Places & Faces North Norfolk 12 March 2018

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OVER PAGES OF WHAT’S ON —

2 CRAWFISH INN RESTAURANT REVIEWS:

&

THE NEW FORGE —

Mother’s day

Fashion:

STAR OF THE SNOW!

ESSENTIAL GIFTS —

BEN RACE —

SARAH DARLING

NOEL KIMGALLAGHER WILDE

—

Sir MICHAEL PARKINSON

YOU’VE SEEN THE LAST OF OASIS

A WALK ON THE WILDE SIDE

CELEBRITIES / FOOD / TRAVEL / FASHION / HOMES & GARDENS / THEATRE ISSUE № 94 ISSUE № 12

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Fuel consumption figures sourced from official EU-regulated laboratory test results, are provided for comparison purposes and may not reflect real-life driving experience. Models Shown: Jazz 1.3 i-VTEC EX Manual in White Orchid Pearl, Civic 129PS VTEC SE in Lunar Silver, HR-V 1.5 i-VTEC S Manual in Modern Steel, and CR-V 2.0 i-VTEC S Navi Manual 2WD in Twilight Blue Metallic. Terms and Conditions: Nil Advance Payment offer on Jazz 1.3 i-VTEC EX Manual, £199 Advance Payment offer on Civic 129PS VTEC SE Manual, £1,199 Advance Payment offer onHR-V 1.5 i-VTEC S Manual and £199 Advance Payment on CR-V 2.0 i-VTEC S Navi Manual 2WD. All offers are correct at the time of going to print however Honda (UK) reserves the right to change this offer at any time. Models subject to availability. Written details available on request. The scheme is available to recipients of the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance or War Pensioners Mobility Supplement.

To qualify for this offer you must be in receipt of a minimum of 12 months allowance. Valid for applications between 1st January 2018 to 31st March 2018 to Motability Operations Limited (Registered Company No. 1373876), City Gate House, 22 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HB. Promoter is Honda Motor Europe Limited trading as Honda (UK) at Cain Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1HL.

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*Terms and Conditions apply. Sold as an agent of Euronics Limited. All rights reserved. All offers are subject to availability while stocks last. Delivery & Installation charges may apply Exclusions and Radius Apply. Prices correct at time of print but *Terms and Conditions apply. Sold as an agent of Euronics Limited. All rights reserved. All offers are subject to availability while stocks last. Delivery & Installation charges may apply Exclusions and Radius Apply. Prices correct at time of print but can can be subject to change. See in store for full details. Images for illustration purposes only. Copyright Euronics 2017. E&OE January 2018. Saving compared to a higher price charged for 7 days in the last six months unless otherwise stated. be subject to change. See in store for full details. Images for illustration purposes only. Copyright Euronics 2017. E&OE November 2017. Saving compared to a higher price charged for 28 days in the last six months unless otherwise stated.

2018-LOCALPRESS-LMLE-L-A4 (GENERIC) .indd 1 2017- LP Christmas L A4 (GENERIC) .indd 1

11/01/2018 10:56 08/11/2017 11:46

WELCOME

TO MARCH’S PLACES&FACES®

M E E T T H E T E A M COLIN HUGGINS PUBLISHER

M: 07775 858862 E: colin@h2creativemedia.co.uk

DONNA TITCOMBE FASHION & BEAUTY EDITOR

E: donna@h2creativemedia.co.uk

ANDREW HIRST HEAD OF CLIENT SERVICES / STUDIO

T: 01502 725860 E: andrew@h2creativemedia.co.uk

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER

ROB FOSBROOK

E: rob@h2creativemedia.co.uk T: 01502 725876 M: 07780 430706 SPECIAL PROJECTS CO-ORDINATOR

JOHN CLIFF

IN THIS MONTH’S EDITION the team have been, as ever,

seeking some great interviews and articles for you to enjoy.

This month Pete Goodrum talks with pop legend Kim Wilde ahead of her appearance at The Regent Theatre, Ipswich in March. We also caught up with Sir Michael Parkinson who famously presented his television talk show, Parkinson, from 1971 to 1982 and from 1998 to 2007, as well as other talk shows and programmes both in the UK and internationally.He tells us about his passion for music, his best ever interview along with his worst and the best ever moment of his long and very successful career.

Take three of Britain’s best-known and most successful actors, add in a multi-award-winning play and stir in themes exploring the bonds of friendship and the lure of modern art together with a few laughs and you have ART. Vicky Edwards caught up with the three stars of the show Nigel Havers, Denis Lawson and Stephen Tompkinson on the first day of their rehearsals.

Legendary broadcaster Paul Gambaccini celebrates his 45th anniversary in the business in 2018 with a series of live theatre dates James Rampton caught up with The Great Gambo ahead of his tour that will see him talk at venues in Cromer and Bury St Edmunds.

This is just a very short taster of what is inside our latest issue of Places&Faces® magazine, so as we always say sit back and relax with a glass of wine or a nice hot cup of coffee and enjoy our March issue.

E: john.cliff@h2creativemedia.co.uk T: 01502 725800 ACCOUNT MANAGER

SAMANTHA GARSTANG

E: samantha@h2creativemedia.co.uk T: 01502 725878

ANNOUNCEMENT

CONTRIBUTORS

John Haresign ,Vicky Edwards, Hellen Culling, Katja Banbridge, Jean Levy, Carolyn Atkins, David Wakefield, George Nicholls, James Rampton, Samantha Fraser, Mark Nicholls, Kate Morfoot, Liz Morais, John Bultitude, Judy Foster, Pete Goodrum, Nicholas Mobbs, Peter Clarke, Carl Lamb, Julian Gibbons, Hayley Philpott, Eliza Miller, Jennifer Dwyer, Melanie Cook, Kayla Dunne, Lucy Downing, Samantha Thompson, Richard Batson, Neill Barston, Julie Handforth Doidge Cover image: Steve Ullathorne

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This is an exciting announcement for us and will enable us to further develop our portfolio of magazines as well as yield important benefits for our suppliers and customers and more importantly you our readers. We are as committed as ever to producing great magazines that are packed with articles of interest.

I am very pleased to say that I will continue to head up the H2Creative Media division of Micropress as Publisher.

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THE NUMBER ONE CHOICE FOR BEDS AND ADVICE Massive savings & big brand special offers Choose from a superb selection of divan-sets & mattresses, fabric upholstered bases & headboards, wooden & metal bedframes all from classic traditional to the latest contemporary styles Disposal service available and free delivery Come and visit the bed experts today at: Curtis Road, Norwich NR6 6RB Tel: 01603 483636 22 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EJ Tel: 01603 768260 Cowper Road, Dereham, Norfolk NR19 2DA Tel: 01362 690498 Osier Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 1TA Tel: 01284 700846 Greyfriars Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 7DX Tel: 01284 723723

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CONTENTS

78

56 50

41

COVER STORY

PERSONALITIES

WHAT’S ON

36

46 17 19 26

28 34 42

Kim Wilde

Visit North Norfolk What’s on in March The Fun Starts Here!!

Pleasurewood Hills Surprise, Surprise: Cilla The Musical ART with Nigel Havers, Denis Lawson and Stephen Tompkinson The Jungle Book

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46

28

32 38 41

44 50 52 82

John Levy - Go West Goes East In Coversation with Liza Pullman The Great Gambo: Paul Gambaccini Norwich Musician Ben Race 10 things you might not know about: Taylor Swift Sarah Darling Sir Michael Parkinson Five Minutes with...

TRAVEL 78 81

Glamping Staycations Investing in Holiday Letting

FOOD AND DRINK 63 64 67 68 70

Cocktail time !!

Food and wine from The Imperial Hotel Richard Bainbridge Restaurant Review: The New Forge Restaurant Review: The Crawfish Inn

FEATURES 73

Mothering Sunday...

BUSINESS 13

Financial advice from Carl Lamb

FASHION, BEAUTY & HEALTH 56 59 61

Ladies Fashion: Snow Style Mother’s Day Gifts Well groomed man

09

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KITCHEN COLLECTION The Laura Ashley Kitchen Collection is now available to view at:

Appointed Stockist for the Laura Ashley Kitchen Collection Unit 2, Old Station Yard, Norwich Road, Cromer, NR27 0HF

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For the Highest Quality Financial Advice

Talk to a Chartered Financial Planner

Pensions

Life Insurance Investments

Find out more at almarygreen.com Tel 01603 706740 Email enquiries@almarygreen.com Almary Green Investments Ltd, Greenfields House, 10 Meridian Way, Meridian Business Park, Norwich NR7 0TA

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

“Firstly, banks and other financial institutions won’t ask for PINs or other personal information over the phone. In fact absolutely no-one has the right to ask for this information.”

DON’T GET C AU G H T I N SCAMMERS’ TRAPS WE’RE ALL AT RISK FROM BEING DUPED

BY FRAUDSTERS WHO TRY TO SEPARATE US FROM OUR HARD-EARNED CASH. CARL LAMB LOOKS AT SOME OF THE SIGNS THAT YOU MIGHT BE UNDER ATTACK.

A REPORT FROM the Public Accounts Committee published towards the end of 2017 found that online fraud alone is costing an estimated £10 billion a year. However, the impact goes beyond the numbers: the anxiety, distress and hardship caused by financial fraud is much more difficult to measure.

Fraudsters prey on the lack of understanding that many people have about their finances and are very convincing: it’s how they make their money and they will be good at it.

However, there are some basic facts to remember that will help you spot a potential scam.

Firstly, banks and other financial institutions won’t ask for PINs or other personal information over the phone. In fact absolutely no-one has the right to ask for this information.

This message is being pressed home through TV advertising, so hopefully most people will say no if asked, but beware of very official sounding callers – fraudsters pretending to be from the Tax Office, the Financial Conduct Authority or even the Police.

The second point to get home is that pension money has special tax treatment, but if you access your pension in an unsafe way, you could get hit with a serious tax bill. You need to be very wary of anyone who suggests that you move your entire pension pot overseas, for example, or of those who suggest you might convert your fund into a huge cash pot.

At best, you’ll be faced with a big tax bill – and at worst your money may disappear never to be seen again.

Then there’s the sticky subject of investments. Scams are widespread with people telling you that you can make a huge profit by putting your money into one scheme or another.

Nigerian investment schemes feature heavily, but there are many more. There’s a simple rule of thumb here: if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

Scammers often put pressure on their victims to make an instant decision, saying that the rate/investment/opportunity will only be available for a limited time. It’s a warning sign that there may be a fraud involved if heavy pressure is being applied.

If you need advice about your pensions or investments, talk to an Independent Financial Planner who is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. They will look at all the options available in the marketplace and ensure that the measures you put in place are both legal and genuine.

Another regular type of fraud attack is an email that appears to be from someone you know asking for money to be transferred to help them out of an emergency situation.

The scammer may have hacked into the supposed sender’s email account or may perhaps be using a masked email address that looks like it’s real but is actually coming from a completely different email account. We’ve seen emails like this in a business environment too, so it’s not just individuals that need to keep alert.

Hacked email accounts are a particularly dangerous tool used by scammers. If they have read your emails – or those of someone you already know and trust – they can learn a lot and can more convincingly pretend to be the real person.

Our best advice is to always be cautious if you receive any unexpected contact by email or phone and to rely on known sources of advice rather than those whose identity or situation you cannot easily validate.

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.

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P&F March_Layout 1 15/02/2018 16:42 Page 1

bolton’s bistro cromer.. everyone welcome discover a world of tastes Fresh Fish Dishes Cromer Crab Local Lobster Meat Dishes Local Steaks Steak Burger Pasta Dishes Vegetarian Dishes Desserts to die for Daily Specials Seasonal menus Tempting choices Children’s Menu

Locally sourced produce is always our aim - We cater for special dietary requirements

Discover the delights of The Westcliff A la Carte Restaurant perfectly situated so that it overlooks the sea.

Designed by the renowned architect ‘Skipper’, this grand Edwardian dining room has its own Minstrels’ Gallery, marble fireplace and spectacular stained glass windows and doors.

Bolton’s Bistro, Runton Road, Cromer NR27 9AS 01263 512543 email – reservations@cliftonvillehotel.co.uk @boltonsbistro -

www.facebook.com/boltonsbistrocromer

Find us at the Cliftonville Hotel - Cromer’s longest established independently owned hotel

North Norfolk’s Stockist and Showroom of Clearview Stoves the industry’s leading manufacturers

Also stocking a range of traditional to modern stoves from highly respected names such as Aga, Stovax and Mendip Call us for a free quote 01328 854098 Firingsquad Woodburners advise supply install www.firingsquadwoodburners.com

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Upholstery, Curtains and Blinds • • • • • TRADITIONAL DUTCH CUISINE INCLUDING AN EXTENSIVE CHOICE OF SWEET AND SAVOURY DUTCH PANCAKES AND OTHER DUTCH SPECIALITIES FOR LUNCH AND DINNER

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Hand made sofas and chairs Traditional & contemporary Re-Upholstery Made to measure curtains and blinds Vertical. Roller & blackout blinds Loose covers Curtain track & poles supplied and fitted Repairs and alterations

Whether it’s a spring repair, new seat foams or a complete lounge suite with co-ordinating curtains you can be guaranteed of first class customer service and attention to detail.

• Ralph Lauren • Designers Guild • Zinc • Romo • Christian Lacroix • GP & J Baker • Clarke & Clarke • Linwood fabrics & wall coverings • William Morris fabrics & wall coverings • Sandersons fabrics, wall coverings & paint

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At Williams all of our work is carried out at our West Runton premises as it has been for the last 30 years, no middlemen means greater value for money.

INTERIORS

Bookings now being taken for MOTHERS DAY and EASTER

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VISIT NORTH NORFOLK

Spring in to

N O r t h N O r fo lk

A s t h e we a t h e r wa r m s u p a n d t h e re ’s s i g n s o f n e w l i f e i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e w i t h f l o w e r s a n d b i r d s o n g , w e k n o w S p r i n g i s o n i t s w a y. T h i s i s a g r e a t t i m e t o g e t outdoors and enjoy North Norfolk, says Kayla Dunne from Visit North Norfolk.

S

pring is such a fantastic time to explore the changing landscape, as signs of spring emerge along the coast and throughout the countryside. The season also brings many events for everyone to enjoy, celebrating the very best north Norfolk has to offer.

See spring flowers: Spring brings the first sign of colours back to the north Norfolk landscape. Snowdrops are often the first to appear. Don’t miss the shower of snowdrops at Walsingham Abbey and National Trust’s Sheringham Park where you’ll also see primrose, cowslips, magnolias and colourful rhododendrons and azaleas. Foxley Wood in Reepham has an amazing carpet of Bluebells.

Blickling Hall’s 55-acre garden is one of the greatest in England where you’ll find daffodils, bluebells, azaleas, rhododendron, wisteria and peonies.

Feed lambs: Lambing season is a true sign of Spring! Head to Wroxham Barns or Snettisham Park where you can feed the lambs and find out more about them.

Birdwatching: Along with Winter, Spring is a perfect time of year to see birdlife in north Norfolk. The warmer climate brings the first Spring migrants such as Sand Martins, Swallows and Chiffchaffs. You may spot a Bluethroat along the Norfolk Coastal Path.

No wonder Norfolk is often called the UK’s birdwatching capital! You can find out more

and enjoy events at Pensthorpe Natural Park and RSPB and nature reserves.

Go for a cycle: Take advantage of the warmer weather and quiet country lanes to explore by bike. There are many trails to choose from according to length and ability. Take in the north Norfolk Spring landscape at your own pace. And don’t worry if you don’t have a bike, there are plenty of places to hire one.

Enjoy fantastic festivals: North Norfolk’s famous festivals celebrating the history and heritage of the area are an annual delight.

Discover more about north Norfolk’s past and celebrate its heritage through the many festivals and carnivals that take place throughout the year. In Spring, you can enjoy the Spring Steam Gala (20 – 22 April), Folk on the Pier (11-13 May), as well as the Crab & Lobster Festival (19-20 May).

Explore the Broads National Park: Home to more than a quarter of the rarest plants and animals in the UK, the Broads National Park is Britain’s largest protected wetland and the third largest inland waterway. Explore by foot, bike or boat stopping off at the many riverside pubs and cafés. From Saturday 28 April to Sunday 13 May, you can enjoy the Broads Outdoor Festival where you can try lots of activities celebrating the Broads.

Beachcombing and fossil hunting: Beachcombing is great fun and more successful when there’s less crowds. Many of north Norfolk’s beaches are part of the

Deep History Coast where a 600,000 yearold mammoth skeleton was discovered at West Runton beach. And so, beachcombing often reveals pieces of history and treasures such as amber, sea glass, shells, fossils including belemnites, sea urchins, sea sponges and mammoth teeth, and if you’re lucky fossilised hyaena dung! You can take any fossil finds to Cromer Museum for identification.

Stately homes: Visiting north Norfolk’s stately homes reveals something new on each visit. Not only is it fascinating to explore the houses and their exhibitions, but Spring brings new life to the gardens and grounds. At Houghton Hall from 25 March to 15 July, there will be a Damien Hirst exhibition, entitled Colour Space, installed in the State Rooms at Houghton Hall. The exhibition will include a number of the artist’s most celebrated sculptures throughout the 18th-century house and gardens. The Colour Space paintings have never been shown in public before and are a development of the iconic Spot Paintings which are among the artist’s most recognised works.

Whatever your interest, there’s plenty to enjoy in north Norfolk this Spring.

FOR MORE information, please see visitnorthnorfolk.com

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Come and try our exciting new menu

keepitfun.rank.com Over 18s only. Photo ID is required. www.gambleaware.co.uk

O P P O S I T E W E L L I N G TO N P I E R AT M A R I N E PA R A D E , G R E AT YA R M O U T H , N O R F O L K , N R 3 0 3 J G

01493 850444

W W W. G RO S V E N O RC A S I N O S . C O M

WHAt's On

IN

MARC

H

LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL OMG you guys!!! Legally Blonde The Musical is coming to Norwich Theatre Royal! Starring Rita Simons (Roxy Mitchell in BBC’s EastEnders) as Paulette Bonafonte, Lucie Jones (Eurovision UK representative 2017, other Musical Theatre credits include Rent, Les Miserables, Ghost, We Will Rock You) as Elle Woods, and Bill Ward (James Barton in Emmerdale, Charlie Stubbs in Coronation Street) as Professor Callahan.

