Places&Faces® 82 January by Countrywide Publications

JANUARY 2017 / £3.50 WHERE SOLD

The magazine for Norfolk & North Suffolk

! N I W

NT TME A E R IC T RRIF TWO AT E T A FOR

SPA E N GI IMALOFIELD B EATH H

HEAD TO HULL CITY OF CULTURE 2017

FIND OUT WHATS HAPPENING AT:

THE WHITE HART IN HINGHAM WONDERFUL WINTER WALKS SENSATIONAL SEAFOOD AT

SEASON IN WELLS

HAVING A LAUGH WITH

MILES JUPP JAMES & OLA JORDAN

STEP OUT AT CARROW ROAD

1 6 7 6

BACK AT THE BAFTAS

ISSUE No.82

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CELEBRITIES / FOOD / TRAVEL / FASHION / HOMES & GARDENS / THEATRE

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DAVID WHITELEY

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meet the team

CAROLYN ATKINS

E carolyn@h2creativemedia.co.uk

COLIN HUGGINS MANAGING DIRECTOR

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WELCOME

DONNA TITCOMBE

WELCOME TO JANUARY’S Places & Faces®.

FASHION & BEAUTY EDITOR

E: donna@h2creativemedia.co.uk

ANDREW HIRST HEAD OF CLIENT SERVICES / STUDIO

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CONTRIBUTORS Richard Bainbridge, John Bultitude, Benet Catty, Melanie Cook, Kate Cleaver, Stephen Crocker, Owen Darby, Andrew Florides, Judy Foster, Julian Gibbons, Carl Lamb, Ellen Mary, Nick Mobbs, Mark Nicholls, Hayley Philpot, Franck Pontais, Jennifer Read, Marie Reynolds, Simon Wainright, David Wakefield, David Whiteley Cover Image: Claire Newman-Williams

This is always an invigorating time of the year, with New Year’s resolutions on the go (for as long as they last) and plenty of other plans in the pipeline. You can choose to embrace it and get out and about – see our wonderful winter walks feature for ideas – or you can retreat indoors, whether at one of the region’s fabulous theatres or art galleries, or simply relaxing on the sofa in front of the TV. Should you choose to stay at home, make sure you tune in to the BAFTA Awards on Sunday, February 12 when Norfolk’s Stephen Fry will be doing the honours as host once more. As you’ll see from the in-depth feature on the popular presenter in this issue, his workload is as varied as ever, with all sorts of strings to his bow. After the furore which followed his comments at last year’s BAFTAs, it’ll be interesting to see how the evening goes (and whether he comments on the event on Twitter @stephenfry this year – make sure you follow him to find out!). Often the New Year brings about a new start too, whether a house move or a new job, and it’s worth turning to this month’s property pages for help and advice. One person who’s definitely looking forward to his new post is Stephen Crocker, the new chief executive of the Norwich Theatre Royal, who begins his new role this month – there’s a fascinating Q&A with him on the following pages too. There are plans afoot at The White Hart in Hingham as well where they’re looking forward to having five beautiful bedrooms in the near future and there’s lots more to come from Season, the stylish new seafood and grill restaurant in Wells, where the team is also looking forward to the year ahead. Meanwhile, if you could do with some time out after the excesses of the past few weeks, make sure you read Melanie Cook’s column on Norwich spas, and enter this month’s exciting competition to win a revitalising Fire & Ice Experience for two at the luxurious Imagine Spa in Blofield Heath.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Carolyn Atkins

12 ISSUES FOR £24

PS. Congratulations to Alison Ottaway from Salhouse on winning a champagne makeover and clothes for two at The Style Show in Norwich.

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Seasonal Walks at Fairhaven

Guided Tours...

...learn about the history of Fairhaven, the collection of plants introduced by the 2nd Lord Fairhaven and the organic working methods still used today by the gardening team. Finish your walk with a complimentary mince pie and hot mulled wine.

WOODLAND & WAT E R G A R D E N

Just off the A47 halfway between Norwich and Great Yarmouth at NR13 6DZ

www.fairhavengarden.co.uk

Welcome to in #Cromer joy

Rel

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Coffee & Tea Store

8am till Late

Throughout January

Everyday

2 Church Street Cromer NR27 9ER

CONTENTS COVER STORY 22

Stephen Fry is back as the host of this year’s BAFTA Awards

PERSONALITIES

Meet Norwich Theatre Royal’s new CEO 20 Miles Jupp loves a good laugh 114 Five Minutes With… popular BBC presenter David Whiteley 16

FASHION AND BEAUTY 42 45 47 49 51

The little black dress never goes out of fashion! Complete your outfit with a must-have new handbag Holding back the years Lovely-looking sleep and loungewear for the guys Keep warm this winter

WHAT’S ON 18

70 90

12 15 28 31 40

The School of Rock just didn’t do it for Benet Catty Start the New Year with all sorts of events and activities The Witches of Eastwick is a hell of a musical! Great ideas for winter walks Join James and Ola Jordan at Carrow Road Meet our new skincare specialist, Marie Reynolds

TRAVEL 35 70 74

How to feel fine in the city Head to Hull – City of Culture 2017 Take some time out in South Africa

HOMES AND GARDENS 80 83 86 96

Property of the Month Owen Darby pays tribute to his Dad It’s time for tea at Jarrolds Get into the garden, advises Ellen Mary

FOOD AND DRINK 52 55 56 58

63 67 76

A wonderful new restaurant in Wells Kick-start the New Year with this refreshing recipe A stunning salad from Richard Bainbridge News and views from the world of food A decadent dessert from The Imperial Hotel Shaking things up at The Cliff Hotel Celebration time at The Library Restaurant Changes are afoot at The White Hart in Hingham

COMPETITION 37

Win a fabulous treatment for two at Imagine Spa Blofield Heath

BUSINESS

60 13

101 Planning for pensions with Almary Green 103 Julian Gibbons looks at court traditions

MOTORING 90 93 94

All about the Volvo V90 Winter motoring is snow problem! New on the forecourt: the Ford Kuga SUV

SOCIAL DIARY

106 Take a look at the region’s VIP events 11

| JANUARY 2017

what’son There’s plenty to look forward to this month, from fabulous fireworks to mark the New Year to a world-famous sporting event

IN JANUARY

COLOURFUL CROMER Fireworks will light up the sky in Cromer to celebrate the New Year. The spectacular fireworks display over the sea is set off from the seaside resort’s famous pier at 5pm and is always a popular event. 2017 will be the 18th year for this annual display which attracts thousands of people to the town and raises thousands of pounds for local causes. More info at: www.facebook.com/ NYDFireworksCromer BEAUTIFUL BALLET Russia’s acclaimed ballet company, The Russian State Ballet & Orchestra of Siberia, returns to the UK this year, with a country-wide tour in January and February. See the exquisite performances of Coppélia, La Fille mal gardée and Swan Lake at the Norwich Theatre Royal on Thursday, January 26, Friday 27 and Saturday 28 respectively. Box Office: 01603 630000; www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk STAR PERFORMANCE The Norwich-based, internationally-renowned Voice Project Choir will perform their new work Between Stars at Norwich Cathedral on Saturday, January 21 at 7pm and 9pm. This is the first part of The Arms of Sleep, a series of theatrical choral pieces that will continue with further new shows at the Norfolk & Norwich Festival in May. Between Stars is a large-scale, promenade performance piece featuring the 150-member choir together with professional solo singers and instrumentalists and spectacular lighting design. Tickets from: www.voiceproject.co.uk and the Norwich Cathedral Shop.

EXUBERANCE IS BEAUTY Norfolk Contemporary Art Society, Norfolk Contemporary Craft Society and Norwich Twenty Group are combining to stage an exhibition at The Hostry, Norwich Cathedral, from Saturday, January 21 to Sunday, February 26, celebrating the life of David Holgate. David, who died in 2014, was an active member of all three arts organisations and the title of the show, Exuberance is Beauty, is taken from one of his intricate pieces of letter carving. More at: www.cathedral.org.uk 12

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES One of the West End’s best-loved leading ladies will join the cast of La Cage Aux Folles when it comes to the Norwich Theatre Royal this month. Marti Webb will play Jacqueline, the owner of restaurant Chez Jacqueline and best friend of lead characters Albin and Georges, when the production takes to the stage from Tuesday, January 17 to Saturday, January 21. Marti Webb has appeared in top London and touring productions as well as singing chart-topping hits and is sure to shine in this story of Georges, who manages a St Tropez nightclub, and his partner Albin, a drag artiste who is the club’s star attraction. The show is produced by top theatrical impresario Bill Kenwright, with choreography by Olivier Award-winning Bill Deamer. Box Office: 01603 630000 and at: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

SPECTACULAR STUFF! The Hippodrome Christmas Spectacular continues until Monday, January 9 and is a must-see event for all the family. This breathtaking show features the thrilling Motor Bikes in the Globe from Brazil, the amazing Wheel of Death from Mexico, swimmers, dancers, comedy and much more. Book now for this fast-moving, feel-good event - a sure-fire way to banish those January blues! Box Office: 01493 844172 and online at: www.hippodromecircus.co.uk NORMAL FOR NORFOLK There’s another chance to see the 20th anniversary show from the Nimmo Twins as they take to the stage at the Norwich Playhouse from Tuesday, January 17 to Saturday, January 28. Owen Evans, Karl Minns and the lovely Nigel on lights and sound come together to take a sideways, adults-only look at Norfolk life. Box Office: 01603 598598 and at: www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk

STILL GOING STRONG Popular UK performer Elkie Brooks is coming to the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange on Thursday, January 26. With numerous hit singles, top-selling albums and awards, her annual tours are treat for fans old and new. Performing some of her classic hits, blues and jazz, this promises to be an electric evening. Tickets are £26; Box Office: 01553 779116. More at: www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk

OUT AND ABOUT Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is looking forward to the New Year with a host of fabulous events. Beginning with a New Year’s Day Walk, activities continue with a South Walsham Art Club Exhibition, followed by exhibitions by Ann Feavers and Roger Burnay, Elizabeth Reed and Sandra Derry. More on 01603 270449 and at: www.fairhavengarden.co.uk BOWLING THEM OVER From Friday, January 13 to Sunday, January 29, Potters Resort in Hopton will once again be rolling out its blue carpet to host the 2017 Just Retirement Partnership World Indoor Bowls Championships. This is the 19th year that Potters Resort has held the event, which attracts players and spectators from all over the world, with the final week televised live by the BBC. Further information and ticket prices on 0333 3207 497 and at: www.pottersholidays.com

CAST IRON EVENT Award-winning Sunday Times bestselling crime writer Peter May is touring the UK this January with his much anticipated new novel Cast Iron, a gripping thriller set in France. He will be holding a launch event at Jarrolds in Norwich at 7pm on Thursday, January 12. Tickets are £5 including a book discount, available from Jarrolds on 01603 660661. More info at: www.jarrold.co.uk

JANUARY Wed 25 Jan NATHAN CARTER Up and coming Irish/country star £8 - £25

Thur 5 Jan BEYOND THE BARRICADE Songs from great musicals £7 - £21.50

Thur 26 – Sat 28 Jan RUSSIAN STATE BALLET OF SIBERIA Beautiful classical ballet £8 - £36

Mon 9 Jan MILES JUPP Actor, comedian, writer, star of Radio 4 £7 - £17

Tues 31 Jan – Sat 4 Feb THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK Norfolk & Norwich Operatic Society with devilish musical comedy £7 - £21.50

Tues 17 – Sat 21 Jan LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Lavishly funny musical £8 - £39.50 Sun 22 Jan CLASSIC ROCK SHOW Rock’s greatest songs £7 - £24

Book online: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk T H E AT R E ST R E E T, N O RW I C H N R 2 1 R L

Russian State Ballet of Siberia

BOX OFFICE: (01603) 63 00 00

WHAT’S ON

the witches of eastwick

A HELL OF A MUSICAL!

The NNOS production will see Darryl played by Terry Boast, and in the roles of the (not so wicked but naughty) witches are Andrea Ferguson as the bubbly Sukie Rougemont, Claire Chandler as artistic Alexandra Spofford and Kathryn White as cellist Jane Smart. Terry Boast is a Norwich admin assistant by day but in his spare time has worked with Mixed Voice, Limelight Studios, Spooky Kid Productions and the Knightshift Dance Company. He was most Norfolk & Norwich Operatic Society’s recently seen by Norwich audiences in West Side Story at The production of Playhouse in August 2016 and the highlight of his theatrical pursuits promises to be truly magical to-date has been meeting Hollywood film director Ron Howard after working on his feature film Rush. He’s looking forward to getting into the mind-set of his character – “but he’s the devil, so it’s quite open to F CHRISTMAS HAS LEFT YOU all “panto-ed out”, then some talented interpretation”, he quipped. amateurs are offering sizzling entertainment at the Norwich Andrea Ferguson is well-known to local NNOS audiences. She Theatre Royal from Tuesday, January 31 to Saturday, February 4 in joined the society in 1993 and has been in everything from Barnum, the form of a fabulously wicked musical. Carousel and 42nd Street, to Hello Dolly, Sweeney Todd and Anything The Norfolk & Norwich Operatic Society (NNOS), who trod Goes. A menswear personal stylist for John Lewis, Norwich, where the Theatre Royal boards last year with Sunset Boulevard, a story she has worked for 25 years, she was selected as a teenager to perform exposing the dark side of fame, is once again returning to the “dark at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane as a solo dancer with Alvin Stardust. side” with The Witches of Eastwick. Claire Chandler hails from near Cromer and attended This tale of a devilishly attractive man and three beautiful women Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead and then RADA in London. caught in his magical web first began life as a John Updike novel She is a director of her family’s business, Ivy Farm Holiday Park at published in 1984. Its success quickly led to a movie version released Overstrand in north Norfolk, and has performed in many productions in 1987 starring Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer and Cher as the with the Cromer & Sheringham Operatic Society, including playing three witches, alongside Jack Nicholson as the devilish Darryl Van Nancy in Oliver. She is looking forward to her very first show with the Horne. NNOS. Impresario Cameron Mackintosh brought his musical version to the Kathryn White first came to Norwich to study English Literature Theatre Royal Drury Lane in July 2000 with Ian McShane (of Lovejoy at the UEA and has lived in the city for nearly ten years. An office and fame) in the lead role. With songs such as Make Him Mine, The Glory project manager for a local creative design consultancy, she has been of Me, Loose Ends and Something, The Witches of Eastwick has since involved with Threshold Theatre Company. The Witches of Eastwick flown further afield to charm audiences internationally will be only her second performance with NNOS, having and at home, including a UK Tour in 2008/2009 which appeared in their 2014 production Anything Goes. She THE WITCHES OF starred Marti Pellow as Darryl and had its première at the said: “We’ve got a truly excellent cast and I feel so proud EASTWICK runs from Norwich Theatre Royal. and thankful to be part of it. I can’t wait for the people of Tuesday, January 31, to Saturday, The action takes place in the late 1950s in a Norwich to take a trip to Eastwick!” February 4, at 7.30pm quintessentially sleepy and uptight New England town Other cast members include Harriet Chambers as nightly with 2.30pm called Eastwick, with suburban streets, bored women, interfering busybody Felicia Gabriel, Isabelle Anderson as matinees on Thursday inadequate men and unhappy marriages hidden behind her sweet daughter Jennifer Gabriel, and Joseph Reed as and Saturday. Tickets cost from £7 to £21.50 closed doors. So when the devilish Darryl Van Horne Alexandra’s son Michael Spofford. from the Box Office arrives in town, the excitement and intrigue begins. With rousing songs and lots of visual effects, including on 01603 630000 or Seducing each of the women in turn, he teaches them how the witches taking flight, the show promises a magical online at: to expand their powers though a new unorthodox lifestyle evening for theatre-goers. It contains scenes of an adult www.theatreroyal norwich.co.uk which scandalises the good folk of Eastwick. nature and therefore is recommended for age 14-plus.

The Witches of Eastwick

| JANUARY 2017

an audience with

Stephen Crocker

AN AUDIENCE WITH

stephen crocker

Stephen Crocker

is the new chief executive of the Norwich Theatre Royal, succeeding Peter Wilson who moved on in December after 25 years. Stephen, 35, was previously deputy chief executive of The Lowry arts centre in Salford. He talks to Places&Faces® What attracted you to your new role? I feel really strongly that regional cities should have thriving and distinctive arts and cultural scenes to complement that of London. There is a phenomenal buzz in Norwich and culture seems to run through the life of the city with the Theatre Royal and the Playhouse right at the centre of cultural life. Peter Wilson has built an amazing programme and an incredible organisation and the opportunity to build on that fantastic legacy is so exciting. There are so many things on the horizon, particularly the amazing Stage Two. It is not just that it is a world-class facility for young people and local communities, but it is right in the heart of the city and that it is only 20 paces away from the main stage is just unparalleled. Are you looking forward to moving to Norwich? I have fallen in love with Norwich and it epitomises to me what a modern heritage city should be. Just walking around the city it is clear to me that there is massive respect for its heritage, but it is also somewhere that is moving forward, feels vibrant, and wants to grow, develop and be cosmopolitan. I can’t wait to be here and make it my home. How well do you know the city? Not as well as I would like to just yet! I’ve visited many times over the years but nothing beats actually being a resident. I love cities and city life, having been in Manchester for 12 years, and I am very much looking forward to exploring and getting to know Norwich better. Do you have any connections with Norfolk already? I have some friends in the city and county, but since my coming to Norwich was announced I have realised how many roads lead to Norfolk. So many of my friends all over the country have got in touch to introduce friends and family in the city and county – I know we are going to receive a fantastic welcome! What will you miss most about Manchester? I have loved my time in Manchester and it has been amazing to live there. I have so many friends and so many happy memories and it is the people that I will miss most, however we have a waiting list of friends wanting to come to visit, so I will have memories of Manchester in Norwich most weekends. Have you seen any performances at the Norwich Theatre Royal? The last performance I came to see was Pride & Prejudice in October and I love the theatre. It is a beautiful space and I can see why many artists and companies have such a fondness for it and keep coming back. The programme at Norwich Theatre Royal is fantastically varied and I know there are also more incredible shows to come over the next few years. Musicals, ballet, opera or drama – which do you prefer and why? It sounds like a cliché answer, but I don’t actually have a favourite genre – my mantra is that I will try anything and I will tell you what I think about it afterwards! I guess the thing that unites my artistic taste is my love of stories. What I find exciting about working with artists, writers, choreographers and directors is when they take a story and translate it. Whether it is drama, dance or a piece of

visual art, I love seeing what that person has done with that particular story. One of the highlights of the year for me is the Edinburgh Fringe – quite literally a week of my life where I try everything from the truly sublime to the incredibly ridiculous! What about music and books – what are you currently listening to and do you have a book on the go? I have ‘go-to’ albums and artists for how I’m feeling and I love a good playlist! The most played artist on my phone at the moment is probably Christine and the Queens; I just love the sound. I am currently reading No Way Home: A Cuban Dancer’s Story which is Carlos Acosta’s amazing memoir of his upbringing in Cuba, a place I love. I have met Carlos several times when he has performed at The Lowry and heard him talk about Cuba, so I am loving reading it – it was actually a congratulatory gift from a friend on my appointment in Norwich. What about eating out? We love eating out and that is one of the things I really enjoy about city life – I love how a city quietly slips from daytime into evening as people relax after work. Our visits so far have been too brief to explore fully, but I am really looking to that in the next few months. Are you planning many changes at the Norwich Theatre Royal over the coming year? It is a bit early to say at the moment, but the one thing that is a priority for me is to work with arts organisations and venues around the county. One of the first things I will be doing after I start is getting out to see as many of them as I can. Your partner, Michael Travers, is also moving to Norwich – has he got a job lined up, too? Yes - he has indeed. Michael will be joining the Communications Team at Norfolk County Council as senior communications manager. He has worked for the past seven years in PR agencies on major global consumer brands, but before that worked in regeneration in Manchester, so he is really excited to go back to public sector working again. What do you like to do outside work – do you have any hobbies? Both Michael and I love being outdoors and have made the most of having the Peaks, Lakes and Dales on our doorstep. We enjoy getting out into wide open spaces and are so excited by having the beautiful countryside and coast of Norfolk just waiting for us to explore. Having said that, I also love a night in front of the telly. I am a huge fan of British TV drama, which is having a golden age at the moment with the likes of The Crown, The Young Pope, Victoria and Poldark showcasing the best British talent both on and behind the camera. Do you have any New Year’s resolutions? Every year for the last four years I have taken part in ‘Dry January’ and that has been my resolution. However, with the lure of Norwich’s many fantastic bars, pubs and restaurants to explore, I’m not sure that’ll be achievable in our first month as residents of the city! I am really keen to get to know Norfolk, so I think my resolution is going to be to get out to a new place in the county each week… all suggestions welcome! www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk 17

| JANUARY 2017

Lessons to be learned In Benet Catty’s opinion, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new

