Living in Suffolk Coastal - Issue 31 by Living in ...

ISSUE SUMMER 2016 ISSUE ONE… 31 ... spring 2022

LIVING IN

SUFFOLK Suffolk gals ... the brave and bold Local home owners… throw open their doors Thanks million meet ... Artthe For Curewith the Parent Pod! Child freeazones?… couple Camping ... year?… in Shottisham Is grey justitsoup last Jojo Humes Brown on colours

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ISSUE SUMMER 2016 ISSUE ONE… 31 ... spring 2022

LIVING IN

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If you’ve got a heartwarming or topical story to tell, an inspiring home or business to show off, or an event you’re planning, we’d love to hear from you! The copy deadline for our next edition, covering May and June, is mid-April and it will be available to read in hard copy and online from early May. l For advertising information, or if you’d like to submit any collaboration ideas and stories, email info@livinginsuffolk.com

Where every pupil creates their own story.

SUFFOLK BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION SERVICES We take great pride in our quality of work and personal service that we provide. Covering all aspects of building and construction we work alongside a selection of trusted, local sub-contractors to complete projects to the highest of standards.

4 New Builds

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4 Property Renovation 4 Garage Conversions 4 Design and Build

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We are loving this powerful oil on canvas painting called Fanfare (66 x 53cm) by the amazingly talented Henrietta Dubrey, whose work features in Art For Cure’s samenamed exhibition in Woodbridge. See Henrietta’s story on Page 22. READ IT ONLINE AT WWW.LIVINGINSUFFOLK.COM Did you know it’s less than £1 a day to advertise on our much-read county-wide website, where you can browse all current and back issues of your favourite magazine as well as more features from around Suffolk!

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ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

LIVING IN Editor: Angela Hagan 07930 184773, info@livinginsuffolk.com Designers: Craig Drever and Lewis Webb Writer: Charity Crewe charity@livinginsuffolk.com www.livinginsuffolk.com Due East Media Ltd: Soane House, 4 Soane Street, Ipswich IP4 2BG. Registered in England number 10242873 Disclaimer: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor the editor, nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party for omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given for use in this publication. Living In … Suffolk Coastal does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, without prior permission of Due East Media Ltd.

Local home owners… throw open their doors Child free zones?… meet the couple with the Parent Pod! Is grey just so last year?… Jojo Humes Brown on colours

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Would you like to own a memento from the set of the Framlingham-filmed comedy Detectorists? How about owning the show’s famous squeaky doors or Sheila’s much-used tea urn? These items were salvaged prior to the demolition of St Michael’s Rooms, one of a number of locations in the town used in filming the show, and a local team of volunteers will be putting them up for auction to raise funds for the new community rooms that will stand in its place. Other iconic items from the series, written and directed by and starring Mackenzie Crook, include signs, chairs and doors. Lots will also include autographed DVDs, an authentic Framlingham Town sign, a tour of Southwold by Antiques Roadshow expert and occasional detectorist Geoffrey Munn, and tours of the Framlingham locations featured on the BBC programme combined with local ‘detecting’ sessions. Fundraising and project group member Adrian Morgan says: “Detectorists has been a very positive influence on Framlingham and has brought hundreds of fans to the town. We hope that our auctions will give those fans the opportunity to own a memento from the building and cement a long-lasting connection to the Framlingham community.” The auction will be run by Clarke & Simpson Auctions in conjunction with www.the-saleroom.com, from 25th March to 3rd April. Each item won will be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, some signed by Mackenzie Crook himself, with 100% of all funds raised going towards the new building. Director of Clarke & Simpson Auctions, James Durrant, says: “We are delighted to be supporting the Castle Community Rooms project, which will be a fantastic addition to our town.” Millions know the original rooms based in the town’s Church Street as the location of the scout hut, home to Danebury Metal Detecting Club in the delightful series, also starring Toby Jones. In January, the 11-month building project began to replace the 130-year-old St Michael’s Rooms centre with a new, modern community building purpose designed by James Gorst Architects. Its name is Castle Community Rooms, in recognition of its location

The cast of Detectorists, which is available to watch on BBC iPlayer

in this historic part of the town. Around 85% of the £1.2m needed for the project has been raised thanks to a close collaboration between Framlingham Town Council, East Suffolk Council and St Michael’s Church. The new building has been designed with energy efficiency in mind and its external appearance will integrate well in its location between the historic church and Framlingham Castle. Architect James Gorst says: “The architecture of the hall is inspired by the black barns of East Anglia.” Indeed, black zinc standing seam cladding will be wrapped around a timber frame, contrasting against oak framed triple glazed windows and doors. Exposed timber rafters will extend past the walls at eaves level to form sheltered external spaces. “This building will be a celebration of communal activity,” adds James, “and will represent the fruition of countless hours of unpaid civic-minded activity by public spirited members of the Framlingham community.”

“Detectorists has been a very positive influence on Framlingham and has brought hundreds of fans to the town …” Adrian Morgan, Castle Community Rooms project

In addition to the main hall, which will seat 120 people, there will be a meeting room for up to 16 people and modern facilities including a kitchen, baby changing and accessible toilets. Views and opinions of groups and organisations that intend to use the new hall have been taken into account and include, for the main hall, acoustics suitable for singing groups, a partially sprung floor for dancing, and audio-visual facilities for film shows. The Danebury Metal Detecting Club would be proud! l For the memorabilia auction, go to www.the-saleroom.com l If you would like to donate to the building of the new centre, go to www.gofundme.com/f/castle-community-rooms l For more details on the forthcoming Castle Community Rooms, see www.castlecommunityrooms.co.uk

castle community rooms: an artist’s impression Construction of Framlingham’s new multipurpose facility, which will stand on the site of St Michael’s Rooms, is currently underway.

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ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

property

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Local home owners… throw open their doors Child free zones?… meet the couple with the Parent Pod! Is grey just so last year?… Jojo Humes Brown on colours

ON THE

YOUR BRAND NEW FREE HOMES & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Local home owners… throw open their doors Child free zones?… meet the couple with the Parent Pod! Is grey just so last year?… Jojo Humes Brown on colours

YOUR BRAND NEW FREE HOMES & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

MARKET Your latest local property news from around the region …

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ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

Tim Dansie

Jonathan Penn

James Squirrell

Sarah Walsh

AS ONE CHAPTER CLOSES … The owner of the Woodbridge Emporium, Jules Button, is selling after five years of building up a much-loved business on the town’s Thoroughfare. “It’s been very hard and emotional deciding to sell,” says Jules, “but towards the end of last year I had some family problems and then my health suffered and it was a bit of a wake-up call. “Some people think bookselling is a sedate, easy career when in fact it’s very full-on, especially if you want to be part of the community. “You have to organise events, go to schools, do talks, network with publishers, and chase authors for book signings, plus run the shop, so it really is a diverse and busy job. “I feel at the moment I just can’t do all these things efficiently and therefore I am looking for someone who wants to take on this awesome challenge.” She says her proudest moments include becoming regional finalist for Independent Bookshop of the Year. “Then in 2021, The Guardian named us as one of Britain’s top ten independent bookshops,” she says. “I smiled for weeks about that and we had people from all over the UK send us congratulations and place orders. “On a personal note, I’d like to say a big thank you to the author and screenwriter Anthony Horowitz. He has supported us on social media, in the bookshop (he pops in and signs books when he is passing!) and we have had two amazing author events with him and, hopefully, a third before I hang my bookseller’s hat up … so stay tuned folks!” Jules says she will greatly miss the bookshop, which valiantly stayed open throughout the lockdowns delivering books to people locally. As a teasmith and herbologist, she will be focusing her attention

on her famous teas. “The loose-leaf teas we sell here will now be sold in Sucoca, which is the retail shop of Christine’s Pattiserie in the Thoroughfare – they already use our teas in the cafe – so our customers can still buy all their loose-leaf teas locally.” Jules will be launching a new company called Tea Tubs – “eco tubs filled with teas and herbs plus other wellbeing products.” She explains: “They will be sold online [www.teatubs.co.uk] and at selected stores all over the UK, and the fun thing about them is the Tea Tubs can be personalised so they make fantastic gifts to send in the post. “I am very excited about this new venture and fingers crossed it means I will be able to spend more time relaxing with my family. I am also a bit nervous, as I really want to get the right person to take over the bookshop – I need to find someone who has a real passion for books and the wordsmith industry. “It’s been the most amazing journey and one I will treasure forever.” l For more information on the sale of Woodbridge Emporium bookshop and the apartment above it, contact Paul Keen at Penn Commercial on 01473 211933. Jules Button, above, is selling her Woodbridge bookshop

a slice of history … The historic Deben Haugh has come on to the market, bringing with it far-reaching views over Woodbridge and the River Deben. Built in 1910 for Fred Kingston Smith, it was the work of leading architect John Corder of Ipswich, who also designed Tranmer House, Edith Pretty’s famous Sutton Hoo home, in the same year. The property offers seven/eight bedrooms, including an open-plan studio. In all, it provides around 6,650 sq ft of accommodation, generously arranged over three floors. Set in 0.85 acres, including a hard tennis court, Deben Haugh is on at a guide price of £2,500,000. l For further details, contact Fenn Wright on 01394 333346.

ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

local lives

When Claire Norton took over her family campsite, little did she know she’d face major life challenges while grappling to build a business which would make her grandparents proud …

Picture by Elizabeth Rickard @elizabethjarickard

The good life! H

istory, they say, often repeats itself. And for Claire Norton never a truer word has been spoken. Claire and her husband James run what is possibly the best-kept camping secret in Suffolk. Shottisham Campsite is so popular it has regular campers who have been visiting the campsite for a staggering four or five decades. Her grandparents Irene and George Stanley Fowler, who lived in London, had bought the site after holidaying there and falling in love with it.

“They had a little caravan here and one evening they went to the Sorrel Horse pub next door and found out the owner of the campsite was selling up, so they bought it and moved in April 1971,” recalls Claire. “They continued to run their engineering firm in London and would travel there on Tuesdays to Thursdays and stay overnight in their office, sleeping in specially made beds, then come back to run the campsite. “They were a real pair of grafters and continued to do that into their late 70s.” As children, Claire and her sister Alison

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spent lots of time at the campsite. She recalls long happy summers helping her beloved grandad (pictured with her, below right) with the chores. By the mid-1990s, Claire, who had a flat in London, was working on and off in Turkey, where she’d been teaching English and was studying for a PhD in Ottoman history. Sadly her grandfather died and later her grandmother became ill with

“I’ve had a double mastectomy, an autoimmune disorder and a hip op … but life goes on” Alzheimer’s. So Claire’s parents, Ann and Ken, both teachers living in Bedfordshire, took early retirement and moved in to help run the site. “Just one month later, my mum was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer for which she had treatment. She was given six months to live and lived for 18 months.” Tragically, her grandmother died of Alzheimer’s and just three months after that Claire lost her mother too. Her grief-stricken father turned to alcohol and Claire found herself having to return home to help run the site, just as her parents had done before her. It was a difficult time: Claire was holding down an incredible academic career which has seen her write six books and appear on Radio 4’s In Our Time with Melvyn Bragg. She was, and still is, an associate professor of history at St Mary’s University in Twickenham; she lectures in history part-time, flitting between the two places

Opposite page: Claire Norton, pictured with husband James and Kitten the sheep, has overcome many adversities on the way to making Shottisham Campsite such a success Above: The onsite Blue Rabbit Cafe Right, top: Pitches are spread over five fields Right, middle: There’s also a working smallholding, and among the animals there are pigs, alpacas, chickens – and goats Right, bottom: A young Claire with her grandfather, George Stanley Fowler, at the site in the 1970s. The business has been in her family for three generations

just as her grandparents had done. “There are so many coincidences, I have come full circle,” she smiles. As her father’s health deteriorated, the long-term campers rallied round to help keep the place going. “They were so lovely,” she recalls. “They helped tidy the toilet block and left cash in the house for my dad. Some of them still come to this day and they are great friends.” Her dad died in 2009, and Claire and her husband James Iosbaker, an American who she’d earlier met in London, decided to take over the campsite. But tragedy was to strike again, as Claire was herself then diagnosed with breast cancer. The couple worked hard building up the business as she battled with gruelling cancer treatment. Over the next few years, she endured a double mastectomy, reconstructive surgery and had her ovaries removed. She was also diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called Graves’ Disease in which the immune system attacks the thyroid. Then, at the end of last year, she had a long-awaited hip operation. “Afterwards the surgeon said: ‘My god, it was totally knackered! I don’t know how you’ve been walking around with that.’ It’s such a relief to no longer be in pain.” Imagine all this and going through lockdowns, trying to keep their muchloved family business afloat. But Claire is fairly philosophical about all she has been through. “It’s been a tough time but life goes on,” she smiles. One thing is certain – they have built a fabulous business which her grandparents and parents would be proud of, and that’s supported by a lovely new generation of campers. The campsite offers 50 spacious pitches (several with electrical hook-up), spread between five small fields broken up by mature native trees and bushes – some of which Claire planted herself with her grandfather. They even offer glamping, in the form of a bell tent with all mod cons. It’s a place where kids can roam free and enjoy a truly rural experience – picking up eggs from the hens, tickling pigs’ bums, stroking the sheep, milking the goats, feeding the alpacas. Claire and James also have five cats and two dogs. Indeed, one of the sheep, fondly known as Kitten (pictured with the couple on the opposite page), is a big attraction as she was brought up with their border collies and now enjoys daily walks with them. “She thinks she’s a dog and we get such funny looks when people see us all out on a walk,” laughs Claire. Claire loves tending to their polytunnels with fruit trees such as peaches, and they grow pretty much all their own veg. There’s also an on-site pizza place, called Pete’s Pizzas, and the seasonal Blue Rabbit

Local home owners… throw open their doors Child free zones?… meet the couple with the Parent Pod! Is grey just so last year?… Jojo Humes Brown on colours

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Cafe, run from a repurposed burger van, serves up homegrown, homemade food. And they have recently received funding to set up and refurbish containers for customer seating. All in all, it’s a unique farm-to-fork experience. “All the meat, eggs, honey, fruit and vegetables are grown or produced here,” she smiles. “That’s food metres not miles. We offer small-scale, sustainable, environmentally-friendly food production – and homemade cake.” In fact, Claire’s cake workshop is the same one her grandfather used for making jewellery for friends and relatives. She adds: “Sometimes when I’m making cakes, I think about how he used his hands to make things right where I’m standing and it makes me feel very rooted.” l The Blue Rabbit Cafe reopens in April. Go to www.bluerabbitcafe.com l To book a pitch at the campsite, go to www.shottishamcampsite.com or email aji@me.com ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

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(Yes we can!)

The Woodbridge Repair Cafe has helped to revive many a broken object, says repairer Philip Allen …

et up in 2019, a joint alliance between Transition Woodbridge and St John’s Church, the Repair Cafe is a great way of keeping items out of landfill as well as teaching simple repairs. People take in their broken items to be fixed or are shown how to fix them by a team of in-house repairers, including Philip Allen, for a voluntary contribution. “Table lamps are common, usually with a break in the wiring, and we have a good fix rate with them,” says Philip. “A number of toasters seem to arrive each time. [The group meet each month.] If an element has gone it’s often not repairable as the part can’t be bought, but if the elements are OK then cleaning out and adjusting often gets them going again.” Other popular items include CD and DVD machines, paper shredders, bits of furniture or hems which may need glueing or sewing, and other items which might need soldering. The team will attempt to repair electrical, electronic and mechanical items and there is also a group who sew, someone with leather working skills and someone who can sharpen garden tools. It really is a treasure trove of help and support – with refreshments available too. Philip says he owes his talent for repairs to his father, who was a skilled heating engineer, as well as his own career in PHILIP’S TOP REPAIR TIPS … l Go to www.ifixit.com, which has a number of guides showing how to dismantle and repair many things for those who have the confidence to try. l For toasters, clean the crumb tray regularly and, if it has something stuck inside, hold the toaster upside down over a sink or bin and give it a shake to dislodge the burnt bread – obviously unplug it first. Don’t poke anything inside as the parts are live with delicate element wires. l Many vacuum cleaners have one or more filters. The instructions usually explain how to keep them clean and so keep it working at its best. l For broken radios, torches, toys, check the batteries are the right size and right way round. For battery leaks, use a fibreglass pen to clean up; they can be bought for less than £4 online.

