nnfestival.org.uk 26 May – 4 June, Pulse Festival, Ipswich, Suffolk The festival sees the return of Suitcase Day and

Eastern Electrics

Pulse Festival

Scratch Day, plus a carefully selected array of headline performances. If you’re a fan of theatre and the arts, this is one festival not to be missed! Performances and events take place at a number of venues across the town including the New Wolsey Theatre, New Wolsey Studio and HEG High Street Exhibition Gallery. Stay up-to-date with action by using the hastag #Pulse16. www.wolseytheatre.co.uk/pulse-festival 2 July, Fling Festival, Hylands Park, Chelmsford, Essex The fun and creative festival for adults returns for a day of live music, burlesque and cabaret, surreal theatre and immersive arts and crafts, plus yummy food. Those camping can enjoy extra benefits such as the after hours bar, silent disco, beyond midnight hour activities such as storytelling and acoustic music, the breakfast club and Sunday yoga! www.flingfestival.com 23-31 July, Holt Festival, Holt, Norfolk Year after year this vibrant cultural festival serves up the very best arts and performances from across the region. From comedy to cuisine and pop to politics there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The first 12 acts have been announced including Gyles Brandreth’s Word Power, Jenny Éclair and Colin Cloud. Further acts and free events are scheduled to be announced on 3 May. www.holtfestival.org

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raise a gla

ENGLISH WINE W Picture the scene. It’s a summer’s day with the sun high in the sky and not a cloud in sight. You’ve sunbathed in Great Yarmouth, shopped in Stalham, mingled in Mildenhall and now you’re looking for a place to quench your thirst and revitalise the palate. Meanwhile the writer of this article has put the map away after finding places in East Anglia that you’ve all heard of! Anyway you stumble across an ivy-clad village pub; after taking a keen interest in the Jaguar S Type parked outside and saying hello to Buster the Labrador you arrive at the bar. You’re confronted with a sublime choice of beers, lagers and ciders, some brewed locally and others nationally. Everything seems the norm until you notice a couple popping open a bottle of Nyetimber. Intrigued, on closer inspection you notice the word ‘England’ on the label. Do they really produce wine here in England? Does it even exist? Surely not? Well yes and we’re pretty good at it too, naturally its not available on tap like some of the big well-known brands, but it doesn’t mean we should rule it out when making our decision what to have. There are some 470 vineyards here in the UK with almost every county represented producing, on average, a staggering 3.15 million bottles each year! Let us take a look at some super sparklers. Rewind back to the early 1990s when the English wine industry was facing a bit of a crisis. Producers were in the middle of an English wine phenomenon and by 1993 the area under vine across the UK was approximately 1,065ha. Many of these vines were producing grapes based on German crossbreeds with extraordinarily

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long names such as Schönburger, Reichensteiner, Huxelrebe etc. All of which you would have needed a degree in German to even pronounce. Unfortunately, the sales were poor, as was quality and many people were drinking Liebfraumilch at the time, based on similar grapes, and were wanting to try something new and exciting. The tides had to turn and indeed they did with the arrival of Stuart and Sandy Moss from America in 1988, who planted Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier (the three heavyweights used to make Champagne) and kicked off the English winemaking revolution. Naturally we don’t have a warm enough climate to grow grapes such as big bold Grenache or Shiraz as it’s distinctly marginal, but what I always enjoy about wines grown in this country is their fragrance, light body and versatility with a wide range of foods. They also tend to have a high acidic backbone which helps retain a sense of freshness especially with the fruit. Back on the fizz trail and wines produced by the likes of Nyetimber and Ridgeview, in Southern England, have often been compared with Champagne at blind tastings, that’s the bottle being covered with a bag not the taster covered with a blindfold! English fizz is becoming a big hit in the UK and there’s even talk about a ‘Protected Designation of Origin’ labelling regime (or PDO) whereby Sussex wine could soon be given protected status like other symbolic commodities across the UK such as Melton Mowbray pork pies or Cornish clotted cream. Glass of Sussex anyone? Feel free to get in touch with your opinions!

glass to

E WEEK

Written by Matthew Dicks - a WSET qualiﬁed Beers, Wines and Spirits Specialist for Waitrose

Those are the facts from the south of England but closer to home there’s a little known piece of history I’d like to share with you, and something I’m quite proud of. For that we have to head to the bustling town of Winchcombe in Gloucestershire. The French have often claimed that they were the pioneers of sparkling wine but unknown to them in 1662 a young man named Christopher Merrett, who was born in the town, first recorded the recipe for transforming ordinary still wine using sugar and molasses into the fizz we all love today. This was 20 years before Frenchman Dom Perignon (you may have heard a certain Champagne named after him) laid claim to the process.

So now you’ve had some ‘fizzical facts’ maybe it’s time you relaxed with a glass of English wine in the midday sun? Want to give them a try? Below are a few of my favourites to help toast the success of English wine: GIFFORDS HALL MADELEINE ANGEVINE The family-run vineyard of Giffords Hall in Suffolk was planted 25 years ago and was once the site of an ancient glacial river bed. Madeleine Angvine is one of England’s signature varietals and is becoming a firm favourite with the public mainly due to its close resemblance to aromatic Alsace whites. This English stunner certainly gives France a real run for its money with its delicate apple blossom and lime notes.

WINBIRRI VINEYARDS INSIGNIA English red wines may not be as widely available as its white counterparts but if you’re a fan of light, fruit-driven wines with succulent flavours then it’s worth giving them a try. This lively Norfolk red is a blend of three grape varieties; Dornfelder, Rondo and Regent, and results in a wine which boasts blackberry and plum notes, complemented by a black pepper twist. DENBIES ROSÉ HILL Nestled in the North Downs and comprising of 627 acres, Denbies Vineyard produces some of England’s top wines and is one of the largest wine estates in the UK. First planted in 1986, it was given the first ever gold medal for an English rosé wine. With the weather getting potentially warmer, many of us will be looking for that ideal tipple to enjoy in the garden on a lazy afternoon. This thirst-quenching rosé has a pungent nose of strawberries and raspberries with a delicate cassis finish. A true English delight! For more English wines visit www.waitrosecellar.com Twitter @waitrosewine

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Why we love NoRfolk

From the beautiful coastline and the stunning Broads to the fine city of Norwich and quaint market towns, there’s plenty of reasons to love this part of East Anglia

Last month we asked you to send us your images that capture the essence of Norfolk in one shot. We were overwhelmed with the response, and it was a tough choice, but here are seven great reasons of why we love this fine county summed up in photos…

2. Beaches – Norfolk is blessed with some of the most stunning beaches in the UK

1. The Broads Perfect for family holidays, weekend getaways and dog walks

Image: Cromer by Carmina McConnell “I love Norfolk because it is surrounded by vast sandy beaches which are rarely crowded and offer such awe inspiring views.”

Image: Wells by @blackbuttoncat

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5. Wildlife – From seals basking on the beach to woodland creatures and birds, we’re happy to share our county with mother nature’s finest Image: Seals at Horsey by Karl Hammett

3. Norwich – A castle, vibrant arts scene and 900-year-old outdoor market, what’s not to love? 4. Stunning skies – Norfolk’s landscape means beautiful big skies, though not always blue, we’re certainly spoilt with a fair share of spectacular sunsets 6. Family fun – wide open spaces to run around, sandcastle building opportunities and plenty of attractions makes Norfolk a prime destination for families Image: Great Yarmouth Beach by Martine Borrett

Image: Tom Rayfield “I love Norfolk because you can get views like this. Epic skies, fields as far as the eye can see, simply beautiful!”

Image: Mousehold Heath by Photos of Norfolk

7. Forest walks – Norfolk’s beautiful countryside means there are lots possibilities for woodland walks Image: Sandringham by Jon Clifton “I love Norfolk for its stunning scenery, amazing light and walks in the woods.”

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the boathouse ormesby broad

A warm welcome is guaranteed at our magical waterfront location, overlooking the beautiful Ormesby Broad.

Traditional pub dining with some tasty chefs specials. Eat, drink, relax and enjoy The Boathouse. Booking advisable: 01493 730342

The Boathouse, Ormesby Broad, Eels Foot Road, Ormesby St. Michael, Norfolk NR29 3LP

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SAY HELLO TO...

William Galinsky The annual 17-day festival across Norfolk & Norwich not only marks the start of summer in our fine city but fills our local venues and outdoor spaces with a fabulous variety of world class musical, theatrical and artistic performances. With the festival just around the corner, Eastlife spoke to the artistic director, William Galinsky, to get the inside view on what’s hot in this year’s programme… Tell us a little bit about yourself... I moved here at the start of 2011 to take up the role of Artistic Director of the festival. I had always loved festivals and the freedom to work between art forms - generally arts festivals tend to be more experimental and risk taking but also speak to a very broad audience. Which show or shows, are you most excited about in this year’s festival programme? I am always very excited about the new commissions and things that haven’t been to the festival before but honestly I take delight in the whole programme. I get a real kick out of seeing artists love the festival and its audiences and from the audiences enjoying world-class art on their door step. What would you recommend for those looking for something different? Wild Life, our ‘anti’ high school musical will be very unusual. Also, The Analogues recreation of The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour. In the outdoor programme be sure to catch the work of community architects Dennis Design Center. And I am very excited about The Tempest - in fact I am replying to these interview questions at the end of day one of rehearsal! Tell me a little about the festival’s production of The Tempest at Great Yarmouth Hippodrome... The location chose the play. I first visited the Hippodrome in 2011 and presented Dwayne Eddie there in 2012. I hadn’t realised Peter Jay (the Hippodrome’s owner and former front man of 60s pop group Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers) is a huge Dwayne Eddie fan and he was so happy the festival brought one of his musical heroes to his venue. As far back as 2012 I was thinking about the idea of a Tempest in the venue - it just really suggested itself to me. The festival, under my artistic direction, has very much specialised in site specific theatre productions and this seemed like the natural fit to commemorate the Shakespeare 400 year legacy. To read the full interview with William visit www.eastlife.co.uk

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LITTLE EAST

MUM’s THE WORD HOW TO COPE WITH THE DEATH OF A PET I’ve made a bit of a career out of death. No, I’m not an assassin but I spent 10 years as an end of life nurse and now work as a funeral director. And, because of my background, I’ve always been very big on being honest with kids about death and dying. It’s healthy for children to view death as not something mythical to fear but to see it as part of life, to learn that grieving is a part of loving and to understand the rites and rituals involved with losing someone we love. At eight years old my child has been to a funeral (though the full Catholic mass meant he glazed over rather than learnt anything about death rituals), has visited a dying relative and goes to see our dead relatives more often than he sees some of the living ones. He gets it. He’s not scared, he understands the different things that death brings emotionally, practically and physiologically. I’m quite proud of that and it was in the knowledge of his understanding of death that I allowed him to get a hamster. Hamsters don’t live long. He knew this. He possibly was overly aware of this as any period of inactivity from Pipsqueak (said hamster) was greeted with a wobbly lip and a panicky mummy waking up a sleeping, and rightfully annoyed rodent.

Last month however, the fateful day came. The lip wobbled, I shook the house and a stiff little paw came out rather than a grumpy little face. Once I had screamed for my husband (dead humans I can cope with, dead animals seemingly not) and we’d had cries and cuddles my son looked up into my face and said “I don’t want to bury him, he might get dug up, eaten by a fox, we might move. Can we cremate him?” What could I say?! I knew you couldn’t cremate a hamster, you’d get no ashes at all. Besides even if you could it wouldn’t be cheap. Of course we can’t. “Of course we can.” He (luckily) didn’t want to see it. We tucked him into bed, wrapped Pipsqueak up and put him into the wheelie bin. Then we went to our log burner, scooped out some ash and put it in a mini jam jar. The most fitting of memorials. I thought that would be the end of it. A white lie to spare my son pain. Then he decorated the jar. Then he started to kiss it goodnight. And almost a month on still does. I fear these ashes will go with him to university. I suspect my lie will go with me to my grave. Read more from Nicola Osborne at nicolasheehanauthor.wordpress.com @Osborneosaurus

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Essex Tropical Wings Zoo, Chelmsford Home to one of the best tropical houses in the UK, where visitors can experience beautiful free-flying butterflies and birds, Tropical Wings Zoo is all about exciting up-close encounters with wildlife, to be enjoyed whatever your age, whatever the weather! With keeper talks set to educate and entertain the family all day long, a full list of animals is available on the zoo’s website. www.tropicalwings.co.uk Colchester Zoo, Colchester One of Europe’s finest zoos maintaining 270 species over a huge 60 acres of gorgeous parkland, Colchester Zoo is a must-visit experience for any family living in the East. With a variety of shows, frequent events and the opportunity to come faceto-face with beautiful creatures such as the white rhino, giraffes and ostriches, Colchester Zoo really is an exciting day out for children and adults alike. See what’s going on at Colchester Zoo this half term on its website. www.colchester-zoo.com Epping Ongar Railway, Epping Why not whisk the kids back in time to their period stations with steam and diesel hauled trains, travelling through enchanting forest, picturesque countryside and beautiful historic towns? If you plan to visit at the start of half term week, the kids can even meet Peppa Pig! www.eorailway.co.uk

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Suffolk Jimmy’s Farm, Ipswich Developed by one of the UK’s best known farmers, Jimmy’s Farm is the setting of a BBC2 series - ‘Jimmy’s Farm!’. Since it aired, the farm has transformed into the perfect location for a countryside day out, with farm animals, a nature trail and butterfly house. Pet and feed all the farm animals before enjoying a family meal in Jimmy’s award-winning restaurant or purchasing some fresh meat from the on-site butchers for a gorgeous cooked meal at home. jimmysfarm.com High Lodge Thetford Forest, Thetford Set in the woodlands of Thetford, High Lodge is a great value, fun day out if the kids are up for a bit of adventure. With beautiful forest trails for you and plenty of adventure play along the way for them, you can let them run free this half term. Enjoy the brand new Stick Man trail! www.forestry.gov.uk/highlodge CurveMotion, Bury St Edmunds A modern, indoor interactive venue offering everything from roller skating, soft play and body zorbing, CurveMotion offers plenty to keep your children occupied over the half term period. We know the weather this time of year isn’t always as it should be, so why not sit back and relax in the centre’s quality café, whilst the kids explore the biggest indoor play frame in East Anglia! www.curvemotion.com

Family fun The best family attractions to visit this half term Written by Alice Mortimer Norfolk BeWILDerwood, Hoveton Looking for something different on the Norfolk Broads this half term? 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, making for a fabulously exciting day out for the whole family! www.bewilderwood.co.uk Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, Norwich In the heart of a vibrant historic city, Norwich Castle has plenty to offer for you and your children this half term. Enjoy exploring the castle’s evolution from Royal Palace to county prison and get intrigued by the brilliant collections of archaeology, fine art and natural history. Visit at the beginning of the week to catch the wonderful ‘A Viking’s Guide to Deadly Dragons’ exhibition, inspired by Cressida Cowell’s best-selling children’s books, How to Train Your Dragon. www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk

Activity Zone, whilst you relax in one of the green picnic areas. www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford

Sea Life, Great Yarmouth With over 1,500 amazing aquatic creatures including beautiful colourful reef fish, rays, sea horses, penguins and even tropical sharks, the Sea Life centre at Great Yarmouth makes for the perfect family day out if you’re wanting to experience life underwater. With a range of events and things to do and see, why not book now, saving up to 30 per cent by booking online. Don’t forget to check out their Turtle Shelter new for 2016! www.visitsealife.com/great-yarmouth

St. Ives Murder Mystery Treasure Trail, St Ives Fancy a day of exploration for you and your little adventurers? Starting at the famous Oliver Cromwell statue, the two-mile route takes you through the beautiful, historic town and onto the gorgeous views over the town’s river Ouse, all whilst solving clues, seeking suspects and discovering ‘who did it?’. Simply print off the trail via their website and get ready to channel your inner Sherlock Holmes! Visit the website to see where else you can partake in a Murder Mystery Treasure trail. www.treasuretrails.co.uk/thingsto-do/cambridgeshire/st-ives

Cambridgeshire Duxford Imperial War Museum, Duxford A museum boasting impressive exhibitions, along with an array of family activities, Duxford has plenty for you and your kids to get stuck into this half term. Let your little ones explore their exciting playground,

Punting, Cambridge Although it may set you back a few pounds, punting is well-worth breaking into the wallet for. Enjoy fantastic views of world-famous landmarks, Cambridge Colleges and historic scenery. Do some research on punt operators to find the best deal.

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A gift for each Mother!

Norwich Road, Aylsham, Norfolk NR11 6BW Tel: 01263 733858

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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 Sandwich. the school finds inspiration from its heritage and gives both staff and students a very special pride and a sense of identity. Our mission is to inspire excellence and fulfil potential.

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May 28th - 30th See all our available engines and coaches in action. An intensive service with unlimited travel all day. Children’s competition - FREE prize for every entry.

We aim for all students to be nurtured as uniquely talented individuals, finding fulfilment

through their learning and the development of their intellectual, creative, physical and emotional capabilities. We aim for our students to develop the moral integrity to become more responsible global citizens, so that they may take their place in society with confidence. We are confident that anyone associated with the Hinchingbrooke learning community, student or adult, will leave the richer for their experience.

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EDUCATION

How to help your child prepare for their exams Spring is in the air – which means it is revision time! Supermarkets and stationers are full of revision charts, flash cards, highlighter pens and sticky notes as GCSE students across the country pore over their books, preparing for their forthcoming exams. My team and I at PET-Xi work in partnership with schools day in, day out, providing practical support to young people around the country. Our starting point is always to ensure pupils have mastered the basics. Students who have missed out on the fundamental points of a subject or topic are consequently often unable to follow enough of the subsequent lessons to become, or remain, engaged. When it comes to revision, it’s important to break the task down into manageable chunks. Yes teachers will have helped them arrange and organise a revision programme – but that doesn’t mean they will have remembered! Also look at any specific barriers that may stop a child revising – for example check they have an appropriate routine and a quiet space available.

Written by Fleur Sexton

You may be able to help them spot other opportunities, like a bus ride to school each day, and suggest they revise then, using flashcards they can carry in their pockets. Another useful idea here is to test out different ways of getting through to them using their own learning style – anything from colour coding and pictures to mnemonics. Finally, be sure to help learners maintain a sense of perspective so that exams don’t take over in a negative way. A holistic approach including good nutrition, exercise and even trips to the cinema and Xbox time are also essential elements of any good revision plan. Protecting and maintaining mental health is more important than getting good exam results at any cost. It is also a valuable lesson for later life. By helping young learners to be clear about exactly what is expected of them, providing all the support that they need and focusing on breaking down their barriers, we can ensure they are as successful as possible in their exams this summer.

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Creating opportunities… realising potential… living life to the full! We are an independent co-educational day school and nursery for 2–11 year olds Call us today on 01279 657706 or visit www.howegreenhouseschool.co.uk

Open Morning Saturday 14th May 10am-12pm Howe Green House School, Great Hallingbury, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire CM22 7UF

visit us at www.eastlife.co.uk GET YOUR FAVOURITE MAGAZINE ON THE GO JUST SEARCH “EASTLIFE” IN THE GOOGLE PLAY OR APPLE APP STORE

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THE EAR LY YEARS Sue Smith, a Cambridgeshire based childminder and PACEY (Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years) facilitator, shares her first-hand experience of supporting children as they make the transition from early year’s settings into reception. There is no magic formula for preparing children for school, but there are ways you can naturally ease your child through this transition period to lessen any worries that you or they might have.

Make the most of the great outdoors May is a great time for empowering children and supporting those life skills needed for the start of school. There are more opportunities to get outside and play, more scope for games to encourage confidence and skills, as well as opportunities to get together in larger community events. You could take the time to practice ball games to develop and build gross motor skills as well as hand to eye co-ordination, supporting further confidence and concentration skills needed during their early school days.

Listen and empower It is important for a child to be emotionally ready for the changes that lay ahead and parents can make a real difference by listening and tapping into their child’s interests. Some of the most effective ways of empowering children comes through encouragement and exploration to find out how things work, which helps to build on children’s naturally inquisitive nature.

Let them take the lead By allowing your child to take the lead in some of the daily routines around the house, for example,

laying the table for a meal, or helping to pack a picnic basket for an outing to the park can all go towards building self-confidence. Allow your child to make food choices for themselves with discussion around healthy choices and their own preferences may overcome some of the hesitation that could prevail around school lunch routine. Explore new food ideas and perhaps enjoy cooking experiences together.

Talk about feelings Talk to your child about new experiences ahead – help them to get excited about learning. Encourage curiosity and motivation to learn by spending time together and talking about emotions. Asking open ended questions and allowing the time for children to respond by discussion, as well as offering support in positive responses can turn anxious times into exciting times ahead.

Think local Utilise the services offered by your local library, whether this is by joining the summer reading challenge which many libraries offer during the holidays or attending story time. By joining in with larger get-togethers the children will develop a confidence in bigger social circles and cope better when faced with this at school.