School of Rock

is outclassed by his other shows

ew people have been more supportive

of Andrew Lloyd Webber over the course of their theatre-going life than me. The show that gave me the theatre bug was Joseph, starring Jason Donovan, in 1991. Any list of masterpiece musicals that does not include Jesus Christ Superstar or Evita is a flawed one. Cats and Starlight Express have inspired generations of children into the wonders of live theatre. At his best he is unbeatable. School of Rock is not his best. It’s a hit in New York and has been commended by many of the London papers. But to my eyes and ears, excepting his last show (the crushing bore Stephen Ward in 2013) and his Northern Ireland musical (The Beautiful Game in 2002) it is his worst. Based on the 2003 Jack Black film of the same name, School of Rock is about a freeloading, aspiring rock star Dewey Finn who filches his way into a job at a posh school teaching music to ten year olds. He skips Beethoven and Bach and teaches them the wonders of rock, assembles a band and enters them into a competition. Many of them come from unloving family backgrounds (the theatre shorthand for “rich”). Might the posh parents find renewed love for their offspring if they prove to be able to jump up and down while playing an electric guitar? Guess. A story about the healing value of artistic endeavour is an appealing one - it’s like Billy Elliot but with music rather than dance, or Matilda but with Stevie Nicks the inspiration rather than Dickens. The story of the central character becoming re-inspired in life by the kids he’s trying to re-inspire in education is a fun and funny concept. And there are actual ten-year-olds playing actual instruments and singing actual music live on stage. (We are told this noisily before the show begins: did they think we’d pay £70 a head for them to mime?) 18

WEST END REVIEW

school of rock

All of these exciting ingredients suggest a juggernaut of entertainment for young and old. The problem is that so much of the show’s two hours and 45 minutes running time is absolute rubbish. It’s like Dead Poets Society or The History Boys with the volume turned up and the brains taken out. School of Rock is humourlessly and ploddingly written, cheaply and sometimes embarrassingly sentimental, overwhelmingly clichéd and at least an hour too long. In a world in which billionaire blow-hard Donald Trump will, from January 20, have access to a nuclear arsenal and Dulwich-educated former stockbroker Nigel Farage is hailed as a champion of the people, it is perhaps unsurprising that Lord Lloyd Webber and Lord (Julian) Fellowes should write a rock musical in which contemporary American ten-year-olds learn about The Stones. But they are a bad match for their material. The insanity of a multi-millionaire who owns seven London theatres writing a number called “Stick it to the Man” need hardly be amplified. He is the living, breathing embodiment of The Man. Fellowes, meanwhile, displays a complete tin ear for how his characters might actually talk or think and is unable or unwilling to see a single cliché without hurling himself at it like granny’s knickers at a Tom Jones concert. So, of course, the little camp boy loves Barbara Streisand and, of course, the silent girl turns out to sing like Beyoncé. Director Laurence Connor brings no sense of pace to the proceedings and continues his propensity - demonstrated in other recent work - to go for cheap sight gags rather than grown-up character relationships. So we have a husband getting embarrassed when faced with his (fully dressed) wife’s bottom, someone else spit-takes, and a pair of gay dads mince around in a style that John Inman would have recognised 40 years ago. The choreography by JoAnn M Hunter is great if you’re a fan of seeing ten-year-olds jump up and down a lot and then pose for big tableaux at the end of numbers. If you like what used to be called “dancing” then you’ll be better served by literally every other musical in London. Leading man David Fynn has a big part to fill and lands some laughs with lines from the film (fans of calling children “douche” and pratfalls off desks are well served). His leading lady Florence Andrews gets what she can out of a one-dimensional part but it’s the kind of show where someone takes their glasses off to show they’ve become cool. The kids play the music brilliantly but acting-wise the characters are beneath them, in a completely different orbit from what Matilda or Billy Elliot require of their child stars. If they were the entire show then I would have to concede that even though it’s not to my taste the show would deserve a grudging B+. But if School of Rock was having an Ofsted, it would be in special measures right away. School of Rock is at the New London Theatre, 166 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5PW Tel: 0844 8110052. www.schoolofrockthemusical.com 19

| JANUARY 2017

n A M maNy Of s e s i Gu Mark Nicholls speaks to

Miles Jupp

ahead of his one-man show in Norwich

onight, ladies and gentlemen, Miles Jupp is your stand-up comedian! He is witty, funny, incisive, even despairing, as he brings his latest show to the Norwich Theatre Royal. Yet Miles Jupp is many faceted too: actor, comedian, presenter, show host, celebrity panellist and author. It’s a long way from his debut as Archie the inventor in the children’s TV series Balamory, a journey that has since taken him on to stage roles, the current presenter of Radio Four’s The News Quiz and an appearance alongside George Clooney in the World War Two film, The Monuments Men. But for the moment, Miles Jupp is the lone comic, the solo joker and storyteller on the grand stage, reflecting upon real life with a blend of humour and pathos, scooping up the snippets and detritus of past journeys and tours, to pour them out on stage with his unique observational edge. The word “despair” may seem odd but Miles acknowledges it as a theme within his show, entitled Songs of Freedom. It too came from a list, he confesses, one of a series of “working titles” that has now risen to the top as the headline name of a show where the perils of day-to-day life are brought into sharp focus. On stage he will share his views about elements of modern life; “a rant about me, you, domestic imprisonment, fatherhood, having to have opinions, hot drinks, the Government, bank balance, housing, ill health, the ageing process, navigation and other people’s pants.” “I don’t want people to think I am a fretter though. I am more of a despairer,” he confesses. “I suppose I am talking about how little control we have about the things we despair about, but an awful lot of what we get upset about are such tiny things really. “We read about all the appalling events that are going on at the moment and then get really worried about how we can’t find our car keys, though I suppose - in some ways - getting upset about the little things is one way of enabling us to cope with the big things in life.” The stress of parenting, inevitably for a father-of-

five, is also in there, but on the whole his is a show about minor irritations… and with much of the material collected while on a previous tour. “I keep a notebook of what is going on, write bits of snippets down and then get to a point where I empty them all out and discover what I am angry about,” he explains. “It is like being a sculptor, chipping away at issues and then finding what you have before you.” Born in London, the son of a minister in the United Reformed Church, and having studied Divinity at the University of Edinburgh, he is currently best-known as the host of The News Quiz where he valiantly attempts to keep order as comedians, writers, satirists and the occasional political figure aim to make sense of (and poke fun at) current affairs. But he has also made a number of TV appearances playing the fussy Nigel in Rev, Captain Fanshaw in Gary Tank Commander, John Duggan in The Thick Of It, and minor celebrity chef Damian Trench in the self-penned In And Out Of The Kitchen. Miles, 37, also played the Valet of Greystoke in the movie The Legend of Tarzan, and is Blackberry in the upcoming BBC adaptation of Watership Down as part of a cast that also includes Sir Ben Kingsley. He is a regular on shows such as the music and comedy quizzes Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Have I Got News for You, Would I Lie To You?, Mock the Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and also won an episode of Celebrity Mastermind. But the question to which many want to know the answer is what is George Clooney like to work with? “He was awesome,” said Miles. “I was in Berlin filming for three to four days and I remember for the first half an hour being incredibly nervous about working with George Clooney because he is so inordinately famous and then you look around and you realise that he is like everybody else - he is at work, munching an apple, looking through his papers. “After that, we all just got on with it and had real fun and enjoyed chatting to him and he was great.” Clooney starred in, as well as wrote and produced,

miles jupp

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW The Monuments Men, with Miles appearing as British officer Major Fielding. But while Clooney made him nervous, he’s remarkably unfazed about stand-up, even though he is the lone figure out front on stage. “You’d think stand-up is something to be nervous about, but it is something you do all the time; you did a theatre last night and will do one tonight, you are doing the same show, you get familiar with it and you get to know the beats, and the more performances you do, the more you get used to it,” he explained. A regular visitor to Norfolk, as a tourist and performer, having played a number of venues in Norwich and elsewhere across East Anglia, he acknowledges it is the diversity of his work that appeals. “I suppose I am a bit of everything,” he said. “Sometimes I wonder – am I an actor spending time doing comedy or a comedian doing acting?” Alongside stand-up, he is appearing in an adaptation of the World War One play Journey’s End and also writing a book, or three. The question I have to ask is: “What’s the story?” – a line that will resonate with those who sat through countless episodes of Balamory with their young offspring. “It’s a three-book deal; the first is called Egg and Soldiers – an artificial childhood memoir, the next is going to be a novel, and the third is still just known as ‘book three’,” he says. In between, he tries to factor in being dad to five children and husband to Rachel. But tonight ladies and gentlemen, at the Norwich Theatre Royal, he is the despairing Miles Jupp, standup comedian!

Miles Jupp will be at the Norwich Theatre Royal at 7.30pm on Monday, January 9. Tickets £7 to £17; to book call the Box Office on 01603 630000 or visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk 21

| JANUARY 2017

HOSTwith the MOST

CELEBRITY PROFILE

stephen fry

As Stephen Fry prepares to host the BAFTA Awards for a 12th time, Places&Faces® reﬂects on his incredibly diverse career

austic irreverent, self-deprecating and always

risqué, Stephen Fry has become the face of the BAFTAs. Hosting next month’s ceremony for a 12th time, at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday, February 12, as the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards celebrates its 70th anniversary, he is renowned for presenting the prestigious event before an A-list audience as the cinematic world hands out its accolades. And whilst not averse to poking a little fun at his actor chums, it is also an occasion that has seen his lovehate relationship with social media boil over, notably following comments made in jest last year at the expense of nominee Jenny Beavan. During the 2016 ceremony, Fry said of Beavan: “Only one of the great cinematic costume designers would come to an awards ceremony dressed as a bag lady.” That remark went down badly on social media, provoking negative comments from many who were oblivious that Fry and Beavan were close friends. Beavan, who worked with Fry on Gosford Park and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and who won the award for her work on Mad Max: Fury Road, went to great lengths to point out she was not offended. Fry was less calm, responding to critical tweets in a series of expletive-laden updates where he also pointed out: “Jenny Beavan is a friend and joshing is legitimate,” before deciding to delete his Twitter account. Writing on his own website, he later expanded: “It’s no big deal – as it shouldn’t be. But yes, for anyone interested I have indeed deactivated my Twitter account. I’ve ‘left’ Twitter before, of course: many people have time off from it whether they are in the public eye or not. Think of it as not much more than leaving a room. I like to believe I haven’t slammed the door, much less stalked off in a huff throwing my toys out of the pram… it’s quite simple really: the room had started to smell.” But his continuing explanation delivered a fascinating and incisive insight and commentary on social media and also had resonance with concerns of many other users. Fry alluded to the shouting mobs who have invaded what he described as “a secret bathing-pool in a magical glade in an enchanted forest,” and remarking on “what fun Twitter was in the early days…” but suggested that pool had now become “stagnant.”

| JANUARY 2017

From computer technology entrepreneur, charity campaigner, gay rights supporter and a figure lauded as the “patron saint of intelligence,” he is a football fan - a former Norwich City board member and now club ambassador

Now back with Twitter, he did strike a chord when describing it as a “stalking ground for the sanctimoniously self-righteous who love to second-guess, to leap to conclusions and be offended – worse, to be offended on behalf of others they do not even know.” Over recent years, Twitter has been but one of the many stages for Fry’s various “performances” as one of Britain’s most famous comic figures, known the world over for his scything wit, waspish humour and self-deprecating candour. Actor, comedian, author, journalist, broadcaster and film director, Stephen Fry is a mish-mash of all, yet much more too. From computer technology entrepreneur, charity campaigner, gay rights supporter and a figure lauded as the “patron saint of intelligence,” he is a football fan - a former Norwich City board member and now club ambassador - but also often the last voice a child will hear at night as he gently narrates his way through the Harry Potter stories. This is the multi-faceted Stephen Fry; not frightened to court controversy and express opinions, but also to talk openly about his characteristics, occasional misdemeanours, and his battle with depression in a way few figures of such stature in the entertainment industry are prepared to do. Yet he is also a man proud of his Norfolk connections. 24

Born in Hampstead, London, in August 1957 to Alan and Marianne Fry, the family moved to Norfolk when Stephen was young and settled at Booton near Reepham. Educated in the county, as a teenager he even spent time in jail as a result of a missing credit card, before resuming his education at Queen’s College Cambridge to study English Literature where he became involved with the Cambridge Footlights and met long-time collaborator Hugh Laurie. He also appeared on University Challenge. His sporting loyalties are to Norwich City, having been a life-long fan. He sat on the board of directors from 2010 to 2016, and on being appointed said: “Truly this is one of the most exciting days of my life, and I am as proud and pleased as I could be.” And it was in Norfolk that he chose to marry; not in a lavish ceremony, but discreetly in Dereham, announcing his marriage to partner Elliott Spencer, 30 years his junior, in typical Fry fashion in January 2015, on Twitter to his 12 million-plus followers. “Gosh. @ElliottGSpencer and I go into a room as two people, sign a book and leave as one. Amazing.” That room was at Dereham’s register office at the Breckland Business Centre, near Tesco. As a comedian and actor, Fry’s early TV roles were his collaboration with Hugh Laurie in A Bit of Fry & Laurie and as Jeeves (alongside Laurie’s Bertie Wooster) in Jeeves and Wooster. He famously appeared in

CELEBRITY PROFILE

stephen fry

Blackadder as Lord Melchett, as a recurring guest role as Dr Gordon Wyatt in the crime series Bones, and as Gordon Deitrich in the dystopian thriller V for Vendetta. He returned “home” for Kingdom, as small-town Norfolk solicitor Peter Kingdom who coped with family, colleagues, and the strange locals of Market Shipborough who came to him for legal assistance. Filmed in Swaffham, the series also starred Hermione Norris, Celia Imrie, Karl Davies, Phyllida Law and Tony Slattery. He has also written and presented several documentary series, including the Emmy Award–winning Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, which saw him explore his bipolar disorder, and the travel series Stephen Fry in America. He was also the long-time host of quiz show QI from 2003 to 2016, during which time he was voted Most Intelligent Man on Television by readers of the Radio Times - with the seat now occupied by Sandi Toksvig. Besides working in television, Fry has written four novels including The Liar (1991) and three volumes of autobiography, Moab Is My Washpot (1997), The Fry Chronicles (2010) and More Fool Me (2014). He also appears on BBC Radio 4 in the comedy series Absolute Power, and as a frequent guest on panel shows such as Just a Minute, and acting as chairman for I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, where he was one of a trio of hosts who succeeded the late Humphrey Lyttelton. Fry is also known for his voice-overs, reading all seven of the Harry Potter novels for the UK audiobook recordings, narrating the LittleBigPlanet and Birds of Steel series of

Picture (left): Claire Newman-Williams

video games, as well as an animated series of explanations of the laws of cricket and recordings of his own books, and of works by Roald Dahl, Michael Bond, A. A. Milne, Anthony Buckeridge, Eleanor Updale and Alexander Pushkin. He has also appeared on the BBC’s genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are?, tracing his maternal family tree to investigate his Jewish ancestry. In films, having made his début in the 1985 film The Good Father, he had a brief appearance in A Fish Called Wanda and then appeared as the eponymous Peter in Kenneth Branagh’s Peter’s Friends in 1992. His portrayal of Oscar Wilde in the 1997 film Wilde - a role that he has said he was “born to play” - earned him a nomination for Best Actor (Drama) in the 1998 Golden Globe Awards. He played the detective in Gosford Park, served as narrator in the 2005 film version of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and in 2007 appeared as himself, hosting a quiz in St Trinian’s and as the Master of Lake-town, in The Hobbit. On stage, Fry was cast in Simon Gray’s The Common Pursuit and the 1995 play Cell Mates but unexpectedly left three days into the West End run, pleading stage fright and causing the production’s early closure. He later recalled the incident as a hypomanic episode in his documentary about bipolar disorder. He later said he would have killed himself if he had not had “the option of disappearing”, and eventually resurfacing in Belgium. The honorary president of the Cambridge University Quiz Society, he was awarded an honorary doctorate at the University of Sussex for his work campaigning for people suffering from mental health problems, bipolar disorder and HIV, and is president of the mental health charity Mind, patron of the Norwich Playhouse theatre and a vice-president of The Noël Coward Society. A friend of Prince Charles through his work with the

Prince’s Trust, he also wrote the foreword to the Union of UEA Students’ report on the student experience for LGBT+ members and was later granted Honorary Life Membership of the Union. Currently based in America, in August he stated on his website: “I started work on a comedy series for CBS television in the US this week and I will certainly keep the @stephenfry feed up to date with information and pictures about this exciting new project.” A multi-award winner in his own right – including being named Best Presenter in 2014 at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards for his BBC2 programme Stephen Fry: Out There – it is as host that he’ll be out front again on Sunday, February 12, keeping good order at the BAFTAs. And don’t expect last year’s Twitter furore to have tempered his caustic wit in the slightest.

| JANUARY 2017

walking in a

D n LA R E D N O W R E T win There are lots of wonderful walks to be had in East Anglia, whether along coastal routes, beaches or country footpaths. Here we head to North Norfolk for an invigorating January stroll, with a number of easy routes from which to choose

fIVE cOASTaL WaLKS

Walking in North Norfolk is such a delight.

We’ve listed our top five coastal walks, country walks and beach walks below, and there are also trails on which you can walk or cycle on the Norfolk Coast Path which runs all the way from Hunstanton to Sea Palling. Overstrand to Mundesely A varied walk between two seaside villages, taking in a range of scenery. It starts in Overstrand at the west end of the promenade, passes through the village of Trimingham, and ends in Mundesley at the Old Coastguard Lookout Station. The route is mostly along rural footpaths with short sections along minor roads. Sheringham to Cromer This walk leaves Sheringham to climb over Beeston Bump and follows the cliff path past West Runton before heading inland a short way to continue at East Runton and arrive at Cromer seafront where it ends at the pier. The walk is mainly over grassy clifftop paths with paved paths along the seafront and short stretches on pavements by the road. Walsey Wander Organised walk by Norfolk Wildlife Trust on Tuesday, January 10 offering the chance to discover a variety of wildlife and habitats in the Cley to Salthouse landscape. This walk starts at the NWT visitor centre at Cley at 10.30am and heads east and along Walsey Hills offering views across the marshes before heading down to Babcock hide and back along the Attenborough way. Booking essential on 01263 740008. Blakeney to Cley-next-the-Sea A walk through Blakeney village and around Blakeney Freshes along the bank, taking in sights such as Cley Windmill and stretches of the Blakeney National Nature Reserve. View miles of salt marsh, birds feeding on mudflats and stop anywhere along the route for a picnic or at the now famous Wiveton Hall Café. New Year’s Day Ramble On Sunday, January, 1, take a refreshing stroll from NWT Cley Visitor Centre across the new Attenborough footpath to Salthouse and back along the shingle ridge, before heading into the visitor centre for a warming bowl of soup. The walk starts at 10.30am and runs to 1pm; to book call 01263 740008. 28

OUTDOOR PURSUITS

winter walks

FIVE COUNTRY waLKS

Happisburgh This circular walk starts and finishes close to Happisburgh’s famous red and white striped lighthouse. It starts at the clifftop path before heading inland to Walcott through farmland, looping back to the pretty village of Happisburgh and also follows footpaths and quiet lanes. Cockthorpe Starting from the marshes at Morston, this walk weaves its way from the coast along the Norfolk Coast Path, through woodland and by the river to the village of Cockthorpe. The route then passes through the old Langham Airfield with views back to Blakeney Point and through Cockthorpe Common. Burnhams A delightful walk taking in historic Burnham Overy Staithe, Burnham Overy Town and Burnham Norton. The route crosses the River Burn twice and passes through farmland, past churches, mills, the ruins of a Carmelite friary and winding creeks. Paston Way (Cromer to North Walsham) A longer walk at 22 miles, the Paston Way passes through the Poppyland area of northeast Norfolk, taking in medieval churches, pretty villages, rolling farmland, disused railways and beach walks. Bittern Walks The Bittern Line railway heads north from Norwich to the North Norfolk coast. Each station along the line has countryside and town walks, most are circular or some go from station to station. Walks start from various lines (visit bit.ly/bitternwalk).