The smash hit Broadway and West End Musical based on the best loved movie follows sorority sister Elle Woods who, after being dumped, puts down the credit cards and picks up the books to bag herself a place at the prestigious Harvard Law School to try and win him back.

Packing up her trusty pooch, Bruiser, and with the support of her new friends she learns that you can be both smart and fashionable. This all singing, all dancing romantic comedy is totally what you want, so bend and snap up your tickets today!

– Norwich Theatre Royal Monday 26 - Saturday 31 March www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

THE PIRATES ARE COMING Join Jack Jay and Johnny Mac for a brand new pirate adventure beginning 22 March 2018. Pirates Live! is without a doubt the UK’s no.1 live action pirate show, featuring acrobats, fire breathers, daredevils and of cause lots of rum too! This all new version of the smash hit show is set to break all records, with advance bookings at an all-time high – if you or the kids feel like dressing as a pirate, do it, it will make a great family photo or selfie at the end of the show when everyone has a chance to meet Jack and Johnny. You will love the motley crew of pirates and even mermaids!

– Hippodrome Circus Great Yarmouth 29 March until 22 April www.hippodromecircus.co.uk

BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN Beth Nielsen Chapman’s new Americana release, ‘Hearts of Glass’ is a powerful collection of songs that dig deep into the place within us where vulnerability meets strength.

The songs include several new compositions as well as several gems from Beth’s previous releases that have been rerecorded. The twice Grammynominated Nashville based singersongwriter has penned numerous hits and written songs for many top artists including Emmylou Harris, Bette Midler, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Willie Nelson and many more. Among Beth’s own recordings, her album ‘Deeper Still’ was voted ‘Album Of The Year’

by Terry Wogan.

– The Apex Theatre, Bury St Edmunds Monday 19 March www.theapex.co.uk 19

M A n ' O RCH s t A H W IN

DOO-WOOP Doo-wop to The Overtones as they bring their sweet soul music and Motown style to Potters. The one night break starts from just £139 per person and includes the boys performing their hits live, comfortable accommodation, a five course dinner with selected wines, midnight dish, breakfast and late night entertainment and use of the Resort’s many facilities.

– Potters Resort, Hopton | Sunday 22 April www.pottersholidays.com

COMEDY - CERI DUPREE The Faaaaabulous Comedy female impersonator Ceri Dupree is on the road again! In a new show with new costumes, routines, jokes and songs!

Witness great impersonations of some of the world’s most fantastic females with characters old and new all adorned in spectacular jaw dropping costumes!!

Look out for the Queen, Camilla, Cilla Black, a tribute to Hollywood and Broadway and some of the greatest female pop stars! As Ceri says...”If it’s MOTHERING SUNDAY GUIDED WALK Explore the Spring woodland garden with its predominantly yellowflowering plants: wild primrose, skunk cabbage and daffodils, as well as wood anemones and camellias on this guided tour with, Ian Guest, Head Gardener.

Every mother receives a primrose included in garden entry price, adult £6.85, concessions £6.60, children £3.95 and free to Fairhaven members and under 5s.

– Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden Sunday 11 March, 11am to 12.30pm www.fairhavengarden.co.uk

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worth doing, it’s worth overdoing!”.

A touch of Las Vegas glitz and glamour brought to the stage in this pacey ‘over the top’ show. His energy, style, showmanship and love for the show and his appreciation of an audience shines through in this nonstop, quick changing, one man twenty one woman show!

– Norwich Playhouse Saturday 31 March www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk EASTER EGG HUNT Hunt for the colourful eggs that will lead you to a chocolate egg prize, plus face painting and Easter crafts for children. Normal entry charges plus £2.50 extra per child for Easter Egg Hunt, (every child gets an egg.) To book in advance, please book online. Limited spaces on the door.

– Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden Good Friday 30 March, 11am to 4pm www.fairhavengarden.co.uk

WHAT’S ON 60’S SENSATIONS There she was just a walkin’ down the street, singing Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do! One of the most popular, and instantly recognisable, songs of the ‘60’s and still the biggest audience pleaser at their concerts some 50 years later. The ‘60s group Manfred Mann is now considered, more than ever, one of the finest and most respected bands from that era. Their numerous hits were R&B based with an undercurrent of jazz - a very unusual but winning combination of playing style and substance. As a result, their records have a timeless quality and, some 55 years on, The Manfreds, with original front man, Paul Jones, will be performing many of their hits.

– Princess Theatre, Hunstanton | Thursday 22 March www.thelittleboxoffice.com

SUNSET BOULEVARD Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award®-winning masterpiece Sunset Boulevard stars Ria Jones, who received standing ovations every night when performing at the London Coliseum, as Norma Desmond and Strictly Come Dancing’s Danny Mac as Joe Gillis.

With its much-loved score (including Sunset Boulevard, With One Look, As If We Never Said Goodbye, The Greatest Star Of All and The Perfect Year) this production promises to be a spectacular event.

– Ipswich Regent - Monday 5 - Saturday 10 March www.apps.ipswich.gov.uk

THE SCAREY BIKERS A brand new comedy about love, life and staying on your bike, The John Godber Company and Theatre Royal Wakefield present The Scary Bikers, starring the BAFTA Award-winning duo of John Godber and Jane Thornton. When retired miner Don and former private school teacher Carol meet at a bereavement group, they think they’ve found a new beginning. But a bike ride through Europe will test their budding romance, and they will soon discover that the road to love is rocky when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. The Scary Bikers is written and directed by John Godber, who also plays the character of Don. John has the distinction of being one of the most performed writers in the English language, his plays are performed around the world and include Bouncers, Up ‘n’ Under, Sweat and Tears and Cramp. He also has an extensive career in writing and directing in TV and film including The Ritz and the BBC Two series Chalkface. Also starring as Carol is Jane Thornton, who appeared in the original theatre productions of Up ‘n’ Under, Happy Jack, September in the Rain and April in Paris. Film and TV appearances include Coronation Street, Heartbeat, Hollyoaks and My Kingdom for a Horse (Opposite Sean Bean). Jane has also written a number of plays including Say It With Flowers, All the Fun of the Fight and I want That Hair. Join Carol and Don on their hilarious and heartfelt journey, as they reconcile the past, debate the present and worry about the future. Whether they’re saddle sore in Southampton, blistered in Bordeaux or frazzled in Florence, one thing is for sure – it takes two to tandem!

– Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds Monday 19 - Wednesday 21 March www.theatreroyal.org

HEATWAVE & ODYSSEY LIVE IN CONCERT Return to the glory days of disco, funk and soul with real dance music legends and enjoy a sensational evening of non-stop, dancefloor anthems including Boogie Nights, Going Back to My Roots and Use It Up Wear It Out. While direct from the Big Apple, special guests Odyssey take us back to our roots with Native New Yorker, Inside Out and If You’re Looking for a Way Out. Prepare to use up and wear out the dance floor one last time in the definitive boogie night!

– Princess Theatre, Hunstanton Friday 16 March 7-30pm www.thelittleboxoffice.com 21

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NEW STUDIO ALBUM AND UK TOUR Punk. Funk. Rock. Soul. The main ingredients in a potent witch’s brew that The BellRays have been mixing for a long time now. Returning with their first full new album since the release of ‘Black Lightning’ in 2010, ‘Punk Funk Rock Soul Volume 2’ follows the release of ‘Volume One’, the four-track taster EP released in 2017 as an appetiser for the main feast.

– Norwich Arts Centre | Friday 16 March www.norwichartscentre.co.uk

THE DEFINITIVE TOUR With the vast catalogue of material that the Stranglers have in their recorded arsenal, it is never easy to decide exactly which songs to bring together on record or perform live on tour but, in March 2018, the band will present their “Definitive” collection. The Definitive Tour is set to coincide with the planned re-release of their first seven albums (six studio and one live) originally issued on the UA and EMI/ Liberty labels. As always, audiences can expect to be swept up high on the wave of the Stranglers’ powerful sound during what is always an exhilarating live experience; pounding rhythms, soaring melodies, quirky humour and thrillingly daring musicianship will come together again.

– The LCR in Norwich | Monday 19 March | www.uealcr.ticketabc.com TEA DANCE WITH THE RAGROOF PLAYERS SeaChange Arts have launched a regular monthly Tea Dance. Acclaimed around the country for their participatory dance work, The Ragroof Players bring DJs playing authentic music from the 1920s to the 1950s and the company’s trademark instant dance classes get everybody on their feet to trip the light fantastic. With an inclusive approach to their dance events that welcome experienced and novice dancers alike, Ragroof help coach participants through a number of classic dances from yesteryear. “Everyone is welcome. No partner needed,” explains SeaChange’s Senior Producer, Veronica Stephens. “Ragroof’s unique approach to partner dancing encourages everyone to learn the steps of both lead and follow, rather than be dictated to by gender.”

– The Drill House, York road, Great Yarmouth 24 March, 2-5pm with subsequent events on 28 April and 12 May. Tickets are £5.00 and are available at www.seachangearts.org.uk

FOLK MUSIC Faustus - An all-star folk line-up featuring Benji Kirkpatrick (Seth Lakeman Band, Bellowhead), Saul Rose (Waterson, Carthy, Whapweazel) and Paul Sartin (Bellowhead, Belshazzar’s Feast) - three of the leading lights of their generation. Rooted deeply in the English tradition and with vast talent and experience between them, a Faustus gig is a virtuosic display of musicianship and testosterone.

– Diss Corn Exchange | Sat 17 March www.thecornhall.co.uk AWARD WINNING VOCAL TRIO Brit-Award-winning vocal trio Blake return in 2018 with a special UK tour, celebrating 10 years together. The show features songs from their brand-new 10th anniversary album, along with all the band’s popular anthems in powerful three-part harmony. Enjoy a spectacular show with video projections, emotive lighting & the boys’ famously off-piste banter. With over 600 concerts performed in the UK alone, along with more than 150 TV appearances worldwide (including Graham Norton, The One Show & Strictly Come Dancing) Blake continue to thrill audiences young & old all over the globe; don’t miss them as they celebrate a decade of singing. VIP tickets include reserved front 2 rows seats, and a pre-show Meet & Greet with Blake at 7pm; a chance to share a glass of wine and have a chat to the group before the show starts.

– Maddermarket Theatre Norwich | Saturday 7 April | www.maddermarket.co.uk

23

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A COUNTRY NIGHT IN NASHVILLE Recreates the scene of a buzzing Honky Tonk in downtown Nashville, perfectly capturing the energy and atmosphere of an evening in the home of country music. Prepare to be transported on a musical journey through the decades: from Johnny Cash to Alan Jackson, Dolly to THE BAY CITY ROLLERS Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers promises to be a unique voyage back to the 1970s, when Les and his Legendary band ruled the world’s pop charts and The Bay City Rollers’ music became the soundtrack for a generation of teenagers.

– St Georges Theatre, Great Yarmouth Saturday 10 March www.stgeorgestheatre.ticketsolve.com COMMITMENTS This outstanding live stage show features original Commitments cast members and musicians from the Bafta award winning, Golden Globe and Oscar® nominated film, and multimillion selling sound track. The show consists of two hours of sizzling soul music and dialogue - a thrilling live experience that will stir your soul. They will perform all the hits from the film and soundtrack albums, including ‘Mustang Sally’, ‘Midnight Hour’, ‘Chain Of Fools’, ‘Treat her Right’, ‘Try A Little Tenderness’ and more.

– The Apex, Bury St Edmunds Thursday 22 March | www.theapex.co.uk

the Dixie Chicks, Willie Nelson to Little Big Town, don’t miss this incredible celebration of the very best of country music.

– Norwich Theatre Royal Thursday 22 March 2018 www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

THE BACHELORS The Bachelors long list of hit records and dynamic fast, moving stage show confirms the remarkable popularity of this exceptionally popular Irish act who are regularly copied and imitated, but never matched. Con and Dec Cluskey are the Original frontline voices and personalities who appeared on every hit record, tv pop programme, chat show and radio feature. Their records are played across the world and the long string of Hits include; “Ramona” “I Believe” “Charmaine” “Somewhere” “Marta” “Faraway Places” “No Arms Could Ever Hold You” “True Love For Evermore” “Marie” “Chapel In The Moonlight” ”Hello Dolly” “The Sound Of Silence” “Can I Trust You” “Walk With Faith In Your Heart” “Oh How I Miss You” “The Wild Rover” “The Fields Of Authenry”.

– Princess Theatre, Hunstanton Wednesday 11 April www.thelittleboxoffice.com

STARS OF STRICTLY After the huge success of ‘Dance is Life’ in 2017, Giovanni is once again set to get your hearts beating a little faster, showcasing a story of love and passion, with even more heat, even more energy, and even more drama than ever before!

Returning to join Giovanni are Luba Mushtuk, dancer and assistant choreographer on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, as his gorgeous leading lady, along with ‘Dancing with the Stars Ireland’ professionals Giulia Dotta, Kai Widdrington, Emily Barker, and Curtis Pritchard. The show also welcomes the fantastic Stephen Vincent and Kylee Brown from the international ‘Burn the Floor’ tour. Get ready for glitzy costumes and spectacular routines to dances like the Paso Doble, the Argentine Tango, the Rumba, the Viennese Waltz, and not forgetting the Jive, to name just a few!

– Marina Theatre Lowestoft | Fri 27 April www.marinatheatre.co.uk

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| MARCH 2018

Fun s T r StA HeRE

tHe

If you’re looking for a great day out with the whole family Pleasurewood Hills has it all.

With over 35 rides, shows and attractions there’s something for everyone whether you’re an adrenaline junkie or not!

P

leasurewood Hills in Lowestoft has been thrilling

families for 35 years and remains a family favourite.

The younger family members will have a fantastic time exploring the Kiddie Zone with its rides which are suitable for children around one metre tall, while our family friendly rides are the perfect introduction to the theme park world. And if you prefer a more extreme day out, there’s a choice of rides including Wipeout – the region’s most extreme roller coaster.

If the thought of rides turns your stomach there’s plenty to keep you occupied too. With a choice of two trains to hop on as many times as you like, a chairlift for a birds’ eye view of the park and the spectacular sealion and parrot shows to enjoy, as well as a brand new and exciting outdoor show planned for the summer, you’re sure to have a great day out at Pleasurewood Hills. And, with the new nonrider ticket you can enjoy them all for the great price of just £10.

New Indoor Play and Sensory Play Fun In July the park will open the doors on a brand new indoor soft play area. Designed for children up to the age of 10, there are plenty of places for little ones to jump, slide and climb around to burn off some excess energy.

If you’re looking for a safe soft play environment for the smallest members of the family, the new sensory room is ideal. The room is the perfect place for babies and young toddlers, as well as children with autism, or emotional and behavioural difficulties who are looking for a place to chill out and take time out from the park.

Rootin’ Tootin’ Target Trail For some Western-themed fun, head to Main Street and try your hand at the Rootin’ Tootin’ Target Trail. Jump in a cart to ride along the UV lit route and shoot at the lasar targets to help Sam Hobs stop the mine critters from blowing up the goldmine. The whole family can join in and, if you’ve got a competive streak, check out your score against others in your cart or see how you compare to other visitors to the park.

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ADVERTISERS ANNOUNCEMENT

Enjoy Afternoon Tea at the Mad Hatter’s Table Join Alice and the Mad Hatter for a frolicking, fabulous, fun interactive dining experience! Take your seat at the Mad Hatter’s table, listen as Alice recalls her tales of Wonderland, tuck into tea and cake and try and make sure you escape before the Queen of Hearts shouts “Off with their heads!”.

Places at the table are limited so book your seat online today and make sure you’re not late.

Party Time Make someone’s birthday a day to remember with a party at Pleasurewood Hills.

The party packages include entry to the park so the birthday boy or girl can enjoy all their favourite rides, as well as all the shows and attractions on their special day. When it’s time for lunch, the guests will head to the Birthday Barn to enjoy a hot meal followed by a Pleasurewood Hills Birthday Cake and, as Woody Bear loves a Birthday party, he’ll put in an appearance to help make sure it really is a day to remember. The birthday boy or girl will have a special birthday announcement in the sealion or parrot show and everyone who attends will be given a party bag filled with gifts to help them remember the day.

Time to Re-fuel When the time comes to take a break from the action and re-fuel there are plenty of places to choose from. As well as offering a choice of fast food options, the park has recently opened Tony’s an all-you-can-eat pizza and pasta restaurant. Serving a range of fresh Italian style pizza, delicious pasta and crisp fresh salad, it’s definitely worth a visit. There are also spaces around the park for you to enjoy a picnic with the family.

Great Value Days Out Pleasurewood Hills offers a choice of great value passes to help you make the most of your day.

Season passes are an excellent option if you’re planning to make a number of trips to the park and the family season pass, which is valid for two adults, up to four children and up to four grandparents, really is hard to beat when it comes to value for money. All season passes are valid from March to October and offer unlimited entry on days that the park is open, as well as discounts in the shops and restaurants. And, a direct debit payment plan option means the costs of the passes can now be spread out during the year.

This year, the park has also introduced an undated ticket which offers flexibility and means you don’t have to pick the day of your visit in advance if you’re booking online.

Visitors to the region may also want to take advantage of the seven day pass. Valid for seven consecutive days, the pass offers great value for anyone planning to make several trips to the park.

Book tickets online using the code DPPF18 and receive £4 off the price of entry to the park. This offer is not to be used in conjunction with any other discount code or offer and is only valid on the price of gold and silver entry to the park.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Pleasurewood Hills including opening days, times and prices visit www.pleasurewoodhills.com or ring 01502 586000.

27

| MARCH 2018

Photo: MATT MARTIN

a l l i C The Musical

28

THEATRE

Less than a year earlier, an ITV mini-series had charted her rise from teenage girlhood friendships with the Beatles, singing in The Cavern in Liverpool and achieving her first No.1 hit at the age of 21, to becoming one of prime-time television’s most successful female entertainers with shows such as Blind Date and Surprise Surprise Now that TV drama has been turned into a musical which comes to the Theatre Royal stage from April 17-21. Judy Foster spoke to the show’s executive producer, and Cilla’s eldest son and for the last 16 years of her life her agent and manager, Robert Willis.

