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THE Magazine for Norfolk

& North Suffolk

THE SPRING ISSUE

Top Hat taps into Norwich

TA L K I N G RHUBARB

WIN DINNER FOR SIX AT

Pamela’s in Great Yarmouth

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MEET THE CHARITY CHIEF OF EACH

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LORRAINE celebrities || food food || travel travel || fashion fashion || homes homes&&gardens gardens || theatre theatre celebrities ISSUE 60 www.placesandfaces.co.uk

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12 ISSUE S F OR £ 24 GENERAL ENQUIRIES

WELCOME TO our March issue which has kept us busy here at P&F Towers these last few weeks! We always try to bring you a flavour of what’s happening in the region, a little insight into what a few celebrities have been doing and plenty of ideas of how to pass your precious ‘down’ time! As usual Norfolk continues to delight and amaze. You don’t really need an excuse for a trip to Holkham Hall but their annual exhibition is always fascinating. I loved the gown display a couple of years ago. This year sees a series of behind the scenes photographs and we all love a little sneaky look into how those in privileged positions live! Norwich Soundcity, a series of recordings in our fine city, is another must and what about Top Hat at the Theatre Royal? Charlotte Gooch takes on Ginger’s role and the dancing, costumes and songs will take you on a marvellous journey back to the Golden Age of Hollywood. Our cover girl is telly favourite Lorraine Kelly and doesn’t she scrub up well? She is certainly enjoying being a fashion designer and here models pieces from her new clothing range for us. If you like to keep your finger on the pulse of new music, have you heard of The Shires? The pair bring a touch of Nashville to us in Blighty and you can see them live in Norwich next month. I reckon they are definitely one to watch! It is the time of year when we all start to think about holidays so perhaps Kate Morfoot’s trip to Cape Town might inspire you or how about Carolyn Atkins’ break in the Canaries? Both offer that wonderful thing – sunshine! Food wise, Andy Newman is talking rhubarb this month and we introduce young Norfolk chef Will Gowing who creates fabulous dinner parties in your own home. But does he do the washing up, I wonder? Simon Wainwright has a yummy cake for us – a great idea for a Mothering Sunday treat – and one of our competitions is also something for mums – a lovely Elemis facial. Finally, Pamela’s, a very glam restaurant in Great Yarmouth, is offering another great prize for one lucky reader – a dinner party for six so do make sure you enter! Congratulations to Neill Johnstone of Norwich, the winner of our January competition which was dinner for six at Farmer Browns in Norwich. Have a great time!

call Jane on 01493 742088 or visit our website at www.placesand faces.co.uk/magazine-subscribe

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| MARCH 2015

Britain’s latest hot band, The Shires, bring their country sound to Norwich

Celebrities

10 Claire Sweeney tells Emma Outten all about her new show and baby, Jaxon 12 Charlotte Gooch is ready to dance cheek to cheek as she arrives in Norwich in the lavish musical, Top Hat 21 Novelist Joseph Delaney visits Norfolk as one of his books, The Seventh Son, is made into a Hollywood movie!

Franck Pontais celebrates that most classic of French dishes – les escargots

Fashion & Beauty

25 What’s new for your make-up bag this spring?

asks Sarah Hardy 27 Tick tock – it must be time for a lovely new

watch. See our stunning selection

What’s On

34 Find out the best events and activities in the region in March 37 This month’s VisitNorwich column tells you all about the Norwich Soundscape, a fascinating audio extravaganza 39 Holkham Hall ’s annual exhibition gives visitors a real look behind the scenes

Our fashion page is all about looking great as you enjoy the bracing spring weather

Sarah Hardy reviews Jersey Boys, the award winning musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, prior to its arrival in Norwich this summer

Andy Newman talks rhubarb while Roger Hickman creates a mouth-watering pudding

Food & Drink

64 Simon Wainwright of the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth shows us a delicious dessert – perfect for Mothering Sunday 69 Sam Matthews happily admits to having the best job is the world as heads to a wine tasting in London 70 Meet talented young Norfolk chef Will Gowing as he prepares a scrumptious private dinner party

Travel

78 Kate Morfoot heads to Cape Town for an

action-packed week of food, wine and sight-seeing 80 Carolyn Atkins enjoys the sunshine of the

Grand Canaria, one of the most popular Canary Isles

THIS MONTH’S

Editor’s Choice Editor Sarah Hardy picks out the best events and activities this month…

33 COMPETITION

Win a dinner party for six in Great Yarmouth

BEST FILM Look out for Chappie which sounds more than a little intriguing. It

Business

86 Graham Butland of EACH, East Anglia’s

Children’s Hospices, on his vision for a new £10m hospice

Motoring

96 Matt Joy test drives the new look Fabia and

likens it to a loveable collie! 100 Alisdair Suttie takes the ultra roomy new Ford Mondeo for a spin

Regulars

45 Our columnist Richard Barr just can’t wait to be

a grand dad 103 Our High Society pages kick off with a fundraising evening for Macmillan Cancer Support 110 Spend five minutes with Mark Kitto, the Norfolk writer just back from China

is all about a young boy and how he is influenced by his family and surroundings. The interesting bit is that he is a robot – one that thinks and feels… And there’s Hugh Jackman, too, so what’s not to enjoy?

BEST GIG Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds kick off a worldwide tour in Belfast on March 3. Expect the master of Britpop to produce quite a show! The tour calls in at the O2 Arena. Visit www.noelgallagher.com.

BEST BOOK The Lake House in Brundall boasts a fabulous garden and this new book, Rescue of a Lost Garden: Restoring a Lost Garden in Brundall, Norfolk, is a very personal tribute by owner Janet Muter. Since the 80s, Mrs Muter has worked ceaselessly to return the gardens, which regularly open to the public, to their Victorian splendour. This lavish book, packed with photographs, is published by Halsgrove at £24.99.

BEST FESTIVAL The 13th annual Aldeburgh Literary Festival runs from March 5 to 8. Many events are taking place in the Jubilee Hall and there is a sterling line-up including Max Hastings, Craig Brown, Kate Mosse and Helen Macdonald. Visit www.aldeburghbookshop.co.uk for full details.

BEST SPORT

Cover Story

The European Indoor Athletics Championships takes place in Prague from March 6 to 8 and we’re all wondering how Jessica Ennis-Hill will do? Back

14 Television’s Lorraine

to her best, we hope.

Kelly turns fashion designer

WHERE TO BE SEEN Norwich Fashion Week, now in its fifth year, has a host of events on offer from vintage catwalk shows to designer extravaganzas. It runs at various venues around the city from March 5 to 12 and is always great fun. Visit www.norwichfashion.co.uk.

BEST SHOW No need to visit the West End this month as Barnum arrives at Norwich Theatre Royal from March 3 to 14. Brian Conley plays the ultimate showman in this all singin’ and dancin’ production that includes hits such as The Colours of My Life and There’s a Sucker Born Ev’ry Minute. Visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk.

BEST EVENT This year’s International Women’s Day is on March 8 and has the slogan: ‘Equality for women is progress for all.’ The day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. Visit www.un.org.

| MARCH 2015

FA R F R O M

SASSY CLAIRE SWEENEY BRINGS SEX AND THE SURBURBS TO A TRIO OF OUR TOWNS THIS SPRING. AND SHE’S ALSO BRINGING BABY ALONG, TOO, AS EMMA OUTTEN FINDS OUT

HEN ACTRESS CLAIRE SWEENEY CO-WROTE HER SHOW ABOUT MEN, DATING AND FINDING MR RIGHT, she was single and certainly had lots of raw material! Fast forward to Sex and the Suburbs going on tour for the first time, and her first child, a beautiful baby boy, will be coming along for the ride. Claire is probably best known for playing the role of Lindsey Corkhill in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside but let’s not forget that West End and touring production credits now include Chicago, Guys and Dolls, Educating Rita and September in the Rain. Add in other television roles, including Clocking Off, Merseybeat and Candy Cabs (plus 60 Minute Makeover) and she has firmly established herself as one of the most popular and versatile talents in the UK. She explains how Sex and the Suburbs came about: ‘I was doing Tell Me On A Sunday, which is a one-woman show about looking for love in all the wrong places and at the time I was single and going on all these disastrous dates. I used to tell my producer friend and he used to laugh his head off at the stories.

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

CLAIRE SWEENEY The producer had encouraged her to start writing them down, alongside the comedian and magician Mandy Muden. Claire describes their friendship as ‘like a double act’. But she says: ‘We didn’t know if we were funny or not – you know what it’s like when you get together with your mates, you have lots of wine and start telling stories and it’s hysterical, but is it hysterical to 2000 women every night?’ They wrote on and off over the course of two years, before the show opened on home turf, as Claire was pregnant at the time. ‘It went on the Royal Court in Liverpool last year for a month, to four/five star reviews; it was a hit so we’re taking it on tour.’ The show centres on the host of a late-night radio phone-in who also happens to be Britain’s leading agony aunt, whilst Claire’s character joins her over the airwaves as a ‘relationship expert.’ But that’s not all: as a way of keeping Sex and the Suburbs real, brave audience members will be invited to share their own personal dating stories live on stage and will be rewarded with an Ann Summers goodie bag! Needless to say, the age advisory is 16-plus as there are some strong language and adult themes. The erstwhile Loose Women panellist comments: ‘It does have a Loose Women feel about it.’

and the Suburbs will be set to a backdrop of its own musical anthems, including I’m Every Woman, I Want to Break Free and Somebody Else’s Guy. The tour will take in Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich, and – first up - King’s Lynn, of which she says: ‘I know King’s

We didn’t know if we were funny or not – you know what it’s like when you get together with your mates, you have lots of wine and start telling stories and it’s hysterical For example, the mysteries of men are thoroughly explored in the show. So has she managed to unravel such mysteries yet? ‘No! It’s Venus and Mars, isn’t it – different mindsets.’ Curiously, though, the show has appealed to men as well as women. ‘In Liverpool we got a bloke up,’ she recalls. Had she had any disastrous dates? ‘The one that scarred me most was when I was 16, I had this strapless dress on and - we didn’t have Spanx then; we had panty girdles - the whole dress ripped down the back and it fell forward! I wasn’t worried about my boobs falling out; I was more upset that I had my mother’s panty girdle on!’ Now the 43-year-old is a new mum with a new tour about to begin. Is she ready? ‘In a fashion,’ she replies. Jaxon Reilly Sweeney (father is Liverpudlian businessman Daniel Reilly) came into the world weighing in at seven pounds and six ounces in September last year. A couple of days before we chat, Claire had tweeted a picture of Jaxon lying happily in the middle of a table in the middle of a production meeting. ‘He was really good; he was getting involved with us!’ So how will it all work logistically? Claire explains: ‘I’ve got a friend coming with me on tour who is going to look after him.’ Also this spring she will be juggling motherhood with a new Sunday afternoon radio show, Magic Moments, on Magic FM, which will be all about musical theatre. Claire describes it as a ‘dream job’. Meanwhile, Sex Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Lynn, it is lovely. I did King’s Lynn Corn Exchange for Tell Me on a Sunday. It’s a very, very pretty place.’ Life has changed since she last came, though: ‘Everything’s different. Even getting out to the shops is different now I’ve got a baby! Just getting up and getting out is an achievement.’ She brings this experience to the show: ‘In my character I talk a lot about the perils of pregnancy and being a new mum - we found the humour in it.’ Clearly sounding blessed, she explains how she decided on the name: ‘I was going for Gabriel and part of me still thinks I should’ve gone for Gabriel but I’d seen Jaxon in a magazine in Australia and I Googled it: Jackson spelt with a ‘ck’ means son of Jack; Jaxon with an ‘x’ means gift from God.’ Claire sounds head over heels in love with her son: ‘He’s absolutely brilliant; he’s absolutely gorgeous. I’ve just been and got a phone case made with a picture of him on it!’

FOR MORE INFORMATION Sex and the Suburbs comes to King’s Lynn Corn Exchange on March 1 (call 01553 764864 or visit www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk); Ipswich Regent Theatre on March 16 (call 01473 433100 or visit www.ipswichregent.com); and Bury St Edmunds Theatre Royal on April 30 (call 01284 769 505 or visit www.theatreroyal.org).

| MARCH 2015

Let’s Dance THE DANCES OF FRED ASTAIRE AND GINGER ROGERS ARE VIVIDLY RECREATED IN TOP HAT WHICH ARRIVES IN NORWICH NEXT MONTH. SARAH HARDY TALKS FABULOUS COSTUMES AND INTRICATE FOOTWORK WITH ONE OF THE STARS, CHARLOTTE GOOCH

HE ALL SINGING AND ALL DANCING CHARLOTTE GOOCH is stepping into some

seriously big shoes as she takes on the role of society girl Dale Tremont in the hit musical comedy Top Hat. It’s a part created by the legendary Ginger Rogers who starred opposite Fred Astaire in the no expense spared 1935 movie. The tap-dancing spectacular tells the story of Jerry Travers, a famous American tap dancer who arrives in London to appear in his first West End show. He meets the irresistible Miss Tremont, the girl of his dreams, and follows her across Europe in an attempt to win her heart. The world premiere stage production of Top Hat opened in the West End at the Aldwych Theatre in May 2012, where it played more than 600 performances during its run of nearly two years and won three Olivier Awards. Now on tour, the show is performed by a cast of 29 and accompanied by 11 live musicians. It includes classic Irvin Berlin songs from the film such as Cheek to Cheek, Top Hat, White Tie and Let’s Face the Music and Dance – and audiences just can’t get enough of it! Charlotte, in her late 20s, says: ‘I think they just love the glamour of it all and we take them on a journey back to that golden age of musicals. We’re not trying to do a precise copy, just give a ﬂavour, to recreate those wonderful dances and do it justice. For me, it is all a dream!’ Charlotte, who grew up in Surrey and is now based in London, doesn’t have a favourite number in the show saying: ‘It changes really but the audience always loves Cheek to Cheek. I think it is the music, the dress and the energy,’ says Charlotte. Charlotte started to dance at the age of three as her aunt ran a dance school and can’t really

remember what she thought of it. ‘Certainly going to ballet classes was my after school activity and I guess I had a ﬂair for it. But it wasn’t really until my mid teens that I thought I could make a career of it.’ She won a scholarship to the leading performing arts college, Laine Theatre Arts, in Surrey, and started out in the chorus line in Cats before quickly moving up the career ladder. She has played the lead of Penny in Dirty Dancing many times, including a twoyear spell in Germany. This called for lots of high kicks, back bends and skimpy costumes but Charlotte is now enjoying the glitz and sophistication of Top Hat. ‘It is very classy, about as different as you could imagine from Dirty Dancing and I’m enjoying the change,’ she laughs. ‘And I really love my costumes. I have such beautiful dresses – I know I am so lucky.’ Charlotte has been on the road since the autumn and is signed up until July. ‘Yes, it is about a year so I’ll have visited just about everywhere in Britain. But I’ve never been to Norwich so I’m looking forward to seeing it. I like places with a bit of history and atmosphere. ‘We don’t have a lot of free time as we often do two shows a day but I try to see as much of a place as I can – as well as making sure that I rest, too! You have to take care of yourself when you’re away from home for as long as this.’ She adds: ‘I like hot yoga so I always bring my mat with me and try to find a studio – I try to do a couple of classes a week. But the show keeps me fit – it is a bit of a marathon.’ Not unsurprisingly, when she’s not on stage, Charlotte likes to just chill out at home with family and friends. ‘No, I can’t go ice skating or anything like that – I can’t risk getting injured and I am quite accident prone, so I don’t push my luck!’

MORE INFORMATION Top Hat runs at the Theatre Royal, Norwich, from March 31 until April 11. Call 01603 630000

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

CHARLOTTE GOOCH

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| MARCH 2015

IS ALWAYS IN

FASHION DAYTIME TELLY FAVOURITE LORRAINE KELLY HAS JUST LAUNCHED HER OWN FASHION RANGE AIMED AT 50-PLUS WOMEN – AND IT IS FLYING OFF THE SHELVES. SARAH HARDY FINDS OUT MORE

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO DESIGN A FASHION RANGE?

working on autumn/winter 2015. I’ve learnt such a lot

When I hit 50, I became really interested in fashion.

I’ve also designed some very sassy shoes that I hope

I lost a lot of weight and have managed to keep it

women will enjoy wearing.

off (thanks to my amazing Zumba instructor Maxine Jones) and I wanted to design clothes that I would wear myself, taking on board all of the feedback from viewers over the years. I know how lucky I am to have this opportunity and I am very much looking forward

THE TV ADS LOOK GREAT FUN, WITH ALL THAT DANCING. MIGHT WE SEE YOU ON STRICTLY? I loved doing the ads but you will never see me

to hearing what women think of my first ever range.

on Strictly. I just wouldn’t be good enough. I enjoy

WHO IS IT AIMED AT – WHAT AGE GROUP?

on them whatsoever.

It’s aimed mostly at 50-plus women of all shapes and

watching reality shows but have no desire to appear

women who want to look chic and stylish, but also

WHO IS THE PERSON YOU HAVE MOST ENJOYED INTERVIEWING?

want to wear clothes that are comfortable and fit to

Oprah Winfrey. It was just like having a chat with

flatter. I’ve gone for wrap dresses with sleeves and

a good friend. She is wonderful and someone I

also clothes with really crisp, clean lines. I particularly

admire hugely and I was so relieved that she

love my biker mac and the soft floaty polka dot dress. I

was exactly how I imagined her to be - funny,

wanted the clothes to be good value but high quality.

witty, classy and down to earth.

I really have loved creating this range and I am already

>>>>

sizes. We go from a size 10 up to a size 32. It’s for

and I have really enjoyed the whole creative process.

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

LORRAINE KELLY

I loved doing the ads but you will never see me on Strictly. I just wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be good enough. I enjoy watching reality shows but have no desire to appear on them whatsoever.

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MARCH

BOX OFFICE: (01603) 63 00 00

Tues 3 – Sat 14 Mar BARNUM Brian Conley stars in exhilarating circus musical £6.50 - £49

Mon 23 – Wed 25 Mar ENGLISH TOURING OPERA Puccini’s La boheme, Donizetti’s The Wild Man of the West I

Sun 15 Mar NORFOLK SCHOOLS PROJECT Three local schools with their own operas Free

Thur 26 Mar RUMOURS OF FLEETWOOD MAC All the hits in stunning tribute £7 - £23.50

Sat 28 Mar MILKSHAKE LIVE Kids’ TV favourites £5.50 - £14 Tues 31 Mar – Sat 11 Apr TOP HAT Award-winning dance musical £8 - £44

Sun 15 Mar SALLY MORGAN Psychic to the stars £5.50 - £24 Mon 16 Mar THE MEATLOAF STORY Steve Steinman stars £5.50 - £22.50 Thur 19 – Fri 20 Mar RICHARD ALSTON DANCE COMPANY Contemporary dance £5.50 - £20.50

Barnum

Sat 21 Mar BRITTEN SINFONIA Bach’s Goldberg Variations £6.50 - £26

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

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

LORRAINE KELLY

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? My biggest achievement personally is obviously the birth of my daughter, Rosie, who turns 21 this year. Professionally it would be receiving an OBE from the Queen in 2012 and also winning a special Scottish BAFTA last year.

HOW DO YOU KEEP IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE? It’s all down to discovering Zumba. I went on a class with my best friend while on holiday in Spain last year and loved it. Then when I got back to London I found a class in a church hall just round the corner from me for a fiver. That’s when I met Maxine who is a force of nature and so full of enthusiasm and energy. I go to her classes two or three times a week. I try to do Pilates once a week and I walk everywhere when I am in London. I also go for long walks when I’m at home in Dundee at the weekend.

I don’t wear much make up when I’m off air but I do like very smoky eyes and a dewy looking base. WHO IS YOUR OWN STYLE ICON? It would have to be Helen Mirren. She isn’t afraid to experiment. I loved her floor length D&G dress teamed with a black leather jacket on the red carpet. She looks comfortable in her own skin. She wears the clothes – it is never the other way round. I think Julianne Moore always looks effortlessly elegant. I also admire Meryl Streep and I think Ruth Langsford from Loose Women never puts a foot wrong.

DESCRIBE YOUR OWN STYLE It is pretty minimalist to be honest. I like clean lines, no fuss and a good cut.

ANY BEAUTY TIPS? I don’t wear much make up when I’m off air but I do like very smoky eyes and a dewy looking base. Light reflective make up is good for more mature skin and brown eyeliner and mascara is more flattering. I am very lucky to have inherited my mum’s good skin and cheekbones.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Lorraine for JD Williams is available at www.jdwilliams.co.uk in sizes 10 to 32, with prices ranging from £29 for an embellished top to £75 for a geo print jacquard red coat.