FIVE BEACH WaLKS

Brancaster One of Norfolk’s glorious beaches, Brancaster has miles of unspoilt sand. Dog-friendly, you can walk in either direction, but be aware of tide times and incoming tides. There’s plenty of parking at the entrance and you will usually be able to see the shipwreck, the remains of the SS Vina, which was used by the RAF for target practice before the Normandy landing prior to it accidentally sinking in 1944. Holkham An unspoilt and beautiful stretch of sand, Holkham Beach was made famous when actress Gwyneth Paltrow walked across it for the closing scenes of the film Shakespeare in Love. Holkham Beach is also part of one of the largest National Nature Reserves in the country. Managed by Natural England in partnership with the Holkham Estate, it is home to many rare species of flora and fauna. From Holkham, you can walk all the way to the 2016 British Beach of the Year, Wells, where you can take in the amazing sunsets across the sands. Mundesley to Sea Palling This seaside walk follows the Blue Flag beach and cliff path for much of the way. The final section to Sea Palling offers the option of either a beach walk or an inland alternative along tracks close to the shore. It starts at Mundesley Old Coastguard Lookout Station (now Mundesley’s Maritime Museum) and passes Bacton Gas Terminal before diverting inland to Happisburgh, and ending at Beach Road, Sea Palling. The route offers beach walking with hard sand, clifftop footpaths, lanes and tracks. Hunstanton Hunstanton is renowned for its unique striped cliffs and magnificent sunsets, made special by its position as the only west-facing resort on the East coast. Take a walk by this stunning coastline and you can stop off to explore the intriguing rock pools. West Runton Beach A true family beach with lots of tiny rock pools in which to hunt for crabs, starfish and anenomes as well as looking for fossils. West Runton beach is best known for the Elephant, or Steppe Mammoth, which was discovered in 1990, dating back to the Ice Age and which is one of the oldest fossil elephants to be found in the UK.

ballet

modern

where dreams come

musical theatre

alive

Be yourself! Be free!

What better way for your children to express themselves than through the joys of dance and theatre performance. It is our goal to create a welcoming environment where every student, boys and girls alike, regardless of their ability or skill level, can learn, be confident and above all have fun whilst nurturing a love and respect of the arts. From baby ballet to pre college training, we offer a range of classes that will allow growth, development and excellence. Central School is under new leadership of Fern Carpenter BA (Hons) and Adam Carpenter BA (Hons), who are bringing exciting new creative ideas to the curriculum from their experience as professional performers. They are looking forward to hearing from you!

07835 300103

centralschoolnorwich@gmail.com 100 St. Georges Street, Norwich, NR3 1BX www.centralschoolofdancing.co.uk

tap

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and all that jazz!

CHARITY EVENT

age uk norfolk

having a

BALL! Strictly’s James and Ola Jordan will be pirouetting into the city next month for Age UK Norfolk’s 70th anniversary; a great event for a great cause

Former Strictly stars James and Ola Jordan will bring their glitterball techniques to Norwich when they appear at a local charity dinner dance in February. The occasion is a ball to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Age UK Norfolk, and takes place at the Top of the Terrace and Norfolk Lounge at Norwich City Football Club on Saturday, February 25, 2017; James and Ola will be giving a 45-minute dance performance and Q&A session to let diners see just why they have become household names. The married couple joined Strictly in 2006; James’ celebrity partners included Denise Van Outen, Vanessa Feltz, Cheri Lunghi and, most notably, Pamela Stephenson, with whom he reached the final. Polish-born Ola went one better when partnering BBC presenter Chris Hollins to glitterball success; her other partners included football pundit Robbie Savage, former rugby union star Kenny Logan and wildlife presenter Steve Backshall. Both have since left the series, but have achieved success in television reality shows: James has been in Celebrity Big Brother and controversial quiz show Safeword. Ola appeared in 2016’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, leaving the jungle at the end of November. Also appearing at the ball will be the Jonathan Wyatt Big Band and singer/saxophonist Mariasax. The evening begins with a drinks reception, followed by a threecourse meal, the dance demonstration and dancing to the big band. There will also be a charity auction which includes an exclusive opportunity to bid for a tour of the Royal Stud at Sandringham, a week in a holiday home in France and a flight over the stunning north Norfolk coastline, plus many more items. Tickets are £70, but there are reductions for a table of 10 with one free place. The evening begins at 7pm; to book tickets visit www.ageuknorfolk.eventbrite.co.uk or contact the fundraising team on: 01603 787111; email: fundraising@ageuknorfolk.org.uk

OLK AGE UK NORF People’s blished in 1947 as Norfolk Older

Age UK Norfolk was esta a need to find ways to provide Welfare Association. This followed le during the aftermath of peop r basic help and assistance to olde e for their rights and dignity. the war years and to provide a voic folk has provided a wide Nor Over its 70 year history, Age UK needs of older people ging chan the t mee to variety of services changes over that tical poli brought about by the societal and renamed Age was on ciati asso the s 1970 period. During the employed to manage e wer staff Concern Norfolk and the first paid tion. the increasing work of the organisa ged its name to Age UK chan folk Nor cern Con Age , 2010 In Norfolk. with over 250 volunteers. It Today, it exists as a local charity, to enjoy the opportunities and folk Nor in le supports older peop meet the challenges of later life. charity Age UK and, as such, is It is independent of the national ration to support the work it gene responsible for its own income Norfolk. does with older people living in have been diversified to prepare ms strea me inco s, year nt rece In

folk launched its first social for the future. In 2010 Age UK Nor rst charity shop. fi enterprise and in 2014 opened its , advice and support for older tion rma info e pris Free services com their independence, dignity and people to help them to maintain befriending and dementia support e hon telep also choice. There are services. has been at the forefront of In recent years, Age UK Norfolk ding its work developing dementia support in Norfolk, inclu ects in the county. proj ity mun Com Dementia Friendly and one specialist centre for res The charity runs two day care cent Care Scheme in partnership with respite care, plus a Housing with Saffron Housing Trust. generosity of local people who Age UK Norfolk depends on the to support the work it does to contribute their time and money d, r carers in Norfolk are supporte thei and le peop ensure that older informed and heard. 03 787111 or visit: For more information call: 016 www.ageuknorfolk.org.uk

| JANUARY 2017

a class act The first day at a new school is always a nervous time, but this year at one Norwich primary school and nursery the anxiety was as much from the staff as the pupils and parents. Places&Faces® spoke to principal Jo Brown about opening a brand new school for the city.

alking through the doors of Charles Darwin Primary today, it’s easy to think the school has always been here. From the busy and vibrant nursery, through to the reading areas, art spaces, and even the resident rabbits Buttons and Fudge, it feels such a bright and friendly environment. The young pupils look totally at home: enjoying their lessons, exploring new activities, and making friends. Right in the middle of it all is the school’s principal Jo Brown. Welcoming, relaxed and exuding a quiet and caring authority, Jo is the beating heart of the school – and it is her determination and spirit that has made so much of this possible. Together with colleagues at the Inspiration Trust, the charity that has opened the school, Jo has spent the best part of a year getting everything just right for pupils. “When we first started talking to parents about opening a new school, we knew that there was demand in the city centre for a new primary school and nursery,” says Jo. “Many of the nurseries in the city have very long waiting lists, so it was obvious there was a shortage of places, but parents also said they were looking for a different sort of education and a stronger academic focus than in some other primary schools. “I believe that all children can achieve with the right teaching, guidance, and nurturing, so we set high expectations for our pupils in the knowledge that children achieve their best when they are challenged, engaged and motivated. “It has been so rewarding to see those families that joined us really early on in the journey engage with that vision and support us as we found a location, recruited our wonderful staff, and eventually opened in September. I’ve also been able to get to know the children and we have seen pupils who started off shy and reserved really flourish in the last few months.” Those first pupils – in Reception and Year 1 – started at the school in September. The school will grow gradually one year group at a time, an approach that worked well at Darwin’s sister school Jane Austen College just across the city on Colegate. “By starting off quite small we get the chance to take our time and make sure everything is right for our pupils and their families, which

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is so important to us. It means we can take real care to recruit the right staff, build genuinely new approaches to teaching, and give something special to our children,” says Jo. Families have also found the school’s Norwich city centre on Rose Lane very convenient, with most walking to the school. It also gives easy access to everything the city has to offer, from museums and theatres to sports facilities, with teachers already exploring how they can work with partners such as Whitlingham Outdoor Education Centre. Darwin also works closely with Jane Austen College, and the Inspiration Trust’s Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form in Bethel Street, building a strong community feel across the schools. “Being part of the Inspiration Trust is a real strength for us, as it allows us to share great ideas and also to have lots of support and advice. Although we’re a new school, we’re surrounded and backed by educational experts, and we have a big organisation behind us too.” says Jo.

“It means we can really focus on putting the pupils first and as principal my first and last thoughts can always be about what will give them the best education. It’s a wonderful school, a wonderful role, and I feel so privileged to be able to teach such great pupils.” • Families can apply to join Charles Darwin in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, in September 2017. Visit www.charlesdarwinprimary.org for more details and to arrange a visit. BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME That seems to be the mantra of the Inspiration Trust, which has been blazing a trail in Norwich by opening up new free schools for the city’s families – schools which are backed by the Government and free to attend just like any other state school, but which have the freedom to offer new approaches for high quality education. The charity opened Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form in the former Bethel Street fire station in 2013, the first in the country to specialise in maths and science. With a bold but sensitive restoration of the landmark building came top of the range labs and teaching spaces, inspiring students to become the doctors, digital entrepreneurs, and inventors of the future. Its first year of results saw it shoot straight to the top of local league tables, getting the highest average A Level points score for a state sixth form. Jane Austen College followed in 2014, a new high school and sixth form but this time focused on English and humanities. The college’s grey blazers and tartan kilts soon became a familiar sight around Norwich, as families flocked to the Colegate school. It is now one of the most sought-after in the city, thanks to its high academic standards, community ethos, and longer school day which affords parents more flexibility for their working lives, and frees students from getting homework – instead they do independent study in college time. The new Charles Darwin Primary in Rose Lane is the Trust’s third free school in the city, and means it has now opened new schools from nursery right through to sixth form, responding to both the burgeoning population and families’ desires to enjoy a fresh approach to education. 33

D E T S g OF n i t a r â&#x20AC;&#x2122; d o o f o e ic o G h c â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; t Wides cts subje

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VISIT NORWICH

spa days

taking

hygge

out of the House Relax into the New Year with spa days that are good for the mind, body and soul, says Melanie Cook of VisitNorwich

If you’re following the latest trends, then you will no doubt have heard all about the Danish phenomenon - Hygge (pronounced “hu–gge”). With no English literal translation, Hygge is all about getting together with friends and family at home, eating comforting food, lighting candles to create a cosy atmosphere – being in the moment, a good moment. But why not extend Hygge to outside the house? Whilst being at home with good company certainly is an enjoyable experience, after the exploits of the festive season and the celebrations of New Year, why not wind down and slip into January gently and quietly, creating a Hygge-like experience all to yourself? There’s no requirement for us to begin 2017 with a diet plan or a flurry of hard exercise (which will rarely be maintained); January is the time to embrace a new start, a time to commit to looking after yourself. With this mantra firmly in place, look to taking care of your mind and body, beginning with spa treatments. Luckily for those of us located in this region, Norwich has a wealth of hotels with leisure facilities offering to help us out! Park Farm in Hethersett is home to Imagine Spa offering a service where you can book a block time and then, along with a therapist, create a personally-tailored spa visit of treatments on the day. So depending on how you are feeling at the time, you can have treatments to suit your mood. Imagine Spa uses the No.1 professional skincare brand in Europe, German-based Babor with sensory body treatments including the Raindrop Massage (£30 for 30 minutes or £50 for an hour) where a therapist slowly drips essential oils along your spine and the backs of your legs before performing a relaxing massage, finishing with a warm compress which is applied to your back. At Sprowston Manor, a Marriott Hotel and Country Club, expert therapists use spa therapies including Decléor, Guinot, Jessica and Mii make-up seven days a week. Book simple 30-minute treats or go all-out with day packages starting at £113 midweek which includes treatments, lunch, a robe, towels and use of their leisure facilities. The pool at Sprowston Manor is particularly inviting with plenty of loungers to lay back and relax on, too. The Norfolk Mead in Coltishall opened two luxury treatment rooms in 2016. Their spa uses the product range Natural Spa Factory which is only supplied to the world’s most prestigious spas and hotels. The products are all chemical and paraben-free and are not tested on animals. The Mead offers a signature Warming Bamboo Massage which uses heated bamboo canes to relieve aches and pains with firm yet relaxed pressure. They also have a fairly-

priced Afternoon Tea and Treat Package which offers a 30-minute treatment followed by afternoon tea for £38 per person. For an additional £17 per person, this package can be upgraded to include a 60-minute treatment. Barnham Broom is one of only two spas in Norfolk to use ESPA. ESPA is well-known throughout the world for its luxury spa products. Day Spa packages begin at £70 including a 60-minute treatment, light lunch or afternoon tea, robe and slipper hire and use of the leisure facilities, or from £115 you can enjoy an additional one-hour treatment. This month (if you have a bit more time), why not take it one step further than a day by booking yourself in for an overnighter when the deals come out to attract people to book post-Christmas breaks. Staying overnight also means that you can take full advantage of all the facilities such as heated swimming pools, saunas and steam rooms – just what you need when it’s so very cold outdoors. Dunston Hall near Norwich is offering one-night spa breaks in January and February including breakfast, lunch, dinner and a free indulgent treatment from just £105 per person. For more information on spas, breaks and things to do in Norwich go to www.visitnorwich.co.uk and www.cityofstories.co.uk 35

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17/11/2016 10:33

COMPETITION

imagine spa

WIN! A FIRE & ICE EXPERIENCE FOR TWO AT IMAGINE SPA BLOFIELD HEATH TREAT YOURSELF TO SOME TIME OUT from the hustle and bustle of life

at the Imagine Spa, Blofield Heath. This luxurious day spa is a wonderful place in which to relax and unwind. The Imagine Spa boasts five beautifully-appointed treatment rooms including one double room for those wishing to share the special experience with a friend or loved one. The treatment rooms include a Hammam Table and dedicated manicure and pedicure areas. Guests can also chill out in the Serail Mud Chamber or visit the Thermal Suite: an advanced heat and cooling experience to help you de-stress and which features an aroma steam room, feature shower and ice fountain. The Thermal Suite is available for guests to use throughout their time at the spa, as is the relaxation room, a haven of peace and tranquillity thanks to its soothing music and comfortable seating. The Imagine Spa at Blofield Heath is known for its welcoming, friendly atmosphere and is the perfect place to recover after all that Christmas indulgence; you will be pampered from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave, so you emerge feeling relaxed, revitalised and restored. Places & Faces® has teamed up with the Imagine Spa in Blofield Heath to offer one lucky reader a half day Fire & Ice Experience for two. Aimed at stimulating the senses, the Fire & Ice Experience includes full use of the Thermal Suite with its hydrotherapy pool, ice fountain and steam rooms, use of one of the spa’s relaxation pods in the garden,

plus a luxurious treatment for two in the Serail Mud Chamber. This special prize, worth over £130, can be taken from Monday to Friday, subject to availability, and is a great way to start the New Year! To enter this competition, simply answer the question below:

How many treatment rooms are there at the Imagine Spa Blofield Heath? Send your answer and contact details by email to: competitions@ placesandfaces.co.uk or via Twitter to @PlacesandFaces hashtag #ImagineSpaBlofieldHeath. Alternatively, send your answer by post to: Places & Faces, H2Creative Media Ltd, Humberstone House, 47 Englands Lane, Gorleston, Norfolk, NR31 6BE (closing date: end of January 2017). Meanwhile, for more information on the Imagine Spa Blofield Heath, visit: www.imaginespa.co.uk/blofieldheath TERMS & CONDITIONS This prize is subject to availability and valid until the end of July 2017.

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Marie Reynolds london

Renowned therapist and progressive skincare expert, Marie Reynolds, has relaunched her advanced skincare treatment

SH FINA ORTLIS TE L UK' IST FOR T D sD HE

i BeaSafetaymond uty a in ProBeautwards of tfessioy he y nal ear

Further treatments include:

The MASTERLift This treatment offers a viable alternative to cosmetic procedures such as surgical face lifts and injectables, to address the issues of skin ageing and overall appearance by regenerating the skin through a series of advanced techniques combined with potent, purified active skincare ingredients. This non-surgical technique results in less downtime for the client with virtually no after effects such as noticeable skin peeling or redness.

BESPOKE FACIAL TREATMENTS BOWEN TECHNIQUE NOETIC THERAPY

Available exclusively at Fortnum and Mason Department Store, Piccadilly, London

Before and After pictures

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the

feelgood factor Our new columnist, celebrated skincare and wellness expert Marie Reynolds, has an extensive list of celebrity clients and a worldwide following for her health and beauty advice. Currently practising in London, she will soon be opening a brand new clinic in the heart of Norfolk

| JANUARY 2017 40

SKINCARE AND WELLNESS

marie reynolds Can you tell us about your celebrity clients? I like to think of all my clients as celebrities, however I have treated Tess Daly, Lorraine Kelly, Lisa Snowdon, Ellie Goulding and Glynis Barber among many others. Where do you practise your techniques? At the moment only in Fortnum & Mason. I did have a clinic in Reepham but am now waiting for a new clinic to be built which should be ready in February. Do you treat both men and women? Yes, healthy skin is important for both! My skincare treatments are not your usual facial treatments. The Masterlift rejuvenates skin tissue for total overall skin health with results-driven and scientifically-researched ingredients and techniques. You are prolific on social media – which sites do you use? I use Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest and am a huge fan of Instagram. People love to see the posts of Fortnum & Mason’s treatment rooms, whom I have treated, what products I use and tips. As a qualified skincare and wellness expert, lecturer and counsellor, do you use all your skills equally? Nothing is ever the same. My treatments have two avenues: one leads to aesthetic improvement and changes with each visit, bespoke to my client’s skincare needs. The skin changes with every circumstance - diet, lifestyle, stress and sleep as well as topical products all have an impact. The wellness side deals very much with how thoughts and emotions affect the human form. I may have a patient in for digestive issues, but I will look at how they were born and what times they eat and, most importantly, how they deal with anxiety. There are many different factors with the wellness side - if a patient comes in with a specific ailment like a migraine or a hamstring injury there are other factors that will be dealt with before the actual symptom. Can you tell us a little about your family life? I was married when I was young but my ex-husband left when our daughter Olivia was three. I had a choice to struggle on as a single parent or study and work hard to provide the best for my daughter, which I did with the help of my parents. She is now 18 years old, is hoping to go to Epsom University to study Fashion Journalism and is an incredible young woman. I met Julian, my partner, through business contacts and decided to move to Norfolk almost two years ago to start a new life with him and our children (along with my daughter Olivia, Julian has two sons, 18 and 21, and a daughter, 15). Julian is territory manager for JCB Finance

and, together with my parents, we bought a gorgeous 16th Century barn. Julian and I married on December 23 last year in Norwich Castle with our nearest and dearest. You researched and created Noetic Recovery, Bowen Sense and The Masterlift can you tell us about these? Noetics is not a new science - it is based on how thoughts and emotions impact the physical. It is a very relaxing process that enables the individual to re-programme their thought patterns, stress and anxieties to reduce stress and trauma in the body. Our mind can be our cure or curse. Some time is spent on consultation: mind and relaxation techniques, supplement advice and relaxing treatments including the head and back. Bowen Sense is an excellent form of healing. The Bowen Technique is the ideal therapy to treat the overwhelming and stressful conditions that bombard us throughout our life. The effects of stress on the physical and mental can lead to long-term illness as well as shortterm pain. Stress increases the production of adrenaline in the body to enable us to cope, but this has a knock-on effect resulting in raised blood pressure, poor digestion, on-set of muscular aches and pains and disrupted sleep patterns, placing the body in a constant state of alarm. Bowen Therapy allows the body to switch over to the parasympathetic nervous system, which aids rest and repair and is clinically proven to significantly reduce anxiety, tension and fatigue. It is used for many ailments including asthma, fertility, hay fever (allergies), hormonal rebalancing, IBS and digestive complaints, migraine, sports injuries and many more. The Masterlift is a progressive skin treatment; I am not a believer in aggressive skin treatments to get results, less is definitely more. I use intelligent skincare created by doctors that are results-driven. The Matserlift is for many skin conditions including acne, rosacea, pigmentation, enlarged pores as well as healthy ageing. Do you have any “before” and “after” pictures of your clients? I have many “before” and “after” pictures of the progressive skin treatments, benefits can be seen in one treatment most of the time but to get the best outcome homecare and regular treatments are recommended. In the pictures you can see an improvement in overall skin rejuvenation, fine lines, pigmentation and plumping of the skin. You can see many

“before” and “after” pictures on my website and social media pages. Have you contributed articles to glossy magazines before? I have contributed to Cosmopolitan, Woman & Home, Grazia and Glamour. I also have many testimonials from the leading beauty editors which can be seen on my press page on my website. What sort of issues do you deal with on a regular basis? The most common are stress and anxiety, which can lead to migraines, and musculoskeletal pain. The most popular skin treatments involve healthy ageing; skin rejuvenation is what most clients want. What is different about your approach? We are what we are by what we eat, experience, inherit and think. My work is to re-set the body to healing itself, even on the skin side of treatments, I may negotiate with the gut or liver to get the result needed. How do you diagnose your clients’ health issues? I look at their ears, hands, how they breathe, sit, eye contact, skin colour… many things. Even how a person is born can have an impact on their immune system or anxiety issues. We are all walking, talking novels, you just have to understand how to read the book! Do you offer one-off treatments or a series of sessions? With the wellness side I prefer to see the person at least three times. The Masterlift is great to have for an event, however for optimum results a course of six is recommended. Are you looking forward to your new Norfolk work space? I am so excited. The clinic is purpose-built on our property in Alderford. It will have a treatment room, consulting area and waiting room. I have many clients from London wanting to visit as I will only be offering the wellness side in Norfolk. Are you offering any January deals? To be placed on the waiting list with 15% off your first treatment in the new clinic with code Jan17. Email info@mariereynoldslondon.com or call 01603 926500.

| JANUARY 2017

you can’t beat that

classic LBD!! Nothing says wardrobe classic like a little black dress. It exudes sophistication and style; dress it up with gorgeous accessories and turn heads everywhere, says Donna Titcombe

01.