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FOOD & DRINK

FOOD & DRINKReview The Cookery School at Braxted Park We’re a nation obsessed with cooking, thanks to the likes of Masterchef and the Great British Bake Off, but however good you think you are in the kitchen there’s always room to learn something new. Two years ago I was fortunate enough to review a course at The Cookery School at Braxted Park, which I loved, so when I was offered the chance to take part on their ‘Everlasting English’ course I jumped at the chance. Led by chef William Grinsted, aka Billy, the course serves up the best of British cuisine; Quail scotch eggs, potted shrimp with homemade bread, eggs Benedict, handmade sausages, beef wellington and Eton mess with homemade hazelnut meringue. Billy has been with The Cookery School since its launch in 2011. His East Anglian roots and farming background have allowed him to develop his passion for food and cooking. The day began with introductions and I was intrigued to hear why the attendees had chosen the course. Some were looking to learn new recipes, skills and tips while others simply wanted to try a new experience. Some were even lucky enough to have received the course as a Christmas gift! First up was preparing the meringue for dessert. We gathered around watching Billy mix and whisk, while quizzing him with questions. Next, we returned to our stations and worked in pairs to make scotch eggs and homemade sundried tomato bread. Billy had demonstrated each step to help us along the way. I’ll certainly appreciate the effort that goes into making a scotch egg when ordering it off the menu from now on, but I was pleased to learn that making bread isn’t as challenging as I expected. Eggs Benedict was my favourite dish of the day and one I’ll definitely be repeating at home. Our efforts were rewarded and we tucked into the delicious brunch dish for a mid-morning break. The afternoon was full of more inspiring dishes and helpful tips as we created our potted shrimp and beef wellington, a favourite among the group,

which was served at the end of the day with a glass of wine, and an opportunity for the group to share their experience. I must admit I found the sausage making the most challenging of the day (nobody else did, just me) and I think I’ll be buying my sausages from the butcher in future - mincing meat is not my forte! I highly recommend The Cookery School at Braxted Park as a new experience or if you’re looking to improve your cooking skills. The team are wonderful and welcoming and I was surprised how different this course was to the previous one I had tried. Billy has a laid back approach to cooking and got the group to look beyond the recipe book and really think about the food and flavours they were putting together. In future I won’t panic when I don’t have the correct measurement, I’ll just throw it in and hope for the best. If you fancy trying your hand at one of Billy’s courses, there’s a few remaining spaces available on his Great British Takeaway class on Tuesday 24 May. www.braxtedparkcookery.co.uk New classes for 2016 Amazing Malaysian Turkish Kitchen Dough Versity

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Our tea room is open every day for breakfast, lunch, Sunday roast and high tea. Relax with a cream tea or a glass of bubbly in our enclosed children’s play area.

Open Farm Sunday

Come and explore our farm with tractor trailer rides, farm barn games, children’s play area, meet the farmer, butchery demos, animal petting, farm shop and hog roast plus so much more.

Sunday 5th June 11.00am - 3.00pm www.foxholesfarm.com

Farm Shop Opening Hours: Mon-Weds 8.30am - 5.30pm | Thurs & Fri 8.30am - 6pm | Sat 8am - 5pm | Sun 10am - 4pm Foxholes Farm, London Road, Hertford, Hertfordshire SG13 7NT

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CAMBRIDGEFOODIE Gerla de Boer, founder of the Cambridge Food Tour, shares her wisdom of the city’s cuisine…

The tea revolution has hit Cambridge! According to George Orwell “a nice cup of tea” could only be made of Indian or Ceylonese tea. China tea gives you a lot of tea, but there is not much stimulation in it according to him. Times have changed! Tea has become hip and trendy and according to the Tea Association of the USA, the sale of tea will double over the next five years! So where has this hype come from? Just as the booming food scene around the world, tea and coffee are trending now too. I love a nice cup of tea, but not the regular ones. I like a twist or something different. Here are my favourite teas in Cambridge… Matcha Latte This slight sweet warming cup made of powdered green tea leaves is becoming one of my favourites. The Espresso Library serves a very good one. The best one I have had so far!

Chai Latte A real pick you up any time of the day. Jo from Afternoon Tease, located on King Street, mixes her own spices and you can taste that! Spicy, slightly sweet a real cup of comfort.

Fresh mint tea Much to my surprise this refreshing tea made with fresh mint leaves is not very popular in the UK. It is hugely popular in the Netherlands. Head off to Crepeaffaire in Bridge Street.

Chinese date tea If you like a sweet tea, then you really should go to Zonghua in Norfolk Street. Good for insomnia and blood deficiency. Chinese women sometimes add red wine.

Every cup of tea is a journey to the heart according to Xi Chen. A real experience is attending her Chinese tea ceremony. Check out Xi Chen’s website or contact her to find out more. www.chenxi.carbonmade.com Read more from Gerla at www.cambridgefoodtour.com

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Brunch in

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CAMBRIDGE Fitzbillies 51 - 52 Trumpington St, Cambridge Fitzbillies isn’t just about cake, you’ll be pleased to know the historic Cambridge eatery has a fantastic brunch menu, served seven days a week. Enjoy the classics such as eggs Benedict and a full English or try lighter options such as smashed avocado on sourdough toast with feta or homemade granola, all accompanied by its much loved coffee, roast by Climpson & Sons, and decorated with beautiful latte art. www.fitzbillies.com

Espresso Library 210 East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1BG This chilled out establishment has a great weekend vibe. Perfect for late risers, it serves breakfast from 7am to 3pm, has more avocado options than you can imagine and serves a special brunch menu on Sundays! www.espressolibrary.com

Urban Larder 9 The Broadway, Mill Road, Cambridge If you love your coffee, you’ll love the Urban Larder. With its industrial décor and modern ambiance, it’s a favourite with young city dwellers. It’s praised

for its coffee which is sourced from Butterworth & Son in Bury St Edmunds and its food is all made inhouse or sourced from the Mill Road area. www.urbanlarder.coffee

Norfolk Street Bakery 89 Norfolk Street, Cambridge Add a little Portuguese flair to your breakfast at the Norfolk Street Bakery. One for all bread lovers, owner Adilia knows how to make a loaf! Here you’ll find sandwiches that pack a punch as well as choice of pastries and tarts. www.norfolkstreetbakery.com

The Garden Café Cambridge University Botanic Garden, 1 Brookside, Cambridge Located in the beautiful Cambridge University Botanic Garden, the café may only serve brunch on the first weekend of every month but it’s not to be missed! Dine on a choice of eggs, sweet treats such as waffles, French toast and pancakes or choose the healthy fruit and granola options. It can all be washed down with a Bloody Mary or Bucks Fizz – it’s the weekend after all! www.thegardencafecambridge.co.uk

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CLEAN

HEALTH

THE CLEAN EATING CORNER

EAT- ING

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So, you have decided it’s time to clean up your diet. That’s great! As more and more people are becoming aware, there is no need to go on faddy diets, very low calorie or meal replacements. These are simply not healthy or sustainable. That’s why we have come up with our top five tips on how to start improving the health of you and your family. Read on and change your relationship with food forever… 1. Ditch the refined sugar Sugar is a sneaky devil and finds its way in so many of the prepared foods we eat. Obvious culprits are biscuits, cakes, chocolates and sweets, but did you know food manufacturers add sugar into savoury foods as well? It can be found in jars of sauces, ready meals and even some pre-mixed herbs and spices. The best thing to do is to check the ingredients of everything you buy. Also watch out for the different names they call sugar too; dextrose, maltodextrin, sucralose to name a few. Try cooking from scratch, buying all your ingredients raw – this really doesn’t need to be complicated or time consuming. 2. Eat up your fruit and veg Fresh fruit and vegetables are the most amazing and clean foods out there. Apples and bananas are the original fast foods after all. We all know we should eat more vegetables, and there is nothing nicer than having a rainbow of colours on your plate from a variety of fresh fruit and veg. 3. Cut out the booze Alcohol has zero nutritional value, so while it may make you feel good short term, in the long run all it will do is feed your sugar addiction and add inches to your waist. By cutting it out either altogether, or by reducing the amount you have, you will be going in the right direction for a cleaner lifestyle.

4. Full fat everything A common diet mistake is to eat ‘fat free’ or ‘reduced fat’ foods. These are more highly processed and therefore not considered clean. Eating full fat is always the best option, whether that is full fat milk, cheese or yoghurts. In fact, fat is not the enemy in food (as long as it’s the good fats), so never avoid high fat foods like avocados or nuts and seeds – in reasonable quantities these are an important food group. 5. Check out HeLo Health’s 3 Month Clean Eating Challenge To really educate yourself and to join a community of like-minded people, consider joining a clean eating challenge and support group. HeLo Health’s 3 Month Clean Eating Challenge is an excellent way to gain education, inspiration and motivation. I run the challenge together with Louise Plumb who is a fitness competitor pro and an avid clean eater. We have had so many successful and beautiful stories. The challenge is truly life changing and will not only get you healthier, happier and slimmer, but will change your relationship with food forever. Just have a read of our reviews on Helo Health Facebook. Follow these tips and you will make a great start to eating clean and discovering a healthier you!

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Ready, set RUN! The London marathon may be over but here in East Anglia we’re just getting started. If you love running, it’s time to grab your trainers and get ready for these top events:

flat course give runners an excellent chance of a personal best, but the route is a visually interesting one and is lined throughout with supporters, giving runners excellent encouragement and support.

9 October, Perkins Great Eastern Run Last year’s Perkins Great Eastern Run was the city’s most successful half marathon since the race made its return to Peterborough in 2006.

Free weekly training sessions take place at the Peterborough Embankment Athletics Track from July and on race day pacers will lead runners around the course at different times from start to finish. To enter visit www.perkinsgreateasternrun.co.uk

With almost 7,000 runners across the half marathon, Anna’s Hope Fun Run and wheelchair race, it was a record breaking event - including for its winner, Kenyan Philip Koech, who ran its fastest time yet of 61.40. The half marathon was the second fastest in the UK last year and turnout on the day was the highest ever. Registrations are now open for the 10th successive year of the race, which takes place on 9 October 2016, and organiser Peterborough City Council is gearing up for another bumper year. The Perkins Great Eastern Run has a great reputation among half marathons in the UK. Not only does its fast,

Race for Life East Anglia Don’t worry if you’re not the running kind, Race For Life in aid of Cancer Research UK is suitable for all ages and abilities. Throughout the summer there will be plenty of 5K and 10K runs available across the East. The Norwich race takes place 15 May, Cambridge 17 July, Bury St Edmunds 26 June and Colchester on 10 July. www.raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org EACH Colour Dash Who said running had to be boring? Once again East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice will be putting on a colourful selection of runs throughout the summer. Run, jog or walk a 5k route at various locations across the region while being covered in powered paint! It’s a great way to get fit and have fun, and better still it’s for a good cause! The Norwich colour dash takes place at Eaton Park on 22 May, Ipswich colour dash on 29 May at Christchurch Park which features a super 100m slip’n’slide and the King’s Lynn event is on 4 September at The Walks. Sign up at www.each.org.uk Woodbridge 10k Road Race The 35th annual Woodbridge Round-the-Town Charity races will be held this year on Sunday 15 May. The races follow an undulating course through the streets of Woodbridge that brings the whole town out to line the streets and support the runners. Last year the run raised £6,000 for charities. www.choosewoodbridge.co.uk

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  



“We provide round the clock care of the highest standard.”

Life is for living range at Foxburrow G

At Foxburrow Grange we are dedicated to helping our residents enjoy life to the full. We create an environment where independence and involvement are encouraged; where our residents have choice and control over how they live their lives. For more information:

01206 586900

www.foxburrowgrange.org.uk

Station Road, Ditchingham, Bungay, Suffolk. NR35 2QL

01986 892728 | www.all-hallows.org.uk

Ferrars Hall Care Home Opening June 2016

• Specialist dementia & residential care • 66 luxurious en-suite bedrooms • Spacious, tasteful bathrooms • Fine dining experience with waitress service • Cinema, shop, cafe and beauty salon • Beautifully landscaped, enclosed gardens

Spread over three floors, Ferrars Hall, on Ferrars Road, Huntindgon will be registered to provide personalised residential and dementia care in a luxury environment. The home has been purpose built in traditional stone to promote a lifestyle for residents that offers superior accommodation and a high quality of personalised care. The home will boast 66 en-suite bedrooms, a hair salon, a café/bistro, a shop, a cinema room, and numerous lounges and communal areas.

Ferrars Hall will be hosting a Public Open Day on Sunday the 12th of June at 11am. All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you there!

For more info or to request a brochure: 0843 506 9452 | info@countrycourtcare.com | www.countrycourtcare.com

92634 Michael Gaunt (148x107)_92634 Michael Gaunt (East Life) 24/03/2016 11:14 Page 1

Mr Michael Gaunt

NEW LEGS NEW YOU Look good, feel good Revive & restore tired and aching legs, thread veins and varicose veins Consultant vascular surgeon Michael Gaunt specialises in varicose and thread veins. He is a leading venous expert, experienced in treating varicose veins with both the Endovenous laser and ClariVein techniques.

Also available is VeinWave treatment for unsightly facial thread veins and spider veins Mini-consultations with Michael Gaunt start at ÂŁ95, to include an initial assessment and tailored personal treatment options. 01223 305858 Harley Street London Spire Lea & Nuffield Health Cambridge Spire Norwich Norfolk BMI Bury St Edmunds Suffolk

www.michaelgaunt.com

04 April East Life Spa HP 2016_Layout 1 08/04/2016 16:59 Page 1

Health & Spa

at Ufford Park Woodbridge

Imagine a Spa... with a fantastic treatment menu, the finest facilities, friendly and professional therapists, that always put you first. ... you no longer have to imagine Ufford Park Spa is the first choice destination for anyone looking to relax, revitalise or restore. Using a series of heat and cooling experiences, our Thermal Suite Spa guides your body through a sensory journey with the ultimate aim of inducing deep relaxation.

ALL ABOUT YOU t 0844 477 1835 (local rate) w www.uffordpark.co.uk Yarmouth Road, Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1QW

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FASHION

How to pack for a

STYLISH HOLIDAY Written by Ruth Essex, Image Consultant, mycolourcoach.co.uk

Holiday Outfit Planner Chart (Day/Evening) When women spend a third of their holiday bill on new clothes and accessories, packing becomes an important part of your holiday. My top style advice is to use a holiday planning chart. Think about the type of activities you will do, the weather, and places to visit before you pack. Use one chart for day, then another for evening, and you can double up your travel outfit. Leave a copy at home too in case you need to make a lost luggage insurance claim. Simple styling Keep your palette simple with one dark neutral and one light neutral so any other colour goes with them. It also helps to stick to similar levels of brightness or muted tones. For example, the sharpness of cerise, black and white; or dusky pinks and blues, with soft off whites. I advise six tops, one jacket and one cardigan for evenings and travel, three dresses, one light and one dark pair of shorts, one skirt, and two trousers in both light and dark. Add one day and one evening bag; plus three pairs of shoes; day sandals, beach ready and evening shoes. Try it on Try on every outfit with accessories and record in your chart. It is no good finding an item that doesn’t fit properly once you have landed. Add the colour with plenty of accessories and keep patterns only to one half of your body, for easier outfit mixing.

OUR FAVOURITE Holiday ESSENTIALS Whether you’re jetting off on a city break or topping up your tan on the beach, make sure you pack these must-haves available on the high street...

Sailor Tee Breton Ecru Orca, £25, Seasalt Cornwall

Hat £6, Top £5, Shorts £5 Primark

Just 16 items will make 40 outfits, so you really don’t need to over pack. Grab your passport and a good novel then you are ready to enjoy your stylish fun in the sun. £15.99, New Look

£45, River Island

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Wardrobe

20 HIGH STREET, GREAT DUNMOW ESSEX CM6 1AH

Apanage Faber Javier Simorra Joseph Ribkoff

Mac Jeans Masai Sandwich Capollini

01371 879862 hello@wardrobe-uk.com www.facebook.com/wardrobedunmow www.wardrobe-uk.com

Olney This Spring we have launched Wardrobe A collection of beautiful dresses and separates for every day or special days from Noa Noa, Nancy Mac, Great Plains and Darling 21a Market Place Olney MK46 4BA 01234 713375 www.noanoa-olney.co.uk

SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP

at Freeport Braintree

I’ll be honest and admit it, I’m a shopaholic. I love clothes, I love styling them, reading about them and most of all shopping for them! Though my wardrobe is bursting, there’s always room for one more item, or 10, as I found out when I headed to Freeport Braintree. I’ve recently become lazy with my shopping and I no longer spend hours browsing the shops at the weekend but sit on my sofa scrolling through shopping apps with one eye on the TV in the evening, which is why the designer outlet at Freeport Braintree made for a welcome change.

WIN a £100 Gift Card

For your chance to grab some super savings, Freeport Braintree are offering one lucky reader the opportunity to win a £100 gift card to spend as they please at the shopping village! To enter simply tell us what you’d buy with your £100 – it’s that easy! ‘Like’ our Facebook page www.facebook.com/eastlifemag or visit www.eastlife.co.uk for more details and full T&C’s. www.freeport-braintree.com

The shopping village has over 85 stores with up to 60 per cent off everyday, which means there’s always a great opportunity to grab a bargain. Stores are a mix of high street names and designer labels such as Kurt Geiger, Ted Baker, Hollister and Tommy Hilfiger to name a few. Both men and women are catered for, and whatever your reason for shopping, be it in need of a seasonal update, special occasion or great pair of shoes, you’re bound to find it. And of course, once your feet get tired and you can’t carry your bags any longer, there’s the chance to stop by one of the many restaurants and refuel with a bite to eat! I was pleasantly surprised by the great savings on sportswear and I managed to update my workout wardrobe for a fraction of the price. A few purchases were made at Next, well who My total bill doesn’t love a Item RRP Paid Next clearance, Next shirt £20 £7 and I bought some Nike leggings £22 £15 gorgeous crisp Nike sportsbra £30 £21 white bedding. Nike trainers £55 £11 However, the Adidas sportsbra £26 £12 Rayban £145 £25 bargain of the day, Julian Charles well my life actually, luxury duvet set £90 £24.99 had to be a stylish pair of Rayban’s Total saving: £272.01 from The Sunglasses Hut at just £25!

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THE FINAL COUNTDOW N What To Do In The Final Few Weeks Before Your Wedding

Written by Katrina Otter

You’ve planned your wedding to perfection, everything is finally coming together and your wedding is just around the corner but the work isn’t over just yet! No matter how organised you’ve been throughout the planning process there’s still plenty of things to do and lots to consider. It’s an exciting, nerve wracking and emotional time so to help you out and hopefully make those final few weeks as stress free as possible, I thought it would be useful to share my top tips to managing the final countdown!

And whilst you’re getting organised also remember to pack a wedding day emergency/ essentials kit and first night or honeymoon bag and arrange for someone to be responsible for them.

SORT OUT YOUR BRIEFS AND SCHEDULES Channel your inner wedding planner by finalising, confirming and circulating your wedding day schedule and briefs roughly four weeks prior to your wedding. To give you absolute peace of mind, phone or email all of your key suppliers and wedding party 1-2 weeks before your wedding to double / triple check timings, logistics and final details.

DELEGATE No matter how organised you are, delegation is the key to a relatively stress-free final few weeks! Go through your to-do list, find the things that are easy to hand over or take up a lot of your time and ask for help. You won’t get any extra points for doing everything yourself and I have no doubt that friends and family would love to help you out if you asked.

GET AHEAD If you can, try to make all of the big decisions and finalise your plans and schedules at least 4-6 weeks prior to your wedding, including your wet weather contingency plan. If you’re getting creative and are indulging in a spot of wedding DIY, then the 4-6 weeks rule also applies.

STEP AWAY FROM THE WEATHER REPORT! There’s only so much you can do in the final few weeks and it’s essential that you remember and remind yourself of this otherwise you may end up even more emotional, over-worked, tired and stressed as a result.

Things will and always do crop up in the final few weeks that you necessarily haven’t accounted for so if you can get ahead then you’ll have the time to be able to deal with anything truly ‘last minute’.

Please, please, please try not to cram the last few weeks with extra jobs or unnecessarily obsessing about your wedding, including the weather… after all whatever will be, will be.

GET ORGANISED Find an area where you can start to store, box, label and stockpile your wedding décor and any essential on-the-day items. Ensuring that you have everything organised and in one place will make things so much easier for you. It’ll also reduce the risk of anything being lost, forgotten or misplaced along the way.

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So step back, step away, make time for you and your partner and try to enjoy those last few weeks. Trust me, you’ll be so much happier in the long run and on the day itself as a result.

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

WEDDINGS eastlife.co.uk

Conference at The Carlton Manor

Carlton Manor is a stunning backdrop for your 1 to 1 meetings or conference for up to 150 delegates. With easy access from Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Beccles we have 60 free car park spaces. Our dedicated Event Managers will take care of you with your own dedicated conference staff. We can bespoke your conference requirements or we have great day delegate and 24 hour packages. The Mauree Suite can cater up to 150 delegates, The Carlton Room up to 65 delegates and the Conference Room up to 12 delegates. Equipped with 90â&#x20AC;? Pull up Projector Screens with Optoma S311 SVGA DLP Projectors. All rooms have free Wi-Fi and can also be hardwired to internet via 8 port switches.

How to pop the question to your

VENUE

Tamsin Beeson, Wedding Co-ordinator at Hylands House, Essex, tells us what to consider when hiring a wedding venue...

When it comes to your wedding there is a million and one things to plan, starting with selecting the right venue. Some places can take your breath away – so much so that people forget to ask the right questions. Here’s a short guide:

What kind of lighting does it have and how is this adjusted throughout the day? What are the electrics like, are there enough sockets for the band, DJ, any videos etc? Is there free and convenient car-parking?

1. Capacity How many guests can be seated for the wedding breakfast? How many can attend an evening buffet? How many rooms are available? Is there a place for the bride to get ready or change in the evening? Are there facilities available for any guests with disabilities? Is there a place to keep gifts safe? Are there proper cloakrooms for coats and umbrellas? Where will you greet your guests, where will people sit and where will they dance? Can you decorate the room? Are you allowed to have candles or lanterns? How easy is it for people to travel there?

3.Wedding Ceremony What legal requirements are there for your wedding to take place at the venue?

2. Venue Hire Costs and Timings Does the hire of the venue include insurance, staff, hire of tables and chairs? When will the venue be available and how long can you use it on the day? Does it have a fully-licensed bar? Are there any noise restrictions?

4.Catering Can you provide your own catering or do you need to use the venue’s own? Can you bring your own drinks? Do you need to hire tableware?

5.Photography Are there places both inside and out for gorgeous photography? Planning your day takes time, so it is always good to secure a helping hand from a wedding planner. Many venues can offer this service as part of the hire costs. www.hylandsestateweddings.co.uk

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Tony Lumb Wedding Photography

Kimbolton Castle A wedding at Kimbolton Castle is a magical affair in a stately home with beautiful grounds. Couples have exclusive use of the State Rooms. Our experienced team will guide you through your tailor made preparations at the Castle ensuring that your wedding day runs according to plan.