Philip (centre) and fellow Woodbrid

ge Repair Cafe members fix locals electrical and electronic equipment at BT. ’ broken items “I found I enjoyed the satisfaction of fixing something and making it work again, which made me do it more.” His biggest repair achievement is a personal one involving a lovely old Morris Minor he bought as a project. “It took me three years to complete but it successfully returned to the road last year, 18 years after its previous MOT expired!” The repair cafe movement started in Holland and aims to encourage people to learn the skills needed to repair their own things. “Dutch repair cafes are set up so A group of sewing enthu the owner of the item can repair it siasts make repairs to furniture and clothing, themselves under the guidance of an like these jeans experienced repairer,” he says. “Most people who come to us prefer to have “Attitudes are changing one of us make the repair, which is fine – and enjoyable for us – but about unnecessary was te” anyone who would like to try to repair Philip Allen, Woodbridg e Repair Cafe volunteer their own item is also welcome.” Philip believes we have been “almost encouraged” to be a throwaway society in the past. “But I think attitudes are changing now, as people understand the consequences of unnecessary waste,” he says. “The Woodbridge Repair Cafe is well attended and appreciated by those who come. Numbers are increasing as more people hear about us too. Since ours, others have opened in Ipswich, Martlesham, Waldringfield and elsewhere, which are also popular. I think that proves the desire to The team of skilled volunt eer move away from just throwing St John’s Church in Woodb s meet monthly at ridge things away and buying another. “Last year, the government introduced Right to Repair regulations which, over time, will give repairers access to spare parts and technical information. “Manufacturers have two years to comply and it only applies to larger white goods at the moment, but it’s a start, and I hope to see it being extended so people don’t have to throw things away unnecessarily.”

l The Woodbridge Repair Cafe is open on the first Monday of every month, 10am to midday, at St John’s Church in the town.

Members of the public can observe – and learn – how the repairs are ma de ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

Pictures by Hilary Whyar d, except top picture by Jane Healey

Based in Woodbridge, we assist vulnerable people to manage their finances and to live as independently as possible.

Can we fix it?

MOVERS SHAKERS

GOOD FRIDAY FEAST!

We asked Mike for a lovely Easter recipe and he gave us this mouthwatering dish featuring fresh skate from A Passion For Seafood. Pulled Skate and Paprika Potato Cakes (Serves 4) Ingredients: n Skinned wing thornback ray (about 500g) or another seasonally abundant ray species n 2 bay leaves n A few black peppercorns n 500g boiled floury potatoes for mashing n 200g salted butter n 2 tbsp creme fraiche n 1 tbsp smoked paprika n 2 handfuls grated mature cheddar n 1 tsp English mustard n 4 spring onions, finely chopped n Small bunch chives, finely chopped n 1 free range egg, beaten n Sea salt n Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Out of the chaos of lockdown, ‘A Passion for Seafood’ was born, and fishmonger Mike Warner says he’s never been happier … Tell us about your business, A Passion for Seafood. The name comes from the blog I’d been writing for ten years. As a member of the Guild of Food Writers and having been embedded in the UK fishing industry and as a consultant to the hospitality trade, I was very busy and totally immersed in it all. But when the pandemic struck, my consultancy work and writing all took a very swift hit and I suddenly found myself with not a lot to do! I know plenty of local fishermen and they were wondering how to sell, as the fish market in Lowestoft had closed and furloughed its staff. So I offered to deliver

their fish direct to restaurants in London myself. Before I knew it, I’d got a little wholesale business going. It was meant to be! Yes, it was serendipitous. I started buying from more boats and began supplying restaurants during that whole Eat Out to Help Out campaign in 2020. Later that year, I was on the west coast of Scotland when I got a call from Annabel and Will Longe who run the Grange Farm Shop in Hasketon, offering me to run a pop-up fishmonger’s on the site. Within weeks, we had queues of people buying fish from our trailer! By the following year, it was going so well they offered me the old workshop which used to be a flower shop. If it wasn’t for the pandemic, I’d never have done this. When did your interest in fishing begin? As you can see from the photo [black and white, left], I started at a young age! It was taken in the 1960s, when I was about two. Coincidentally, it was taken almost at the identical point at Felixstowe Ferry where I now pick up the fish from the fishermen to sell. I love that the scene hasn’t actually changed over time.

“I have saltwater in my blood!”

This page, above: Fisherman Mike Warner grew up at Felixstowe Ferry in the 1960s and 70s (here, he is about two years old) Other photos: Now, he aims to preserve our local fishing communities and their heritage, and runs A Passion for Seafood, a fishmonger and wholesalers based in Hasketon

Tell us about your childhood? I was an only child and I grew up close to Felixstowe Ferry – it was like a playground to me. I had a magical childhood, really, and I loved anything to do with the sea and fishing. When I was ten, my parents, Diane and Lionel, bought me a little dinghy where I had my own lobster pots, and that was my hobby. My dad loved fishing and I was always helping out. I always say I have saltwater in my blood! Once you hear ‘the sigh of the sea’, you never tend to lose it. It sounds like something out of Swallows and Amazons … It was! By the age of 12, a typical day for me would be going lobstering to check the pots, then coming in for a spot of lunch, before cycling to Gulpher Farm

where I would help milk the cows. Soon I started crewing for my dad’s friends on their fishing boats. What did your parents do? My mum worked as a deputy head for Amberfield School in Nacton and Dad worked at Churchman’s, latterly known as John Player’s, in Ipswich. He was a training manager and one of his jobs was to train people to use the cigar-making machines. They weren’t very well off but my mum scrimped and saved to get me a private education – I went to Woodbridge School. After that, I was either going to go into agriculture or fishing but I chose agriculture and went to study it in Shropshire. My parents would be delighted if they could see me now. I have come full circle. What are your hopes for the future? I want to keep on helping our fishing communities with this net to plate approach. I’m absolutely passionate about their culture and heritage. Once our local fishermen here on the east coast are gone, they are gone for good, never to be replaced. They need our support. l Mike will be sharing his extensive knowledge and tales from the sea at The Sun Inn in Dedham alongside its chef Jack Levine on Friday, 11th March. Four courses, eight wines, £65 a head. To book, call The Sun Inn on 01206 323351 or email office@thesuninndedham.com

Method: First, poach the wing in a suitable pan in salted water (or a court-bouillon) with the black peppercorns and the bay leaves for about 8 minutes. Ladle out and drain. Fork the ray meat away from the wing frame (this is ‘pulling’) and set aside. Mash the potatoes, incorporating the mustard, creme fraiche, half the butter and a little salt and pepper. Put in mixing bowl and fork in the pulled skate, adding the cheddar, paprika, chives and spring onions. Work everything together and add as much of the egg as is needed to bind, without making the mixture too wet. Form the mixture into cakes (about 1 tbsp each) and flatten slightly, ready for frying. Melt the remaining butter in a heavy frying pan and introduce the cakes when it starts to foam. Fry them, turning once or twice until the sides are crispy and golden brown. Repeat for all the cakes (makes about 8) and serve with a green salad.

l Find Mike at The Old Workshop, Grange Farm, Hasketon IP13 6HN from Tuesday to Saturday, 8.30am – 4.30pm. Or go to www.apassionforseafood.com ISSUE ISSUE ONE… ONE… SUMMER SUMMER 20162016

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ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

local lives

king of clubs! Living In … meets Woodbridge-based DJ Ben Osborne …

e’s an award-winning creative producer, musician and broadcaster who DJs internationally with residencies at leading venues and festivals in the UK and Europe. His background in the music business is a smorgasbord of musical firsts, having worked alongside major names in the industry – he once even shared an office with The Office comedy star Ricky Gervais. But Woodbridge resident Ben Osborne is not one to name-drop and is delightfully shy, despite working alongside many famous faces and himself being a key player in club culture since the 1990s. Over the last few years – lucky for us – Ben has turned his attention to Suffolk’s burgeoning music scene, having already conquered London. Many locals were delighted when Soul II Soul’s Jazzie B performed at the fabulous Woodbridge Festival of Art and Music in Elmhurst Park last summer, attended by iconic funk DJ Les Spaine, who later played a gig in the town. Ben has also brought big names such as Chris Coco, Phil Hartnoll of Orbital, Danny Rampling, Rocky and Diesel, Leee John of Imagination and Gorillaz, Daniel Avery, Faze Action, Mark Moore (S’Express) and Horse Meat Disco DJs to these parts – and has also teamed-up with local DJs, artists and acts. He owes much to his multi-

platform collective, Noise of Art, which has been involved in numerous high profile gigs. It helped introduce immersive film and clubbing events, with exciting projects showcased at Latitude, Big Chill Festival, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Village Underground and more.