Gina Bacconi Little Black Dress Style 60011 £210 www.fabfrocks.com

02.

Eliza J Tiered Jersey Dress With Embroidered Bodice £130 House of Fraser intu Chapelfield

02.

03.

Teresa Long Sleeved Short Cocktail Dress £199 Ariella www.ariella.com

04.

Ted Baker Peetch Brooch Trim Court Shoes £140 John Lewis

05. 03.

Dune Ember Bag £60 www.dunelondon.com

06.

Oasis Warner Jacquard Midi Dress, Black £85 John Lewis

05. 04. 42

06.

lbds

07.

FASHION

07.

Audrina Dress £129 Monsoon

08.

All Over Lace-Lined Bodycon Dress £49.50 M&S

09.

Black Floral Pencil Dress £215 Karen Millen

09.

Prices correct at the time of going to press. Items may be available from various retailers and prices may vary so please check online for a full list of local stockists

10.

Adrianna Papell Mirrored Lace Cocktail Dress £143 Jarrolds

11.

Cordelia shoes £80 Dune

12.

Chrysa Embroidered Frill Hem Dress £199 www.tedbaker.com

11.

12.

the path to creative styling and colour. ..

MASAI

OSKA

OUT OF XILE

MYRINE

SAHARA

TWO DANES

BACKSTAGE

GRIZAS RALSTON APPOINTMENT

www.sarahdarren.com

PERSONAL STYLING FASHION & ACCESSORIES

FASHION & ACCESSORIES

33 High Street l Holt l Norfolk l NR25 6BN Tel: 01263 711230 l website: www.nicholsonsuk.com Open Mon to Sat 10am - 5pm ...and find us on FACEBOOK too!

Prices correct at the time of going to press. Items may be available from various retailers and prices may vary so please check online for a full list of local stockists

FASHION

handbags

01. 03. 02.

05.

04.

What handbag will you have by your side this winter? Donna Titcombe selects a stunning collection to help you choose

01.

04.

02.

05.

Gemini Link Satchel £410 www.torybirch.co.uk Michael Kors Jet Set Travel East West Leather Tote, Tan £220 John Lewis

03.

Dune Damazinglep Printed Leather Shopper £95 House of Fraser intu Chapelfield

J by Jasper Conran Brown Croc Finish Handbag £110 Debenhams Radley Hardwick large tote £219 Jarrolds

06.

Lauren Ralph Lauren Dryden Diana Black Tote £215 www.ralphlauren.co.uk

07.

Fossil Large Peyton Double Flap Cross Body Bag £199 Jarrolds

06.

07.

available with a Harley Street trained professional

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For a beautiful way to indulge yourself…

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LIFESTYLE & LEISURE

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Make Global Diagnostics your preferred provider of Healthcare Services in East Anglia Global Diagnostics is a leading provider of Diagnostic Imaging Services and Treatments. With access to some of the most eminent local specialists, our Global Clinic in Norwich, situated in the beautiful woodland area of Colney Hall offers patients a wide range of healthcare services. Our clinic is open to all patients with Private Medical Insurance or patients that wish to self-fund their own treatment. We offer immediate access to renowned specialists, diagnostics and treatments.

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super

serums

01.

BEAUTY

anti-ageing

Serum is made up of small molecules that can penetrate deeply into the skin and deliver a very high concentration of active ingredients. They are particularly effective for targeting specific skincare concerns, such as wrinkles and signs of ageing. Donna Titcombe has selected some of the best on the high street

01.

Chanel Le Lift Firming Anti Wrinkle Serum £98 Jarrolds

02.

Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum 100ml £21.99 Superdrug

02.

03.

05.

Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate Serum 50ml £82 John Lewis

06.

Estée Lauder ‘Advanced Night Repair’ serum 50ml £72 Debenhams

Prices correct at the time of going to press. Items may be available from various retailers and prices may vary so please check online for a full list of local stockists

Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate 30ml £60 House of Fraser

04.

Clarins Double Serum complete age control concentrate 30ml £55 Boots

03.

04.

05.

06.

ÂŁ10 0 S TAY & D I N E Fine dining in relaxed informal surroundings January - February Offer: Sunday to Thursday Stay & Dine offer includes one night stay for two people, breakfast and ÂŁ25 diner credit in our restaurant during your stay.

01692 581099

www.theinghamswan.co.uk

info@theinghamswan.co.uk

BED! 01.

Hugo Boss Herringbone Shawl Collar Robe £129 House of Fraser intu Chapelfield

02.

Ready for some down time after a long day at work? Donna Titcombe has selected everything you need to relax and unwind, whether you are lounging or sleeping, do it in comfort with this collection of pyjamas and loungewear

MEN’S FASHION

and so to

nightwear

01.

Gant Checked Pyjama Pants £35 www.gant.co.uk

03.

Burton Modal Grandad Top £25 Debenhams

02.

03.

Prices correct at the time of going to press. Items may be available from various retailers and prices may vary so please check online for a full list of local stockists

04.

Stag Head Print Slipper Socks £12 M&S

05.

David Gandy for Autograph Supima Slim Fit Pyjama Bottoms with Modal £27.50 Supima Slim Fit Pyjama Top £25 M&S

06.

Totes Suedette Moccasin Slippers, Black £23 John Lewis

05.

06.

Prices correct at the time of going to press. Items may be available from various retailers and prices may vary so please check online for a full list of local stockists

01.

Ralph Lauren Varick Slim Straight Jeans £175 www.ralphlauren.co.uk

02.

Tommy Hilfiger Liam Lambswool Sweater £85 House of Fraser intu Chapelfield

03.

01.

Sirett Cable Knit Scarf £39.50 Jack Wills

03.

country attire

mething a bit more for a winter stroll or so by Donna Titcombe to Whether you are going lec e of clothes, se ted ng ra sy co a is re he ing out in the cold strenuous mfortable when head co d an rm wa u yo ep help ke

MEN’S FASHION

s R O O d t U o t a e R the g 02.

04.

HugCalgary Stripe Beanie £16 Fat Face

05.

Dubarry Donegal Men’s Winter Boots £275 www.dubarryboots.com

06.

Joules Rutland Padded Gilet, Marine Navy £69.95 John Lewis

07.

Portal Jacket £219 Barbour

04.

05.

06. 07. 51

| JANUARY 2017

making a SPLASH A new sophisticated seafood and grill restaurant is going down well in Wells where both the menu and the view benefit from its pretty quayside location. Carolyn Atkins and her family push the boat out...

Photographs: VisitNorthNorfolk, Chris Betts and Miles Atkins.

stylish new restaurant has opened in Wells

with the emphasis firmly on seafood. Season, on the town’s attractive quayside, is owned by the Platten family, who also own the upmarket fish and chip shop next door and the gift shop on the other side. Season is their new venture and opened its doors in the run-up to Christmas, with the first (fully-booked) evening on Thursday, December 8. Clearly a great deal of thought has gone into the new venture, which looks out over the harbour and which has been decorated in a nautical manner without going overboard. Seaside resorts are usually awash with nautical-themed eateries, but considerable care and consideration have been taken at Season where subtlety is definitely the key. The restaurant has been tastefully decorated, with plenty of wood, including attractive, hand-made wood panelling up to dado rail height around the room, with white walls beyond. The exposed brickwork, brass, porthole-style mirrors, and rope-edged candle holders, for example, all hint at the sea, while the little glass vases with red, yellow and orange gerberas add splashes of colour. There’s a wooden ship’s steering wheel behind the glass panel that separates the restaurant from the restroom, and an attractive, hand-made, wooden, rope and anchor-like division between the lower and upper areas. Many of the items that have been used to create this sophisticated space are on sale in the gift shop next door. Season is run by Rachael and Jeremy Parke, who many customers will know from their successful former restaurant Relish in Newton Flotman.

FOOD & DRINK

season

They are clearly a friendly and professional duo, with Rachael giving us a genuine, warm welcome and helping us with the menu, demonstrating her in-depth knowledge, while Jeremy and his kitchen team turned out some beautifully-presented plates of food. Plenty of thought has gone into the menu, too, and customers can choose from Brancaster oysters, local mussels supplied by A&M Frary, a sandwich and light lunch menu, and a range of interesting starters, fish, grill and vegetarian dishes as well as some delicious desserts. The provenance of the dishes is provided and there’s a surfeit of local suppliers. The same principle has been applied to the drinks menu, which runs to several pages, and which includes cocktails, a local beer, lager and cider selection, spirits, liqueurs, bubbles, white, rosé and red wine, sweet wines, port and a range of soft drinks. Before our chosen dishes arrived, we were given a complimentary amuse bouche of piping hot leek and potato soup, which was presented in pretty pottery pots; it was refreshing to see something a little different rather than the usual sea of white crockery. We visited during the restaurant’s first Sunday lunch service with our son, James, who’s nine, who very much enjoyed being a restaurant critic. He chose BBQ marinated chicken wings and red slaw (£6) to begin with and, ditching his cutlery, got stuck into his starter, clearly enjoying the sweet, sticky sauce. He passed his red slaw on for us to try – a tasty mixture of red cabbage, red onion, red pepper and carrot – before tucking into his local ale battered fish and handcut chips (£15 for an adult portion) declaring the hot, salty chips 10 out of 10! My husband Miles chose warm partridge salad, black pudding, caramelised shallots and poached hen’s egg (£7), followed by chargrilled pork T bone marinated with lemon, rosemary and

garlic and served with hand-cut chips and onion rings (£18), and rated them both very highly, too. Meanwhile I had the deliciously fragrant smoked haddock risotto with cream cheese and chives (£7) to start followed by the intriguing-sounding shellfish en papillotte (£18), something I’ve never had before. Restaurants have to try hard to offer something different these days and it’s always great to provide a bit of theatre. The shellfish en papillotte is a real talking point, with the seafood – mussels, prawns and clams - arriving at the table wrapped in a swathe of paper tied together with rope-like string. Once opened, the steam cleared to reveal the shellfish, cooked with fennel, ginger, star anise, lemongrass, garlic, coconut milk and potatoes; a delicately-flavoured dish with a subtle aniseed kick which is no doubt as good for you as it is delicious. There were several other tables of diners and clearly lots of additional interest in the new venture from locals and visitors alike, with lots of people stopping to read the menu outside, pressing their noses up against the glass to take a look inside, and popping in for a business card. Phil Platten, the owner, also popped in to have a chat with us and told us about his future plans. At the moment Season is situated at street level, looking out over the quay, but next year Phil and his family plan to continue the restaurant upstairs by installing two staircases, one inside the current restaurant and another outside, both of which will access the first floor, with views overlooking the harbour. The outside stairs will also provide access to new holiday apartments located on the second floor. The current 30-something cover restaurant will then more than double in size and diners will also be able to enjoy a drink downstairs before moving upstairs to the restaurant proper. In the meantime, this lovely-looking place is already ready for the better weather, with bi-fold windows that can open right back when the sunny, summer days return. We thoroughly enjoyed our food and also enjoyed chatting to Phil, whose family has been in Wells-next-the-Sea for generations and who is clearly very passionate about this award-winning seaside town. Along with all sorts of items for the home, his gift shop next door sells buckets and lines for crabbing on the quay, while Platten’s Fish & Chip Bar has been serving fish and chips for several decades. Phil told us that he already owns three holiday apartments and, given how tastefully his new restaurant, Season, is presented, no doubt they’re fabulously appointed, too. But back to our meal, where Miles was clearly enjoying his main course, while we both also raided some of James’s extremely fresh fish and chips, as it was important to give everything a try! When we visited, there wasn’t a dedicated children’s menu, just smaller versions of every dish, and Rachael said that they were very happy to alter the ingredients and to take out any of the things that didn’t appeal to James. It was very early days when we visited, however, and so a children’s menu may well be introduced in the future, along with a daily specials board which Phil mentioned is also in the pipeline (with the shellfish boats coming right into the quay, this is a great idea, as that way the kitchen can use whichever ingredients are readily available). To be honest, we couldn’t fault our visit and are looking forward to returning again when time allows. From the cheery greeting when we arrived to the delicious desserts (such as baked chocolate mousse, honeycomb and honeycomb ice cream; and the baked custard tart, poached pear and vanilla ice cream (£7.50 each)), it was a thoroughly pleasant experience and Season definitely deserves to do well, whatever the time of year.

SEASON Seafood & Grill The Quay, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1AH Tel: 01328 807034 | Email: info@seasoninwells.co.uk www.seasoninwells.co.uk

A TA S TE OF NO R F O LK 7 courses dedicated to Norfolk’s seasonality January offer - £40 per person Monday to Thursday only, reservation required quote ‘January A Taste of Norfolk’

01508 492497

www.thewildebeest.co.uk

info@thewildebeest.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

franck pontais Let our French chef

Photography by ANDREW FLORIDES, www.andrewflorides.co.uk

Franck Pontais cook for your private dinner parties, and for those who really enjoy cooking, he also offers master classes, for all abilities, in your own home. More information is available at www.franckpontais.com

INGREDIENTS

MAKES APPROXIMATELY 10 SHOTS

• 4 punnets fresh wheatgrass • 60g fresh ginger (peeled) • 600ml orange or apple juice • Two fresh passion fruit

DEliCiouS&NuTRItIoUs WHEAT GRASS AND FRESH GINGER SHOT Get the new year off to a great start with a January detox thanks to this healthy recipe from our French chef Franck Pontais

METHOD 1. Roughly dice the fresh ginger. 2. Chop the wheat grass and place it in a high speed blender (such as NutriBullet, for example). 3. Add the fresh ginger to the wheatgrass and add 200ml of apple of orange juice, depending on your taste. 4. Blitz until the grass is completely broken down and then pass the juice through a sieve. 5. Add the rest of the juice to the mix; you could drink this straight away or freeze it into small cubes for future use. 6. If frozen, place the wheatgrass cubes into a glass, add some fresh passion fruit on top and serve.

WHAT IS WHEATGRASS? Wheatgrass is a food prepared from the embryo of the common wheat plant, triticum aestivum (subspecies of the Poaceae family) and is sold either as a juice or powder concentrate. Wheatgrass differs from wheat malt in that it is served freeze-dried or fresh, while wheat

malt is dried convectively. Wheatgrass is allowed to grow longer than malt and, like most plants, it contains chlorophyll, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and enzymes. The health benefits of wheatgrass range from providing supplemental nutrition to unique curative properties.

WHERE TO BUY IT? You can ask your greengrocer to get it for you or you can find various online shops who will deliver in the UK, such as www.wheatgrass-uk.com

| JANUARY 2017

y H T S l a TaR E H T

Richard Bainbridge is the chef proprietor of Benedicts Restaurant in Norwich www.restaurantbenedicts.com info@restaurantbenedicts.com or call 01603 926080.

Begin the year as you mean to go on advises talented Norwich chef

Richard Bainbridge from Benedicts Restaurant

FOOD & DRINK

richard bainbridge

PURPLE SPROUTING BROCCOLI, BEETROOT, QUINOA anD SOYA SALaD Now that Christmas is all said and done, the belt buckle has been loosened and your fridge has started to clear after a month of pure indulgence, from office parties to get-togethers with family and friends, it’s time to give your body a little rest for a week or two, before you find another reason to treat yourself! But to help fill the gap, this is a great, healthy, little salad to have at any time of the day, hot for dinner or cold for lunch the next day. Katja, my wife, makes this for me when I’ve overindulged and she starts asking me if I have turned into a hamster, storing food for the long winter ahead! This is a healthy fix that’s quick, simple and super tasty, hot or cold.

INGREDIENTS

SERVES 4

· 12 to 16 stems of purple

· 1 tbsp sesame seeds,

· 4 large beetroot, washed

· Juice and zest of a lime

· 2 oranges, cut into

· 2 tbsps soya sauce

sprouting broccoli

segments

· 100g quinoa · Handful of pine nuts

lightly toasted

· Splash of good rapeseed or olive oil

METHOD Place a large pot of salted water on top of the stove and bring it to the boil over a high heat. Once boiling, wash your broccoli in cold, clean water (do not trim the stems as that is where all the flavour is) then place it into the water and boil for two to four minutes until slightly tender. Then remove the broccoli from the water and place it into a bowl of cold, iced water. This way it can be stored for a day in the fridge until you are ready or you can just make enough for a couple of dinners. Now for the quinoa: Rinse the quinoa under cold, running water to remove its bitter flavour. Tip it into a pan and add double the amount of salted water. Place the pan over a medium heat and bring the quinoa to the boil, then reduce to a simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until tender and the liquid is absorbed. Then take the quinoa off the heat, fluff it up with a fork and allow to cool. Season with sea salt and white pepper to taste. Place the beetroot into a large pot of cold water and add a pinch of sea salt and some herbs such as thyme, sage and rosemary. Place it on a high heat and bring it to the boil; once boiling, turn down to a simmer and cook until

the beetroot is just cooked (you should be able to put a knife into it easily). Remove the beetroot from the heat and run it under cold water until cold. Next, strain the beetroot and rub it in-between your hands and the skin will just fall off. Then cut the beetroot into any size you like and place it into a bowl ready for later. In another bowl, place the orange segments, lime juice, soya sauce, sesame seeds, pine nuts and oil. Mix well and taste, then add a little salt and white pepper to taste. Next, pre-heat your oven to 1600C. Toss the broccoli in the dressing, place it on a baking tray and put this in the oven. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes until hot all the way through, remove from the oven and toss the beetroot through the mix, too. Then on a large serving plate, spoon the quinoa into the middle of the plate and lay the broccoli on top. Then pour the rest of the dressing over and finish with the grated lime zest. Serve with a few fresh, chopped herbs and salad leaves Bring on 2017 and our New Year’s resolutions of healthy eating and fitness regimes that we won’t keep! 57

ligHt biTEs

From cookery demonstrations to special offers, there are plenty of food and drinkrelated activities on the menu this month

in the nick of time

TV star Nick Knowles will be at Jarrolds in Norwich on Thursday, January 19 to promote his first cookery book. Join him at 6.30pm in The Pantry Restaurant on the third floor, with tickets £7 including a glass of wine on arrival and £5 off the book on the night. The popular presenter’s new book is called Proper Healthy Food and is billed as: “Hearty vegan and vegetarian recipes for meat lovers.” On the book’s cover, Nick says: “I’m happier, healthier and fitter than ever – no rabbit food, guaranteed!” Best-known for building homes on DIY SOS, or testing general knowledge on Who Dares Wins, Nick Knowles has now turned his hand to nutrition and wellbeing following his life-changing BBC2 series The Retreat. Back in 2015, Nick was feeling unhealthy, out of shape and on the verge of burning out. Determined to change his lifestyle, he travelled to Thailand with a camera crew and fellow DIY SOS stars Billy Byrne and Julian Perryman for a detox, involving a week-long fast followed by a purely vegan diet. The results? He lost nine kilos in three weeks, his cholesterol fell by a third and his blood pressure dropped to a healthy level. A year on, Nick eats a predominantly vegan or vegetarian diet (with the odd day off) and professes to be slimmer, healthier and fitter than ever. Now his mission is to help everyone else discover the joy in a meat-free meal, without having to give up a Sunday roast at the in-laws or a bacon buttie at the footie! Nick said: “I’m 6’2” and 16 stone: I’m a big unit. I need hearty meals, not thin, weedy plates and I often work outside in cold and wet conditions – a salad won’t cut it – so here’s a vegan and vegetarian cookbook for meat-eaters full of hearty, filling, healthy recipes. Why feel bad about the cake you have with your coffee at elevenses when you can have a healthy, raw chocolate cake? Why skimp in winter when you can have a thick, hearty chestnut and vegetable stew and dumplings? And if I can do it, then you can do it.” The Retreat, which saw Nick attend a 28-day Thailand retreat, aired on BBC2 last September. This time in Thailand marked a turning point for Nick and as well as publishing Proper Healthy Food, he is now a co-owner of a vegetarian restaurant in Shropshire. For more on An Evening with Nick Knowles at Jarrolds, call: 01603 660661 or visit: www.jarrold.co.uk

LEE BYE GETS ACORN ACCOLADE Congratulations to Lee Bye, head chef at Tuddenham Mill hotel and restaurant in Suffolk, who has been announced as the Acorn Scholarship 2017 winner. Last year Lee was one of 30 rising stars in the UK’s hospitality sector to win the prestigious Acorn Award, which is presented by The Caterer, the hospitality industry’s well-known trade magazine. Now in its 15th year, the Acorn Scholarship is an independent award created by a number of previous winners of the Acorn Awards which enables ambitious individuals in hospitality to share their ideas with a panel of experienced professionals in the industry. The judges were impressed by Lee’s vision to inspire and help young chefs thrive and enjoy their careers by achieving a work-life balance. Lee said: “This is a great chance for me to be mentored by some of the industry’s greatest brains to ensure I deliver my vision. I am hoping 2017 will see this project come to life and make an impact on young chefs’ careers in the UK.” Tuddenham Mill is a beautifully restored historic water mill situated in-between Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds. Find out more at: www.tuddenhammill.co.uk FEED THE BIRDS! Don’t forget to feed our feathered friends this month! The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch is back for 2017 and will take place from Saturday, January 28 to Monday, January 30, when you’re asked to count the wildlife that’s counting on you! To find out more about the world’s largest wildlife survey and how you can help, and to register for your free pack, go to: www.rspb.org.uk

LIGHT BITES

january

25 REASONS TO CELEBRATE The Library Restaurant in Norwich is celebrating its silver anniversary with 25 per cent off all food for the first 25 days of this month. Turn to page 67 to find out more about this stylish, central city eaterie and about owners Jayne and Nigel Raffles’ 25 years in the restaurant business. More at: www.thelibraryrestaurant.com STAR BAKER AT NEW NORWICH COOKERY SCHOOL Norfolk’s very own Great British Bake Off 2016 contestant will be making a series of special guest appearances this year at Richard Hughes’ stylish new Cookery School at The Assembly House in Norwich. Hands-On with Kate Barmby is a series of themed morning bakery classes, followed by The Assembly House’s famous afternoon tea, which will focus on cakes, biscuits, bread, pastry and desserts. Priced at £150 per person per class; more info at: www.richardhughescookeryschool.co.uk HIGH FIVE FOR NEW BROCHURE A brand new brochure has been produced for the Rooftop Gardens on Rose Lane in Norwich. This attractive place, on the top of The Union Building, has wonderful views over the city, a smart indoor restaurant and two outdoor, heated dining terraces and makes a wonderful base for a wedding or other fabulous, food-based function. Pop in for a drink or two and pick up a brochure while you’re there. Call 01603 733044 or find out more at: www.rooftopgardens.co.uk.