We make you feel very special Contact me for a free consultation to discuss your unique wedding plans

+44(0)7970865937 www.tonylumbweddingphotography.com www.tonylumb@hotmail.com

• Up to 120 guests for both the ceremony and wedding breakfast • Up to 250 guests for the evening • Licensed for civil ceremonies The Castle has its own caterers who provide a professional service offering a wide selection of menus and an extensive wine list. Bookings for 2016 & 2017 now being taken

bursarysec@kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk www.kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk

MOTORING

FORD S MAX

Written by Sue Cooke @cookecars

Sunshine pouring through the office window is lethal for me. It just makes me want to get into a car and drive. An open top would be ideal but what is better is sharing the experience with a group of friends. I was thinking about this and where to visit while driving the new Ford S Max. Which is when I hit on the ideal day out, visiting one of the fantastic food and drink festivals which were listed in last month’s Eastlife. So that’s my plan for this month, Eat Cambridge or the Hertfordshire County Show, reached with fun and friends in Ford’s sports activity vehicle. And that’s the real advantage of driving a seven-seater, an entertaining journey in the company of amusing friends. The S Max is one of the best looking MPVs on the road, far removed from the chunky square dinosaurs of the past. The interior is light and airy with extra side windows, which gives the driver great visibility all-round. With the seven seats in place the boot becomes quite tiny. Approach the car bundled up with kids and shopping and there is an option to wave a shoe under the boot and the tailgate magically opens. Now that has got to be a plus! What I also appreciated with two little ones was the child rear view mirror which gave me the opportunity to see what the six year old might be doing to the three year old! There are a choice of petrol and diesel engines. I drove the agile and quiet 2-litre diesel which has stop and start technology which helps with fuel

Model: Ford S-Max Titanium Price: £28,095 otr Engine: 2 litre TDCI stop and start Performance: 0-62mph in 10.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 123 mph CO2 emissions: 1 29g/km Combined fuel consumption: 56.4mpg consumption but I didn’t like the notchy manual six speed transmission. This Ford also has a huge amount of technology and is available with Glare-Free Highbeam lighting. There is a windshield-mounted camera which detects the headlights or tail lights of vehicles and bicycles up to 800m away at night, and uses specially developed headlights to block light that could otherwise temporarily blind other drivers and cyclists. New owners can choose optional intelligent all-wheel drive, which measures how the car’s tyres are gripping the road surface every 16 milliseconds, and can adjust power delivery to individual wheels in 100 milliseconds. Pre-Collision Assist has Pedestrian Detection, which can detect people in the road ahead – or that could cross the vehicle’s path – and automatically apply the brakes if the driver does not respond to warnings. Active Park Assist has Perpendicular Parking technology, which can detect and reverse the car hands-free into spaces alongside other cars as well as parallel to the road; technology first offered on the new Ford Focus. So now I’ve just got to phone round and book my Ford foodie day with friends in the comfortable, spacious and innovative S Max.

eastlife.co.uk

Personal Savings Allowance If you’ve got savings, next time you receive a statement expect to see something rather strange. There’s been a hidden revolution of the savings rules, and it means when you’re paid interest, from now on no tax will automatically be taken off. It’s all due to the new Personal Savings Allowance (PSA), which launched at the start of the new tax year on 6 April. Previously, unless you were saving in an ISA, when you earned interest, the taxman took a bite. So for every £100 interest earned as a basic-rate taxpayer, you only actually got £80 (higher rate got £60). Yet now, if you earn interest within your PSA, you get £100 and you keep £100. It’s worth thinking about this for a moment. For a basic rate taxpayer, with cash in the top easy-access standard savings account, you’d need over £75,000 saved before you had to start paying tax on it. That’s why 95% of people won’t pay tax on their savings interest this year. As for most people tax is no longer an issue with savings, where you should have your cash has changed. It’s now usually simply a question of where you can earn the most interest. So first, check your savings today and find what they earn. You’ll be shocked - rates have plummeted. The first thing you should look at even before saving is clearing any expensive debt or overpaying an expensive mortgage (one where the interest rate is higher than the top rate you can earn by saving). After that it’s a question of putting each penny where it earns the most. So here’s my savings fountain to do that. Fill up each level if you can and then move to the next (all the accounts I’ve listed have the full UK £75,000 savings safety protection). 1. Help to Buy ISA. For anyone 16+ who’s never owned a home and may want to, these are usually a no-brainer. This is because as well as interest you can use it towards a mortgage deposit and 25% is added on top, up to a maximum of a free £3,000. The top payers are www.halifax.co.uk and www.

CONSUMER

Martin Lewis Talks...

santander.co.uk at 4%. For full help on if this is right for you, see www.mse.me/helptobuyisa 2. High-interest current account. Some accounts offer high in-credit savings rates to entice switchers - it’s the only way to earn decent interest on decent amounts.The top ones are the www.Santander. co.uk 123 account paying 3% on between £3,000 and £20,000 (with a £5/mth fee, but that is often covered, as the account also pays cashback on bills) and the www.LloydsBank.com Club Lloyds account, paying 4% between £4,000 and £5,000. Others pay up to 5% interest, though on smaller amounts. For the full range and eligibility criteria see www.mse.me/topbanks 3. Regular savings. These pay high interest but only on small amounts, generally for a short time. The top ones are linked to current accounts – 6% is possible for a year on up to £300 a month in www.Firstdirect.com’s regular saver and 4% on up to £250/month with the www.HSBC.co.uk Premier/ Advance accounts. If you’ve got an M&S, Lloyds, Nationwide or Santander current account, see if one’s available to you too. 4. New £15,240 cash ISA allowance - 1.85% tax-free. A cash ISA is just a tax-free savings account and as it’s the new tax year, you’ve a new £15,240 allowance. Crucially, interest from this doesn’t count towards the £1,000 (or £500) PSA limit - so it’s good for those who’ll earn over that threshold. Yet for many there’s little point, see my www.mse.me/ ISAsdead guide for when they’re still right for you. The top straightforward easy access deals is www.coventrybuildingsociety.com, paying 1.4% AER variable (minimum £1). If you’ve got poorly-paying old ISAs you want to transfer, the www.YBS.co.uk Triple Access Saver ISA is 1.35% but only allows you to make withdrawals on three days each year (minimum £100). You can earn more in fixed rate ISAs though, see www.mse.me/cashisas. Martin Lewis is the Founder & Editor in Chief of Money Saving Expert. www.moneysavingexpert.com/latesttip

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SPECIAL OCCASION WEAR Special Occasion Wear Mother of the Bride Bridesmaid Dresses | Fuller Figures Evening Wear | Prom Dresses

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Adoption Connections

Many children are currently in care and need a new family… could you be that family?

St. Francis’ Children’s Society is a voluntary adoption agency, rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. We welcome all kinds of adopters for all kinds of children, regardless of age, race, cultural background, religion, marital status or sexual orientation.

www.sfcs.org.uk enquiries@sfcs.org.uk

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IN THE

SPOTLIGHT: Cream Rose

FACT FILE Name: Luanne Hill Company: Cream Rose Ltd since October 2014 Location: Fenstanton, Cambridgeshire Tell us about Cream Rose: We are an independent boutique in Cambridgeshire, offering a personal and friendly service in selecting individual special occasion wear. We hand-pick all our outfits using our years of experience to select a range of beautiful garments to suit our individual customer’s needs. We stock sizes 2 to 28.

What role do you play in the company? As well as being the Managing Director, I am the resident stylist who can advise customers on personal colour and style when they are shopping for a special outfit. I also run style workshops and parties at the boutique for individuals or groups.

What areas do you cover in East Anglia? Our customers visit the boutique from all over Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Suffolk and as far away as Lincolnshire.

What makes your company special? We offer a first class one-on-one customer service, providing colour and style advice in a relaxed and unhurried atmosphere. We try to find the perfect outfit for our customers by listening to their needs, likes and dislikes and we work hard to achieve this.

What do you love about working in the East of England? I love the variety of customers who visit our boutique. Being close to Cambridge and central

to our region means we have such a diverse demographic, with our fast main roads allowing customers to visit us from all over East Anglia. Our customer profile ranges from teenage girls looking for the perfect prom dress, elegant gowns for a special occasion to a Mother of the Bride looking for an outfit that reflects the importance of that special day.

What is your favourite place to visit in East Anglia? I love all of the beautiful countryside of East Anglia, but I am particularly smitten with Cambridge. It’s just seven miles from where I live so it’s easy to travel to the centre with the Guided Bus and the Park & Ride. It has everything; amazing shops, hundreds of places to eat, theatres, beautiful buildings and a young and vibrant population.

What events will you be attending this year? I can’t think of any specific events, but we’ll be spending some time at my mum’s in May, and we’re hoping to do some seaside trips – Lowestoft and Hunstanton are favourites. My six-year-old son is a big fan of Bressingham Steam Museum, so we’re bound to pay a visit there too!

What can Eastlife readers look forward too from Cream Rose this year? We think our Spring/Summer collection is the best yet. I’m dedicated to helping women look and feel amazing so we’ll be running some style events towards the end of the year. We’ll also be introducing stunning accessories into the boutique to provide lovely gifts for local customers who want something special for a birthday or Christmas present. www.cream-rose.co.uk

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TRADITIONAL CHARACTER, CONTEMPORARY LIVING If you're searching for a new home with traditional charm as well as all the internal features you desire for comfortable, convenient and stylish living, look no further than Hopkins Homes and Hopkins & Moore. We are East Anglia's leading developers, building collections of homes to exceptionally high standards, each one individually designed to complement its setting, be it town, village, countryside or coast.

Call us or visit our website for further information hopkinshomes.co.uk â&#x20AC;˘ 01394 446860 Hopkins Homes builds traditional award winning homes throughout Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex

HOME & GARDEN

4Downsizers Whether you’re an empty nester or looking to free up equity, thousands of homeowners will be looking to downsize this year. In fact, a recent study has shown that one in three homeowners aged over 55 are considering downsizing right now.

Living in a four-bedroom family home with a large garden is the dream when raising children, but naturally it won’t suit everyone’s needs as you get older. Here’s what you need to know about downsizing in today’s market from Cameron Ewer, Partner at Strutt & Parker’s Cambridge office: 1. Get the numbers right How much is your property worth and how much do you want to spend on your next home? Do your research using property search sites and get at least three agent valuations on your current property to make sure you sell at a price that you’re comfortable with. The highest valuation isn’t always the right one. Remember to factor in the additional costs; tax, legal and estate agency fees, as well as a contingency spend to ensure there are no financial surprises. This may be one of your largest financial decisions of your life, but remember to look forward to the potential savings it can bring too, including reduced living expenses and more financial freedom. 2. It is OK to be emotional Selling the family home where the walls echo with the sound of children playing and memories of family meals around the table will inevitably be tough. We all know houses are more than just bricks and mortar - hence our British obsession with them - so saying goodbye can bring a huge sense of loss. Keep in mind the practical trade-offs and try to look forward to a new exciting chapter in your life. It is well documented that successful downsizers feel liberated from the tyranny of household chores, upkeep, big heating bills and large gardens. 3. If downsizing doesn’t work, try ‘my-sizing’ On the tails of traditional downsizers is a new trend in ‘my-sizers’; those moving to a house of

similar value but driven instead by a change in location, land, size or style of home. Often referred to as right-sizing, this won’t be the usual move to a smaller house with less land. This is a common move for those in an ‘in-between’ life stage where some of the older kids have left home, and perhaps there has been a job change. They are not ready to give up the four bedrooms for the children quite yet, but no longer have a need to be close to the top school. 4. Consider re-mortgaging Some downsizers use the opportunity to lower their mortgage payments on their new home by putting down a bigger deposit. Seek professional advice from a broker to ensure you get the most competitive rates - many can find the cost associated with the process outweighs their potential saving. Be aware that lenders require a far more detailed breakdown of an applicant’s spending habits than ever before, from grocery bills to care home fees. Make sure you are in the best position possible before you apply. Read more tips online at www.eastlife.co.uk

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Interior

Interview Alicja Zimnickas at AZ Interiors (www.zimnickas.com) has been working her magic on some of our favourite Cambridgeshire restaurants. We caught up with the designer to see how we can make our home look like it was styled by a professional… What inspired you to become an interior designer? I always loved living in nice spaces. When my eyes can rest - I can rest and that’s how my story as an interior designer really starts. I’ve always been very creative. What do you love most about interior design? I love that every project is different. Creative people can get bored very easily, and that keeps me going. I like working in the office and working on technical drawing and concepts but I love to project manage an interior project; shopping for the furniture and fittings and going to design shows to keep me up-to-date on the new trends. The most exciting thing about my job is to see the final result of my interior project, incredible space transformations and making my clients lives happier. Where do YOU get your inspiration from for a design project? For me light is very important, probably the most important. When the lighting is right, both natural and artificial in the space, everything looks much better. I like elegant simplicity, contemporary interiors but full of warmth by adding the right decorations. I bring my inspiration for art and interiors from traveling. I like Italian sleek design matching with oriental elements. You recently designed the High Tea Club on Mill Road, tell us about the concept: The brief was to create the interiors to serve for all purposes: tea room during the day and cocktail bar in the evening. That was a real interior design challenge but as I like challenges I was very happy to take the project. I took inspiration from Victorian tea rooms, cast iron metal work but presented in a 21st century way, using current technology.

What interior trends can we expect in 2016? I would name a big come back of very vital, playful colours. With bright colours in interiors we have to be careful with proportions to not overdo. I would suggest adding bright colour with accessories. Copper and brass materials are on-trend this season and work perfectly to add some glamour to interiors. This year we will see a lot of natural materials; coatings of cork and marble are coming back strongly. Wood, stone and raw concrete are also here with their timeless presence. What advice would you give readers thinking of re-decorating their home? If you’ve just moved into a new house, take your time; live for a while to understand the new space and what you need. Live and function in a new property, and just after a month or so start redesign and redecoration projects. This way you will avoid costly mistakes. What are the major do’s and don’ts of home interiors? Organise your lighting; think about the sorts of different lighting to create the right atmosphere. One cheap hanging paper light shade is not an option! Invest in one good piece. It can be a great statement art piece or lovely piece of furniture. Don’t be afraid to inject personality with a statement piece. Be brave! Don’t hang artwork too high. Artwork should be hung at about eye-level. Don’t buy just because it’s cheap. Buy it cheap, buy it twice! It’s better to spend a bit more on new floor, wall paint, better quality furniture and you’ll save on the labour. It will last for much longer. My best design tip is before you start on renovation, think about storage!

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The kitchen is often the heart of the home; a place to spend time with the family and socialise with friends, so it’s important to make every inch count. Today kitchens are so much more than just a place to cook dinner. It’s often one of the first things a potential home buyer will judge a house on and it’s a hub for the family to come together, a place to relax and entertain guests, which is why it’s important to have a kitchen that works for you. Whether you’re looking to tempt potential buyers or just want to give your kitchen a fresh look, it’s easy to do with a little design know how. ON-TREND A modern kitchen doesn’t have to cost a fortune; a few small changes can make all the difference. Thankfully this year’s interior trends means its easy to bring your kitchen into the 21st century. Craig Davies, managing director at Sub-Zero & Wolf UK, shared his expert advice: “The use of sleek, minimal cabinetry, allowing the structure of the space such as beams and open shelving to shine, offers a clean space, highlighted by some natural features to prevent an overly sterile feel.” One of 2016’s biggest trends has been the incorporation of materials into the home, be it wood or metal. Craig adds: “Mixed material kitchens are very popular at the moment, incorporating herringbone patterns in wood with some colour on the cabinetry. Islands continue to be popular due to their informal entertaining abilities, add some wine storage or refrigerated drawers into this part of the room to really get your kitchen working hard for you. Image credit: Sub-Zero & Wolf UK

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“Stainless steel continues to be universally popular, due to its durability and neutral look, which works well in both traditional and contemporary designs of all colour schemes.” It’s not just the aesthetics that can help give the kitchen a new look. A new design can be incorporated by changing appliances that are used every day no matter your style of kitchen. Craig continues: “Freestanding appliances range cookers continue to work well in traditional, contemporary and utilitarian style kitchens with stainless steel being the obvious choice of finish. “A choice of red, black or stainless steel control knobs allow consumers to subtly affect the overall look to suit their personal taste. Built-in ovens in stainless steel remain every popular in both traditional and contemporary kitchens, while black glass appliances work well in contemporary designs. Banks of appliances are still on-trend with blocks that include steam and convection ovens, along with other appliances such as coffee systems. Two single ovens side by side, placed at waist height, offer the most ergonomically friendly set up, meaning essentially that you will never need to bend down to stir.”

Image credit: Orion Heating

Turn up the heat A kitchen needs to feel welcoming, and there’s nothing quite like a wood burning stove to add that extra warming touch. David Morgan, technical manager at Orion Heating says: “The family kitchen is often a large bright room with lots of windows, and as a result the heating can struggle to keep it warm. It’s an important room in the house and somewhere for the family to congregate, so many customers now include a kitchen woodburning stove in their home improvements to make the space more cosy and comfortable.” Orion Heating recommends either a tall free-standing Scandinavian stove or a neat Inset stove set into the wall. David adds: “Aiming for extra height ensures you see the fire and enjoy it from all parts of the room, plus it’s comfortable to operate an appliance that’s mounted up off the ground. “Popular models tend to have large windows or multiple windows in order to create a really cosy feature that is visible from both the cooking and eating areas. An excellent example is the Heta 820 with Baking oven, this Danish stove incorporates an always hot oven so perfect for home bakers.”

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Gooderstone Water Gardens & Nature Trail What could be nicer than to stroll through an enchanting garden, explore the nature trail, perhaps spot a kingfisher and enjoy delicious home-made cakes.

Leave it to The Pond Specialist Experts in the design, build and maintenance of ponds and lakes, The Pond Specialist will provide you with a pond created exclusively for your garden and take the hassle out of its long-term upkeep. Our expertise is used on everything from garden ponds to lakes and we are regularly employed by commercial clients. ADDRESS Elder Street & Taylor Barns, Elder Street, Howlett End, Wimbish, Essex, CB10 2XA

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Water Works 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

Of all the elements that have borne the test of time in a garden, water has to be high up on the list. From the hanging gardens of Babylon to the formality of Roman pools and onwards in time to the landscape movements’ love of diverting a river or two to create huge lakes for the great and the good; water has played its part with gusto in some of our greatest gardens.

As a basic element, water, like fire can be mesmeric but unlike fire it can be completely still and calm as well as wild and energetic. That flexibility means that water can be utilised in many ways in a garden. For quiet areas still, mirror-surfaced pools or wildlife friendly natural ponds provide tranquillity and reflection. These sheets of water echo the sky and create a constantly moving and changing art form in their own right.

Fountains, where the sight of the water and the sound it makes lend themselves to more dynamic areas can be tailored to suit the space.

There are no real hard and fast rules for water in the garden. It simply transcends taste and fashion too much to be typecast and can be melded to whatever style of garden you have. That said, it is potentially one of the most controversial elements in a new design especially for a scheme suited to a young family. As far as possible if water and children are to be considered together then the water should be as child safe as possible either by having no standing water present above ground or by installing a metal safety grill just under the surface of any visible water to limit its depth.

If you are creating a natural pond for wildlife then the same ‘safety’ precautions can be taken not only for small children but also to create ledges and

steps that wildlife can use to get in and out of the water by - it sounds odd but if the water level is too low against the sides of the pond small animals and amphibians will not be able to get out. Netting your pond will also help protect any fish you may have from sharp-eyed Herons.

However, you choose to use water in your garden a UV filter is generally essential (except in the case of naturally filtered ponds) to ensure a crystal clear effect. To help this process try to site your feature as far as possible from falling leaves and debris to help keep it clean and should your feature require a pump it should go without saying that a qualified electrician connects it for you. Water and electricity in the wrong hands are simply a recipe for disaster, if not time spent in A&E or worse.

Low maintenance, water features are definitely not but they really are worth their extravagance in a design for the timeless elegance they bring as well as their ability to create a sense of serenity something that in our modern fast track age is to be cherished.

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Country Bundle by Collette Hoefkens

Ruben and the Bear by Amie Haslen

Written by Collette Hoefkens, proprietor at Norton Way Gallery and an artist in her own right. As the year unfolds into one of its prettiest and most colourful seasons it is hard to ignore the beauty of the landscape. Artists throughout the region are inspired and hard at work. May always offers the most wonderful inspiration whether you are creating your own pieces or admiring the displays of others. This year is no exception. From the 7 May – 12 May you can catch ‘The Colour of the Land’ at the Edmund Gallery at St Edmundsbury Cathedral. This is a joint exhibition from two superb Norfolk artists, Amie Haslen and Carol Saunderson. Heavily influenced by their surrounding environments, this collaboration brings together beautiful depictions of coastlines, ploughed fields, magical night-time beaches and quiet interior corners of everyday life. Amie’s carefully observed and lovingly portrayed scenes capture the changing elements of time and space. In contrast are Carole’s evocative, almost elusive, mysterious landscapes. From 21 May I will be inviting you to travel a little further south to Hertfordshire, where I will be hosting the ‘Annual Summer Show’ of my own gallery in Letchworth Garden City. Now in its tenth year, Norton Way Gallery is firmly established and represents over 40 artists from around the country and further afield. Committed exclusively to original work we

ARTS

THE ARTS COLUMN

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

have a wonderful selection of oil paintings, watercolours, sculpture, ceramics and a strong collection of original print makers. From the serene and intricate wood engravings of Colin See Paynton to the expressive and uplifting oils of Justin Tew, there is an abundance of new work from our regular exhibiting artists. In addition, we are particularly excited to be introducing Jane Keay to our catalogue with her beautiful and imaginative Celtic inspired drawings and paintings of the Welsh and English rural borderland. As always, visitors to the gallery can enjoy the work of longstanding local and national favourites such as Anne Songhurst, Jane Rhodes and Emma Pearce. This summer, I too will have several of my own pieces on display. You are welcome to join us on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 May for browsing and light refreshments at this special opening weekend. 7 – 12 May ‘The Colour of the Land’ Edmund Gallery, St Edmundsbury Catherdral, Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1LS Tel: 01284 748720 www.stedscathedral.co.uk From 21 May ‘Annual Summer Show’s at Norton Way Gallery www.nortonwaygallery.com

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With ‘Open Studios’ season just around the corner, now is the perfect time to visit us and discuss your summer exhibition giclée print and framing needs. Give us a call, drop us an e-mail or just pop in to have a chat. We’ve been helping artists with ‘Open Studios’ exhibitions for over a decade. Call us on 01223 834411 E-mail us at info@photoartgb.com Visit us at www.photoartgb.com Rectory Farm 1 Brewery Road Pampisford Cambridge CB22 3EN

Angel Gallery Lavenham Suffolk

LAVENHAM ART FESTIVAL An Audience with Martin Kemp

Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th June, 2016 In the Market Place

Thurs 19th May 7.30pm Tickets: £22 Talks about life, music & movies!