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

| MARCH 2015

THE SHIRES ARE PUTTING UK COUNTRY MUSIC FIRMLY ON THE MAP. CAMILLA DAVIES CHATS TO ONE HALF OF THE DUO, BEN EARLE, AS THE BAND ARRIVES IN NORWICH NEXT MONTH

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

THE SHIRES

hey’re hoping their upbeat close harmonies and stomp-along tunes will do for the UK country scene what Mumford and Sons did for folk music. The Shires, Crissie Rhodes and Ben Earle, both in their mid 20s, have been a duo for just a couple of years, but they’re the first British country group to ever be signed by a major Nashville music label. Crissie has been singing her whole life, and came to love country music through artists such as Dolly Parton and Faith Hill, whereas Ben has toured as a singer-songwriter with the likes of K T Tunstall. They met on Facebook after a frustrated Ben, who had run out of patience trying to find a good singer to write and perform with, posted ‘there must be a country singer out there’ on the site. Crissie – a friend of a friend, and a jobbing singer – answered ‘Yes! Me!’ And so The Shires (Ben from Hertfordshire and Crissie from Bedfordshire) were born. Ben admits: ‘To be the first is just great and then the fact that we got to make the album out there in Nashville as well - it’s all been a bit of a dream, a pinch me moment if I’m honest.’ He adds: ‘When we first started The Shires I think a lot of people thought we were slightly crazy for wanting to do country music.’ The duo ﬂew out to Nashville, the homeland of country music, to immerse themselves in their music. ‘We signed our record deal in February last year and literally went out to Nashville two weeks later to do some writing which was just crazy. We were there for seven days and had six sessions so pretty much a session a day, we got to hang out with a couple of the cast from the TV show Nashville, too!’ The Shires made the most of the Nashville experience, writing in the daytime and enjoying the social scene at night, including, says Ben: ‘A place called the Whisky Kitchen. They’ve a really famous drink out there called the Fireball, which is whisky and cinnamon, so doing that all night was great fun!’ Four weeks later, they were back on American soil again armed with more musical material. ‘We went into the studio

with some session musicians and our promotion team and recorded the album, 15 songs, in three days which is unbelievable.’ From there it was Sweden for a week - ‘our producer is Swedish’ - and they put the vocals down in about 10 days. Today The Shires, and their debut album Brave, are enjoying a massive buzz, with Ben saying: ‘The interesting thing is I only discovered country music about three years ago and at that point I’d really had enough of music. I wasn’t getting anywhere with my songs. I wasn’t writing great songs and was frustrated. ‘Discovering country just gave me a completely new lease of life as a songwriter. And when I met Crissie two years ago, everything just fell into place. She’s such a wonderful singer and she really inspires me and in many ways she’s a lot more ‘country’ than I am. So it just feels great!’ They might have spent a lot of time in America but the pair remains fiercely patriotic. Ben says: ‘Travelling is amazing, obviously, but it’s always nice to come home.’ Even the band name references where they come from. ‘It was really important for us. We were trying to think of a word that sums up ‘UK country’ and that was the countryside. When Crissie was at university and set to come home, she’d say, ‘I’m going back to the Shires,’ so that’s exactly why we chose the name.’ In fact, a song on their new album is dedicated to home. Ben says: ‘It’s called Made in England and is about all the things we love about being English and British. We talk about fish and chips and pints and grey skies and stuff and we’re very proud to be from here. In America you see just how proud they are to be American, that’s something we feel we don’t do as much over here generally, we don’t appear proud to be British all the time when we think we should be.’ The Shires tour Britain this spring and then start the festival circuit in the summer, including a visit to Jimmy’s Farm in Suffolk. ‘It is a really nice festival, with great food, too,’ laughs Ben. ‘We love it.’

I think a lot of people thought we were slightly crazy for wanting to do country music.

The Shires play The Waterfront in Norwich on April 26. And the Sausage and Beer Festival at Jimmy’s Farm, near Ipswich, on July 25 and 26. Visit: www.theshiresmusic.com

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INTERVIEW

JOSEPH DELANEY

SPOOKS ON SCREEN JOSEPH DELANEY IS THE AUTHOR OF THE MILLION-SELLING SPOOK’S SERIES, WHICH INSPIRED THE NEW BLOCKBUSTER FILM, SEVENTH SON, OUT THIS MONTH. EMMA OUTTEN CATCHES UP WITH HIM BEFORE HE VISITS NORFOLK

hen you started writing the Spook’s stories, did you imagine jetting oﬀ to

Can you also tell me about your latest book? My latest book is called Arena 13 and is far different from

the US to watch a ﬁlm adaptation of The

the Spook’s Series. It will be published in June. Here is a short

Spook’s Apprentice, starring the likes of

‘taster’ quotation from the book:

Julianne Moore and Jeﬀ Bridges?

When I wrote the first book I wasn’t even thinking about

a film adaptation. I hadn’t got past the possibility that it might one day be in print and even get into the window of a bookshop! I target the reader rather than some powerful Hollywood producer! So you’ve seen the Seventh Son movie already - what do you think of the adaptation? Seventh Son was almost eight years in the making (three directors and many screenplay writers were involved in preproduction) and it has naturally evolved away from The Spook’s Apprentice. I wish it were closer to my plot; I wish they had left more of my dialogue in the film. However, I really enjoyed the film and the acting is good. You’re coming to Norfolk, to visit Dereham Neatherd High School, this month - is the county somewhere you know well or not at all, coming from the north west? I’ve visited Norfolk several times. Firstly, I came on holiday with my family 30 years ago. More recently I’ve done book tours in this area of England. I like Norfolk in all respects but

Some call him Old Hob. Others whisper Pouke to frighten children. Some name him Gob or Gobble. Women call him Fang. By any name he is an abomination. A creature such as this deserves to be cut into pieces and scattered to the winds. But men are weak and afraid, and here Hob rules. For this is Midgard, the land of a defeated and fallen people. This is the Place Where Men Dwell. Am I right in thinking you will be celebrating a rather big birthday this year? Yes I will be 70 in July even though I only feel 17 inside. How many more books will you write, do you think? I think I need to survive until at least 90 to get everything finished. There will be at least another six books from the world of the Spook, about seven to tell the full story of Arena 13 and another idea, set at the end of our universe, (provisionally titled Dirty Little Dead Thing) will probably also be a series.

one – it’s an awkward place to reach from Lancashire when travelling by train! I could complain that it is a very ‘flat’ county and lacks the hills of Lancashire where I place the house of the Spook. But the places where I have lived in that county most recently are also very flat! So the

MORE INFORMATION

landscape of Norfolk reminds me of home!

Seventh Son, a special bumper movie tie-in

How important is it these days to visit

edition of The Spook’s Apprentice and The

schools around the country and spread the

Spook’s Curse, by Joseph Delaney, is out now

word?

(Red Fox Paperback).

I think it is very important to speak to readers and potential readers in schools. It is

Visit www.spooksbooks.com.

more effective than all forms of media, except film, which usually give the books that they are

And Seventh Son, the major motion picture

adapted from a big surge in sales.

starring Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore and Ben Barnes, is due to be released on March 27.

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SPRINGTIME WITH STYLE Discover our brand new seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collections and get in the mood for Spring! Prepare to greet the warmer weather with the best selection of fashion and accessories brands in the city - many of which are exclusive to Jarrolds.

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FASHION

No. 01

SPRING FEVER

SPRING STYLES

No. 02

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE OUTDOORS THIS MONTH, SAYS SARAH HARDY, AS SHE SELECTS A FEW FRESH AND EASY PIECES FOR THE NEW SEASON

No. 03

No. 04 No. 05

No. 06 No. 08 No. 07

No. 09

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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

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BEAUTY

SPRING TRENDS

No. 01 No. 03

No.04

WHAT’S NEW FOR YOUR MAKE-UP BAG THIS SPRING? ASKS SARAH HARDY

No. 05

No. 06

No. 07

NEW

Product Of The Month

Comfort Cleansing Milk, £19.50, Sothys, visit www.sothys-uk.co.uk This lovely French brand always produces exquisite goodies which are so gentle on your skin. This milky cleanser, designed for sensitive skins, is also perfect for those of us suffering from ‘cross’ complexions in this brutal weather. It is fragrance and colour free and hypoallergenic.

TREAT OF THE MONTH

Aveda Elemental Nature Facial, The Retreat, Jarrold’s, tel 01603 660661 Aveda is going from strength to strength with everyone loving the delicately fragrant products, made from pure flower and plant extracts. This 45 minute treatment, which costs £30 but is redeemable, is tailored to your skin type and aims to leave your complexion feeling fresh and renewed. My skin was certainly re-hydrated and, possibly more importantly, I felt a heck of a lot calmer! A hand massage is also included so you can’t say fairer than that! SH. Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Mac Toledo blush ombre Kindergarten red, £25, Jarrold’s Clarins instant lip balm perfector, £18, John Lewis Delilah Definitive mascara, £24, visit www.delilahcosmetics.com Sisley phyto ombres eyeshadow, £57, John Lewis Lancome Miracle Cushion foundation, £29.50, Jarrold’s Mavala Warm Cognac nail polish, £4.75, Debenhams Elizabeth Arden flawless finish perfectly satin 24 hour foundation, £29, John Lewis

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LUST LIST

No. 01

WATCHES

No. 02

No. 03

No. 05

No. 04

AS WE ARE ABOUT TO WIND OUR WATCHES FORWARD FOR SPRING, EMMA OUTTEN CHECKS OUT THESE SMALL BUT PERFECTLY FORMED TIMEPIECES

No. 07

No. 06

No. 08

No. 09

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1. Tory Burch Buddy ladies’ pink leather strap watch, £395, Ernest Jones, in-store at Intu Chapelfield and www.ernestjones.co.uk 2. Vivienne Westwood Berkeley green leather strap watch, £210, HSamuel, in-store at Intu Chapelfield and www.hsamuel.co.uk 3. Marc by Marc Jacobs ladies’ Molly Watch, £209 (sale £125), www.thewatchhut.co.uk 4. Storm Zirona 24 hour day/night watch with teal coloured dial, £159, HSamuel, in-store at Intu Chapelfield and www.hsamuel.co.uk 5. Guess stainless steel watch, £149, H.Samuel, in-store at Intu Chapelfield and www.hsamuel.co.uk 6. Michael Kors watch, £309, Jarrold’s 7. Coach Page ladies’ orange leather strap watch, £150, Ernest Jones, in-store at Intu Chapelfield and www.ernestjones.co.uk 8. Personalised map location watch men’s grey strap, £98, Ellie Ellie, www.ellieellie.co.uk 9. Gucci ladies’ G-Timeless dial yellow gold PVD stainless steel bracelet watch, £625, John Lewis

For high quality handmade bespoke & unique jewellery, visit Sonkai for a free design and quote. Our on-site jewellers workshop and design team are like no other. A must-see gem of the award-winning Norwich Lanes. www.sonkai.co.uk | 01603 625533 | Sonkai, 14-16 Dove Street, Norwich, NR2 1DE

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WEDDINGS

THE FINAL CO U N T D OW N HERE’S THE SECOND PART OF OUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO ORGANISING THE PERFECT WEDDING

S YOU BIG DAY APPROACHES, YOU NEED TO BE ULTRA ORGANISED. Here’s the second and final part of our essential guide to a stress-free and highly successful wedding day. Just don’t forget to enjoy yourself!

TWO MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING • Send out your invitations • Meet with your suppliers to finalise arrangements • Schedule a hair and make-up trial with a consultant • Start making/buying wedding favours • Finalise music selections for the ceremony and reception • If changing your name, complete the correct documents • Meet with the Registrar to finalise ceremony details • Reserve room for wedding night ONE MONTH BEFORE YOUR WEDDING • Finalise details with the hotel • Meet your photographer and agree a list of required shots • Start working on a seating plan • Decide and confirm your wedding vows and ensure your officiant has been sent copies • Collect marriage licences • Confirm honeymoon reservations • Arrange a final wedding dress fitting TWO WEEKS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING • Send seating plan to the hotel and settle final balance • Finalise seating chart • Confirm delivery time and locations with florist • Contact any guest that you have not heard from

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ONE WEEK BEFORE YOUR WEDDING • Collect wedding gown, bridesmaid, flower girl dresses and accessories • Give final guest numbers to venue/reception/caterer • Make sure the men have final suit fittings • Reconfirm everything with the vendors one last time ONE DAY BEFORE • Drop in decorations, name cards and seating plan to the hotel • Attend rehearsals • Collect flowers • Have a manicure/pedicure • Confirm wedding day transportation • Reconfirm hair and make up appointments • Confirm all duties required by the wedding party • Try to get an early night and relax YOUR WEDDING DAY • Try to eat breakfast • Begin to get dressed at least two hours before your ceremony Take a deep breath and enjoy yourself!

MANY THANKS TO CARLTON MANOR HOTEL, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft, for this essential guide. Tel 01502 560567 or visit www.carltonmanorhotel.com

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COMPETITION PAMELA’S

Dining In Style THIS MONTH PLACES&FACES® HAS TEAMED UP WITH ONE OF THE REGION’S BRIGHTEST NEW RESTAURANT STARS TO OFFER ONE LUCKY READER THE CHANCE TO WIN A FABULOUS DINNER PARTY FOR SIX

AMELA’S IN GREAT YARMOUTH HAS BEEN COOKING UP A STORM since it reopened four months ago. Under the ever watchful eye of Mimi Sanders, the restaurant and rather glamorous cocktail bar is offering fine dining in very stylish surroundings right in the heart of the town on Wellington Road. Situated in former stables and a hayloft which date back to 1845, the restaurant has retained its wonderful exposed red brick walls, beams and characterful windows and doors which all add to the atmosphere. You are buzzed into the uber trendy bar on the ground floor, with a sparkling granite floor, fabulous chandeliers and decadent looking sofas and ritzy little chairs. It’s just the place for a pre dinner cocktail and you can choose from your classic Bellini to something a bit more adventurous. Upstairs, with its smart tables and chairs, open kitchen and bold modern art, is a 40-seater restaurant where ambitious dishes are created by Pamela’s team of chefs. Their menu changes regularly to reflect seasonal produce. It is the sort of place where you can dress up and really make a special night of it all – cocktails, delicious dishes and maybe a spot of dancing! And, as Mimi says, most importantly, guests are made to feel very welcome and relaxed. ‘We like to spoil customers,’ she says. Pamela’s, which opens from Tuesday to Saturday for dinner, has live jazz nights on Fridays and offers a DJ set on Saturdays. There is secure complimentary parking available, too.

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To enter our competition, simply answer the following question: Q: WHERE IS PAMELA’S SITUATED IN GREAT YARMOUTH? There are two ways of entering. You can answer this question and send to competitions@h2creativemedia.co.uk, remember to include your answer, name, address, email and a daytime telephone contact number. You can also enter by visiting our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/placesandfacesmagazine and simply like and share the competition. The prize is a three-course dinner for six to be taken any evening, Tuesday to Saturday. It is only open to those aged 18 and over. Normal Places&Faces® competition rules apply and the editor’s decision is final. The closing date is March 31 2015 when a winner will be selected at random. Pamela’s, Wellington Road, Great Yarmouth, tel 01493 331000

| MARCH 2015

THE MONTH OF MARCH MEANS SPRING HAS SPRUNG! LET THESE EVENTS PUT A SPRING IN YOUR STEP

EXHIBITION A major touring exhibition by established British artist Chris Gollon, entitled Incarnation, Mary and Women from the Bible, continues at The Hostry, Norwich Cathedral, until April 13. There will be a painting of Julian of Norwich and a Madonna of the Apple, which came about from conversations with Canon Librarian, The Revd Peter Doll at the Cathedral. Visit www.cathedral.org.uk. DANCE The Richard Alston Dance Company comes to Norwich Theatre Royal on March 19 and 20. The company is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a new programme and brings three dance pieces to Norwich – Nomadic, Burning and Overdrive. Visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk. EXHIBITION Landscape Here and Now, featuring the work of five Norfolk artists, Martin Laurance, John Bardell, Sarah Cannell, Tor Falcon and John Midgley, is the first exhibition of Wymondham Arts Centre’s 2015 season. The show runs at Becket’s Chapel from March 20 to April 12. Visit www.wymondhamarts.com.

COUNTRY-POP Ward Thomas, 20-year old twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy, bring their style of country-pop to Norwich Arts Centre on March 24. Whilst in sixth form, a rough demo of the Ward Thomas track Footnotes found its way into the hands of two respected Nashville session musicians, leading to the recording of their debut album From Where We Stand. Visit www.norwichartscentre.co.uk.

OPERA That tragic tale of searing passion and memorable music, La Traviata, comes to King’s Lynn Corn Exchange on March 4. Verdi’s outstanding interpretation of one of the most popular love stories of the 19th century, La Dame aux Camelias, is an Ellen Kent Production. Visit www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk.

CONCERT The first concert of the Academy of St Thomas season takes place on March 7 at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich. The Romantic programme includes a rare treat: Schoenberg’s lyrical Chamber Symphony No.2 along with Dvorak’s inventive Symphonic Variations. The concert features Timothy Brown (Horn) and Christopher Adey (Conductor). Visit www.academyofstthomas.com.

TRIBUTE Brand new production, Waterloo - The Best of Abba Tribute Show, will be coming to the Pavilion Theatre, Cromer Pier on March 29. Waterloo looks back at the sensational rise to stardom of Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anni-Frid and gives fans the opportunity to experience the thrill of a live Abba show. Visit www.cromer-pier.com.

LAMB FEEDING Lamb feeding continues at Wroxham Barns until early summer. Wroxham Barns is one of very few places in East Anglia where visitors can bottle-feed lambs so early on in the year and the sessions will take place every day in the main barn on Junior Farm. Visit www.wroxhambarns.co.uk.

WHAT’S ON

MONTHLY ROUND UP

DRAMA The Honey Man, Tyrone Huggin’s critically acclaimed story of an elderly Caribbean beekeeper and a dysfunctional wealthy teenager, comes to St George’s Theatre in Great Yarmouth on March 10 then Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds on March 11. It is a funny but highly moving exploration of Black British identity. Visit www.stgeorgestheatre.com and www.theatreroyal.org.

FAMILIES The RSPB has organised a special event for families on March 30: pond dipping. Join the RSPB as they dip their nets in the Minsmere pond to search for what other life is present. They will also be looking at their findings under the microscope in the Discovery Centre. Visit www.rspb.org.uk. CIRCUS Join Jack Jay and Johnny Mac in a brand new swashbuckling pirate water show featuring an amazing cast of world class actors, acrobats and aerialists at the Hippodrome in Great Yarmouth. Pirates Live features an amazing set created by Gorleston based theatre design company 3D Creations which turns the historic interior into a fully immersive pirate port. The show starts on March 28 and runs until April 19. Tel 01493 844172.

WALK Enjoy a Mothering Sunday Walk at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, on March 15. Explore the beautiful spring garden - with Head Gardener Ian Guest - including its predominantly yellowﬂowering plants of wild primrose, skunk cabbage and daffodils, as well as wood anemones and camellias. Plus every mother receives a primrose! Visit www.fairhavengarden.co.uk.

TALK Spend an evening with Mark Cocker, well known nature writer and local resident, at the Fisher Theatre in Bungay on March 18. The River Waveney Trust will be presenting the evening and Mark will be talking about his latest book, Claxton. Visit www.ﬁ shertheatre.org. WILDLIFE Go Deeper for Wildlife at Strumpshaw Fen on March 7. Roll up your sleeves for wildlife and join them for a morning of fun practical conservation activities. And make their woodlands a better place for insects, birds and reptiles. Visit www.rspb.org.uk.

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WEEKENDER Sew on the sequins and dance along to the Stars of Dance Weekender at Potters Resort beginning on March 13. The two night break features spectacular ballroom entertainment with Richard and Lynn Miller. Plus special guests Kristina Rihanoff and Robin Windsor from BBC TV’s Strictly Come Dancing will make an appearance. Visit www.pottersholidays.com.