‘TIS STILL THE SEASON Season, the stylish new seafood and grill restaurant on the quayside in Wells, is offering a complimentary glass of prosecco per guest on arrival to all those making dinner reservations in January quoting: “Wells Christmas Tide”. Find out more about this new venture on pages 52 and 53 and reserve your tables on 01328 807034. More at: www.seasoninwells.co.uk SNAPPED SHUT Sadly Just Lobsters in Norwich has closed its doors for the final time after the company behind the restaurant went into liquidation. This seafood eaterie, housed in the former Sampson & Hercules building, was known for its seafood dishes, as well as for the famous, lobster-coloured statues outside. It’s also goodbye from Norwich nightclub Chicago’s which closes its doors for a final time on New Year’s Eve.

the gingerbread girl January is a great time of year to curl up with a good book. Take a look at The Gingerbread Girl by best-selling Suffolk author Sheila Newberry: this heart-warming, nostalgic new paperback novel tells the story of Cora Kelly and her life growing up in the beautiful English countryside in Norfolk. She lives a happy and simple life till the start of the Second World War, when her past comes knocking and changes everything forever… The Gingerbread Girl is published by Zaffre at £6.99.

SHAKEN NOT STIRRED We’re looking forward to trying out the new Whisky & Rum Room at Bond No.28 Tombland in the heart of Norwich’s hospitality district. This sophisticated, late-night bar serves premium whisky and rum from all over the world and sounds like a great way to warm up on a cold January evening. More at: www.bondnorwich.co.uk

g n i o G

bANaNAS! Simon Wainwright, executive head chef of

The Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth, makes the most of this versatile fruit, with four different banana desserts in one dish

Wine Notes NICK MOBBS, director and wine expert at The Imperial Hotel, says:

2009 Chateau Loupiac Gaudiet

This wonderful wine from Bordeaux works really well with the flavours in the banana quartet which needs a wine which is sweet, delicate and has an acidity ratio that is similar to the fruit.

Loupiac Gaudiet comes from the Bordeaux region in the South of France and is made from three grape types: the Sauvignon Blanc normally associated with the Loire Valley and Marlborough in New Zealand. The second grape type is the Semillon which has not had the international following that Sauvignon Blanc has had and on its own makes dry, floral aromatic wines which always remind me of elderflower. And finally a small amount of Muscadelle. The vineyard surrounds the Château facing southward, on the hills that overlook the river Garonne. The average age of the vines is 47 years and the vineyard is 28 hectares in size on clay and limestone soil.

The wine is made with the classic method of allowing the grapes to be attacked by noble rot which reduces the water content of the fruit, thereby increasing the sugar content of the grape. The grapes are hand-harvested with several passes through the vineyards over a number of days to ensure that only grapes which have been attacked by the noble rot are harvested and vinified.

The grapes are fermented in stainless steel and the fermentation stops when the wine reaches about 14 per cent; this leaves residual sugar in the wine which gives it its sweetness. A straw-coloured wine with pronounced notes of citrus and honey, plus aromas of peaches with possibly just a hint of marmalade, it has a good acidity ratio with a wonderful long finish and works perfectly with this dessert.

• A team of brilliant chefs • Superb wine list • Laid-back atmosphere The perfect restaurant for dinner or Sunday lunch. At the Imperial Hotel, North Drive, Gt Yarmouth, NR30 1EQ. To book call 01493 842000

www.cafecru.co.uk

Sunday 12.30 - 2pm Monday - Saturday 6.30 - 10pm The Terrace is open daily. For opening times & menu go to imperialhotel.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

BANANA QUARTET SIMON WAINWRIGHT, executive head chef of the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth

METHOD For the marshmallow: Take a small, thick-bottomed saucepan and add the sugar and water together. Stir to make sure it’s all incorporated and place on a medium heat. Place the gelatine in some cold water to make it soft and pliable. Add the banana purée and spices to a saucepan. Take the water and sugar mixture to a temperature of 125˚C, checking with a temperature probe or sugar thermometer. As soon as it reaches this temperature, take the pan off the heat. Start whisking the egg whites with an electric whisk or small food mixer and when they reach a soft peak very slowly start to add the hot sugar, whisking at every moment. The mixture should start to turn smooth and glossy; once you have added all the sugar, whisk until cold. Warm the banana purée and spices till simmering point and add the drained, softened gelatine to this then whisk until smooth off the heat (there should be no gelatine in sight). Fold this through your egg white and sugar mixture, pour into a tray that has been lined with cling film and smooth over. Refrigerate for four hours or until set hard. Once it is set, turn the marshmallow out from the tin, cut it into one-inch cubes and coat the cubes in coconut. For the banana ice cream: Peel the bananas, chop them into ten pieces and freeze them. Once they have frozen, transfer them to a food processor with the vanilla essence and the honey. Purée until smooth and then slowly add the Greek yoghurt. Return the banana mixture to a freezer-proof container and put this in the freezer. The banana ice cream will keep for a couple days.

INGREDIENTS

SERVES 4

Banana Ice Cream • 2 ripe bananas • ½ cup vanilla essence • 4 tbsps honey • 150g Greek yoghurt

Raspberry Coulis • 100g fresh raspberries • 50g icing sugar

Banana Shortbread • 1 cup plain flour • Pinch salt • 4oz butter • ¼ icing sugar • ½ tsp vanilla essence • ½ cup mashed banana • ½ tsp cinnamon

Tempura Batter • ¾ cup cornflour • 3 cups plain flour • 2 tsps baking powder • 1 tsp salt (use three parts base to one part carbonated water)

imperial hotel

For the shortbread: Place the plain flour, salt, icing sugar, vanilla essence and cinnamon in a bowl, add the soft butter and the banana and then mix until the pastry forms a ball. Rest the mixture for ten minutes in the fridge. Then roll this out in-between two sheets of baking paper to 1cm thick. Bake the shortbread at 160˚C for 20 minutes until light golden brown in colour. Let it cool and then make it into a fine crumb. For the tempura batter: Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl. To make the batter, take three parts of the base flour mixture and mix thoroughly with one part carbonated water. Mix well. For the raspberry coulis: Place the raspberries and sugar in a food processor and purée, then reserve the mixture in a bowl. To finish: Take your bananas and cut them into four. Either use a deep fat fryer or take the temperature to 110˚C or put one pint of vegetable oil in a deep pan and take it to that temperature, being sure to check with a temperature thermometer. Coat your bananas in plain flour and then dip them into the tempura batter before placing them carefully into the fryer. They will need to cook for three to four minutes until golden brown on all sides. Lift them out of the fryer and let them drain on a wire rack. Place four to six pieces of marshmallow at 12, 3, 5 and 7 o’clock on the plate and then place a neat mound of the banana shortbread crumb in the centre of these. Next, place four spoons of raspberry coulis around this, dredge the banana fritters in cinnamon sugar and then place these on top. Then enjoy!

Cinnamon sugar • 50g caster sugar • 1 tbsp cinnamon Other ingredients • 500ml vegetable oil or a deep fat fryer • 4 bananas • 100g plain flour

Banana Marshmallow • 500g sugar • 130ml water • 1½ egg whites (around 60g) • 130g banana purée • 1½g mixed spice • 1g cinnamon • 18g gelatine • 50g desiccated coconut

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FOOD & DRINK

cocktail of the month

LATE TRIPLE CHOOCCOKTAIL C MILKSHAKErhou se ‘Boozy Shakes’

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Combine well, add squirty cream and then crumble a brownie on top. Serve immediately.

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Mains Individual Beef Wellington – Fillet of Beef covered with homemade Mushroom and Chicken Liver Pate wrapped

honey baked carrots and spiced red cabbage Pork Fillet cooked in a tarragon and sun blushed tomato cream served with a fondant potato and seasonal vegetables Vegetarian Mushroom and Italian vegetable Wellington served with buttered new potatoes and vegetables

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ADVERTORIAL

the library restaurant

SILVER SERVICE

The Library Restaurant in Norwich is celebrating a significant milestone this month, with 25 per cent off all food for 25 days to celebrate 25 years in business

– THE LIBRARY RESTAURANT, 4a Guildhall Hill, Norwich NR2 1JH | 01603 616606

January is a very special month for Jayne and Nigel Raffles who have been running restaurants in Norwich for 25 years. They will be raising a glass to celebrate this significant silver anniversary and are including their customers in the celebrations, by offering 25 per cent off all food on The Library’s menu for the first 25 days. From the humble beginnings of St Benedict’s Grill (later St Benedict’s Restaurant) and neighbouring Pinocchio’s on St Benedicts Street to the popular Pulse vegetarian café bar, their final jewel in the crown is The Library Restaurant on Guildhall Hill in the centre of the city which has certainly benefitted from this business duo. Commenting on the special anniversary, Nigel Raffles said: “It is a long time in a competitive and always changing, fastpaced industry. When the restaurant in St Benedict’s first opened you could

even smoke whilst others were eating. Luckily now the only smoke you can smell is from the wood grill at The Library.” Times are constantly changing and this attractive, independent restaurant is always trying to stay one step ahead, with the team flexible enough to accommodate local events. Jayne and Nigel pride themselves on working with many local companies and individuals, from food and drink suppliers to students at City College, Norwich. They also work closely with fellow businesses in The Lanes and the corporate market as well as holding specialist hobby evenings, murder parties and numerous private functions. This year will see some new events such as Paint and Pinot, visiting wine producer evenings, and quarterly cookery demonstrations, with Nigel sharing his talent at the stove. Their customers are loyal, regular and big supporters of the Raffles’ team. After 25 years, this appreciative clientèle has developed favourite dishes and strong preferences. Chef Nigel is always keen to listen to feedback, new requests and suggestions, and is mindful to maintain an affordable and interesting menu. Just last month regular diners asked for something to be re-instated on the menu – and so the owners are pleased to announce that the Asian Beef is back by popular demand! Today The Library Restaurant is Jayne and Nigel’s sole venture, which means they can concentrate on getting the details just right. The restaurant is both wheelchair and buggy friendly and has plenty of space around each table to allow people privacy to chat. It also boasts two appealing private meeting rooms that can be used for training purposes, meetings or evening meals. The Library building is steeped in history. It dates back to 1784 and was the first public subscription library in Norfolk, which Jayne and Nigel have renovated with care, maintaining many of the original features. For example there is always a wealth of books on the shelves, so that customers can chat about them during their visit! Jayne has thoroughly enjoyed her time in the hospitality business and is still very enthusiastic, coming up with new ideas all the time. She confided: “On a personal note, being married to a chef and business partner certainly leads to an interesting challenge; the phrase ‘never a dull moment’ springs to mind. As the New Year begins we look forward to more years of trading in this beautiful city of Norwich which is very much our home.” To ensure that 2017 starts with a bang, don’t forget to take up the special silver anniversary offer at The Library Restaurant: 25 per cent off all food for 25 days to celebrate 25 years in business. For more details, visit www. thelibraryrestaurant.co.uk and keep in touch on social media too. 67

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| JANUARY 2017

head to

HULL! Mark Nicholls discovers the famous sights and characters of the 2017 UK City of Culture

TRAVEL

hull, city of culture 2017

illiam Wilberforce, Mick Ronson, Amy Johnson and Maureen Lipman may seem an odd group of individuals. But wander around Hull’s indoor market and you’ll stumble across framed pen-pics of the anti-slavery campaigner, David Bowie’s renowned guitarist, a record-breaking female aviator and comic actress among several other well-known faces. They are among the many famous sons and daughters of Hull and an integral part of its rich creativity and history, which is being celebrated as the UK City of Culture 2017. As you make your way around this port city, you will discover references to them such as at the Wilberforce House Museum or giant moths on walls symbolising Amy Johnson’s life through her connection with the Gipsy Moth aircraft in which she flew. Hull’s picturesque Old Town, its museums, galleries, bars and restaurants as well as numerous historical sights - along with those of nearby Beverley and other parts of East Yorkshire - will be the key elements of the 2017 City of Culture activities. We journeyed to the Yorkshire town last summer, crossing the mighty Humber Bridge, to find out what Kingston-upon-Hull – to give the city its full and proper title – offers the visitor and were pleasantly surprised by the diversity of attractions. From free museums and galleries open seven days a week to a rejuvenated marina and waterfront, Hull is an appealing destination for a short break. With origins in the late 12th century when monks established a port at the juncture of the River Hull and the River Humber, it was named Kings-town by King Edward I in 1299 and became Kingston-upon-Hull, but is now more commonly abbreviated to Hull. The location of an early confrontation in the English Civil War, and probably the most bombed city in the UK during World War Two because of its docks and proximity to the coast some 22 miles along the Humber from the North Sea, Hull has certainly had an eventful past. The city is also unique in the UK in having had a municipally-owned telephone system from 1902, hence the number of cream rather than red telephone boxes at strategic locations. With a reputation as a fishing port and a commercial dock, marine interests form an important part of its history and are recorded in the Maritime Museum in the old Dock Offices.

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Extensive pedestrianised areas mean it is a perfect location to explore on foot, and that’s just what we did with city guide Paul Schofield. Walking around Hull, with so many fine pubs, there’s an ale trail to follow and also a “fish trail” with varies species implanted in stone into the paving. “The designer also had a sense of humour,” explained Paul. “There’s an electric eel outside the electricity sub-station, herrings on red bricks and a shark outside the bank.” The giant moths which celebrate the life and legacy of one of the world’s most famous aviators also form another trail. A two-month-long Amy Johnson Festival to mark the 75th anniversary of the death of the first woman to fly the 11,000 miles from Britain to Australia solo was held throughout the summer. But the 59 multi-coloured moths inspired by her Gipsy Moth aircraft and installed on buildings, walls and plinths across the city will remain in place until the end of March. Our wanderings took us along Dagger Lane – once a volatile street leading to the dockside - and Princes Street in Hull Old Town, through Zebedee’s Yard and into Trinity Square based around the Church of the Holy Trinity and close to the old grammar school where Wilberforce was educated. The Indoor Market, with individual stalls and Spin It Records with the pen-pics of the famous, leads into Hepworth’s Arcade with its traditional shops such as Dinsdale’s Jokes and Tricks and Beasby’s Hats. You can wander along a street named ‘Land of Green Ginger’ or try to find the smallest window in Britain – a wafer-thin glass slit between stonework at The George Hotel where boys would peer out to call out the arrival of stage coaches. The High Street has many popular pubs such as Ye Olde

Mark Nicholls stayed at the Holiday Inn Marina, Castle Street, Hull, HU1 2BX. For details call 0871 942 9043 or visit www.hihullmarinahotel.co.uk For more information about Hull, the City of Culture 2017, visit www.visithullandeastyorkshire.com and www.hull2017.co.uk

TRAVEL

hull, city of culture 2017

Black Boy, Sailmakers and the Lion & Key but also hosts the museums quarter which includes the Wilberforce House Museum and tells the story of arguably the most famous of Hull’s citizens, the 18th-century Member of Parliament, William Wilberforce, who played a key role in the abolition of the slave trade in Britain. There is also the Streetlife Museum with old cars, trams, trains and buses, and the Hull & East Riding Museum with an array of artefacts and stunning Roman mosaics. One of the highlights and landmarks of Hull is The Deep, an award-winning aquarium and marine life centre which brings the story of the oceans to life in a futuristic and innovative building with exhibits, interactive displays and presentations. A mere 20 minutes away from Hull by train is Beverley, a beautiful small town with Saturday and Wednesday market places and its two landmark churches. Beverley Minster is vast, larger than some British cathedrals, and is home to the remains of Saint John of Beverley, while St Mary’s Church, half a mile away and founded in 1120, is regarded as one of the finest parish churches in England. The town is a delight to explore and savour the ambience of the Georgian architecture and independent shops, with plenty of restaurants and cafés to pause for a drink or lunch. With a series of events and activities planned throughout this coming year, Hull is set to offer an appealing new perspective on its history and attractions as the 2017 City of Culture.

| JANUARY 2017

Heaven on Earth St Francis Health Centre in South Africa is good for the body, mind and soul, as Kate Cleaver discovers

here in the world can you go to a spa where they believe in angels? And where they teach you that the opposite of love is not hate, but fear? Imagine a place, where under the ordinary title of ‘Health Centre’ the staff all wear pink and dish out unconditional love, 24 hours a day. I went all the way to the East Cape in South Africa to find it, and I wasn’t disappointed. St Francis Health Centre is a cross between a spiritual retreat and a spa. It delivers an extremely careful detox resulting in effective weight loss, but it is the way they manage their unique combination of the practical and the utterly magical which gave me an unforgettable week and had me coming home lighter in body and spirit. The centre is down a rough farm road, in the beautiful Kleinemonde Valley, abound with indigenous bush and amazing birdlife. This tranquil setting is part of the idea, firmly held at St Francis, that nature brings healing in itself. It’s not just the pretty location or the treatments from skilled therapists that draw local and international guests; the magic ingredient that accounts for the soul and success of St Francis was and is its founder, Anneliese Cowley, who combined experience, knowledge, dedication and intuition in a powerful cocktail that impacts profoundly on all who find themselves in her care. Despite having lost their leader, who died in November last year, her philosophy informs every aspect of the centre’s programme. It is based on stillness and simplicity which were borne of her faith and which were deeply rooted in a divinity she saw reflected in every client. She called her guests “angels”, and took a personal interest in helping each of them resolve health issues and regain balance. Born in Austria, in 1968 she went to a mission hospital in Lesotho in South Africa and then to South America, where she built five clinics in an isolated area of the Andes. In both places she trained nurses, saw up to 110 patients a day, lectured and raised funds tirelessly for desperately-needed facilities. She returned to Lesotho, married in 1975 (her husband was a building engineer working on the construction of the university) and moved with him to the Cape in 1991, opening the doors of St Francis the following year. 74

According to the staff and clients I spoke to, Mrs Cowley was as serene and radiant as someone who has just experienced a miracle, and undoubtedly on the side of the angels. She had exquisite eyes, a sweet smile and an enormous, positive presence that could not be ignored. Over the years she augmented her nursing background with kinesiology, homeopathy, herbalism, acupuncture, shiatsu massage and energy work. Blessed with exceptional intuitive ability, she gradually learned to trust her instincts about her patients’ conditions. “I respect and love each individual who comes to St Francis”, she is quoted as saying: “because I believe that they have been guided here.” She taught Dr Hanli Rautenbach who is now the leading homeopath who has taken over much of her role. In my first consultation I was amazed to see her right hand rotating like a pendulum in response to her silent questions, because I hadn’t experienced energy healing before. But however surprising it was, I did not doubt the integrity of her diagnosis or the value of her intuition, which was immediate and completely accurate about my personal physical and mental state. She quickly diagnosed a sluggish digestive system, exhausted body and just good old-fashioned “nerves”. If all this sounds a little extraordinary, it is because it was! An oldfashioned approach to healing which for someone like me, coming from a practical UK, was fascinating, very different and refreshing.