“

I

knew it could be good. I knew we had all the

ingredients, but you can never be totally sure until you see it all come together,” Robert said.

He is talking about the launch of Cilla The Musical which opened in Cilla’s home town of Liverpool at the beginning of September and is now touring the UK with the eventual aim of bringing it into the West End. “We’re very pleased with the show and excited at how it has all come together. It’s been quite an experience!”

It was Robert who found Cilla when she suffered a tragic accident in her Spanish holiday home two years ago. One of three sons, he had been her agent and manager after his father Bobby Willis died in 1999, guiding her career and then acting as executive producer on the acclaimed 2014 TV drama which starred Sheridan Smith.

Transferring the television production, written by the BAFTA Award-winning Jeff Pope (The Moorside, Philomena, From The Cradle To The Grave, Mrs Biggs), to the stage was not without its challenges. “When you take it to the stage you have to cut elements of the characters,” Robert said. “But there are also other things you can do live on stage - the songs, the variety of the bands, there are some great moments. The performance and the songs marry so well with the drama.

They emotionally lift you. You get the full gamut of emotions and you see it in the audience each night, and and not just in Liverpool where we opened. It was important to get it right in Liverpool– but thank god we got it right!”

The musical score is the ultimate soundtrack to the 60s and includes Cilla’s own greatest hits such as Anyone Who Had a Heart, Alfie and Something Tells Me, to Twist and Shout by the Beatles, California Dreamin’ by The Mamas and The Papas, and many more.

“The Beatles songs are great – there was a tremendous energy about at that time. The songs were sung in very confined spaces, like The Cavern, and you get the feel of that in the show. Things were very black and white then, it was post-war and then that generation came along and attitudes to music and fashion were transformed.

“We have aimed high with the show – it’s a wonderful cast, the script is so brilliant, the sets are beautiful, the lighting, the orchestration, the dancing are all fantastic – the actor/ musicians are incredibly enthusiastic. It’s such a talented young company.”

29

THE WEIGHT IS OVER!

starring

Monday 12 - Saturday 17 March Eves 7.30pm, Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm TICKETS: £8 - £44 Book online: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk Theatre Street, Norwich NR2 1RL

Photo: Jay Brooks

JODIE PRENGER SAM BAILEY NATASHA HAMILTON NATALIE ANDERSON KEVIN KENNEDY

Photo: DAVID MUNN

THEATRE

Photo: MATT MARTIN

The production team decided to put the lead role out to public audition, a decision which Robert feels has paid dividends in uncovering a star in the making in Kara Lily Haworth, who fought off thousands of other hopefuls to step into Cilla’s shoes.

Kara queued for four hours at London’s Dominion Theatre to audition in the first rounds, making it through to the final 30 before being chosen to do her final audition at the Cavern Club in Liverpool.

“Kara is incredible. I’m so happy we found her,” Robert said. “It is a very big role but she really captures what Mum was all about. Mum had a determination - she wasn’t there for her looks, although she was pretty, but it was her spirit that people liked.

“Kara proved herself in audition. She stood out immediately. Physically, in terms of her height she is very similar to Mum. She’s physically very different to Sheridan, but I certainly wanted to have a distinct difference between the musical and the TV show. I think Kara is very similar to how my mum was in the 60s. There’s something about her and it is an interpretation, not an impersonation. She does capture my mum.”

He’s thrilled with the rest of the cast too. He knows Andrew Lancel, who plays Brian Epstein, as Robert’s daughter performed as Gretel with Andrew in the UK tour of the Sound of Music which visited Norwich in October 2016. “We live in Cambridgeshire so we came to Norwich

to see her in the show, so I am glad we have Andrew with us as Brian.”

There is also another family connection with Norwich as Robert’s brother Ben attended the UEA – “and we all came to his graduation,” he said.

Robert took over as Cilla’s manager and agent on the death of his father, Bobby, in 1999, and had been used to seeing his mum perform from being a young child.

“Throughout my life I was always able to step back and give her an honest opinion. So for me I was used to seeing her as a performer, whereas my dad was just my dad. Carl Au, who plays him in the show, sings beautifully and I find watching him very powerful. He captures my dad. My parents were very much equals. They complimented each other. They were in their mid-20s when she got famous and she had her first No. 1 at 21, and Carl gets that balance of the fun they had.”

There are moments in the show which Robert finds particularly poignant. “Anyone Who Had A Heart is very powerful and uplifting. I like Liverpool Lullaby because she used to sing it to us when we were kids and it was the last song she sang on The One And Only, so it gets me every time.

“I think I speak for my brothers Ben and Jack too when I say that it has caught the spirit of both of them, and I’m grateful, humbled and satisfied that we have managed to do that - to capture their spirit and you see that from the reaction of the audiences who have seen the show so far.” _ CILLA THE MUSICAL Tuesday 17 - Saturday 21 April, For more info or to BOOK ONLINE www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk 31

| MARCH 2018

GO WEST

GO EAST

British pop duo, Go West, scored a string of international top 10 hits, including We Close Our Eyes, Call Me and King of Wishful Thinking, enjoying their peak of popularity between the mid-1980s and the early 1990s… and they’re still on the road today, touring alongside Tony Hadley, Nik Kershaw, Kim Wilde and other 80s icons.

The band’s Richard Drummie talks to Angela Sara West about their forthcoming gigs in Ipswich and Cambridge

32

MUSIC

M

usic united them in 1974,

but it wasn’t until the mid-80s that Richard Drummie and Peter Cox finally found overnight success.

“The band that brought me and Peter together was Free,” Richard explains. “My band was called Free Agent and Peter’s band was called Bodie, named after the song

by Free. Peter came to watch us rehearse for a gig and, as he was leaving, I asked, ‘Have you got a tape, mate?’ I really liked the sound of his band and especially his voice, so asked when I could see him and we became friends and it went from there.”

In 1982, they signed a publishing deal as songwriters “Cox and Drummie” and, following help from EMI’s Sally Perryman, Charlie Crane at Northern Songs, and their manager, John Glover, and having renamed themselves Go West, rhythm guitarist/ backing vocalist Richard and lead vocalist Peter were discovered by LA music industry veteran, Ron Fair.

“Ron came over from Chrysalis in America to sign us… and that was it! He said we had enough songs for a record, so we went straight into the studio and within a month, he flew us to LA, as he wanted to break us in America. It completely took off after that.”

Giving them instant overnight success, the duo’s smash-hit 1985 debut, We Close Our Eyes (for which Godley & Creme directed the video), reached no.5 in the UK charts and the Top 10 in the US. “A lot of bands, like Simple Minds, had to do a few albums first, but we broke on the first single, which was brilliant.”

Writing with Robbie across the pond…

Following three further UK top 10 hits, Call Me, Goodbye Girl and Don’t Look Down, countless gigs and appearances on Top of the Pops, the band split in 1993, with Peter relocating to California. Richard also spent some time living in LA. “That was a really good time for me as I’d been on the rollercoaster with the band for 16-18 years and it was good to stop for a while, build a studio and work with other people, which is always interesting, and have a little break from Go West.”

“I spent a week writing with Robbie Williams in the States. The thing with Robbie trying to break America, I don’t think they get his humour; he’s very ironic and there’s that old chestnut that the Americans don’t do irony and the way he almost takes the mickey out of himself, which we find absolutely fantastic!”

“I don’t know if we ever truly broke America, but we had two top 10s at the beginning of the 90s. If you want to break America, unless you’re very, very lucky, you really have to concentrate on it, especially then, as communications weren’t quite as worldwide as they are now, with the Internet etc. You have to basically tour it and it’s so big that by the time you’ve finished, it’s time to tour it again! We never really did that but we did a lot of playing over there and toured with Tina Turner…”

Go West are coming East!

As part of their Icons of the 80s tour, Go West take to the stage alongside Nik

Kershaw and Cutting Crew at the Regent Theatre in Ipswich and the Cambridge Corn Exchange this March.

Both venues have struck a chord with Richard. “I remember our past gigs there really, really well. I loved both, they were great. The Corn Exchange is fantastic! It’s a rock & roll venue, but was designed for something else… a corn exchange, in fact...

It’s always a good night there and it’s a stand-up gig, which I prefer as the crowd is straight up from the word go.”

What can audiences expect this time round? “Cutting Crew will open, then we’ll come on and Nik Kershaw will join us.

They’re great gigs to come to and we’re expecting a good crowd again.”

Collaboration, collaboration, collaboration How does it feel to collaborate with other 80’s icons and perform each other’s classic songs? “Awesome! I don’t know if it would work with everybody… We’ve got a really good chemistry with Nik, we’re very similar people. We like each other’s music and a lot of his fans like our music and vice versa. You’ve got to make sure that you’re ‘peas in a pod’ to a point.”

“The only trouble is, if you really respect someone, you worry you’re going to mess it up for them! I’m always very mindful of that when I’m playing with Nik, even though I’ve played his songs about 60 times now, I still have the music down on the floor in case I blank!”

Checking out Cambridge & Norwich Cambridge hits the right note for Richard. “It’s great and the people are very responsive, not like in London, where I live and I love it there, but the people aren’t so responsive… I like playing places where people are up for a good time.”

He’s also a fan of Norwich. “I spent some time with my daughter there last year and we had a great time. We found a fantastic, huge antique warehouse there that I loved.”

“When we’re on the road, we unfortunately don’t get much time to check the areas out, only between soundchecks.

It’s especially fun touring around the country with people who are friends. We’ve known Nik a long time and Nicky from Cutting Crew.”

Richard’s top choice to perform with?

“I’d love to work Paul Buchanan from The Blue Nile and Peter Gabriel. I’d like to do some more work with Kate Bush; she sang on the track The King is Dead on the second album. I saw her a few years ago at Hammersmith; what a gig that was! One of the best I’ve ever been to and I’ve seen some greats, including Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty when they first played England.”

Ski songs & red carpets with Gary Barlow Go West worked with Gary Barlow to record Determination for the Eddie the Eagle film soundtrack. “That was brilliant!

I met Gary back in 1993, and I don’t want to sound conceited but we recently found out he’s a big fan of Go West, so that explains why Gary called me out of the blue one day to ask us to contribute a track. We were in the middle of a tour, so it was difficult for us to do.”

But the boys were keen to be on board and somehow made it happen. “I think that’s the quickest we’ve ever done anything! From being asked to delivering the finished track, from start to finish, took a week! Gary couldn’t have been more generous and open. Some people can be precious when you’re writing songs, but I don’t think he had one negative comment, and was over the moon with it. He is a force of nature… super driven, super professional and a really nice guy.”

One of the highlights for Richard was walking the red carpet at the film’s premiere in London’s Leicester Square, where he met Eddie himself along with the film’s stars, Hugh Jackman, Christopher Walken and Jim Broadbent. “To do that thing where the car pulls up, you get out and the cameras are all flashing, walking down the red carpet … it’s a gas! We also did a gig with Gary to promote the film and a lot of the people on the record came along and performed.

It was a brilliant experience. I loved being involved in that.”

Pretty Women & Sly encounters No strangers to Hollywood heavyweights, Richard and Peter’s track, King of Wishful Thinking, famously featured in the movie classic, Pretty Woman and they’ve featured on further film soundtracks, including A Nightmare on Elm Street 4, White Men Can’t Jump and Rocky IV. “That was great fun! We were fitting it into a very busy schedule, and they wanted us to do it in LA, so we flew to the studio there, flew our producer and engineer in from Australia, and said ‘Right! Let’s get going’, but were told we’d have to wait for Sylvester as he wanted to talk to us first. So, we sat there, waiting, day after day, money just flying out of the window. Finally, on the third or fourth day, along came Sly. All he said was “Give it all ya got!” That was it! But he’s a fantastic guy and one very, very smart cookie.”

Next on the agenda Following the Icons of 80s tour and Back to 80s cruise, there’ll be summer festivals, including Rewind and Let’s Rock all over the country and the boys are set to play not one, but TWO festivals in one day – phew!

“It will be fantastic and it means we’ll be nicely warmed up for the second one!”

There’ll also be the usual run of Go West gigs in the run-up to Christmas, along with Let’s Rock Christmas at Wembley and the hotly-anticipated Stepback! 80s concert in Coventry. “It’s a very full year, and I’m hoping to sneak a well-overdue holiday in there somewhere!”

Go West take to the stage at The Regent Theatre, Ipswich on 2 March and The Cambridge Corn Exchange on 3 March.

For further details, visit: www.gowest.org.uk Join Richard and Peter on the Back to the 80s cruise around Portugal and Spain, 6-13th May 2018: www.backtothe80scruise.co.uk/2018/ 33

| MARCH 2018

Take three of Britain’s best-known and successful actors, add in a multi-award-winning play and stir in themes exploring the bonds of friendship and the lure of modern art together with a few laughs and you have ART Ahead of its visit to Norwich Theatre Royal, Vicky Edwards enjoyed an audience with its three stars Nigel Havers, Denis Lawson and Stephen Tompkinson.

W

aiting to chat to Nigel, Stephen and Denis on the first day of rehearsals for ART, I overhear a waitress detailing the ingredients of the soup of the day. It occurs to me that the producers of Yasmina Reza’s award winning play might have had a similar approach: Take one of the most successful comedies of all time; cast three of our best-loved and most experienced stars and mix well with a talented director. Garnish with

34

marketing and serve at some of the UK’s finest theatres. Voilà! One smash-hit. With a clutch of heavyweight credits between them, all three actors agree that ART is the theatrical equivalent of European white truffles.

“First of all it’s very short. I’m very keen on short theatre,” twinkles Nigel, famous for roles in hit movies such as Chariots of Fire and A Passage to India and a plethora of primetime television shows including

The Charmer, Coronation Street and Downton Abbey. Returning to ART with relish having done previous stints in the play (“740 performances, but not for a few years”) the dapper Mr Havers first saw the play at a preview at the Wyndham’s Theatre when it first opened. “As yet I have not found a better modern play,” he tells me.

“It’s intellectual, witty and about things I understand, like friendship and art. For me it’s an absolute godsend.”

THEATRE Stephen (DCI Banks, Trollied, Wild at Heart, Drop the Dead Donkey and Ballykissangel) nods in agreement. “I also saw the first night at Wyndham’s and it was an incredible night. When I was offered the role of Ivan later in the run I jumped at it. She [playwright Yasmina Reza] has beautifully observed this male friendship and it is constantly amusing. I haven’t done the play for 18 years but it is lovely to come back to.”

He may not have been in the play before, but Denis (Bleak House, New Tricks and Star Wars) is nevertheless delighting in learning his lines. “I had seen it but had never read it and it is such a pleasure to dig into. The comedy is just wonderful,” he sighs.

Winner of just about every prestigious theatre award going, ART tells the story of Serge, a divorced doctor who buys an abstract painting. Serge’s friend Marc is outraged that anyone would pay such a vast sum of money for a completely white canvas and dismisses it as tosh. Mutual friend Yvan tries to reconcile the pair, but before long finds himself in the line of fire.

Laugh-out-loud funny, it is undoubtedly the exploration of friendship within the sparkling writing that gives ART truly universal appeal, so what, I ask, are the qualities Nigel, Stephen and Denis appreciate in their friends?

“Tolerance and malleability,” quips Stephen.

Denis ponders. With a mix of pride and affection, he eventually responds: “I still have friends from school. We see each other regularly and it is a wonderful thing to have friendships with people you have known since you were 11 or 12. We all have very different lives but our friendship is very easy. That’s special and I really value it.”

Nodding in agreement and smiling

warmly, Stephen tells us he shares a birthday with one of his oldest friends.

“We’re still very close and he’ll be along in Manchester.”

Nigel also still has strong links with friends from childhood. “It is a good feeling and they are like family in a way,” he observes.

But out on tour the triumvirate will become their own family. How do they amuse themselves when they’re not performing?

“You arrive on Monday, so that’s taken care of, Tuesday usually includes some sort of publicity for the play, Wednesday is probably a matinee, Thursday you might visit a gallery, Friday you sleep in and then on Saturday you go home,” offers Nigel, explaining that even living out of a suitcase and being somewhere different every week has its own rhythm.

“I’ve not toured for a while but if there’s one of those hop-on-hop-off buses

then I’ll be on it,” admits Stephen. “You learn all sorts and they’re very good for finding your bearings,” he insists.

Agreeing that there will be “a lot of epicurean feasting” along the way, eating out seems to be a popular cast activity, with all the towns and cities on the tour schedule getting the collective thumbs up for restaurants and pubs.

As well as great dining opportunities, Nigel has ancestral links that mean he is especially looking forward to Norwich when the show arrives there from April 23-28. “My family is from there originally, so there is a connection. There is even a ‘Havers Road’ in Norwich,” he says, looking more than a little chuffed.

Twenty years since David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers first produced ART in the West End, the original post-London tour played for 78 weeks. Aiming to break their own record, Pugh & Rogers have every faith that such a top-notch cast gives them every chance of success.

“It doesn’t date; it still feels fresh,” promises Denis.

“You’ll love it,” urges Stephen. “It’s not just a play about three men because it’s from a woman’s point of view.”

Finishing his espresso, Nigel adds: “And because it’s short you’ll be in the pub afterwards in time to order food.”

Before I leave I explain that my Nan is beyond excited that I’m meeting (in her words) ‘Silver Fox thespian royalty.’

They oblige with a selfie, giving Nan her own work of art to treasure.

As for me, I make a mental note to book tickets to see these glorious old masters in action sooner rather than later. I’ve a hunch that tickets will sell faster than a looted Rembrandt.

ART Monday 23 - Saturday 28 April at 7.30pm with Wed and Sat matinees at 2.30pm To book, log onto www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk or call the box office on 01603 630000

35

| MARCH 2018

IN CONVERSATION WITH

n a m l u P a Liz Daughter of a famous screenwriter father, and steeped in the world of theatre by her actress mother,

Liza Pulman was always going to have a strong creative streak

Liza Sings Streisand is at The Apex, Bury St Edmunds on Wednesday 21 March

Ring 01284 758000 or see www.theapex.co.uk for more information and tickets

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MUSIC

Having spent her early career singing at Glyndebourne, appearing in the West End and starring for 13 years in the comedy music trio Fascinating Aida, she has been garnering 5 Star reviews and entertaining audiences up and down the country with her new solo show LIZA PULMAN SINGS STREISAND. Joined on stage by MD Joseph Atkins and her 6-piece band, Liza’s new show celebrates the songs of the great Barbra Streisand and illustrates her prowess as not just as an extraordinarily gifted singer but as a comedienne and entertainer.