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Children's Quiz

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Dogs welcome

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Good Friday 3rd April

See website for more details

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WHATS ON

VISITNORWICH

THE SOUND OF A CITY

Photo credit: flicker.com/JasonBrown2013

MARCH SEES THE BEGINNING OF SOME FANTASTIC CULTURAL EXPERIENCES FOR 2015 STARTING WITH THE NORWICH SOUNDSCAPE, SAYS MELANIE COOK

ACH YEAR NORWICH PLAYS HOST TO SUPERB CULTURAL ACTIVITY and 2015 is no exception. This year, audiences will be spoilt for choice by the number of truly exciting experiences such as: Francis Bacon and The Masters – direct from The Hermitage in St Petersburg; Wolf’s Child – a world premiere from the Norfolk & Norwich Festival; Jeff Koons at Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery – the largest Koons exhibition in the UK for a decade, and of course GoGo Dragons which will be hitting the streets of Norwich throughout the summer. Norwich is very good at cultural activity with a local influence as much as it is with a national and international one. It is also fantastic at offering affordable culture, allowing many of us to ‘dip a toe into the water’ without spending too much money. The overall effect is that culture is open to everyone, allowing us to enjoy what we know and try what we don’t. Opening at Fusion Screen on March 23 is The Norwich Soundscape. The Fusion Screen is situated in The Forum, Norwich’s landmark Millennium building. The Forum has fast become an iconic mark on the Norwich skyline. It’s also the youngest of the Norwich 12 buildings which span 1000 years of history, the oldest being Norwich Castle. Fusion Screen is open to the public for free screenings of work by artists, filmmakers, and historians on most days between 10am and 4.30pm. Audiences can take a seat to enjoy what’s on and are encouraged to bring a coffee and get comfortable! The Norwich Soundscape is the brain child of Richard Fair, Digital Heritage Manager for the Forum Trust. Richard’s passion is audio. Having been a radio producer and presenter for the BBC in Manchester, Richard came to Norwich in 2008 for a six-month project and never went back.

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Fusion is about to undergo a technological revamp. The area currently occupied by the Fusion Screen will have a makeover allowing the whole space to become a much more immersive experience. We live in an age of ‘on demand’ content and the changes will ensure its visitors and audiences will be able to ‘watch and do’ rather than just watch. The newly revamped space will also remain free to enter, an important factor for The Forum. But before the changes take place Richard will be showcasing a two week audio extravaganza (after all he has spent 25 years in audio) and will treat us to the ‘sounds of Norwich’ as he presents The Norwich Soundscape. We will be taken on an audio journey around Norwich, listening to the heartbeat of the city. The busy streets and lanes, the market, the quietude of the cathedrals, the river, Saturday afternoon at Carrow Road and a night out on Prince of Wales Road. In Richard’s own words ‘all bring their unique sound to a city that doesn’t quite ‘never sleep’ but does its fair share of staying up late.’ Sound plays an important part in our lives and none more so than for those with visual impairment. With this in mind, Richard’s project will incorporate exploring the city through the ears of the visually impaired, too. Of course, radio will be a feature of Norwich Soundscape, so there will be two special listening events at The Forum where visitors will have the chance to hear some of the best radio from around the world and find out how the BBC in Norfolk have contributed to the national Listening Project on BBC Radio 4. And when all that is done, The Forum will be transformed into a Dragon’s Lair ready for the summer and the start of the fabulous GoGo Dragons sculpture trail! I, for one, cannot wait. FOR MORE INFORMATION, visit www.visitnorwich.co.uk.

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WHAT’S ON

HOLKHAM HALL

A YEAR IN THE LIFE

HOTOGRAPHS WHICH RECORD A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF THE HISTORIC HOLKHAM ESTATE FORM THE FOCUS OF THE HALL’S MAIN EXHIBITION FOR THIS YEAR. The exhibition, entitled Behind Closed Doors:

A Year in the Life of a Working Estate, features the skilled work of renowned Magnum photographer Chris Steele-Perkins who exhibits regularly worldwide. Moreover, the unique photographic record of the estate is the subject of Chris’s 10th book, entitled A Place in the Country.

A FASCINATING EXHIBITION WHICH GLIMPSES BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE

So why did he consider Holkham as the subject of his recently published book? He replies: ‘Holkham was a classic English family owned country estate, one foot firmly in the past

HOLKHAM ESTATE OPENS THIS MONTH.

and one firmly in the present. I had wanted to find out about

EMMA OUTTEN ASKS RENOWNED

the idea of the country estate - and of course, very important

MAGNUM PHOTOGRAPHER CHRIS STEELE-PERKINS WHAT MADE HIM FOCUS ON HOLKHAM

such a place for a long time - I think we are all fascinated by was that the family was willing to give me access.’ Over a period of 12 months Chris regularly visited Holkham, and his captivating, behind-the-scenes style has produced a series of charismatic photographs. These range from informal photos of Viscount and Viscountess Coke with their young family; the gamekeepers on shoot days dressed in their famous bowler hats; the team of gardeners as they work throughout the seasons, and the housekeeping team cleaning and caring for the many rooms. Chris says: ‘Probably the most challenging photography was the group portraits, they had to be done quickly as everyone had jobs to do, but they also had to be set up to be more interesting than a simple group photo. Fortunately everyone got into the idea and I enjoyed doing them.’ The colour and vibrancy portrayed in photographs of the seasonal functions and events are also evident. So did he have a particular highlight of his time on the estate? ‘There were many that I enjoyed, particularly the variety, from Diva Opera’s concert along with the picnic on the lawn, to going out with the beaters and gamekeepers on a shoot.’ A selection of key photographs will form the basis of the display and will provide visitors with a real glimpse behind the scenes of what goes into running a large estate in the 21st century. The exhibition will demonstrate that past and present can and do sit side-by-side, for while Coke of Norfolk – famed for his part in the agricultural revolution – can look down on visitors from a magnificent painting by Gainsborough in one of the state rooms of the hall, outside his drive to improve agriculture continues with a large scale, modern farming operation using the latest machines and new techniques. It will also show that, while the historic fabric of the estate is carefully maintained, new diversification projects such as a hotel and a holiday park, are all part of the Holkham mix. Each generation has a responsibility to preserve and pass on the heritage of the estate. Equally it is important that they make their own mark with new ideas and new ways of running the extensive business which Holkham is today. Lord Coke says: ‘We are essentially a very private family so it was a big step to invite someone in to be a part of life at Holkham for 12 months. Holkham in this generation is a fascinating mix of business interests and custodian responsibilities. We must develop new ideas and create new income streams while maintaining the great heritage we have at Holkham. We also have a big responsibility to conserve

FOR MORE INFORMATION

the many aspects of the estate from conservation of wildlife and landscapes to caring for great works of art and historic

Behind Closed Doors: A Year in the Life of a Working Estate

furniture and furnishings. This can only be achieved through

exhibition at Holkham Hall opens from March 29 to October 31.

teamwork and we are fortunate to have such excellent teams

Visit www.holkham.co.uk

looking after everything at Holkham. We hope this new exhibition will provide a real insight into the life of our estate and the people behind it.’

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| MARCH 2015

WHAT A NIGHT! IT’S ONE OF THE HOTTEST MUSICALS AROUND AND IS ARRIVING IN NORWICH THIS SUMMER. SARAH HARDY REVIEWS THE FRANKIE VALLI MUSICAL, JERSEY BOYS, AND FINDS HERSELF SINGIN’ ALONG!

ERSEY BOYS IS FAST BECOMING A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON. A huge hit on Broadway and now in its eighth year in the West End, it is finally on tour and comes to Norwich in July. It’s the real life story of the 1960s group, the Four Seasons, who were lucky enough to have Frankie Valli (real name Francis Castelluccio) as their lead singer. With his soaring voice, including that falsetto, the group had an instantly recognisable sound which saw them sell 175 million records while they were still in their 20s. You’ll be amazed, as I was, as to just how many great tunes are theirs. How about: Bye Bye Baby, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like A Man, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Working My Way Back to You – and more! And these hits really hold the production together and simply keep coming right at you! The idea for the show came in 2004 when Bob Gaudio, one of the founding members, wanted to stage a musical about the group. He hired a couple of writers, Marshall Brockman (who co-wrote Woody Allen’s Annie and Manhattan so has pretty good credentials) and Rick Elice, who set about researching their subject matter. And what a subject matter! The band’s members came from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey, a couple had spent time in prison and they had mob connections. They were bound together by their backgrounds and a shared escape route – music. As the boys had gangster connections, the show’s script was, apparently, approved by relatives of top mobster and Four Seasons patron Gyp DeCarlo who is played by West End veteran Sean Kingsley who you might have seen in Les Mis. They wanted him to be portrayed ‘respectfully’! This chronological biography of the Four Seasons (they took their name from a bowling alley which had turned them down for a job singing in the lounge) is spiced up by being told from four different points of view so you build up a relationship with each character.

THEATRE REVIEW

JERSEY BOYS

Valli is played by Belgian Tim Driesen who captures both the very tone of his voice and his gentle personality. He is often at odds with his life – the constant battle between family commitments versus life on the road is vividly examined and we feel Valli’s pain. The prolific composer and keyboard player Bob Gaudio (who wrote Who Wears Short Shorts when he was 15) is played by Sam Ferriday and we appreciate his genuine musicality and applaud the friendship he and Valli enjoyed for decades. Stephen Webb triumphs as dodgy Tommy Devito, the fast talking, not-to-be trusted wheeler dealer who gets the band together while Lewis Griffiths is Nick Massi, the gentle, quiet member, with a wonderfully deep bass voice, who quits as he just wants to go home to be with his kids. Mention must go to the overall sound of the show – it somehow manages to recreate that ‘wall of sound’ so reminiscent of the 1960s. This is done through sheer hard work – the cast sing just about non-stop, even when quickly changing their clothes backstage! The harmonies created by the four band members are spot on and they do, of course, make it look effortless. And the orchestra, under the direction of Gareth Weedon, just keeps on keeping on! Look out for drummer Stuart Roberts who is on stage throughout, on a revolving drum kit, upon which he thumps out that melody. The costumes are great fun, too, with great little shift dresses for the girls and endless sharp suits for the guys – look out for the Four Seasons in their trademark red velvet jackets! Hot or what!

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The set, all industrial with scaffolding enclosing the action, boasts a huge screen where comic strip cartoons are shown for added interest and, although I didn’t really get this bit, the colours of the seasons. It was just too subtle for me. Also look out for some great gags. Most are a bit too cheeky to reproduce here but I loved Gaudio’s delighted realisation, when he finally loses his virginity, that sex really is better when two people are involved! So I thoroughly enjoyed the show which I caught up with at Milton Keynes. Along with the majority of the audience, I shed a few tears (yes, even me!) at the tender moments and you’re on your feet at the end of the show for a rousing medley. It starts off a tad slowly – there is a lot of plot to get in – but hey, the minute those numbers start to flow, you’re on a roll. Their first hit was the irresistible doo-wap Sherry although my favourite has to be the achingly regretful My Eyes Adored You, sung by Frankie as he mourns the breakdown of his marriage. In a sea of juke box musicals, this one stands head and shoulders above the rest. The soundtrack needs no further glorification so it is perhaps the rawness and honesty of the plot – the kids from the street corner who make it into Rock and Roll’s Hall of Fame – that warm the cockles of your heart. Enjoy.

MORE INFORMATION Jersey Boys, Norwich Theatre Royal, July 7 - 18. Call 01603 630000.

| MARCH 2015

Mum’s Word THE

THE DAY ON WHICH ALL MUMS SHOULD PUT THEIR FEET UP! SARAH HARDY LOOKS AT THE HISTORY AND TRADITIONS SURROUNDING MOTHER’S DAY – AS SHE PREPARES FOR A LIE-IN AND ROAST DINNER (COOKED BY SOMEONE ELSE)

ADVERTISING FEATURE

MOTHERING SUNDAY

OTHER’S DAY IS LOOKED FORWARD TO BY ALL US HARD-PRESSED MUMS as the one day of the year that we can lie in without anyone bothering us. Okay, it might be for just an extra hour or two but it all counts!

Add in breakfast in bed, a handmade card, a few

flowers, a spa voucher or lunch out, and it is a day where mums can feel pretty damn proud of themselves. So hurrah for that! In truth, nobody really knows exactly when and why the whole thing started. Certainly it is big news in America where our cousins across The Pond adore a reason, any reason, for a celebration. And now, here in Britain, a massive £50m is spent on cards for just that one day! But what do we know of its origins? Historically, most churchgoers in England worship at their nearest parish or ‘daughter church’. Centuries ago it was considered important for people to return to their home or ‘mother’ church once a year. So each year in the middle of Lent, everyone would visit their ‘mother’ church - the main church or cathedral of the area. Inevitably the return to the ‘mother’ church became an occasion for family reunions when children who were working away returned home. (It was quite common in those days for children to leave home for work once they were ten years old). And most historians think that it was the return to the ‘mother’ church which led to the tradition of children, particularly those working as domestic servants, or as apprentices, being given the day off to visit their mother and family. As they walked along the country lanes, children would pick wild flowers or violets to take to church or give to their mother as a small gift.

Competition To celebrate Mothering Sunday, we have teamed up with The Avenue Beauty Clinic in Carlton Colville, near Lowestoft, to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a fabulous Elemis facial. Very much at the forefront of technology, the TripleTec Anti Wrinkle Facial regenerates skin and is best undertaken in a course of 10. I was lucky enough to try the treatment (worth £70) and, wow, there were great results even after just one session. Your skin is softer, the shadows under your eyes are gone and those fine lines are noticeably less! The facial lasts an hour and you definitely look younger and fresher – as if you had just returned from a holiday in the sun! And the results last for a good few days. Clinic owner Helen Cook, who has worked in the beauty business for 25 years, is a very friendly and calming therapist. She also has a salon in Oulton Broad and the prize can be taken in either salon.

So, to enter this month’s competition, simply answer the following question: Q: WHERE ARE THE TWO SALONS BASED? There are two ways of entering. You can answer this question and send to competitions@

h2creativemedia.co.uk, remembering to include your answer, name, address, email and a daytime telephone contact number. Entries must be aged 18 or over.

DID YOU KNOW? • The food usually associated with Mother’s Day is Simnel cake. It is a fruit cake with two layers of almond paste, one on top and one in the middle. The cake is made with 11 balls of marzipan icing on top representing the 11 disciples (Judas is not included). Traditionally, sugar violets would also be added. • Mother’s Day is the biggest flower buying day of the year in Britain, with flower sales increasing by a massive 70 per cent. • In America, Mother’s Day was founded by Anna Jarvis, who first celebrated the holiday in 1907. She later went on to protest against how

You can also enter by visiting our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/placesandfacesmagazine and simply like and share the competition. Normal Places&Faces® competition rules apply and the editor’s decision is final. See our website for full details. The closing date is March 31 2015, when a winner will be selected at random. The Avenue Beauty Clinic, Famona Road, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft, tel 01502 582267, The Second Avenue Beauty Clinic, Golden Court, Bridge Road, Oulton Broad, tel 01502 572384.

commercialised it had become. • Carnations are the flowers typically associated with Mother’s Day. In Japan it is traditional to give your mother a red carnation. • In the UK around 30 million cards are sent. • The oldest mother in the world was 70-year-old Rajo Devi, who gave birth to her first child in 2008.

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A LOOK AT LIFE

RICHARD BARR

This month Our Richard can’t hide his joy about becoming a grandparent

SUPPOSE IT HAD TO HAPPEN. Between us my wife and I have six children, all now adults. The oldest is my daughter Sophie. It is she who is about to cause yet another change to my life. Sometime ago I bemoaned in these pages that I was growing old (P&F January 2011 P68) after I had acquired a bus pass (no buses round here but it is great to sit on top of a double decker bus in London and admire the sights) and I described how I was growing old disgracefully and still wanting to behave badly. Since then I have become an OAP but I remain determined not to be old. I have deferred the purchase of my cloth cap and zimmer frame. I refuse to let younger people offer me their seat (which so far has not proved difficult: as yet no one has). But now I face another challenge. Sophie telephoned me a few weeks ago to announce that, at around the time of my birthday in July, I will become Grandaddy Barr. With the birth of the grandchild (gender not yet determined, so I will refer to it as ‘It’) comes the opportunity of further bad behaviour. I plan to follow in my parents’ footsteps. Whenever Sophie and her brother Nick stayed with them, they would return home anarchic and unruly, generally drenched in tomato ketchup, with dirty knees and torn clothes. But they were always very happy. I plan to better that performance. Children’s parties have been much in the news recently ever since the parents of a little boy who did not show up were sent a bill for £15.95. I shall therefore concentrate my mischief on grandiose entertainment for Its birthdays. There was a time when all that was needed at a birthday party were games like pin the tail on the donkey or pass the parcel, and children remained ecstatic so long as they had plenty of fizzy drinks and jelly to eat. Now, a cold wind blows over such events as disputes rage between parents if child B fails to turn up for child A’s party. Rather than shrink from this new reality I aim to exploit it. For Its first birthday I plan a day of inappropriate events. All its many friends will be sent expensive embossed invitations: ‘You are invited to Its first birthday party. This will involve various activities, including outward bounding, snowboarding and hang gliding (along with other events suitable for a one year old). The baby bus will leave from our front door at 9am prompt. Any child who is

late or does not attend will be liable for a surcharge of £15.95. Failure to pay within 7 days will incur interest at Wonga’s base rate + 1000 per cent and the bailiff will be seizing your pram, your playpen and your favourite toys after 14 days. Any debt outstanding after 28 days will be dealt with in the VSCC (Very Small Claims Court)’. There will be a few deliberate mistakes on the invitation (the wrong date, the wrong post code and the wrong telephone number for replies). One hundred per cent of guest, will be in default and while It sits in its (this is all getting a little tortuous. From now on I shall refer to It as Junior) sandpit, cheerfully swallowing mouthfuls of mud, the money will start rolling in. Junior will learn about the joys of litigation (after all Junior’s mother and both grandparents are lawyers) and will start perambulator chasing at an early age. Having made sure that Junior’s future is financially secure I will then be able to refine the art of becoming an eccentric old man. I am currently working on tactics for discouraging all those people who telephone me several times a day offering to get me compensation for my non-existent accident or a refund for my non-existent personal protection insurance. Here’s how, in case you want to join in: Instead of hanging up, press the button to say you want to make a claim. Then when they ring back all enthusiastic, I put on my most tremulous voice and tell them I am an elderly pensioner and I am very grateful to them for offering me lots of money. Every time they ask a question I answer: ‘I forget, but I just want the money.’ The other day, I managed to keep someone going for 20 minutes before he hung up in exasperation. When Junior starts to make gurgling and cooing noises I will hand over the telephone to it and show which button to press. That, as they say round here, should larn them.

There was a time when all that was needed at a birthday party were games like pin the tail on the donkey or pass the parcel

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PS DEAR READER Whatever you do, don’t show this to Sophie. She might decide I am not fit to be a grandfather and put me in an old people’s home. Then I will be deprived of the opportunity of teaching Junior a modest repertoire of swear words and how to open and empty a bottle of ketchup.

| MARCH 2015

TEA

CAKES

ALL MOTHERS WILL THOROUGHLY ENJOY A SPOT OF HIGH TEA AND WHERE BETTER THAN THE LOVELY CLIFF HOTEL IN GORLESTON? SARAH HARDY EYES UP THE CAKE STAND

HERE IS SOMETHING DEEPLY SATISFYING ABOUT SEEING A THREE-TIER SILVER CAKE STAND, packed with cakes, sandwiches, scones, quiches and the like, set before you. The anticipation, then the thrill of devouring it all, and finally the pleasant, if somewhat guilty, feeling of being really rather full make for a charming experience! Afternoon or high tea is a peculiarly English tradition, isn’t it? Sure, it pops up around the world, mainly in our old Colonies, but it is undergoing a resurgence at present, with many hotels and tearooms advertising scrumptious treats. The Cliff Hotel in Gorleston, all wonderful fairytale turrets and late Victorian ‘in your face’ architecture, offers a very enjoyable spread which would satisfy even the most robust of appetites. Called High Tea, the collection of goodies on offer is almost too much to list. Let’s start with the selection of finger sandwiches. There is Wiltshire ham and mustard, salmon and cream cheese, Black Bomber (a strong Welsh cheese) and red onion marmalade, and prawns in a marie rose sauce. They are all very tasty, clearly made to order and compliment each other well. Little spinach quiches and

HIGH TEA

CLIFF HOTEL, GORLESTON

The strawberry tarts were sublime, with pastry that Mary Berry would have been proud of. smoked salmon and mascarpone bruschettas were the other little savoury treats which were much appreciated and offered something a little different to the usual fare. As staff checked all was well with us, we sipped our lattes, and eyed up the cakes. The strawberry tarts were sublime, with pastry that Mary Berry would have been proud of. And the Jaffa chocolate bombes? Sublime although surely very, very naughty for your waistline. But frankly, who cares? Finally, and we were digging deep by now, were the fruit scones, complete with Devon clotted cream and Tiptree jams! It was quite an experience and something I can definitely recommend. For £12.95, it is a feast and for another £4 you can have a glass of fizz to make it all a little bit more of a special treat. We sat ourselves in the main bar area as we like to see and be seen, although the lounge, with its deep sofas and wing-backed leather armchairs is another option, especially with its great choice of magazines to flick through – including ours, of course! The hotel, which has been lovingly restored and refurbished in recent years, is a relaxed, friendly place where everyone seems to know each other. It is always buzzy and the interiors are contemporary and chic but still pay homage to the building’s noble past. There are 40 bedrooms and, under head chef David Tumber and his team of 12, it is getting an enviable reputation for great, innovative food. Overall, the Cliff is going from strength to strength. It caters for both local residents and the holiday trade with equal success. And what a position it boasts! The views from the main bar and its impressive terrace are breathtaking, and continue to remind us what a splendid part of the world we are lucky enough to live in.