Rob Beckett: Mouth of the South Fri 17th June 8.00pm Tickets: £14, £12 concs Due to popular demand he returns to the stage!

Josh Widdicombe – What Do I Do Now … Weds 10th Aug 8.00pm Tickets: £18 Devonian funny man takes to the stage!

Call the Box Office for further information or download our film and entertainment brochure.

WYLLYOTTS BOX OFFICE 01707 645005 Wyllyotts Theatre, Wyllyotts Place, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, HERTS EN6 2HN

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Art & Craft Demonstrations,Refreshments, Live Music, Childrens Painting, Artists’ Studio Trail Suffolk Art Society in the Church Art exhibition in the Guildhall

01787 248417

www.angelgallerylavenham.com 17 Market Place, Lavenham, Suffolk, CO10 9QZ

MAY

ARTS NEWS

Slices of Life served up in Mixed Media The Things We Do by Manuela Hübner is a visual smorgasbord of feelings, thoughts, deeds and their consequences, captured through a combination of collage, acrylics and spray painting, taking place 6 – 29 May, at The Old Fire Engine House Galleries, Ely.

Manuela Hübner

Some are humorous, some serious, while others are light and dark. What most of them have in common is that their starting point is randomness. In a world dominated by reason and the drive for control and perfection, luck is often mistaken for skill, belief for certitude, theory for reality. Manuela does not choose the characters featuring in her work, they come to her. She takes her cue from the chance results of experimental processes or incidentally found shapes like interesting markings or stains. These unpredictable forms are then harnessed to tell stories about the life we create for ourselves. Manuela’s way of working is as playful as her art is vibrant. www.manuelahubner.com

LEGO build at St Edmundsbury Cathedral

‘Tracing the Pattern’ - paintings and drawings from the 1960s to the present Liam Hanley a self-taught artsist will be showcasing works at Chappel Galleries, Essex, latest exhibition form 7-29 May. Liam lives in Kentish Town, but his heart belongs to two square miles of undulating fields near Royston in Hertfordshire, which he paints with unending zest and invention. www.chappelgalleries.co.uk Busiest month of the season at Theatre Royal BSE Ballet Theatre UK returns with one of the world’s most popular tales – Pinocchio, 9 - 10 May. On 14 May Forever Plaid is a 50s rollercoaster ride of comedy and music. Other highlights include the comedy What Would Spock Do? on 18 May, Flanders & Swann on 20 May, A Swinging Affair with Claire Martin and Ray Gelato on 21 May, The Diary of A Hounslow Girl from 24 - 25 May, Steve Parrish on 26 May and the start of End Of The Rainbow from 31 May - 4 June. www.theatreroyal.org

Brick by Brick - volunteering in the heart of the community St Edmundsbury Cathedral is looking for volunteers to help them recreate history brick by brick. This exciting project will see Suffolk’s Cathedral and the mother church of the Diocese recreated entirely of LEGO® bricks. This fantastic project to build a LEGO model of Bury St Edmund’s most iconic building launches on 28 May. Visitors will be able to donate a brick and the first brick laid will mark a moment in history. This project is of national significance, being only the fourth Cathedral in the UK to be interpreted in this way. The LEGO build will create volunteering opportunities for all to get involved, whether becoming a model builder yourself, or welcoming and encouraging the community to get involved with the Cathedral. If you are interested in volunteering call 01284 748730 or email: visits@stedscathedral.org

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Welcome to Woodstone

OUR FAMILY FAVOURITES TO YOURS

TE NA LL

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Bathrooms, Tiles & Wood Flooring

Our Opening Times: Mon - Fri : 10am - 5pm Sat : 10am - 3pm Woodstone Bathrooms 15 Bedford Street Ampthill Bedfordshire MK45 2LU Woodstone is a family run business with over 25 years experience. We have a wide range of quality bathrooms, tiles & wood flooring available to view in our showroom

Please visit our website www.woodstonebathrooms.com

Telephone: 01525 406728 email:woodstonebathrooms@gmail.com

PI ZZ A

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Traditional homemade Italian food served in a friendly & relaxed atmosphere. 91 Dunstable St. Ampthill Tel: (01525) 404666 204a High St. North Dunstable Tel: (01582) 475797

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Cakestand and Crumb is a little gem, hidden down a narrow yard, off the Market Square in Ampthill. The Vintage Café and Bakery opens Thursday to Monday and serves a fantastic range of cakes, lunches & afternoon teas.

07843 574379 7 Kings Arms Yard, Ampthill, Bedfordshire MK45 2PJ www.cakestandandcrumb.co.uk

BEDS, BUCKS, HERTS

What’s on in AMPTHILL The summer season is about to kick off in Ampthill with the return of some of the region’s most popular concerts. Whether it’s relaxing in the glorious park, admiring the gorgeous Georgian buildings or stopping by one of the local friendly businesses, Ampthill has so much to offer. Local news For a bite to eat try the newly opened Hazel’s Tea Room. Located on Church Street in the premises previously occupied by Ye Olde Coffee Shop, the tea room is a delightful addition to the town. The town has also welcomed Woodstone Bathrooms, while Dr Barbers is once again installing its confidence into customers with the owner recently becoming a Senior Registered State Barber and member of British Master Barbers. A must-try for dinner is Fratelli Italian on Dunstable Street, which has been nominated in the upcoming Bedfordshire Food and Drink Awards 2016. Don’t worry if you can’t get a table, the restaurant is opening another branch in Woburn this summer.

Summer events Ampthill welcomes the return of the Ampthill Festival for its 35th year from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 July; a weekend of music and events that attracts visitors from far and wide. Here’s what’s on the line-up: Friday 1 July, AmpRocks Now in its seventh year this festival has grown and grown in popularity, so much so that this year’s event has already sold out! Held in Ampthill Park, Scottish rockers The Fratellis are set to headline the event with further acts still to be announced. www.ampthillfestival.co.uk/amprocks Saturday 2 July, Ampthill Park Proms The Proms is the perfect summer evening event. Held in Ampthill Great Park, visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic and enjoy the live music with friends, concluded with a fireworks extravaganza. www.ampthillfestival.co.uk/proms

Sunday 3 July, Gala Day The festival comes to a close with the Gala Day in Ampthill Great Park from 12.30pm to late afternoon. The free to attend day is jam-packed with family fun including live music, a parade at 1.15pm, stalls and fun fair. www.ampthillfestival.co.uk/gala Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 July, Ampthill LitFest Now in its third year, the Ampthill LitFest at Connolly Hall, offers a weekend of workshops, fun literary activities, book offers and a fantastic line-up of authors. Saturday will focus on crime writing while Sunday will explore writing for TV and film. www.ampthillfestival.co.uk/literary

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WHY WE LOVE

HITCHIN

Rich in history, the quaint town makes for an enjoyable summers day out. Here’s some great reasons to visit: HITCHIN LAVENDER Hitchin Lavender is one of the most beautiful lavender gardens in England. Located at Cadwell Farm, there are over 25 miles of lavender rows to walk though and pick your own fresh flowers from. Once you’ve taken in the sights and smells, visit the shop to purchase your own lavender oils and skin care or enjoy light refreshments at the 17th century barn. Hitchin Lavender will be open from 2 May to 18 September. STAY LOCAL For the keen shoppers among you, check out Hitchin’s independent boutiques. One of the newest additions is Jiva Indian Boutique. Located on Hermitage Road, the quirky store provides interesting flavours of the sub-continent. There’s some great independent restaurants too. For tapas head to Los Reyes Tapas Restaurant, while the new Cantina Café Deli & Wine offers something for lovers of Italian cuisine. 9-11 JUNE , HITCHIN BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL Last year a record breaking 2,786 guests flocked to the festival at the Hitchin Rugby Football Club, and this year looks set to be just as popular. The event will be a celebration of real ale, cider, draught beers and food.

1–31 JULY, HITCHIN FESTIVAL Throughout July the town will come alive with entertainment, music and arts. Visitors can enjoy a daily timetable of exciting events such as live performances from regional talents, exhibitions, inspiring talks, poetry, dance, film, a Pilates pod and a number of mini festivals including the Hitchin Comedy Festival and Fitness Festival. This is one event not to be missed! RHYTHMS OF THE WORLD LAUNCHES 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS In what promises to be a busy year, Rhythms of the World volunteers will deliver an exciting programme of fundraising events to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ROTW. The purpose is to take ROTW back to its roots with events held in and around Hitchin. An eclectic range of activities will take place which are true to the spirit of ROTW, with the aim of uniting diverse communities through music, arts and cuisine. They will be community focused, value for money, family-friendly, fun and safe. ROTW will host over 20 amazing events planned during the summer and autumn, including an appearance at Walsworth Festival, the fabulous Choir on Fire at Hitchin’s Queen Mother Theatre, a three-day extravaganza of music at Club 85 and a special busker’s day in July with music at 10 local venues across Hitchin. www.rotw.org.uk

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Registered Charity No. 307534

Look up, look down, look around! Shuttleworth is home to the Collection of historic aircraft, vintage vehicles and motorcycles, and a 19th-Century Swiss Garden

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

Manor House String Quartet Evening

l Old Warden Aerodrome, Bedfordshire, SG18 9EP l 01767 627927

Upcoming events at Shuttleworth: Afternoon Tea with an optional tour of The House on Saturday 28 May, Fly Navy Day at The Collection on Sunday 5 June, Manor House String Quartet Evening on Saturday 11 June and Chapterhouse Theatre presents ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in the Swiss Garden on Saturday 25 June.

www.shuttleworth.org/events

East Life MAY 2016 HP.indd 1

22/04/2016 09:44:54

What’s on in Beds, Bucks & Herts THEATRE & SHOWS 27 Apr - 7 May Wipers Inspired by the real life story of Khudadad Khan this explosive new play by acclaimed playwright Ishy Din honours the contribution of the million South Asian soldiers who fought alongside their British brothers during the First World War. Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road, Watford WD17 1JZ. 01923 235455 www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UG, 0844 871 7607 www.atgtickets.com

3-28 May Save The Last Dance For Me This nostalgic, feel-good journey will transport you back to music’s golden era as we follow two teenage sisters through the summer of ’63. Milton Keynes Theatre, Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 3NZ. 0844 8717652 www.atgtickets.com

14-May The Close-Up Show An intimate evening of close-up magic, trickery and sleight of hand with three magicians. Hertford Theatre, The Wash Hertford, SG14 1PS. 01992 531500 www.hertfordtheatre.com

4-14 May Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang One of the world’s favourite musicals, ‘Chitty Chitty, Bang Bang’ will have audiences of all ages flying high with its mixture of madness, intrigue and exuberance. Milton Keynes Theatre, Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 3NZ. 0844 8717652. www.atgtickets.com 6-May Shakespeare Untold The stories you know from the characters you don’t. This family-friendly double bill comes from London’s world-renowned venue, Shakespeare’s Globe. Quarry Theatre, 26 St Peter’s Street, Bedford MK40 2NN. 01234 362337 www.quarrytheatre.org.uk 8-28 May Folk Surprising and poignant, ‘Folk’ is an hilarious and not-so-holy story of hope, coming together and finding your feet when your world is turned upside down. Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road, Watford , WD17 1JZ. 01923 235455 www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk 8-May A Day to Remember This special community event brings together local performers for an afternoon of music, dance and readings. The first half of the performance invites you to reflect on the importance of the day and then have your flags ready in the second half for all the pomp and circumstance of the proms, led by the South Beds Concert Band. Grove Theatre, Grove Park, Court Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4GP. 01582 290333. www.grovetheatre.co.uk 11-May Romesh Ranganathan: Irrational ‘Irrational’ will see Romesh examine the issues close to his heart, and explains why everybody else is wrong about them. Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1JZ, 01923 235455 www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk 12-May An Evening of Burlesque Burlesque all-stars from around the world come together on one stage as Britain’s No1 spectacular goes global. Aylesbury

13-May Tom Stade - You’re Welcome Brand new show from the UK’s favourite Canadian resident. Candid and alluring, join Tom as he ruminates on life’s oddities and revels in his own perpetual shortcomings. The Court Theatre, Station Road, Tring, HP23 5QY. www.courttheatre.co.uk

16-21 May Avenue Q ‘Avenue Q’ is an irresistibly charming musical which tells the story of the loveable characters on a downtown New York street trying to make sense of life’s burning issues. Milton Keynes Theatre, Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 3NZ. 0844 8717652. www.atgtickets.com 17-May How to Train Your Dragon Get top tips on becoming an author or illustrator, listen to the behind-the-scenes details about how the books became films, and learn some Dragonese. The Place Theatre, Bradgate Road, Bedford MK40 3DE. 01234 354321 www.theplacebedford.org 18-21 May 9 - 5 The Musical This is more than just a ‘dumb blonde’ musical, it’s an antidote to the working day that will make you laugh, smile and make you wish you had friends like these - maybe! And if you’ve ever worked in an office, you’ll understand. The Court Theatre, Station Road, Tring HP23 5QY. www.courttheatre.co.uk 18-21 May The Sound of Music One of the greatest musicals of all time returns to the stage in a magnificent new production to enchant and enthral the young and the young at heart. Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UG, 0844 871 7607 www.atgtickets.com 19-May Des O’Connor Des entertains as only he can, whilst bringing to life stories of legendary personalities with whom he has shared the stage, through a fascinating show-reel of clips featuring entertainment greats. The Gordon Craig Theatre, Lytton Way, Stevenage, SG1 1LZ. 01438 363200 www.gordon-craig.co.uk 20-May An Audience with Ian Waite and Natalie Lowe Ian and Natalie will deliver a night you will remember forever…The Strictly Come Dancing favourites will perform a dance showcase spectacular designed to dazzle and wow you. The Gordon Craig Theatre, Lytton Way, Stevenagem SG1 1LZ. 01438

363200. www.gordon-craig.co.uk 21-May Menopause the Musical Packed full of one-liners and songs about hot flushes and memory loss, this all-singing, all-dancing comedy is set in a department store, where four women with seemingly nothing in common, meet by chance. Grove Theatre, Grove Park, Court Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4GP. 01582 290333. www.grovetheatre.co.uk 22-May Sean Lock - Keep It Light Every three years the comedian Sean Lock writes and tours a new stand-up show. Well he’s only gone and done it again! What’s he like? Come and see what he’s blithering on about this time. Milton Keynes Theatre, Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 3NZ. 0844 8717652. www.atgtickets.com 24-May Think No Evil Of Us This classic one-man show unlocks the character of one of Britain’s best-loved and most-missed entertainers. Quarry Theatre, 26 St Peter’s Street, Bedford MK40 2NN. 01234 362337 www.quarrytheatre.org.uk 25-28 May Outside Edge Picture the scene: the neatly mowed village green, clear blue skies, a cricket team in their perfectly pressed whites, tea and sandwiches waiting in the pavilion, loyal wives and girlfriends looking on. Sound perfect? Think again. There are storm clouds gathering, and not just in the sky! Watch the hilarious sparks begin to fly as the team foolishly try to solve their various marital problems at the same time as winning the game. The Place Theatre, Bradgate Road, Bedford, MK40 3DE. 01234 354321 www.theplacebedford.org 29-May Gyles Brandreth: Word Power! Whether it’s global domination you’re after – or getting some nookie on a Friday night – you need the right words to get the right results. Discover them right here. The Gordon Craig Theatre, Lytton Way, Stevenage, SG1 1LZ. 01438 363200. www.gordon-craig.co.uk 30-May Gulliver’s Travels A brand-new, adventurous and delightfully innovative adaptation of Jonathan Swift’s classic satirical story loved by adults and children alike. The Place Theatre, Bradgate Road, Bedford MK40 3DE. 01234 354321 www.theplacebedford.org 30 May - 4 Jun Annie Set in the 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is force to live a life of misery at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Determind to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Milton Keynes Theatre, Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 3NZ 0844 8717652. www.atgtickets.com

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Whoever you are... Wherever you are going...

work college leisure A GROUP EXPLORER ticket could get you there.

A day’s unlimited travel on the bus network for up to 4 people for just

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31-May The Tempest in a Teacup An enchanted island in the middle of the ocean and the storm to end all storms, ‘The Tempest in a Teacup’ reimagines Shakespeares fantastical play for a young audience. The Place Theatre, Bradgate Road, Bedford, MK40 3DE. 01234 354321. www.theplacebedford.org

19-May Think Floyd – Live in Concert 2016 With over 20 years experience recreating the legendary sound of Pink Floyd live on stage, Think Floyd embark on a sensational nationwide tour this year. Rhodes Theatre, 1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG. 01279 710200 www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk

MUSIC 7-May Ken Dodd’s Happiness Show Come and enjoy his famous ‘Happiness Show’ and you’ll be absolutely discumknockerated (that’s Knotty Ash for ‘over the moon’) by a truly tattifelarius (funfilled) evening of laughter and songs. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 0753993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

20-May Bootleg Blondie Stortford Music Festival presents ‘Bootleg Blondie’, the UK’s number 1 Blondie tribute band, playing all the hits from one of the most successful and best loved bands of the 70s/80s. Rhodes Theatre, 1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford , CM23 3JG 01279 710200. www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk

8-May From the Jam From the Jam and special guests Nine Below Zero promise to give the public what it wants in this exclusive and intimate show. Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UG. 0844 871 7607 www.atgtickets.com 8-May Talon: The Best of Eagles ‘Talon’ are a phenonemam and have truly trancended the tag of ‘tribute’. The Gordon Craig Theatre, Lytton Way Stevenage, SG1 1LZ. 01438 363200 www.gordon-craig.co.uk 11-May We’ll Meet Again Remembering the great radio stars of the 40s and 50s, when music was music, this celebration of war time entertainment features all the hits from the Blitz including Vera Lynn, Gracie Fields, George Formby and Bing Crosby. Grove Theatre, Grove Park, Court Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4GP. 01582 290333 www.grovetheatre.co.uk 13-May The Drifters Following on from the success of their recent tours, the current line up brings you the Rebranded Tour defining the evolution of the phenomenal story of the Drifters through its music from the past to the present. The Gordon Craig Theatre, Lytton Way, Stevenage, SG1 1LZ. 01438 363200. www.gordon-craig.co.uk 13-May Starman ‘Starman’ is not only the ultimate tribute to a legend, but also a highly entertaining, emotional and thought provoking musical celebration that you will want to see again and again. Grove Theatre, Grove Park, Court Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4GP. 01582 290333. www.grovetheatre.co.uk 13-May Nights On Broadway – The Bee Gees Story Nights On Broadway present a tribute to the Bee Gees through a fantastic live concert, featuring the Gibb Brothers incredible songs, from over four decades, from the 60s to the 90s. Rhodes Theatre, 1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG. 01279 710200. www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk 15-May The Boss UK - The Springsteen show The Boss UK brings all of Bruce’s best-loved hits in a sweat-drenched, ninety minute show with all the passion, intensity and realism of the true Boss. The Gordon Craig Theatre, Lytton Way, Stevenage, SG1 1LZ. 01438 363200 www.gordon-craig.co.uk

20-May Bye Bye Baby The combination of world class vocals and harmonies, as Jamie Ledwith scales the falsetto heights of Frankie Valli, along with snappy choreography and a vast catalogue of hits makes for a memorable and unforgettable night of nostalgia. Grove Theatre, Grove Park, Court Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4GP. 01582 290333 www.grovetheatre.co.uk 20-May The Proclaimers Strikingly individual, twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid have over the years enjoyed huge successes across the globe and in April last year released their 10th album on the Cooking Vinyl label. Watford Colosseum, Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD17 3JN. 0845 0753993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk 22-May Buddy Holly & The Cricketers This breathtaking show has rock ’n’ rolled audiences across the globe and is guaranteed to have everyone singing along to the music and dancing in the aisles Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UG. 0844 871 7607. www.atgtickets.com 27-May The Stones The greatest tribute band in the world pays tribute to the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World. Rhodes Theatre, 1-3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG. 01279 710200. www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk 27-May The Chicago Blues Brothers With an elaborate new stage production including a 9-piece live band, the show also features classics from James Brown, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Otis Reading and many more! Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UG. 0844 871 7607 www.atgtickets.com ARTS & EXHIBITIONS 19 Apr - 14 May The Grid Works by Graham Boyd. Courtyard Arts, Port Vale, Hertford, SG14 3AA. 01992 509596. www.courtyardarts.org.uk 26 Apr - 21 May Hartmut R Berlinicke Hartmut Berlinicke is an artist engraver from Hertford’s German twin town, Wildeshausen. His pictures combine realistic drawing and rich colour into a surrealistic blend of memory and hope for the future. Hertford Theatre, The Wash, Hertford, SG14 1PS. 01992 531500 www.hertfordtheatre.com 29 Apr - 29 May Printmaking: Beds, Bucks & Herts Print Society A wonderful range of high quality hand-pulled prints of all techniques that include linocut, screenprint, colla-

graph, solarprint, etching and drypoint. Obsidian Art, Old Risborough Road, Stoke Mandeville, HP22 5XJ. 01296 612150. www.obsidianart.co.uk 7-14 May Audrey Imber and Jill Taylor One week show The Eagle Gallery, 101 Castle Road, Bedford, MK40 3QP. 01234 346995 www.eaglegalleryartists.co.uk 16 May - 9 Jun Members’ Show Pick up a bargain from the new display of members’ work. The Eagle Gallery, 101 Castle Road, Bedford, MK40 3QP 01234 346995. www.eaglegalleryartists.co.uk 24 May - 18 Jun The Art of Looking An exhibition of recent work produced by a group of artistsand students attending painting and life drawing classes in the Project Space at Parndon Mill, Harlow. Hertford Theatre, The Wash, Hertford, SG14 1PS. 01992 531500 www.hertfordtheatre.com SPECIAL EVENTS 5-8 May Living Crafts This is creative day out for all the family with hundreds of designer-makers, masterclasses, workshops and spectacular craft demonstrations. Hatfield House, Hatfield, AL9 5NQ. 01707 287010 www.hatfield-house.co.uk 8-May Hertford Castle Craft Market & Open Day part of the Hertford Arts Festival Visitors are welcome to explore the Castle Gatehouse and grounds free of charge. Craft stands will exhibit an array of handmade assortments from jewellery to homeware, homemade produce to vintage clothing. Hertford Castle, Hertford, SG14 1HR. 01992 552885 www.hertfordcastle.co.uk 14-May Hertford Farmers Market The market features produce from local livestock, poultry and dairy farmers together with fruit, vegetables, honey, preserves and bakery products produced in the countryside surrounding Hertford. Market Place, Hertford 28-29 May Hertfordshire County Show The event attracts up to 38,000 visitors and displays the best of Hertfordshire. Come and see animals ranging from huge bulls to tiny ducks, spectacular displays and educational demonstrations. The Showground, Dunstable Road, Redbourn, AL3 7PT. 0344 8502122 www.hertsshow.com 29-30 May Classics in the Park From 1940 right through to the 1980s celebrate four decades of motoring history with some great classic motors on display. Knebworth House, SG1 2AX. 01438 812661. www.knebworthhouse.com AUCTIONS & ANTIQUES 29-May Berkhamsted Antique and Collectors Fair Over 110 stands. 9.30am - 4pm. Berkhamsted Sports Centre, Lagley Meadow, Douglas Gardens, HP4 3QQ. 07887 648255 15-May Biggleswade Antiques Fair 40 stalls offering a wide range of antiques from silver, quality jewellery, vintage, pictures, books, china, postcards and small furniture. 9.30am-4.00pm. Admission £1.50. The Weatherley Centre Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, SG18 8JH 01480 382432

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W&M SMITH

May 2016 sees W & M Smith start their 35th year in business. Quite a milestone when you consider back in 1981, the first delivery of stock was £300 worth of paper bags and the store was the landing of the family home!! How far they have come to what is now a thriving business tucked away in the quiet corner of Middlewood Green. The Queen has celebrated ‘one’ of her 90th birthdays but no doubt there will be more parties arranged in June when it is her Official Birthday as well as the Prince Philip’s. So if you are arranging a party W & M Smith have a range of Union Jack themed items. Table clothes, napkins, plates, bowls, flags, ribbon, bunting, hats, windmills, cupcake cases and decorations ……… So you know The Pightle Barn is the place to visit. New stock has just arrived of the glass juice dispenser and glasses ready for the scorching hot summer we will be having (hopefully anyway!!) Citronella candles in various forms are in too ready to keep all those mosquitoes away as you relax out doors in the summer evenings.