What prompted you to launch your latest solo tour, Liza Pulman Sings Streisand?

I’ve always adored doing solo work and have grown to love it more and more as I’ve grown older. A couple of years ago, one of my Fascinating Aida colleagues needed some time off to recover from an illness, and this break seemed like the perfect opportunity to develop my own show. I formed my amazing 6-piece band and we hit the road together with our first show Songs Of Hollywood.

One of the songs I sang in that was Evergreen from the film A Star Is Born, and so many people told me I sounded like Barbra Stresiand that I started to look at how and why that might be. I realized that she has been such a huge influence on my singing and on my approach to music that I wanted to celebrate that somehow.

Is it a tribute show?

Well, I pay tribute to her but its by no means a tribute show. I don’t do an impersonation of her or put on a curly wig at any point!

But, for me, its a chance to celebrate this extraordinary woman by singing just a handful of some of the songs that she’s made famous throughout her long and glorious career.

How did you pick the songs for your Streisand show?

That was a far harder task than I had originally thought. She has been performing and recording for nearly 6 decades and choosing the songs that would go into my show was a real Sophie’s choice.

In a 90 minute show there just isn’t time to sing everything, but In the end I hope that it’s a fine balance between the hits and a clutch of some of those fabulous songs from her back catalogue through which I am then able to weave a narrative. Frankly I would be lynched if I didn’t sing the likes of Evergreen, The Way We Were and People.

The arrangements and orchestrations are very different, who did them?

It’s something we’ve strived to do to make our interpretation of these songs unique to us and I work very closely with my brilliant musical director Joseph Atkins. The ideas tend to start with me at my piano at home and then Joe and I will spend hours making them work together, going over every small detail, sometimes spending 40 minutes on one bar of music! Then Joe goes off and orchestrates them and brings our ideas to life making our 6 piece band sound like the London Philharmonic!!

Do you enjoy putting together the programme for your shows?

I absolutely love putting the show programmes together. I love creating new arrangements of songs that people know really well and also introducing the audience to songs they might not already know. Then taking all of these songs and shaping them into a great night. Light and shade. Fast and slow. Big and small. There’s a natural flow to these things and it’s a fabulous challenge to find it.

Is it daunting to perform alone?

Actually I love it!! I miss the Fascinating Aida girls of course - theres’ a wonderful safety net with the three of us on stage together- but in my Streisand show I am backed by six amazing musicians and we are a proper family. When we first started with the Hollywood show last year, I was much more out front and they were more of a backing band, but these days I ask our stage manager to put us as close to each other on stage as he dare. One of the great joys of the show is the relationship I have with these fantastic players and the audience loves to see that.

You grew up in a very sociable and creative home, did you know then that your life would be on stage?

With my mother, the actress Barbara Young, (Coronation Street, Last of the Summer Wine) and my father, the screen-writer Jack Pulman (I Claudius, War & Peace), I was surrounded by writers, actors, directors from a very early age, in fact, I don’t really remember anything else. There was a brief period where I fancied being a vet (not long after my goldfish, Felicity Fruit-Cake, died from unnatural causes) but the performing gene was always going to get me in the end.

In 2005 you found yourself caught up in the terrible tragedy of the 7/7 London bombings. People may have read the article you wrote about it for the Guardian or seen your mobile phone footage. How does it feel now when you look back on that part of your life?

It was a life-changing experience that’s for sure. I was on the Piccadilly line train in which 26 people lost their lives. Its hard to fathom how you can have been so close to death and yet walk away relatively unharmed. We were down there for about 20 minutes and as we were finally led to safety I took a few photos as I had a new phone and it was one of the first phones with a video camera on it. The tunnel was dark and filled with smoke and my photos weren’t coming out very well so I thought I’d try the video instead.

I’m only 5’2” so I just held it above my head and pointed. It was incredibly difficult walking along the underground tracks so I had to stop after about 45 seconds and focus on my feet, but when I finally managed to get home I showed it to my husband and he sent it into Channel 4 news. In less than 10 minutes it was all over the world. It was an extraordinary moment. Nowadays, people don’t think twice about using their phones to video what they’re seeing but back then it was a completely new thing. I guess I was a kind of pioneer! In the days that followed I wrote the article to explain how wonderful people had been, how kind and funny and caring they had been in the worst of all possible situations. It was humanity at it’s best and it was humbling to be in the middle of it. Being on the Picaddilly line train that day changed everything for me and I realize now all these years later quite how long it has taken me to really deal with it. I still jump when I hear a bang, a bus horn or the pop of a champagne cork but I think that I probably hold onto life just a little more tightly these days.

Where do you go to get away from it all?

I am incredibly lucky as I live in Cornwall and I look at the water every day of my life. I don’t really need to go anywhere other than my own front room to get away from stuff. As I said, I do love to walk and I will often put my walking shoes on and just go, either chatting with friends and family on the phone as I walk, working on my shows, or just listening to the birds in the trees and the waves hitting the shore. I do some of my best work like that.

What took you to Cornwall?

Love!! My partner (who is now my husband!) has lived there for some years and I fell in love with him and it! We got married last summer in a marquee over looking the water. We had good food, good friends and good music! The Syd Lawrence Orchestra played for us on the headland surrounded by bales of hay and then we danced the night away to The Counterfeit Stones. The whole thing was utterly surreal and totally joyous.

37

 | MARCH 2018

THE GREAT

/

o b m Ga

Legendary broadcaster Paul Gambaccini celebrates his 45th anniversary in the business in 2018 with a series of live theatre dates. An Evening With The Great Gambo - The Professor of Pop will see the current BBC Radio 2 Pick of the Pops presenter reveal for the first time how he started out life as a boy in the Bronx and wound up as The Professor of Pop in Great Britain. With 21 dates confirmed, An Evening With The Great Gambo - The Professor of Pop - James Rampton caught up with the The Great Gambo ahead of his tour that will see him talk at venues in Cromer and Bury St Edmunds 38

What gave you the terrific idea of performing your first ever live show, “An Evening With The Great Gambo – The Professor of Pop”?

It suddenly occurred to me that this autumn is the 45th anniversary of my joining Radio 1. I thought it was something I should take seriously and celebrate – this is my only life after all! Let’s just express gratitude for this career, which was inconceivable until I lived it. There’s never been a boy from America who has come over here and then worked for 45 years on national radio. When I was younger, I could never have imagined it, but here I am!

While you modestly say that you are a “friendly acquaintance” of many popstars, your friendship with Elton John is much deeper. After that interview you became very good friends with him, didn’t you?

Yes. He’s one of my dear friends. We go back such a long way. He’s got such a great sense of humour. When I did that Rolling Stone interview with him in 1973, I said to him, “You’re so popular now that people invent awards to give you, don’t they?”

He replied, “Yes. I just got an award in Germany for being the King of Pop. What’s next? The Queen of Lemonade?”

Are you looking forward to the buzz of live performing?

Definitely. I think connecting face-to-face with an audience will be really exciting.

I’m fascinated to see the make-up of the audience because my career has been so diverse. I’ve done so many programmes about pop and classical music, not to mention my close encounter with the Metropolitan Police, the stupidest thing that has ever happened to me! Who knows what questions people will ask me in the show. I can’t wait!

Which modern popstars have you become friendly with?

I know Adele. I once went to give a lecture at the Brit School and I was worried because a girl in the front row was slouching throughout. I thought, “Am I that boring?” It turned out that the girl’s name was Miss Adkins, who emerged later as Adele.

How did you get your big break in broadcasting in this country?

I read the Financial Times, and they have a weekly feature where they ask a public person which counts more: talent or ambition? For me, the most important thing has always been initiative. An example is when I attended a Bee Gees concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1973 when I was writing for Rolling Stone magazine.

I noticed that Elton John was also in the audience. He had just had a number one in the US, “Crocodile Rock”. As a result, he had become America’s biggest pop star without anyone really noticing – everyone at the time was obsessed with Stevie Wonder’s incredible run of albums. So I thought to myself, “It’s time for a lengthy Rolling Stone cover interview with Elton John.”

What happened next?

So during the interval at the Bee Gees concert, I followed Elton into the men’s room. I asked him if he’d like to do a Rolling Stone cover interview. He politely told me to ask Helen Walters at his record label DJM, who took care of those things. I called her, and probably to Elton’s surprise, she said, “Great idea. Elton is about to go on tour in America, and this will be a very good way of promoting it.” She really liked the piece, and to thank me she took me to lunch with her husband, John Walters, who happened to be John Peel’s producer at Radio 1. He invited me to give a weekly talk on Radio 1, and that’s how my British radio career began. That was serendipity in action.

And then?

A few years later, I met her at the Ivor Novello Awards, which I was presenting.

At the beginning, I said, “I’ll know how I’m doing when I look out at the audience to see if Miss Adkins is slouching or not!”

When Adele came up to receive her award from Annie Lennox, the first thing she said was, “I’m so sorry if I gave the impression that I wasn’t interested when you gave that lecture at the Brit School, Paul. We were thrilled to have you there. My mum and I used to love listening to you. You were always a welcome visitor in our home.” I thought, “In her great moment of receiving the award, how generous of her to say that!”

How else did you fill the time?

I gave the details of how to donate to Live Aid and read out the American Express phone number to call. When the broadcaster finished, the director said, “That was very professional, Paul. The only problem is that Russia complained that you mentioned American Express.” That is surely the only time in history those words have been spoken! I was filling time, but trying to make it sound like I wasn’t filling time. Thank God, Adams was back on in 45 seconds. But it was the longest 45 seconds of my life!

In “An Evening With The Great Gambo – The Professor of Pop”, you will also be discussing the impact on you of the Vietnam War, won’t you?

Yes. The turmoil of that era consumed my university years in the US. As more and more Americans were being required to serve, President Nixon instituted a lottery to decide who would be sent to Vietnam.

They would pick birth dates at random to establish the order in which people would be called up. I was very lucky because my birthday was number 271, and in my year they only got up to 185.

In addition, you will be talking about the impact of AIDS on your generation in “An Evening With The Great Gambo – The Professor of Pop”, won’t you?

Yes. One day in 1983, my best friend from Dartmouth, a Broadway actor called David Carroll, and I were attending a food festival on 8th Avenue in New York. A couple of friends came up and chatted to us. As we left, they said, “I guess we’ll see you at George’s funeral on Wednesday. He died from this new disease.”

What took place then?

After they had gone, David said to me, “Will you excuse me for a moment? George was the man I loved most in the 1970s.”

He retired to a side street to sit on a stoop and weep. At that moment I thought he was weeping for George. But I now know he was weeping for himself because he had just been told he was going to die, and he did. That was what it was like for us, magnified dozens of times.

What do you hope audiences will take away from “An Evening With The Great Gambo – The Professor of Pop”?

I hope people will recognise that there is a lot of possibility in life if you just follow your nose. Don’t be afraid to try what interests you. Following Elton John into the men’s room at the Royal Albert Hall is an extreme example, but it paid off. If I hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t have got into radio broadcasting in this country. I simply took the initiative. There is nothing embarrassing or shameful about taking the initiative. It doesn’t matter how many “no’s you get. It only takes one “yes”.

An Evening With The Great Gambo – The Professor of Pop will see this accomplished broadcaster, journalist and author share his unique lifetime experiences and stories, amongst which will be clips of some of the great artists he has known and worked with. Gambaccini will share tales of growing up with the phenomenon of Elvis Presley as a child and the Beatles as a teenager; how he got into radio; his early experiences with Rolling Stone magazine; his fascinating years as a radio and television broadcaster and of course lots of behind the scenes tales.

Hear him discuss the three great crises of his life – coping with the Vietnam War’s challenge to his American generation, enduring the era of AIDS and surviving an encounter with the Metropolitan Police.

Paul will be performing his show at the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds on Sunday 8th April at 7-30pm for more information call the box office on 01284 769505 and at the Princes Theatre in Hunstanton on Friday 13th April call 01485 532252 for more information

39

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The

rACe

is on!

I

met Benjamin Race in a busy city centre cafe, and we’re soon talking, over bucket sized helpings of caffeine, about his latest project.

In fact, before we actually start chatting, Ben plays me a preview of the video for the lead track from his new album.

Such is the digital age that I can do this with headphones and a mobile; and such is the digital age that this album is the result of an international collaboration, many of the participants having not met face to face until the production was well under way.

Insulated from the background noise, I play the track. It’s seriously impressive. We’ll come to the performers later but the sound - and vision - are superb. ‘Can’t Explain’ is a song just oozing soul. A vocal of Marvin Gaye like smoothness slides over keyboard and bass lines that drive the track along. Then the trumpet breaks in. When it does, it has jazz stamped all over it. And there’s the sound summed up right there. Modern soul with jazz sensibilities.

‘Yeah, I think it’s fair to call the music soulful’ says Ben, who freely admits that his earliest influences were Motown and Stax.

So, this project, and the album. I need more details. ‘The project is called HD. I jokingly played with the idea of calling it maybe ‘The Benjamin Race Band’ but decided against it! It was more about creating something where listeners would think ‘wow’ doesn’t this sound great rather than being all about me, especially as so many talented singers and musicians are involved. I write the music, and I play keyboards and bass, among various other musical instruments and parts, with sprinkles of session musician luminaries for the other parts I can’t handle, such as trumpet solos and the drum parts! I produced the album but, I don’t sing so I’m not the front man, and I liked the idea of a ‘brand’ for the project, because this is all about a modern approach. This album - ‘Everything is Energy’ - is a worldwide collaboration.

It’s certainly international - and it’s definitely a collaboration of talent. Alongside Ben’s soulful musical songwriting the album features USA based singers Ellison Kendrick, noted for his work with Joss Stone; Teisha Marie who is garnering praise from the music press; and Grammy

MUSIC

Pete Goodrum talks with Norwich based musician

Benjamin Race

who’s pulled together international talent to make one of the coolest albums you’ll hear this year nominated singer and songwriter for, among others, Luther Vandross & Charlie Wilson, Dennis Bettis. UK based singer Arnob Basit is also on board, along with drummer Jim Macrae and, on that distinctive trumpet, Brand New Heavies brass player Brian Corbett.

‘It’s been amazing’ says Ben. ‘I’ve had the chance to have my music and ideas developed by seriously talented performers.

The technology has helped enormously. A lot of the album was recorded in the UK at Ashwood Music in Norwich with veteran producer Sotos Yiasimi. The drum tracking was recorded at Opaudio in South London by Jim Macrae, and we also had some vocals stems wired across from the U.S.A.’ Not that Ben Race is a stranger to working with top performers. In various bands and incarnations he’s shared the stage with Alexander O’ Neil, Trevor Nelson and MOBO’s Best Jazz Act Soweto Kinch, and his work has been praised by Jazz FM, for whom he recorded a live session.

But right now it’s all about HD and the ‘Everything is Energy’ album. With the launch of the video and ‘Can’t Explain’ track, the album is ready for online release in March, radio promotion lined up and a Japanese label distribution deal in motion it’s fair to say that Ben Race is rather busy just now.

‘It is a bit mad’, he says, ‘but really exciting. Obviously it would be great to perform the album live. Playing live is still the best buzz there is, but the logistics could be a challenge!

We’ll see.’

We’ll see indeed. But in the meantime we’ll listen. And we’ll enjoy. This is a wonderfully accomplished album, and the talent of the performers shines through. This is a modern, urban, and urbane, sound. Ben’s songwriting has the quality beloved of the best soul & jazz musicians; that sense of the space between the notes being as important as the notes themselves. His playing underpins it all.

We’ve sipped a lot of coffee, and covered a lot of talk about music. I’d heard about HD and the album and was keen to meet Ben to learn more.

What have I learned? The Race is on. Believe me.

Check out Ben Race and HD at www.hdmusicbrand.co.uk

41

| MARCH 2018

it’s A

n G le Ju The O

Photography by MANUEL HARLAN

ut

rE

With its menagerie of characters, compelling multi-layered story and strong themes, Rudyard Kipling ’s The Jungle Book has entertained generations of readers and also been a hugely popular movie Now it is set to gain new life as a stage play using some imaginative settings at Norwich Theatre Royal. It will also be a homecoming for cast-member Lloyd Gorman who made his performing debut for the theatre’s arts course and cannot wait to make his professional debut in his home city.

I

t is going to be a jungle out there - literally

- when a literary classic gets a new lease of life on the Norwich Theatre Royal stage.

The Children’s Touring Partnership is turning its attention to Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale of family, belonging and identity when it brings The Jungle Book to life on April 10-14.

It tells the much-loved story of Mowgli the man-cub who is raised by wolves in the jungle. He learns lessons about life from a host of animal friends including Bagheera the panther, Baloo the bear and Kaa the python, while also trying to outwit the cunning tiger Shere Khan.

And it is that villainous part which will be portrayed

by Lloyd Gorman, who loves playing the role. He said: “Everyone knows the Disney version of Shere Khan who is suave and sophisticated. For this production, he has morphed into a wannabe rockabilly with an orange quiff. He is a modern version of the character. I hope it is effective in that respect.”

42

It also has an added twist as the show features actormusicians to give it additional depth, as Lloyd explains.

“I think this also really boosts the ensemble storytelling environment as well. People are playing instruments while in character and also at the back when their character is not on stage. There is also a percussionist there through the whole of the production.”

Bringing such a well-loved and complicated story to the stage is not easy. The power and characterisation of Kipling’s book needed to be fully explored. Lloyd explained: “It is such a complex and multi layered story that it has been a complex process. There are also so many characters that people won’t know if they only know the Disney version like seals, porcupines and a jackal. That is the source of another evil character.

“We also needed to be aware that there are some colonial elements that would not be relevant these days. Jess Swale, who wrote this new version, was very aware of getting away from those things to keep it relevant for a modern audience.

THEATRE The essence of it is still there. It is still about a child growing up and trying to find themselves.”

It may have been hard work but Lloyd said the rehearsal process and the opening weeks of the tour have also been very vibrant. Lots of improvements have been made to the show since the first dress rehearsal and all the company remain upbeat and passionate about making the show a success.