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High Tea at the Cliff Hotel, Gorleston, is served daily from noon to 6pm. Booking is required. Call 01493 662179 or visit www.thecliffhotel.co.uk 47

| MARCH 2015

A TOUCH OF THE DOWNTON! SET IN MORE THAN 50 ACRES, ROKELES HALL IN BRECKLAND IS YOUR PERFECT COUNTRY ESTATE. SARAH HARDY SOAKS IT ALL UP

PROPERTY OF THE MONTH

ROKELES HALL, WATTON

SAVILLS NORWICH Hardwick House Agricultural Hall Plain Norwich NR1 3FS 01603 229229 www.savills.co.uk

ITH TWO cottages, stables and barns, paddocks, a self contained ﬂat plus a Grade II listed country house in 56 acres, then, wow, Rokeles Hall really is the business. Set down a long gravelled drive, it is immediately impressive. It dates back to the 17th century with later additions, including a striking mid-18th century façade with a large projecting five bay pediment, with two bays on either side. So, yes, it is both grand yet also attractive, and certainly something that brings a ready smile to your face. The house is well proportioned throughout, with a particularly spacious drawing room, an elegant dining room and a large entrance hall with impressive panelling. There are numerous original features and most rooms have open fireplaces or wood burners for added charm. A well equipped kitchen at the rear boasts an Aga and there’s also a pantry, cellar, larder, too – all essentials for country living. The conservatory is a pretty spot to sit and admire the surrounding gardens which have been lovingly created. There are large expanses of lawn, deep herbaceous borders and rose beds, fine specimen trees Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

FA C T F I L E Guide Price £1.8m

Five bedrooms, including a master suite

Entrance hall with panelling

Two cottages

Self contained flat

Dutch barn

56 acres in all

Mature gardens

and a large pond. There is also a kitchen garden, with a greenhouse, so the estate could well be self sufficient in fruit and veg! There are five double bedrooms, arranged over two floors, and this includes a master bedroom suite. A self contained flat, comprising a bedroom, sitting room/ kitchen and bathroom, is also on the second floor but does have its own external access. Mention must go to the abundance of outbuildings, all highly in keeping with an estate of this size. The stableyard and farmyard includes eight loose boxes, livestock sheds, a Dutch barn and of course the pair of cottages – a one bedroom one and a two bedroom one. There is also a double garage plus further outbuildings for you to put into use – how about running your own business from them? The well established grounds include much grazing and parkland, all fenced and separated by strands of mature trees. Watton is a charming market town, with easy access to Thetford, Hingham and Swaffham. There are many independent shops, and local produce is in abundance. Walking and riding in the Brecks is especially recommended and you will certainly have room to reconnect with all that the countryside has to offer. Norwich and Cambridge are within easy striking distances, too, for when you need your mix of city living. The estate has much potential; sure the hall could do with a little updating, but what fun – and what a challenge! 49

Aldreds majors on the sale of residential and commercial property in East Norfolk and North East Suffolk. We also have long established letting and auction departments. We are independent, but involved in the market with presence on leading property websites and portals, five modern offices and 35 experienced and trained staff.

£750,000 freehold

Corton Long Lane, Lowestoft

Horsey Road, West Somerton

Standing in approximately 3.062 acres West End is an early 20th Century family House with detached garage and studio over. The House has been extended and enjoys substantial gardens and paddock. Accommodation: four reception rooms, four bedrooms, shower room and bathroom. There may be residential development possibilities.

Extensive four bedroom Farmhouse with detached part thatched Barn/Leisure Building. Standing in around 1.6 acres of gardens and paddock this Norfolk Farmhouse enjoys extensive four bedroom accommodation with a detached barn leisure building currently used for snooker and a bar. There is a hard surface tennis court plus a Double Garage within the extensive grounds.

Tel 01493 844891 | 17 Hall Quay, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 1HJ

www.aldreds.co.uk

Two outstanding coastal properties by the agent who gets results www.your-move.co.uk

Find your local Your Move branch… 154 London Road, North Lowestoft 01502 342001 168/169 High Street, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth 01493 600005 · 26-28 New Market, Beccles 01502 273333

Gunton, Lowestoft

Kennel Loke, Gorleston

This grand 5 bed property offers 3 reception rooms, a 27ft fully-fitted contemporary kitchen, with a centralised island and breakfast bar, utility room, games room with bar, master en-suite, driveway and rear garden. The leisure room is benefiting from an 18x12’ self- chlorinating, insulated pool with a minimum depth of 3’6” and maximum of 4’6”. Two patio doors to the rear aspect, built-in changing room with low level WC and wash hand basin.

A 4/5 bedroom executive detached house includes reception hall, downstairs cloakroom/WC and en-suite bathroom to 15’5x1’7 master bedroom, study, 27’7x15’5” lounge to front aspect, double doors and windows into conservatory, gas effect wood burner and separate dining room/kitchen/breakfast room. Also features a utility room, 4 good sized bedrooms and, outside, a brick weave driveway leading to garage.

Guide price £550,000

Offers in excess of £520,000

ESTATE

AG E N TS

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VA LU E RS

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PRO PE RTY

M AN AGE M E NT

DARBY & LIFFEN LTD are here to provide you with a comprehensive service for buying, selling, and letting property in the East Norfolk coastal area. We are totally independent and offer a first class service for buyers and sellers, based upon our extensive local knowledge and many years of experience in all aspects of property sales and management.

GUIDE PRICE £220,000- £230,000

GUIDE PRICE £270-280,000

HIGH ROAD, GORLESTON Grade II listed 6 bedroom well-proportioned family residence. GUIDE PRICE £240-250,000

BRETT AVENUE, GORLESTON

BRAMBLE GARDENS, BELTON

3 Bedroom Detached Bungalow situated in the sought after Gorleston cliffs area

Stunning 4 bedroom detached family home complete with exceptionally large kitchen, lounge & conservatory.

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

| MARCH 2015

F LO W E R P OW E R OUR HOMES WRITERS JENNIFER READ AND HAYLEY PHILPOT HAVE SOME BLOOMIN’ MARVELLOUS IDEAS ON FILLING YOUR HOUSE WITH FLORALS

hat is it about floral design that we love so much? Few homes are without a flower motif of some sort in the living room, bedroom or bathroom. It may be traditional classic design or super-contemporary chic - whatever your taste - we just can’t seem to live without a touch of flora botanica. Maybe deep down, we simply love nature and want to bring a little of the outdoors inside, and this sentiment doesn’t seem to have changed for centuries. From the time of the early Romans with their sophisticated building skills, when the walls and floors of their villas were lavishly decorated with flower and leaf designs, to modern day décor, where we may not have mosaic floors any more, we still find floral design aesthetically pleasing!

Content by Conran Aspen chair in Baker Originals fabric collection rrp £2,395 now £1,999. This chair is a scene-stealer and no mistake! An entire botanic garden in one chair, with fabulous rainbow shades in the tightly proportioned elegant design with slender capsule seat and back cushions and angled tubular steel skis.

Emma Bridgewater Rose & Bee bedding range, single set £40, double set £55, king set £65 (pillow cases included) Pretty pink roses and a pale blue Persian border, made up in panels, is just as Emma likes to use when making quilts for her beds at home. In soft 100 percent cotton sateen, this design looks great in a Long Island/Eastern seaboard style bedroom with scrubbed floors and white wood trimmings.

Emma Bridgewater Peaches in the Summer Time cushion £28 Too beautiful to lean on but so pretty to look at, this decorative cushion would grace any living room or bedroom, and could make an ideal Mother’s Day gift. The scrolling pink text on a clean white background is also available in a pretty blue with the words ‘True Love and High Adventure’ – one for the boy’s room maybe? 01

Cath Kidston Button Rose towels, face cloth £6, hand towel £16, bath towel £27, bath sheet £42 Soft, fluffy and cheerful, these charming printed cotton terry towels will brighten any bath time. Available in a wide range of sizes from a wash mitt to a giant bath sheet, they are really cute and make one think of sunshiny days.

INTERIORS

FLORALS

f full-floral furniture is not your scene and you prefer a simple pared-down style but would still love to include a pretty highlight or two, then this can easily be achieved with some gorgeous new season accessories. Artificial flowers are unbelievably realistic these days and are the perfect way to brighten up a table top, shelving unit or window sill. Vases, planters and tea light holders can also give you just the hint of a bloom here and there.

Stoneglow tumbler candle £15 The flowers and leaves in this delicate candle look as if they were picked only minutes ago, and as the candle burns down in a central wick, they remain perfectly intact throughout. As the candlelight flickers through the blooms, the effect is stunning.

Parlane Butterfly lantern £5, Butterfly bottle £5 An exquisite fritillary sits quietly on the side of these gorgeous ornaments. A coloured tea light would really bring the lantern to life on a patio or dining table, and the bottle also needs light behind it, either sunlight or artificial, to perfectly animate the design.

Parlane Dandelion tea light holders £8 In stunning shades of blue and aqua, these beauties should never be separated from one another as they look fabulous arranged as a little group. The flickering light will transform the dandelions and the seeds will look as if they’re flying away.

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Lene Bjerre Poppy tea light holders £6 - £8 Perfect for a contemporary interior, these simple white vases need no further embellishment. The single and multi-stem pattern make them classically charming.

HAYLEY & JENNIFER are homeware buyers at Jarrold’s Jarrold’s, 1-11 London Street, Norwich, NR2 1AL www.jarrold.co.uk The Granary, 5 Bedford Street, Norwich, NR2 1AL www.thegranary.co.uk

Parlane Rose bouquet £22 The full-blown roses are magical, and simply need a slender vase to set them off a treat.

ADVERTORIAL

LUXURY LIVING

LIVE IN THE LAP OF LUXURY THIS SPRING DON’T SIMPLY SPRING CLEAN THIS MONTH. THINK ABOUT INJECTING SOME MUCH NEEDED LUXURY INTO YOUR LIFE WHILE YOU’RE AT IT, URGES EMMA OUTTEN

DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT IT’S FAST APPROACHING that time of year when I not only feel the need to spring clean the house from top to bottom, but I’m also tempted to take a fresh look at my home and inject a little bit of luxury into it. Whether it’s the urge to make that once-in-alifetime investment in a new kitchen to simply buy one new elegant accessory this season, there’s something about spring that makes us want to up the interior ante, and that’s true whether we live in a country cottage, a penthouse apartment in the city, or somewhere in-between. But how does one make a home feel truly luxurious? The true definition of luxury is a state of great comfort or elegance, especially when involving great expense. So you may fancy blowing the budget on a sumptuous sofa, for example. Whichever room you’re focused on, it is well-worth checking out seasonal trends, but do remember that luxury can also mean timeless appeal. A new kitchen could be one of the most expensive purchases you’ll ever make, and could also add value to your property. And if you have no budget constraints, opting for a really superior quality kitchen could really make it stand out from the crowd. Think glass or granite, engineered stone or wooden worktops, and those optional extras which can make all the difference. For example, a water softener is almost a necessity in a hard water area,

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(especially if you’ve opted for that dark granite worktop!). Hanging rails for utensils, stainless steel splash-backs and flip-down screen TVs can all add that luxurious touch. With appliances, luxury has a lot to do with being properly integrated, and that doesn’t just mean integrated fridge freezers – it could even include coffee machines, steam ovens, and wine storage! In that other hardworking room of the home, the bathroom, nothing says elegance more than a white suite. Create your very own sanctuary with a sleek and contemporary new bathroom range, although even a new shower or bath screen could refresh this room. Or think about introducing quality coordinated cabinets, bathroom baskets and bins for a luxury look. And it’s important to remember that you don’t have to blow the budget to feel as though you are living in the lap of luxury - even a new illuminated mirror can shine a new luxurious light on the room. If a whole new bathroom isn’t on your to-do list this spring, there is one small change you could make to add a little luxury: nothing updates a bathroom quicker than new towels. They could be made of Egyptian cotton; certified Supima cotton from the USA or the very rare Suvin cotton (if you’re going to go super luxurious!). Or if plain just isn’t your thing, what about a branded decorative towel? Whatever you decide to do wrap yourself up in the privacy of your own home, a little luxury can make a big difference to your quality of life.

YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR TILING! Visit our showroom: Unit 1 Tilia Court, Wendover Road, Rackheath Industrial Estate, Norwich, NR13 6SX

MANY TOP STYLES

(Directions: Turn left into Tilia Court at end of Stratstans premises)

TO CHOOSE FROM!

Telephone 01603 722385 | Email jhdinteriors@btinternet.com Website www.jhdinteriors.co.uk

t. 01603 626041 www.tilesaway.co.uk

Another quality installation

BRANDS ALWAYS IN STOCK

12 Derby Street Norwich, Norfolk NR2 4PU

by The Kitchen Shop

Be inspired!

Mon-Fri 9.30-4.30 路 Sat 9.30-12 路 Appointments always available Find us at: Unit 8 Owen Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 0NA 路 01493 923113 路 info@thekitchenshopgy.co.uk

OPEN MONDAYSATURDAY 9-5PM SUNDAY 10.30-5PM BANK HOLIDAYS 9-5PM

FULLY BESPOKE HANDMADE KITCHENS, BEDROOMS, OFFICES, BATHROOMS & FREE STANDING FURNITURE

Suppliers and installers of granite, quartz and solid timber worktops FROM DESIGN TO INSTALLATION

Earsham Hall, Earsham, Bungay, Suffolk, NR35 2AN 路 Tel 01986 893420 路 Mobile 07876 395197 info@earshamhallkitchensandinteriors.co.uk 路 www.earshamhallkitchensandinteriors.co.uk

| MARCH 2015

BOASTING ONE OF EAST ANGLIA’S LARGEST SHOWROOMS, SHORELINE BATHROOMS IS SIMPLY THE PLACE TO GO TO FOR YOUR NEW SHOWER OR BATHROOM. SARAH HARDY INVESTIGATES

HERE IS SOMETHING SO VERY DELICIOUS ABOUT SLIPPING INTO A DEEP BATH, filled with sweet-smelling bubbles, and simply relaxing by reading your favourite magazine or just closing your eyes. Equally, nothing gets you ready for the day like jumping underneath a hot shower and blasting away your cares and woes! Our bathrooms are our very own domain, somewhere to refresh and relax, and it is important to create somewhere special, somewhere calm, with plenty of storage space and a clean and fresh atmosphere. Great Yarmouth boasts a very extensive showroom, Shoreline Bathrooms, with literally scores of different bathroom sets so you can see exactly what is on offer. And boy, is there plenty of choice! Avocado suites are long gone, with the designs these days so trendy – so sleek and elegant – that’s it’s not hard to create your own boutique hotel look at home. All suites are white leaving you lots of opportunity to add your own individuality with unusual taps, tiles, flooring, and so on. Sparkling diamante encrusted handles caught this reporter’s eye, along with a fitted Champagne bucket, complete with two crystal flutes! That’s living! Run by brother and sister team, Brian Robson and Linda Sedgwick, Shoreline Bathrooms is an Aladdin’s cave of goodies, from different toilets, to showers, baths, sinks, shower heads, taps, radiators, towel rails and more. And that’s before we mention the wide range of fitted furniture now available – those useful little cupboards where you can hide away your lotions and potions.

ADVISER’S ANNOUNCEMENT

SHORELINE BATHROOMS

Linda explains: ‘We stock a range of designers, including high end ones such as Arcade which is British to leading ones from the Continent like Bauhaus. And you can create whatever look you like, from a traditional one - but using all the latest technology – to something more contemporary.’ Indeed it is technology which is constantly developing. ‘Showers can be digitally controlled, mirrors are steam resistant and underfloor heating is very popular,’ says Brian. The pair set up the business together almost three years ago and are delighted with the response. ‘We had talked about it for several years beforehand and there came a point when we either had to do it or stop talking about it,’ laughs Linda. Between them, they have around 50 years of experience. Brian worked for almost 30 years at a local bathroom supplier while Linda worked for 20 years in management in the retail industry. ‘We work well together. Our parents ran their own business, they were hoteliers and also had a nightclub, so we realise the amount of commitment you have to have when you run your own business,’ says Brian. Now they have an enormous amount of knowledge which they are keen to share. ‘It is very rewarding, very satisfying. We deal directly with the customer and you really become involved,’ says Linda, adding that their company offers a ‘one stop’ service, helping customers from the design stage through to the fitting. ‘We have a team of talented craftsmen who fit everything and a great after sales policy, too.’ The showroom has many dedicated people to help design and plan your dream bathroom, including Charlene and Darren who are more than happy to help. And there’s also Tony the delivery driver who will ensure your bathroom is delivered, free of charge, on local deliveries at a time that suits you. So if you’re dreaming of that perfect home spa, somewhere to escape the cares of the world, start planning a new bathroom – and don’t forget to include that Champagne bucket!

Shoreline Bathrooms, Morton Peto Road, Harfreys Industrial Estate, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR31 0LT tel 01493 652073, visit www.shorelinebathrooms.com

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| MARCH 2015

MARCHING O N WA R D S Our gardening writer Ellen Mary is all set for a new year in the garden

arch is the month when spring really begins and we can tentatively push on in the garden allowing our green fingers to get back to work. Enjoy the very first crocuses, daffodils and camellias bursting to life and watch nature become active again for the growing season ahead. Don’t forget, whilst you are sowing your seeds in trays on your windowsill or greenhouse, plants will continue to need protection from late frosts and winds to ensure success in your garden and on the vegetable patch.

Garden and Flowers During the winter, paths and patios can accumulate slimy moss and weeds which can at times be slippery. It may not be the most exciting job but now is the time to give them a good clear up and scrub as your activity will pick up and this will help to prevent any accidents. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook you will know I am a huge fan of gladioli. There are so many colours and varieties available, long gone are the days these were considered ‘old fashioned’. gladioli look stunning when cut fresh from your garden and placed in a vase. The corms can be planted from March and if you plant at two weekly intervals you will have a stunning succession of blooms throughout the summer. You will notice lots of new growth so now is the time to keep an eye out for slugs as they will happily munch on your young plants. There are many ways to control slugs from copper tape on pots to broken eggshells or grit around plants but a really effective and organic approach is to use nematodes at six weekly intervals from March to October.

Give it a go

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GARDENING

JOBS FOR THE MONTH

Fruit and Vegetables Plant shallots and onion sets in rows in a sunny position but don’t plant in freshly manured ground. Gently push them in with just the tips showing above the soil. Birds will happily try to pull them out at this stage so it’s a good idea to cover them with a net or some horticultural fleece until they have established their roots. If your soil isn’t waterlogged or frozen, it’s time to plant your early potatoes. Make sure you have ‘chitted’ them first by placing them on a windowsill with the rose facing upwards which will encourage the potatoes to sprout a little before planting – giving them a head start. Towards the end of March it’s time to sow herbs and salads. Lettuce, radish and spring onion can all be sown undercover, ready for your first late spring pickings. Try cut and come again lettuce which will provide you with plenty of different varieties and can be grown in pots or troughs, so having a small space is no excuse.

Wildlife Gardening You will notice plenty of activity in the garden as nest building begins. Watch robins, blackbirds, blue tits and other garden birds flying about with twigs and other material to build a cosy nest for their eggs. One way to give them a helping hand is to tie up bunches of tiny twigs and dried moss near your feeders. You will soon find it being snapped up and used productively. March is the time when hedgehogs and frogs start to roam after hibernation. If you don’t have room for a pond an old bucket or washing up bowl sunk into the ground will be a great way to give them a home. Add some stones in the bottom to help the frogs climb in and out and place it in a shady spot. After a tough winter make sure your bird baths and feeders are thoroughly cleaned and replace any broken or damaged feeders before re-filling them again. This is the start of a very active time of year for our feathered friends.

Ellen Mary Gardening provides no jargon, easy to follow gardening advice, along with a range of colourful gardening products at: www.ellenmarygardening.co.uk

Try planting these gladioli corms for a stunning summer display. The colour is mesmerising and growing to 1m tall, they add beautiful height to your borders. Your bulbs will be sent in a gift bag with instructions, making them a treat for yourself or a lovely Mother’s Day gift. Only £7.99 for a bag of five bulbs from: www.notonthehighstreet.com/ellenmarygardening

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Highway garden & leisure

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F NGE O S A R E R ow the seeds TI of OUR ENT SEEDS so m E e th K ing special PAC g; alue, Includin untr y V organ o C , ls M ergil n& Mr Fothns, Thompso o s n h o h J c th Mar Offer e

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There are few gardening activities m ore cost effective and rewarding as sowing your own seeds fr om scratch .