If you are propping the door open to let the air in what about a door stop with a farm animal design or cast iron one in the shape of cat. We still have stock though of the ever popular leather animals in both the large and small size. Weddings are still on many people’s agenda and bird cages seem to be in favour at the moment, mainly with an antique finish, or aged finish. Guess what, these are in stock too. The Pightle Barn has become home to a product range second to none and W & M Smith aims to please and will go that extra mile to meet any customer’s requests however large or small. If you want good personal service then please come along. You will not be disappointed!!!

For all those special occasions in your life...

Visit our showroom for your floral artistry and craft needs. Pightle Barn, Blacksmiths Lane, Middlewood Green, Stowmarket IP14 5EU

Wasp Traps

Aged Metal Products

Juice Glasses

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Open Monday & Thursday 10am - 7pm; Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 10am - 5pm. Also selected Saturdays and Sundays 10 - 4 (please call to check)

www.wandmsmith.co.uk Tel: 01449 711014 Fax: 01449 711815

SOUTHWOLD

SUFFOLK

SUNNY

Written by Nicole Ranaweera

With the sun shining bright why not take all the family to Suffolk’s most popular stretch of coastline? The perfect, quintessential English coastal town, a visit to Southwold makes for a fantastic day out or seaside holiday. Located on the Suffolk Heritage Coast, the busy harbour and stunning coastline attracts many families throughout the year. With so much on offer for both young and old, it’s no surprise why…

WHAT TO DO… Firstly, grab your bucket and spade and make sure you head to the beach. As one of the easiest ways to entertain children whilst you get a bit of relaxation time, Southwold beach does not disappoint. Complete with its iconic beach huts, this is undoubtedly one of the prettiest stretches of coast line. And, don’t forget the traditional seaside boating lake and café... why not hire a paddle boat and treat yourself to a 1940s style cream tea? Whilst you’re by the seafront, Southwold Pier, with amusements and ice-cream galore, will easily keep all the family entertained for a good hour or two. Stop to watch the mechanical fountain or have some fun with the Tim Hunkin collection of absurd machines. Quirky, fun and with some great ice-cream along the way, this is one of the best piers in the East.

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If, however you get bored of the beach, Southwold’s Maize Maze really is fun for all the family as you attempt to find your way through the pathways to the middle. You can easily spend a good morning or afternoon exploring the Maze or entertaining the kids on racing go-carts or the bouncy pillows whilst you enjoy some well-deserved homemade cake and coffee! If you have a head for heights, why not take a tour of Southwold’s impressive Lighthouse? Climb the many, many stairs for the best view around! Do however check the seasonal opening times before planning your visit. Don’t forget that there are some great attractions nearby too. If you have time, squeeze in a trip to Africa Alive or for some cheaper fun grab a bucket, string and bait and do some crabbing at Walberswick.

WHERE TO EAT… Whether you choose to eat at a restaurant or cafe, or pop to a deli and eat on the beach or a pier, Southwold is an absolute haven for foodies. You can’t head to the seaside without indulging in some fish & chips, so why not try The Little Fish & Chip Shop on East Street? A hidden gem - expect large portions, fresh fish and no grease in sight! www.solebayﬁshco.co.uk For the best brownies in the East, head to The Two Magpies Bakery (twomagpiesbakery.co.uk). Serving a range of bread products, pizza, beer, coffee and cakes this is definitely one that will please all ages. Either eat in the café or take away for alfresco dining on the beach. For events taking place in Southwold this summer visit www.eastlife.co.uk

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THE AMBER SHOP SOUTHWOLD

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We look forward to welcoming you. The Amber Shop, 15 Market Place, Southwold, Suffolk IP18 6EA Tel: 01502 723394 Email: theambershop@keme.co.uk www.ambershop.co.uk

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why we LOVE... WOODBRIDGE Centred around the River Deben, Woodbridge has plenty to offer. Here’s how to make the most of a trip to the Suffolk gem this summer: Woodbridge Tide Mill Living Museum Perhaps the most popular feature of Woodbridge, the iconic landmark is over 800 years old. Interactive models and video animations sit alongside the mill’s illustrated history. Resting on the bank of the Deben on a beautiful riverfront, just getting there is a delight in itself. Check the website for the wheel turning and milling times during the open season between Easter and October. www.woodbridgetidemill.org.uk Shopping The range of shops in Woodbridge is extensive. Often complimented for its independent shops and boutiques, people often overlook the extensive food and drink offering in Woodbridge. With a greengrocer, a butcher, a delicatessen and a fishmonger, grocery shopping in Woodbridge is a delight. Award-winning bread and cakes The Cake Shop Bakery and Firestation Café sit on the bustling Thoroughfare. The family business has won numerous awards for its excellent baking and has been providing bread to the people of Wood-

bridge since 1946. Now in its third generation it has won numerous awards including ITV’s ‘Britain’s Best Bakery’ last year as well as four Gold’s and two Silvers in the 2014 World Bread Awards. Sutton Hoo An awe-inspiring Anglo-Saxon royal burial site and exhibition spread over several acres with commanding views back towards Woodbridge over the river Deben. There are the burial mounds themselves as well as a dramatic exhibition with its reconstruction of the burial chamber which evokes a sense of the ritual that must have taken place, and shows how the treasures were laid out around the king. Woodbridge evenings All tastes are catered for with such a compact town centre Woodbridge makes a great spot for an evening promenade. The Town boasts a number of bars and pubs from the chic to the noisy and restaurants that serve a variety of palates. Starting off in Market Square you have the Kings Head with Adnam’s and guest ales and a pub grub menu. Next door is The Galley restaurant for gourmet dining with a Turkish slant, The Angel just around the corner usually has some music of open night events before you slide down Church St to Cross Corner where cocktails at the chic bar at The Crown await. Further down Quay Street The Table restaurant and Anchor pubs sit opposite the Royal Bengal – a juxtaposition of light salads and fresh fish with a taste of the Ra j. Rendlesham Forest When compared to the rest of the UK, Suffolk is flat and has less rainfall. Combine that with the beautiful forests to the east of Woodbridge, just beyond Sutton Hoo as it happens, and you have the makings of a beautiful day out. There are sections of the Sandlings Walk, a much longer 58 mile walk up to Southwold, that you can walk. While in the area why not stop by the neighbouring village of Melton, located north east of Woodbridge. Home to the pretty St Andrews church, there’s an easy and enjoyable walk from Melton to Kyson Point that follows the edge of the River Deben.

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Woodbridge’s top attraction Woodbridge Open Tide Mill y l i da 5pm is the largest m a 11 Sept single visitor until attraction in

Woodbridge. It is one of only two working craft tide mills in the country and is a national heritage asset. Discover its fascinating 850 year history, learn about the art of craft milling with grinding stones, and see the huge wooden waterwheel and massive machinery turning - if the tides are right. Play interactive games, and watch the unique CGIs and videos about the mill.

Try its authentic strong stoneground wholemeal ﬂour. Woodbridge Tide Mill Tide Mill Way Woodbridge IP12 1BY 01394 385295

EastLife WB's top attraction 71x107.indd 1

Registered Charity No. 274146

www.woodbridgetidemill.org.uk

www.twitter.com/TideMill_Museum www.facebook.com/TheTideMillWoodbridge

09/03/2016 14:05:46 Lightfoot.indd 1

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What’s on 14 May, Woodbridge Street Fair Inspired by the Queen’s birthday and supported by Choose Woodbridge, Nicky Risby, owner of Ninni Noo Boutique, is organising a Street Fair in Woodbridge on 14 May on Thoroughfare and Market Hill ahead of the Woodbridge 10k road race on 15 May. In an interesting twist, the fair is aimed at local shoppers, hoping to entice them to take the time to explore Woodbridge’s shops and cafes with fresh eyes, as if they were visiting for the first time. To tempt and spoil shoppers, Woodbridge retailers will put on special offers for the whole weekend. On the Saturday, the wide range of products with spill out into the street for all to see with buskers and entertainers helping create a festival atmosphere.

5 & 19 May, Woodbridge Shakespeare 400 programme Commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death with free drama and art workshops inspired by the famous bard. Taking place on 5 and 19 May at Farlingaye High School the workshops are suitable for all ages. Free to attend, the workshop will use textiles and printed books to create 3D pieces drawing on images and quotes from Shakespeare.

21 May, What’s Tasty Strawberry and Asparagus Fayre The spring ‘What’s Tasty’ seasonal food market, the Strawberry and Asparagus Fayre, returns to Woodbridge’s Market Hill from 9.30am – 3.30pm

with its established mix of street food, fresh local produce – and some from farther afield – as well as cooking demonstrations on an open grill by talented local chefs. Stallholders already confirmed include; Boyton Farm (Red Poll Beef), Tikkatonic, Red Chilli Kitchen, Smokin’ Joes BBQ, St Mary’s Church and the Ipswich Cheese Cart. There will be a strawberry and asparagus display supplied by The Woodbridge Greengrocer.

26 June, Woodbridge Regatta & Riverside Fair Taking place all along the river from The Tide Mill to the Deben Yacht Club, activities start at noon with Songs of Praise on the Tea Hut stage and finish with the Woodbridge & District Lions Club Duck Dive at the Model Yacht Pond at 5.30pm. People of all ages gather beside the River Deben for yacht, dinghy and tender races, as well as the single oar sculling race in memory of Frank and Christine Knights and the entertaining raft race organised by 1st Woodbridge Scout Group. The Tide Mill is offering free admission and visitors can take advantage of free boat trips up and down the river throughout the day. Families can head to the Bandstand for face painting and games. People can bring their model yachts to sail on the Model Boat Pond or even hire one on the day from the Tea Hut. Live music will fill the air at various intervals along the riverside including The Tea Hut and The Cruising Club.

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Suffolk Carpet Weavers Visit our new showrooms at Top Street, Martelsham IP12 4RB LARGEST RANGE of Qualities and Colours in 80/20 Twist Piles in East Anglia. LARGEST RANGE of Bleach cleanable stain resistant carpets at affordable prices. Also the ONLY RANGE of Green Carpets made from recycled plastic bottles and comes with Lifetime stain and soil warranty 25 year Quality warranty. Plus LARGE SELECTION of hand made 100% wool rug in stock.

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Celebrations

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What’s on in Suffolk THEATRE & SHOWS 5-7 May Travels With My Aunt Four actors will take on over 20 characters in this hilarious madcap dash around the world with Harold Pulling. Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1QR. 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org 5-May An Evening of Three One-Act Comedies Featuring Between Mouthfuls by Alan Ayckbourn, Last Tango in Bungay & Howard and Elsie. Fisher Theatre, Broad Street, Bungay, NR35 1EE 01986 897130. www.fishertheatre.org 6-May Habeas Corpus An hilarious romp as members of the Wicksteed family pursue their romantic and lustful ambitions. The Seagull, 19-75 Morton Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0JH 01502 589726. www.theseagull.co.uk 9-10 May Pinocchio Follow Pinocchio, the cheeky marionette puppet with an unruly nose, on his epic quest as he overcomes obstacles, faces consequences and even ends up in the belly of a whale, proving that dreams really do come true. Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org 10-May Somewhere in England A wartime story of GIs, nylons, Hershey bars and jitterbugging. But there is another side to this shared history – a tale of culture clash and communities turned upside down. Haverhill Arts Centre, High Street, Haverhill, CB9 8AR 01440 714140. www.haverhillartscentre. co.uk 11-12 May The (Almost) Complete History of Britain Join the critically acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company for a breathless race through the centuries in this delightfully inventive show and see the whole story of our country told in less than two hours! Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org 12-May Mark Steel – Who Do I Think I Am? Mark’s newest stand up show is a surprising and enthralling story told with aplomb. The Apex, 1 Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD. 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk 13-14 May Death Toll Mixing black comedy and shocks of the highest order, ‘Death Toll’ reinvents the classic thriller genre and will leave the audience breathless and beguiled right up to the final curtain. Marina Theatre, The Marina, Lowestoft, NR32 1HH 01502 533200. www.marinatheatre.co.uk 13-May Fiona Neill in Conversation Bestselling author Fiona Neill is back

with The Good Girl - a dark, compelling and controversial novel of one family’s darkest secrets. In conversation with BooksEast Festival director Assis Carreiro. Town Hall, Ipswich. www.ipswichregent.com 13-May Jill Dawson Join novelist Jill Dawson for this inspirational writing workshop exploring the theme of Place and Setting in Fiction - how to bring landscapes to life. Town Hall, Ipswich. www.ipswichregent.com 13-May An Evening with Sir Ranulph Fiennes Legendary explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes discusses his extraordinary life, from his ancestral heritage to the present day, with long-time friend and expedition partner Anton Bowring. Ipswich Regent Theatre, 3 Saint Helen’s Street, Ipswich IP4 1HE. 01473 433100. www.ipswichregent.com 14-May Tim Ewart in Conversation Join ITV’s Royal Correspondent Tim Ewart as he discusses his book Elizabeth II – a celebration of Her Ma jesty’s 90th year, in conversation with BooksEast festival patron Nina Nannar. Town Hall, Ipswich. www.ipswichregent.com 14-May Kevin Crossley-Holland Kevin Crossley-Holland presents Heartsong, a spell-binding tale about the healing power of music set against the mystery and beauty of Venice. Town Hall, Ipswich. www.ipswichregent.com 15-May The All-Star Stand-Up Tour 2016 Presenting four heavyweight comics in the biggest comedy tour of the year. Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org 18-May What Would Spock Do? An uplifting new comedy about love, Star Trek and learning to accept who you are – no matter how much of a loser it makes you. Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org 19-May Tell Me On A Sunday The romantic misadventures of a young English girl in New York in the heady days of the 1980’s. Brimming with optimism, she seeks success and love. Ipswich Regent Theatre, 3 Saint Helen’s Street, Ipswich, IP4 1HE. 01473 433100. www.ipswichregent.com 19-May Royal Opera House Live Encore presents Frankenstein The world premiere of Liam Scarlett’s new full-length ballet, inspired by Mary Shelley’s Gothic masterpiece. Fisher Theatre, Broad Street, Bungay, NR35 1EE 01986 897130. www.fishertheatre.org 20-May Girls with Balls It’s 2016, the wrecking ball is approaching and Ashley, Britney and Heather

must face up to the destruction of their beloved football ground. Fisher Theatre, Broad Street, Bungay, NR35 1EE 01986 897130. www.fishertheatre.org 21-May Shakespeare – The Ever Living! Just in time for the 400th anniversary of the bard’s death, Robert explores the current boom in Shakespeare and how everything, even the 80’s cartoon Thundercats, are now Shakespeare. The Seagull, 19-75 Morton Road, Lowestoft NR33 0JH. 01502 589726 www.theseagull.co.uk 23-28 May Avenue Q Hilarious, cheeky and uproariously entertaining, with a terrific batch of songs performed by a cast of hugely talented performers and puppets. Marina Theatre, The Marina, Lowestoft, NR32 1HH. 01502 533200. www.marinatheatre.co.uk 24-25 May The Diary of A Hounslow Girl From traditional Pakistani weddings to fights on the night bus, this is a funny, bold provocative play highlighting the challenges of being brought up as a young woman in a traditional Muslim family alongside the temptations and influences growing up in and around London. Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. 01284 769505. www.theatreroyal.org 27-May Dinosaur Park This award-winning, laugh-out-loud spin on Spielberg’s classic is a theatrical celebration of cinematic nostalgia and a powerful reminder of the ones we love. Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org 31 May - 1 Jun Mission Impudseyble With a fantastic array of gadgets, cars, jet packs and gismos, audiences will help Ashleigh and Pudsey by finding clues, breaking codes, and solving puzzles. Marina Theatre, The Marina, Lowestoft NR32 1HH. 01502 533200 www.marinatheatre.co.uk MUSIC 7-May The Amazing Buddy Presley Show For the first time ever, see the two greatest influences on rock and roll touring together. The Seagull, 19-75 Morton Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0JH 01502 589726. www.theseagull.co.uk 7-May The Bon Jovi Experience Recreating Bon Jovi Live in Concert. Marina Theatre, The Marina, Lowestoft NR32 1HH. 01502 533200 www.marinatheatre.co.uk 8-May The John Ward Band Expect a highly entertaining night with a wildly eclectic mix of Folk Rock with jazz and blues influences. The Seagull, 19-75 Morton Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0JH 01502 589726. www.theseagull.co.uk

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LOOK 10 YEARS YOUNGER

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8-May Poptastic Tributes to artists such as Taylor Swift to Katy Perry and Little Mix to One Direction that will have the whole family dancing in there seats. This new show is suitable for children ages 4 to 16. Grand Hall, Corn Exchange, Ipswich, IP1 1DH 01473 433100. www.ipswichregent.com

20-May Killer Queen Thrilling sell-out audiences across the globe from the UK to Moscow, Killer Queen recreates the high energy, powerful phenomenon that was Queen live. Ipswich Regent Theatre, 3 Saint Helen’s Street, Ipswich , IP4 1HE 01473 433100. www.ipswichregent.com

9-May Eric Bibb A fiery singer with true soul, gospel and folk roots, his blues are honest and powerful, enjoyable and accessible. The Apex, 1 Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3FD, 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

21-May Beverley Knight Beverley has been one of the UK’s most consistent artists for two decades, scoring several Top 10 albums, including the platinum selling Voice: The Best Of Beverley Knight. Ipswich Regent Theatre, 3 Saint Helen’s Street, Ipswich, IP4 1HE 01473 433100. www.ipswichregent.com

13-May Liza Pulman Sings Hollywood The evening will take you on a musical journey celebrating the golden age of Hollywood and beyond, from As Time Goes By to Moon River, through Hitchcock, the romantic comedy and even the American western. Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org 13-May The Country Superstars Experience Dolly Parton-impersonator Sarah Jayne and vocal impersonator Andy Crust take a trip back through time to country music’s heyday. Haverhill Arts Centre, High Street, Haverhill, CB9 8AR 01440 714140. www.haverhillartscentre.co.uk 14-May Forever Plaid A 50s rollercoaster ride of comedy and music in this classic musical featuring the cast direct from London. Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. 01284 769505. www.theatreroyal.org 14-May The Carpenters Story The award-winning Carpenters Story celebrates the music of one of the most successful pop duos in music history, Richard & Karen Carpenter. Ipswich Regent Theatre, 3 Saint Helen’s Street, Ipswich, IP4 1HE. 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com 15-May Talon: Best of Eagles ‘Talon’ presents a brand-new production of their award winning ‘Best of Eagles’. Marina Theatre, The Marina, Lowestoft NR32 1HH. 01502 533200 www.marinatheatre.co.uk 16-May Nell Bryden BBC Radio 2 favourite, singer-songwriter Nell Bryden is best known for her blues & country inspired rock & pop, and her trademark vocal style, oft compared to Annie Lennox. The Apex, 1 Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD 01284 758000. www.theapex.co.uk 17-May Jason Donovan By popular demand, star of stage and screen, Jason Donovan is returning to his roots for a solo tour of his debut five times Platinum, 1989 album ‘Ten Good Reasons’ and ‘Greatest Hits’. Ipswich Regent Theatre, 3 Saint Helen’s Street, Ipswich, IP4 1HE. 01473 433100. www.ipswichregent.com 20-May Flanders & Swann Join multi-award winning comedian, Tim Fitzhigham and BBC Radio 4 musical maestro, Duncan Walsh Atkins as they starch their beards and trim their dinner jackets, ready to bring you the wit and wordplay of those ingenious comedy songsmiths. Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds , IP33 1QR 01284 769505. www.theatreroyal.org