It also gave him the chance to work with Max Webster who has directed for the likes of The Globe Theatre, Regents Park Open Theatre, and the incredibly imaginative production The Lorax for The Old Vic Theatre in London.

Lloyd said it was inspiring to work with Max as he created

wild creatures from everyday items when The Jungle Book was being workshopped. “We looked at how a snake would work in the show using bin bags and sticks. His brain works in a very visual way and in ways you wouldn’t normally think of. Things are thrown at you and you have to manipulate something. It has been a really exciting and collaborative experience.”

The show’s arrival at the Theatre Royal in April will also mark a homecoming for Lloyd. He comes from Norfolk and started his acting career when he joined the theatre’s own arts course at the age of nine. He said: “My entire social life was there and all my passion came from there. Whether that would have ever translated into a profession was something I wasn’t sure about when I was younger. I was in lots of bands - most of whom were ropey. That was an avenue I thought I would go down but I didn’t practice enough for it to be a real career.”

He then heard about an actor-musician course at the famous Rose Bruford College which combined both his performing passions and joined that. After graduating from there, he has appeared in a wide variety of productions including the West End run of Sunny Afternoon, the UK tour of Our House and a number of productions for The Octagon Theatre in Bolton.

He also appeared in My First Panto at The Garage in Norwich starring and helping create the first before writing the music for the second which was a different challenge as it was aimed at a very young audience. Lloyd said: “It was really eye opening. I had never done anything for that age group before. I thought I knew what they liked and wanted and I was pretty wrong in most respects. It was a really big learning curve.

“Because you are in very close proximity to the audience there is nowhere to escape. They will tell you if it is rubbish and they will tell you if they are bored.”

But he is now pleased to make his professional debut on the Theatre Royal stage. “I am really excited as it is such a great venue and I think The Jungle Book will bring in a great audience too,” said Lloyd.

And it will bring back memories of performing in Arts Course summer shows on that very same stage when he was much younger. He laughed: “That course is to blame not just for me but many other people. It has been a real inspiration for lots of young people whatever industry they decide to go into. It makes you confident, sociable and I owe it a lot.”

So it will be a chase of sheer nostalgia for Shere Khan aka Lloyd when he makes a welcome return to the city that inspired and equipped him for an acting career.

THE JUNGLE BOOK, Tuesday 10, Friday 13 & Saturday 14 April at 7pm, and Wed to Sat matinees at 2.30pm.

Tickets £10-£23. Discounts for Friends, Corporate Club, Under-18s, Over-60s and Groups. Audio described and signed performance on Saturday 14 April at 2.30pm.

To book, log onto www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk or call the box office on 01603 630000.

43

10 | MARCH 2018

ThiMnigghts You not Know AbOut:

TAYLOR SWIFT She’s the pop

megastar with country roots.

She’s the girl who’s had the oddest relationship ever with the social media, and some very public relationships with chaps.

She’s had spats with other stars, can be as sweet as honey but can sting like a bee, she can be as high profile as it’s possible to be and as private as you can only imagine.

I give you ten things you quite possibly didn’t know about Taylor Swift.

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PETE GOODRUM’S monthly look at some of the lesser known facts of rock and pop…

She was born and brought up in Pennsylvania. For some time there she lived on a Christmas tree farm. The move came when she was 14. Nashville was her destination because a career in country music was her ambition.

2

WHEN SHE GOT THERE THINGS MOVED QUICKLY.

Soon signed to the Big Machine Records label she moved on to become the youngest artist ever to be signed by the Sony/ATV Music publishing house. In 2006, when she was 17, her eponymous first album reached Number 5 in the Billboard charts and spent more weeks on the chart than any other album in the 2000s that far. The third single release from the album, ‘Our Song’ ,brought more statistics. She was now the youngest person ever to write, and perform, a number one song on the Hot Country Songs chart.

3

IT’S CLAIMED THAT SHE’S AN AWARD WINNING POET.

4

1989 CHANGED EVERYTHING.

But it’s a claim to be careful about. True, when she was at school she won a national poetry competition.

True, that she has subsequently written and published poems. Not true that they are all ‘award winning’. Literary critics have been less than enthusiastic, claiming that her song writing talent is undoubted, but as a poet she’s not quite in the same league.

Some would say that’s because it was the year Taylor Alison Swift was born. But it’s the album that she titled 1989 that changed everything for her. This was the moment that she stopped being a country star and became a massive pop star. Released in 2014 it sold 1.28 million copies in the USA during the first week, went on to sell over 10 million copies world-wide and prompted New York Times writer Jon Caramanica to say that Taylor was ‘making pop with almost no contemporary references’ and ‘aiming somewhere even higher, a mode of timelessness that few true pop stars even bother aspiring to’.

9

5

THAT TATTOO DISCUSSION.

Why this became such an issue is a mystery, but when Taylor talked tattoos it went viral. First off she said, less than definitively it must be noted, that she ‘almost definitely’ wouldn’t get a real tattoo. Why the word ‘real’?

Because she often wears a fake tattoo. The number 13 appears on her hand - because she says it’s her lucky number. As to having a guy’s name inked on to her - well, let’s move on.

Because, let’s be honest, she moves on. There might be a new song in an ex - and there has been, but that’s not the same as having his name indelibly stamped somewhere about the person is it?

6 7

TEN THINGS

1

FOR ALL HER COUNTRY ROOTS SHE’S NOT A NASHVILLE NATIVE.

THE MONEY.

She has lots of it. A shrewd business woman she’s made sound decisions in her career and it’s paid off. As of 2017 her net worth was estimated at $280 million.

BUT SHE’S GENEROUS WITH IT.

Taylor Swift is really rather philanthropic. Among her acts of generosity are donating $500,000, in a telethon(!) for the victims of the 2010 Tennessee floods, raising more than $750,000 for victims of tornadoes, and pledging £4million for the building of a new education centre at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.

She’s donated to medical research too, and made private visits to children in hospitals.

8

THE SPECS APPEAL.

She’s often seen wearing spectacles in videos, which probably are for effect, but in reality she is very short sighted, and does need either contact lenses or glasses.

There’ s been speculation on her having laser surgery, but nobody seems to know for sure. What we do know is that she bought a pair of glasses because they are “the ugliest pair of glasses you’ll ever see in your life’. She told an interviewer ‘… they were the ones in the glasses store that no one was going to buy. They were in the corner, they’re all dusty. I’m like, ‘no one is going to buy those, and they’re so ugly.’ So I had to buy them.” Interesting behaviour for a lady with a lot of money!

SO WHO ARE HER INFLUENCES?

Just as Taylor Swift is a mix of country and pop (or was) so she has influences in two areas; music and style. In the world of music she says her greatest influence has been Shania Twain. And she ‘is devoted to Britney Spears’. Style wise her icons are Francoise Hardy, Jane Birkin, Brigitte Bardot and Audrey Hepburn.

AND THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE OF ALL?

10

Her grandma! Taylor Swift’s mother’s mother was a really quite accomplished opera singer. Talking of her grandma and her childhood Swift said “I can remember her singing, the thrill of it. She was one of my first inspirations”.

Awww!

45

| MARCH 2018

A

K l a w

Photography by STEVE ULLATHORNE

on tHe

E D L i W side

Pete Goodrum talks with pop legend KIM WILDE ahead of her appearance at The Regent Theatre Ipswich in March

46

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

’ o L l e ‘H

, says Kim Wilde, and the first words I can utter to this pop superstar are, ‘Goodness! You’re punctual!’ ‘In fact’ she says, ‘I’m two minutes early’.

Trust me, this is unusual in the world of pop and I’m straightaway rather wary that the lady might be a real stickler, and in a real hurry.

It turns out I couldn’t be more wrong. She’s charming and funny and more than prepared to run with wherever our conversation takes us.

It’s a conversation that starts with my alluding to her being part of a veritable pop dynasty. I mean, when your dad is the legendary Marty Wilde, your sister is a backing singer for Kylie Minogue, every one of your siblings and children can write, perform and produce music, and you yourself have sold over 10 million albums and 20 million singles, you do have a claim to be pop royalty.

‘It’s not quite how I see it’ she laughs. ‘I don’t know about royalty, but as a family we definitely have music running through our veins’.

We stay with ‘the family’ because Kim Wilde has a new album - ‘Here Come The Aliens’ - due out in the spring, and it was produced by her brother, Ricky Wilde.

What’s more, the album was recorded at RAK Studios in London where she worked on the hit single ‘Kids In America’ back in 1981. ‘It was so good to be back there’ she says. ‘If we have an important project we head back to RAK. And it hasn’t changed. Even the curtains are the same. The same prints on the wall. It’s like a rock and roll museum. But the sound and the technology are up to the minute - and great’.

It’s certainly worked for her. I’m in the privileged position of having had a sneak preview of some of the tracks. ‘Pop Don’t Stop’ is as bright a piece of contemporary sound as you’ll hear, and its refrain of ‘Give me pop music’ is plainly heartfelt.

And then comes ‘Solstice’, a song that shifts the tone. She admits that it was inspired by sad events, but believe me it’s beautifully sung. ‘I am’, she says, ‘proud of that song’.

Kim has written, or been involved with the writing of, pretty much all of the album. And she’s looking forward to touring it. I ask her about the touring. Is it different now to (and I hesitate) thirty years ago? I suppose I was expecting to hear that it was better now, because the transport and logistics have improved since the 80s. Indeed she begins her answer with ‘It’s better’. But the ‘because’ is totally connected to the music.

‘The technology means we can replicate the recordings better, we can deliver a better sound in a live performance’.

She will, several times, refer to how much she loves singing and performing. There is a professionalism about her, which comes across even more clearly as she talks about knowing that the audience will want to hear the ‘greatest hits’ as well as the new material. New material that she says she ‘feels confident will stand up proudly’ among the familiar songs. She knows that the hits are important, but she does not live in the past. She’s constantly moving forward.

In fact, I learn that as the new album was completed she and her band carried on writing. There are tracks already in the pipeline for release after this album and its singles have been released.

But of course there’s more to Kim Wilde than being a pop sensation. She is also a successful landscape gardener.

I ask her about how she manages to balance gardening with the pop career. ‘I love being all lipstick and leather jacket one minute and in muddy old clothes the next’ she says. ‘Nowadays though the gardening is pretty much confined to a community project my husband and I are involved with. It’s so good to meet people, recycle plants, do something worthwhile. I find gardening to be so therapeutic’.

Gardening takes on an almost mystical significance when you listen to her. It’s something she’s deeply committed to.

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CELEBRITY INTERVIEW It’s been more than a hobby though , and she’s written books about it, hosted tv gardening programmes and won awards for her garden designs.

Memories aside, who and what does she like in the current music scene. ‘There’s so much great music going on now. I love The Killers. I love pop music’.

She also made it into the Guinness Book of Records, although when I mention this she is, at first, a little hesitant. I ask her if it’s true that she and fellow gardener David Fountain earned a place in the book for successfully moving, from Belgium, and replanting, the worlds’ largest tree. ‘It is true’.

But then comes the hesitation, ‘I feel so bad about that poor tree. It was brought down by a storm in 2007, just seven years after we moved it’.

Which brings me back to the rallying cry for pop that is her new song ‘Pop Don’t Stop’. ‘It is that I suppose. Pop got itself a bad name for a while. I remember that the Punks used to spit out the word ‘pop’ they hated it so much. But it’s great, and it’s time it was given its rightful place!’

As we move back to the music I ask her if something else I’ve read about her is true. ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’ was a massively important hit for her. It went to number one in Australia and Canada in 1986. It reached number two in the uk. And then, in 1987, it went to number one in the USA, making her only the fifth uk female solo artist to top the US HOT 100. (In case you’re wondering the other four were Petula Clark, Lulu, Sheena Easton and Bonnie Tyler). But here’s the thing - I’d heard that when she recorded it she, in her own words, ‘didn’t ‘know the song terribly well’.

‘It’s true. I mean I knew of it, but I didn’t know it well enough to sing it straight off. It’s like everybody knows ‘Driving Home For Christmas’ but they don’t know the full lyric off by heart’.

She admits that one of the reasons for choosing the song was that it had been recorded

by The Supremes and ‘Diana Ross is my all-time favourite artist’. She admits too that she was pleased how ‘fresh’ her recording had made the song sound. And she wasn’t alone in recognising the quality. ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’ was written by the team of Holland - Dozier Holland, who are no slouches in the songwriting stakes. In fact they are song writing gods.

Among their hits are ‘Can I Get A Witness’ for Marvin Gaye, ‘Where Did Our Love Go?’ for The Supremes, ‘Reach Out, I’ll Be There’ for The Four Tops and ‘This Old Heart Of Mine’ for The Isley Brothers - see what I mean? When he heard Kim Wilde’s version of ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’, Lamont Dozier sent her a message to say ‘Thanks for making me look good’. ‘Can you imagine that?’ says Kim Wilde. ‘That message is one of the very few souvenirs I have framed on my wall’.

And she means it. Take my word for it.

With such a career to date and so much going on at the moment does Kim Wilde have any ambitions for the future?

‘It’s about my children really’ is her first response. ‘To see them lead fulfilled and happy lives means the world to me’.

And professionally?

‘In the short term to make this tour and album a success is important. Longer term, hmmmm….another Christmas album maybe one day. And an album of quieter music perhaps. Back to my roots, the stuff I loved when I was growing up. Jazz influenced music. Lots of people have done standards albums, but I haven’t - yet.

Maybe I’d like to record something in the style of say Julie London’.

There’s a thought. ‘Kim Wilde sings Julie London. Put me down for a copy now’ I say, adding, ‘I can hear that influence - in your singing on the new track, ‘Solstice’.

And she laughs. ‘Well, I’m really glad to be talking with you today!’

I’m really glad to have been talking with Kim Wilde today.

She’s funny and self effacing, but serious about what she does. Her family are important to her. Her gardens are, as she says, the yin to the yang of her music career. (Or is it the other way round?).

Her tour hits Ipswich on March 30th. Go see her. Go hear some pop music. Some outstanding pop music. From someone who believes in it.

Kim Wilde:

Here Come The Aliens Tour Ipswich Regent Theatre Friday 30 March 2018

49

| MARCH 2018

SArah

DARling

Sarah is one of Country music’s fastest rising stars right now. She’s toured with Ward Thomas, sold out her UK shows last year, has been nominated for best ‘International Touring Artist of the Year’ by the BCMA Awards, and has just announced her biggest ever UK headline tour which will see her headline at The Waterfront in Norwich in early March.

A

merican songwriter Country singer Sarah Darling has seen her share of music success. Having released several albums including Every Monday Morning in 2009 and Angels & Devils in 2011 she is certainly no newcomer to the Country music. We took time out to speak to Sarah ahead of her Norwich performance.

Hi Sarah, how excited are you to be returning to the UK this year?

I’m absolutely over the moon about coming back over!

Especially with a full band headlining tour ahead. This will be the first time for UK fans to hear Dream Country songs with bigger instrumentation as well as brand new tunes! I feel so much love every time I come over, and also touring places I’ve never played yet which is very exciting.

What can fans expect from your upcoming shows?

Fans can expect to hear some of my older tunes as well as brand new music. I will even be sprinkling in songs from way back when. There’s a great story to tell throughout the

50

evolution of my music to where I am now. I’m also excited about some of the venues the fans will get to experience my music in. I think of shows as a place to get lost in the music completely and beautiful places really do that for my songs.

You’ve announced that your brand new single will be coming out on March 2nd. Can you tell us a little bit more about it?

What’s amazing about this future new release is the fact that it’s been a song that’s been around awhile. It’s called “Wasted” and deals with the emotional distress addiction causes for everyone. Especially the ones we love the most.

I wrote the track years ago with Josh Osborne and Marc Beeson after a late night call with a family member in tears about the destruction of their marriage. It just really hit me personally because of how invisible and lost the feeling can be for someone. Most of all I hope this song is healing for people. I have fans come up all the time after shows telling me how much the song meant to them. They are the reason I really wanted to release it. It feels real and shares a story

MUSIC

that might help others in a time when I think the world is struggling with pain. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share something close to my heart, and I hope it shows that we aren’t really that different all of us. We all share the same struggles and pain.

How did it feel to be nominated for International Touring Artist of the year 2017 at the BCMA Awards?

I’m so honoured to have been nominated for International Touring Artist of the year by the BCMA. I never dreamed in a thousand years that I’d be hopping across the pond sharing my music and story like I have the last few years. It’s a truly amazing journey. It can be completely unexpected and beautiful.

Clearly you’ve been adopted by Britain’s thriving country scene. Why do you think that is – and is there anything about Britain you particularly enjoy?

I am starting to feel like Britain has adopted me as one of their own! It’s exciting to be part of this country music movement happening at the moment. I’m grateful for people like Bob Harris and Chris Country, who are great champions for Country music. I also feel like C2C as well as getting in the car on the wrong side of the road traveling all across the UK has been a big part of that. I’ve played shows in the bigger cities as well as the small which makes it special. To me that’s how you build a true relationship with a fan. I also simply love the Brits and their cute accents and love for afternoon tea! Truthfully, the feeling I get after a show in Britain is like no other I’ve experienced and I’m grateful for the love. It feels like my home away from home.

You’ve been recording with Mark Bright recently? How did that partnership come about and what songs have come out of those sessions?

I’m a person who believes in meant to be and just the right time. I’m so excited about the opportunity of working with Mark Bright. I’ve been admiring his work with Carrie Underwood for years and thought maybe one day I could work with someone like him. Now that dream has come true!

I think “Dream Country” laid out the foundation for this partnership because that album is truly me. The lesson I’ve learned over the years, is always be yourself and it will lead to great places. We have recorded a few tracks that are the next phase of me and go a little deeper. It’s a project all about transformation. I use the visual of a cocoon to a Butterfly. It’s how I feel in my story at the moment. There’s been struggle, there’s been light and now I feel I’m right where I should be.

What sort of music have you been listening to recently?

I listen to a mixture of everything! My favourite new discovery lately is Delta Rae. Always a listener to Coldplay, Kacey Musgraves & Alison Krauss!

Your last album was released on your own record label Be Darling Records. What benefits come from releasing music on your own independent label?

The benefits of releasing an album yourself is creative control. The timing is yours and you can make it look and sound the way you want it to. The downside is that I have to wear many hats, but I’ve learned so much about all sides of the music industry. I’m loving the process so far.