A t Highway we have a vast range of seeds for any purpose you choose . Whether it be flower, herb or vegetable seeds you desire you w ill find them here , along w ith insert trays, propag ators, dibber s, labels, string, potting compost, pot s and anyth ing else you cou ld need .

Offer available See in store for det 26/02/2015 - 19/03/2015. ails. Subject to ava ilability. Selected stores only. Not available online.

Kitchen Sense of Harleston For Quality Fitted Kitchens and Appliances

KITCHEN SENSE COMMON SENSE

East Anglian Art Sale March 13th 2015

Keys Fine Art Auctioneers are now accepting entries of East Anglian Art for our bi-annual sale dedicated to the region.

62 London Road, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9BZ Tel: 01379 852592 Fax: 01379 854411

Artists of interest include G Ackermann, R Bagge-Scott, S J Batchelder, H Bright, C W Burns, S D Colkett, J J Cotman, J Cox, A E Davies, R Fisher, C H Harrison, I Houston, J B Ladbrooke, C A Mellon, J Middleton, A J Munnings, W L Rackham, E Seago, S Somerville, F Southgate, A Stannard, J Stark, C M Wigg

staff@kitchen-sense.co.uk | www.kitchen-sense.co.uk

Campbell Archibald Mellon,ROI, RBA (1875-1955) Estimate: ÂŁ3000-4000

For further information or advice please contact:

Kevin Lines on 01263 733195 or email kevin.lines@keysauctions.co.uk

Aylsham Salerooms, Palmers Lane, Aylsham Norfolk NR11 6JA

01263 733195

salerooms@keysauctions.co.uk

keysauctions.co.uk

| MARCH 2015

Bake Off White Chocolate Mousse Ingredients

600ml of double cream 100g of caster sugar 6 egg yolks 350g of white chocolate 4 gelatine leaves, softened in water

THIS MONTH SIMON WAINWRIGHT, EXECUTIVE HEAD CHEF AT THE IMPERIAL HOTEL IN GREAT YARMOUTH, SHOWS US HOW TO CREATE A TRICKY BUT DELECTABLE DESSERT

Method 1. Beat the cream until soft peaks. Put in the fridge 2. Whisk egg yolks until fluffy and white

Pistachio sponge cake with White Chocolate Mousse, Lemon Curd and Apple Sorbet SERVES 8

Pistachio Sponge Ingredients

500g of butter, softened 400g of caster sugar 120g of pistachio paste 300g of marzipan, finely chopped Pinch of salt 8 eggs 500g of finely ground pistachios 100ml of Kirsch 150g of semolina 64

Method 1. Preheat the oven to 170°C. Line a tray with baking parchment 2. Place butter, sugar, pistachio paste, marzipan and salt in a bowl and whisk until smooth 3. Add the eggs one at a time and beat well after each is added 4. Add pistachios and beat until combined 5. Slowly add the Kirsch then semolina, mix well 6. Place the mixture into the tray and bake until golden – usually about half an hour 7. Once cooked leave to cool for 5 minutes then turn onto a cooling rack 8. Once cooled completely, cut into circles using a cutter

3. Place the caster sugar and 60ml water in a small pan. Bring to the boil. Brush down the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush and cook mix until it reaches 125°C using a sugar thermometer 4. Trickle sugar syrup into the egg yolks whisking well and set aside once combined 5. Melt white chocolate over a saucepan of water until it reaches 60°C. Remove from the heat 6. Add a quarter of the whipped cream to the chocolate and fold 7. Add the egg yolk mixture and fold in. Set aside 8. Drain gelatine well and add a quarter of a cup of white chocolate mixture to the gelatine and mix well 9. Add back into the remaining white chocolate mix, along with the cream and fold gently. Put in the fridge

IMPERIAL HOTEL, GREAT YARMOUTH

RECIPE

Lemon Curd Ingredients

250g of lemon juice 250g of caster sugar 2 eggs plus 6 egg yolks (mix together) 350g of butter, diced and at room temperature

Method 1. Put the lemon juice, sugar, egg yolks plus eggs, 150g butter in a saucepan on a low heat and stir until thickened 2. Remove from heat, whisk until cool 3. Add remaining butter and whisk well

Apple Sorbet Ingredients

600ml of stock syrup - 1pint of water, 2lbs of granulated sugar, zest of 1 orange, 1 bay leaf and 1 cinnamon stick, boiled and reduced by a third 5 Granny Smith apples 2 lemons, juiced Fresh apple juice

Method 1. Peel and core apples 2. Place apples in food processor with the syrup and lemon juice. You might have to do this in two separate batches 3. Blitz until smooth and pass through a sieve 4. Add a good splash of fresh apple juice 5. Churn in ice cream machine

Wine Choice

2007 Muscat de Beaumes de Venise Domaine de Coyeux NICK MOBBS, DIRECTOR AND WINE EXPERT AT THE IMPERIAL HOTEL, SAYS: THE DESSERT WINE THAT I AM RECOMMENDING IS PROBABLY THE FIRST PUDDING WINE THAT I EVER TASTED: Muscat de Beaumes de Venise Domaine de Coyeux. It is a

great accompaniment to Simon’s pistachio sponge cake. This wonderful domaine has been growing grapes and making dessert wine since the 1950s, and has recently been taken over by Hugh de Feraudy. The wine is a vin doux naturel which describes how the wine is made. It has an intense gold/yellow colour with orange and pink glints. It has a complex nose of ripe exotic fruit and grilled almonds. On the palate, there are very fresh aromas of fruit and ﬂowers and the wine has wonderful length with balanced acidity. The sweetness of the dessert is matched to the sweetness of the wine so each complements the other while still cleansing the palate.

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

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk www.cafecru.co.uk

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

CELLAR RESTAURANT AND BAR

Established 1977

For probably the finest selection of seafood and shellfish in the town We also specialise in top quality aged and matured steaks plus seasonal game dishes. Private function room available for up to 90 people, ideal for all parties, receptions or private functions complete with fully licensed bar. Come and try the fabulous food, intimate surroundings and friendly, warm welcome that has made The Executive a popular dining venue in town for over 35 years.

Why not try one of our fabulous cocktails or champagne by the glass?

Just a selection from our ever changing specials board The freshest, most succulent and tender king scallops with chorizo Freshly caught local lobster prepared to your individual taste The finest selection of mature steaks using only the best Scottish beef; fillet, sirloin or rib eye

Open daily 5.30pm to 10pm 路 Fully licensed bar 56 Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth NR30 2EJ Telephone: 01493 850800

Gorgeous cosy restaurant, so intimate with fantastic food Trip Advisor

Restaurant open from 6pm, Monday to Saturday Book a table online!

Mothers Day Lunch 12-2:30pm

Stay in one of our cosy double rooms or suites from 拢59 per couple, per night, including continental breakfast and VAT. As well as serving great food in the evenings, we are opening the doors once again for Mothers Day Lunch.

28-30 Camperdown, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 3JB www.andoverhouse.co.uk 路 01493 843490 路 bookings@andoverhouse.co.uk

RECIPE

FRANCK PONTAIS

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

Les Escargots SERVES EIGHT

Ingredients

Vive La France! YES, IT IS THE ULTIMATE FRENCH DISH FROM OUR PARISIAN CHEF FRANCK PONTAIS – LES ESCARGOTS! Method 1. Finely chop the garlic and parsley. 2. Combine the butter, parsley, garlic and salt, then seal the shells with butter mixture. 3. Rinse snails, drain them and place a snail in each snail shell. 4. Fill the remaining space with the garlic butter mix. 5. Place shells in escargot pan. 6. Sprinkle shells lightly with breadcrumbs and bake in a preheated oven at 200oC for 10 minutes.

1 can of large snails 4 dozen snail shells 400g of salted butter 3 tbsp of chopped parsley 30g of breadcrumbs 4 garlic cloves 2 pinches of table salt 1 pinch of white ground pepper

7. Serve immediately with fresh French bread

(to soak up the butter).

Note This dish may be prepared several hours in advance. Before cooking, simply cover them lightly with Clingfilm and keep in the refrigerator until you are ready to go.

You can buy the can of snails, snail shells, and escargot pan at www.confitdirect.co.uk

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

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One of the

most charming inns in Suffolk

Dinner, bed and breakfast Stay in one of our cosy bedrooms for two nights from £290 per couple, including dinner on both evenings and breakfast.

A winning combination of originality and excellence. Exceptional, modern British cuisine. Outstanding service, with a creative and constantly evolving menu, awardwinning wines, spirits and fabulous cocktails.

available for stays sunday to thursday

The Westleton Crown The Street, Westleton, Near Southwold, IP17 3AD info@westletoncrown.co.uk · www.westletoncrown.co.uk · 01728 648777

Special March offer 4 COURSE MEAL £24.95

Table D’Hote Menu

3 courses £15.50 | 2 courses £13.00

Dine in style every Wednesday & Thursday

LIVE JAZZ EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT 7pm til late

Saturday in our LIVE DJ SET Every cocktail lounge, 9.30-late

· Accommodation · Weddings · Parties · · Evening Meals · Sunday Luncheons · Bar Snacks ·

LARGE FREE CAR PARK

For table reservations or full details of our special events, please call

North Drive, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR30 1EG

01493 331000 · info@pamelasrestaurant.co.uk Wellington Road, Great Yarmouth, NR30 3JJ

01493 844568

Dress code: smart-casual. Complementary secure parking provided on request.

www.burlington-hotel.co.uk For Accommodation,

WINE COLUMN

WINE TASTING

The Best Job In The World Our wine writer Sam Matthews goes wine tasting in London. Hiccup!

OW, THERE ARE not many perks in this most challenging of trades, but last month saw the best perk of the lot. Together with Assembly House Restaurant Supervisor Sam, I ventured to our capital city for our wine supplier’s annual tasting. A complete overhaul of The Assembly House wine list and some new and exciting ideas for The Lavender House wine list were both on the agenda for our excursion. The (still) arduous Norwich to London train journey gave us ample time to plan and think about the kinds of wines we were hoping and wanting to taste and see. With over 1000 wines available to try at the tasting, you need some sort of plan of attack, or you will be very squiffy, very quickly, and come back with an interesting wish-list probably comprising of wines costing £20 a glass! At The Assembly House we have a simple eight white, two rosé, and eight red wine list. With this slightly limited selection, we decided we wanted to try and represent a different grape variety and country for every bottle. Of course, we also want to offer great value for money and something a little different to set our list apart from our competitors. By the time we touched down at Liverpool Street International, we had a good idea of the types of wine we wanted to try, but, of course, we were more than happy to be diverted and surprised along the way. The wine tasting was held in the stupendous underground ballroom of the famous Dorchester Hotel on Park Lane. We were like kids in a sweet shop, surrounded by exciting and intriguing bottles of wine as far as the eye could see. It would have been very easy, right there and then, to drop all our well deliberated plans on the journey and simply park ourselves in the Champagne section for the next few hours, but of course, we had a very serious job to do! I don’t think the boss would have been happy with my proposed list of eight different Champagnes by the glass! We started with the value entry level wines first. Any restaurateur will tell you that this is often the most difficult part of a wine list to write. Trying to find great value and keep the price down for the customer, without compromising quality, is a careful balancing act.

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When we had tasted a couple of good value wines it was off to discover something new. At this wine tasting the ‘discovery’ section offered some new and fresh ideas for the wine list, some made from grape varieties I hadn’t come across before, from countries I wasn’t aware were producing wine. Expect to see and be surprised by Croatian or Cypriot wine in The Assembly House soon. Of course, sometimes you can’t beat the classics. We knew a couple of grape varieties and names that we wanted to feature on our wine list somewhere: the go-to grape variety for the customer that knows what they like, or that familiar region or country that another customer looks for first on a good wine list. Next, on to the fizzy stuff. By this time, knowing we had a couple of glasses worth inside of us, my thinking was that the fizz would be a bit more lively and refreshing, readying us for the challenge of the richer reds! Each year, at these types of wine tastings, I’m interested to see how our English sparkling wines are progressing. They can still be a bit on the expensive side, but the quality in recent years, in my opinion, warrants the price tag. This feeling and belief is only enhanced by talking to the winemakers themselves, and hearing about the trials and tribulations of making wine in our unpredictable climate. After our much needed palate revitalisation with the sparkling stuff, we moved on to a range of richer reds, again in search of value for money. We’re always on the lookout for something different as well, and, again, a classic or two. By this time, after a few more necessary glasses, the other Sam was detailed to take pictures and make notes on his phone. There’s always a real danger, later into the sampling, that each bottle gets harder to remember in detail. I avoided saying ‘everything becomes a blur’ as the last thing you want is to let the effects of what you’re having to do take over from your wine taster’s common sense. We felt like we had accomplished what we had set out to achieve, with lots of options for our new and improved wine list and a good, lively Sam v Sam debate on the journey home before eventually dozing off on the train around Manningtree. Thankfully, due to the nature of our local rail network, the journey home was delayed, giving us ample time to write up and decide on the whole thing! You’ll see the results at The Assembly House and Lavender House very soon. Oh, and before you ask – no – you can’t come with us next time!

SAM MATTHEWS is Food & Beverage Manager at The Assembly House, Norwich. www.assemblyhousenorwich.co.uk

| MARCH 2015

Where Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Will

FOOD

PRIVATE DINING

What could be ﬁner than inviting a private chef into your home, complete with private butler? Paul Pitcher enjoys this ultimate experience

ILL GOWING IS A YOUNG AND EXTREMELY TALENTED CHEF WHO DEMONSTRATES A GENUINE PASSION FOR COOKING AND SERVING GREAT FOOD. He prides himself on using only the finest ingredients, all sourced from some of the best suppliers in Norfolk. Will’s passion for food started while he was working in the French Alps. Opportunities then led him to London for five years where he gained experience working in some top London restaurants including Smiths of Smithfield, Mews of Mayfair and The Sands End. Now back in Norfolk, Will set up the Private Chef Experience in January 2014 and has not looked back since. He is a regular chef at the luxurious Scaldbeck House in Morston where he cooks for both private gatherings and shooting parties as well as private dinner parties at Chaucer Barn in Gresham, which was voted one of the top ten wedding venues in the UK by The Independent newspaper. SO HOW DOES THE PRIVATE CHEF EXPERIENCE WORK? The Private Chef Experience is all about providing fresh top restaurant quality food in the privacy of your own home. At my first meeting with Will, he came to my home to look at the facilities and discuss in detail our specific requirements, the type of food we liked, along with the flavours we enjoyed in food. We agreed a dinner party for eight people and set the date for February 12 which tied in wonderfully with Valentine’s Day. Within two days of Will coming to our home, he emailed us his suggested menu along with pairing wines which looked absolutely fabulous and incorporated the flavours and ingredients we love. Our expectations for the dinner party were raised through the roof and we were convinced the evening would prove to be a memorable dining experience. On the afternoon of the dinner party Will arrived around 4.30pm and, after unloading everything into our kitchen, started preparing the dinner. His coolness and calm nature in the kitchen was something to be witnessed. He was working under real pressure to produce the menu from scratch and yet seemed to have all of the time in the world to talk us through how the dishes were put together, how long things were marinated for and how the various ingredients complimented each other. Will explained that the more details he could obtain from us about the guests and the kind of food we liked would help him select a menu that would work for everyone. We had one guest with an allergy to seafood so he prepared an individual starter for them. At around 6.30pm there was knock on the door and a young man called Jake arrived, explaining he was our private butler and sommelier for the evening. After slipping into a white shirt and waistcoat, he quietly got on with the task of setting the table, cleaning glasses and preparing the various wines. >>>

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menus

Relaxed fine dining in a 14th century coaching inn with luxury rooms and locally inspired menus, perfectly placed where North Norfolk meets the Broads... À LA CARTE

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FOOD

PRIVATE DINING

Our guests arrived at 7.15pm and Jake was there to welcome them with a fabulous array of canapés and a chilled glass of Casa Defra Prosecco Frizzante. The canapés included home cured beetroot salmon roulade which had been marinated in gin, spiced pork lollipops served on a porcelain spoon and topped with homemade apple sauce and the most delightful Binham Blue and smoked Norfolk Dapple rarebit bites with mango chutney. We enjoy entertaining friends and are used to serving and waiting on them, so the experience of doing absolutely nothing in your own home takes a little adjusting to! After the canapés we sat at the table where we were served homemade sunblushed tomato and sage bread and an amuse bouche of cauliflower soup with mussel beignet. It was delightful. For starters we had seared scallops with butternut squash served with a vanilla purée, spiced chorizo, pancetta crumb and popcorn. The starter was accompanied with a very pleasant Dr Loosen, Red Slate Riesling, from the Mosel in Germany. The best was yet to come and what a main course! Seared fillet beef, marinated for 24 hours in various, herbs and garlic, and served with carrot and star anise purée. The fillet was succulent and very tasty. We were also served braised beef shin wellington, leek and thyme dauphinoise potatoes with baby vegetables and a juniper sauce. The wine paired with this course was a fine Pablo Walter Malbec, from Mendoza in Argentina. After a short break we enjoyed a very indulgent trio of chocolate which included a chocolate and pistachio tart, white chocolate panna cotta with a chocolate sundae shot all decorated with edible flowers supplied by Nurtured in Norfolk. The dessert wine chosen to accompany this course was M Chapoutier, Banyuls, vin doux naturel, from Roussillon in France.

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The experience of having this level of cuisine cooked and served in your own home is simply fantastic. As each course was served at the table, Will explained the ingredients and cooking techniques used to create the dish and Jake described the accompanying wine and why it had been chosen. Being able to greet your guests at the door then simply sit back, relax and enjoy the whole evening with your guests and, more importantly, have the time to appreciate what you have organised is really an experience to remember.

MORE INFORMATION The Private Chef Experience, visit www.theprivatechefexperience.co.uk, tel 07787 161148 All wines supplied by Harper Wells, Norwich. tel 01603 451098

LET YOUR MUM KNOW SHE'S THE BEST AT SPROWSTON MANOR, A MARRIOTT HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB Treat your mum to Mothers’ Day Sunday Lunch with a glass of crisp Prosecco in our 1559 Restaurant and really make her feel truly special. There will be entertainment for kids between 12:30 - 3:00pm, a day for the whole family to enjoy. Under 5's Free. £35.00 per person £18.00 12-17 years old £10.00 6-11 years old To find out more or to book call 01603 410871.

Sprowston Manor, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club, Wroxham Road, Norwich, NR7 8RP MarriottSprowstonManor.co.uk

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Visit Titchwell Manor Stunning boutique hotel Titchwell Manor on the North Norfolk coast offers 27 individually designed bedrooms and awardwinning dining. Choose from the informal Eating Rooms complete with sea view terrace, or the fine dining Conservatory. Available for private hire and bespoke weddings – please contact margaret@titchwellmanor.com to arrange a meeting. A L A C A RT E • TA S T I N G M E N U S • A F T E R N O O N T E A • T H R E E A A RO S E T T E S • S E A V I E W S

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| MARCH 2015

A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH ANDY NEWMAN FINDS A NORFOLK FARM WHICH IS CHALLENGING THE SUPREMACY OF YORKSHIRE’S ‘RHUBARB TRIANGLE’, AND TOP NORFOLK CHEF ROGER HICKMAN CREATES AN ELABORATE DESSERT

have written before in these pages about the lack of a national reputation for the fabulous produce grown in Norfolk. Other regions have their protected ‘appellation’ statuses, such as Melton Mowbray pork pies and Jersey Royal potatoes, but the closest we come to that is Fenland Celery. One very closely guarded name is that of Yorkshire rhubarb. Produced in the so-called ‘Rhubarb Triangle’ (between Wakefield, Bradford and Leeds), this accounts for 40 per cent of the forced rhubarb on sale in our supermarkets. Now a Norfolk grower is challenging this northern supremacy – and if you buy rhubarb in Tesco at the moment, it is just as likely to have been grown and forced much closer to home. It is an encouraging success story, a tale of how a family farm has grasped an opportunity to break into a lucrative market, by producing top-quality food right in the heart of Norfolk. You have to drive deep into the Broadland countryside to find Place UK, but when you find it, you immediately get a feel for the scale of the operation. With a 1000-acre farm, sophisticated

TIM PLACE

processing facilities, and a full-time staff of 70 boosted by up to 500 seasonal workers, many from eastern Europe, this is a sizeable concern. What is striking is that scale has not altered the fact that this is a family concern. Founded in 1954 by John Place, grandfather of current MD Tim Place, the company has achieved growth without losing that ethos of looking after its people and producing food it can be proud of. In fact, the farm has won awards for the way it treats its employees, both full-time and seasonal, including a coveted ‘Best Employee Facilities’ certificate from Tesco, recognising the attention it gives to its overseas workers in terms of accommodation, health, welfare and social communication facilities, such as its on-site internet cafe. Impressive though the facilities are, it is the darkness of the rhubarb sheds which have attracted me here. Place UK has been growing rhubarb since 1968, but it was only three years ago that the team started pondering whether they could challenge the Yorkshire supremacy in forced rhubarb.

