Places&Faces® 62 | May 2015 by Countrywide Publications

MAY 2015 | ÂŁ2.95 WHERE SOLD

THE Magazine for Norfolk &

North Suffolk

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CONTRIBUTORS Franck Pontais, Nick Mobbs, Andrew Florides, Roger Hickman, Andy Newman Associates, Richard Barr, Julian Gibbons, Carl Lamb, Sam Matthews, Ellen Mary, Simon Wainwright, Hayley Philpot, Melanie Cook, Jennifer Read, Kevin Bunting, James Spicer, Matt Kimberley, Ross Hagan, Mark Duffield, Tony Mallion, Deena Nicholson

SEE ALL OF OUR SOCIETY PHOTOS AT OUR WEBSITE placesandfaces.co.uk follow us on twitter @placesandfaces and facebook

12 ISSUE S F OR £ 24 GENERAL ENQUIRIES

WELCOME TO OUR MAY ISSUE and to a real taste of summer. It is such a busy time of year in our region, especially if you have a garden as everything seems to start growing madly all at once! Thank goodness for our gardening expert Ellen Mary who is on hand to help and advise. But do make time to enjoy yourself as there is so much happening. The Radio 1 Big Weekend has grabbed all the headlines, especially with American pop royalty Taylor Swift in residence. But the region does its own share of events so very well – the Crab and Lobster Festival in Cromer and Sheringham grew out of very little apart from the enthusiasm of its volunteer organisers and The Broads Outdoor Festival is another fantastic local event, with much for families to enjoy. Naturally the Norfolk and Norwich Festival is just about everywhere, with most people seemingly very interested in the outdoor production, Wolf’s Child, at Felbrigg Hall although I fancy Sian Croose’s project at the UEA (see her five minutes with feature at the back of the mag), where her 200-strong choir, The Voice Project, performs a new commission called The Observatory. Elsewhere, our hard working columnists serve you their usual amount of treats including yummy asparagus from Franck Pontais and a divine pudding from Simon Wainwright. Andy Newman gives you a taste of Norfolk honey courtesy of Leigh Goodsell and Sam Matthews wants you to try out dessert wines which I, if I am really honest, find just too sweet for my palate. But each to their own! Travel wise, our former editor Tony Mallion has the trip of a lifetime through the Rocky Mountains and I play lady of the manor with a break at Hoveton Hall, a perfect country estate on the edge of The Broads. The gardens there are definitely worth a visit alone. Add in a few suggestions for a lovely frock to wear to any of the events and a few hints on creating that sun-kissed look without visiting the Caribbean, and Places&Faces® delivers – as always. Don’t forget to enter our competition this month as it is the chance to win a rather swanky beauty hamper from John Lewis who very kindly stock our magazines, too. The winner of the dinner party for six at Pamela’s in Great Yarmouth, as featured in our March issue, is Susan Hockey of Lingwood. And the winner of the Elemis facial at The Avenue Beauty Clinic in Oulton Broad and Carlton Colville, also in our March issue, is Wendy Walker of Gorleston. Congratulations to both. Please do support our lovely advertisers who keep us going. Happy reading!

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

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TERMS & CONDITIONS Copyright on all content is with H2Creative Media Limited. Reproduction in part or whole is forbidden without the express permission of the publishers. All prices, events and times were correct at the time of print, and you are encouraged to contact the businesses and venue prior to making bookings. All expressions and opinions demonstrated within the publication, are those of the Editor including contributors. Places&Faces® is a registered Trade Mark of H2Creative Media Limited.

| MAY 2015

So how does he do it? Derren Brown brings his mind bending Miracle show to Norwich

Celebrities

10 Camilla Sacre-Dallerup promises to be Strictly Inspirational when she comes to St George’s Theatre this month 14 It’s the big one: Taylor Swift, Sam Smith and Foo Fighters are bringing BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend to us 16 Norfolk theatre producer Edward Snape tells us about his latest show, The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, on in Norwich this month 18 From Sky News to Norfolk – why author Maggie Cammiss says no news is good news nowadays

Holt Festival has it all this year: pop, politics and poetry

May we tempt with the very best goings on in Norfolk and Suffolk this month?

Fashion & Beauty

21 Here’s our selection of gorgeous dresses for

summer outings 25 How to get that sun kissed look

What’s On

33 Our VisitNorwich column celebrates

festival fever!

Franck Pontais uses that most seasonal of goodies which is grown everywhere in our region – asparagus

36 This month’s West End review takes in

Memphis the Musical, starring Beverley Knight 38 Southwold’s first festival was such a success

they’re doing it all again this year

Homes & Gardens

42 This month’s property has the most romantic

history imaginable! 48 The interiors pages go totally tropical this month 51 With a new royal baby, the Lust List is all about

nursery furniture 56 Our gardening writer Ellen Mary is enjoying the

dawn chorus out in the garden this month!