“Working alongside Ricky Gervais … he was always very funny” He helped pioneer late-night music events in galleries in London, starting at the National Theatre in 2002 and followed by the Tate, BFI and National Portrait Gallery. Ben says his interest lies in the “fascinating convergence of music and art, brought about by the digital age.” He’s collaborated with the likes of Coldcut, Jack de Marseille, Tom Findlay of Groove Armada, Laurent Garnier, Martyn Ware of Heaven 17/ Human League, Justin Robertson, The Beatles (launching their Magical Mystery Tour DVD), A Man Called Adam and Fred Deakin of Lemon Jelly to name but a few. So where did it all start? Born and bred in London, Ben grew up in Kentish Town at first listening to The Beatles and Elvis Presley and then blues, soul, jazz and funk artists. “In those days you could get into gigs when you were way too young,” he smiles. “I was about 13 and lived near places like The Dublin Castle, The Roundhouse and Camden Palace.” “I started playing the guitar and gigging myself with my mates in a band,” he says. “We even got

a residency in The Dublin Castle where Madness started out, which was amazing.” At the University of Kent, where he studied politics and philosophy, he joined another band and performed at the Edinburgh Festival. But it was after uni, when he’d moved to Manchester and was out one night at a DJ bar in the early 90s, at the tail end of the hedonistic Hacienda days, that Ben rather stumbled into DJing. “I asked if I could try it out and the DJ, a mate, said: ‘Yeah, sure, come back with a record bag next week.’ And when I did, he basically said: ‘That’s the first deck, that’s the second deck, that’s the crossfader – I’m off to the bar!’ And he just left me to it.” On moving back to London, Ben continued with his DJing and ended up working in the same building as an undiscovered Ricky Gervais, who was running the entertainments programme for the University of London Students’ Union (ULU), on Mallet Street in central London. One night, Ben and Ricky turned all four floors of the ULU building into a super club, with different club nights operating on each floor. This briefly kick-started Ricky’s career as a nightclub promoter, with Ben on occasional DJ duties. “You could often hear Ricky’s laugh echoing around the ULU building. He was always very funny.” A few years later, Ricky invited Ben over to the newly set up leftfield radio station, Xfm (later rebranded as Radio X), where they worked together for a couple of years. “Ricky’s job then was finding interesting things for the DJs to say. I helped him for a bit and Xfm founder Sammy Jacob asked me to

l Ben’s art project, Tide Mill Out, was recently featured on BBC Breakfast and Look East news and will be performed again as part of Woodbridge Festival. l For further information, go to www.woodbridgefestival.com or www.noiseofart.org

Above: Among the places Ben Osborne has DJed are the Tate, Glastonbury and London’s Jazz Cafe – as well as his hometown, Woodbridge Left: One of his early music industry jobs was at London radio station, Xfm Opposite page: Woodbridge Festival of Art and Music last year welcomed DJ Les Spaine (left) and Jazzie B (right). Ben pictured centre

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be the voice of the station – doing the ‘X-F-M’ radio idents. And then I ended up getting a Saturday night dance show for 18 months. I still work with Sammy now.” (On the page opposite, bottom left, is a photo of Ben taken in Xfm’s hip studios based at the time in Charlotte Street, London.) After Xfm, Ben wrote two books: an Arctic Monkeys biography and a book on the development of electronic music and club culture [described as “essential” by fellow DJ Gilles Peterson]. His successful career also saw him write regularly for Music Week, The Guardian, DJ Mag and other titles. Really, his accomplishments are far too many to mention here, but his passion for music and events has lately seen him bring a touch of his magic to Suffolk, with some incredible line-ups and nights on offer. Long may it continue …

events coming up in suffolk l Monday, 28th February: Woodbridge Festival Live at The Riverside Theatre, Woodbridge. Ben plays with guests Richard Norris and Chris Coco l Saturday, 19th March: Woodbridge Community Disco, The Community Hall, Woodbridge l Monday, 28th March: Woodbridge Festival Live at The Riverside Theatre, Woodbridge. Ben plays with guest Sally Rogers of A Man Called Adam l Friday, 4th and Saturday, 5th June: Jubilation Weekend events, Woodbridge l Saturday, 27th August: Woodbridge Festival of Art and Music, Elmhurst Park, Woodbridge

Flying high With International Women’s Day almost upon us (8th March), Living In … catches up with three inspirational Suffolk women …

Belinda Gray

is a Woodbridge resident and founder of Art For Cure, the art and outdoor sculpture shows which have now raised an incredible £1million for breast cancer services … Tell us a bit about yourself … My grandparents lived in Southwold and summers were spent staying with them feeling very carefree. Boating, cycling, days with on the beach and the inevitable crabbing at Walberswick all created happy, secure memories that we replicated years later with our own young children.

Tell us about setting up Art For Cure. How did it come about, and what have been your high and low points? My own, unexpected diagnosis of breast cancer aged 46 changed my life in many ways. I faced the toughest challenge, going through a long, gruelling treatment. My overwhelming gratitude for being well at the end of it spurred me on to fundraise by selling art in my home – the success of sales over one weekend in 2014 topped over £100k, which was donated to breast cancer research, and my determination to continue felt inevitable. We’re now a registered national charity with more than 150 volunteers, and this spring we’re going to be holding a very special exhibition, ‘Fanfare’, celebrating raising a million pounds for Art For Cure. How have the lockdown years been? They have allowed me to slow down a ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

once known as TV’s Hotel Inspector, is now co-proprietor of popular Italian restaurant Watson and Walpole in Framlingham … Tell us a bit about yourself … I am a born Londoner but have lived in Suffolk for over 40 years, so it’s very much home. And what was your background in the early days? I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up! I spent quite a few very enjoyable years managing a graphic design studio in London. Then, when I met my husband, I helped run our computer hardware business. It was after we sold that – Midwich in Diss – David broached the idea of buying Hintlesham Hall. I was very reluctant, but that was the start of a 40-year career as a hotelier/restaurateur. Tell us about setting up Watson and Walpole – how did it come about? After selling The Crown and Castle in Orford in 2017 – where Rob Walpole, our now co-director, was head chef – we thought we’d enjoy a comfortable retirement. A combination of itchy feet, dwindling capital and an innate love of restaurants found us looking around for opportunities. When we started talking to Rob about location, Framlingham was a no-brainer, with its year-round residential occupancy, appealing character and proximity to where we all live. The type of food we’d serve was a little more problematic. I adore Japanese food and Rob feels similarly about authentic Thai but we felt neither had the necessary universal appeal. Italian

And your career trajectory? From an early age, I wanted to nurse and I pursued a career at St Thomas’ in London, eventually specialising in caring for patients dying from AIDS at the peak of the crisis in the early 1990s. It was an amazing, formative and enriching career, equipping me with many life skills that have proved invaluable. Moving to Suffolk, my path changed. I retrained in horticulture, opening a gardening school at my home where I had learnt from scratch how to grow all my own fruit and vegetables and become self-sufficient.

“The creative career opportunities for women are immensely exciting”

ruth watson

little, as the pace of building the charity with an amazing team has been pretty full-on! More time at home in my garden, time to cook, time to start painting, reading more, daily yoga – all have been deeply fulfilling and I try hard to keep at least some of them going. Women in the arts – how hard is it? I observe no inequalities in the arts and the creative career opportunities for women are immensely exciting and diverse. I believe schools in general need to further promote insights into creative careers like design, advertising, branding, fine art, animation, curation, TV and film production – the scope is endless! What would you say is your proudest achievement, either personally or professionally – or maybe even both? To have turned the most challenging time of my life through illness into something positive, which has made a contribution by supporting other women facing a breast cancer diagnosis.

If you had just one piece of advice to give to young women today, what would it be? Don’t listen to judgment – believe in what you want to strive for and get out there and do it! What does your mum think about your success? My mum is very proud of me and how I have coped and developed in the past years – I hope I have gained lots of her personality traits, like independence, strength and of course humour. I am pretty proud of her! l ‘Fanfare’, a stunning exhibition with over 75 artists, ceramicists and sculptors, runs from Saturday, 30th April to Monday, 2nd May at Bredfield House, near Woodbridge. Entry by pre-booked tickets, on sale at www.artforcure.org.uk The gala night opening is on Friday, 29th April, from 6pm.

food, with all its regional variations, does – and we both love it. How have the lockdown years been – any high or low points? Our opening was delayed by four months; in fact, we have only traded for about 12 months out of what should have been 24. The low points have been the restriction on covers; staff having to wear face coverings; being told to close just before Christmas 2020 with no certainty of when we could re-open; losing some key members of the team after they’d enjoyed six months paid furlough – and then finding it almost impossible to recruit replacements. It’s still very difficult and we’d really struggle without our terrific part-timers.