With that being said – what advice would you give to someone trying to break into the industry?

Best advice is don’t try and be someone you’re not. I see that so often in the music industry. If something is popular, people try to create a carbon copy of it. It’s you that shines through.

Also don’t ever let anyone bring you down. Don’t let one person dictate your story.

Finally – you’ll be touring in March – during Lent. What’s one thing you’ll be giving up?

I have an addiction to a shop called & other stories and they are all over England. I will give that up but it will be hard!

Sarah Darling will be performing at The Waterfront in Norwich on the 12 March.

51

| MARCH 2018

term producer, collaborator and son Mike. We use rarely seen classic musical clips from the archive, topped off by live performances by the multi-talented Joe Stilgoe and his band.

It’s a fascinating, entertaining and informative journey to my musical heart, with the help of a few heroes.

What highlights can we expect?

Too many. Me duetting with Bing, interviewing John Lennon with a bag on my head – you’ll have to see the show to see why - sitting opposite McCartney as he played ‘Yesterday’, being in the studio as Fred Astaire sings ‘Puttin on the Ritz’, being exhilarated by the Buddy Rich Big Band. Plus the live performances by Joe including his original composition written specially for the show called ‘Our Kind of Music’.

F

amed for his TV interviewing and writing, Sir Michael Parkinson is also a fan of jazz music and has spent much of his career promoting an appreciation of the Great American Songbook. In the process, he has developed an encyclopaedic knowledge of that genre, as well as interviewing some of the greats and finding time to spot new artists. However, his taste in music takes in everything from Razorlight to Paul Simon and The Beatles to Oasis.

This passion and love of music in all its forms is celebrated in his new live theatrical show 'Our Kind Of Music', at The Apex on 7 April.

Can you explain a little about the show?

Since a young age I have had a passion and love for music. I was about ten or eleven and fiddling with our radio at home in Yorkshire trying to find the American Forces Network broadcasting out of Germany. I was seeking an alternative to the kind of music on the BBC at that time which consisted, it seemed to me, of adenoidal crooners, syncopated dance bands and posh sounding announcers. Then I heard Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra and a door was opened into a world of music I could only have imagined.

It’s a passion that has stayed with me all my life and when I was lucky enough to get my talk show Parkinson, I was determined to feature the kind of music and performers that played and performed my kind of music. The result was that I

What are your top three favourite songs?

Too many. Here’s 3 that are near the top of my list: ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’ sung by Frank Sinatra with the arrangement by Nelson Riddle; the definitive version of Cole Porter’s Classic song. ‘Summertime’ by George and Ira Gershwin, sung peerlessly by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. If anyone asks me why I love the music of the Great American Songbook, I simply tell them to listen to this song. Finally, Irving Berlin’s ‘Change Partners’ sung by Fred Astaire. It has a special memory for me because it was playing in a dance hall where I was sitting watching a lovely young woman with auburn hair dance all night with another man.

Her name was Mary. Luckily for me she did ‘Change Partners’ and over 50 years later, she’s still putting up with me.

What is the proudest moment from your career?

Being awarded honorary membership of the Musicians Union.

Music has given me such joy in my life and my respect for anyone with musical talent knows no bounds. To be accepted into their inner circle without an ounce of musical talent is a real honour.

In your mind what is the role of the media in society?

I’ve never found a better description than the original mission statement of the BBC - to inform, educate and entertain.

Best interview?

Not one you would expect me to say! It was with the eminent scientist Professor Jacob Bronowski. He was the writer and presenter of that landmark book and television series ‘The Ascent of Man’. It was the one time that the shape and progression of the interview went exactly the way I had prepared. But that was more to do with Professor Bronowski’s perfect command of the English language and his forensic mind then my interviewing skills.

Worst interview?

Once, when they were still with us, I sat down with Alan Whicker and David Frost, both of whom I liked and deeply admired, and we agreed to write down on a piece of the paper the worst interviewee we had all interviewed. We then showed each other at the same time. Each of us had written down Thor Heyerdahl, the Norwegian anthropologist most famous for the Kon-Tiki expedition in the Pacific. We all agreed he would not be our first choice as a crewmate on a deep sea cruise.

interviewing John Lennon with a bag on my head – you’ll have to see the show to see why got to meet and sometimes talk to most of my musical heroes.

Legends like Duke Ellington, Bing Crosby and Tony Bennett.

Era defining pop stars like Lennon and McCartney, Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder as well as being able to promote the new generation of talent like Jamie Cullum, Michael Buble and Diana Krall. It’s an archival treasure trove which has never been properly mined until now.

Parkinson: Our Kind of Music is a really exciting new show that we’ve developed. I’m interviewed about my love of music and some of the musical highlights of my career by my long

52

What do you make of current British television?

Slick, brilliantly produced and full of talent yet sadly often soulless and derivative. I was lucky to come into television when I did.

Any advice for up and coming broadcasters/interviewers today?

It’s difficult to do so because the media environment they are coming into is not one I recognize, nor to be honest, understand. The only piece of advice I can give any aspiring interviewer is do your homework and listen.

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

Parkinson OUR KIND OF MUSIC A live theatrical journey through Sir Michael Parkinson’s musical DNA in words, pictures and performance

Michael Parkinson’s ‘Our Kind Of Music’ is at The Apex at 7.30pm on Saturday 7 April.

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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

02.

03.

04.

05.

03.

01.

Clinique For Men Face Bronzer 60ml £21

02.

Panasonic ES-LA63-S Foil Shaver Trimmer Silver Shaver £149

Elemis Deep Cleanse Facial Wash 150ml £22

04.

Lancôme Hydrix Baume Hydratant 50ml £34

05.

Givenchy Gentlemen Only Intense 50ml £51.50

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OPEN AT 12 POTTERGATE IN THE NORWICH LANES, TOFUREI IS A RELAXING VEGAN COFFEE SHOP AND ‘GRAB ‘N’ GO’ Showcasing output from the UK’s first shop based micro soya dairy and our unique vegan deli-counter with soysages, burgers as well as tofu.

Free samples usually available for you to try before you buy.

You’ll also find our tofu and tofu products on the menu in a number of fine establishments in and around Norwich.

12 POTTERGATE, NORWICH, NR2 1DS 01603 627717 · TOFUREI.CO.UK

BOOK TODAY

TAKE AWAY CRABS & LOBSTERS AVAILABLE FROM 10AM OPENING TIMES: SUN-THURS 10-5pm, FRI-SAT 10-8pm SERVING FOOD FROM 12 with Surf and Turf on Friday and Saturday CALL US: 01263 837359 OR 07999 959760 Cromer Road, West Runton, Norfolk, NR27 9QA

6 OPIE STREET, NORWICH NR1 3DN

www.rockybottoms.co.uk

COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

Nicole Cachao

Restaurant Manager at Benedicts Restaurant in Norwich www.restaurantbenedicts.com info@restaurantbenedicts.com or call 01603 926080

R HUBAR B & DI L L

Soda

INGREDIENTS: (MAKES ONE) • 40g Dill - roughly • 550g Rhubarb cut into even chunks ( around 2 - 3 centimetres)

• 500ml Water

chopped

• 200g Caster Sugar • 2g Citric Acid Powder

• 83ml Raw Rhubarb Juice

• 1 small bottle of

Sparkling Water

I love March. Winter is behind us and the hope of spring morning’s and daffodils blooming is in the not too distant future. This time of year I always associate with wonderful Rhubarb, and what better way to celebrate than with this Rhubarb and Dill infused cordial.

The word Cordial - coming from the medieval latin ‘Cordiãlis’ means ‘from the heart’ and that is where this recipe has come from (and from the taste buds too!)

The addition of Dill to the cordial makes this soda unusual and interesting, perfect to enjoy with family and friends.

MOCK-TIP Use a cocktail glass and garnish with a sprig of Dill to create the perfect mocktail

Pssst: You can always add a measure of your favourite gin...

METHOD:

1. Fill a large pan half way with water and bring to a simmer on the stove.

2. In a zip lock bag put the chopped rhubarb, chopped dill and 500ml of water and seal.

3. Once the pan is simmering turn the heat off and place the bag into the water and leave for 45 minutes.

Photography by KATJA BAINBRIDGE

4. Remove the mixture from the pan and leave to cool in the bag for 1 and 1/2 hours.

5. When cool, strain the liquid through a muslin cloth lined sieve into a jug.

6. Add the citric acid, sugar and raw rhubarb juice and stir to combine, if necessary add more sugar to your desired taste.

7. Pour your cordial into your chosen bottle, seal, and sore in your fridge.

8. When ready to serve add your desired amount to the glass and top up with sparkling water.

63

| MARCH 2018

Five spiced DUCK BREAST

Photography by MALCOLM HIRST

SWEET POTATO FONDANT CHINESE CABBAGE DUCK SPRING ROLL HOISIN JUS

64

Peter Clarke head chef of the Imperial Hotel cooks up a delicious duck dish to impress your guests this March

Breas t of Norfo lk phea sant, Conf it leg, white polen ta, polen ta, white it leg, sant, jusFondant, phea lkDuck berry black Norfo t of Spiced and aConf Breasberri nuts , hazle Five Breast, Sweet Potato es black jus Jus berry a blackRoll and Spring hazle nutsDuck berri es ,Cabbage, Hoisin blackChinese

RECIPE RECIPE RECIPE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS SERVES SIX SERVES SIX METHOD and pepper IENTS Norfolk pheasant, leg, white polenta, fat, salt INGRED Thyme, duck •Confit t legs and 4 pheasan breasts tof 4 pheasan •Breast Take the duck breast and trim it up of any pepper andlid salt fat, baking parchment and place in an oven at duck Thyme, • blackberries , hazlenuts and a blackberry jus legs t pheasan 4 and breasts t pheasan excess fat or sinew. Score the skin and • Oil ries each blackber • •3 4 185’c for 35 minutes. Once cooked keep warm sprinkle the five spice over the skin side and Oil • thelovely butter onthe cutall and peeled carrots each s ries • 3 heritage 3 blackber •40g in their juices so they suck hazelnut roasted SERVES SIX •INGREDIENTS the flesh side of the duck. Leave to marinate . lozenges the into on cut slant and peeled up.

Take the duck breasts out of the fridge. carrots • 3 heritage s cook) hazelnut roasted for an hour inand the quick flour( polenta oz •• •6440g • Thyme, duck fat, salt. and pepper pheasant breasts 4fridge. pheasant legs Pop in a saucepan of water to boil. lozenges into slant with sieved and pureed chef ries d • 12 blackber executive hea Meanwhile add the shallots and the garlic quick flour( oz ncook) parmesa grated ofchopped oz polenta • •2.5 Oil 3 6blackberries each of waterries pureed and sieved with head the roughly to a small saucepan and• •1tbsp of e executiv head chef 12 blackber utive exec TO FINISH n the duck. Colour heavily parmesaof of oz add 2.5 the trimmings of water HOTEL of the water of grated pintthe a on pints heritage carrots peeled and cut 40g roasted hazelnuts toa1/2 • •1.5 IMPERIAL reduced stock beef pint •• 23 1tbsp Place a large pan on high heat and heat in of thewater pan scraping the sides of the pan. slant into lozenges. outh L HOTEL EL t Yarm HOT GreaRIAL in IMPERIA a pint to 1/2 to •Half IMPE reduced stock beef pint for 2 minutes.

Turn it down low and add 2 • milk 6 1.5 oz pints polenta flour( quick cook) of pint a • shoots 25g pea • Once coloured sufficiently (about 10 minutes) chef head e executiv th Yarmou in Great Yarmouth in Great • 12 blackberries pureed and sieved with and fry for the 4 duck breasts skin side down milk of pint a Half • add the wine, port and herbs and reduce shoots • 2.5 oz of grated parmesan pea 25g • er the butt of • 4 oz 1tbsp of4-5 water minutes. Put in the oven for another 3 until a glaze, add the beef stock and reduce IMPERIAL HOTEL oz butt • •1.54pints ofer water minutes flesh side down for • 2 pint beef stock reduced to 1/2 a pink pint and longer METHODby half. Add 4tbsp hoisin sauce and then turn in Great Yarmouth for put more well done Be capable sure to season the4 if taking pan. on a trying •Take Halfthe a pint offat milk Next off and set tothyme one side. place in a and and INGREDIENTS SERVES FOUR duck • 25g peaduck shoots METHOD before it goes into the oven heat up oil, of if 1 tbsp add and 4 breasts t taking pheasan capable on For the spring rolls,take the cooked duck the pan place trying a and put Next simmer rolling to aand thyme and place in a n bring •saucepa 4 oz butt er duck fat the Take When you pop the duck in the oven, place and down skin breast pheasan heat up oil, place ofside and 1 tbsp • Half a Chinesepheasantmeat, • 4 duck breasts soy sauce and 8 tbsp hoisin sauce andtadd Until heat breasts tthe lowest the pheasan on it,cook the into legs place and simmer rolling a to bring n saucepa some salt in the boiling water and place the and carrots the down add sides, both brown cabbage preferably golden side until skin fryand breast t along withthrough, the juilienned vegetables and 3 pheasan about the take will place this Until cooked heat METHOD and lowest tender the on pheasant legs into it,cook Chinese cabbage intoto the water, cook for 2carrots minutes for 2-3 Gressingham 185.c heated oven the in aagolden place sides, mix thoroughly.

Takeon 1this piece of filo pastry,cut for 3 brown gas • 12tbsp of stove the fry until been Next put trying onboth capable if add taking 4 Take the duck fat have andthrough, thyme and place in aabout Once take will hours. cooked andthey tender minutes when itpan comes back to for boil, once 2 and breast tthe pheasan the in pink of minutes dash 2-3 a hoisin sauce saucepan • 2tbsp of Chinese for 185.c into 4 and egg wash all 4 pieces.

Place a long to heated some and oven a lk in place water,mi pheasant breasts and place add 1 tbsp of oil, heat up bring to a rolling simmer and place the the take for hours gas stove and a half 2 hours. on the been have they Once cooked drain it and a knob of butt er to2rest Leave finish. juicy done 5 spice well for and linger breast t minutes sausage shape of the mixture at one end and pheasan to the in pink n, bring ofpheasant and place the breast skin side down and legs into it,cook on lowest Until a dash a saucepa • Oil, salt and pheasant for inthe place and some and lk heat andapepper salt water,mi the take half hours 2 and per person on to the cabbage so finish. that it goes to rest warm. re somewhe juicyadd theLeave fold the the ends into meet.

Squeeze all the air done pepper • 1 pint of heavily boil well the for fry until golden brown both sides, carrots tender and cooked through, this will take about 3 to linger bring flour minutes polenta to add bring n, and boil saucepa the a in salt and pepper and place into the cabbage, check for seasoning. reduced beef outthe and then proceed to roll the spring roll place in a oven heated to 185.c for 2-3 minutes hours.

Once they have been the stove fortoo gets if itgas re warm. as careful somewhe be on and • 1 pint of boil time the to bring whisking flour polenta the and add the boilall stock up like a cigar, being sure to have a double for aFINISH dash of pink in the pheasant breast and 2 2hot and a half hours take the water,milk and some cooked TO has stock (hot) this pan, theand it will spit careful as if it gets too beonce time the of all out whisking TO PLATE and through heat minutes linger for well juicy finish.

Leave to the rest salt and pepper in saucepan, bring to oven to layerat ofand filo.place Deep fryain deep fat fryer and the done • Half a pint of leg into n the Place parmesa the point, boiling FINISH cooked TO has • 200g of cooked this 2 minutes for once pan,add of the out spit it will hot Take the Duck out of the oven and it rest and hotthe is boiling somewhere warm. so itlet red wine boil and add the polenta flour bring to the been boiln polenta the keep warm.

Reheat crisp. to through has skin it heat to until in oven this the duck leg meatthe into whisk leg and the er butt Place and parmesa the cheese point, add at boiling for 2 minutes for 4 minutes.

Reheat the sauce andatreduce top, hot whisking all the time and be careful as if it gets too plate the ForReserve the sweet potato fondant, a quenelle boiling place • Quarter pint so it isthe and somewhe thetopolenta warm Reheat on this crisp. been skin ted. itre.hasthe in until peel incorpora this • 2tbsp soy sauce whisk and butt and cheese toFINISH a to sauce consistency, drain the point cabbage hot it will spit out oferthe pan, once this has cooked TO boiling to sweet potato and cut into 2.inch thickness of port up back top, theadd sauce atand and the plate heat reduced to the been on has that quenelle a out place stock re. and beef the somewhe Take warm this Reserve ted.

• Half a leek forincorpora andthe reheat the and spring rollto and potato.

2 minutes at boiling point, add the parmesan into Place leg into the oven heat through andadd the breast the Cut s. sweet rounds.

Cut them with athe metal 3cm by 3cm hazelnut ries and ry blackber point the boiling blackber to • 3 sprigs of thyme up add back n, sauce saucepa and the clean heat a reduced in been place has that out juilienned stock beef Take the Cut duck into 4the and patpolenta, onso a clean cloth cheese and butt er and whisk this in until it has been skin tothe crisp.

Reheat polenta it is boiling hotinto leg the add cutt er.

Peel the rounded top and bott om for the against up and rosemary breast place the the and Cut 3 with s. happy hazelnut are and you ries until time ry blackber a at the bit the blackber puree n, add saucepa a clean placeaindecoration. place the and potato Reserve thisawarm somewhere.

• Half a carrot incorporated. and place a cabbage quenelle on tothe thesweet plate atadd the top, next pile in a uniform Get that will hold all the 4 carrots the then the leg and to itplace flavour next beef the polenta, the taste against topan up • 2 shallots 3 and with should you happy taste are you time abecame bit at a juilienned puree Take the beef stock out until that has been reduced and next tosauce eachSpoon other, place the spring roll cutaddand heat the back up tosauce boiling point breast the over sweet potatoes(1 each) and add some butt er the pile next breast. !! uniform it the to it and then the carrots in a and th flavour tonext undernea ry BlackBer the and beef stock the the of taste to • Clove garlic became should place in a clean saucepan, add the blackberry taste you 2 sat up against the sweet potato and theinto blackberries and the hazelnuts.