Food & drink

Tony Mallion has a trip of a lifetime as he boards the Rocky Mountaineer railway in Canada

60 This month’s treat from the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth is a mouth watering dessert 65 Our wine expert Sam Matthews wants us to sweeten up a little and try dessert wines! 68 Andy Newman gets a taste of Norfolk honey as Roger Hickman cooks up some delicious madeleines 72 Sarah Hardy heads to the Grosvenor Casino in Great Yarmouth for great food and a chance to try her luck!

THIS MONTH’S

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

78 She’s the lady of the manor – Sarah Hardy holidays in style at Hoveton Hall, on the edge of The Broads

Business

80 Meet Emma Tagg, the co-director of a new luxury

holiday company, Barefoot Retreats, based in north Norfolk

Motoring

BEST SPORTING EVENT The Houghton International Horse Trials take place from May 28 to 31 in the grounds of the magnificent north west Norfolk estate. They have it all - exhilarating sporting action, a spectacular setting, entertainment for young and old, plus shopping at more than 70 trade stands. After gaining its International status in 2007, the event now hosts more than 700 horses, including 350 international competitors. It also hosts the only

94 Matt Kimberley road tests the compact crossover,

British leg of the FEI Nations Cup which sees teams from all over

the Peugeot 2008 98 James Spicer examines Mazda’s first compact SUV, the CX-3, which goes on sale next month

the world battle it out across seven events. For further details see

Regulars

BEST BOOK

47 Richard Barr tells us about a new friend or two 104 Our High Society pages kick off with trip to the

Oil Barons Ball in Gorleston 110 Spend five minutes with Norwich-based conductor Sian Croose who is taking part in this month’s Norfolk and Norwich Festival

www.houghtoninternational.co.uk.

Pitch Up and Eat Local – Where to Camp, What To Eat and How To Cook It has a real fresh air feel to it. Written by Ali Ray and published by the AA at £16.99, it takes you on a wonderful foodie journey around the country. As you’d imagine, there is a healthy chapter on East Anglia, mentioning rapeseed, crabs and samphire. Delicious!

BEST FAMILY EVENT The BBC’s SpringWatch is back at RSPB Minsmere from May 25 this year, with daily broadcasts until June 11. The series throws a wonderful

COMPETITION 27 Win a beauty hamper worth £300

from John Lewis

spotlight on the rich and varied wildlife in our region and you always learn something new. And it’s great fun! Keep an eye on the Beeb for full details.

BEST MOVIE Pitch Perfect was the perfect teen movie that we all secretly loved and now there’s We’re Back Pitches 2. With a PG certificate, it is due to open on May 7 and promises to be as much fun as always! It all about choirs,

Cover Story 14 Shake It Off in Norwich with pop

megastar, Taylor Swift

music, friendship and men – and more than a touch of girl power, of course!

BEST LITERARY EVENT The Poetry Festival at Wells bursts into life on May 8 and runs until May 10. It is a fantastic opportunity to see and hear some of the country’s finest poets in action – look out for Colette Bryce and Christopher Reid. Venues include the lovely Globe Inn. Visit www.poetrynextthesea.co.uk for more.

BEST FOODIE EVENT The Crab and Lobster Festival is a weekend celebration of two lovely coastal towns, Cromer and Sheringham, on May 15-17. The fun starts on Friday evening with a variety concert at the Pavilion Theatre in Cromer, followed by a weekend of events including cookery demonstrations, competitions, market stalls and Shantymen! More details on www.crabandlobsterfestival.co.uk.

| MAY 2015

Strictly Come Dancing queen Camilla Dallerup comes to St Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Theatre in Great Yarmouth this month, in a special show with Ian Waite. She chats to Emma Outten from Los Angeles

LADY

For more info on Camillaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Life Coaching business visit www.camillasacredallerup.com and for entertainment visit www.camilladallerup.com. Her new book, Strictly Inspirational, is published by Watkins Publishing.

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

CAMILLA SACRE-DALLERUP

amilla Dallerup was just waking up when we spoke recently, despite it being late afternoon here in England. This is because the Danish-born dancer has a home in LA as well as England nowadays, with husband Kevin Sacre and dog Sven. The Strictly Come Dancing star explains (in-between a bout of hayfever-induced sneezing!): ‘My husband and dog are here so I work between the two. I’ve been away for three months so have just got back three weeks ago.’ Camilla had moved to England from Denmark 19 years ago and became one of the original professionals in BBC TV’s Strictly Come Dancing, winning the trophy in 2008 with actor Tom Chambers. She left the show on that professional high, following a much-publicised personal low in the first series. The three-month absence from her loved ones is down to having spent winter starring in a pantomime; judging on the Strictly tour with Craig Revel Horwood and Tom; as well as promoting her first book, Strictly Inspirational: How I Learnt to Dream, Act, Believe and Succeed. Phew! So when will Camilla Sacre-Dallerup, as she is now known, return to the UK? ‘I’m trying to tie everything in for May,’ she says.’ This month includes An Evening with Camilla and Ian at St George’s Theatre in Great Yarmouth. She says of Ian Waite: ‘He’s my dancing husband - we celebrated our 10th anniversary in January although obviously we do our own thing as well - he’s got his Fitsteps business with Natalie [Lowe] and Mark Foster.’ From the moment she stepped on to the dance floor at the age of two, Camilla knew that dance was her destiny – four years later she entered her first competition. She continues: ‘Dancing with Ian is like driving a Ferrari because we’ve had very similar training through the years and when we got together 10 years ago it was natural to dance with him.’ This is a special one-off show, rather than a tour. ‘We are only doing two nights in Great Yarmouth,’ says Camilla. The idea came from Paul Irving, the theatre’s new marketing manager. Camilla has nothing but praise for Paul: ‘He’s so lovely and creative - when he called and we had the initial chat I thought ‘this sounds right up mine and Ian’s street’!’ Expect singing, dancing and Strictly stories – plus they have held a competition for the local community to win a slot in the show! Camilla says she watched the recent People’s Strictly, which was won by Places&Faces® interviewee Cassidy Little. ‘I cried all the way through the first episode,’ she says. Helping others fulfill their dreams has become second nature to Camilla: in 2009 she qualified as a hypnotherapist and master practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming. Camilla explains: ‘I’ve always been interested in the mind,’ adding, ‘when your mind is in the right place you do better in competitions.’ It would be fair to say that her mind wasn’t in the right place following the first series of Strictly. Her relationship