“I remember one unreconstructed old chap telling me how nice it was that my husband had bought me a little hobby” The high points were not having accrued any debts, and so being able to survive the financial losses better than many; the wonderful silence and the fabulous weather in the first lockdown; very helpful grants; developing a culture of guest handsanitisation which we intend to keep; and the support of those customers who cheerfully tolerated the ever-changing regulations and closures. Women in business – how hard is it? Problems with men were more frequent when I was young. While manning the reception desk at Hintlesham [Hall], I remember one unreconstructed old chap telling me how nice it was that

my husband had bought me a little hobby. I was tempted to give him a little slap. But I am lucky enough to have a husband and two successive business partners who are not remotely sexist and have always listened to my input. If you know what you are doing, it builds confidence. I’ve always said: never bulls**t, ask if you don’t know, and you’ll learn something new each day. What would you say is your proudest achievement, either personally or professionally – or maybe even both? Personally, it’s winning three Glenfiddich awards for food writing, and having a horse win at Sandown – one of the most exciting days of my life. Professionally, it would be to have given pleasure to thousands of customers over the years while being a good employer, and to be respected within the industry. If you had one piece of career advice to give to young women today, what would it be? Don’t listen to all the blither about following your dream. It’s hard work, reliability and commitment that reaps success. You’ve only got to look at Ed Sheeran. No experience – good or bad – is wasted. Above all, if you don’t enjoy what you’re doing or keep making the same mistake, try something different. You only realise when you’re old that life is short. Don’t waste precious years flogging a dead horse, whether it’s a relationship or a job. What did your mum think about your success? Ha! You’re asking the wrong person. My mother was the least encouraging woman you could meet! If you came second in a school subject, she’d ask why you hadn’t come first. I do have to thank her, though, for being a good cook at a time when most women weren’t, and loving food in general. It obviously rubbed off on me. But any family support I’ve had has come from siblings or nieces. l Book a table at Watson and Walpole, 3 Church Street, Framlingham, at www.watsonandwalpole.com or by calling 01728 666556. Continued overleaf ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

helen rudd

is managing director of acclaimed PR agency, Prominent, which is based in Felixstowe … Tell us a bit about yourself … I’ve lived in Felixstowe for 18 years but I’m a born and bred Geordie. My accent has faded quite a lot in that time, sadly, but I go back home regularly as all of my family and oldest friends are still there. My husband, Luke, is a Felixstowe boy. We met at uni in 2004 and after graduation, I followed him back here, where we’ve remained ever since. I’ve recently become a first-time mum; my little girl, Kennedi, was born during lockdown and she has really helped focus my mind when it comes to work and figuring out my priorities. Prominent turned eight years old on 11th February – I can’t quite believe it! I spend my spare time playing hockey for Felixstowe Ladies and agonising over Newcastle United results. My dad first took me to St James’ Park in 1991, when he sat me on a concrete barrier to watch the game. He bought me a season ticket in 1992 and I’ve been a dedicated supporter ever since, travelling the world to watch matches. And what was your background before you set up Prominent? Was the plan always to go into PR? I studied history at university because I didn’t know what I wanted to do careerISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

wise. My teachers told me to pick something academic with a range of transferrable skills, which served me well. Journalism was always at the back of my mind, but when the role of corporate affairs assistant came up at the Port of Felixstowe in 2005, the job description just ticked every box for me and I was so incredibly lucky to be chosen over 100 other applicants. I had a whale of a time, experiencing all elements of PR and communications and it was without doubt the most perfect introduction to a career I could ever have asked for. I am lucky that I learned my PR trade from some of the best role models in the industry here in Suffolk – starting at the Port of Felixstowe and then at another Suffolk-based PR agency, where I went from an account executive to an account director in just three years. Both roles, and the colleagues I had at each, cemented my love of the profession and made me committed to being the best I could be, while giving me the confidence in my abilities to help me set up on my own. Tell us about starting Prominent – how did it come about and what were the challenges? In December 2013, the agency I was working for at the time sadly closed its doors and made everyone redundant. So, with a raft of loyal clients (three of which are still with us today), and support of my husband and accountant dad, I made the leap to set up on my own. It was nerve-wracking, scary, and

What have been your high and low points? And how have the lockdown years been? The high point was, without a doubt, winning four awards at the Chartered Institute of PR Awards in 2017, including small agency of the year. That really spurred us on to bigger and better things and made a name for the agency alongside some of the more established competitors in Suffolk. Ironically, March 2020 was our best ever month financially due to us gaining a number of new clients. Cue the 24th March, when we lost four clients in one day. Overnight, I had to learn how to run a business from home, how to keep the team motivated and committed while keeping them safe both mentally and physically, all while being in the later stages of pregnancy with an impending period away from the business looming. That was hard to get my head around and looking back, I think I would have done things differently, but we were all learning how to navigate this strange new world, and I’ve learned some important lessons.

“Keeping a business going while being pregnant, then on maternity leave and as a new mum during a worldwide pandemic is my proudest achievement” My husband Luke works for Wellcome Genome Campus in Cambridge where they manage all Covid testing and sequencing, so for him the pandemic has had no let-up. He navigated becoming a first-time dad while working 12-hour days as a key worker – so whatever I have been going through, listening to his work struggles and the pressure on him has kept me grounded throughout. Women in business – how hard is it? To be completely honest, it’s not something

I have noticed or experienced issues with so far. I feel like I have always been respected in the industry by being good at my job. I can’t recall any instances where I feel like I’ve lost out on something due to being female. I’d like to think it’s down to being confident in my abilities while being approachable, easy to work with and delivering results. What would you say is your proudest achievement, either personally or professionally – or maybe even both? Keeping a business going while being pregnant, then on maternity leave and as a new mum during a worldwide pandemic has to be my proudest achievement. The pandemic changed the world for a lot of people, including some of my own staff, who had their own lives to reassess, but the business has come out of the other side and we’re all still standing, we’re happy and we’re healthy. We’re closer as a team and we’re really enjoying working together and for each other. If you had one piece of advice to give to young women today, what would it be? It’s simple but effective: I’d say how important it is to work hard. Take care in what you’re doing and put in the effort and you will always do well. The last year has really taught me how

Pictures of Helen by Simply-C Photography

incredibly hard work at first – but I was able to call upon some trusted colleagues who also lost their jobs at the same time and together we built up the agency. I was so incredibly lucky to have clients from day one and along the way I hired some truly brilliant people who supported me, bought into the business ethos and worked so hard for Prominent. The first five years were a dream – we thoroughly enjoyed what we were doing, we had great clients, an amazing team and we won awards – I couldn’t have been happier. I’d say the main challenges along the way have been in learning how to run a business. I have always been confident in my abilities as a PR practitioner, but I knew nothing about HR or IT or budget management for example, so I’ve had to surround myself with trusted suppliers who I could call upon when I needed them.

important it is to focus on the things I am in control of, and not to let what others are doing impact me. That has been a big learning curve but it’s a mantra we say out loud in the office on a very regular basis now and it really does help. What does your mum think about your success? She has been a stay-at-home mum all her life – she met my dad at 15 and had me at 22 – so her life has been very different to mine. We are from a very working class north-eastern family and my dad worked every minute he could to build a life and

provide for her, my sister Heidi and me. Career success wasn’t something she ever pushed on me; it was my dad whose footsteps I wanted to follow in. But they both instilled in me how important it is to work hard, be honest, kind and respectful of everyone regardless of their background or situation. I’d like to think they are proud of me first and foremost for that. l For information on Prominent’s PR, communication and marketing services, go to www.prominentpr.co.uk

17 Church Street, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1DS +44 (0)7702 877081 www.vanil.co.uk Insta: vanil_ltd Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10.30am–5.30pm

A CUT ABOVE!

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five to 12 eat half price and it’s free for under-fives. Booking is also essential. Or if you fancy an old school boogie, put on your glad rags for the 80s Disco (Friday, 27th May, 7.30pm – midnight). With 30% off drinks at Happy Hour, between 6.30pm and 7.30pm, it’s sure to be a fun night for all. Entrance is £6 per person – over 18s only, and full payment is required at time of booking. And why not make a night of it? Stay at Ufford Park after this event for just £99 which includes bed and breakfast and is based on two people sharing a classic room.

2022 02 Living in Suffolk Easter.qxp_130mm h x 92mm w 10/02/2022 15:45

Easter

Sunday Lunch

Sunday 17 April th

Served from 12 noon Celebrate Easter with a delicious 3 course meal in The Park Restaurant.

£25 for 3 courses

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

Pre-booking is essential

burgess-group.com

Notcutts Garden Centre Ipswich Road Woodbridge Suffolk IP12 4AF

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

Tel. 01394 386666

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*Not in conjunction with any other offer. Terms and Conditions apply, sale runs throughout February and March.

t 01394 383555 w www.uffordpark.co.uk Yarmouth Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1QW

l More information on the salon can be found at www.uffordpark.co.uk l To find out more about the events at Ufford park listed left, call 01394 383555 ext. 300/325.