Norfolk Produce RHUBARB

Forcing rhubarb is essentially about fooling the plants into thinking spring has come early, resulting in a crop months before outdoor-grown plants can be harvested, and in a product which has a deep pink colour and sweeter taste. Forcing rhubarb is not something which can be hurried, as Operations Director Andy Shepherdson explains. Originally from the north-east, Andy came to Norfolk in 1996 to work at Ross Youngs (subsequently Heinz) at Worstead, before joining Place UK in 2008, just as the company embarked on a serious expansion plan. ‘You want forced rhubarb crowns to be full of energy, and that means being patient,’ Andy explains. ‘We grow the plants outside for two years, resisting the temptation to harvest them in that period, so that all of the energy returns into the crowns.’ After this two year period, the whole crowns, roots and all, are lifted from the ground in October, and chilled for up to eight weeks. They are then moved into warm, dark sheds, fooling them into thinking that winter is over and spring is here – so they start growing vigorously. By the first week of January they are cropping, and this will continue for up to 16 weeks, filling in the gap until the outdoor rhubarb starts producing in April/May. Andy takes me into a low wooden shed, clearly once a poultry facility, but now entirely given over to rhubarb. The door opens to reveal... complete darkness. It is only when we don head torches that it becomes clear that there is rhubarb stretching to the edge of our light beams, and far beyond. Overall, there are 20,000 crowns in this shed, and in a series of black heated polytunnels alongside. The pitch black makes the rhubarb grow to search for light, creating dense sticks laden with all the energy from the roots, in the form of sugars. The end result is rhubarb that still has the element of tartness, but tempered with a welcome sweetness. Picking is done by hand, only by the light of head torches, on an ongoing basis as the stalks reach the right size. This way, the crowns will go on growing for three to four months, until they are exhausted. At this stage they will be discarded, and the whole three year process will start again. 2015 is the second year of production, and the company sends around a tonne a week to Tesco, accounting for around 30 per cent of the supermarket’s rhubarb stock during the forced season. Such is its success, that it is expanding the area allocated to growing rhubarb, from the already impressive 47 acres planted with it this year.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Forced rhubarb from Place UK is available now from most Tesco stores. You can identify the Norfolk product, as it will be labelled with the grower’s name: Tim Place. The farm also provides rhubarb to Norwich ice-cream maker Ronaldos.

RECIPE Roger Hickman’s rhubarb with pistachio cake, blood orange sorbet and crème anglaise SERVES FOUR

INGREDIENTS 3 blood oranges, 100g pistachios, 35g breadcrumbs, 310g caster sugar, 70g orange oil, or olive oil, 3 eggs, 650ml freshly-squeezed orange juice 1 leaf gelatine, 1 tsp citric acid, or lemon juice, 20 sticks pink rhubarb, 5 oranges, 100ml lemon juice, 10g glucose, ¼ tsp pectin, 200ml milk, 100ml double cream, 3 egg yolks, 1 vanilla pod

First make the cake. Zest the blood oranges, and bake the zest on a tray in the oven at 180°C for 15-20 minutes until they are hard and almost burnt-looking. Save the blood orange segments to serve on the plate. Blitz the zest in a food processor to form a crumb. Now blitz the pistachios to a fine crumb, and blend with the zest. Put this in a food processor with the breadcrumbs and 135g of the sugar, and blend with the ‘K’ paddle. Add the eggs one by one, and then the oil, pouring it in little by little to emulsify the dough. Bake in a parchment lined cake tray for 20 minutes at 180°C. To make the orange jelly, boil a tiny amount of the orange juice, then add the citric acid, gelatine and sugar. Once everything has dissolved, add this mixture back into the 200ml of the orange juice, and leave to set. Once set, cut into dice. Mix 100ml orange juice with the lemon juice, and bring to the boil. Cut ten sticks of rhubarb into two inch long batons, and put them into the combined juices. Lower the heat until it is simmering, and cook for just five minutes – you want the rhubarb to retain its shape. Dice the remaining sticks of rhubarb as small as possible, and cook this in the juice of the five oranges until soft and mushy. Drain, and blitz the rhubarb in a food processor, and then add sugar if you think it is a little sharp. If the puree is too solid, you can loosen it with a little of the cooking liquor. Now add the pectin, and pass through a sieve, which will give you a clear purèe. For the sorbet, bring 110ml water to the boil in a pan with 110g of the sugar and the glucose. Add 325ml of orange juice, and a splash of lemon juice. Now put into a container and cool very rapidly over a bowl of ice – this is important to retain the colour. Once cool, churn in an ice cream maker. Finally the crème anglaise. Split the vanilla pod, and put the seeds, pod, milk and cream in a pan. Bring to the boil and infuse for ten minutes, then remove the vanilla pod. Meanwhile, whisk together 65g sugar, the egg yolks and a pinch of salt. Add your milk/cream mix to the eggs, and warm over a low heat to a temperature of 82°C. Pass the mixture through a sieve, and put in a container over ice to cool it. Whip slightly – you want it soft rather than stiff. Serve the cake, sorbet, jelly, orange segments, crème anglaise and purèe on a dish, and garnish with roasted pistachios and sorrel.

Roger Hickman is chef-proprietor at Roger Hickman's Restaurant in Upper St Giles, Norwich. More details at www.rogerhickmansrestaurant.com Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

| MARCH 2015

THE MOTHER CITY

CAPE TOWN, HOME TO THE SOARING TABLE MOUNTAIN, GOLDEN BEACHES AND NUMEROUS VINEYARDS, CAPTIVATES KATE MORFOOT IN JUST A WEEK

APE TOWN, THE ‘MOTHER CITY’ IN SOUTH AFRICA, WAS RANKED AS THE TOP HOLIDAY DESTINATION IN 2014. This is not surprising as

it ranks among one of the most vibrant cities in the world. So having hopped on a jet plane to find out if you can really experience all this city has to offer in just a week, could I do it justice? For a start, soaking up the atmosphere and people-watching can steal away the hours. You have to have a plan! A plan to eat, to drink, to party, to see, to feel, to meet, to talk and to love. Speaking of which, it’s not hard to fall in love with this stunning city encapsulated by water, and the breath-taking Table Mountain which dominates Cape Town with its presence. There is only an hour’s time difference in the summer, so there’s no jet lag to worry about which makes this destination very appealing! So, what is there to do? First, visit the V&A Waterfront - it’s a working marina with a buzzy atmosphere. There’s fabulous shopping to enjoy, made even better with the newly opened store, The Watershed. Carefully curated to showcase the best of local craftsmanship and creativity, this is one shopping experience you should not miss! Another retail district, the Cape Quarter in vibey Green Point is a shopping mall/lifestyle centre. It has an open air cobbled plaza with a labyrinth of upmarket boutiques and art galleries.

There are so many brilliant and awardwinning restaurants in Cape Town. Baia, situated at Victoria Wharf within the V&A Waterfront, is perfect for seafood lovers, serving the freshest fish from the Atlantic Ocean. Look out for Fresh East Coast Sole. And if you fancy eating on the coast, head for The Codfather Seafood and Sushi Restaurant at Camps Bay; try 95 Keerom for the finest Italian food or, for a truly African experience, head for Africa Café or Mama Africa. Cape Town plays host to some iconic venues for afternoon tea. The most famous include the Mount Nelson Hotel, affectionately known as ‘The Nellie’, the Cape Grace Hotel on the waterfront and Table Bay Hotel. For a sedate lunch with a memorable tasting experience, step back into the colonial era and visit Steenberg Vineyards. Only a 20 minute car journey from the city, lying on the mountain slopes at the southern end of Constancia Valley, Steenberg produces an amazing ﬂagship Sauvignon Blanc. After a fascinating wine tasting in the immaculate tasting lounge, enjoy lunch at the stunning restaurant, Catherina’s, where you are served fresh local produce from Springbok and line-caught fish. Alternatively, try its other restaurant overlooking the estate, Bistro Sixteen82. Each Saturday, and just a 10-minute drive from the city, Woodstock, an up and coming trendy area of Cape Town, plays host to The Old Biscuit Mill. A car park during the week, each Saturday it transforms itself into a

TRAVEL

CAPE TOWN

Borough Market equivalent with all kinds of sumptuous fresh food being cooked. From the famous Roobois Tea, Funky Fungi (all different kinds of barbecued mushrooms) to delicious quiches, stir-fries and marvellous butchers and bakers, you can find something to tickle your taste buds and wash it down with craft beer and Cap Classique, South Africa’s equivalent to Champagne. If you’re feeling energetic after all this food and wine, then there’s heaps to do, ensuring you can work off the excess! Tackle one of the scenic walks on the slopes of Table Mountain. Constantia Nek and Cecilia Forest are both great starting points. As well as offering wonderful views over Cape Town, you should be rewarded by spotting unique birdlife. Of course you can take the rotating cable car to reach the summit! There is a free daily walking tour from 10am and many hiking trails at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Set against the awesome backdrop of Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak, it is home to over 22,000 indigenous plants. The gardens host outdoor concerts every Sunday in the summer. If you just want to relax and soak up the sun, then visit Shimmy Beach Club – a fun place with two swimming pools surrounded by sand. It’s child-friendly and has two restaurants. You can hire sun loungers overlooking the ocean, or nestle up under the umbrellas away from the rays! Run by Mark Reeve, the service is excellent and the food is delicious, too. For a bird’s eye view of Cape Town there are various helicopter tours that can be booked at the V&A harbour Waterfront. For a daring and bordering on terrifying/exhilaratingly experience then try the Huey. The famous military helicopter, used in the Vietnam

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War, takes you on various trips lasting from 15 minutes to an hour. I did the combat mission flight with the doors open. It chugs along just metres above the sea, over towards the mountains where there’s ‘hard banking’ and ‘sharp climbing’ before you hit anything, which exhilaratingly finishes with its engine being switched off in mid-flight. Not only do you see the most fantastic views over Cape Town and the surrounding area, at the end of your flight you are given a certificate! After this, a much needed gin and tonic is needed, so best to head for the serenity of the Cape Grace Hotel. The epitome of refined luxury, this stunning and most welcoming of hotels has the marina-fronted Bascule Bar where you can stay and rest your weary legs, eyes and senses. Book in to the Signal Bar to celebrate your last night where you can try the sevencourse tasting menu with matching wine from the Raats family vineyard. Cape Town has something for everyone. A week’s holiday fitting in many amazing experiences into a relatively short amount of time is a challenge, but it’s definitely worth the effort!

TRAVEL INFORMATION Where to stay: The Cape Grace Hotel, West Quay, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. A double room for two people starts from £250 per night including breakfast. Visit www.capegrace.com Transport: Fly direct from Heathrow to Cape Town International Airport with British Airways. Visit www.britishairways.com

| MARCH 2015

Gran Canaria is blessed with wonderful weather all year round, which makes it the perfect family holiday destination, as Carolyn Atkins discovers

LAS PALMAS

IFFERENT THINGS define a holiday for different people. Some people feel that they’re only truly on holiday, for instance, when they’re strolling along a sandy beach or reclining on a sunbed, cocktail in hand. Others look for sport or water sports or simply the chance to finish a long-awaited novel and so only truly relax with a paperback or Kindle. All of those activities are available in Gran Canaria but, for me, a holiday is only a holiday when there’s a boat trip and a market involved and fortunately our stay there included an excursion that combined the two. We set off for Gran Canaria from Luton Airport last October half-term, ﬂying the three-and-a-half hours to Las Palmas and travelling through the barren, hilly, wind turbine-dotted landscape to our hotel. On the last leg of the journey, the car crawled up the hillside to reach the Servateur Puerto Azul, a white sprawl of apartments built in to the cliff in Puerto Rico on the island’s popular south-western coast. For the first few days of the holiday, we didn’t stray far from the complex – with its heated pools, bar, café area, games room, pool tables, mini supermarket, all-inclusive food and range of entertainment, there really was no need to – so we just acclimatised and enjoyed what was on offer.

TRAVEL

CANARY ISLANDS

The hotel is vast, accommodating up to 1000 guests at capacity, and puts on all kinds of activities for customers, from fashion shows around the pool to little stalls ( jewellery, toys, gadgets and so on) in the lobby, even a caricaturist capturing people on canvas. For those who want some quality adult time, there’s also an over-18s area with rows of sunbeds, a massage station and a large Jacuzzi right on the edge of the cliff, overlooking the bay. There were two sittings for dinner, at 6pm and 8pm, so that families could go first, and a vast and varied selection of food including local specialities such as seafood, stews and cheese, themed nights and a welcome children’s station with all the usual staples. A live band in traditional dress greeted us on arrival and the book-swap table at the entrance to the restaurant indicated the many different nationalities staying there, with lots of Swedish and Danish novels. After a few days, however, I simply had to venture further afield and so trekked the several hundred steps down the hill to Puerto Rico bay to explore the pleasant beach and port area, complete with all the usual holiday activities – paragliding, banana boats, jet skis and pedalos. We also ventured further up the hill to play mini golf at a shady course next to a small shopping centre and were thankful for the trees, as the temperature was nearing 30oC that day. Located off the African coast, the Canary Islands are almost always warm and sunny and can be easily reached from East Anglia, with ﬂights from Luton, Stansted and the other London airports. We had just one cloudy Tuesday morning and so visited the market in nearby Arguineguin, queuing for ages outside the hotel for a taxi to take us there, as everybody had the same idea.

LAS PALMAS

CATHEDRAL OF SAINT ANA

The market was vast, with stalls selling baskets, brightly-coloured pottery, glassware, jewellery, clothes and some lovely wooden fruit bowls, but as it neared midday the temperature was soaring again, so we headed back to the hotel for lunch. Another day we went out on a three-hour whale and dolphin-watching trip on the glass-bottomed Spirit of the Sea from Puerto Rico bay. The trip was choppy, and although we didn’t see any whales, we did spot some turtles and plenty of dolphins (apparently you’re more likely to see whales if you go out in the morning). We also had the chance to swim and snorkel near the boat which was great fun. Later in the week we walked down the steep hill from our hotel to Amadores beach, said to be the best one on the island. This beautiful, man-made bay boasts hot, white sand and is perfect for swimming and playing in the waves. Then, on the Friday, we combined my two favourite things – a boat trip and a market – PORT MORAN and headed off to Port Mogan for the day. Having pre-booked our tickets at reception, we climbed once more down the hundreds of steps to Puerto Rico and set off on a leisurely, half hour boat trip to this former fishing village. Pretty Port Mogan is a holidaymaker’s paradise, decorated with hundreds of ﬂowers and with stalls all around the water’s edge. We wandered along the promenade to the lighthouse restaurant and found a table at the top with a fantastic view. We tucked into Spanish specialities – hot, garlicky prawns and tortilla – and watched the para-sailing, jet skis and the town’s famous yellow submarine. We also kept the bread from our lunch to feed the fish in the harbour afterwards and then wandered back through the stalls to take the glass-bottomed boat back home. Now, that’s what I call a holiday!

TRAVEL INFORMATION Where to stay: Servateur Puerto Azul. Visit www.servateur.com

Transport: Carolyn and her family flew from Luton Airport to Gran Canaria with Ryanair www.bookryanair.com

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Official Fuel Consumption Figures for Discovery in mpg (l/100km): Urban 32.5 (8.7), Extra Urban 37.2 (7.6), Combined 35.3 (8.0). CO2 emissions 213 g/km. The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation. A vehicle’s actual fuel consumption may differ from that achieved in such tests and these figures are for comparative purposes only. Representative 7.9% APR available on new Land Rover Discovery models registered between 1st January and 31st March 2015 at participating retailers only. We may receive commission or other benefits for introducing you to Land Rover Financial Services. With Land Rover Freedom Personal Contract Purchase you have the option at the end of the agreement to: (1) return the vehicle and not pay the Final Payment. If the vehicle is in good condition and has not exceeded the allowed mileage you will have nothing further to pay. If the vehicle has exceeded the allowed mileage a charge for excess mileage will apply - in this example 14p per mile for any excess mileage up to 4,999 miles and 28p per mile for any excess mileage exceeding 4,999 miles. (2) pay the Final Payment to own the vehicle or (3) part exchange the vehicle subject to settlement of your existing finance agreement; new finance agreements are subject to status. Representative example is based upon an annual mileage of 10,000 miles. Finance is subject to status and only available to applicants aged 18 and over resident in Mainland UK and N.Ireland. Finance is provided by Black Horse Limited trading as Land Rover Financial Services, St William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff CF10 5BH. Hunters is atrading name of Inchcape Retail Ltd and an authorised credit broker.

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ID YOU KNOW THAT THERE WAS A DOUBLE DIGIT INCREASE IN NEW CARAVAN SALES AND NEW MOTORHOME REGISTRATIONS DURING LAST YEAR? Figures released by industry trade body the National Caravan Council (NCC) last month revealed that sales of new touring caravans and motorhome registrations increased significantly in 2014, illustrating that more buyers are entering the leisure vehicle market (new motorhome registrations increased by 18 per cent year-on-year, whereas sales of new touring caravans increased by nearly 10 per cent). As well as dealers reporting strong activity last year, more interestingly, from a consumer point of view, is the fact that it is younger buyers with families entering the market. And this positive industry news came just before the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show at the NEC last month (which attracts more than 80,000 visitors). All in all, according to NCC data, more than 21,000 new touring caravans were sold in 2014 with more than 8000 new motorhomes registered with the DVLA during the same period. Anecdotal evidence suggests that buyers are increasingly younger families and the NCC is working with The Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club on a new industry promotional campaign, freedomtogo.co.uk, to attract new entrants to the market. The leisure vehicle holiday offers the 3 F’s: fresh air, fun and freedom! So, once you’ve found a reputable dealer and picked the perfect product for you and your family (don’t forget there’s trailer tents and campervans on the market too), there’s an abundance of places to stay right here in Norfolk, including Thetford Forest, Norwich, the Sandringham Estate, Mildenhall, Heacham, West Runton, the Norfolk Broads and Cromer. And did you know there’s even a camping and caravan site at Fakenham Racecourse? You do now! Jenny Summers, NCC group marketing director, says: ‘It is incredibly positive to see that sales of touring caravans and motorhome registrations increased so much in 2014 as it demonstrates that more people are discovering the benefits that touring in a caravan or motorhome brings. It also shows that consumer confidence is returning to the market, many exhibitors at our Motorhome & Caravan Show 2014 reported record sales.’

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Caravanning remains a British manufacturing success story, more than 95 per cent of touring caravans in the UK are made here and approximately 60 per cent in the case of motorhomes. Over £2.4 billion was spent on caravan holidays across Great Britain in 2013 with more than 51 million nights spent in caravans each year. The industry as a whole contributes more than £6 billion a year to the UK economy!

MORE INFORMATION A motorhome, or motor caravan as it is officially known, gives you the freedom to go where you want, when you want. It can transform your leisure time, turning every weekend into a holiday and every holiday into an adventure. There’s a great choice of sizes and layouts, ranging from compact campervans to luxurious A-class vehicles, plus an abundance of places to stay. The A-Class ranges have fully integrated bodywork and offer the pinnacle of luxury touring with opulent living space, ultracomfortable sleeping areas and generous sized kitchens and bathrooms. Once you own a motorhome, there are a thousand ways to enjoy it. You can learn all about motorhomes - how to choose, where to buy, why choose an NCC Approved Motorhome Dealership and how to make the best of the freedom a motorhome will give you - by visiting www.motorhomeinfo.co.uk.

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ISSUE 58

dfaces.co.uk

ISSUE 60 www.placesandfaces.co.uk

07/01/2015 16:29

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EACH TO HIS OWN

EAST ANGL I A’ S C HI L D RE N’ S HOSPICE S, WH OSE R OYAL PATR O N IS H RH THE DUCHE SS OF C AM BRI D GE, IS H O PING TO R AISE £10 M TO FU ND A NEW PURP OS E -BU I LT C HI L D REN’S H OSPICE IN NO R FO LK . EMMA OUTT E N M E E TS CH I E F EX E CU TIVE GR AH AM B U TLAND

BUSINESS PROFILE GRAHAM BUTLAND HEN HE FIRST TOOK ON THE ROLE OF

the Quidenham hospice, one of the oldest in the UK and a home-

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF EAST ANGLIA’S

from-home to many families for more than 20 years.