with Brendan Cole, her fiancé and long-time dance partner, soured after he partnered Natasha Kaplinsky (Camilla partnered TV antiques expert David Dickinson). Brendan features heavily in Strictly Inspirational, a book she describes as ‘half biog, half self-help’, and she explains why: ‘On a personal level the toughest time of my life was the break up because it was so public so I wouldn’t be true to myself if I didn’t say that it was.’ They were together for eight years, and she coments: ‘Your 20s is when you form a lot of who you are going to become. ‘Brendan was a huge part of that. We made our career together, which I’m super proud about, and we joined Strictly together so, if I had to be true to my story, I can’t alter that.’ Nowadays things between them are totally cool, she says. Ten years on and Camilla is happily married to actor Kevin Sacre, best known for playing ladies’ man Jake Dean in Hollyoaks. They have eight-year-old bull terrier cross Sven to thank for bringing them together, as they had met on TV’s The Underdog Show. Sven was Kevin’s dog on the show, and when they won, Kevin adopted him from the Dogs Trust. ‘I got a man and a dog all in one!’ laughs Camilla. She says of their pet: ‘We didn’t give him the name although he sounds rather Scandinavian!’ So why are they in LA? Camilla replies: ‘The two big things I wanted to do, for me and for my husband, was come and live in LA and write in the sunshine. And she adds: ‘We can do that because we don’t have children so we are enjoying that, for a minute.’ Camilla turned 40 last year. ‘I first thought ‘I don’t want to celebrate’, and then I thought ‘let’s celebrate!’ So they did, California-style. ‘My husband did us a nice BBQ.’ Having spent 30 years with the ‘tunnel vision’ of competing, Camilla has found a balance between entertainment and life coaching: ‘I love stepping into pantomime and Strictly but then I like to step out again.’ She particularly enjoyed being part of the Strictly family again, on the recent tour: ‘It was so nice to work with Craig who really is hilarious, and so talented because he directed the tour, and to work with Jason Gilkison who did the choreography.’ (In 2013, she was Jason’s assistant on Strictly). Camilla and Tom also got a chance to dazzle the audiences by recreating their show dance daily, ‘which, after seven years, was a little bit of a shock to the system the first couple of times!’ Her parents, and Kevin, also got to see her perform it at the 02. She sounds particularly proud of her book: ‘It’s just come out on Amazon.com now which means it’s available in the States as well which is exciting.’ Will there be another book? ‘I hope so, that’s my dream, I’d like the next one to be pure self-help.’ No doubt Camilla will fulfill another of her dreams.

An Evening with Ian and Camilla from Strictly Come Dancing, St George’s Theatre, May 28 and 29. Visit www.stgeorgestheatre.com or call 01493 331484

| MAY 2015

MIND BLOWING! The master of psychological illusion Derren Brown visits Norwich with a host of brand new challenges in his latest show, Miracle. Places&Faces® ﬁnds out more