TRAVEL

st francis health centre

The emphasis at St Francis is on inner balance and a longterm change in lifestyle, rather than on outward beautification and short-term results. The way the airy, L-shaped building is constructed reflects this simplicity. The bedrooms are immaculate and comfortable, but this is not a glamorous spa. The team at St Francis believes that the six-day detoxification programme triggers a mysterious internal healing process that needs to be allowed and not interrupted by the intellect. “To connect with your truth, be still. Silence is the highest form of grace. It contains all knowledge, all eternity. We are human beings, not human ‘doings’. Once we stop collecting knowledge, wisdom can come through.” The wisdom of this became clear through the week as I experienced my first attempt at meditation, in their custom-built, peaceful, circular room. There is no Wi-Fi so for a week I was completely divorced from screens, particularly the little one on my iPhone. The approach to nutrition at St Francis is to give the body a rest and feed it easily digestible food so it can detoxify and start producing the right enzymes for a proper digestion and the absorption of all nutrients. So the liquid diet relies on hot water and lemon juice, herbal teas and broth. The goal of the programme is to bring back that high energy feeling of well-being and the balance of body, mind and soul. The treatments themselves are generous within the price. Every day I had an hour’s full body massage, to get the lymph system moving. This was generally followed by ten minutes of infra-red sauna. The method of inducing sweating to increase health and relief from disease is thousands of years old. It provides relief from pain, helps with arthritis and other muscular skeletal problems, stimulates the immune system, improves skin tone and conditions such as eczema, increases blood circulation, clears cellulite and accelerates weight loss. A glorious massage with aromatherapy was included. The oils chosen for me were: geranium which has a tonic effect on the liver and kidneys, is an anti-depressant and stimulates the lymphatic system, and fennel which helps the digestive system, boosting your metabolism while suppressing the appetite. It was heaven.

Each day saw us donning swimming caps and doing a very thorough hour’s exercise in the heated, indoor pool, accompanied by baroque music, mostly by Bach, and with the glorious sight of the wooded valley through huge glass windows. By Friday I had lost nearly 5kg and my skin was tauter and clearer than it had been for years. The lessons I learnt have stuck and now home, I am avoiding coffee, yeast and alcohol. The funny thing is that I don’t miss them a jot! FACT FILE The St Francis Health Centre is 13km from Port Alfred, a seaside resort and residential town along the Sunshine Coast. It is on the east and west banks of the Kowie River, exactly halfway on the R72 coastal road between Port Elizabeth and East London, 150km from each city and 58km south of Grahamstown on the R67. Visitors can fly in via either East London or Port Elizabeth airports. The recommended minimum stay is six days, beginning on a Sunday afternoon, with arrival between 3pm and 5pm, and ending on a Saturday after lunch (lunch travel packs are happily provided). However, a much deeper healing, cleansing and de-stressing effect is achieved in the 10-day or two-week stay starting on Sundays or Wednesdays. The daily treatments include one therapy (massage, aromatherapy or reflexology), one aqua aerobics class and a steam bath. There are ample walking trails, but no gymnasium. The Centre follows a vegetarian detoxification diet, with only liquids on the first day. Hydrotherapies include steam baths, jet baths, sitz baths, a flotation tank, a heated indoor pool (where aqua aerobics is offered) and a lovely outdoor pool. The complementary therapies include energy, massage and Moor therapies, shiatsu, reiki, acupuncture, specialised kinesiology, and polarity therapy and colon hydrotherapy. For pricing and contact details: Tel: +27 (0)46 625 0927 Email: naturecure@imaginet.co.za Website: www.stfrancishealthcentre.co.za Follow Kate Cleaver: @cleaverkate1 75

| JANUARY 2017

Forward Thinking Plans are in place at The White Hart in Hingham to take this popular pub to the next level, with five beautiful bedrooms set to open this spring

here are plenty of plans in the pipeline at The White Hart in Hingham, with five luxurious bedrooms set to open a little later this year. This popular community pub is already wellknown for its friendly, warm welcome and fabulous food, and no doubt the brand new bedrooms will be the icing on the cake. The White Hart is a fascinating building that dates back to 1453 and the five new upstairs rooms will include a host of interesting features such as old beams and wattle and daub. Co-owner Katie Pamplin said: “We are trying to do the renovation very thoughtfully and to include as many original features as possible.” The building work is well underway and where natural features have been uncovered, these are being used as actual features in the new rooms too. Katie explains: “In one of the rooms, we have taken away the low ceiling and uncovered a wide, high-pitched, oak-beamed roof. Different eras have seen different trends and all have left their distinctive marks on the building. We got a sandblaster and blasted the wood and walls and we’ve uncovered old beams.” Katie’s husband, Matthew, continues: “We’re also using reclaimed wood, wood that has been reclaimed from ships and old ship yards.” The results are set to be stunning, with the new rooms set to open this spring. Katie adds: “We hand-picked our builders – Nigel Allen Builders (near Fakenham) – as he’s very experienced in the renovation of old buildings. He has the enjoyment, understanding and care that need to go in.” “We are also applying a specialist paint to the outside of the building – it’s a specialist coating which lasts up 76

ADVERTORIAL

the white hart to 20 years and which will not crack or flake. We have chosen one made especially for old buildings which allows for natural movement and moves with it to avoid the cracking that you get with normal paint. The company is called Clean & Coat – it’s a specialist exterior coating company run by Matthew Hales.” Katie continues: “We are aiming to be a destination venue, with luxury bedrooms that are appealing and that people really want to stay in.” This aim certainly looks set to be a reality, with the five new rooms (all doubles, with some that can be split into twins), also boasting beautiful bathrooms. The stunning new bathrooms will feature natural stone sinks and surrounds; cast iron; roll-top, deep, old-fashioned baths; Wi-Fi; and plenty of natural light.

Located 14 miles from Norwich and just a few miles from the charming market town of Wymondham, Hingham is steeped in history, boasting ancestral links with the town of the same name in Massachusetts, USA, and even with President Abraham Lincoln. With the upmarket weddings and events venue Kimberley Hall also nearby and plenty of visitors passing through, no doubt the new bedrooms will be in demand, especially once the finishing touches, such as espresso coffee machines and smart TVs, are in place. In the meantime, this very pleasant pub is very popular for its drinks and food menus and, since Katie and Matthew took it on in 2015, has become a true local hub. A number of well thoughtout changes have been introduced, with the main restaurant now located upstairs in The Old Court Room, famous for its stag antler chandelier. This spacious yet homely room also has an elegant private dining area that seats a dozen. Customers can eat downstairs, too, in both bars as well as in the attractive raised dining area, and, when the better weather returns, there is a lovely little courtyard just off one of the bars, with plans to build a roof garden in the future. Plus there’s a large garden behind the building for alfresco eating and drinking, together with a “secret garden”, a fabulous additional outdoor space where Katie and Matthew plan to install some attractive wooden play equipment for children, along with a herb garden. Meanwhile, during these cold, wintry January days, the indoor areas are perfect for relaxing thanks to their real fires and cosy seating areas, while the old-fashioned bar billiards table provides a bit of fun. Attention to detail is evident throughout, with free WiFi, firstcome-first-served tables in the first bar area, a children’s menu, an array of freshly-prepared sandwiches and lunchtime snacks, and a speedy meal service. The White Hart is known for its extensive cocktail list, comprehensive wine list, wide range of spirits and host of craft beers. There is a large selection of Adnams ales, plus many beers from other local microbreweries, with two hand pumps and capacity for six more real ales, keeping things fresh and interesting. Katie and Matthew also own the successful Norwich venture, The Earlham Arms, which they have been running for the past four years and they have used their experience there to improve things at The White Hart. Thanks to a drop in bar prices, the re-establishment of a fresh, seasonal menu and a fabulous Sunday lunch, the central Hingham watering hole now appeals to locals and visitors alike. Prices are very reasonable, with roasts at £9.95 each (£10.95 for beef ) and all the food is home-made on site. Mike Smith, who oversees The White Hart’s kitchen, said: “We’re offering a twist on traditional pub food. Our food is modern British – we use fresh produce and we don’t muck around with it too much.” With a five-star food hygiene rating, plenty of parking and an informative new website, this attractive, hospitable place has plenty to offer. Kate and Matthew are hands-on owners and enjoy overseeing lunch and dinner, while they are also very grateful for the sterling work of their manager, Alysha Howes, who has worked with them for nine years. The entire White Hart team has enjoyed getting to know their customers over the past year and they’re looking forward to welcoming visitors old and new in 2017. The White Hart 3 Market Place Hingham Norwich NR9 4AF Tel: 01953 850214 www.whitehartnorfolk.co.uk 77

SUCCESSFUL SELLING BUILT ON PROVEN CUSTOMER SERVICE

uring 2016, Bycroft Residential has continued to perform as the number one agent in the Great Yarmouth area for property sales. We have been rewarded for our hard work by being voted as the Best Estate Agent in both Great Yarmouth and the whole Norfolk area, for the high level of customer service we offer to our clients. The housing market during 2016 has been both challenging and rewarding and as a company Bycroft Residential has managed to assist many satisfied customers with a successful move. As an established, family-run business we aim to provide a friendly, professional approach to selling property, which not only works, but is also greatly appreciated by the customers that we serve. Don’t just take our word for it – our customers’ feedback and opinions are there for all to see via: www.allagents.co.uk. We believe that 2017 will be a really positive year for selling houses as it follows a period of limited supply and pent-up demand. Planning for a possible move is an important decision to make, therefore choosing an estate agent that is able to provide qualified and honest advice is imperative and we feel that our service and established, professional experience is second to none.

We will be delighted to advise you on any plans you may be making for a move in 2017. Why not start your forward planning by contacting our Great Yarmouth and Gorleston sales team for a Free Market Appraisal and find out how we can help promote your property to our audience of motivated purchasers? Below from left to right: Nick Burman, Chris Fielding and Daniel Bycroft.

14.12.16

Intel

is from 01/01/2016 to 13/12/2016 Sales agreed report Â· The information below 0 4 | NR30 3 | 6 | NR31 8 | NR30 1 | NR30 2 NR3 NR31 9 | NR31 7 | NR31 0 | NR31 95 NR30 5 | NR29 4 | NR29 3 | NR2

Bycroft Others (84 offices) Office 2

Office 15

Office 3

Office 14 Office 13

Office 4

Office 12 Office 5

Office 11 Office 10 Office 9

Office 6 Office 8

Office 7

| JANUARY 2017

A MODERN APPROACH This attractive house on Station Road in Ormesby offers a wealth of up-to-date accommodation and outdoor space

in a nutshell

This substantial, 1924-built, detached residence is in a soughtafter location set in gardens of approximately 0.4 of an acre. An attractive, modern property, it boasts a reception hall, lounge, dining room, sitting room, kitchen/dining/day room, two cloakrooms, utility room, study/playroom and small office. Upstairs there are four good-size bedrooms and a family bathroom on the first floor and a second floor with a master bedroom, dressing room and en-suite bathroom. The house has delightful, established gardens, ample car parking, oil central heating and replacement upvc double-glazed windows.

asking price ÂŁ495,000

estate agent

This contemporary property on STATION ROAD in ORMESBY, is on the market with Bycroft Residential, 14 Regent Street, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 1RN | Tel: 01493 844484

residential@charlesbycroft.co.uk | www.charlesbycroft.co.uk Viewings strictly by appointment only.

PROPERTY OF THE MONTH

bycroft residential

This lovely-looking,

contemporary property would make the ideal family home. Light and airy, with plenty of wooden flooring and modern fittings, this substantial, detached residence benefits from five bedrooms, a superb kitchen/dining/day room, two further reception rooms and around 0.4 acre of attractive, established gardens. The reception hall, with its stained parquet flooring and ornate radiator, has a staircase leading to the first floor as well as access to the lounge. At 12’6” x 16’ 6” (3.81m x 5.03m), the lounge boasts a semi-circular, double-glazed bay window which overlooks the rear garden. It also has a chimney breast with alcoves either side featuring built-in cupboards and fitted shelving as well as a television point, radiator and decorative coved ceiling. The double-aspect dining room stands at 12’6” x 11’6” (3.81m x 3.51m) and features attractive, solid wood flooring with underfloor heating. The sitting room is 12’6” x 16’ (3.81m x 4.88m) and has a semi-circular, double glazed bay window overlooking the rear patio garden, a double glazed window to the rear garden, an attractive, original, tiled fireplace, decorative coved ceiling, radiator and television points. The nearby cloakroom has a white suite with a double-size wash basin, a low level WC with a concealed cistern, tiled flooring, a radiator, recessed spotlights and a frosted, double glazed window to the front. At 37’ x 11’6” increasing to 14’9” (11.28m x 3.51m), the kitchen/dining/day room is a real talking point. Fitted with bespoke, solid wood kitchen units it has a central workstation, Kenwood LPG gas range cooker with two ovens and six gas rings, solid wood flooring with underfloor heating, a television point and space and plumbing for an American-style fridge/freezer. Spacious and inviting, it has double glazed windows and a glass roof on the conservatory. The extensive downstairs accommodation continues with a study/playroom, 9’6” x

9’5” (2.9m x 2.87m) in size, with solid wood flooring, double aspect, double glazed windows with fitted roller blinds, a radiator and recessed spotlights. There is an additional office area with fitted shelving and a door to another cloakroom, while the rear hall features a large, deep, built-in storage cupboard, solid wood flooring and a glazed, solid wood door. The adjacent, useful utility room is 13’ x 9’5 (3.96m x 2.87m) and has large fitted wood block worksurfaces with space for a washing machine, dishwasher and fridge, oak base units and matching wall units, solid wood flooring, a double glazed window with fitted venetian blinds to the front, recessed spotlights, a radiator and a deep, built-in airing cupboard housing the pressurised hot water cylinder. There is a landing leading to the first floor with a double glazed window overlooking the garden, an ornate radiator and a staircase to the second floor. The first floor boasts four bedrooms, which are 12’6 x 12’7” (3.81m x 3.84m); 12’ 6” x 12’5” (3.81m x 3.78m); 12’6 x 11’6” (3.81m x 3.51m) and 12’5” x 11’7” (3.78m x 3.53m) in size, along with a family bathroom with a white suite, tiled panelled bath and shower cubicle. All of the bedrooms have large double glazed windows, with the first two overlooking the rear garden, bedroom three overlooking the side and front garden, and bedroom four looking out over the front and rear garden. Meanwhile, on the second floor there is

a landing area and dressing room, along with a fifth bathroom, 15’4 x 14’3 (4.67m x 4.34m) which has a sloping ceiling, Velux double glazed skylights to the front and rear and built-in eaves storage cupboards. This attractive bedroom also boasts an en-suite bathroom with a white bathroom suite and Velux double glazed skylights. Outside the property is reached via a shingled driveway which provides plenty of off-street parking and which extends down the side of the house to the bottom of the garden where there is a timber garage/ workshop. There is an established front garden and a large, well-stocked rear garden, a large timber decked, sun-trap seating area and an additional patio next to the garden pond. An unusual and interesting feature is the underground air raid shelter which is accessible beyond the pond.

Fine Sales 2017 Entries invited for 21, 22, 23 March Later Sale dates: 18, 19, 20 July 28, 29, 30 November

BESPOKE DRAPERY AND UPHOLSTERERS · ESTABLISHED 2000

Charles Darwin: On the Origin of Species Achieved £1400 GEORGE CHINNERY, RHA (1774-1852, BRITISH) Portrait of a seated girl Achieved £2900

Chinese famille rose porcelain covered bowl Achieved £5800

Pair of 19th century rabbit formed covered tureens (after Chelsea Originals) Achieved £720

Richard III 1377-99 gold noble Achieved £1550

Keys Fine Art and Geeral Auctioneers provide a complete Auction Service. Valuations for Sale purposes are usually free of charge, if selling with Keys, and can be carried out at the Salerooms or at customer’s homes or premises. Valuations for Probate, Family Division, Insurance and compelte House Clearance, can be arranged at agreed hourly rates. Palmers Lane, Aylsham, NR11 6JA Catalogues and on-line bidding available at www.keysauctions.co.uk

ESTATE

01263 733195 the-saleroom.com

salerooms@keysauctions.co.uk

AGENTS

GUIDE PRICE £250,000

@keysauctions

01603 722385 · www.jhdinteriors.co.uk 1 Tilia Court, Rackheath, Norwich, NR13 6SX

Opening times for collection and delivery of goods: Tuesday-Friday 0:00-17:00, Saturday 9:00-12:00

•

VALUERS

BURGH ROAD, GORLESTON

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PROPERTY

GUIDE PRICE £185,000

3 bedroom bay fronted detached family home, close to schools and colleges, gas central heating, uPVC, lounge, dining room, kitchen, conservatory, garage and gardens. Chain Free Perfect family home in a non-estate location.

GUIDE PRICE £205,000

FALKLANDS WAY, BRADWELL 3 bedroom extended detached house, situated in a quiet cul-de-sac, gas central heating, UPVC, 29ft lounge/ dining room - Kitchen/breakfast room with built in appliances, jacuzzi bath, gardens and garage.

MA NAGEME N T ESPLANADE COURT, NORTH DRIVE 2 bedroom first floor luxury apartment, with sea and beach views, easy shopping access and commute to the city. Superbly presented with gas central heating, UPVC, open plan feel, balcony, parking space and lift.

GUIDE PRICE £230,000

NURSERY CLOSE, ACLE 3/4 Bedroom property sits on a corner plot and has the advantage of being in a cul-de-sac in a much sought after village location, Central heating, UPVC, and 23ft Lounge/Dining room, Ideal family home.

42 Bells Road, Gorleston on Sea, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 6AN www.darbyandliffenea.co.uk · 01493 600411 · info@darbyandliffenea.co.uk

PROPERTY

darby & liffen

LOOKING BACK OWEN DARBY LOOKS BACK ON THE CAREER OF HIS FATHER, DAVID DARBY, WHO HELPED ESTABLISH DARBY & LIFFEN AS ONE OF THE AREA’S TOP ESTATE AGENCIES

Last month saw the death of my father and former managing director, David Darby, after a long illness. David Darby was instrumental in putting Darby & Liffen on the map as a highly-regarded name in Gorleston and the surrounding areas. Together with his former wife Amy, they built up a business which saw them become one of the mainstays of the property industry in the local community. I can remember helping my Dad measure properties from as young as five years old. He’d pick me up at school and quite often, instead of heading straight home, we would go to one or two properties where he had to dictate property particulars, measure up and take photographs. I can remember holding the end of the measuring tape and my Dad insisting on me making sure the tape was touching the wall. The intense way in which he’d instruct me to do so always ensured I never failed the task! This typified the importance of the job my Dad was doing, wanting to be as accurate as possible with his property particulars. The same would go for his photographs; as well as taking photographs of the highest standard in his job, he was an incredibly keen photographer on a personal level, especially with holiday and nature snaps. He saw it as an art form which was no surprise considering his time at art college and at Cambridge studying Art History. Forming his property particulars was something he took extremely seriously and he was often complimented in the incredible way he paid attention to detail. Today, I often come across past clients my Dad served in the 1970s and 1980s who always remember with such positivity my father’s high level of professional conduct and how he served his clients with such aplomb. His amazingly natural ability, charm, intelligence and wit were clear for all to see, coupled with his genuine business qualities.

Fellow estate agents from that time can also remember the rivalry in those days. I’m in touch with one or two of my Dad’s former competitors and they remember with fondness the rivalry between the old guard of estate agencies in Gorleston and surrounding areas. Back then it was a longer-winded process as there weren’t the benefits of colour sales particulars, digital photography and, of course, the online marketing facilities which all agents use today. Unfortunately, in the early 1990s, due to my Dad’s ill health, he no longer played an active role in the business and I became involved on a full-time basis in the family firm, following my Business Studies courses at Great Yarmouth College. Although I never got the opportunity to work alongside my father professionally, I learnt an awful lot from him, as I remembered some of the things he taught me as a child, coupled with experience and ideas I gained from those who were working at Darby & Liffen at the time. I worked closely with my mother, Amy (who retired about six years ago) for around 15 years and when it came to the art of negotiation there was no-one better for me to learn from than her as her motivation was nothing less than inspirational. I observed that it wasn’t just about seeing a deal over the finish line in order to secure a fee, it was the sheer drive and passion to bring the matter to a conclusion, thereby helping people to secure their move, particularly first-time buyers who needed extra guidance and support. It came as no surprise, therefore, that many would remember my mother’s efforts by bringing in gifts, cards and flowers with the ultimate compliment arriving in the form of repeat business when it came to moving house again further down the line. Because we’re located on Bells Road in Gorleston, rather than the High Street, some people question our ability to sell properties. My answer to that is, firstly, that we’ve been in these premises since 1972 and, secondly, if we have the dream property a buyer is looking for (which I’m pleased to say has often been the case), they are very happy to approach us on Bells Road. A highly-respected, former Bells Road trader, the late John Field of Fields Menswear, once said to me: “It doesn’t matter where you are situated - your business could be on the end of the pier and people will still come to you because it’s about the product you have, the knowledge you have and the service you provide.” Our family business has come through some difficult times which, so far, have included two recessions and the dreaded credit crunch of 2008. It’s very pleasing for us that we are a well-respected and trusted name in the area. Our team has so much experience: I have been in the business for over 20 years; Steve Gray, our head of sales, has been in the business for nearly 30 years; our sales co-ordinator and office manager, Samantha Thompson, has been with the firm for over seven years; and sales co-ordinator Hannah Clark is six years into the job. Staff retention speaks for itself; staff being happy in their workplace is crucial and clients often crave continuity as this gives them the incentive to put their trust in us to carry out the job to a standard other agents would find difficult to match.