21-May A Swinging Affair Friends for 30 years, multi award-winning vocalist, Claire Martin OBE and legendary saxophonist and vocalist Ray Gelato have combined their love of all things swing and joined forces for their first show together, ‘A Swinging Affair’. Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org 22-May Songbook Sundays Relax in the Apex Lounge with the Chris Ingham Trio & special guest singers from the world of jazz. The Apex, 1 Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD 01284 758000. www.theapex.co.uk 25-May Nathan Carter & his band The hottest property on the Irish music scene, Nathan has brought a new generation of fans to country music. The Apex , 1 Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD. 01284 758000. www.theapex.co.uk 27-May Aurora Orchestra Beethoven 5: From Memory, The Apex, 1 Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD. 01284 758000. www.theapex.co.uk 28-May Crocodile Mock ‘Crocodile Mock’ is an amazing eightpiece band recreating the authentic sound of Sir Elton John. Fisher Theatre, Broad Street, Bungay, NR35 1EE 01986 897130. www.fishertheatre.org 28-May David Hamilton’s Rock n Roll Back the Years Fab 50s and swinging 60s show hosted by DJ and broadcasting legend David Hamilton, plus amazing live band The Fugitives and sensational singers, Ash Denver and the Tiffany Girls. Haverhill Arts Centre, High Street, Haverhill, CB9 8AR. 01440 714140. www.haverhillartscentre.co.uk ARTS & EXHIBITIONS 23-25 May Not so Blue An exhibition of original art, prints and cards by local artist Janeanne Griffin. Two framed prints will be raffled off, from which all proceeds will be going to our local Blue Cross animal rehoming centre. Ipswich Tourist Information Centre, St Stephens Church, Ipswich, IP1 1DP 07815 119591 26-30 May Art Exhibition Exhibition and sale of pictures, prints, pottery, sculpture and woodwork by East Anglian Artists. St Mary’s Church Church Street, Stoke by Nayland, CO6 4QU 28-30 May Cockfield Art Show Art Show featuring 50 plus local painters and artists in a range of other mediums. Morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon teas available. All items

bought can be taken away at time of purchase. Cockfield Village Hall, Church Lane, Cockfield, IP30 0LA 01284 828264 SPECIAL EVENTS 8-May The South Suffolk Show A traditional one day agricultural show, now in its 128th year, will feature old time favourites including: a craft marquee, food hall, trade stands, vintage farm machinery, classic cars, children’s entertainments and cattle, sheep, pig, donkey and horse classes. Ampton Point-to-Point Racecourse Ingham, Bury St Edmunds. 01638 750879 www.southsuffolkshow.co.uk 11-12 May BooksEast Literary Pub Crawl Red Skies - a literary pub crawl. George Orwell and Arthur Ransome - two world famous writers with very different links to Ipswich. Orwell, who took his name from the river, and Ransome, now resident on it, go on a fictional pub crawl in the town. The two men are in search of answers, both political and personal - whilst the former is about to write Animal Farm, the latter is married to Trotsky’s secretary, so sparks could fly. Meeting at The Thomas Wolsey pub, Ipswich, IP1 1XF 14 May - 6 Jun Suffolk Walking Festival 77 guided walks across Suffolk, varying difficulties including challenge walks and for families pushchair-friendly ‘prambles’. Various locations www.suffolkwalkingfestival.co.uk 20-29 May Bury St Edmunds Festival Every year the Bury Festival gives us an opportunity to enjoy a wide range of music and other artforms over 10 packed days of entertainment in venues and spaces all around the town. Various venues, Bury St Edmunds. 01284 758000 www.buryfestival.co.uk 29-30 May Whitsun Fayre Entertainentment for everyone from a motorsports car show on Angel Hill to childrens activities throughout the town. Plus the beach is back at the Traverse. Town Centre, Bury St Edmunds. 01284 766258. www.burystedmundsfestivals.com AUCTIONS & ANTIQUES 1-2 May Clare Antiques Fair A great collection of over 30 antique and vintage dealers from all over the region. Entry £1. Open 9am-4pm. Clare Town Hall, Market Hill, Clare, CO10 8NN 07869 332245 14-15 May Suffolk Antique & Vintage Weekend Expect to find both inside and outside stalls selling an array of antiques, vintage, collectables and memorabilia, with everything from, jewellery, china, stamps, militaria and more. Stonham Barns Leisure & Retail Village. 07519 276507 28-29 May Long Melford Antiques and Vintage Fair An antiques and vintage fair with approx 30 dealers, held on the last weekend (Sat & Sun) of every month. Open from 9.30am till 4pm. Stalls including jewellery, ceramics, Victoriana, kitchenalia, vintage clothing and accessories, ethnic antiques, militaria, ephemera and collectables. Free parking. The Old School, Hall Street, Long Melford, CO10 9DX 01449 740601

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Blue Saffron Walden is an independent boutique, stocking handpicked clothing, shoes, bags, jewellery and accessories by American Vintage, Ash, Sandwich, Hutquist jewellery and much much more

Friday 24 June to Sunday 17 July • Celebrating the centenary of

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• Further information from www.bluesaffronwalden.co.uk 32 Kings Street Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 1ES +44 (0)1799 513 315

thaxtedfestival@btconnect.com or 01371 831421

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Bendysh Hall Bed and Breakfast

Bendysh Hall is a Grade II listed manor house and is part of a working farm run by Nick and Ali Fordham. The house is surrounded by 300 acres of arable land incorporating old meadows and woodland. The farmhouse has been renovated with many of its original period features restored. The house offers quiet, comfortable rooms, wonderful views and hearty breakfasts using homemade produce with locally sourced ingredients. Ashdon Road, Radwinter, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 2UA Tel: 01799 599220 info@bendyshhallbedandbreakfast.co.uk

ESSEX

SEEK OUT SUMMER IN

SAFFRON WALDEN Written by Liz Mattock Saffron Walden is located in north-west Essex and just 15 miles to the south of Cambridge. The town itself comes alive with a bustling market each Tuesday and Saturday. The ma jestic and beautiful St Mary’s Church towers over the town as locals and visitors scurry about, shopping bags in hand. The town is steeped in history and is home to the magnificent Jacobean mansion Audley End House and Gardens as well as St Mary’s Church, the largest and one of the most beautiful parish churches in Essex. There is plenty to do on a day out to the town, local and independent shops, cafes and eating places adorn the streets. If you can’t tear yourself away, Bendysh Hall Bed & Breakfast in Radwinter is a great place to stay for those who want to make the most of Saffron Walden and the surrounding villages. www.bendyshhallbedandbreakfast.co.uk Audley End House Visitors throughout the year cannot only see the grand house and estate, complete with the beautifully structured Walled Organic Kitchen Garden with wonderful apple espaliers, but are also welcome to explore the service wing, stables and nursery as costumed characters allow people to experience Life Above and Below Stairs every weekend from Saturday 30 April to Sunday 25 September. Visit on Father’s Day Sunday 19 June for the Classic Car event; a range of vintage vehicles in a spectacular setting. www.english-heritage.org.uk/ visit/places/audley-end-house-and-gardens There are plenty of events throughout the year to keep the young ones entertained starting with Knights and Princesses from Monday 30 May to Thursday 2 June. Children will be excited to learn skills in heroic chivalry and eloquent etiquette from courtly experts. This is followed by the return of the popular A Joust for Elizabeth on Saturday 4 and 5 June.

Bridge End Garden Tucked away in the back streets of pretty Saffron Walden, this lovingly restored Grade II gem consists of seven interlinked gardens laid out in the nineteenth century, and features a formal knot garden, kitchen garden and a popular hedge maze. www.visitsaffronwalden.gov.uk Saffron Walden Museum This award-winning, friendly, family-size museum opened in 1835. Visitors can step back in time to learn about the history of North West Essex and view a vast collection of artefacts from ancient times to the present day. www.visitsaffronwalden.gov.uk Thaxted Festival The 2016 Thaxted Festival will run from Friday 24 June to Sunday 17 July. Since its re-founding in 1980, Thaxted Festival has attracted the very best of British and international musicians, in genres ranging from orchestral, chamber and vocal music to jazz, folk, big-band and popular standards, from early music to contemporary compositions. Tickets are available online at www.the-trumpet. co.uk/community/thaxted-festival

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Maldon DISTRICT There is much more to Maldon District than its salt. The 75 miles of isolated coastline and the big skies over the marshes provide the perfect backdrop for a range of exciting events. On the water The Maldon Mud race enjoys international acclaim and makes use of the wide expanse of mud at low tide. Taking place on 1 May at the Promenade Park, the race attracts thousands of spectators watching from the river bank. Contestants, mostly in fancy dress, run, walk, crawl or slide their way across the estuary; a truly wild, wet and wacky event. As the tide comes in, the ma jestic Thames Sailing Barges take command of the water. The annual barge match is the best time to see these beautiful craft in full sail. Join one of the barges and follow the race for a great close up view. Both Maldon (17 September) and Heybridge (25 June) host regattas with a full programme ashore and on the water; sailing, rowing, parade of sail,

duck race and musical entertainment. Make your way to Burnham-on-Crouch for the East Coastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier sailing event, Burnham week, 27 August â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3 September, attracting yachtsmen from all over the UK. Castaway For something completely different, experience a weekend as a castaway on Northey Island. Bring your tent and enjoy raft making, camp fire cooking and wildlife spotting. The coastline is the perfect route for the annual Saltmarsh 75 challenge. Can you run or walk the entire 75 mile Maldon District coastline in two days? Many take up the challenge, but not all succeed. Art Trails The view of Maldon from the River has been made iconic by the many artists and photographers who live in and around the area. The Barges themselves are much painted and photographed. Much of this work is on display at both the Burnham and Maldon Art Trails along with a variety of sculptures, ceramics and textiles.

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Bespoke Cakes - Sugarcraft Equipment Cake Classes

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In bloom The Maldon District truly blossoms during the summer months and residents are eager participants in the Anglia in Bloom competition. Visit the gardens at Beeleigh Abbey or Ulting Wick to gain inspiration from professional gardeners. Make your way to the villages of Tillingham, Bradwell and Southminster tucked away on the Dengie peninsula. They host summer horticultural shows which draw in large numbers of visitors to rival many of the larger venues. Garden enthusiasts will also enjoy the ‘open gardens’ weekends which take place in Maldon, Burnham and surrounding villages. Days out There is so much to see and do at the Blackwater Country Show on 19 June. Try canoeing or kayaking, admire the heavy horses, watch the dog agility competition and browse the marquees for crafts and demonstrations.

Alternatively, bring a picnic and enjoy one of the blockbuster films on show with Essex Outdoor Cinema. The programme includes all time favourites such as Bridesmaids (3 June), Dirty Dancing (17 September) and Inside Out (16 September). You’ll be spoilt for choice. For something a little different Subzero-Wolf (www.subzero-wolf.co.uk) will be holding a consumer event at its luxury kitchen showroom on 16 June. The theme of the event will be quality, Essex suppliers such as Maldon Sea Salt, Tiptree Jams, Wildwing Honey, Kellybronze Turkeys as well as Essex based vintage car dealership P&A Wood, Essex and Boat company Boats.co.uk. The event will run from 4pm until 8pm and resident chef Bruce Cole will be cooking on Wolf appliances throughout the event, using ingredients from the local producers.

For a memorable family day out, visit the award-winning Promenade Park on the bank of the river Blackwater in Maldon. Enjoy the splash park, boating lake and orienteering trail.

To celebrate its 50th anniversary Burnham on Crouch Lifeboats will hold a number of summer events. On Sunday 12 June it will hold an open day, followed by a golf day on Sunday 26 June and Lifeboat Ball on Saturday 2 July. For more details visit burnham-rnli.org

New for this summer is the Pirates Bay adventure golf; an 18 hole fun golf course with desert islands and shooting cannons. Hire a beach hut for the day as the perfect base for all your activities. The vintage travelling Carter’s Steam Fair will pay its annual visit to Promenade Park making a colourful splash with the showman’s wagons and caravans.

There is so much to enjoy this summer in Maldon; music festivals, classic car shows, carnivals and more. For a full list of events and to help you get the most out of your visit contact Maldon Tourist Information Centre for information on a wide range of walks, events, and ideas for things to see and do. www.visitmaldondistrict.co.uk

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What’s on in Essex THEATRE & SHOWS 4-7 May Made in Dagenham Inspired by a true story and based on the hit movie, ‘Made in Dagenham’ is the uplifting new West End musical comedy about friendship, love and the importance of fighting for what is right. Palace Theatre, 430 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LA. 01702 351135 www.southendtheatres.org.uk 4-7 May Hamlet in Pieces To mark Shakespeare’s 400th celebrations, ‘Hamlet in Pieces’ takes the bard’s seminal play about procrastination, madness and general faffing about, and boldly re-imagines it for a new age. Palace Theatre, 430 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LA. 01702 351135 www.southendtheatres.org.uk 4-May Ruby Wax Frazzled! A Guide To Mindfulness This event is a follow up to her sell out touring show, and best-selling book, ‘Sane New World’, which helps us understand why we sabotage our sanity with our own thinking. Civic Theatre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG. 01245 606505. www.chelmsford.gov.uk 6-May Martin Daniels Comedy Show…with a bit of Magic Comedian, entertainer, magician and presenter Martin Daniels is a spectacular stage and screen performer, captivating audiences with his uproarious sense of humour, charming personality and consummate magical skill. West Cliff Theatre, Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1LE. 01255 433344 www.westcliffclacton.co.uk 9-May Lee Hurst: Comedy Show No.9 Come along for a night of laughs with that bald bloke off ‘They Think It’s All Over’. Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT. 01708 443333 www.queens-theatre.co.uk 9-10 May Stones in His Pockets A quiet Irish village is turned upside down with the arrival of a Hollywood film crew looking for the ‘real’ Ireland for their schmaltzy blockbuster. A pair of extras watch with envy and delight as cultures clash, divas strop, and everyone fights over the last portion of pie! Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, CO1 1PT. 01206 573948 www.mercurytheatre.co.uk 10-14 May Fiddler On The Roof The show follows the heart warming journey of a family that has its traditional life turned upside down as the modern world starts to impact life in their idyllic village. Civic Theatre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG. 01245 606505 www.chelmsford.gov.uk 12-May A Brave New Food Razed Roof’s fun production of Brave

New Food challenges the bullies, cheers Hawthorn our hero, and encourages us to think about the food we eat. The Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Harlow, CM20 1LS. 01279 431945 www.playhouseharlow.com 12-14 May Female Transport This stark, hard-hitting drama is an account of six women convicted of petty crimes in 19th Century London and sentenced to be transported to a life of hard labour in Britain’s overseas penal colony. Brentwood Theatre, 15 Shenfield Road, Brentwood, CM15 8AG. 01277 200305. www.brentwood-theatre.co.uk 13-15 May Handle with Care A new immersive theatre show about things we keep, their value and how they represent our lives. The Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Harlow, CM20 1LS. 01279 431945 www.playhouseharlow.com 13-May Swan Lake - Vienna Festival Ballet One of the best known love stories, performed by the ever popular Vienna Festival Ballet. Princes Theatre, Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1SE. 01255 686633. www.tendringdc.gov.uk › Leisure › Princes Theatre 14-May Graeme of Thrones Created by a team of some of the UK’s top comedy writers, Graeme Of Thrones is an original and un-authorised parodyon the international phenomenon that is Game Of Thrones. Palace Theatre, 430 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LA. 01702 351135 www.southendtheatres.org.uk 16-21 May Rehearsal for Murder Playwright Alex Dennison is left heartbroken when his fiancée and leading lady Monica Welles is found dead from an apparent suicide. On the anniversary of that ill-fated night, Alex assembles the same cast and crew in the same theatre, for a reading of his new play. But as the reading begins, it becomes clear that Alex believes that Monica was murdered and he intends to uncover her killer… Palace Theatre, 430 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LA 01702 351135. www.southendtheatres.org.uk 17-May Blood Wedding Based on a true story, ‘Blood Wedding’ is a tale of loss, love and deception, and whether we really choose our fate or whether it is mapped out for us. Brentwood Theatre, 15 Shenfield Road, Brentwood, CM15 8AG. 01277 200305 www.brentwood-theatre.co.uk 17-21 May Laila Laila takes shelter from the raging storm in an old bookshop, where she chances upon a book with her name on it. She is compelled to open the book and is

consumed by the story – Laila finds herself in an old story on a new journey. Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT. 01708 443333 www.queens-theatre.co.uk 18-May Katherine Ryan - Kathbum Star of Live At The Apollo, QI and The Jonathan Ross Show, the razor sharp and hilariously funny Canadian returns with a highly anticipated new show. Civic Theatre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG. 01245 606505 www.chelmsford.gov.uk 18-May Groomed The truth can hold us, trap us even, sometimes for years and years. This extraordinary new play with live saxophone shows how theatre can release, and music can set us free. Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, CO1 1PT 01206 573948. www.mercurytheatre. co.uk 19-May Richard Herring - Happy Now? After years of drifting aimlessly and alone, Richard Herring is now settled down with a wife and a tiny baby. Is he finally happy now? Cramphorn, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG. 01245 606505. www.chelmsford.gov.uk 20 May - 4 June Private Lives Famously written in only three days, Private Lives premiered in 1930 to full houses at London’s Phoenix Theatre. Since then, numerous successful West End and Broadway revivals over the years have proven that this charming comedy of manners is still as fresh, funny and unexpectedly moving as ever. Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, CO1 1PT. 01206 573948 www.mercurytheatre.co.uk 26-May Somewhere In England Eastern Angles presents a fascinating and moving new theatre production telling the wartime story of what happened when thousands of American GIs arrived in rural East Anglia. Cramphorn, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG. 01245 606505. www.chelmsford.gov.uk 26-May Women’s Hour Satire, song and mess are the tools of interrogation in this brilliant show, looking at the media portrayal of women in society. The Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Harlow, CM20 1LS. 01279 431945 www.playhouseharlow.com 27-28 May Legally Blonde the Musical Legally Blonde the musical, follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, snobbery and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Princes Theatre, Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 1SE. 01255 686633. www.tendringdc.gov.uk › Leisure › Princes Theatre

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East Life - May16_Layout 1 14/04/2016 12:38 Page 1

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30-May We’ll Meet Again An afternoon show of real variety - a tribute to the Armed Forces of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT. 01708 443333. www.queens-theatre.co.uk MUSIC 5-May Jason Donovan: Ten Good Reasons & Greatest Hits The tour marks a huge step for the 80s heart throb: this is the first time he toured as a solo artist for six years and the first time he has ever toured the ‘Ten Good Reasons’ album. Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 7RA 01702 351135. www.southendtheatres.org.uk 7-May The Total Who Show Capturing the power and adrenaline rush of the original band, this handpicked band of world-class musicians bring their own flair to the greats, promising a very special evening. The Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square Harlow, CM20 1LS. 01279 431945 www.playhouseharlow.com 7-May I Feel Good Celebrating the music of Ray Charles, Little Richard, James Brown & Dusty Springfield. Braintree Arts Theatre, Notley Road, Braintree, CM7 1WY 01376 556354. www.braintreeartstheatre.com 10-May Roy Ayers and his Band This superb vibraphonist crafted a winning mix of soul, world music and jazz that rode high on the jazz and R&B charts throughout the 70s and 80s. Palace Theatre, 430 London Road , Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LA. 01702 351135 www.southendtheatres.org.uk 12-May Dancing in the Streets The talented cast and band will bring to life the infectious, melodic, foot-tapping songs with a touch of soul and style guaranteed to have you signing along and dancing in the aisles. Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 7RA 01702 351135. www.southendtheatres.org.uk 13-May Otis Redding Jnr Featuring the hit Otis Redding Jnr songs Pain in My Heart, That’s How Strong My Love, Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay and many more. Palace Theatre, 430 London Road , Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LA. 01702 351135. www.southendtheatres.org.uk

glory, the dambusters, the great escape and of course Rule Britannia, this will be a great night of nostalgia and flag waving! Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT. 01708 443333 www.queens-theatre.co.uk 19-May Ultimate Bowie Ultimate Bowie pays tribute to the work of this global super-star, in a show that is visually stunning and vocally impressive. Civic Theatre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG. 01245 606505 www.chelmsford.gov.uk 20-May Weekend Rockstars The show is a live gig with a pulsating soundtrack played by a company of actor-musicians who take you on a riotous journey. The Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Harlow, CM20 1LS 01279 431945. www.playhouseharlow.com 20-May The Divine Dusty – the Dusty Springfield Songbook Her distinctive sound and peroxide blonde bouffant hair made her an icon of the swinging sixties. Brentwood Theatre, 15 Shenfield Road, Brentwood, CM15 8AG 01277 200305. www.brentwood-theatre.co.uk 21-May The Ultimate Status Quo Tribute Counterfeit Quo formed in Essex in early 1995 by four hardened Quo fans who set out to recreate the dynamic Quo performances of old. Braintree Arts Theatre, Notley Road, Braintree, CM7 1WY. 01376 556354. www.braintreeartstheatre.com