Picture of Becky Marion © Prominent PR

10% off our range of beautiful windows and doors

fford Park is clearly the place to be this spring. With so much going on at this elegant hotel, golf and spa resort in Melton, we’ve done a quick round-up for you … For starters, you can spoil your ma on Mother’s Day (Sunday, 27th March) with a delicious three-course lunch for £30 per person or afternoon tea for £20 per person, with all mums being entered into a prize draw. Or why not celebrate Easter Sunday with a delicious three-course lunch in The Park Restaurant at just £25 for three courses? For both events, children aged

A national award-winning stylist has just taken over the hair salon at Ufford Park. Becky Marion (pictured) has been appointed manager of A Cut Above. Becky, who specialises as a colour technician, and has 14 years’ experience working in salons across the east, has won numerous national accolades, including a silver award for Colour Technician of the Year at the British Hair and Beauty Talent Awards in 2020. With sweeping views of the golf course, A Cut Above is located inside the hotel spa, which boasts a pool, thermal suite, fitness studio and massage, body and hand and nail treatments.

2022 02 Living in Suffolk Mother's Day.qxp_130mm h x 92mm w 10/02/2022

Mother’s Day

Sunday 27th March Spoil your Mum on her special day with a delicious lunch or a scrumptious afternoon tea.

3 course Lunch £30 per person Children 5-12 years old £15 Children under 5 years FREE

or treat her to a delicious

Afternoon Tea £20 per person All Mums will be entered into a FREE prize draw. Booking essential.

t 01394 383555 ext. 300 w www.uffordpark.co.uk Yarmouth Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1QW

INTERIOR

What’s new in your lively local arts scene? Living In … has the latest ... blink We love it when creative Suffolk minds team up and produce something special. In this case, one of our favourite artists, Boo Compton, has joined forces with hugely talented sculptor Mark Croxford for a wonderful exhibition of their work, called Blink. Mark tells us: “We named our upcoming show Blink as our world seems to change in the blink of an eye. “Our work complements each other’s in many ways. Boo’s work is rooted in abstraction and she sees colour as both form and structure. Whereas my three-dimensional and relief wall pieces hold the space they inhabit, tonally referencing both our bodies of work.” Pictured here is one of Boo’s wonderful paintings, called Undone, that will form part of the exhibition. l Catch them at Artspace in Woodbridge from Thursday, 5th May to Wednesday, 11th May, 9.30am – 5pm daily, Sundays, 10am – 3pm. Go to www.artw.co.uk or Insta: @artspace_woodbridge fanfare! We are delighted to feature on our front cover the wonderful work of artist Henrietta Dubrey, who is one of the 75 artists, ceramicists, printmakers, photographers and sculptors who will be exhibiting in Art For Cure’s latest exhibition, Fanfare. Artist Henrietta (pictured right, in her studio) has a decidedly distinctive style. She tells us: “My female figures tend towards the naive, with boldly drawn lines describing how it feels to be a woman, rather than how it looks ... I try to champion and project the representation of the female voice. Exploring aspects of womanhood through paint, from being a mother, daughter, wife, lover and artist, presents opportunities to express myself spontaneously and honestly. “It has been such a privilege to work with Art For Cure over the last few years, helping to raise money and awareness around breast cancer.” l Fanfare runs from 30th April to 2nd May in Woodbridge. For tickets, go to www.artforcure.org.uk. For further details on Henrietta’s work, go to www.henriettadubrey.com or email her on info@henriettadubrey.com by hutch … Hung, Drawn and Painted By Hutch sounds tortuous but it’s anything but! By Hutch, AKA James Hutchinson, head of the art department at Woodbridge School, is a talented artist and illustrator in his own right. Catch his exhibition at Artspace in Woodbridge from 1st to 6th April. l Go to www.byhutch.com or Insta: @byhutchart

LIVES

Comedian Shaparak Khorsandi

Homely inspiration from around the coastal region …

INK FESTIVAL RETURNS After two years of being unable to go ahead, it’s back … and it’s bigger and better than ever! Being held in many exciting venues around Halesworth including INK headquarters at The Cut, the Rifle Hall, The White Swan and more, the INK Festival runs across four fabulously fun-filled days, from Thursday, 21st to Sunday, 24th April. With some clever, queue-busting ideas and daily multi-performances, a day ticket will allow you to see as much as you like of live theatre, poetry, talks and so much more. The programme includes 50 new short plays performed by more than 30 actors, as well as standup comedy, kids’ Play-in-a-Day, an art show in The Cut gallery, a community stage with many locally written plays, talks, and of course some great food. As well as plays 50 short plays will be performed written by TV star Miranda Hart, Will Gompertz – artistic director at the Barbican, and actor Elliot Cowan, there will also be the chance to see those penned by first-time writers selected from over 2,000 entries. Other highlights include shows by performance poet Luke Wright, and former BBC One controller and executive producer Peter Fincham in conversation with actress and INK patron Helen Atkinson Wood. With evening comedy shows from entertainers Arthur Smith, Shaparak Khorsandi, Mark Steel and Arabella Weir, there’s much to smile about this spring. Festival day tickets from £20. The INK Evening comedy Festival tickets, £16. boasts l For more information, go to www. inkfestival.org

a play written by TV’s Miranda Hart

less is more … We’re loving these new green/ blue dipped stem vases from Barretts. No one vase looks the same due to the dipping process creating different looks. At 21.5cm wide and 16.5cm high, they are perfect for that just-picked spring posy from the garden. They’re £30 each from Barretts on the Thoroughfare in Woodbridge.

SUMPTUOUS EARTHINESS … How gorgeous are these cushions from Danish interior designers Tine K Home and now available from Vanil in Church Street, Woodbridge? Embracing contrasting elements, a palette of earthy colours, honest materials and strong craftsmanship, these cushions are the epitome of elegant Scandi boho living. They’re 50 by 50cm and PSST! priced from £28 each. Congratulations to Suffolk Shutter Company, l For more details, which has grown and now pop in to Vanil or visit includes Shutter Company Essex. www.vanil.co.uk See the advert on page four.

l Or you can buy them online at www.barretts.co.uk

BIG

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Emberton Sublime 4’6”mattress & base £2,475 40 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1AL | www.barretts.co.uk | 01394 384300

ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

dog about

town!

“My name is Mabel and I am a fivemonth-old whippet enjoying life in Southwold. My parents, James and Lisa, run a friendly deli there, called ninedeli. They are always busy and, boy, do they come home from work with some lovely food smells on them! I hear them telling people I’m a bit of a poseur and that I’m very chilled. It’s true, I love a good cuddle and not much bothers me. Fireworks, children, other dogs – I can take it all in my stride. However, I’m not a fan of the machine they call ‘the Hoover’ and try to stay out of the way when they bring it out. My favourite thing on Earth is my toy, Mr Fox. I also love training, especially if food is involved. I keep being told how smart I am – clearly my humans have impeccable taste. I’m a real home bird and have hit the jackpot with these two.”

pets

Local home owners… throw open their doors Child free zones?… meet the couple with the Parent Pod! Is grey just so last year?… Jojo Humes Brown on colours

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Pictures by James Scott

l You can follow Mabel on Insta: @mabel_southwold l Have you got a dog and would like to give him or her their 15 minutes of fame? Write to us at info@livinginsuffolk.com and send us your best photos.

Love to

he late, great Ella Fitzgerald once said the only thing better than singing is … more singing. And no one knows this better than Rachael Tecklenberg, who heads the fabulous Love to Sing Community Choir. It all started back in 2012 after she answered an advert looking for someone to lead a group of singing ladies in Rendlesham. “As word spread, our small group of eight quickly grew to a choir of 25 men and women by Christmas,” she recalls. “Evening rehearsals began enabling younger working people to come along. Harmonies and new music were swiftly introduced as confidence grew and experienced choristers joined the ranks.” By September 2013, the Rendlesham Community Choir had become a fully

sing? fledged soprano, alto, tenor, bass [SATB] choir performing its first charity concert, Some Enchanted Evening. By the following year, it had evolved into the Love to Sing Community Choir and had even spread its wings to launch a second choir in Leiston.