Owen Darby

Darby and Liffen Estate Agents www.darbyandliffenea.co.uk | 01493 600411

De Fr liv ee er y*

Anglia Boiler Maintenance Ltd. Domestic and Commercial Gas and Oil Boiler Maintenance and Installation

Our family, serving your family since 1820 * Free delivery within a 25 mile radius

70a High Street, Caister on Sea, Norfolk, NR30 5EH

01493 721373

Norman & Son, 13/14 Market Place, Great Yarmouth, NR30 1LY

Tel 01493 842971 www.normansfurniture.co.uk

Entertaining Kitchens Leaving Others Behind.

01603 731551 www.longwaterliving.com William Frost Way, Longwater Business Park, Costessey, Norwich NR5 0JS Monday - Friday 7.30am - 5.00pm

Saturday 8.00am - 2.00pm

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I LOVE COFFEE, I LOVE TEA…

HAYLEY & JENNIFER are our homeware buyers – Jarrolds, 1-11 London Street, Norwich, NR2 1AL www.jarrold.co.uk The Granary, 5 Bedford Street, Norwich, NR2 1AL www.thegranary.co.uk

Denby, Natural Canvas range, teapot £60, cafetière £75, cup and saucer £22, set of four espresso cups and saucers £35, sugar bowl £10, small jug £20, mug £12 A versatile range for the regular entertainer, the clean white lines of this stoneware elevate any meal to another level - made in England and hand-crafted

I love the java jive

and it loves me. How things have changed in the world of beverages since the Doo-Wop band The Puppini Sisters sang this in the ‘30s. Back then, most likely a metal Moka coffee pot would be bubbling away on the stove and your cuppa would always come from a teapot where loose tea leaves infused in boiling water – and corner cafés were the only venues outside the home to provide a cup of something hot. Gradually coffee percolators and cafetières appeared to offer a more sophisticated choice - and the tea bag was born. Nowadays incredible, multitasking coffee machines gurgle and whoosh to make works of art, tea is available in hundreds of different flavours, and we wonder how we ever got through life without the coffee shops we find on every corner of the high street.

Mr Tea, tea infuser £10 The ideal tea time companion. Simply load his silicone pants, perch him in your cup, relax for a minute and he does all the work!

Nespresso, Krups Citiz with Aeroccino £199.99 Adding a touch of elegance to the coffee ritual, the iconic lines and premium finish of this magnificent machine are superb, and it boasts the addition of a built-in Aeroccino milk frother

INTERIORS

tea and coffee

Scion, Mr Fox mugs £11.50 each Ever-popular, this cheeky chap from the Melinki collection is guaranteed to make you smile as you sip

Bodum, Chambord copper, eight-cup cafetière £39, milk frother £25, set of two coffee cups £18 With its on-trend copper trim, smooth glass well and stainless steel filter parts, this is an absolutely classic design

Sage by Heston Blumenthal, the Barista Express £549 With conical burr grinder and dose control, this offers Barista-quality café performance, all in a compact footprint

Aerobie, Aeropress £28 This simple piece of equipment makes both American- style and espresso coffee which they say is the smoothest, richest coffee you will ever taste!

Churchill, Chasing Rainbows china mugs £8 each A brand that can trace its history in the Potteries back to 1795. These mugs with a message make a great gift at any time of the year

Luxury self-catering accommodation in Framlingham

hepherd's Crook, set in the beautiful town of Framlingham, Suffolk, is a luxury Shepherd's Hut providing self-catering accommodation for upto two adults in a peaceful retreat, under

20 minutes' walk from the centre of Framlingham. Set in its own private copse, with firepit, Shepherd's Crook has stunning views over open fields and represents excellent value with prices starting from £70 per night. Shepherd's Crook is extremely sumptuous with full-size double bed, freesat flatscreen TV and fully equipped kitchen including fridge and dishwasher. Unlike a lot of Shepherd's huts, our WC and shower are truly en-suite - you don't need to go outside. Perfect all year round, with underfloor heating for the winter months, and stunning views over adjacent fields for sitting out on those balmy summer evenings.

FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY ONLY (EXCLUDING VALENTINES DAY)

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or through the website

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| JANUARY 2017

HEY GOOD-LOOKING! The Volvo V90 estate is attracting plenty of attention, as David Wakefield explainsâ&#x20AC;¦.

MOTORING

Prices correct at time of going to press

volvo v90

nyone familiar with Volvo a couple of decades ago will have Not surprisingly, it bears a strong resemblance to its saloon equivalent, had a firm image of the Swedish cars in mind – efficient, the S90 and, unusually, the estate is slightly shorter than the saloon – solid, reliable…..but seldom exciting or good-looking. despite being nearly five metres long. Inside, the V90 is pretty much identical to the saloon. The centre All that has changed in recent times; the boxy Volvo look console is dominated by a huge, nine-inch, tablet-style Sensus has gradually been smoothed out and there have been touchscreen “infotainment” system, from which most of the car’s some exciting high performance models. functions are controlled, but you can specify a 12.3-inch digital display The V90 estate, Volvo’s latest entry into a familiar in place of the traditional instrument binnacle. Everything is fairly easy field, encompasses these changes with its stunning to operate, with all the controls easy to understand and get used to. good looks. Distinctive, stylish and nicely finished, with only a few While the V90 doesn’t have the biggest boot in its class, its 560-litre weaknesses, Volvo estates used to be the epitome of the firm’s boxy load bay (with the rear seats up) is about on par with its rivals. Fold styling, but the V90 builds on the company’s latest look to be one of the rear seats down and you get 1,526 litres. the best-looking estates on the market. Like the S90 saloon, the V90 is powered by either a 187bhp D4 or Up front, there’s the same convex grille and headlights as on the 232bhp D5, 2.0-litre, diesel engine. The D4 is frontXC90, complete with ‘Thor’s hammer’ LED daytime wheel-drive only, while the more powerful D5 gets running lights. Perhaps most unusually of all on a four-wheel drive as standard. Both use the same Volvo estate, that rear glass line is at quite a shallow eight-speed automatic gearbox as the XC90 SUV. angle - a stark contrast to the bluff vertical drops on A super-efficient and super-clean T8 plug-in hybrid Volvos of old. is also on the way, promising CO2 emissions of less The standard wheels are 17-inchers on the D4 Volvo V90 2.0 D4 than 50g/km and fuel efficiency into the hundreds Momentum editions, rising to 18in items on all of miles per gallon. It’ll combine a turbo-charged, versions of Inscription - but Volvo offers a range Momentum auto 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine with electric of 19in and 20in items as options on all trim levels. Price: £34,955 power to give a total of 400bhp or so. Two solid colours are available at no cost, but most Top speed: 140mph; There are two trim levels available for the V90 V90s will be specified with one of the eight metallic Acceleration (0-62): – Momentum and Inscription – and standard finishes and two “premium metallic” shades. 8.5 seconds; Economy: equipment is just as comprehensive as you’ll find on The new estate is aimed squarely at premium load Urban, 54.3 mpg; Extra the S90. Leather upholstery, heated front seats, LED luggers from the established German brands, so its urban, 68.9; Combined, headlights, dual-zone climate control and Sat Nav main rivals are the BMW 5 Series Touring, Audi A6 62.8; Emissions: 119 g/km are all standard. Avant and Mercedes E-Class Estate. Voice control, internet access, a powered bootlid The V90 is, in effect, the successor to the old V70, and access to internet apps are also included on all and the latest in a long line of smart but angular models, as is Volvo’s Pilot Assist semi-autonomous wagons that can be traced all the way back to the driving system. This will automatically keep the car Volvo 140 that made its debut in the 60s. M.R.King & Sons a set distance from the car in front and within its However, the new model has virtually nothing in 46 Quay Street lane at speeds up to 80mph. common with its predecessors. The V90 is built on Halesworth The V90 is by far the most accomplished large the same chassis components as the XC90 SUV and Suffolk IP19 8EY estate car to come from the Swedish maker so far. S90 saloon. Called “Scalable Platform Architecture” Tel: 01986 874464 Its plush interior, technological sophistication (SPA), this set of parts allows the V90 to share the www.volvocarshalesworth.co.uk and sheer cruising pleasure mean it deserves same engines, gearboxes and safety technology as considerable attention for those wanting to go down its stablemates. the large estate route.

facts at a glance

dealer details

Salt Interiors can offer a tailor made interior design service to meet your individual needs and requirements, whether it is a single blind to a full design project. From traditional to contemporary style, family homes or commercial properties, we can supply wallpapers, curtain poles and fabrics from leading suppliers, as well as offering a curtain and blind making service. We can also source and supply furniture and lighting to complement and advise on paint schemes. m 07714 321987 | e info@saltinteriors.co.uk www.saltinteriors.co.uk

Coopers

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Cars, light commercials, motor homes, brand new workshop facilities up to class 7

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Saturday MOT's available upon request

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MOTORING

driving in snow

WINTER OF DISCONTENT David Wakefield looks at the perils of driving in snow and ice and how we can prepare ourselves for the worst winter weather

F ONE THING IS BOUND to throw our transport system into chaos it’s snow! Even though we don’t get nearly as much snow as our European neighbours we Brits find it difficult to deal with. Part of the problem is not being prepared, so far as our vehicles are concerned, and then not necessarily knowing how to cope with a situation that demands a great deal of concentration and common sense. How many motorists go out in snow and try to drive as it if were on a dry road? That’s a short cut to an accident, as all the usual motoring measurements go out of the window once the white stuff arrives. Taking into account reaction time and stopping distance, a car travelling at 30mph on a dry road will take about 23 metres to come to a halt. In snow it can be up to 10 times that figure. How do we stop? Using our brakes, of course. But in snow, our brakes can become a menace if we try to brake sharply, and we can easily lose control by going into a skid. But let’s begin with the obvious points: If faced with wintry weather then allow much more time for your journey than normal. Traffic is bound to be slow and frustration can lead to actions you may regret. Before starting out make sure your tyres are inflated to the maker’s recommended settings. Make sure that your battery is working properly and that you have the correct amount of anti-freeze in your radiator and screenwash.

Clean your front and rear lights, windows, windscreen and rear screen and get rid of any snow sitting on the roof (a soft, long-handled brush is ideal for this). Otherwise, as your car warms up, the snow is likely to slide down and may block your vision, if only for a moment. Make sure that your mobile is fully charged, and that you have sufficient fuel. If the snow is heavy then a shovel or spade in the boot may be a boon, as will a couple of blankets, a torch, a reflective triangle and some water. When moving off get into a higher gear as soon as possible, as this will lessen the chances of wheelspin. Keep to a sensible speed – and KEEP YOUR DISTANCE! You can do little about cars behind you, but always give the one in front of you a healthy space. Try to anticipate possible problems. If you are approaching traffic lights then slow down gently, going down into a lower gear to slow your vehicle down. If you want to brake then, again, do so gently – try cadence braking, which is gently applying pressure in short spells. Cadence braking effectively mimics what ABS braking does, but ABS itself is not nearly so effective on snow and ice as it is on wet roads. Cadence braking does allow you to maintain some sort of control over your vehicle without locking up the wheels – which can only result in a skid. If driving an automatic then select a lower gear in manual mode, and brake gently. Likewise steering: steer gently and slowly. The higher the steering angle the slower you need to travel as your front tyres will lose traction if travelling too fast. And don’t try to brake and steer at the same time! Local councils always try to grit main roads, which does provide a bit more grip but can lead to over-confidence. Firstly, it takes time for road salt to become effective. It may appear that all the snow and ice has gone, but there could be a thin layer still present. Rain can also wash the grit off, leaving the road surface susceptible to freezing. In low temperatures of around -7ºC to -15ºC, road salt can become ineffective, again leaving the road surface vulnerable to freezing. If the worst should happen and you get stuck in snow, you need to take steps to find some traction. Clear as much snow as possible from in front of your wheels, then put down something on which your tyres can find that traction – a blanket or some old sacking are ideal. Sometimes we can’t avoid driving in snow and ice. But before setting off, it might be as well to ask yourself that old question: “Is your journey really necessary?” 93

| JANUARY 2017 DECEMBER 2016

BeTteR THan ever Following extensive research, the new Ford Kuga SUV offers a wealth of ingenious and original features

ord launched its new, updated Kuga SUV last year, featuring such inventive developments as intuitive SYNC 3 connectivity, hands-free parking in sideby-side spaces and enhanced Active City Stop. The latest Kuga model is one of five brand new or redesigned Ford vehicles that will vie for position in the SUV and crossover arena in the next three years. The new Kuga boasts a series of new exterior features, new colours in Guard Grey and vibrant Copper Pulse, and a new, 120 PS, 1.5-litre, TDCi diesel engine for improved fuel efficiency. Meanwhile, the Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive enhances grip, especially in wet and slippery conditions. The new Ford Kuga allows drivers to control audio, navigation and climate functions as well as connected smartphones using easy, more conversational voice commands, with the new SYNC 3 connectivity system - the result of more than 22,000 comments and insights which were gained from research clinics and surveys. SYNC 3 delivers faster performance and simplified commands, and supports five extra languages. Simply by pushing a button and saying: “I need a coffee,” “I need petrol,” and “I need to park,” drivers can locate nearby cafés, petrol stations or car parks, and locate train stations, airports and hotels. Drivers can operate SYNC 3’s eight-inch touchscreen in the same way that they use their smartphones. A new interface features larger, easier-to-operate buttons and enables pinch and swipe gestures for the first time. The car also boasts Apple CarPlay, the smarter, safer way to use your iPhone in the vehicle, allowing drivers to make phone calls, access music, send and receive messages, get directions optimised for traffic conditions, and more while their attention remains firmly focused on the road. Android™ users can activate Android Auto which makes apps and services that drivers already know and love, accessible in safer

MOTORING

kuga suv and seamless ways including Google Search, Google Maps and Google Play. Parking will also be simpler for customers. A new perpendicular parking function enhances the semi-autonomous Active Park Assist technology specified by almost half of Kuga customers last year. Using additional ultrasonic sensors, perpendicular parking at the push of a button enables drivers to locate parking spaces alongside other cars as well as parallel to the road, and steers the vehicle into them while the driver controls the accelerator and brake. The new Kuga’s interior has been enhanced to feature a more ergonomic, stylish and comfortable experience for occupants. Steering wheel and air-conditioning controls are even more intuitive, making them easier to recognise and navigate. The steering wheel is also offered with heated leather to improve comfort in cold weather, while all automatic new Kuga models will feature paddle-shift controls that enable drivers to manually select gears. Other news: an electronic parking brake frees room for improved storage in the central console, while a door lock indicator will tell drivers at a glance whether the doors are locked. The hands-free liftgate that can be opened or closed using a kicking motion beneath the rear bumper is a big help to parents with shopping, pushchairs or toddlers. The new, 120 PS, 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine replaces the outgoing 2.0-litre TDCi. Offered with front-wheel drive, Ford is targeting a fuel efficiency improvement for the new engine of about five per cent to 4.4 l/100 km (64.2 mpg) and 115 g/km CO2 while producing the same power. The range also features a 2.0-litre, TDCi diesel with 150 PS in front-wheel and all-wheel drive versions that achieve from 60.1 mpg and 122 g/km CO2; and a 180 PS all-wheel version that delivers from 54.3 mpg and 135 g/km CO2. The Kuga is also available with 1.5 litre petrol power in frontwheel and all-wheel drive form.

facts at a glance

Ford Kuga 1.5T EcoBoost 4WD

Prices correct at time of going to press

Price from £20,245 Top speed: 112mph; Acceleration (0-62): 12.5s; Economy: Urban, 36.2 mpg; Extra urban: 53.5mpg; Combined: 45.5 mpg; Emissions: 143g/km

dealer details Ludham Garage

High Street, Ludham, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR29 5QQ Tel: 01692 678215 www.ludhamgarage.co.uk

| JANUARY 2017

a TouCH Of FRoSt

THANKS TO SNOW, FROST AND ICE, OUR GARDENS CAN LOOK BEAUTIFUL AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. DON’T LET THE COLD WEATHER PUT YOU OFF GOING OUTSIDE, HOWEVER, AS THERE’S STILL PLENTY TO DO, ADVISES GARDENING EXPERT ELLEN MARY

WHaT’S ON

With less to be getting on with outside, why not take the opportuni ty to learn about our garden birds? Pop alo ng to this evening talk with Southwold Wildlif e Group on Thursday, January 12 at 7.30pm for only £2 each including refreshment s. www.suffolkwildlifetru st.org

JANUARY IS THE HEART of wintertime as we frequently see frosts and cold weather. Much of the garden is sleeping, from plants to wildlife, and we may just feel like hibernating ourselves after the Christmas over-indulgence. Make the most of the sunny, clear days of January as the crisp air can give you just the boost you need to kick-start 2017 and put those exciting garden plans into action.

provides no-jargon gardening advice and a garden design consultancy service at www.ellenmarygardening.co.uk

GARDENING

ellen mary

January can be the coldest of months, so keep those winter pots well cared for. Keep the frost off by wrapping them in horticultural fleece or even bubble wrap and standing them up on blocks to ensure they have good drainage in the rain. A sheltered spot will help them fight off the cold as well. Your dahlia and other tubers should be stored in dry conditions, perhaps in some sand in the shed. It’s been some months since they were lifted, so check them to make sure there is no rot or drying out. They need to be in tip top shape for planting out again in a few months’ time. Whilst there’s less to do outside (or perhaps we would just rather stay inside), don’t neglect your indoor plants which can become infested with midges in old compost. Give the leaves a good clean and cut down on watering to ensure the plant roots don’t rot and they are in good shape for when the sun shines again in spring.

Fruit & Vegetables

Wildlife Gardening

There may be little going on down the allotment but there is so much to prepare for! It will only be a month or two before you can start sowing more seeds and if you enjoy using recycled items in the garden, start saving lots of household items such as food tins, toilet roll holders and egg boxes; they can all be used to sow seeds and grow plants on the windowsill. There will be days when the weather eases and the soil is workable, so get your wellies on, dig over your vegetable beds and fork in as much well-rotted manure as you can. It’s always best to be prepared in advance, plus doing this exposes pests, giving wildlife a helping hand during the winter. Leeks can be a little hard to pull up in frozen soil without damaging them, so you can “heel” them in by digging a shallow trench, trimming the roots off and putting them in the trench at an angle. With most of the leek exposed, cover the bottoms with loose soil and then lift them up when you are ready to harvest.

Be careful not to disturb creatures hibernating under piles of leaves or in sheds and outbuildings; even a pile of fallen branches can be home to a whole host of wildlife such as hedgehogs keeping warm. When spring arrives and they come back out of hibernation, it’s time to move compost or re-use those leaves, stems and other garden debris. Keep a look out of your window because birds desperate for food become much bolder at this time of year. I’ve had robins by my feet and blackbirds following me closely down the allotment. It’s lovely to get so close to nature, but don’t forget to give them as much help as possible. Supplement their food with sliced fruit from the kitchen. Our garden birds still need water throughout the winter months and in freezing cold weather, it can actually be hard for them to find. If bird baths are frozen over, it’s difficult to get a muchneeded drink. Refresh any frozen water daily to ensure there is a plentiful supply of water on offer.

Gardening Product of the Month This super seed bomb is full of wildflower seeds, perfect for bees and butterflies, along with tasty grains for wild birds in the wintertime. It just needs soaking in water and throwing where you want the seeds to grow! £3.50 for the ‘feather bomb’. www.ohhdeer.com/ gifts/seedboms/featherbom

Wishing everyone across

Great Yarmouth

a very Happy New Year

Working you in Great Yarmouth &Westminster Westminster Working for Great Yarmouth & Westminster Working for you in Great Yarmouth &of Working for youinround in Great Yarmouth & Westminster Workingfor allyou year for the residents Great Yarmouth Please get inin touch with my team can helphelp you with with any local issues Please get in with my team ifif II can help you any local issues Please getin in touch with my team can you with any local issues Please get touch with my team IIIIcan you any local issues Please get touch with my team can help youwith with any local issues Please get intouch touch with my team if canhelp help you with any local issues 20 Church Plain, Greatififif Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 1NE www.brandonlewis.co

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1 15/06/2015 Imagination into Reality

U825 Thinking Squirrel Pensions Advert Places & Faces-02 HIGH RES.pdf

12:12

Pension Flexibility is Here… C

We can help you decide what to do with your money.