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

DERREN BROWN

arly days, but what can you tell us about Miracle? Not much yet. The way my schedule works is that the title and poster are decided and the tickets go on sale before I’ve the slightest idea of the content. It’s always a bit disarming having people tweet pictures of their tickets they’ve saved up for when I have no idea what’s going to happen after I walk out on stage. I do have a sense of the overall sweep of the show - Miracle refers to the miracle of life. That’s probably about all I can say for now. Infamous was received with universal acclaim from press and audiences alike. Any pressure? It’s always the same pressure, and no pressure. If you try to top your previous work all the time, you just go mad and the work suffers. It is important to keep rooted in the present – what do I feel is worthwhile? What do I want to say? What would be fun and amazing for a few thousand people trapped in a room with me? – while keeping an eye out for what you’ve done before so you’re not repeating yourself untowardly. Other than that the brief is always the same: over-deliver. Infamous was seen as your most personal show to date. Can we expect an autobiographical ‘voice’ in Miracle? Maybe. I think it will be more philosophical. I can imagine bringing in more of the thinking I find interesting and worthwhile, although like a good stand-up you have to use yourself as a means of deflection otherwise it can become preachy. Infamous did touch on that area of saying something hopefully worthwhile and at the same time remaining vulnerable. This is your 13th year on the road. What is the enduring appeal for you? Two things. The performance of the show is a delight every night. No matter what sort of a day I’ve had, it leaves me feeling fantastic. That’s all to do with the adrenalin, and making sure when I write the show that I’m not putting anything in there I won’t actually enjoy doing on the night. Secondly, I have my days free to read, write and take photos. This is a big thing for me. I miss some of that, now that I have a lot of contractual responsibilities to keep me very busy almost all of the year. So having my days free to pootle is fantastic, and the fact I’m in a different city each week keeps it always interesting. I like moving about, and I like being with the pals I tour with. What has been your best and worst of times on tour? The best may have been going out with my Leica last year and discovering street photography. The worst is any period when I get run down. I do everything to keep in good health and rest my voice, but sometimes, of course, it and I get tired. It’s a funny thing – I feel the whole show through my voice. If it’s strong, I feel the show has been strong. If it’s crackly or weak, I feel the show is the same. I’ve had to

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abandon signings after shows now to make sure it’s always in the best possible shape. You’ve started taking photos on tour and a selection is currently on display at the Rebecca Hossack Gallery. What was the initial inspiration? I’ve always had an interest in photography but it was the Leica camera I bought that changed everything. Leica invented the compact 35mm camera and the design has barely changed since they did. It’s very simple and discreet and you feel you understand it in a way that you never do with other digital cameras with their endless pages of menus. Then once I got going, my experience of being out and about on the street changed from one of keeping my head down to feeling open and connected and very interested in everyone and everything. Are you planning to take more photos on this tour? Yes – I’ll be editing a book I’m writing on happiness and taking more pictures. I can’t wait! Alongside your photos is a new collection of paintings, which appear to signal a more ‘internalised’ view of your subjects. Would you agree? How would you express any developments in your art? Actually that came from taking the sorts of photos I do; generally people don’t know I’m photographing them so they’re not looking at the camera. In portraits though, it’s standard for the subject to be looking at the viewer, and taken for granted that it makes for a more intense connection. But I wanted to have them looking away, in private moments of reflection or interest, and I quite like the result. Is your new book on happiness still a work in progress? Yes. It’s another source of huge pleasure. I think I’m at my best when I’m getting my head around a subject. The ideas I’m finding and exploring for this book through my own reading are very rich and I’m in no rush to finish it. I imagine I’ll be handing it in for publication at the end of 2015.

Can you tell us of your future TV plans? Can we expect to see more specials on Channel 4? I took a bit of a break this year, so didn’t do any specials for TV after touring other than the broadcast of Infamous. I have a few plans for next year but as ever, can’t really say!

Miracle comes to Norwich Theatre Royal from June 1-6. Visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk or call 01603 630000

Best

WITH 50,000 TICKETS FOR BBC RADIO 1’S BIG WEEKEND NORWICH THIS MONTH SNAPPED UP IN 40 MINUTES, EUROPE’S BIGGEST FREE TICKETED EVENT IS GOING TO BE MASSIVE AS EMMA OUTTEN REPORTS

F TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TICKETS were snapped up at the mere thought of Taylor Swift and Florence & The Machine coming to Norwich, can you imagine what might have happened if the full line-up had already been announced? The lucky ones among us are still reeling from the fact we can look forward to the Foo Fighters, Muse, Sam Smith, Rita Ora, 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS), Jess Glynne and many more performing at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend Norwich 2015 this month! On the Radio 1 Breakfast Show, Scott Mills announced the line-up for the Big Weekend, taking place at Earlham Park on May 23 and 24 - including Foo Fighters and Muse who will headline the event. And some of the hottest UK and international acts will join them to perform at Europe’s biggest free ticketed festival which brings the whole nation together for one weekend of amazing live music. Joining Muse to perform on the Main Stage on the Saturday, alongside the already announced Florence + The Machine, are 5SOS, David Guetta, Ben Howard, The Vaccines, Fall Out Boy and Charli XCX. And joining Foo Fighters on the Sunday will be the aforementioned Taylor Swift, Sam Smith, Rita Ora, George Ezra, Clean Bandit, Olly Murs and Imagine Dragons. Sam, who is also coming to Thetford Forest in July, told Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw, that he had never been to Norwich before, but that his manager, Jack Street, of Method Music, is from the city so there’s a local link!