CHILDREN’S HOSPICES, Graham Butland

‘We had always talked about Quidenham being not a purpose

could not have foretold that he would be

built place,’ says Graham. ‘When we finished the Treehouse I said

fielding questions from the likes of CNN

to the board of trustees that we need to be looking at something

as to whether Prince Harry would make a

similar for Norfolk.’

good uncle to a new royal baby.

EACH has planning permission for a new hospice – the nook –

But such questions have come part and parcel of the job since it was announced that HRH The Duchess of Cambridge was to become Royal Patron of EACH, back in January 2012.

on a five-acre site in the parish for Framingham Earl, five miles south of Norwich. The nook appeal was launched in November at the Norfolk

Graham joined EACH on April 1 2003, having spent 17 years

Showground in the presence of The Duchess, when EACH vice-

as a chief exec within the NHS. ‘I was 54 and had always had

president and former newsreader Martyn Lewis interviewed

an interest in palliative care’, he says. Initially, he had planned

mother Leigh Smith. Her daughter, who was barely two months

on doing six year’s service and retiring at 60 but, as he adds: ‘I

old, had passed away at Quidenham in February of last year. ‘It

am just short of my 66th birthday and I’m still here and that’s

was a very emotional day,’ recalls Graham. ‘That touched HRH

because it’s just the best job in East Anglia.’

beyond doubt.’

EACH supports families and cares for children and young

Losing a child is unimaginable to Graham.’ I’m very lucky

people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire,

– I’ve got one daughter and four very healthy grandchildren.’

Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. It comprises three hospices: Milton,

His daughter is 36 and has just qualified as a nurse. Will she

Quidenham, and the new Treehouse in Ipswich. The model of

work at EACH one day? ‘Who knows?’ Graham replies. He has a

care has changed since his arrival, however, as Graham explains: ‘Now we deliver 50 per cent of our care in people’s own homes.’ The vast majority of the 250 employees are care staff. ‘Staff

If the appeal goes well I’m hopeful we will be well on the way to having the new hospice completed by the end of 2016

costs are a major proportion but we have to remain grandson, aged 16, and three granddaughters, aged nine, seven

competitive with the NHS,’ says Graham. Keeping overheads down is a prime concern. ‘I don’t have a PA and that saves £25,000 a year,’ he adds, gesturing that his office

and four. He adds: ‘I couldn’t do this without having a hugely supportive

is essentially his tablet and smart phone. ‘The charity field is a

wife, Teresa.’ They celebrated their 40th anniversary last year,

very competitive field. There are a lot of tins out there wanting

and live in Essex, where Graham is Leader of Braintree District

your pound coin.’

Council. ‘That’s what I call my twilight job – this is my day job.’

Receiving a call from the offices of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in late 2011, enquiring as to whether Her Royal Highness could visit EACH, put paid to any of Graham’s plans of retirement. ‘You don’t say no, do you?’ Graham says simply. Shortly after the news of the Duchess’s patronage, Her Royal Highness formally opened the Treehouse hospice, meeting staff, volunteers and families and also making her first public address. Graham comments: ‘I do feel we’ve grown up with her because

And he adds: ‘Fiscally I’m conservative, socially I’m liberal.’ As for his day job, he notes wryly: ‘We’ve launched the appeal so my retirement date has gone back again. ‘If the appeal goes well I’m hopeful we will be well on the way to having the new hospice completed by the end of 2016.’ The appeal has just reached the £500,000 mark. Graham points out: ‘It’s just a 20th of what we need to raise.’ He remains optimistic. ‘I think people recognise that the type of service

we had her first speech.’ It was also a first for the media centre

EACH provides is quite unique because it’s not just looking

at EACH. ‘Almost overnight we were going to have six satellite

after the sick child but it has a holistic approach, working with

dishes and the whole of the press pack,’ Graham recalls, before

siblings.’

adding: ‘It wasn’t just the 200 people in front of her – there was a

Having The Duchess of Cambridge as Royal Patron is invaluable to the charity, and Graham adds: ‘I have to say she’s

Sky News camera beaming it around the world.’ There has been a knock-on effect. ‘We’re not talking about hundreds of thousands of pounds, but money has come from the

been an extremely active patron – most of it goes under the radar.’ As for being asked to give interviews to American TV

States.’ Nowadays EACH comes under the umbrella of the Charities

channels, Graham says: ‘When I retired from the NHS and came

Forum, the collection of charities, of which The Duke and

to EACH I wasn’t necessarily expecting that to happen but it is

Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry are patrons.

great publicity for us - and for children’s palliative care.’

The charity is currently in the process of raising £10m to build

Visit www.each.org.uk to find out more about the nook appeal.

a new purpose-built hospice in the heart of Norfolk and replace

Almary Green Investments Ltd

Advising clients throughout East Anglia Tel: 01603 706740

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

www.almarygreen.com

Working for our community all year round

Brandon Lewis M E M B E R of PA R L I A M E N T for G R E AT YA R M O U T H

www.brandonlewis.co office@brandonlewis.co 01493 652928 Brandon Lewis MP @BrandonLewis

Get in touch – I’d love to hear from you

S329 Almary Green Faces and Places Monthly Ad ARTWORK.pdf

06/11/2013

12:38

Caring For

Your Finances • Choose the right investments • Plan ahead for retirement • Provide disaster protection for your family • Secure your inheritance for your loved ones • Save tax on savings and gifts • Fund care fees, if and when needed

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

www.carefeeplanningnorfolk.co.uk www.carefeeplanningsuffolk.co.uk

www.almarygreen.com

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

TAX

The end (of the Tax Year)

AS WE MOVE FROM WINTER INTO SPRING, A FINANCIAL ADVISER’S THOUGHTS TURN TO THE END OF THE TAX YEAR ON APRIL 5. THIS IS A KEY DATE IN THE FINANCIAL CALENDAR AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT MUST BE TAKEN UP BEFORE THEN, OR BE LOST FOREVER. CARL LAMB LOOKS AT SOME OF THE TOPICS TO BEAR IN MIND

CARL LAMB ALMARY GREEN INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISERS WWW.ALMARYGREEN.COM 01603 706740

E’VE regularly written about ISAs – or as they are now sometimes called, NISAs – and this is one area where the deadline is April 5. Every individual is entitled to invest up to £15,000 in a NISA in the current 2014/15 tax year and any returns will be free of tax (although there may be tax payable on any dividends from holdings in Stocks and Shares NISAs). You can have one Cash and one Stocks and Shares NISA in any tax year and your £15,000 investment can be split between the two types if you so wish – or can be invested in just one type. Your NISA limit can’t be carried forward into a new tax year. It’s worth reviewing your existing ISAs too: if there are better rates available, it may be worthwhile transferring your savings across to your new ISA, but make sure this is done using a proper ISA transfer rather than withdrawing funds from one account to then pay into another. If you don’t use a transfer, the payment will be classed as new investment and will count towards your current year’s allowance. Pension contributions attract tax relief and can be a valuable element in any investment portfolio. The Chancellor’s changes to the pensions regime has given pensions an added dimension, with pension savers having the opportunity from April 2015 to make unlimited withdrawals from their pension funds once they reach the minimum pension age (currently 55). This may make pension savings more attractive to some but it is worth remembering that contributions are limited to £40,000 in the current tax year. Now is a good time to review your pension arrangements and consider whether contributions need to be paid by the end of the tax year. We

also strongly recommend that you ensure that you fully understand the implications of the new pension flexibility if you are considering using pension savings for purposes other than providing retirement income. If you are a higher or additional rate taxpayer, it’s worth bearing in mind that making a pension contribution will increase your basic rate tax band and could, potentially, take you into a lower tax rate bracket. If you have concerns about your future Inheritance Tax (IHT) liability, then there is another set of annual allowances to consider. Gifts made within seven years of your death may count towards any IHT due but there are a number of allowances that can be brought into play. Every individual can gift up to £3000 per year tax-free and any unused allowance can be carried forward for one year as long as you use up the current year’s exemption first. In addition to this, you may gift £250 per year to any number of different people. There are special allowances for gifts such as wedding gifts too. Gifts to charities – and political parties – are also exempt from IHT. There is also an allowance available for those who have surplus income and can set up a regular pattern of giving from that surplus. Finally, everyone has an annual Capital Gains Tax exemption of £11,000 for the 2014/15 tax year. By timing any planned sale of assets carefully, you may be able to minimise the amount of tax due. The value of an investment and the income from it could go down as well as up. The return at the end of the investment period is not guaranteed and you may get back less than you originally invested.

Now is a good time to review your pension arrangements and consider whether contributions need to be paid by the end of the tax year

The tax treatment of investments depends on individual circumstances and is subject to change.

For independent 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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LEGAL

STARTING A BUSINESS

Under Starter’s Orders JULIAN GIBBONS O F F E R S S TA R T UP BUSINESSES LO O K I N G FO R T H E I R OW N P R E M I S E S S O M E V I TA L A DV I C E

JULIAN GIBBONS NORTON PESKETT SOLICITORS WWW.NORTONPESKETT.CO.UK 01493 849200

he last thing anyone starting a new business wants to do is to pay out lots of money in professional fees. Lawyers and accountants are a bit like undertakers: we all know that one day we will need one but just don’t want to think about it right now. Yet, with everything which goes on when starting a business, this is precisely the time when an entrepreneur is at their most vulnerable. Consider premises. Most businesses require some sort of base from which to trade, unless they are lucky enough that their model allows trade from home. True, there are now increasing numbers of startup offices, if that is what is needed, where everything is wrapped up in one package and their terms tend to include only short notice to terminate. Though convenient for some, they can be expensive and unsuited to anyone who also needs warehouse or workshop space. Often, the only solution is to rent. This brings with it all sorts of risks. Although business tenants can be protected against being ejected at the end of a term, increasing numbers of tenancies are specifically excluded from the operation of the Act in question. Then there is the question of covenants, i.e. the legally binding obligations of the parties in relation to the lease. These should always be carefully looked at. Unfortunately, many tenants, perhaps anxious to get in and not lose the property, place too much trust in their prospective landlords. Unlike residential tenancies, a business tenancy does not imply any obligations on the part of either party, other than very basic covenants which ensure a tenant gets to enjoy what he has rented. When it comes to obligations as regards repairs to the building a tenant can be seriously caught out. First, the wording is critical. Unless he is careful, a tenant may find himself not just maintaining the part of the building he has rented in the state it was in when he took the lease, but in some cases, if he has been rash enough to sign a wide-ranging repairing covenant, he may actually have to bring the building up to a better standard than it was in when he took possession. It is for this reason that with many leases a tenant’s solicitor will not only

look carefully at the extent of the obligation but will also ensure that a schedule of conditions is prepared and attached to the lease, so that there can be no doubt about the state of the building when the tenant took it on. This brings us to a linked question, namely exactly what he is taking on? For example, will he be responsible for maintaining a shared access way? Who is responsible for the outside structure, as opposed to the interior walls and fittings? Who maintains the services? All these issues affect a tenant’s liabilities both during the lease and when it ends. Most leases impose certain obligations on a tenant towards the end of a lease. A typical obligation is one to redecorate in a final period (often 12 months before the end) of the lease. If that is what the lease says then that is what has to be done, even if the property was redecorated a year before. Landlords are restricted on how they can enforce repairing covenants other than during the last three years of a lease. However, on leaving the property a landlord’s first step is often to prepare a schedule of dilapidations. This is a list of items which the tenant should have repaired in accordance with the covenants in the lease. Often the schedule has an eye watering sum for the cost of the remedial works. This can be hugely intimidating for the former tenant, especially if the landlord also tries to hang onto any rent deposit he holds and put it against the costs. However, the law does provide a measure of protection. First, the total cost must not exceed any reduction in the freehold value, something which landlords and surveyors often forget. Secondly, the items must reflect work actually to be done, so that if the landlord intends to demolish the building or substantially redevelop it then he cannot recover for work which will never be carried out. Finally, there is a difference between a surveyor’s estimate for the costs of works and the actual estimate from a builder; only the latter would be recoverable. This can all be a costly exercise. Far better to bite the bullet and take advice at the start. The best liabilities to avoid are the ones you have never taken on in the first place.

Often, the only solution is to rent. This brings with it all sorts of risks. Although business tenants can be protected against being ejected at the end of a term

We are delighted to offer our personal, professional and prompt service… … for all your property transactions, wills, family and other legal matters.

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21 Hall Quay, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR30 1HN 01493 855 676 13 Surrey Street, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 1LJ 01502 582 338

For more information please call us or email us on info@hkbw.co.uk

KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE NUMBERS

An innovative and forward thinking firm of chartered accountants, which has been helping families preserve and grow their wealth for over 150 years. For a free consultation contact: Kevin Bunting | 01493 335100 | k.bunting@lovewell-blake.co.uk

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www.citroen.co.uk

DS 3

£87 - £259

FROM PER MONTH ON PERSONAL LEASE° WITH 3 YEARS’ SERVICING FOR £99†

With two World Rally Championship wins and awards from Top Gear magazine, Diesel Car and JD Power, DS 3 was hard to beat. But DS 3 Cabrio responded with a win of its own: ‘Best Open Top Car under £25,000’ from What Car? in 2014. Call us today on 01603 775477 to arrange a test drive.

DS 3 CABRIO

£120 - £249

FROM PER MONTH ON PERSONAL LEASE° WITH 3 YEARS’ SERVICING FOR £99†

DUFF MORGAN 01603 775477 WHIFFLER ROAD, NORWICH, NORFOLK, NR3 2AZ www.duffmorgan.citroen.co.uk

DUFF MORGAN KING’S LYNN 01553 770144 49 BERGEN WAY, KING’S LYNN, NORFOLK, PE30 2JG www.duffmorgankingslynn.citroen.co.uk

°Prices & offers apply to retail sales of qualifying Citroën models ordered & delivered 01/01-31/03/15 & include VAT, delivery to dealer & number plates, Government Registration Fee & 12 months’ graduated vehicle excise duty. Black/metallic/pearlescent/ Sport Yellow/Sport Red paint optional at extra cost. Elect 4 Personal Lease rentals shown apply to DS 3 PureTech 82 manual DSign - DS 3 BlueHDi 120 6-speed manual Ultra Prestige & DS 3 Cabrio PureTech 82 manual DSign - DS 3 Cabrio BlueHDi 120 6-speed manual DSport respectively. Model(s) shown DS 3 VTi 120 Manual DStyle Plus + Ruby Red (£495) + alloys (£225) from £209 & DS 3 Cabrio VTi 120 manual DStyle Plus from £225 per month. One significant advance rental will be required, which varies by model, followed by 34 monthly rentals at the rates shown & a significant optional final rental. Excess mileage charges may apply if the agreed annual mileage is exceeded. Payment of the optional final rental extends the rental term (this does not transfer title of the vehicle) & requires an annual rental equivalent to one months’ rental. Finance subject to status. Written quotations available on request from Citroën Financial Services, Quadrant House, Princess Way, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1QA, UK. Over 18s only. A guarantee may be required. Duff Morgan & Vermont Ltd is acting as a credit broker and is not a lender. To finance your purchase/lease we may introduce you to a limited number of lenders. †Applies to all DS 3, DS 3 Cabrio, DS 4 & DS 5 models on Elect 4 Personal Lease or purchased with Elect 3 finance. Includes: Scheduled servicing, annual service (for vehicles on 2 year cycle, where needed) & brake fluid. Expires at 36 months or 35,000 miles (whichever occurs sooner). Offers & specification correct at time of going to press from participating Dealers. Terms & conditions apply. Please ask us for details. Subject to stock availability.

Arriving 20.03.2015. There’s not long to wait now to get behind the wheel of the stunning all-new Mazda2. Award-winning SKYACTIV Technology delivers impressive performance and economy to complete an attractive package. The Sports Launch Edition, featuring 16” Alloy wheels and an integrated navigation system, demands an even closer look.

Be the first to get in the driving seat° by contacting Wrights Mazda today.

Wrights Mazda Beccles Common Lane North, Beccles, Suffolk NR34 9BL

01502 713885 www.wrights-motors.co.uk

Model shown: all-new Mazda2 90ps Sports Launch Edition, OTR from £14,995. OTR price includes VAT, number plates, delivery, 12 months’ road fund licence, first registration fee, 3 year or 60,000 mile warranty and 3 years’ European Roadside Assistance. °Test drives subject to applicant status and availability. Details correct at time of print.

ALL-NEW MAZDA2

The mpg figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results obtained through laboratory testing. These are provided for comparability purposes only and may not reflect your actual driving results.

FINALLY, A SUPER MINI

The official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the all-new Mazda2 range: Urban 43.5 (6.5) - 74.3 (3.8). Extra Urban 68.9 (4.1) - 88.3 (3.2). Combined 56.5 (5.0) - 83.1 (3.4). CO2 emissions (g/km) 117 – 89.

Official Government fuel consumption figures (Range): Urban cycle, Extra urban, Combined (litres per 100km/mpg) & CO2 emissions (g/km); Highest: DS 3 Cabrio VTi 120 automatic DStyle 9.7/29.1, 4.9/57.6, 6.7/42.2, 154. Lowest: DS 3 BlueHDi 120 6-speed manual Ultra Prestige 4.4/64.2, 3.2/88.3, 3.6/78.5, 94. MPG figures are achieved under official EU test conditions, intended as a guide for comparative purposes only, and may not reflect actual on-the-road driving conditions.

| MARCH 2015

New and improved! Simpsons, Great Yarmouth’s Skoda dealership, is benefiting from a major revamp with a stunning new showroom. Sarah Hardy takes it all in

THE BUILDERS ARE GONE and the decorators have finished – and the new showroom at Simpsons, one of the region’s longest established car dealerships, is welcoming us all. The showroom is a highly stylish spot, with plenty of natural light which creates a fresh and airy atmosphere. It follows the same design and lay out as all other Skoda dealerships, with a crisp green and white colour scheme and a statement wall where the company’s latest campaign is highlighted. The showroom, which cost £220,000 and took three months to complete (special thank you goes to JW Munnings), provides

ample space to accommodate seven models from the core Skoda range, including the latest Fabia, which has scooped the prestigious What Car? Car of the Year 2015 award. Visitors have plenty of space to explore each vehicle, stepping inside to admire the interiors and state-of-the-art sound systems! It also features a powerful and interactive New Car Configurator, a digital tool to help customers in the decision-making process. And when it is time to take delivery of your new pride and joy, you can do so in the ‘handover bay’ where you can become fully acquainted with your shiny new purchase before heading out on to the open road. There is also a laid back relaxing area where you can enjoy a freshly made cup of tea or coffee whilst watching the BBC News Channel on one of several TV screens. The site also features Skoda’s new corporate logo which is a modern take on the brand’s historic ‘winged arrow’ badge. Stretching back to the company’s founding in 1895, the logo has been modified over the years but always reflects the company’s ethos of being forward-looking while focused on delivering outstanding customer service. The new look was celebrated at a special open weekend in January which attracted many people who enjoyed special offers on new and used cars and entertainment, including a hog roast and a Scalextric fastest lap challenge, which was a real hit. Andrew Aldis, managing director, says: ‘This is a hugely exciting time for everyone connected with the company. It’s been hard work but 100 per cent worth it. We are really looking forward to showing off our new facilities to our existing customers – and welcoming many new ones.’

SIMPSONS SKODA, Suffolk Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 0LN 01493 601696 | www.simpsonsskoda.com

ADVERTISER’S ANNOUNCEMENT

SIMPSONS MOTOR GROUP

Caravans and Motorhomes ALSO ON THE FOUR-ACRE site is the company’s caravan and motorhome business. They sell pre-owned towing caravans, from around £7000 upwards, and also new and preowned motorhomes, with preowned ones starting at £20,000. There are usually at least 100 motorhomes on display. The company also has Fiat Professional, the Fiat aftersales franchise, which means it can provide an even greater level of service.

New Showroom Open Day, Simpsons Skoda, Great Yarmouth The new showroom open day was held on January 31 with customers enjoying the Skoda range plus a large Skoda Scalextric and complimentary hog roast.

SIMPSONS THROUGH TIME

A Potted History THE NEW FABIA, FROM £10,600 OTR

THE COMPANY WAS SET UP by the late Simon Woodgreaves with his partner Gilbert Horne. Originally it was a VW dealership which led them to the famous campervan, and the development of the motorhome side. Around 28 years ago, the business concentrated on a Southtown site in Great Yarmouth, where it also moved into a highly successful Skoda dealership. Simon’s daughter, Belinda Wood Crick, is now the sales director.