24-May Nashville Country Night - Steve Cherelle & Marie An evening of first-class country music by top UK artists Steve Cherelle and Marie. Performing songs such as Annie’s Song by John Denver, Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton and many more. A perfect evening for country music lovers. Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 1QT. 01708 443333 www.queens-theatre.co.uk 25-28 May Guys & Dolls ‘Guys and Dolls’ features some of Frank Loessers most memorable tunes, including ‘I’ve Never Been in Love Before’, ‘If I Were a Bell’; ‘Luck be a Lady’, and the classic ‘Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat’. All of which goes to make this multi-award winning musical something not to be missed. Palace Theatre, 430 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LA 01702 351135. 13-May Kast Off Kinks www.southendtheatres.org.uk Expect all the hits: You Really Got Me, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, Sunny 28-May The Billy Fury Story Afternoon, Lola, Days, Waterloo Sunset, Colin Gold as Fury is sensational. Come Dancing and many more. Introduced onscreen by Billy’s long Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, time partner Lisa Voice. The Harlow Colchester, CO1 1PT. 01206 573948 Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Harlow www.mercurytheatre.co.uk CM20 1LS. 01279 431945 www.playhouseharlow.com 14-May La Voce The UK’s answer to ‘Il Divo’, La Voce ARTS & EXHIBITIONS includes some of the best classically 3 Apr - 12 Jun Richard Bawden At 80 trained voices in the world, offering a The Fry Art Gallery, Castle Street, feast of classical favourites, fused with Saffron Walden, CB10 1BD the greatest pop songs spanning gen01799 513779. www.fryartgallery.org erations, all delivered with style, charm and panache. Princes Theatre, Station 5-May Behind the Scenes in Southend Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 1SE. 01255 Museum’s Archaeology Store 686633. www.tendringdc.gov.uk › Leisure Join Luisa Hagele, Assistant Curator of › Princes Theatre Archaeology for an exclusive behind the scenes tour of our Archaeology 15-May Rule Britannia store. Museums Off-site Store “Secret Featuring all your favourite patriotic Location”, Prittlewell. numbers including land of hope and www.southendmuseums.co.uk

7-29 May Liam Handley Tracing the Pattern, paintings from 1960s to present. Chappel Galleries, 15 Colchester Road, Chappel, CO6 2DE 01206 240326. www.chappelgalleries.co.uk 14-May Paul Alcock – Beach Huts in Oils or Acrylics Paul will explore ways of depicting beach huts using either Oils or Acrylics. The Butterfly Art & Craft Studio, Flacks Green, Terling, CM3 2QS SPECIAL EVENTS 1-May Maldon Mud Race 2016 The Maldon Mud Race is an annual event which attracts over 15,000 spectators and 300 muddy competitors who race to be the first to complete a 400 metre dash over the bed of the River Blackwater to raise money for local charities all in the name of fun. Maldon Promenade Park, Maldon 5-May National Gardens Scheme: Barnards Farm Climb the belvedere for the wider view or take the train through the woodland. Spring bulbs and blossom, summer beds and borders, ponds, lakes and streams, walled vegetable plot. ‘Japanese garden’, sculptures grand and quirky enhance and delight. Barnards Miniature Railway rides (BMR). Brentwood Road, West Horndon, Brentwood, CM13 3LX 7-8 May Sheep Shearing at Old MacDonald’s Farm This is a great opportunity to see the sheep shearing process up close and learn about life on the farm. Old MacDonald’s Farm, Weald Road, Brentwood CM14 5AY 22-May Essex Country Show Established for over 30 years, The Essex Young Farmers Country Show is one of the premier agricultural shows in the county, with average attendances in excess of 14,000. This year they have a land train to get you from the car park to the show! Boyton Hall, Roxwell, CM1 4LN 28-May Classic Car Rally and Wine Tasting Kicking off their English Wine Week celebrations, a special wine tasting event in the Tasting Barn and vintage vehicle rally beside the vines in their beautiful vineyard setting. Dedham Vale Vineyard, Green Lane, Colchester, CO4 5TS 01206 271136. www.dedhamvalevineyard.com AUCTIONS & ANTIQUES 2-May Antiques & Collectibles Fair Shopping and homemade refreshments. 9.30am-3.30pm. Entry £1. Ingatestone Community Centre, 7 High Street, Ingatestone, CM4 9ED 7-May Maldon Antiques and Collectors Fair 9am – 4pm. Free admission. First Saturday every month. Refreshments available. The Quaker Meeting Hall, Butt Lane, Maldon, CM9 7HD 15-May Classic Car Show and Autojumble 10am – 5pm. Public admission £7 accompanied under 16’s free. Battlesbridge Antiques Centre, 5 Maltings Road, SS11 7RF. 01268 769000 22-May A Vintage Affair Over 50 vintage stalls and a live big band. Hedingham Castle, CO9 3DJ.

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LIGHTING YOUR WAY Visit The Largest Independent Lighting Showroom in Cambridgeshire THE LAMPSHADE WAREHOUSE LIGHTING OUTLET SUPPLIERS OF QUALITY LIGHTING

10 Saville Road, Westwood, Peterborough, PE3 7PR (next door to the Party Place)

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Markets, Riverboats & Willow Trees Liz Mattock has chosen her top three must see spots in St Neots:

Picture a bustling market town, with a large market square, a rolling river and sweeping willow trees – you’re in St Neots in the heart of Cambridgeshire. A weekly market in the ma jestic market square, an abundance of historic buildings, including a mill and a lock makes this the perfect place to explore this season. Market day Thursday and Saturday The market square is impressive and dates back to the 12th century. Every Thursday come rain or shine a market is held offering a wealth of local produce, clothing and antiques. A Farmers’ Market is held on the second and fourth Saturday of each month. Dates for the markets can be found at www.stneots-tc.gov.uk/about-the-town/farmers-market Museum, PE19 1AE Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 4pm What better place to start than uncovering the

history of St Neots with a trip to the local museum. You’ll be taken on a journey where you can discover the Lost Priory. The museum also holds regular ghost tours and fright nights if you can hold your nerve! www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, PE19 6ET Little Paxton, St Neots, boasts a tranquil nature reserve, home to birds, butterflies, wildfowl and animals. Enjoy a fantastic family day out with something for everyone. Find out more www.paxton-pits.org.uk Rainy Day What happens if it rains? Not to worry, the town offers a bowling alley, cinema and restaurant complex and there are many boutique and high street shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants to indulge in too. Visit www.visitcambridge.org for more information on St Neots and surrounding towns and villages.

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2016 FESTIVAL OF THE VOICE 12-15 May Vox Luminis | VOCES8 | The Gesualdo Six | Three Medieval Tenors | James Gilchrist

Cambridge Park & Ride – getting you right into the heart of Cambridge Buses depart every 10 minutes Mon-Sat during the day and every 20 minutes after 6.30pm

Every 15 minutes (9am - 6pm) Sundays and public holidays Open seven days a week

Tickets: £5 to £23 (FREE under-18s)

Up to three children travel free with every fare paying passenger

www.CambridgeEarlyMusic.org

Concessionary pass holders travel for free with their passes after 9.30am Monday to Friday, and all day at the weekend and on bank holidays Parking costs £1 for up to 18 hours and the bus fare is just £2.70 return Park & Ride Weekly tickets cost just £13 and are valid for 7 days Further information: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/parkandride

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Saturday 28 – Sunday 29 May Join us at Cambridge American Cemetery on Memorial Day weekend to remember the allied American servicemen and women who gave their lives here in Britain during World War II and who never went home. For more information on this site and other ABMC commemorative sites, please visit

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What’s on in Cambridgeshire THEATRE & SHOWS 3-7 May The Winter’s Tale Shakespeare’s tale of grief and redemption stands as the most human of his works, deftly blending psychological tragedy with charming comedy. ADC Theatre, Park Street, Cambridge, CB5 8AS. 01223 359547. www.adctheatre.com 4-7 May Trump’d! Will Hilary Clinton restore democracy? Will the Mexican Resistance find their way home? Will the last remnants of ISIS finally achieve domination? In the land of the free, there’s everything to play for. ADC Theatre, Park Street, Cambridge CB5 8AS. 01223 359547 www.adctheatre.com 4-7 May Legally Blonde: The Musical The fabulous tale of Elle Woods comes to the Key Theatre this May, in a positively pink tale of love and determination. Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF. 01733 207239. www.vivacity-peterborough.com 4-May Girls With Balls Tackling football and feminism head on, ‘Girls with Balls’ takes a bold look at women, men and the beautiful game. Mumford Theatre, East Road, Cambridge CB1 1PT. 0845 1962320. ww2.anglia.ac.uk 4-May Hair Peace When Victoria Melody was competing in beauty pageants for a previous show a hairdresser advised her that she needed hair extensions. Freaked out by wearing a piece of somebody else’s body, she set out on an extraordinary adventure to find out exactly where this hair comes from. The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge CB1 7GX. 01223 511511, www.junction.co.uk 8-May Grass Grass is a devised dance show with elements of projection, puppetry, narrated stories and light-touch audience interaction. The Junction, Clifton Way Cambridge, CB1 7GX. 01223 511511 www.junction.co.uk 8-21 May Flare Path In a brilliant play full of humour, tears, tension and tragedy, Rattigan takes a film star, an actress, a Polish Count, an unlikely cockney countess and many other characters from all walks of British life on a memorable journey through Britain’s finest hour in 1940. Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF. 01733 207239. www.vivacity-peterborough.com 9-May Psychic Sally: Call Me Psychic The nations favourite psychic, Sally Morgan is back and better than ever with her brand new and most jaw-dropping show yet - ‘Call Me Psychic’. Funny, entertaining, sometimes heart breaking, often controversial. The Cresset, Bretton Centre,

Peterborough, PE3 8DX. 01733 265705 www.cresset.co.uk 9-14 May Claybourne Park Bruce Norris’ hilarious satire that lifts the lid of race and real estate in a fictional Chicago neighbourhood. Cambridge Arts Theatre, St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ. 01223 503333 www.cambridgeartstheatre.com 10-May Footlights Smoker Footlights bring you the funniest songs, sketches, monologues and standup in an hour of non-stop, back-to-back fun-filled hilarity. ADC Theatre, Park Street, Cambridge, CB5 8AS. 01223 359547 www.adctheatre.com 10-May Fagain’s Twist Fagin’s Twist is the untold story of a notorious, complex and perhaps misunderstood villain. It imagines the story of Fagin’s youth, corrupted by greed and worn down by poverty. The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX 01223 511511. www.junction.co.uk 10-May The All-Star Stand-Up Tour Presenting four heavyweight comics in the biggest comedy tour of the year. The Cresset, Bretton Centre, Peterborough, PE3 8DX. 01733 265705 www.cresset.co.uk 11-May A Night of Dirty Dancing - The Ultimate Tribute Show No film has captured the hearts of a generation like Dirty Dancing. Relive the passion, indulge in the romance and celebrate the greatest movie soundtrack of all time. Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF. 01733 207239 www.vivacity-peterborough.com

at and be shocked by, into one incredible, unparalleled night of entertainment. The Cresset, Bretton Centre, Peterborough, PE3 8DX. 01733 265705 www.cresset.co.uk 19-May Katherine Ryan - Kathbum Hot on the heels of a complete sell-out UK and Australian tour, Katherine hits the road with another terrific comedy show. Put this at the top of your ‘must see’ list for this year’s comedy diary. The Cresset, Bretton Centre, Peterborough, PE3 8DX 01733 265705. www.cresset.co.uk 17-21 May Brideshead Revisited The past and present blur in a world premiere adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited. Cambridge Arts Theatre, St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ. 01223 503333 www.cambridgeartstheatre.com 17-21 May Mnemonic First devised by pioneering theatre company Complicite, ‘Mnemonic’ catches and entangles the memories it finds as it criss-crosses characters, places, and history. In its web of fragmented stories, the past blurs with the imagined as it is remembered and retold. ADC Theatre, Park Street, Cambridge, CB5 8AS 01223 359547. www.adctheatre.com 20-May Richard Herring: Happy Now? After years of drifting aimlessly and alone, Richard Herring is now settled down with a wife and a tiny baby. Is he finally happy now? Or does responsibility for the lives of others come with its own terrors? In his twelfth solo stand up show, Richard examines whether we can ever hope to be, or are meant to be, truly content. The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX. 01223 511511 www.junction.co.uk

13-15 May Tipping Point by Ockham’s Razor Tipping Point is set in the round; the audience drawn in close, as the action veers from catastrophe to mastery. The five performers, enclosed within the circle of the stage, transform simple metal poles into a rich landscape of images. Cambridge Corn Exchange, 3 Parson’s Court Cambridge. CB2 3QE. 01223 791791 www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

23-28 May Shadowlands This visually stunning and powerful production tackles universal questions of belief and love, through the personal experiences of one of the country’s most well-known writers, C.S. Lewis. Cambridge Arts Theatre, St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ. 01223 503333 www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

14-May Paul Sinha Postcards from the Z-List Looking back, life as a travelling single gaysian delivering lefty, liberal jokes was quite straightforward. Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF. 01733 207239. www.vivacity-peterborough.com

25-May Tom Stade - You’re Welcome Brand new show from the UK’s favourite Canadian resident. Candid and alluring, join Tom as he ruminates on life’s oddities and revels in his own perpetual shortcomings Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF. 01733 207239. www.vivacity-peterborough.com

17-May Jimmy Carr: The Best Of, Ultimate, Gold, Greatest Hits Tour A man who has devoted his life to crafting perfect jokes and has left a trail of laughter in his wake, Jimmy Carr’s new tour will distil everything we love to laugh

26-28 May 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. Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peter-

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

Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX. 01223 511511 www.junction.co.uk

26 May - 4 Jun Legally Blonde With memorable songs and dynamic dances, Elle tackles stereotypes, snobbery and scandal in pursuit of her dreams and also discovers that if she’s going to be a partner in a law firm by the time she’s 30 she needs a boyfriend who’s not a complete bonehead. ADC Theatre, Park Street, Cambridge, CB5 8AS. 01223 359547. www.adctheatre.com

13-May The Rubettes featuring Alan Williams An Evening With Original Rubettes Alan Williams, John Richardson and Mick Clarke as they play the hit’s and tell ‘like it was’. Accompanied by Steve Innes Etherington Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF. 01733 207239. www.vivacity-peterborough.com

27-May Comedy Club May 2016 Headliner Nathan Caton has appeared on BBC1’s Live at the Apollo, Radio 4’s Can’t Tell Nathan Carter Nothin’ and wowing audiences in comedy clubs up and down the UK with his unique blend of charming charismatic and intelligent on-point comedy. The Cresset, Bretton Centre, Peterborough, PE3 8DX 01733 265705. www.cresset.co.uk MUSIC 6-May Tindersticks: The Waiting Room Each song will have a specially commissioned film to accompany it, in a cineconcert produced by La Blogoteque and directed by a host of different international film directors. Cambridge Corn Exchange, 3 Parson’s Court, Cambridge CB2 3QE, 01223 791791. www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk 6-May Anglia Ruskin Jazz Voices Current jazz and pop students perform their final assessments supported by the professional trio led by ARU lecturer Chris Ingham. The Junction, Clifton Way Cambridge, CB1 7GX. 01223 511511 www.junction.co.uk 7-May Fred’s House The band hailing from Cambridge, mix elements of folk/pop, country, rock and west coast with a 70s retro vibe but presented in a fresh and modern way. The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge CB1 7GX. 01223 511511. www.junction.co.uk 8-May Ken Dodd Ken Dodd makes a triumphant return to Cambridge for one night only for an evening of non-stop gags and songs. Cambridge Arts Theatre, St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ 01223 503333. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com 10-14 May A Little Night Music Reset in contemporary England, with the ghosts of the past watching on, this production of ‘A Little Night Music’ will demonstrate just why Sondheim is one of the revered greats of musical theatre. ADC Theatre, Park Street, Cambridge CB5 8AS, 01223 359547. www.adctheatre.com 10-May With A Little Bit of Luck Rhythmically underscored by a live mix of old school UK Garage, award-winning writer Sabrina Mahfouz explores the legacy of a cultural movement that defined the hopes of a generation. Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF. 01733 207239. www.vivacity-peterborough.com 11-May Chris Wood Chris Wood is an uncompromising writer whose music reveals his love for the un-official history of the English speaking people. The Junction, Clifton

18-May Moscow State Symphony Orchestra This concert of Russian greats opens in buoyant mood with Prokifiev’s folk-inspired Russian Overture. Cambridge Corn Exchange, 3 Parson’s Court, Cambridge, CB2 3QE. 01223 791791 www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk 20-May Lonely The Brave Cambridge’s own anthemic rockers Lonely The Brave play the Corn Exchange on the day they release their second album, Things Will Matter. Cambridge Corn Exchange, 3 Parson’s Court, Cambridge, CB2 3QE. 01223 791791. www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk 20-May Academy of Ancient Music The year Handel spent as composer to James Brydges, the Earl of Carnarvon, at his house at Cannons would prove an important catalyst for his future success in England. Here, without the pressures of public performance, Handel was free to explore instrumental genres, new modes of dramatic representation, and the English language itself. West Road Concert Hall, 11 West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DP 01223 335184. www.westroad.org 21-May Cambridge Philharmonic Based on the fairy tale, Bluebeard, Bartók’s one-act opera is a sinister and gripping psychological thriller. Also being performed is Rachmaninov’s lush romantic cantata, Spring and Janek’s rarely performed árlivost. West Road Concert Hall, 11 West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DP 01223 335184. www.westroad.org 20-May Gareth Gates and Mad about The Musicals 10th Anniversary Taking you on a whistle stop tour from the heart of London’s theatre land to the glitz of Broadway. The Cresset, Bretton Centre, Peterborough, PE3 8DX. 01733 265705. www.cresset.co.uk 25-May 9Bach 9Bach made their name by taking traditional Welsh Folk songs and recasting them onto a spectral and haunting sound canvas. The Junction, Clifton Way. Cambridge, CB1 7GX. 01223 511511 www.junction.co.uk 27-May Bon Giovi Fronted by rock vocalist Andrea Ojan, Bon Giovi have toured extensively for over 15 years and are now established as the world’s leading tribute to New Jersey rockers Bon Jovi. The Cresset, Bretton Centre, Peterborough, PE3 8DX 01733 265705. www.cresset.co.uk ARTS & EXHIBITIONS 20 Apr - 22 May Reg Cartwright, Michael Lythgoe and Sarah Went Cambridge Contemporary Art, 6 Trinity Street, Cambridge, CB2 1SU. 01223 324222. www.cambridgegallery.co.uk

28 Apr - 29 May Exhibition of International Artists An exhibition that celebrates artists from all over the world. Independent contemporary art gallery Byard Art Cambridge is proud to home many wonderful international artists and would like to showcase their work! With artists such as Veta Gorner from Russia, Tommy Carlsson from Sweden and Antoine Josse from France there is something to offer every taste, no matter where in the world you are from! Byard Art, 14 King’s Parade, Cambridge, CB2 1SJ. 01223 464646 www.byardart.co.uk 4-May Egyptian coffins: Exploring the painter’s craft Elsbeth Geldhof, historic paint conservator. The Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1RB 01223 332900. www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk 6-29 May The Things We Do - Slices of Life served up in Mixed Media ‘The Things We Do’ is a visual smorgasbord of feelings, thoughts, deeds and their consequences, captured through a combination of collage, acrylics and spray painting. The Old Fire Engine House, 25 St Mary’s Street, Ely, CB7 4ER www.manuelahubner.com SPECIAL EVENTS 1-2 May Ely Food & Drink Festival (Eel Festival) 2016 Part of the Ely’s Eel Festival Weekend, enjoy a mix of food from local producers and cookery demonstraions. Palace Green. Ely, CB7 4EW 7-22 May Cambridge Eat Eat Cambridge is an annual food and drink festival showcasing Cambridgeshire’s delicious independent food scene. Every year, Eat Cambridge’s Main Event and two-week fringe event programme feature the best, newest, and most exciting independent food and drink in the area. The Corn Exchange, 2 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QB www.eat-cambridge.co.uk 21-22 May Linton Children’s Book Festival A celebration of books, stories and creativity for children, featuring authors, illustrators, storytellers and performers. Lots of hands-on activities and fun for all! Linton Village College, Cambridge Road, Linton, CB21 4JB 23-28 May The 43rd Cambridge Beer Festival The festival features a wide range of local and national beers of all styles, as well as cider, perry, mead, wine and bottled &amp; draught beers from around the world. The festival is also famous for its CAMRA Cheese Counter, where a very wide range of fine cheeses, together with locally produced bread, pork pies, ham and other savoury items are available. Jesus Green, Cambridge www.cambridgebeerfestival.com AUCTIONS & ANTIQUES 15-May Cambridgeshire’s Orwell Charity Antiques Fair Established charity antiques fair, 20 stalls, teas and refreshments. Loyal traders with excellent items. In aid of Alzheimers research. Orwell Village Hall, High Street Orwell, SG8 5QN 07803 167982

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Jane Austin, Mansfield Park

SECRET NORFOLK

NORFOLK

“But indeed, I would rather have nothing but tea!”

Life in a Fine County Written by Nicole Ranaweera

England is notorious for its love of tea, and when you couple that with sandwiches and cake, there really is no finer way to spend an afternoon with friends. Instigated by the 7th Duchess of Bedford in the 1800s, this fashionable tradition really is here to stay. Luckily in Norfolk we have a fantastic selection of venues on our doorstop that offer this indulgent tradition. I feel it’s nothing short of my British duty therefore to recommend my top 5 places for afternoon tea… 1. The Assembly House, Norwich www.assemblyhousenorwich.co.uk The quintessential English choice - Dainty sandwiches and light-as-air scones, The Assembly House does the Duchess of Bedford proud with their afternoon tea offerings! 2. Strattons Hotel, Swaffham strattonshotel.com The eclectic choice – This arty Palladian villa is renowned for its style, flair and quality and happily its afternoon tea lives up to its reputation and more! Sumptuously delicious! 3. The Folly Tearooms, Holt www.follytearoom.co.uk The vintage choice – If you love the vintage scene then this gem of a tearoom will transport you back to bygone days with style and fabulous food! 4.The Teahouse, Norwich www.theteahousenorwich.co.uk The traditional choice – Located in the historic cathedral quarter on Elm Hill, this Tudor retreat offers a fantastic old English experience. 5. Cliff Hotel, Gorleston www.thecliffhotel.co.uk The luxurious choice – Indulge all your senses with an elegant afternoon tea served with sea views. An experience to remember! Read my top 10 Norfolk tea at www.eastlife.co.uk

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HOLT!