Snoop Dogg, Rudimental, Jess Glynne, Hozier, Years & Years, Ella Eyre, Slaves, Mallory Knox and Circa Waves will all perform on Saturday on the event’s In New Music We Trust Stage. On Sunday, the INMWT Stage will host performances from Jamie T, Alt-J, Sigma, Catfish & The Bottlemen, Jungle, James Bay, SOAK, Raury and Lower Than Atlantis. Matt Bellamy from Muse says: ‘I’m very excited to play. The last time we played Big Weekend, for us it was a disaster, so I can’t wait to make up for it on this performance. I’m really looking forward to coming back and doing a great show. I’m pretty sure that we may unveil another new song that we will play for the first time which is pretty exciting.’ Whereas Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters says: ‘I’m really excited - I can’t wait to come out. I don’t really think we’ve ever played there before so I’m looking forward to it.’ 50,000 tickets for the Big Weekend were snapped up last month in 40 minutes, and as with previous years, the majority of tickets were reserved for those living in Norwich and the surrounding areas. Radio 1’s Big Weekend is now in its 12th year and will be produced in partnership with Norwich City Council. In the lead up to Big Weekend, for the fourth year running, Radio 1 and BBC Learning will also embark on a special week of local engagement and face-to-face activity in the area - opening the doors to Radio 1’s Academy from May 9 to 15. During the week, Radio 1 hopes to inspire local 16 to 19 year olds to take the next step in their careers by inviting

FESTIVAL

RADIO 1’S BIG WEEKEND

She’s the headline act at the Big Weekend – but who exactly is Taylor Swift?

them to attend a series of radio shows, master-classes and Q&As at the Open in Norwich. Over the week a plethora of leading names and special guests from across the music and entertainment world, as well as industry professionals and successful individuals, will be getting involved in the Academy including: Jessie Ware, Ella Eyre, Lower Than Atlantis, Jamal Edwards MBE, Sigma, Rick Edwards, Jake Humphrey, star vloggers (including Norfolk’s very own Jim Chapman and Jack & Dean), and Radio 1’s Newsbeat. This year there will be an additional space at the Academy called The Hangout, which will act as the nucleus – an informal digital hub offering hands on activities, taster sessions and careers guidance all week. The Hangout will be home to Greg James’ show, Monday to Friday. The Big Weekend will be something of a home-coming for Greg as he studied Drama at The University of East Anglia, picking up the Best Male Presenter award at the Student Radio Awards in 2005 for his work on UEA’s student station, Livewire. Welcome back Greg, a decade on!

WITH A MASSIVE 56 MILLION Twitter followers and 27 million on Instagram, Taylor Swift is one of the hottest names in the music business – and she’s coming to Norwich! The 25-year-old singer songwriter has five best-selling albums under her belt, and the most recent, 1989, has seen two chart hits – Shake It Off and Blank Space – both of which seem to play everywhere! Always keen on music, she was born in Pennsylvania but moved to Nashville, Tennessee, when she was just 14 to pursue a career in country music. She had written stories as a child which grew into penning songs, and she played guitar from an early age. Under her own terms, Taylor has progressed from being a country music success to an all-round pop princess. Her credibility comes from writing her own songs, many of which have an autobiographical element. She’ll write about getting her heart broken, her friends and that old favourite - girl power! She is a great role model, urging girls to do things their own way, to stand up for themselves and rejoice in what they have and are. She is renowned for being well mannered and polite, has never been caught in an awkward situation and is smart enough to know when not to speak out – ‘I don’t comment on politics,’ is one of her key quotes. Taylor is currently dating Scottish music producer Calvin Harris and has been linked with One Direction’s Harry Styles. And she’s well known as a great friend of Suffolk’s Ed Sheeran – even visiting his home town of Framlingham for a trip to his local, The Station Hotel. Still a firm fan of sundresses and cowboy boots showing those country roots, she kicks off her world tour with us before going global and gigs in Japan, Canada, The Netherlands and back home in America. And most recently Time magazine names Taylor among the 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2015 as an icon and pop phenomenon. So it’s official! Talking recently about the UK crowd, she says: ‘They are rowdy, insane, in the best way – there seems to be a lot of jumping, which I love. ‘When I think of a UK crowd I think of a sea of people that is moving like an ocean – it’s the most beautiful sight you could possibly witness and I can’t wait to come back… everyone talks about the festivals in England being the best ones you can go to. I feel like I’ve been missing out – I’m really excited.’ So are we, Taylor, so are we!

| MAY 2015

Forbidden

Friendship THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS, Theatre Royal, Norwich, May 5-9. Visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk or call 01603 630000. It is suitable for children aged 11 plus.