“It is now time for us to

regroup, relaunch, and recruit new voices” Rachael Tecklenberg, musical director of Love To Sing Community Choir

“Joining together for performances, we carried on entertaining our audiences, raising money for charity and supporting at least four weddings and a funeral –

pardon the pun – from Capel St Mary to Blythburgh, and nearly every church or community hall in between!” smiles Rachael, who is now musical director of the Love to Sing Community Choir Woodbridge and Leiston. In Summer 2016, the Rendlesham group relocated to its new home in Woodbridge and, as Rachael says, with it came “many additional enthusiastic voices, looking for a structured, quality choir with a broad repertoire and desire to support the community”. The choir boasts some very strong tenor and bass sections, which is “something to be envied in the world of choirs. Not to mention a soaring soprano section and altos that just constantly deliver!” The choir currently has a combined membership of 50 talented choristers across the two areas, and a wonderful charity concert originally planned for 2020 has been rescheduled for October this year. Rachael adds: “It is now time for us to regroup, relaunch, and recruit new voices as we emerge from the past two years a different choir, but with our same core values: bringing joy to our audience and members and supporting our community, through our ‘Love to Sing’.” l Go to www.lovetosing.onesuffolk.net or email love2singchoir@gmail.com

Business Bulletin All the latest from around coastal Suffolk …

All creatures great and small … A modern independent vets surgery opens this spring, bringing with it a whole new approach … steeped in good old-fashioned principles. Founders Dr Kyle Eadie and Dr Laurie Barrow have teamed up to open The Woodbridge Vets, which puts pets right at the heart of its work. “As more and more practices get bought out by huge profit-driven corporations, we knew it was time to go back to the traditional independent model of veterinary practice,” says Kyle. “We are rebuilding the veterinary experience by creating a practice that prioritises pets and people over profits. I suppose we will be run along the same lines as the vets featured in the series All Creatures Great and Small!” Laurie agrees: “We’ll provide a boutique experience for pet owners who want a traditional one-on-one relationship with their vet, along with access to the very best treatments and pet healthcare.” The duo and their team are now taking registrations for their practice in Melton’s Riduna Park. It opens at the end of April.

Dr Kyle Eadie

Dr Laurie Barrow

CARAVANS & MOTORHOMES WANTED! Top Prices Paid Instant payout Finance Settled Nationwide Collection

Foxburrow Farm, Waldringfield Road, Brightwell IP10 0BJ

Giles Todd, who runs Gi-Mac – which offers a fantastic repair and upgrade service for Suffolk’s Apple Mac computers – must have one of the best views in Woodbridge. Nestled on Ferry Quay, overlooking the tinkling houseboats, Gi-Mac’s HQ is a one-stop shop for all your Mac repairs including diagnosis and upgrade support. In fact, we can go as far as to say you wouldn’t be reading this magazine if it wasn’t for Giles, as he has come to our rescue on many an occasion. For all his Mac customers out there, we’re sure they’ll agree he deserves to have such a fabulous place to work from! l Gi-Mac is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays, between 10am and 4pm. Email gimac68k@gmail.com

New to LN Aesthetics …

l Register at www.thewoodbridgevets.com

rest, nourish, reset …

ROOM WITH A VIEW

It’s no surprise the strain of the last two years has taken a real toll on people’s wellbeing. If you’d like to recharge your batteries amidst 60 acres of stunning Norfolk countryside, and where nutrition and great food is the entire focus, then check out Mayu Retreats. It’s run by the talented team of Kieron Abbott and Pamela Taylor, whose work will be featured in-depth in our next issue. But rest assured, they offer science-based nutrition knowledge combined with culinary expertise, all underlined by thoughtful, flawless and generous hospitality.

Congratulations to the team at LN Aesthetics Skin and Healthcare Clinic, which has been joined by talented beautician Kayleigh Akers (pictured). She joins co-founders Nikki Mundy and Laura Jennings in bringing their clients a nurse-led and expertly holistic approach to skincare. From this spring, they will be offering electrolysis and PDO threading. l The clinic is at Unit 1, 25 Crescent Road, Felixstowe. Go to www.lnaesthetics.com

l For information on the new retreats, go to www.mayuretreats.co.uk Or email pamela@mayuretreats.co.uk

ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

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Local home owners… throw open their doors Child free zones?… meet the couple with the Parent Pod! Is grey just so last year?… Jojo Humes Brown on colours

VINYL n o i t c a r Dist

In with the new …

YOUR BRAND NEW FREE HOMES & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

ckley By Carl Sti

pring is sprung. We seem to be creeping out of the Covid darkness. Hopefully by the time you read this, February saw Independent Venue Week filling the country with gigs, including at the newly revamped The Baths in Ipswich, with the likes of Field Music and Andy Bell (of Ride and Oasis fame). Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason plays the Ipswich Regent in April, a gig first postponed two years ago! Ian McNabb of Icicle Works fame plays the John Peel Centre in April too – proper 1980s choonage! DJ Ben Osborne is putting on monthly gigs at The Riverside, Woodbridge. It’s all good, fingers crossed. STU-STU-STUDIO The green shoots of musical recovery are typified by local lad Andrew Bismann. Raised in Suffolk, after 20 years in Australia he returned home. Over lockdown he practiced his drums, which resulted in him joining Suffolk punk-goth outfit 13th Chime. The band has gigs lined up this April in LA. That’s LA, in America. That would be enough for most folk. Not Andrew. He started collecting recording equipment and in March opens The Lake Sound Studios at Fenn Farm, Burstall, just outside Ipswich. ‘Rehearse, Record, Create’ is the MO. The studio space had been there previously as HVR for 10+ years, and many bands used it to hone their tunes and performances and record albums. Andrew tells me: “My vision is to develop a comfortable and truly inviting creative space for artists and bands to rehearse and develop their ideas, to take them on the road and/or record/ develop their project.” The studio will have creative-breakout spaces for quiet collaboration. Used purely as a rehearsal room, the live room is equipped with quality backline, drums and PA – come along and plug in or bring your own toys. For techie geeks, the studio is equipped with top-of-the-line pre-amps, digital converters and a good selection of mics, including tube mics for that warm, soulful vocal sound. Andrew will be able to record bands and projects of all sizes, from solo artists to large bands/ensembles. Even if performers plan to only rehearse, they’ll be offered a quality recording of their sessions to

Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Scream, 1978 The debut album. Heavy music for dread times and, with inflation creeping up, the 1970s seem to be making a comeback. Not the Abba and flares version of the 70s. Although not overtly political, the Banshees were in defiant opposition to a crumbling Britain of the day, run by Grown-Ups who didn’t have a clue, maaan … This collection of ‘tunes’ makes no concession to toe-tapping popularity. It isn’t Autotuned niceness. It’s post-punk before that was even a thing. Echo-drenched, Kenny Morris’ pounding tribal drums, Steve Severin’s slabs of bass, John McKay’s slashing, grinding metal guitar riffs, Siouxsie’s banshee wail, even an occasional saxophone for extra room-clearing dissonance. They even brutalise the Beatles’ ‘Helter Skelter’. Take that, hippies! Siouxsie’s voice and the overall noise remain unique to this day. Nobody looked or sounded like her back then, the girl from suburban Bromley who reinvented herself and, along with the late great Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex, in a small way helped create the modern world. Indeed, you can hear elements of this album in pretty much every post-punk, alt-rock band ever since. It’s amazing they ended up effectively becoming a pop band, having hits, appearing on Top of the Pops and in the pages of Smash Hits …

take home and study. This is a passion project for Andrew and a lifelong dream. “I would love to work with established and up-and-coming artists to help them realise their musical vision.” Long live the dream!

Drummer Andrew Bismann is opening a recording studio near Ipswich

l For more information, go to www.thelakerehearsalstudio.co.uk or call 07565 324147.