Who goes there? Day trippers, holidaymakers and locals that’s who! This historic Georgian town will leave you in an enchanted spin with so much to look at, admire, eat and drink – the magic of Holt will stay with you long after you’ve left it behind. Whether photography, walking, gastronomy, shopping, art or travel is your thing, Holt offers the most discerning visitor a wonderful experience. As I reached the town mid-morning the streets became narrower and the pavements became busier – it was clear I had stumbled upon a hidden haven which I couldn’t wait to explore. Known for its galleries and antique shops, this is where I headed, each corner or alleyway I turned another hidden gem, another rustic courtyard full of antique treasures. Jewellers, clothes shops, homeware stores line the streets and at the centre the renowned Bakers and Larners Department Store. No visit is complete without perusing round the store. Offering clothes, perfumes, sweet treats, alcohol, fresh meat and local fish and cheeses, it’s a dream for foodie fans like me.

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Liz Mattock shares her day out in Holt

After a visit here your tummy will surely be rumbling, mine was, so I headed to Byfords Bakery and Coffee Shop for sustenance. The order of the day was Posh Cheese on Toast and a Cappuccino. I wasn’t disappointed. Melting Norfolk Dapple and Binham Blue cheese, local apple chutney on chunky granary bread and a frothy smooth cappuccino stole my heart – so much so I went back later for afternoon tea, and took large slabs of the brownie, carrot cake and ginger cake home with me. www.byfords.org.uk Holt is set inland but is easily accessible from the coast. The town also offers holiday cottages and Byfords B&B if you wish to make it your base. For more information and to plan your unforgettable stay visit www.visitnorthnorfolk.com/places-to-visit/mar ket-towns/holt

Unique glass beads,beads, jewellery and more Unique glass 1 Albert Street, Holtmore NR25 6HX jewellery and 01263 478020

1 Albert Street, Holt NR25 6HX www.seahorsestudio.co.uk seahorsestudio@icloud.com 01263 478020 Find www.seahorsestudio.co.uk me on Facebook! www.facebook.com/seahorsestudioholt seahorsestudio@icloud.com

Coastal Stoves and Fires of Holt, Norfolk

We are a family-run business and offer a wide and varied selection of Woodburning, MultiFuel and Gas Stoves. In our showroom in Holt we have several on display and below are just a small selection of those on offer…

Opened February 2013

EAT ME...

Step into a “wonderland” of vintage charm and romance, and indulge in some of our homemade treats served from ‘breakfast to early evening bites’ created with love and passion, a characteristic of the whole Folly experience...

...drink me

Surprise yourself with one of our 40 curiousi-teas and unique blends within the magic of the tearoom and its beautiful garden or available to take away from our Tea Caddy shop. Unit 3H Glaven Road, Hempstead Road Industrial Estate, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 6DL Opening hours: Monday - Friday 9:30am - 4:00pm, Saturday 9:30am - 2:30pm

Tel 01263 711593 Mobile: 07880 658866 www.coastalstoves.co.uk

Private parties, PLUS gluten free and diabetic afternoon teas AVAILABLE WITH advance bookING CALL ON 01263 713569 TO ARRANGE Folly Tearoom, Hoppers Yard, Bull Street, Holt, Norfolk NR25 6LN WWW.FOLLYTEAROOM.CO.UK

The Perfect Venue Wedding or private venue party

At Back to the Garden, a magnificent vaulted 18th century threshing barn your guests can enjoy a true taste of local quality - from a simple buffet to a formal 4-course meal. Back to the Garden offers everything that a successful wedding day should have. Tel: 01263 715996 christopher@back-to-the-garden.co.uk www.back-to-the-garden.co.uk

Fakenham Road, Lethingsett, Nr Holt, NR25 7JJ

Reflex Hair Studio Unisex Hair & Nail Salon

5 Chappel Yard, Albert Street, Holt, Norfolk NR25 6HG

THE OSOKOZI GALLERY LTD 6 ALBERT STREET HOLT NORFOLK NR25 6HX TEL. 01263 711363 Osokozi stocks an eclectic mix of quality greeting cards, jewellery and interesting ethnic artefacts www.osokozi.co.uk

Posh Pets

Pet Shop, Large Range of Food & Accessories

25 YEARS OLD established May 1991

Address: 1a New St, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 6JJ Telephone: 01263 713170

THE OSOKOZI GALLERY LTD 6 ALBERT STREET HOLT

Gemstone beads Handmade jewellery

Jewellery making classes www.beadingfantastic.com

6 Lyles Court, Lees Yard, Holt, Norfolk. NR25 6HS

All Glass - Holt Glass & Glazing For All Your Glazing Needs

Unit 3E Industrial Estate Hempstaed Road Holt Norfolk nr25 6es TEL & FAX: 01263 713755

Aboard the BROADS Written by Emma Kemsley

I’ve always loved the Norfolk Broads, the calm waters make for easy navigating and there’s a huge sense of achievement skippering a boat. So this is it, my story of what happens when a group of five girls and one crazy Cockerspaniel take to the Broads on a 44ft boat…

breaks, girly weekends, romantic couple getaways and stag and hen-dos – thanks to the many pubs dotted along the banks. Off we went for dinner at The Maltsters pub and thanks to the stag-do, enjoyed one too many bottles of wine (I can’t tell you the number, I fear I may be sent to aa).

We arrived at Potter Heigham on a sunny Friday afternoon to collect our boat, the Regal Light, from the Herbert Woods boatyard. This year Herbert Woods celebrates its 90th birthday, with a grand Regatta planned for Sunday 10 July. Check-in was smooth and easy and we began to load our supplies of cheese, chocolate and Champagne on board. With four cabins, three bathrooms, duel steering and sundeck, the Regal Light is a spacious and well-equipped choice for groups – there was even room for 15 pairs of shoes and a dog bed!

A country walk with the pooch in the morning cleared our heads for the, unfortunately, rainy day ahead. Saturday was spent cruising up and down the Broads with pit stops at Wroxham and Horning, a pub lunch and wet dog walk before navigating a tiny bridge at Ludham. Despite the torrential rain we still managed to have plenty of fun, admire the scenery and was treated to a stunning sunset.

Once settled we were given full instructions and a demonstration by one of the Herbert Woods team and a quick visit from the Broadsbeat; a friendly police team dedicated to the safety and security on the Broads. We made our way to the first stop of the weekend; Ransworth, a beautiful reedy wilderness. We were lucky enough to nab one of last remaining mooring spots. After an initial panic at the thought of reversing, my friend came to the rescue with some pretty impressive parking skills. One swift movement and we were safely moored and hooked up to our electric point. We wrapped up, cozied down on the alfresco dining area, poured the wine and waited for the sun to set. Before we knew it, we were soon helping a stag-do of 12 moor their boat. After feeling rather smug with our own mooring skills, we wasted no time in bragging about our abilities! One of the great things about the Broads is it appeals to all types of groups - family

The next morning we awoke to blue skies and wasted no time in making the most of it. I headed out with the dog for a walk along the bank, while my friend continued her marathon training with a beautiful riverside run. It was then onto the ruins of St Benet’s Abbey. The ruins are a great place to learn more about the Broads history and enjoy the quietness. Tea and cake in the sunshine followed, before we made our way back to the boatyard. The weekend taught us a lot – the weather doesn’t need to be fantastic to still have a great time on the Broads, you will fall over at some point (mud and wet surfaces aren’t suitable for clumsy girls), the Broads is very dog-friendly, the scenery spectacular and one of us has a potential career as a cruise liner captain! Herbert Woods has over 400 boats in its fleet so there’s plenty of options to choose from. A three night stay on the Regal Light costs from £763 during low season. If you fancy a day trip Herbert Woods has just launched a brand new picnic boat, the ‘Starlight 24’, the first new design for 25 years! Tel: 0800 144 4472 www.herbertwoods.co.uk

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What’s on in Norfolk THEATRE & SHOWS 3-7 May Guys & Dolls A sizzling tale of New York gamblers, gangsters and nightclub singers. Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre Street Norwich, NR2 1RL. 01603 630000 www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk 4-May A Funny And Informative Evening With Steve Parrish Enjoy the life and times of Steve Parrish (Stavros) which provide a completely different, colourful, humorous and, at times daring portrayal of this man’s career. Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton, PE36 5AH. 01485 532252 www.princesshunstanton.co.uk 4-May Jethro A memorable evening of hysterical nonsense, as we take a peek into the circus lurking deep within the mind of, probably the greatest, comic storyteller ever to grace the stage. King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 1JW. 01553 764864 www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk 6-May Near Gone Two performers have a difficult story to tell. They come on stage and launch themselves into an hour long attempt to put into words the utterly unspeakable. Norwich Playhouse, 42 - 58 St. George’s Street, Norwich, NR3 1AB . 01603 598598 www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk 8-9 May Romesh Ranganathan Romesh Ranganathan makes his Playhouse debut with a brand new show exploring the rationality of his worldview, examining the issues close to his heart and explaining why everyone else is wrong about them. Norwich Playhouse, 42 - 58 St. George’s Street, Norwich, NR3 1AB. 01603 598598 www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk 8-May Momentous Times A dramatic presentation of the extraordinary experiences of five women in Europe during World War I. Westacre Theatre, River Road, Westacre, PE32 1UD 01760 755800. www.westacretheatre.com 8-May 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 powerhouse and breathtaking performance as Whitney. King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 1JW. 01553 764864 www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk 11-May Funnybones My Life In Comedy Come and enjoy a fun-filled afternoon with comic legend Freddie ‘Parrot Face’ Davies. Stories and jokes galore celebrat-

ing 50 years in Show Biz. Princess Theatre, 13 The Green Hunstanton, PE36 5AH. 01485 532252 www.princesshunstanton.co.uk 13-May Border Control A satire on the absurdity of immigration bureacracy. Maddermarket Theatre, St Johns Alley, Norwich, NR2 1DR 01603 620917. www.maddermarket.co.uk 13-May The Importance of being Earnest Oscar Wilde’s comic masterpiece gets the Pantaloons treatment in this anarchic take on the classic comedy of manners. Westacre Theatre, River Road, Westacre PE32 1UD. 01760 755800 www.westacretheatre.com 14-15 May The James Plays ‘The James Plays’ sold out their run at the Edinburgh International Festival and the National Theatre in London. Now returning for a high-profile UK and international tour, these plays represent theatre-making at its very best. Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre Street, Norwich NR2 1RL. 01603 630000 www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk 16-17 May A Night at the Movies The entertainment team from Norwich Pride invite you to join them for anevening of Hollywood-inspired performances; from the forties to the noughties! Maddermarket Theatre, St Johns Alley, Norwich, NR2 1DR. 01603 620917 www.maddermarket.co.uk 17-May Odd Comic : Seen but not Heard A live stream performance exchange between an arts centre and a residential home for older people. Norwich Arts Centre, St. Benedict’s Street, Norwich, NR2 4PG. 01603 660352. www.norwichartscentre.co.uk 18-May Psychic Sally: Call Me Psychic The nations favourite psychic, Sally Morgan is back and better than ever with her brand new and most jaw-dropping show yet. King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 1JW. 01553 764864 www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk 24-May Luke Wright Luke Wright delivers a multi award winning hurricane of a performance. With humour and humanity he takes British politics head on, challenging the rise of New Labour and David Cameron, and the abandonment of those left behind. Norwich Arts Centre, St. Benedict’s Street, Norwich, NR2 4PG. 01603 660352 norwichartscentre.co.uk 24 May - 4 Jun The Bodyguard Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be

in charge – what they don’t expect is to fall in love. Starring Alexandra Burke. Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre Street, Norwich, NR2 1RL. 01603 630000 www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk 25-May Julian Clary-The Joy of Mincing The Joy of Mincing is Julian Clary’s celebration of 30 years as a camp comedian. There is so much to tell you; the ups and downs of his sordid love life, the true and heart stopping account of how he saved Dame Joan Collins’ life, and don’t start him on the perils of his DIY electrical home enema kit. King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 1JW. 01553 764864 www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk 25-May Somewhere in England Join Chester and Joe of the 8th United States Army Air Force as they learn to cope with life living amongst the locals ‘Somewhere in England.’ Sheringham Little Theatre, 2 Station Road, Sheringham, NR26 8RE 01263 822347. www.sheringhamlittletheatre.com 27-28 May Westacre Theatre Company: Heroes Three war veterans while away their time in a veterans’ home with plans of escape and revenge on the matron, Sister Madeleine. Westacre Theatre, River Road, Westacre, PE32 1UD 01760 755800. www.westacretheatre.com 31-May Kindly Leave the Stage ‘Kindly Leave the Stage’ is a celebration of fun, mayhem and thespian mischief, and is of a similar format to ‘Noises Off’, a play within a play. The ensemble go head to head as they play the characters in the play and the actors who are performing in the play. It’s a fast-paced farce which is easy to watch and lots of fun. Maddermarket Theatre, St Johns Alley, Norwich, NR2 1DR. 01603 620917 www.maddermarket.co.uk MUSIC 4-7 May The Gondoliers ‘The Gondoliers’ is one of the most popular of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas with some of Sullivan’s best loved melodies and one of Gilbert’s wittiest plots involving baby swapping, an unknown prince, an impoverished duke and the Spanish Inquisition! Maddermarket Theatre, St Johns Alley, Norwich, NR2 1DR 01603 620917. www.maddermarket.co.uk 5-May Josephine Foster Josephine Foster is a modern American folk singer-songwriter and musician from Colorado. Norwich Arts Centre, St. Benedict’s Street, Norwich, NR2 4PG. 01603 660352. norwichartscentre.co.uk 6-May Bootleg Swing At this speakeasy, don’t spill your pink gin

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A venue as individual as you.

Looking for a much needed break? Spend some time with us at All Hallows where it is Pastoral ... Prayerful ... Peaceful ...

OUR QUIET DAYS IN 2016 INCLUDE:

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Mannington Gardens provide superb surroundings for a reception and there is ample room for marquees on the lawns and beautiful backgrounds for photographs.

18th June Praying with Icons

We have Guesthouse Accommodation: We are an Anglican Religious Community oﬀering guest accommodation for retreat, rest, reﬂection and renewal. Visit us at our Ditchingham Convent or in Norwich, adjacent to the Shrine of Mother Julian. Guided retreats, spiritual direction, or just a listening ear are some of the services available during your stay.

Gaze in stillness on these “windows into heaven” and let the Spirit pray you in this quiet space. starts at 10am and ﬁnish at 4.30pm and cost £12

We specialise in a personal approach and like to consider each celebration separately and price to individual needs. We would recommend you come to see the Hall and Gardens to see if this could be the venue for you. We can help to arrange marquees, caterers, florists and photographs if you wish or provide you with addresses if you prefer to make your own arrangements.

3rd September New Life taking root A reﬂective look at the miracle behind everyday things – like gardening. Learn the art of taking successful cuttings. starts at 10am and ﬁnish at 4.30pm and cost £12

RECEPTIONS Prices start from £400 plus VAT but each wedding is priced individually according to requirements. Receptions on Saturdays but not on garden open days.

Ditchingham, Norfolk NR35 2DT Telephone: 01986 892749

Mannington Hall, Mannington, Norfolk NR11 7BB 01263 584175 admin@walpoleestate.co.uk

www.all-hallows.org

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and giggle water as you’re enticed onto the dance floor, for the hugely popular Charleston lesson. Norwich Arts Centre, St. Benedict’s Street, Norwich, NR2 4PG 01603 660352. norwichartscentre.co.uk 6-May And Finally Phil Collins Now in their eighth year together this truly 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. Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton, PE36 5AH. 01485 532252 www.princesshunstanton.co.uk 8-May Buddy Holly & the Cricketers Starring some of the finest actor-musicians in the UK, whose combined credits include Buddy, Lennon, Forbidden Planet and Jailhouse Rock. Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre Street, Norwich, NR2 1RL 01603 630000. www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk 8-May Queen - A Night At The Opera UK Tour (1975) Filmed in 1975 at London’s Hammersmith Odeon at the end of A Night at the Opera UK Tour. Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton, PE36 5AH. 01485 532252 www.princesshunstanton.co.uk 8-May The Life and Songs of Edith Piaf From her early years singing in the streets of Paris to discovery, intrigue, fame and heartbreak, the show features Edith’s most memorable and moving numbers of love, loss and storytelling, sung in both French and English. Maddermarket Theatre, St Johns Alley, Norwich, NR2 1DR. 01603 620917 www.maddermarket.co.uk 9-10 May Tosca & Carmen Ellen Kent and Opera & Ballet International present these productions featuring international soloists, highly praised chorus and full orchestra. Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre Street Norwich, NR2 1RL. 01603 630000 www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk 10-May Georgina Jackson Georgina Jackson (voc & tpt) with Chris Ingham (pno) Rob Palmer (bass) George Double (drums). Maddermarket Theatre, St Johns Alley, Norwich, NR2 1DR 01603 620917. www.maddermarket.co.uk 10-May Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards Propelled by inspired fiddle and cello playing, warm vocals, and arresting original songs, Laura Cortese and the Dance Cards have emerged as one of the most intriguing, versatile, and refreshing groups in the bountiful New England post-folk scene. Norwich Arts Centre, St. Benedict’s Street, Norwich, NR2 4PG 01603 660352. norwichartscentre.co.uk 11-May Tom Robinson An intimate acoustic evening with songsmith, broadcaster, activist and raconteur Tom Robinson. Born in 1950, Tom was mentored by Alexis Korner and first discovered by Ray Davies, who produced his debut album with Café Society back in 1975. Norwich Arts Centre, St. Benedict’s Street, Norwich, NR2 4PG 01603 660352. norwichartscentre.co.uk 15-May An Evening With The Rubettes (Feat. Alan Williams) Accompanied by Steve Innes Etherington.

Hear the songs, including ‘Sugar Baby Love’ ‘Tonight’ ‘Juke Box Jive’, the stories and the memories as recalled by the guys who were actually there. Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton, PE36 5AH. 01485 532252 www.princesshunstanton.co.uk 14-May Venice to Vegas Hear the best songs from the world’s Opera Houses, Broadway Theatres & Concert Halls as ‘the Rat Pack of Opera’ take you from ‘Venice to Vegas.’ King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 1JW 01553 764864. www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk 21-May Legend Of A Band Enjoy the music of the Moody Blues in the company of five legendary musicians, singers and songwriters. Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton, PE36 5AH. 01485 532252 www.princesshunstanton.co.uk 22-May Norfolk Symphony Orchestra Three of the best known works in the repertoire that also represent in some way the artistssearch for a place in the world. King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 1JW. 01553 764864. www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk 26-27 May Russell Watson Captivating to watch and enchanting to listen to, Russell continues to wow audiences with his enigmatic and entertaining live performances. King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, PE30 1JW. 01553 764864 www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk 28-May Raymond Froggatt His concerts are sold out across the country and abroad, Froggie writes and sings his own songs mesmerising his audience, making them laugh with one of his many stories or cry with emotion with a song that touches the heart like no other. Princess Theatre, 13 The Green, Hunstanton, PE36 5AH. 01485 532252 www.princesshunstanton.co.uk

SPECIAL EVENTS 7-22 May Broads Outdoors Festival A fortnight of outdoor activities in Norfolk’s man-made Broads, Britain’s Magical Waterland. Events will include walks, tours and much more. Broads National Park. 01603 756094 www.outdoorsfestival.co.uk 13-29 May Norfolk & Norwich Festival The Norfolk and Norwich Festival is a celebration of creativity, innovation, beauty and diversity with jazz, classical music, comedy and dance. Various venues. 01603 877750. www.nnfestival.org.uk 21 May - 5 Jun Wild in the City Norfolk Wildlife Trust turns 90 this year, and celebrates with a two-week takeover of Norwich. Join in for stories, footage ‘live from the hide’ and more. The Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich, NR2 1TF. 01603 727932. www.theforumnorwich.co.uk 21-22 May Cromer and Sheringham Crab and Lobster Festival This has become an established, must see, part of the north Norfolk calendar and kicks off with an opening concert at Cromer Pier. The concert highlights both professional and amateur local talent including the ever-popular Olly Day and Nigel Boy Syer and The Sheringham Shantymen. Cromer Pier, Cromer, NR27 9HE. 01263 512495 www.cromerpier.com AUCTIONS & ANTIQUES 8 & 22 May Blakeney Antique & Collectors Fair Maximum 24 Tables. Well attended throughout the year. Free parking, Refreshments. Open 10am-4pm. £1 admission. Blakeney Village Hall, Blakeney, NR25 7NQ. 01263 713120

8-May Norwich Antiques & Collectors Fair The fair features up to 50 top dealers selling small furniture items, porcelain, Glass, gold & silver, ephemera and more. 9am - 3.30pm Admission £1. The Hewett Academy, Cecil Road, Norwich, NR1 2PL 07919 022352 ARTS & EXHIBITIONS 7 May - 27 Nov Looking Beyond 14-May Norfolk Snettisham This new exhibition brings together Fleamarket Around 20 stalls selling antiques, previously un-exhibited letters and collectables, vintage, retro and more! handmade booklets of renowned writer Open 9am - 3.30pm. Refreshments John Berger and artist John Christie available. 50p entry. The Memorial Hall, with photographs, video and works of art Old Church Road, Snettisham, PE31 7LX from the Centre and Christie’s own col014855 43608 lection. The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ. 01603 593199. scva.ac.uk 17-May Antiques & Collectors Fair Community Hall Dealers in glass, porcelain, ceramics, 12 May - 4 Jun Garry Raymond-Pereira Garry Raymond-Pereira is a Norwich retro accessories, shabby chic and small based painter, His land and seascapes furniture and much more. Free Admission. are at once realistic representations of Community Hall, Garden Street, Cromer, NR27 9HH. 07501 782821 scenery instantly full of atmosphere, powerful and often moody. With a closer 22-May Militaria Fair Norfolk look they are thought provoking, conFantastic and diverse range of quality templative and forceful comments on the militaria from some of the countries human condition. Mandell’s Gallery, Elm Hill, Norwich, NR3 1HN. 01603 626892 leading militaria specialists to include www.mandellsgallery.co.uk deacts, swords, bayonets, uniform, medals, badges, books and ephemera. 14 May - 8 Jun Early Summer Exhibition Ample free parking, Admission £3. Open Featuring paintings and prints by new 10am - 2pm. Thetford Leisure Centre, Croxton Road, Thetford, IP24 1JD and established artists, and a new collec07596 436260 tion of ceramics by Nicholas Homoky. Bircham Gallery, 14 Market Place, Holt NR25 6BW. 01263 713312 www.birchamgallery.co.uk

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