INTERVIEW

THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS

The 2006 John Boyne novel tells of two children in the Second World War and their unlikely friendship. One, Bruno, is the son of a Nazi concentration camp commandant and the other, Shmuel, is a Jewish prisoner from Poland. Both the book and subsequent film were hugely successful. John, who has taught creative writing at The University of East Anglia, has been very closely involved in this new adaptation, with Edward saying: ‘He has been integral to it and helped us tremendously.’ And John says: ‘I read the script and made some suggestions. It’s a fairly faithful adaptation of the novel but I don’t have a theatrical background and so it has been a bit of an education for me. ‘Those who haven’t read the book may well be taken by surprise and shocked at the ending, but that was the reaction of the original readers to the book. The playwright and the theatrical producers want people to come out with an emotional response as well.’ The show has been playing to full houses around the country and Edward is certain it will be popular in Norwich. ‘My daughter was very keen for me to stage this show. Like many teenagers she does like some very dark pieces – think of Michael Morpurgo.’ He hasn’t decided what show the company will stage next year but reckons it will be something a bit more jolly. ‘It always has to be something well known, something that will attract teenagers, school parties and families,’ says Edward. His next big project involves one of the greatest living actors, Sir Kenneth Branagh. ‘We have secured him for a whole year. He will be both directing and starring in a series of plays, including a Shakespeare, in the West End. It is very exciting!’ Edward, who grew up in Horsford, near Norwich, attended Taverham High School where he discovered his love of theatre. He also attended dramatic courses at the Theatre Royal before doing Theatre Studies at City College, Norwich. He cut his professional teeth at the Theatre Royal, under the legendary Dick Condon, before working at the Wellington Pier in Great Yarmouth and the Pavilion Theatre in Cromer. A move to London followed and the rest, as they say, is history. His father still lives in a village near Cromer and Edward with his family, wife Marilyn and two children, are regular visitors. ‘I enjoy coming to Norfolk – the Theatre Royal is very well run and we also like trips to Cromer; it is still a proper working town.’ So Edward is a long way from his first theatre, one in his parents’ back garden called the Barn Theatre, but that passion of his is still burning bright.

Leading theatrical light Edward Snape brings his latest show,

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, to Norwich this month. Sarah Hardy finds out why he chose this challenging piece

heatrical impresario Edward Snape is

responsible for some of the most popular shows in the country over the last few years – think The 39 Steps, and The Ladykillers, two huge West End hits which also toured successfully. As the founder of the independent theatre production company Fiery Angel, Edward, who grew up in Norwich, has the Midas touch when it comes to shows with his hits ranging from Peppa Pig to Me and My Girl! He is also behind the Children’s Touring Partnership which produces high quality drama for that rather tricky age group – children aged eight and above. Previous shows have included Goodnight Mister Tom and Swallows and Amazons, both of which were very popular when they came to Norwich. Edward says: ‘Now we have the huge challenge of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. It is such a complex piece, with such a dark storyline, and the two lead actors are aged 10, so we like to make it tough for ourselves! ‘But that is the whole point of what we do, we don’t want to shy away from anything.’

Picture by Natasha Lyster

| MAY 2015

WORKING IN 24-HOURS ROLLING NEWS PROVIDED MAGGIE CAMMISS WITH ALL THE INSPIRATION SHE NEEDED FOR HER DEBUT NOVEL NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS BUT IT WAS HER MOVE TO NORFOLK WHICH REALLY CLINCHED THE DEAL AS EMMA OUTTEN FINDS OUT 18

INTERVIEW

MAGGIE CAMMISS

HEY SAY TO WRITE what you know about and, cliché or not, that is certainly proved a good move in the case of former Sky News journalist Maggie Cammiss. Her time on the 24-hour rolling news channel has inspired her debut novel No News is Good News, but if she hadn’t moved from London to Loddon it may not have got to the publishing stage. Maggie joined Sky News when the channel first launched in 1989 - exciting times, one might imagine? ‘Working in 24 hour rolling news is a bit like being in a revolving door and I certainly did my share of double shifts and overnights,’ replies Maggie. ‘It was hard work, but we felt we were doing something pioneering. It was a very positive and supportive, a ‘say yes until you have to say no’, sort of environment and we achieved a lot that hadn’t been tried before. When other news channels were launched it was very satisfying to be first with a breaking story.’ She has fond memories for another reason, as Sky News is where she met her partner: ‘Nick was my boss right from the start and I’m thrilled to say we’ll be getting married in July this year.’ The bride-to-be spent 17 years at Sky News, and more than ten of those were as Head of the News Library. How had the world of rolling news changed over the years? ‘To begin with it seemed we were a lone voice in the wilderness as we waited for the rest of British broadcasting to catch up,’ recalls Maggie. ‘The nature of newsgathering itself didn’t change very much, but the technology certainly did. When Sky News began everything was recorded and broadcast on videotape.’ She adds: ‘As Head of News Library, I was responsible for accumulating, maintaining and documenting a footage archive, and changes in the recording systems brought their own problems. The means of delivery grew in importance; I wasn’t particularly interested in the technology – archive footage was my passion – and I knew it was time to go.’ So she left London with Nick to see what life outside the M25 had to offer, and explains why they chose Loddon in particular: ‘We both had relatives living in Norfolk at the time, so it was a natural choice. I’m from Yorkshire originally, but I had little hope that Nick, a Londoner, would ever be persuaded to move that far north. We wanted a small community that we could be part of and Loddon fitted the bill perfectly.’

NO NEW IS GOOD NEWS, by Maggie Cammiss, is published by Accent Press. Visit www.maggiecammiss.com.