Cut the breast • 1 sheet pea withinto garnish and side a tadtoofheat oil to the butter burning. and meat and it covers that the breast over leg sauce the later upstop Spoon breast. it !! the toso one undernea Place ryhappy BlackBer the puree atobit at aand time until you are withththe stock 3 and place up duck against the leg of the then pop the on the the polenta, cabbage,add spoon filo pastry • Pack of butter Heat until the butt er foams and then add the !! pea enjoy with and garnish and shoots and water meat the salted covers it boiling in that so carrots legto the the Blanch later up taste you should became to taste the beef flavour heat to side one next it and then the carrots in a uniform pile next to Place over jus in to duck and around the • 1 egg • 1 large sweet sweet potatoes colouring both sides. Add the minutes. enjoy !!the sauce over the breast and and cooked, shoots once water and ofrefresh the stock and the BlackBerry underneath it !! boiling6salted inaround to plate... the breast.

Spoon carrots the Enjoy!

Blanch potato stock half way up the sweet potatoes, add a WINE Place to one side to heat up later minutes.

6 leg so that it covers the meat and garnish with pea around refresh once cooked, WINE Blanch the carrots in boiling salted water and shoots and enjoy !!

WINE

Peter Clarke Peter Clarkkee ter Clar Pe Peter Clarke

refresh once cooked, around 6 minutes.

ards South Afric a of VineyPortugal Tinto, oksloDouro, age Rheb PinotPalestra 20152014 2015 Pinot age Rheb okslo of Vineyards South Afric a To accompany Peter’s duck breast, I have

WINE

de-stemmed and crushed before

ng the fermenti

by Africa is made The wine which estate ulthe 2015 Pinotage Rheboksloof Vineyards South wonderf being moved to a stainless steel tank chosen from Douro.

This dates is the This is aawine on their skins

bss Mobb Nick Nick Mob wine wine s and obb director ctor and M direick N bs Mob Nick the thewine at expert rtat and expe ctor dire wine and director EL LrtHOTEL HOT IMPERIA the RIAL at IMPE expe expert at the HOTEL IMPERIAL IMPERIAL HOTEL

with tradition name tolate dry 1700s table wines made dates inal to back which ul estate a wonderf is the Thisgiven of some buildings style theCape port region along the Douro valley al Dutch tradition with 1700s late the to Thisback is a wonderful estate whichsett dates the early tobuildings back Oporto. running inland from Around half date of which somelers.

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A hybrid grape grape The and Noir Cinsault.

Pinot the between cross a in world.

6 Cinsault. estates and regions.

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The grapes are hand harvested,

steel in Stainless grapes ng the by fermenti is made wine The for fermentation.

Temperature was to cap skins the of on pump regular and their steel in Stainless grapes kept between 26-28Cover during the 12 day wine The wine is made by flavour. fermenting and colour to cap extract thethe ofThe over pumping pump regular and fermentation with regular over grapes in Stainless steel on their skins and oak new 60% aged in then wine The flavour. and colour extract towas extract colour and flavour.

The wine and regular over ofnew the cap to 14 and for barrels oak old yearapump 2 then 40% oak 60% in aged was then spent further 18 days macerating extract colour and flavour. Thefor wine 14 months. barrels oak year old 2skins. with the It was then run off to 40% waswonderf then aged in 60% new oak and it shows ul wine Amonths. oak barrel 12 months tofor mature.

40% 2 year for old oak barrels 14 flavours fruit dark , complex shows it wine ul The wine has a deep purplewith A wonderf months. prunes ry, blackber of notes flavours fruit dark , wine red colour, the nose is full of ripewith complex A wonderful it shows spices. soft oak of hints and prunes ry, blackber black fruits, notably mulberry and of notes complex, dark fruit flavours with and palate theoak fillsoft tannins The spices. of blackberry, with warm and spicy hints and notes of blackberry, prunes fruit dried of nuances and palate the fill overtones.

The palate isflavours medium tannins The and hints of soft oak spices. aftertaste on the flavours fruit and dried tolinger full bodied, fruited yetwork of richly nuances The tannins fill the palate and the ofwork flavours the with well really and ertaste surprisingly elegant and supple.

The the aft ondried nuances of fruit flavours linger t dish.

Pheasan of the the flavours finish is and spicy, withwork gentle linger onwarm the aft ertaste and with well really really well with the flavours of the ripePheasan tannins. theses flavours in the dish. tAll Pheasant dish. with the spice on the wine are perfect duck and hoisin Jus.

• A team of brilliant chefs t chefs of brillian A team list chefs • •A•Superb team ofwine brilliant Superb •Laid-ba atmosp ckwine • •Superb wine list list here atmosphere ck Laid-ba •The • Laid-back restaurant for dinner or perfect atmosphere

Imperial Hotel,

At thefor dinner lunch. for dinner restaurant The perfect TheSunday perfect restaurant or or 1EQ. , NR30 Yarmouth Gtthe Drive, Hotel, North the Imperial AtImperial lunch.

Sunday Sunday lunch.

At Hotel, 842000 01493 call book ToNorth , NR30 Gt Yarmouth North Drive,Drive, Gt Yarmouth, NR30 1EQ.1EQ. 842000 call 01493 To book call 01493 842000 To book Sunday 12.30 - 2pm

www.cafecru.co.uk

www.cafecru.co.uk

www.cafecru.co.uk

6.30 - 10pm Saturday -12.30 Monday Sunday 12.30 - 2pm - 2pm Sunday opening For open Terrace Monday - Saturday 6.30daily.

- 10pm The - 10pm 6.30 Saturday - is Monday to imperialho Thetimes Terrace is open daily.

For opening menu opening Fortel.co.uk daily. isgoopen Terrace The & timestimes & menu go togo imperialhotel.co.uk to imperialhotel.co.uk & menu

59

59 65 59

info@seasoninwells.co.uk

RECIPE

Richard Bainbridge

Photography by KATJA BAINBRIDGE

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

H E R B PA STA &W I L D G A R L IC HERB PASTA

INGREDIENTS • 250g ’00’ Pasta flour

• 2 Whole Eggs

• 10g Picked Mixed Soft Herbs

• Splash of Norfolk

• 10g Salt

• 3-4 Egg Yolks

(Medium Sized) Rapeseed Oil

o t s Pe

METHOD

For the Pasta

To Cook

To Roll

WILD GARLIC PESTO

Place the soft herbs and eggs into a blender and blend on full speed until you have a bright green smooth mixture this should take approx 2 minutes. In a food processor you will need to blend the flour and salt so the salt is mixed through the flour, whilst the machine is still running slowly pour the green egg mixture in until it resembles breadcrumbs. Turn the machine off and press the dough in your hands, the mixture should come together and form a moist but not wet ball. Wrap in cling film and cool in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or preferably overnight. This mixture can be made in advance as it will last for up to one week in the fridge.

Once ready to use you need to roll your pasta out, using a rolling machine produces the most professional results. Flour your work surface and the rollers of the pasta machine, flatten out the chilled pasta dough into a rectangle. Set the rollers to their widest setting and roll the pasta through once. Turn the rollers down one notch to the next narrower setting, lightly dust the pasta with flour and pass the rolled pasta through the rollers again.

You will need to repeat this process until the pasta sheets are as thin as you desire, usually I roll mine to the thickness of 1-2 mm (about the width of thick paper) or you can go until you’ve passed it through the narrowest setting of the machine. When all the pasta is passed, fold it over and cut into strips of approximately 1-3 cm or your desired thickness. Once cut lay onto a floured tray to dry.

Place a large pan of salted water onto the stove and bring to the boil, once boiling turn down the heat to a gentle simmer and add a splash of oil to the water. Gently place your pasta into the water and simmer for 2-4 minutes (do not cook all the way as it can easily turn to mush so just to a point where it has a little texture). Strain your pasta, coat in a little more oil and toss this helps to stop the pasta sticking together. Season with salt and pepper and serve with a generous spoonful of wild garlic pesto on top.

INGREDIENTS • 1 Large Bunch of Wild Garlic

• 60g Grated Parmesan

• 1 Small Bunch of Flat Leaf

• Juice of 1/2 Lemon

(Washed) Parsley

• 60g Toasted Pine Nuts

• 150ml Rapeseed Oil • Salt and Pepper

METHOD

Place all the dry ingredients into a blender turn onto high speed, slowly start adding the oil until it is all incorporated. Check the seasoning and add the lemon juice plus salt and pepper to taste.

Store in a sterilised jar and cover with oil, you can keep the pesto for up to one month in the fridge.

67

| MARCH 2018

g n i g r o F

AHEAD

A restaurant filled with a fusion of traditional British fayre and South East Asian delights... Andrew Hirst heads to The New Forge in Aylsham to discover more

A

usual hectic Saturday was followed by a moment of calm as Lorraine and I climbed in to the car and headed out to the restaurant for the evening.

I managed to ‘do the usual’ and got confused on the new section of road in Norwich! But eventually, after the far superior guidance and direction from my wife, we arrived at the destination for the evening, The New Forge in Aylsham. The exterior lights burned bright through the rainy evening and certainly made it a welcoming sight.

Even though my confusion behind the wheel in certain areas of the city limits had cost us time we managed to arrive at the restaurant a good forty minutes ahead of our table booking. This never happens in the Hirst household.

Once inside, The New Forge had a relaxed feel with a sense of familiarity about it. At first I could not quite put my finger on the answer, however the answer to this would become apparent later in the evening. We were seated promptly. We could have sat in the ample bar area but we opted to head straight to the table, possibly the hectic day and skimping on lunch may have given us both a bullish appetite.

68

The menu is extensive to say the least, with a vast selection split in to two clear divides, English and Thai.

After a very short discussion we both decided that every tastebud in our mouths was shouting “Thai” menu. I selected quickly, my wife took a little longer, however the waiting staff were very helpful and accommodating.

Even though the restaurant was busy our starters arrived in good time, which gives any diner an insight in to the kitchen, organised and professional in the case of Koi and her team. Lorraine had ordered the king prawn spring rolls served with a plum sauce, these looked delicious, but my selection of the ‘Tung Tong’, minced chicken delicately mixed with vegetables and herbs wrapped in a wonderful filo pastry parcel served with a sweet chilli sauce looked better. My wife seemed to think this also and ate all of hers and some of mine.

Whilst waiting for the main courses to arrive my wife enjoyed a smooth South African Sauvignon Blanc (I was driving... I watched! Next time Lorraine drives!) and took in the now bustling restaurant. There were large

RESTAURANT REVIEW

parties of guests and smaller more intimate tables. In the background children laughed and enjoyed good wholesome food. Families were talking, celebrating and enjoying themselves. It made me think of relatives past and how I would have loved to bring them here, with something for everyone on the menu, and the happy relaxed atmosphere is in abundance.

The mains arrived and Lorraine’s chilli and garlic king prawns looked delicious and healthy with a blend of red and green peppers, spring onion, cauliflower, mushroom, broccoli, carrot, sweet basil in an oyster sauce. I went with the ‘Mud sa mun’ which is a Southern Thailand specialty combining strips of pork, cooked in coconut milk, cream and curry paste with sliced onions, new potatoes and peanuts. It was a triumph. Creamy and sweet, sticky and moorish.

When I return to The New Forge, which I most certainly will, I may struggle to order something

different. Both were served with salad and rice, lovingly presented in a heart shape.

I, as is the norm, was enjoying a happy glow of fullness from my two courses, “No dessert!” I said, but then got talked in to sharing one! We had the tangy lemon cheesecake with ice cream and two spoons! It was great, but I didn’t manage much, Lorraine seemed to like it a lot as the plate went back empty.

Easy to get to, plenty of parking and plenty of choice (even for vegetarians) puts this restaurant firmly on my radar. Tim and Koi Sizeland have been at The New Forge since December 2015 after their previous venture at the Wheatacre White Lion just outside of Beccles. They have done a tremendous job here and a testament to this is the ‘bums on seats’. A busy restaurant is always a good restaurant in my opinion.

After the meal we had the pleasure of Tim’s company and he showed Lorraine and I around the premises.

The venue is very large, with a carvery section and a separate function area to the rear, which is used for local clubs and meetings, as well as celebrations of all kinds. Unfortunately the rain kept us from exploring further outside, but I will put my neck on the line and say this will be a fantastic destination on a sunny day to enjoy a gin and tonic and watch the kids play. Tim talked me through the Sunday lunch carvery and at £7.95 certainly sounds like fabulous food at a fantastic price. If we had not already made plans we would have been heading back the next day! Tim and Koi also put the community at the heart of their business by helping with the catering for the local meals on wheels each week, which is a great cause to be involved in.

Thinking back to the first part of the evening when we walked in and were seated at our table, I now understood the familiarity I felt in a restaurant I had never visited before. The New Forge is a warm, happy place. The staff are so welcoming and genuinely friendly, the whole place has a golden glow of warmth about it. Because of this you feel welcome and at home.

As for the food, it’s good, very good, you can taste the skill, warmth and joy in every mouthful.

The New Forge Norwich Road, Aylsham, Norfolk NR11 6UD Tel: 01263 734275 Email: info@thenewforge.co.uk www.thenewforge.co.uk 69

| MARCH 2018

A TASTEation

s n Se

It’s well worth travelling to North Norfolk to visit The Crawfish Inn, as this busy Thai restaurant in Thursford is serving authentic Bangkok cuisine, as Carolyn Atkins discovers…

When I think of Thailand, a kaleidoscope of images comes to mind. I can picture the wonderful, white sandy beaches, azure blue sea and intriguing limestone islands that have made this country such a popular gap year stop and holiday destination.

Islands such as Ko Samui, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Phuket and, north-east of Phuket, Khao Phing Kan – also known as “James Bond Island” because it featured in The Man With The Golden Gun, starring Roger Moore and Britt Ekland, back in 1974.

Also the bustling streets of Bangkok, along with the capital city’s famous floating market, Damnoen Saduak, with its multi-coloured fruit, vegetable, food and flower stalls, where you’ll find wooden boats piled high with produce and where you can tuck into a bowl of “boat noodles” while you float along the river.

Plus the backpackers’ paradise of Khao San Road and the neon lights of Patpong – ultratouristy and a little tacky with their many bars, restaurants, clubs and shows, but a definite magnet for the millions of tourists who go there.

70

I also think of vast, elaborate, graceful temples and palaces, of elephants and Buddhas, teak wood artefacts and an abundance of orchids – this attractive Asian country has so much to offer.

And, of course, of Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred in Danny Boyle’s The Beach back in 2000, the film version of Alex Garland’s novel of the same name which took the world by storm and which everyone was reading around the pool a few decades ago.

It was, in fact, at least two decades ago that I visited this fascinating country, but memories of my time there are still clear, with the one thing I remember above all being the food.

Think of fragrant, hot and spicy dishes flavoured with garlic, ginger, chillies, lemon grass, lime, galangal, palm sugar and fish sauce, served with bowls of Jasmine rice. Of all sorts of enticing curries, rice and noodle-based delicacies, with the Thai kitchens, food markets and street stalls emitting fabulous aromas.

And, of course, coconut – another big staple of Thai cuisine, thanks to the many

coconut palms that grow there - which is used to flavour both sweet and savoury dishes as well as being served neat – as coconut pieces or coconut juice, for example, or, perhaps, whipped into an ice cold coconut milkshake.

Now firmly ensconced in Norfolk, at least 20 years on from that trip, it is a coincidence when Siropas Rangphet, the affable owner of The Crawfish Inn Thai restaurant in Thursford, tells me that he’s also been in this country for the past 20 years, having moved to England from Bangkok.

Siropas – whom everybody refers to as “OB” – and his English wife, Mandy, run this busy place in Thursford village on the side of the main A148 Fakenham to Holt Road in a red brick building that dates back to 1833 (a word of warning – mind your head on the way in and out, as the door frame is pretty low!).

At first, it seems a rather surprising location for a restaurant, but factor in its proximity to the coast, with its wealth of second-homers and holidaymakers, and the situation seems pretty sound. And, of course, there’s the nearby Thursford Steam Engine Museum which

RESTAURANT REVIEW

welcomes visitors from 1st April onwards and the Thursford Christmas Spectacular – an allsinging, all-dancing Christmas show - which will once again welcome coachloads of visitors from the 6th November.

Not surprisingly, then, The Crawfish Inn is at its busiest from April onwards and the wellworn furniture in the bar area is testament to the many customers that have passed through its doors.

It was dark when we arrived – on the day after Valentine’s Day – and the clear sky was filled with stars. As we stepped out of our car into the cold February air we could smell the delicious Thai herbs and spices coming from the kitchen and we were already looking forward to our meal. In fact, the website states: “At The Crawfish Thai Restaurant we have attempted to create authentic Thai cuisine by obtaining the finest ingredients from Thailand.

That’s why you’ll find dishes seasoned with kaffir lime leaves, Thai basil, Pandun leaf and other essential ingredients.”

We were not disappointed. This imposing building also serves as the village pub and, after a quick drink in the bar – a pint of Greene King IPA for my husband, Miles, and (as the designated driver), a tonic water for me - we were shown through to the restaurant.

There had only been a couple of other people in the bar (you can simply pop in for a

pint) and so we were surprised to see so many others in the restaurant itself; most of the tables were full and the customers included a couple of families, one with a very small and vocal baby, and a group of ladies celebrating a birthday - OB brought out a candle-lit cake from the kitchen as they sang Happy Birthday and we all joined in.

Miles and I decided to go for the set Thai meal for two (starter, main, dessert and tea/ coffee for £45), but we could have opted for all sorts of other Thai dishes, from Tom Yum Soup to Gang Pa Nuea (Jungle Curry), thanks to the extensive and delicious-sounding restaurant menu (there is also a takeaway version).

Our set menu consisted of hot and succulent chicken satay served on bamboo skewers with a little cucumber and red pepper salad and some very tasty, grainy peanut sauce.

There were also prawns in blankets – King prawns stuffed with spicy pork, wrapped in rice pancakes and deep-fried - which were followed by the main courses: Thai green chicken curry (the most popular dish on the menu), which had a bit of a kick to it, and Neau Pad nam man hoy (beef in oyster sauce) – lean strips of beef stir-fried with onions, mushrooms and peppers in oyster sauce. These were accompanied by stir-fried vegetables and egg-fried rice, although we could have done with a little more rice.