Going the extra yard Stonham Barns gets an early jump on the festival season with Easter Fest 22 Country Music Festival, running from Friday, 15th to Sunday, 17th April! Banjos, twanging guitars, Stetsons and harmonies from the likes of Countryholic, Kevin Barry, Jonny & Lynette and Pete Brazil. A weekend of hoedown hootenanny. I’m hoping there’ll be some line dancing too. Camping available or just come for a day. Yee-ha! www.stonhambarns.co.uk

ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

entist Sarah Weston will be making moves to put an even bigger smile on people’s faces this spring. Sarah, who has been with mydentist in Melton since 2013 and is very popular, will

be leaving her role as a general dentist to focus solely on offering clear aligner treatments. “I’ve been working here for many years and have been fortunate enough to have the most wonderful patients,

many of whom have become great friends,” says Sarah, who confirms she will start her new role at the end of May. “With some of these people, I have seen their children grow, from being brought in to me in their car seats to taking their A-levels! “It’s a big decision. After all, I’ve been in general dentistry for 26 years in total, but I feel the time is right … not least because my shoulder is in danger of repetitive strain injury from doing the same thing for so long!” Sarah stresses she is not leaving mydentist, merely changing her role there so she can focus – part-time – on her real passion, which is offering clear aligner treatments using the coveted Clear Correct system. “The advantages of aligners over conventional braces is the near invisibility as well as the ability to remove them to ensure your teeth and gums remain healthy throughout the treatment,” she says. “Not only is it a safe and a nearly invisible way to correct small imperfections but it can be done in less than a year, and I’ve been getting some great results on patients ranging in age from 18 to 84.” The treatment is affordable; most patients pay between £1,990 and £2,490.

l To make an appointment to see Sarah at mydentist, call 01394 382694. See examples of her work on Insta: @dr.sarahweston

ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

events

Art Feel Good

Local home owners… throw open their doors Child free zones?… meet the couple with the Parent Pod! Is grey just so last year?… Jojo Humes Brown on colours

10 Church Street, Framlingham Every Monday during term time, 10am – 12pm Hoping to banish your post-Covid blues over a friendly chat while getting those creative juices flowing? Look no further than the fun-packed drawing sessions run by artists Louisa Marcq and Erica Åkerlund. The purpose of Art Feel Good is to engender a sense of wellbeing, rather than “train to be the next Leonardo,” explains Louisa. At each session you’ll be given a choice of three themes for your drawing, for example, kitchen, garden and bedroom; then you can let your imagination run wild. Louisa and Erica will provide materials and encouragement – as well as coffee and cake! The sessions started last month, and have had fantastic feedback. One attendee beamed: “It could have been intimidating for someone who hasn’t drawn for four decades, but I loved it.” l Price: £10. To book, call Louisa on 07734 942121 or email Erica at erica@erica.fi l www.10churchstreet.org

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out

fennwright.co.uk

Easter Egg Hunt

Sutton Hoo, Woodbridge Saturday, 9th April – Sunday, 24th April 2022, 10am – 4pm Get little ones into the Easter spirit with nature-inspired activities in the stunning countryside at Sutton Hoo. They will be armed with a pad, pencil and map and asked to follow a trail and get to know a tree as part of a total of 10 challenges. Complete the tasks and they will be given a chocolate egg (or an allergenfree alternative). A similar event takes place at Dunwich Heath in mid-April. l £3 per child, on top of the entrance fee. Find out more at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ sutton-hoo

and about! Tips for things to do in Suffolk this spring … by Charity Crewe

The River Connects Us All: A fundraiser for the River Waveney

Woodbridge

Abbey Hall, Eye Friday, 11th March, 7pm Britain’s leading nature writers, Richard Mabey and Patrick Barkham, are among those speaking at the ten-year anniversary party to celebrate the River Waveney Trust – a charity dedicated to keeping the East Anglian river healthy and clean. There will also be songs and humour from the author Terence Blacker, music from The Abbey Hall String Quartet and lots more excitements, including a free glass of wine. l Tickets are £25 each. Buy online at waveneyriver.eventbrite.co.uk

01394 333346

Felixstowe

01394 548700

Deben Haugh is a substantial 7/8 bedroom Edwardian home of approximately 6,650 sq ft. offering stunning elevated views. Set in 0.85 acres with a hard tennis court, the property is located on one of Woodbridge's most desirable roads, close to the town centre.

Balfour Place is a prestigious development of five unique properties in a beautiful setting with sea and estuary views as well as overlooking the undulating fairways of Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club. These new build homes will have an unrivalled specification with contemporary design.

Guide Price £2,500,000

Prices from £1,250,000

Power of Stories Moyse’s Hall Museum, Bury St Edmunds Until Thursday, 28th April Calling all comic book fans and movie buffs! If you missed this exhibition at Christchurch Mansion last year, it’s now at Moyse’s Hall in a slimmed down version. The big draw, three Oscar-winning costumes from the blockbuster Black Panther are on show in all their glory. The superhero suits of T’Challa (aka Black Panther), Shuri and Okoye, are on display alongside comic books, art and photographs. To coincide with the show, writer Imani Sorhaindo will be giving a talk, African Queens Throughout History, on Friday, 25th March at 7pm – 8.30pm. l Entrance is adult £5, child £3, and can be booked at www.moyseshall.org/whats-on. l Further details at www.powerofstories.co.uk

Picture by Mike Kwasniak

The Ballad of Maria Marten

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich Thursday, 17th March – Saturday, 19th March Eastern Angles is touring its highly acclaimed production of The Ballad of Maria Marten, Beth Flintoff’s thrilling retelling of a famous murder mystery. When Maria Marten’s body was found in a Suffolk barn in 1828, a year after she went missing, the news sent shockwaves around the country. The Red Barn murder, as ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016

01473 232700

Bentley

it became known, has spawned ballads, pictures and films. Beth Flintoff’s 2018 play looks at the story from the viewpoint of Maria, her family and friends. The all-female cast is led by Lizzie Crarer, who plays the witty, loveable Maria. This unexpectedly joy-filled production is suitable for those aged 12 and over, and shouldn’t be missed! l Book tickets and find out more at www.mariamarten.com

Hacheston

01394 333346

Pemberley House is an individual four bedroom new build home with open-plan kitchen/living/dining room together with study and sitting room. Bentley village is approximately 6 miles from Ipswich and has a church, public house, village shop and primary school.

A charming 17th century red brick cottage in the village of Hacheston, approximately 3 miles from the market town of Framlingham, with many original features including exposed beams and red brick fireplaces. The cottage is set in grounds of just under 1/2 an acre backing onto fields.

Guide price £950,000

Guide Price £695,000

Thinking of selling? We are seeing unprecedented demand from buyers so now is a great time to consider moving. Simply get in touch to arrange a free, no obligation, market appraisal from our friendly team.

Caroline Edwards

Chris Jessup

Sam Thornton

01394 333346

Peter Ruddy

Adam Barrington

Callum Jacobs

Oliver Green

signature@fennwright.co.uk

Family run business Qualified estate agents, valuers & auctioneers

Old Martlesham

Guide Price £725,000

Melton Park

Guide Price £545,000

Woodbridge

Guide Price £865,000

Woodbridge

Guide Price £565,000

A unique four-bedroom detached house, built in the 1960s and retaining many original features. Spacious accommodation, PV panels, oil-fired central heating to radiators, large garage, and 0.5-acre garden with full planning permission for a three-bedroom detached house and services connected. Garden mainly backs on to woodland and is set away from the road down a long driveway. EPC: E.

An immaculate and handsome mock-Georgian detached house comprising: entrance hall, cloakroom, sitting room with inset wood-burning stove, kitchen/ dining room, utility, garden room with bi-folding oak doors, main bedroom with en-suite, two further bedrooms and shower room, walled garden, detached single garage with light and power connected, and parking. EPC: C.

le d ed Sa ee uir r q ag re e or M

A substantial and individual Edwardian house located within walking distance of the town centre. The property comprises: entrance hall, cloakroom, kitchen/ breakfast room, sitting room, dining room, study and utility, main bedroom with en-suite, three further bedrooms and bathroom with separate W.C. Gardens and garage, carport and ample parking. EPC: TBC.

An absolutely stunning Grade II period cottage in the centre of Woodbridge with parking. This property has been tastefully modernised to an extremely high standard. SALE AGREED – MORE LIKE THIS REQUIRED. CALL FOR A VALUATION.

SOLD YOUR HOUSE TO THE FIRST VIEWER AND WITHIN 24 hours? DID YOU REALLY GET THE BEST PRICE?

Tunstall Guide Price £275,000

A charming two-bedroom period cottage presented in immaculate condition on the edge of the forest. Ideal first home or holiday let. Patio doors open out to south-west facing garden. Garage and driveway. EPC: D

MORTIMERS’ method of marketing a house for at least seven days before agreeing a sale is really proving effective. Not only are buyers pleased that they’re getting the opportunity to view and make an offer, but sellers are finding that they’re getting offers above their guide price by allowing more people a chance to view. If you’re thinking of selling and would like to know more about how we work, give us a call today for a FREE valuation, with no obligation, on 01394 386688.

Woodbridge Guide Price £380,000

A well-presented three-bedroom semi-detached house with a good sized garden, double-width driveway and garage. Newly installed boiler. Within walking distance of the town centre. EPC: TBC.

FREE VALUATIONS! CALL: 01394 386688 EMAIL: INFO@MORTIMERSESTATEAGENTS.CO.UK

Linda Mortimer MNAEA

Dale Mortimer MNAEA, DipDEA

Thomas Mortimer

Pat Masson

Rosemary Barnard

OUR FEE IS 1% inc VAT. NO TIE IN PERIOD IN OUR CONTRACT

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