Nick’s mother has made the move, also, as Maggie explains: ‘We have Nick’s mum living with us now; she has Alzheimer’s and caring for her is another voyage of discovery that comes with a unique set of challenges.’ Ask her if she misses the stimulating but completely unpredictable environment of rolling news and it’s an emphatic no! ‘We never knew what was going to confront us from day to day and my daily ‘to do’ list was frequently abandoned before 9am. But it’s definitely a younger person’s game – being on call 24/7 gets tiring after 17 years.’ So how would this newshound describe Norfolk as a news area: ‘There’s always something happening, either locally or further afield,’ says Maggie. ‘Some of the local issues are very much in the greater public consciousness. And local news is very useful to the writer – I get plenty of ideas for short stories and plot lines.’ Soon after settling in Loddon, Maggie enrolled on a commercial fiction course and began writing seriously. And, as writing can be a lonely pursuit she joined a writing group, Cutting Edge Writers, based at The Cut in Halesworth. She says: ‘We meet every Friday at The Cut, where we discuss our works in progress and other writing projects. Several of us have had work published, but we are also keen to nurture new writers. ‘All of us contribute homework on a set topic which is reviewed and critiqued each week. That way we can help each other improve our writing skills and narrative style,’ she adds. Maggie also writes short stories and Cutting Edge Writers have published an anthology of their work, available on Amazon. She regularly reads her stories on Blyth Valley Community Radio, broadcasting to Southwold and the surrounding area. Up until the end of January she was working part-time at the nearby History of Advertising Trust. ‘I started as a volunteer about eight years ago but was soon offered paid employment. The Trust has collected together one of the most interesting Archives I’ve ever worked in, providing an insight into the history and development of high street brands within the context of the advertising industry. I undertook a series of very diverse duties but I think my experiences at Sky News were especially useful.’ Her next novel in the series is now well underway, as Maggie says: ‘I’m halfway through the first draft of my next novel. Like the first, it is set in a fictitious TV newsroom, but the characters, their stories and problems are different. In both books the action moves away from the London newsroom occasionally and this time I’ve set several scenes in Norfolk. I intend to continue the newsroom theme as long as there’s interest, but it’s entirely possible that I will set a complete novel in Norfolk in the future – I have several ideas on the back burner and I find the countryside and the coastline a constant inspiration.’

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| MAY 2015

Y Bridal, bridesmaid, prom and evening wear - Fairytale Gowns in Stalham has got everything you need to give that special occasion a fabulous fairytale ending! Emma Outten meets Louise Dace FAIRYTALE GOWNS, The Old Maids Head, High Street, Stalham, Norfolk. Call 01692 584743 or visit www.fairytalegowns.co.uk

ou quickly realise, when you walk into Fairytale Gowns in Stalham, that it is so much more than a bridal boutique. In fact, the bridal wear section is discreetly tucked away behind mirrored doors so the first thing you notice is the rainbow of colours on gown hanging after glorious gown. Fairytale Gowns has it all, if you’re looking for something wonderful to wear to that special occasion. And let’s face it, you only have to look at the High Society pages in Places&Faces® to realise that there are a lot of special occasions to go to in this county! Bridal, bridesmaid, prom and evening wear – proprietor Louise Dace has them all covered, in satin, chiffon and taffeta. The boutique in the heart of Stalham High Street, opposite St Mary’s Church (the building was originally to house the workers who built the church before becoming the Maid’s Head pub in a later life). It remains a historic venue but with a very romantic heart. Prior to becoming proprietor Louise was working for a freight forwarding company before redundancy loomed, but with husband John running Norwich Wedding cars, it seemed the perfect complementary business to move into. Fairytale Gowns opened its doors in 2006, and with the first bride-to-be making a purchase just two days later, Louise has neither caught her breath nor looked back since (in fact, the day we met, she was about to go on her first well-earned

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FAIRYTALE GOWNS

Louise can offer a personal shopping service, and with a fitting room complete with not one but two hanging rails there really is no limit on how many gowns you can try on here! Suffice to say these things cannot be rushed and so a bridal appointment with Louise can easily take around two hours, with tea and coffee on hand to keep you refreshed throughout. There is a sense you would be pampered at Fairytale Gowns as Louise can even offer a fairly unique wedding dress delivery service, whereby she can deliver a freshly steamed gown to home or venue, ready for the big day itself. And these really are dream dresses. The big brands on offer in this lovely part of north Norfolk include Venus, which used to be based in Norwich (‘they are the first label I ever had so I’ve stuck with them’); the Tia collection by Benjamin Roberts, Tiffanys, and Trudy Lee, a leader in the bridal industry since the 1950s, and the ultimate in Hollywood glamour! Plus there’s the new to Norfolk - and exclusive to Fairytale Gowns - Cosmobella collection by the award winning Demetrios label. ‘It’s Italian – I try to get something that noone else has got,’ says Louise. Wedding veils are by Amanda Wyatt. It is important to note that Fairyale Gowns can offer interest free payment plans on all dresses and gowns, and the big benefit of this bridal boutique is that there’s plenty of customer parking on site, with wheelchair access. Louise has the knack of developing a lovely friendly relationship with each and every bride – so much so she’s been invited on hen nights before now, and even to the wedding itself! She prides herself on being a very independent dress shop, and with wedding gown alterations company, Sisters with Scissors next door, the two businesses work well alongside one another. In the month of May, Louise will be busy with last-minute prom dress decisions, people about to go on a cruise or to a charity ball, and, like any other month of the year these days, there will be brides-to-be to dress! ‘The wedding season is all through the year now.’ Louise sounds as though she loves her new career. ‘It’s a nice industry to be in, as everyone is excited and happy. And it’s the same with John and his wedding cars.’ Sounds like a marriage made in heaven to me!