The food was freshly cooked and was kept warm on a hot plate. We were also honoured, as OB actually cooked our meal, as he confided later when he visited us at our table, although there is also a team of other talented chefs who look after the kitchen when he’s not there.

The dishes were all attractively presented and the brass-coloured, bamboo-style cutlery was a nice touch. All of the food disappeared quickly (always a good sign) and the puddings were also tasty and attractive, with Miles choosing cheesecake, fruit and ice cream, while I opted for “Nun banana”, a hot Thai dessert consisting of bananas cooked in sugar and coconut milk, topped with sesame seeds.

The dish was warming, sweet and tasty and reminded me of porridge.

The restaurant is nicely decorated, in a darkish green (although we had quite a debate about how you’d describe the exact shade) with matching green and cream linen tablecloths and serviette sails. The main wall is decorated with a striking orchid-covered paper, the glass lightshades threw out interesting patterns on the ceiling, and there were lots of other orchids, candles and Thai artefacts – pictures, statues and so on – which added to the ambience. A thick checked carpet carries through to the restaurant from the bar and reminded me of a Scottish kilt or a very big picnic rug, and there were red roses in vases on the tables, perhaps in honour of Valentine’s Day. The team was friendly and helpful and we spotted a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor in one of the windows.

We finished off our meal with a pot of Jasmine tea and a de-caff coffee and all of this added to a very agreeable night out.

The place, staff and company were all very pleasant and the evening was enjoyable, but when I look back at The Crawfish Inn, just as I look back at my trip to Thailand, the one thing that stands out the most is definitely the food.

The Crawfish Inn Holt Road, Fakenham NR21 0BJ Tel: 01328 878313 www.crawfishinn.com

Open for dinner from 6pm to 10pm Tuesday to Sunday (and on Bank Holiday Mondays) and from 5pm till late during the Thursford Christmas Spectacular.

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Holt Garden Centre :

T: 01328 711821 • E: shop@whinhillnorfolkcider.co.uk The Ciderworks, Stearman’s Yard, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk NR23 1BW

www. w h i n h i l l n o r f o l k c i d e r .co.uk

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enquiries@northreppscottagehotel.co.uk Telephone: 01263 579202 NUT LANE, NORTH REPPS, CROMER, NORFOLK, NR27 0JN

Luxury cottage holiday accommodation in the beautiful south Norfolk countryside, this sympathetic eightbarn conversion retains many original features. Each barn boasts its own private outdoor seating area and is situated on a working dairy and arable farm in a peaceful rural setting.

All properties are well equipped for a real home from home feel. Linen and towels are included, full central heating throughout, cooking and washing facilities, cots and highchairs for the little ones. Relax and unwind in the shared hot tub or have fun with the kids in the onsite games room. Fitness room and soft play area for the little ones.

Perfect for families and those who enjoy walking, fishing, golf and cycling, the local area has much to offer for guests of all ages.

Booking advised via

01553 774996 5-6 Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JS

Contact Joanna Burroughs on 01502 677208 or visit www.wheatacrehallbarns.co.uk

www.dukesheadhotel.com

| MARCH 2018

g n i r e h t o M nday Su

Make that special lady in your life feel special on Mother’s Day! Mothering Sunday always falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent, and three weeks before Easter Sunday.

M

other’s Day this year falls on Sunday 11 March. It brings the generations together and often there are two or three mothers in the same family (mother, daughter, granddaughter etc) together on the same day. Add in the in-laws and extended family and with modern families being so diverse, sometimes there are even more!

There are, of course, all sorts of ways in which to mark this special occasion, from a simple family gathering at home to a more formal meal out.

Another way to mark this special occasion, especially now spring has sprung, is with a good walk, ideally followed by a cup of tea and a slice of cake in a welcoming, friendly cafe or, if you want to splash out, perhaps even with traditional afternoon tea.

East Anglia is famous for its many beautiful beaches and so it is not difficult to find somewhere suitable to go, whether it is the wide open sands of Holkham, the rock pools in Hunstanton, along the prom in Southwold or a walk along the glorious sandy beach in Gorleston.

Most Mothers like to feel special on Mothering Sunday so here are our top ten gifts you might like to think about giving to that special person in your life.

• Jewellery. Always a favourite as Diamonds are a girls best friend right? Well of course it doesn’t have to be diamonds but it is safe to say a nice piece of jewellery would make a lovely gift on this special day.

• Flowers. What better way to let the most important lady in your life know how special they are, how much they mean to you and how appreciative you are of everything they do for you and the support they give to you.

• Make them feel special with an experience. Time spent together is priceless, so perhaps an afternoon tea, a trip to the theatre or even a trip to the cinema... family experiences really are special and create memoires that can last forever.

You may even like to buy Mum an experience, such as a cookery class or wine-tasting evening.

• Beauty or spa Treatment. There are not many ladies who would say no to a pampering spa treatment to reinvigorate them... this one is well worth thinking about!

• Perfume. Always a popular choice at any time of the year.

• Gift vouchers to spend in their favourite shop or store.

You are spoilt for choice these days if you take this option including cinema, theatre, department stores, afternoon tea and experiences, gift vouchers can cover almost anything and are always a good bet for a great gift.

• This idea is a little more extravagant but how about a night away? There are lots of really good deals around at this time of the year so it might well be worthy of consideration.

• A nice bottle of Champagne is a lovely way to celebrate a special occasion. Prossecco is also a very popular alternative and not quite as expensive as champagne, and of course there are always chocolates. We can not pass this old favourite by without giving it a mention. There is so much choice on the market ranging from simple boxes up to exotic handmade Belgium chocolates.

• A meal out at their favourite restaurant or even a Sunday carvery is a fabulous way to bring the family together.

• How about making something yourself! Little handdrawn cards are adorable and will always be treasured, other home-made gestures such as a drawing, painting or poem, for example, will also always go down well.

Just remember one thing, while it is nice to splash the cash, and a great excuse to go shopping, remember that the most important thing on Mother’s Day is simply to mark the occasion in some way, whether that is just with a simple card or phone call, so that your mum knows she truly is valued and that she hasn’t been forgotten!

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| MARCH 2018

StaycationGlamping

Nothing beats sleeping under canvas

especially when you can do it with a host of luxuries to hand to bring about a more glamorous feel to a camping holiday. What can beat just turning up, unpacking and enjoying the great outdoors without the effort that traditional camping does?

Once you have unpacked it becomes the sort of holiday where you can sit and relax around a campfire or BBQ drinking wine on a balmy summers evening while watching the stars in the sky. There are a number of great Glamping sites dotted around Norfolk and Suffolk which all offers fabulous facilities and amenities... so perhaps, if you are thinking about your first Glamping experience, a holiday closer to home might be just the answer.

Here is just a selection for you to look at including a fabulous wooden lodge and some child friendly holiday cottages on a farm for you to consider.

Over the months ahead we will bring you more places you might want to explore if you are thinking of a Glamping adventure this summer.

FRITTON LAKE Tranquillity and adventure await you at Fritton Lake where you can pitch up and relax within the 5000 acres of The Somerleyton Estate, close to a stunning natural body of water. The site is beside the Norfolk Broads, with easy road access to the coast. You’ll be staying by the Decoy farm and right next to a pub serving good hot food, which all the campers like to dine in. On offer are 38 tent pitches, sheltered by rows of plant life without the rumble and noise of large vehicles camping beside you. No electrical hook up is supplied, and the site is for tents only. There are also rooms available, if you are travelling with someone who’d rather not camp. For Glampers, Fritton Lake is the only place in the entire world to have a unique and modern cow shed design which sleeps three adults or two adults and two small children. The site is open from 1st April to 31st October. www.somerleyton.co.uk

RIDDLESWORTH GLAMPING Riddlesworth Glamping, in Norfolk, provides a calm Glamping experience for all the family. Run by Lou and Ben their, Glamping experience blossomed after reclaiming a section of precious parkland of the Riddlesworth Park 78

Estate. The Glamping Parkland now holds five large luxury Soul Pad bell tents scattered across its five acres. The bell tents are spacious and equipped with some tasteful Glamping items and are simply lovely. High points include the comfy

memory foam mattresses, good bedding, a wood burner for cosy nights and the fantastic shared facilities such as constant hot showers, spotless loo’s and a purpose built kitchen space. www.riddlesworthglamping.co.uk

STAYCATION BREAKS GLAMPING WEST LEXHAM West Lexham is a small, boutique family Glamping site, with treehouses and bell tents dotted about on a beautiful family estate. Nestled in 21 acres, in the heart of the Norfolk countryside, it is a very special place. West Lexham Glamping holidays give you a chance to unwind and spend some quality time with your friends, family or take a perfect romantic break with your loved one in inspiring natural surroundings. Let your childhood dreams spring into life at this natural haven in the West Lexham countryside. With magical tree-houses and enchanting woods, it is a fairy tale land full of charming quirks. Children can run around and play together in the ultimate natural setting. You can boat down the lake, build dens in the woodlands or play a civilised game of tennis. www.westlexham.org

WOODLAND HOLIDAY PARK Escape to a tranquil and idyllic setting with two and three bed lodges for a relaxing stay at Woodland Holiday Park. Perfect for couples, friends and families who love to be in touch with nature, with all the luxuries and comforts of being at home. The woodland lodges have been carefully and thoughtfully prepared to ensure all of its residents have everything they need to settle down for a few nights and put all of their worries to one side. Each of the woodland lodges are equipped with a privately enclosed hot tub so you can sit outside with a glass of wine and your loved ones and enjoy the peaceful tranquillity of the parks beautiful environment. Lodge holiday short-breaks run from Monday-Friday and FridayMonday for weekend stays. www.woodlandholidaypark.co.uk

WIGWAM HOLIDAYS NORTH NORFOLK Wigwam Holidays is situated on the stunning North Norfolk coastline, and they proudly boast it is a nature lover’s paradise. An award-winning holiday park, you’ll find them one mile east of Cromer, nestled amongst 100 acres of outstanding Norfolk woodland and rolling countryside. The site has hilltop viewing points providing panoramic views out to the Cromer sea and the famous Royal Golf Course. Overstrand’s beautiful beach and

village is just a short walk away.

Wigwam Holidays have twelve luxury “running water” deluxe Wigwam® cabins coupled with the Holiday Park’s facilities you can be assured of a fantastic Glamping experience in Norfolk.

However you choose to spend your time at Wigwam Holidays you are sure to create some special holiday memories to treasure for years to come. www.wigwamholidays.com

EASTON FARM PARK The award-winning Easton Farm Park makes dreams come true for animal loving children and adults alike. Set in the beautiful surroundings of the Deben river valley and within an easy drive to the coast, Duke and Duchess child-friendly Holiday Cottages provide a perfect base for the fun and adventure to be had. With lovely views across the farm land or river and amidst this lovely countryside you will not find it difficult to wind down.

Not only do you get the fabulous family accommodation, but also the fantastic

attractions at the farm are available to you during opening hours. Including activities such as egg collecting, meeting, feeding and holding the farm animals and even following ‘Farmer Steve’ around.

There are pygmy goats to admire, you can ride a pony, see pig racing! Or even get involved in one of the organised craft activities of which you get to walk away without having to Hoover up the glitter!

There is a fabulous outdoor adventure playground for when the kids wish to ‘just get on with it’. www.eastonfarmpark.co.uk 79

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HOLIDAY LETTINGS

INVESTING IN HOLIDAY LETTING…

E

ach month, experts from Norfolk Country

Cottage, SALT and Norfolk Cottage Care – all part of The Original Cottage Company based in Reepham, will give advice on holiday letting in the county and how to make the most of your investment.

This month, John Haresign of Norfolk Cottage Care, the county’s truly local and experienced holiday cottage management company, looks at why now is the time to tidy-up that garden…

As the days lengthen and the temperature starts to rise, early spring is the perfect time to get outside and get to work on your holiday cottage garden. Here are our top ten tasks for the days ahead…

GET THAT RAKE OUT… Over the autumn and winter the deciduous shrubs and hedges have been busy shedding their leaves. New growth will start to appear, but that doesn’t mean the dead leaves will! So, delve deep into that shed, find your rake and get busy clearing all those leaves to make sure your flower beds and patio look tidy come summer.

WHEEDLE OUT THOSE WEEDS… It’s important to hoe and mulch your flower borders during March to help keep on-top of those weeds early on. It will make your life much easier come the warmer months when nettles and the likes start to feel lively.

PROTECTION… Slugs love nothing more than warmth and wet combined, so to help your spring flowers reach their full potential, ensure you protect them now from those pesky munches!

START PLANTING… If you wish for your holiday cottage to make a fabulous impact this summer when guests are enjoying alfresco meals, plant some carefully considered summer flowering bulbs now. Plan a colour scheme to suit your tastes and property and think about what shapes and heights you wish your flower beds to display.

CHOP AND CHANGE… Your garden can provide you with free plants if you spare a little time. Simply lift and divide any overgrown clumps of perennials, re-plant and you’ll have double or triple the number of plants in the months and years to come.

SPRINKLE THAT DRESSING… To ensure any of your potted plants remain healthy and thrive, ensure you invest in some fresh compost and top dress any containers. It might inspire you to add to your collection with some new potted plants too.

GRAB A DRY DAY… As the weather improves the grass, that has laid dormant over the winter, will start to grow. So, make the most of any dry spells we have and give it a good haircut.

FEELING ROSY… Ask anyone to name their favourite plants, and roses usually come up trumps. If your holiday cottage garden is adorned with any bush or climbing roses, be sure to give them a good prune. If you haven’t any roses, perhaps now is the time to re-consider.

PATIO PERFECTION… Garden paving builds up mildew and moss overtime – especially if it’s north facing or in shade – so take some time to pressure wash the surface and rake out any weeds from cracks and edgings. If you like a wilder look, think about planting some small sedums, alpine plants, lobelia or something similar. You’ll have a very pretty pathway or patio come summer.

BUSY CLEANING WINDOWS… Last, but by certainly no means least, make sure you now start cleaning your property’s glazing. Not only does it ensure they look pristine when the sun shines, but it also means that your guests can look at your gorgeous garden from inside too!

IF YOU HAVE A HOLIDAY PROPERTY and are interested in some level of property management, why not contact Norfolk Cottage Care. Founded with 25 years’ experience of holiday letting, they know how to truly look after and present holiday cottages to ensure owners have peace of mind and visitors enjoy an unrivalled stay. With a little black book of trusted cleaners and tradespeople, together with linen hire, Norfolk Cottage Care can provide you with a bespoke service to suit your requirements. To find out more call 01328 888091, email info@norfolkcottagecare.co.uk or visit their website for more details - norfolkcottagecare.co.uk 81

| MARCH 2018

ADAM NOBLE

General Manager at

Pleasurewood Hills What do you like most about living in Norfolk/Suffolk?

I’m originally from Spalding, Lincolnshire and have moved around the country for various work roles but returned to the region to take on the management of the park. I’ve been back in the area for just over a year and am really enjoying all the county has to offer.

I like living by the coast and there is some beautiful scenery here.

Is there anything you dislike?

I travel quite a bit for work and to visit family so one thing that is top of my list is roadworks.

Can you tell us about your life and interests outside of the park.

I’m a bit of a workaholic so don’t really have a lot of free time but when I do switch off I enjoy playing golf, eating out and cooking for family and friends.

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Where do you like to eat and drink?

There’s so much variety. I am a huge fan of the Red Herring in Oulton Broad but I was introduced to a Turkish restaurant called Haggle in Norwich – it’s incredible.

What is your favourite film?

It really depends on my mood. The best film I’ve seen recently is Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Tell us one thing that is on your bucket list?

I recently visited Norway to see the Northern Lights so have ticked that off my list. Next is a trip to travel around America.

Tell us about the main aspects of your role as General Manager at Pleasurewood Hills.

My days are quite varied and I can be discussing many different aspects of the park in a short space of time from finance to marketing, catering and everything in between. There is always something to do at the park and when we’re not open in the winter we are planning for the next season and are making sure everything is ready for our visitors.

Which of those aspects do you enjoy the most?

Meeting people especially when they’re on holiday from around the country.

What do you see are the main challenges facing Pleasurewood Hills and how are you tackling them?

The expense of running a theme park is

the biggest challenge we have every year.

It’s easy to spend £500,000 before the park’s even open and, because such a large proportion of our budget goes towards meeting the required health and safety standards, it’s often spent on things that people don’t really see.

Another challenge is keeping the business moving forward so we’re always looking at finding new ways to keep it relevant and exciting for people so they continue to visit.

What new rides and attractions can we expect to see in 2018?

We’ve recently developed the Rootin’ Tootin’ Target Trail – a UV dark ride and are developing a new indoor play area and sensory room which will be a great addition to the park.

Another major investment has been the refurbishment of the Castle Theatre which we have plans to use as a venue for a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and we are also looking at introducing a brand new outdoor show.

Tell us one interesting thing about you that nobody knows?

I’m allergic to conifers but only when they are freshly cut Can you sum up Pleasurewood Hills in five words?

Exciting, great value, family fun.

How would your family describe you in five words?

Ambitious, driven, workaholic, funny, generous.

Established 2000

North Norfolks largest Merlyn shower displaying outlet 5, Norwich Road, North Walsham, Norfolk , NR28 9JP www.pipedreams.org.uk | info@pipedreams.org.uk

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Book a test drive Norwich Audi Meridian Way Norwich NR7 0TA 01603 709200 www.robinsonsaudi.co.uk Official fuel consumption figures for the Audi Q2 Sport 1.6 TDI 116PS manual in mpg (l/100km): Urban 57.6 (4.9), Extra urban 68.9 (4.1), Combined 64.2 (4.4). CO2 emissions: 114g/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 Robinsons motor group trading as Norwich Audi is a broker and not a lender and can introduce you to a limited number of lenders, who may pay us for introducing you to them. *At the end of the agreement there are three options: i) pay the optional final payment and own the vehicle; ii) return the vehicle: subject to excess mileage and fair wear and tear, charges may apply; or iii) replace: part exchange the vehicle. With Solutions Personal Contract Plan. 18s+. Subject to availability and status. Terms and conditions apply. Offer available when ordered by 31 March 2018 from participating Centres. Indemnities may be required. Offers are not available in conjunction with the scrappage scheme or any other offer and may be varied or withdrawn at any time. Accurate at time of publication [February 2018]. Freepost Audi Financial Services.