SIMPSONS MOTOR CARAVAN CENTRE,

Suffolk Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 0LN 01493 601696 | www.simpsonsmotorcaravans.com

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| MARCH 2015

AL L GROW N UP

THE SMALLEST SKODA HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY REFRESHED AND AIMS TO ADD MORE QUALITY AND TECHNOLOGY TO ITS GOOD VALUE PACKAGE. MATT JOY REPORTS

hat’s new? This third-generation Fabia is as good as brand-new from top to bottom. The exterior is all-new, there’s a stack of Euro 6 compliant engines to choose from and revised suspension front and rear. It’s a fraction longer and significantly wider than the outgoing car but also lighter by an average of around 65kg. On the inside the Fabia gets a fresh interior, with a more upmarket dashboard and improved equipment. This generation of Fabia also abandons the option of built-in sat-nav and goes for the modern alternative of smartphone ‘mirroring’ to give a variety of facilities via apps. Looks and image By virtue of its size alone you’ll recognise the Fabia straight away, for although it’s a shade larger overall than before it still fits comfortably into the supermini category. It wears the same distinctive grille as the larger Octavia and the strong creases down the flanks help to give it a little more presence on the road. Where the outgoing car could be described as cute and cuddly the new Fabia is a little more grown up in appearance rather than size. It feels classy and grown up for a car in this class. Space and practicality Modern supermini buyers demand ever more from their cars so being small on the outside is no excuse for a lack of space on the inside. Up front the Fabia is impressively comfortable with plenty of head and legroom for driver and passenger; elbow room is improved too. In the rear it’s a bit tighter but there’s still room for adults to fit in. Boot space is an impressive 330 litres with the seats in place.

MOTORING

SKODA FABIA

FACTS AT A GLANCE Skoda Fabia from £10,600 Engine: 1.0-litre petrol unit producing 74bhp and 70lb/ft of torque Transmission: Five-speed gearbox driving the front wheels Performance: Top speed 107mph, 0-62mph in 14.7 seconds Economy: 58.8mpg combined Emissions: 108g/km of CO2 All prices correct at time of going to press

Behind the wheel The first impression you get from the driver’s seat is the improvement in quality and design. There’s a pleasinglychunky steering wheel to grasp (leather-covered on SE models and above) and the dashboard looks and feels of a higher quality. The engine range includes four petrol and two diesel options, with the most popular expected to be the 74bhp 1.0-litre. It may be a relatively modest output but even with two adults and luggage on board it proves to be a keen and relatively refined unit, with sufficient power for most situations. It’s also capable of an impressive 58.8mpg combined and just 108g/km of CO2. The Fabia also drives with smoothness and refinement that is impressive for a car in this class. The major controls have a reassuring slickness to them and the suspension copes well with road imperfections. It’s fun to drive too, although the more brisk TSI engines are better for keen drivers.

wheels, some leather trim and upgraded audio. The only downside is it’s a little more expensive than before. Who would buy one? The Fabia is a genuine car for everyone, provided there’s enough room inside for your needs. With the entry-level model starting at £10,600 it’s a viable car for young first-time buyers, while further up the range there’s a high specification available for those with a little more to spend. The only slight nag is that it’s a little closer to the in-house rival Polo, although the equivalent entry models are £1200 apart. This car summed up in a single word: COMPREHENSIVE If this car was a…: breed of dog it would be a collie; smart, loyal and loveable

Value for money The standard specification has received a useful boost across the range. The basic S model comes with Bluetooth connectivity, DAB radio, electric front windows and heated door mirrors, height and reach adjustable steering column and tyre pressure monitoring, while the SE model adds the essential air con as well as alloy

DEALER DETAILS Simpsons Suffolk Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 0LN. Tel 01493 601696 www.simpsonsskoda.com

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YEAR MODEL

COLOUR

MILEAGE

PRICE

2012

SCIROCCO COUPE 3-DR 2.0 TDI GT BLUEMOTION

Candy White

23,212

£18,990

2012

GOLF HATCHBACK 1.4 TSI MATCH 5DR

Tornado Red

15,582

£12,690

2012

UP! HATCHBACK 3-DR 1.0 (60PS) BMT MOVE UP!

Candy White

18,439

£6,490

2011

POLO MK5 HATCHBACK 5-DR 1.4 (85PS) MATCH 5-DR

Deep Black Pearlescent

26,180

£8,490

2012

POLO MK5 HATCHBACK 5-DR 1.2 S A/C (60 PS) 5-DR

Deep Black Pearlescent

31,889

£7,790

2014

GOLF MK7 HATCHBACK 5-DR 1.6 TDI S (105 PS) 5-DR

Deep Black Pearlescent

15,421

£14,490

2009 POLO MK4 PHASE II HATCHBACK 3-DR 1.2 E (60 PS)

Flash Red

24,245

£5,490

2010

GOLF MK6 HATCHBACK 5-DR 2.0 TDI GT (140 PS) 5-DR

Blue Graphite Pearlescent

57,211

£10,990

2013

POLO MK5 HATCHBACK 3-DR 1.4 (85PS) MATCH EDITION

Flash Red

21,195

£8,490

2014

POLO MK5 HATCHBACK 5-DR 1.2 R LINE STYLE A/C (70 PS) 5-DR

Candy White

5,035

£10,990

2010

GOLF GTI/GTD/R MK6 HATCHBACK 5-DR 2.0 TSI GTI (210 PS) 5-DR

Reflex Silver Metallic

2015

EOS MK2 2.0 TDI SPORT BLUEMOTION DSG CABRIOLET

Rising Blue Metallic

2014

TIGUAN MK2 5-DR 2.0TDI (140PS) 4MOTION R LINE BLUEMOTION DSG

Pure White

7,389

£26,990

2014

TOUAREG MK2 5-DR 3.0 TDI V6 SE (245 PS)

Deep Black Pearlescent

6,783

£35,750

2014

POLO MK5 HATCHBACK 5-DR 1.2 TDI (75PS) MATCH EDITION 5-DR

£9,990

38,230

£12,990

£25,990

Deep Black Pearlescent

37,159

2009 GOLF MK6 HATCHBACK 5-DR 2.0 TDI SE (140 PS) DSG 5-DR

Silver Leaf Metallic

45,985

£9,990

2012

POLO MK5 HATCHBACK 3-DR 1.2 (60PS) MATCH

Flash Red

24,500

£8,490

2014

GOLF MK7 HATCHBACK 5-DR 1.6 TDI SE (105 PS) DSG 5-DR

Night Blue Metallic

10,580

£16,990

2013

GOLF MK7 HATCHBACK 5-DR 1.2 TSI S (105 PS) DSG 5-DR

Deep Black Pearlescent

28,069

£12,990

2014

UP! HATCHBACK 5-DR 1.0 (75PS) GROOVE UP!

Candy White

2012

GOLF MK6 HATCHBACK 5-DR 1.4 TSI MATCH (122 PS) 5-DR

Blue Graphite Pearlescent

2,524

£9,990

30,732

£12,990

THURLOW NUNN

For all your motoring needs since 1875

Having been a trusted family business for almost 140 years, we believe that our way of running a business is the right way and more importantly, our customers believe it too. We place great emphasis on the highest level of customer service, quality products at the right price and added value to reward our loyal customers. That’s why we’re happy to offer all Places and Faces magazine readers some exclusive offers- £250 off the screen price of any new or used car and £25 off your next service, MOT test, smart or body shop repairs. Added value at Thurlow Nunn- It’s the least you can expect.

£250 OFF SCREEN PRICE OF ANY NEW OR USED CAR

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HOLT 33-35 Cromer Road, Holt, Norfolk NR25 6EU Tel: 01263 800 562 NORWICH NORTH 83/93 Mile Cross Lane, Norwich, Norfolk NR6 6TX Tel: 01603 513 224

FAKENHAM Enterprise Way, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 8N Tel: 01328 800 751 NORWICH SOUTH 591 Hall Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 6AS Tel: 01603 513 225

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| MARCH 2015

A PREMIUM IMAGE THE ALL-NEW FORD MONDEO, WITH ITS ULTRA ROOMY INTERIOR AND BOOT, REALLY IMPRESSES ALISDAIR SUTTIE AS HE TAKES IT FOR A TEST DRIVE

100

hatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new? Despite the looks, this is an allnew Ford Mondeo. It concentrates on comfort more than before, and it has a range of new engines to cut emissions and improve fuel economy. Prime among these are new 1.0-litre turbo petrol and 1.5-litre turbodiesel motors that bring a new wave of downsizing to the family car class. There are fewer dash buttons to come to terms with and Ford now fits a large touchscreen to operate many functions. On top of this, Fordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sync2 voice control system lets the driver change settings with simple commands while keeping both hands on the steering wheel. Looks and image At first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking the new fifth generation Ford Mondeo is not much more than a facelifted version of the previous car. The overall silhouette is much the same, as is much of the rear end style. However, the slimmer headlights give a sleeker look that will be key to the Mondeo clawing back sales from the likes of the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series that have proved so popular with their premium images. Space and practicality If the Mondeo is not seen as quite as premium as its rivals from Audi and BMW, it easily betters them for cabin space and load lugging. Most UK buyers will opt for the

MOTORING

FORD MONDEO

FACTS AT A GLANCE Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 150 Econetic Titanium 5dr, £22,045 Engine: 2.0-litre unit producing 148bhp and 258lb.ft of torque Transmission: 6-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels Performance: Top speed 134mph, 0-62mph in 9.4 seconds Economy: 69.9mpg combined Emissions: 107g/km of CO2 All prices correct at time of going to press

Mondeo hatch or estate, with only the Hybrid version available as a saloon. There is masses of room in the rear and there is a wealth of adjustment to fine tune the driving position that includes electric seat height adjustment. As for the boot, the hatch’s is large and the estate’s is cavernous. Behind the wheel Ford has made a conscious effort to make the new Mondeo an even more comfortable car than its predecessor. This means the new car’s suspension has a little more compliance that translates into a superbly smooth ride over any type of road surface. Refinement is also top drawer, so the Mondeo is a class leader for hushed long distance travel. The 2.0-litre turbodiesel can be a touch gruff at low revs, but settles into the background at speed, while the other engines are quiet and pull cleanly. While more refined, the Mondeo retains its ability to hustle through corners with composed ease, though the new car’s steering is not quite as alert as the old model’s.

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Value for money Starting at £20,795 for the hatch and £23,795 for the estate, the Mondeo is not as keenly priced as its arch-rival, the Vauxhall Insignia. However, the Mondeo compensates with a generous level of equipment that includes digital radio, climate control, cruise control, hill start assist, alloy wheels on all models and Ford’s 8-inch Sync2 touchscreen. Who would buy one? Ford may have lost sales ground to its premium rivals, but the bulk of sales for the new Mondeo will still come from company car drivers. Carbon dioxide emissions that dip below 100g/km and up to 78.5mpg average economy will appeal to business users and private buyers alike. Crucially, the Mondeo is keenly priced compared to its premium rivals from Germany, though it’s hard to see many UK buyers abandon their premium-badged saloons for a Mondeo hatch. This car summed up in a single word: COMPETENT If this car was a…: soap opera it would be Coronation Street; loved by millions and likely to go on forever and ever.

DEALER DETAILS Pertwee & Back Gapton Hall Road, Great Yarmouth Norfolk, NR31 0NJ Tel: 01493 664151 www.pertwee-and-back.co.uk

101

CAR OF THE MONTH GREAT YARMOUTH COACHWORKS CAR SALES

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Tyres Batteries Brakes Alloy Wheels

www.kirkleytyresandwheels.co.uk SOUTHTOWN RD SERVICE STATION GT YARMOUTH 01493 600432

SUZUKI SWIFT GLX 1.5 3DR

(09) 7,500 miles · 1 Owner · Alloys · Tinted Windows · A/C · E/M · E/W · CD

Exhausts

*With FREE accidental damage cover

KIRKLEY RUN SERVICE STATION LOWESTOFT 01502 565529

£4,995

SOUTH QUAY SERVICE STATION GT YARMOUTH 01493 857099

Here at Great Yarmouth Coachworks we offer everything for the motorist in the Norfolk and North Suffolk area of East Anglia. Sales of quality vehicles Servicing and repairs

MOT testing Towbar fitting

www.gyccarsales.co.uk | 01493 843835

15 Queens Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 3HT

New Ford Focus

Advance payment from

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Rainbow Resprays

EST. 1990

Estcourt Road, Gt Yarmouth, NR30 4JH 07899 778683 · 01493 852176

Pertwee & Back Limited

Gapton Hall Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 0NJ

01493 664151

www.pertwee-and-back.co.uk

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Macmillan Greyhound Event, Great Yarmouth The Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Macmillan Committee welcomed more than 70 people to the Yarmouth Stadium for an evening of greyhound racing. Some winners were had amongst the guests but the real winner of the evening was Macmillan Cancer Support as, thanks to the generosity of all who attended, more than £1400 was raised, which will be used to fund projects in the local area. Photos by ROSS HAGAN

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RNLI Lifeboat Ball, Ocean Rooms, Gorleston The Great Yarmouth & Gorleston Lifeboat Ball was held at the Ocean Rooms in Gorleston. RNLI supporters from across the county enjoyed another successful Lifeboat Ball with dinner provided by the Norwich College School of Catering and Dancing to Scratch the Cat and Paul Allen. The Mayor of Great Yarmouth was introduced to Coxswain Paddy Lee and the Crew. The Ladies Guild Chairman Carol Horne announced that the profit from the Guild activities for the 2014 was £44,000 and legacies had been received of £285,406.64. With an auction tombola, wine raﬄe and other donations, the event raised £7000 for the Great Yarmouth & Gorleston RNLI Station. Photos by LENNIE

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Feilden+Mawson Steve Restorick Retirement

Neil Temple and Matthew Jennings

Colleagues past and present gathered at the Ferry Road, Norwich, head office of renowned architects Feilden+Mawson for a drinks and supper reception to mark the retirement of long-serving employee Steve Restorick. For 42 years Steve was technical services officer, running the library – which F+M founder Sir Bernard Feilden described as ‘my treasure-house’ – sourcing information and carrying out research for staff at F+M’s offices in Norwich, London, Cambridge and Prague. Managing partner Robert Todd and fellow-partner Phil Bodie paid tribute to Steve’s sterling service. Photos and words by NEWSMAKERS

Niamh Restorick and Ann Restorick

Christine and Russell Vincent

Robert Todd, Gordon Montague and Steve Restorick

Pamela Thompson and Graham Keith

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HIGH SOCIETY

Ed Savory and James Gulliver

Stephen Read and Sandra Moore

Yuwan Effendi and Steve Applegate

Norfolk Institute of Directors Lunch Dunston Hall, Norfolk Walking With The Wounded team members Duncan Slater and Edward Parker, inspired Norfolk Institute of Directors members at a well-attended lunch, with tales of an epic trek to the South Pole accompanied by Prince Harry. Over ÂŁ3000 was raised for the Norfolkbased charity, which supports wounded servicemen. Other guests were Lord Dannatt, former head of the British Army, and ex-Norwich City footballer Paul McVeigh.

Jane Lovell and Tim Sweeting

David Sneddon and Mark Fletcher

Photos and Words by NEWSMAKERS

Caroline Rust and Kathryn Hirst

Richard Proctor and Bob Annable

James Cooper, Steven Scarlett, Stuart Mackle and Matthew Neville

David Ramsay and Richard Powell

Kerry Flower, Marie Vallgren and Gemma Murrell

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Paul Briddon and Matthew Breeze

Stephen Hart, James Shipp and Colin Denny

Robert Swanston and Paul Ward

Beacon Park Open Morning Great Yarmouth Borough Council and marketing agents Arnolds Keys and Bycroft Commercial hosted an open morning to showcase two large warehouses currently available at Beacon Park in Gorleston. The event was attended by 40 local and regional property solicitors, accountants, bankers and chartered surveyors and all very impressed by what was on offer.

Sarah Harris

Eunice Edwards

Mark Duffield and Russell Leggett

Robin Neve and Trevor Wainwright

Craig Knights, Gareth Mears and Robin Flint

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Robin Forrester, Peter Barrow, and Robin Watson

Matthew Young, Ty Rambaran and David Newham

Philip and Geraldine Leeder, Lisa West and Ed Smith

Maddermarket Theatre Fundraising Gala, Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich

Fiona Dowson, Simon Brown and Maire Benzie

Curiosities ranging from a gipsy caravan to a novelty cockerel in a cage were among 70 lots to go under the hammer in a gala auction at Norwich’s Maddermarket Theatre. The sale raised around £7000 for the theatre’s ongoing refurbishment appeal and its dragon sculpture, GoGoMadder, which will be part of the summer’s GoGoDragons! Norwich charity art trail. The auctioneer was Mike Sarson from TW Gaze. Photos and Words by NEWSMAKERS

Roger Holden and Mike Sarson

Helen Vinsen and James Bassam

Susan Seddon and Jayagita Kirkbride

Kerry Curl, Joe Curl and Karen James-Welton

Peter Beck and Stash Kirkbride

| MARCH 2015

5 MINUTES WITH

Mark Kitto The British entrepreneur, magazine publisher, and writer notable for investing and living in the People’s Republic of China tells us why he has come home to north Norfolk to create his very own propaganda machine!

Where do you like to eat out in Norfolk and why? And what do you order?

Describe your job to us

It’s been a while since I had a proper job. I’ve just had my second book published, That’s China, How a British rebel took on the Chinese propaganda machine, about a magazine business I built there. I edit Chinese fiction in translation for Penguin and other publishers. But my main job right now is developing a weekly newsletter I’ve come up with for Norfolk holiday cottage guests under the name ‘My Week in…’ I have an office in Wells-next-the-Sea. Where were you born, and what brought you to Norfolk?

I’m an all-over kid: Cornish blood, Welsh upbringing, Norfolk for 30 odd years (but many of those in China). I loved coming home to the broad empty expanses of the north Norfolk coast from the crowded cities in China. My father lived in Holt and when he died I bought a cottage in South Creake as a UK base. Now it’s a rather cramped family home. But my family is half Chinese, so they’re used to it! What’s your ideal day out in the area?

It used to be windsurfing at Wells and a pint in the Horseshoes at Warham, but I dare not get back into the windsurfing because it takes over your life. So now it’s cycling hard on a Saturday morning with a bunch of local roadie friends and then a walk round the Icenic fort at Warham with the family and dog. Which iconic Norfolk characters do you most admire and why?

The artist Michael Chapman, because seeing his name in this magazine is going to wind him up. I attended a lunch at Holt Rugby Club last year – the guest speaker brought the house down. Jerry Eldridge is his name. He’ll hate me for mentioning it, too.

A steaming bowl of mussels above or below decks of the Albatros in Wells harbour, followed by a dairy-free pancake (I’m lactose intolerant after all that time in China). What do you miss most when you leave the region?

It has to be the sense of space; the sky. And the clean rain, the squalls that come in from the sea as crisp and sharp as if the raindrops were freshly molten ice from the Arctic. What are you reading at the moment?

Mikail Bulgakov’s Black Snow. I’m a big fan thanks to The Master and Margarita. Black Snow is mainly about state censorship, which I am familiar with from China. Would you prefer a day on the Broads or a day at Yarmouth’s Pleasure Beach? Why?

Broads: being a north Norfolkian, and a beach dweller/ windsurfer, I’ve never spent time aﬂoat on the Broads. But I have been introduced to the famous Locks Inn at Geldeston and love the idea of mooring up for a day there in the summer. Opera, musical, drama or movie – which would you prefer to watch? And what was the last production/show you saw?

Alice in Wonderland by the Creakes Drama Group, but I only saw one half because I was in the other. I am a big fan of theatre: West End or local amateur. The last thing I saw on stage before I left for China in 1996 was Art with Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay. Panto for the family this year was Robin Hood at the Sheringham Little Theatre. I hear the Maddermarket’s upcoming production of Ghost Train is very promising (not because I’m in it, mind you). Sum up Norfolk in three words

Whare yew bin? (Music to my ears when I walked into the pub, fresh off the ﬂight from China). Sum up yourself in three words

What’s your favourite pub in Norfolk and what do you like to drink there?

The Hunny Bell in Hunworth – the characters at the bar could fill a film script. In fact they just did. Tony Britten produced and directed it and I have a tiny part in it as an extra. It’s called Chicklit and will be out this year. There are some proper A-list actors in it, along with Eldridge who does a star turn as the barman.

110

Happy I’m home.

MARK’S NEW BOOK, That’s China, How a British rebel took on the Chinese propaganda machine, is available from all good bookstores, and online sellers. Mark’s Norfolk propaganda machine can be found at www.benedictmarketing.co.uk.

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