Spend it on something special

CMY

Pass it on to your heirs

Make it last

Find out more at almarygreen.com/wiseowl Tel 01603 706740 Email enquiries@almarygreen.com

Almary Green Investments Ltd Greenfields House, 10 Meridian Way, Meridian Business Park, Norwich NR7 0TA 52 Alexandra Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 1PJ

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

almary green

“The first thing to bear in mind is that pension savings are investments and can stay invested within the tax-efficient pension framework until you need to spend the money”

PLANNING FOR PENSIONS THE CHANCELLOR ANNOUNCED YET ANOTHER CHANGE TO PENSION LEGISLATION IN HIS AUTUMN STATEMENT. CARL LAMB EXPLAINS…

Pension flexibility has been with us for some

time now: since April 2015 pension savers over the minimum pension age have been able to access their savings as and when they wish, although all but the first 25 per cent is taxed as income. There had been early concerns that people might blow their pension pots on expensive toys like yachts and fast cars, but the reality seems to be that, in the main, people have been sensible in their approach. A significant factor that is sometimes overlooked is that once you start accessing your pension savings the tax relief you can get on any future contributions can be reduced. The standard Annual Allowance for contributions stands at £40,000 – ie. you will get tax relief on any contributions up to this amount. However, once you access your pension benefits, your Annual Allowance can be cut. Until April 2017, the reduced Annual Allowance – known as the Money Purchase Annual Allowance or MPAA – is £10,000 but the Chancellor has announced that the MPAA will drop to just £4,000 from April 2017 onwards. This measure does have sensible thinking behind it: the Chancellor is trying to prevent people simply taking cash from their pension savings and then putting it back in again in order to get a second tranche of tax relief. This recycling of pension cash is perhaps rare but is clearly not desirable from the Government’s perspective. However, the new threshold does have implications for those who want to access their pension but will continue working and therefore want to continue making regular contributions. What this shows is that it is really important to plan carefully before you start taking withdrawals from your pension savings. The first thing to bear in mind is that pension savings are

investments and can stay invested within the tax-efficient pension framework until you need to spend the money. There is generally no need to extract the money simply to invest elsewhere. You should also remember that your withdrawals (other than the initial 25 per cent tax-free portion) will be taxed as income at your normal rate. Taking withdrawals while you are still earning could see you paying tax on your pension at a higher level than you might pay in retirement. Pension savings are, of course, designed to provide you with an income in retirement and it is important not to lose sight of this function. A financial adviser will help you work out what your current pension savings can deliver in terms of income and whether making larger withdrawals at given points will compromise your standard of living later. Pension flexibility has brought a raft of new opportunities, but it is important to fully understand the implications of any steps you take, so please do get advice before doing anything that is irrevocable. In all discussions about pensions and retirement income, we shouldn’t ignore the option to take out an annuity. Annuities provide a guaranteed income either for life or for a fixed term but have somewhat fallen out of favour since the new flexible rules came into force in April 2015. However, there are still good reasons why they might be suitable for some people and are an option to explore alongside more flexible solutions. The value of an investment and the income from it could go down as well as up. The return at the end of the investment period is not guaranteed and you may get back less than you originally invested. The tax treatment of investments depends on individual circumstances and is subject to change.

Carl Lamb

Almary Green Chartered Financial Planners www.almarygreen.com | 01603 706740

For independent financial advice, contact Almary Green on 01603 706740 or email enquiries@almarygreen.com. Please remember that the advice here is generic and we recommend that you get individual personalised advice.

101

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LEGAL

norton peskett solicitors

“However, this seems to me to be nonsense - if they want anonymity then perhaps they should wear a mask, like the Lone Ranger!”

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES LEGAL EXPERT JULIAN GIBBONS TAKES A LOOK AT THE TRADITIONS OF THE COURTS

No-one will be surprised by the statement

that the law is suffused with tradition. There is no single image which conjures up law in general and the common law in particular than a picture of a legal wig. The image is not only iconic of the law in this country but also in many other countries, particularly those with the common law tradition such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and even India. Those countries are ones where the English System has been transplanted and where it continues to flourish to this day. When it comes to these traditions, I must admit to being a bit ambivalent. I am probably also a bit of a hypocrite. During one part of my career I appeared fairly regularly in courts where, as a solicitor, I had to wear a gown. With the gown went a winged collar and what are known as tabs. The collar was particularly inconvenient, since it had to be worn with a shirt which took a detachable collar. Those probably went out of common use in the 1950s. They were quite uncomfortable to wear and had to be ordered specially from a legal tailor in London. I didn’t really like wearing this outfit, but I must admit that when I occasionally caught sight of myself in a reflection there was a certain pride. I was always quite grateful that I did not have to wear a wig as well as apparently they can be quite sweaty, difficult to keep clean and expensive to buy. For the last few years I have been a council member at the Notaries Society and in October I was lucky enough, if that is the right way of putting it, to be invited to attend in that capacity at the opening of the legal year, which took place at Westminster Abbey. The Society has a number of gowns specially designed for its members to wear on such occasions. Unlike the gown of a judge or a barrister, this one was designed quite recently and is in quite a nice shade of red! In fact, the design is taken from a 15th century painting of a notary public in Italy. Appropriately

gowned, the four of us paraded into the Abbey behind the High Court judges in their red gowns and the judges of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in their black and gold braid. It certainly made for an impressive sight and it was a nice feeling to be part of what is a unique ceremony dating back some 300 years. Yet, it poses certain questions. First and foremost, there has been criticism of the intense religious aspect of the occasion; not just religious but, of course, Christian. I make no particular comment on this other than to say that in an age when judicial independence is even more important than it was the past, there must be a question over whether judges should be participating in such a ceremony which is fairly obviously slanted towards one particular religious persuasion. I must admit, too, that I have always had an issue with the need for robes and gowns in court. The traditional argument is that it gives dignity to the legal process and, whilst that argument is understandable, one has to ask why therefore in some of the most common courts that people are likely to visit there are no robes and wigs. This is so both in the magistrates’ courts and in many parts of the civil court system, particularly when family cases are being heard. One of the arguments in favour of wigs made by the bar is that the wig gives anonymity. However, this seems to me to be nonsense - if they want anonymity then perhaps they should wear a mask, like the Lone Ranger! I am of course being a bit mischievous. However, to me all that is best in the common law system - and there is much that is very good indeed - survives not because judges wear robes but because it is good. At its best, the common law represents a set of values which gave this country not only unparalleled freedoms of speech and action when other countries were ruled by absolute monarchs, but it also provided a constitution and legal system sufficiently flexible that it has avoided the carnage of revolution which swept through Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. That is worth preserving far more than wigs and gowns.

Julian Gibbons Norton Peskett Solicitors www.nortonpeskett.co.uk | 01493 849200

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VISITNORWICH GET-TOGETHER GIGGLING SQUID

VisitNorwich members held a festive get-together at one of Norwich’s newest restaurants, Giggling Squid, to celebrate 2016’s successes. VisitNorwich launched a new tourism brand in 2016; Norwich, the City of Stories, a new-look blog www.cityofstories. co.uk; and six captivating short films on YouTube. City of Stories caught the eye of a new digital audience for Norwich with views and social media follows rising quickly. Representatives from Norwich Attractions Group also attended the event so guests could informally discuss plans for 2017.

Photos by SIMON FINLAY PHOTOGRAPHY

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Bethan Holdridge, James Shelton, Nick Bond, Angela Riley, Caroline Jarrold, Richard Smith, Cathy Terry, Melanie Cook Natalie Douglas, Carrie O’Donnell, Nicky Burgess, Nick Lane, Gina Frost, Dawn Lossau. Cathy Terry, Louise Hunt, Vijay Jetani, Helen Vinsen, Bethan Holdridge Chris and Sally Entwistle, John Gordon-Saker, Nic Eddy, Geoff and Sara Hillyer Erica Green, Melanie Cook, Stuart Galloway, Bryony Pitt Natalie Douglas, Carrie ODonnell and Nick Lane Sally and Chris Entwistle, Angela Riley and Bryony Pitt Vijay Jetani, Jayne Raffles and Nick Bond

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SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE AWARDS 2016 GREAT YARMOUTH TOWN HALL

Top businesses stepped into the spotlight at the Spirit of Enterprise Awards, the biggest and most prestigious celebration of business excellence in the Great Yarmouth borough. Now in its ninth year, the Awards are organised by enterpriseGY, Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s business support service, and celebrate the borough’s top-performing firms. Held in the elegant Assembly Room on Friday, November 11, Bateman Groundworks Ltd was announced as the 2016 Business of the Year. More at: www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk

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Richard Bateman and James Shipp 2. Ruth Harrison, Amanda Blyth and Ronnie Blyth 3. Geoff Tucker, Gail Hodds, Rebecca Algar and Ben Stone 4. Anne Edwards and Richard Bateman 5. Kevin Huggins, Neil Jackson, Rachel Walsh, Tanya Sutcliffe, April Westgate and Zoe Osborne 6. Kevin Huggins, Tanya Sutcliffe, April Westgate, Zoe Osborne and Billy Robinson, 7. Karl Hawkins, Sharon O’Mahony and Ashley Peddle 8. Andy Warnes, Donna Ioannou, Lynne Howes 9. Lana IlJiciova, Sharon O’Mahony, Greg Allan, Paul Gibbs, Ken Gibbs and Mark O’Mahony 10. John Potter and Gareth Brown

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COOPER NORWICH MACMILLAN CHARITY BALL TOP OF THE TERRACE NCFC

A night of glitz and glamour took place at Norwich City Football Club on Saturday, November 26 in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Organised by Cooper Norwich, this very special Christmas ball – brought about by the Ultimate Driving Machine - included a drinks reception, delicious three-course meal, entertainment and a charity raffle and auction. Photos by ROSS HAGAN

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1. Chelsie and Andrew Bracking 2. Hannah and Matt Hanford 3. Chris Polidano and Jamie-Lea Cassidy 4. Colin and Julie Chandler 5. Debbie and Steve Jones 6. Denise and Brett Drabble 7. Elizabeth and Ross St Quinton 8. Faith and Mark Ames 9. Francesco Fullin and Silvia Guroili 10. Georgia Butler and Sharon Turnbull 11. Graham and Erika Nichollas 12. Grant and Elizabeth Rolfe 13. Nikki Nichols, Demi Simmonds and Lisa Pollard

14. Ian and Maxine Robertson 15. Joanna Smith and Adam Covell 16. Mark Tomlin, Gemma Chapman, Mel King-Tomlin, Ollie Chapman 17. Matthew and Sarah Alexander 18. Nick and Jennie Wastell 19. Noel Howes and Becky Pike 20.Rachel and Paul Blunt 21. Sam and Hena Shah 22. Sebastian Petris and Abbie Hammond 23. Shanice and Dan Benson 24. Sharon and Jon Taylor 25. Tina and Andrew Smith

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BUSINESS AWARDS

IVY HOUSE COUNTRY HOTEL, LOWESTOFT Local businesses gathered for the ninth year to celebrate outstanding individual and group achievements at the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce in Lowestoft & Waveney Business Awards. The stunning, sold-out ceremony celebrated 14 awards, from Apprentice of the Year to Business of the Year. Over 200 local businesses and special guests enjoyed a Buck’s Fizz reception and three-course meal with entertainment from soul vocalist Douglas Brown of Quirk Bespoke Events, with the evening expertly compered by Chris Bailey. Photos by FERINI MEDIA

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Award winners and sponsors 2016 Dr Adrian Parton MBE, Keith Parton and Jason King Millie Rose Stammers and Dr Adrian Parton MBE Phil Aves and Alicia Haynes Andrew Papworth, James Reeder and Geoff Maddison John Dugmore, Jules Shorrock, Nick Garrod and Martin Wilson Jed Levett and Peter Aldous MP

8. Cllr Colin Law and Christine Pinsent 9. Ian Gregory and Jeremy Rowe 10. Matthew Bailey and Nicola Corbett 11. Robert Beare and Nick Garrod 12. Vicky Howes and Claire Trudgill 13. Danny Steel and Rosie Kefford 14. Julie Jackson, Kathryn Haynes, Alicia Haynes and Emma Crowe 15. David Howard, Sarah Walker and Susan Patterson

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CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL

ST PETER MANCROFT CHURCH, NORWICH A drinks reception took place on Wednesday, November 30 at St Peter Mancroft Church in Norwich to mark the opening of the Christmas Tree Festival. Around 100 guests attended the event, including the Lord Mayor and Sheriff. The Festival is run by the Norwich St Edmund Rotary Club, with the Christmas trees sponsored by businesses and charities, who were represented on the night. Almary Green Chartered Financial Planners sponsored the launch event.

Photos by SARAHDARREN PHOTOGRAPHY

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Lord Mayor - Marion Maxwell and Sheriff of Norwich Richard Marks Carl Lamb, Almary Green Jayne Buckingham and Matt Garlinge (Hamlett Charity) Matthew Beck, Tom Fiske, Lewis Easter and David Colman, Almary Green Barry Catchpole and Brenda Gostling Caroline and Jon Evans, Jilly Boocock Sandra and David Pennell (President of Rotary Club Norwich St Edmund) Mancroft church scene Graham and Janet Smith

10. Janet and Graham Smith 11. Anne and Vince Wolverson (Chairman and trustee of Civic Charity) 12. Carole Durrant 13. Sheridan Smith (intu Chapelfield), Pippa Lain-Smith (Plain Speaking PR), Fletcher Lain-Smith and Richard Lain-Smith (Norse Care) 14. Jonathan Adkins and Richard and Maeve Marks, Sheriff of Norwich and Sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lady 15. Lord Mayor Marion Maxwell and Deputy Leader of Norwich City Council, Gail Harris 16. Lord Mayor Marion Maxwell 17. General view 113

Why do you enjoy working on the programme? It’s always different. I get to work on so many different types of things and am always meeting incredible people. I’m very lucky. I’m also a producer and the series director, so I get to work on many aspects of the programme. You also present Treasure Quest with Sophie Little on BBC Radio Norfolk – what do you enjoy most about that? Oh well, you hit the nail on the head with the question: Sophie Little! She is a real talent and a delight to co-present with. You never know what’s going to happen on that show and I think that’s the beauty of it.

5 minutes with

David Whiteley

2017 is set to be another busy year for popular TV presenter, David Whiteley, as he tells Places&Faces® Born in Essex in 1977, David Whiteley began working in the media in the 1990s, at the age of just 18. He initially worked as a reporter and newsreader for commercial radio and then with his local BBC station, BBC Essex. In 2001 he moved to Norfolk to become a television reporter for BBC Look East, working on the programme for 18 months and winning a Royal Television Society award. In 2003 he became the presenter of Look East’s sister programme, the regional current affairs series Inside Out on BBC One, which he has presented ever since, also working as a director and producer on the programme. His other TV work has included the nationally-networked BBC One documentary The Village That’s Falling Into The Sea, about the damaging effects of the December 2013 storm surge at Hemsby on the east coast of Norfolk. From the mid-2000s, David often stood in as a programme presenter for BBC Radio Norfolk, before landing a regular job at the station in January 2010 as the presenter of the Saturday breakfast show. He continued to present Saturday breakfast until August 2016, when he stood down to concentrate on presenting Treasure Quest, which he took over in May 2016, and on his television work. He is married to a fellow BBC television presenter Amelia Reynolds and they live in South Norfolk with their two daughters. He talks to Places&Faces® about the year ahead… What can viewers expect from Inside Out – East in 2017? We have some amazing stories coming your way in 2017. We have our usual eclectic mix of topics, ranging from investigations to the lighter side of life. We look into new ways the police can test drivers for drugs, we take a look at GPs’ services, online scams, the history of radar and The Royal Marines, to name a few!

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Can you tell us a little about your family life? I’m married to Amelia Reynolds, who presents the news on BBC Look East and the Sunday Politics. We have two daughters, Annabel, who’s six, and Cleo, who’s three. They really are everything to us and we love nothing better than just being all together, especially with our hectic schedules. What do you like about living in Norfolk? Everything! There is so much to love about Norfolk. I surf the North Sea all year round, so I’m a massive fan of the beaches. Is there anything that you dislike? Not really, it’s just too darn good! East Anglia has got lots to offer; how would you spend a day off in the region? Just being with the family, or going surfing. We love the beach as a family and love Sea Palling, Cromer and Overstrand. Thetford Forest has loads to offer and we love going there too. Where do you like to eat out? We are so lucky to have such great places to eat in Norfolk. What are your hobbies? Well I love to surf, have I not mentioned it?! I’m also the patron of the North Norfolk Surf Lifesaving Club. But I like running too. What do you miss most when you’re away from the region? Home! What music are you listening to at the moment and do you have a book on the go? I was recently introduced to ‘The War on Drugs’ - their latest album is incredible, but I think it’s already a couple of years old. Sadly, no books on the go at the moment. I’m usually too exhausted by the evening, though we are re-reading children’s classics to our girls; currently it’s the BFG. What about TV and radio programmes – which are your favourites? I have really enjoyed the latest Planet Earth 2 series, just the BBC at its best. Strictly is a firm favourite in our house too. And if you like new music, check out my mate Sophie Little’s show BBC Introducing, it’s awesome!

Can you sum yourself up in five words? Inquisitive, impulsive, energetic, content, learning! Do you have any New Year’s resolutions? No, I never see the point, you can change at any time, if you feel the need!

STREETS AHEAD.

THE MINI ONE 3-DOOR HATCH. £149 PER MONTH PLUS DEPOSIT. MINI Select representative finance example: MINI One 3-door Hatch.

Term of Agreement

48 months

Option to Purchase Fee^

£1.00

47 Monthly Payments of

£149.00

Optional Final Payment^

£5,800.21

On the Road Cash Price*

£12,680.76

Total Deposit Amount of Credit

£1,799.00 £10,881.76

Total Amount Payable

£14,603.21

Rate of Interest

5.9% fixed Representative 5.9% APR

Cooper Norwich Forest Way, Dereham Rd, Norwich NR5 0JH 01603 294957 www.miniplacesandfaces.co.uk

Official Fuel Economy Figures for the MINI Range: Urban 26.4-72.4 mpg (10.7-3.9 l/100km). Extra Urban 44.8-91.1 mpg (6.3-3.1 l/100km). Combined 35.8-83.1 mpg (7.9-3.4 l/100km). CO2 Emissions 184-89 g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions. The Cooper Group is a credit broker and not a lender. Finance example is for a MINI Select agreement for a MINI One 1.2 3-Door Hatch, with a contract mileage of 32,000 miles and excess mileage charge of 4.01p per mile. Applies to new vehicles ordered between 1 October and 31 December 2016 and registered by 31 March 2017, (subject to availability). Retail customers only. *On the road cash price is based on manufacturer’s recommended retail price and includes 3 year MINI Retailer Warranty, MINI Emergency Service, 12 months’ road fund licence, vehicle first registration fee, delivery, number plates and VAT. ^Optional final payment and option to purchase fee not payable if you opt to return the vehicle at the end of the agreement (vehicle condition, excess mileage and other charges may be payable). Finance available subject to credit acceptance to UK residents aged 18 or over. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. Terms and conditions apply. Offer may be varied, withdrawn or extended at any time. ‘MINI Select’ is a form of hire-purchase agreement provided by MINI Financial Services, Summit ONE, Summit Avenue, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 0FB. You will have a 14 day statutory right to withdraw from the agreement. Inchcape Retail Limited trading as The Cooper Group, commonly introduce customers to a selected panel of lenders including MINI Financial Services. We may receive commission or other benefits for introducing you to such lenders. This introduction does not amount to independent financial advice.

The all-new Audi A5 Coupé Enhanced design. Luxurious interiors. Our latest technology. While the all-new Audi A5 takes the same distinctive silhouette, it adds a clearer, bolder face. The result is a look that’s innovative, yet iconic. From £30,700^

The all-new A5 Coupé is now available to test drive. Norwich Audi Meridian Way Norwich NR7 0TA 01603 709200 www.norwich.audi.co.uk Official fuel consumption figures for the New Audi A5 S range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 37.2 (7.6) – 60.1 (4.7), Extra Urban 54.3 (5.2) – 78.5 (3.6), Combined 44.8 (6.3) – 70.6 (4.0). CO2 emissions: 144 – 105 g/km. Fuel consumption and CO2 figures are obtained under standardised EU test conditions (Directive 93/116/EEC). This allows a direct comparison between different manufacturer models but may not represent the actual fuel consumption achieved in ‘real world’ driving conditions. Optional wheels may affect emissions and fuel consumption figures. Image shown for illustration purposes only. More information is available on the Audi website at www.audi.co.uk and at www.dft.gov.uk/vca. Êxample for model A5 Coupé SE 2.0 TFSI 190PS recommended on-the-road price. Accurate at time of publication [December 2016].