“The main brand here is Dessy from New York, so whatever colour you order it will come all the way from NYC. And, what’s more, you can get matching men’s ties and cravats.” break for years!). Fairytale Gowns has been on the current site, having moved a couple of doors down on the High Street, for a good three years. ‘When I first opened I was going to be predominantly bridal,’ says Louise. The ultra private Bridal Suite still offers a huge choice of bridal wear and accessories plus the bridesmaid dresses are available in more than 80 colours and shades. ‘I say don’t look at a dress just because you like the colour because they come in 86 different colours!’ The main brand here is Dessy from New York, so whatever colour you order it will come all the way from NYC. And, what’s more, you can get matching men’s ties and cravats. So far, so very coordinated. ‘There’s every shade of pink, every shade of orange, every shade of blue, so, yes, they are very popular.’ The prom scene has grown over the years and so has the market for prom dresses, of course. The prom and ball gown collection is equally colourful and is available in all sizes and fabrics - here you can expect to see labels such as Froxy Prom. Add Louise’s jewellery and bags into the mix and this really is a one stop shop for special occasion wear and accessories. In fact, the accessories are such an integral part of her business that she regularly organises jewellery and bag parties for customers. Much of the jewellery is by Glitzy Secrets, the award-winning wedding jewellery specialists whose tiaras have featured on Downton Abbey before now! ‘People like a story to go with their jewellery,’ notes Louise.

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THE NATURAL ESCAPE

COMPETITION

JOHN LEWIS

Spoil

Yourself! This month Places&Faces® teams up with one of Norwich’s leading department stores to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a pampering treat

If you’re in need of a bit of pampering

then enter our competition for your chance to win a luxury beauty hamper, worth £300, which includes some of the best skincare products available as well as a Decléor facial or massage and an Origins facial. John Lewis offers some of the very best skincare and make-up products available and this month the store has teamed up with three of the top beauty brands to offer you this amazing prize which consists of everything you could need for your skincare regime, a gorgeous fragrance and two treatments. Lâncome 75ml La Vie Est Belle eau de parfum Lâncome 50ml Renergie multi-lift cream Lâncome 30ml Visionnaire serum Lâncome 20ml Genifique yeux cream A one hour aromatherapy facial or massage A Decléor travel sized cleanse and tone set An Origins feelgood mini facial Origins clear impressions charcoal mask Origins travel size skincare set Decléor, Lâncome and Origins offer skincare consultations to help you select the very best products for you and your skin. As well as this, if you need extra pampering, John Lewis Norwich has a beauty room on site where all three brands offer many treatments including the Decléor signature aromatherapy massage, the Origins feel good facial and the Lâncome exfoliant facial and finishing make-up. All these treatments and more are available to book at the beauty counters or by calling 01603 677802 extension 4288. Treatments are chargeable but the cost is redeemable against a purchase of a beauty product on the day of your treatment.

To enter OUR COMPETITION,

simply answer the following question:

Where is John Lewis situated? THERE ARE TWO WAYS OF ENTERING. You can answer the above question and send your entry to competitions@ h2creativemedia.co.uk. Remember to include your name, address, email and a daytime telephone number. Or, if you are a social media fan, you can go to our Facebook page www. facebook.com/placesandfacesmagazine and like and share the competition. Normal Places&Faces® competition rules apply and the editor’s decision is final. Entrants must be aged 18 or over. The closing date is May 31 2015 when a winner will be selected at random.

John Lewis, All Saints Green, Norwich, NR1 3LX

| MAY 2015

EASTER Join stage funny man Jimmy Tarbuck OBE as he delivers an evening of comedy for grown-ups at the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds on May 2. Tarby, as he is known to millions of TV viewers, is one of the country’s most evergreen performers and a master of light entertainment. Visit www.theatreroyal.org

MAY WE TEMPT YOU WITH OUR ROUND-UP OF GOINGS ON TO GET YOU OUT AND ABOUT THIS MONTH?

FUNK & SOUL Craig Charles is bringing his legendary Funk and Soul Club to Norwich again for a night overﬂowing with groove-ridden-beats, raredisco-treats and soul-jam-shakers on May 1 at Open in Norwich. The Coronation Street actor is one of the UK’s best loved DJs with a popular primetime Saturday night BBC 6 Music radio show. Visit www.open247.org.uk

GIG One of 2015’s ones to watch Sunset Sons are heading to the Waterfront in Norwich on May 5. Their new EP ‘The Fall Line’ (featuring new single ‘Medicine’) was released in March, and they have been tipped by many, including BBC Sound Poll of 2015, as one of the breakthrough acts of the year. Visit www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk

03.

02. 01.

01.

REAL ALE The fifth Norwich City of Ale, a 10-day celebration of local pubs, breweries and real ale, takes place from May 21 to 31. It is set to be the biggest festival yet, with organisers hoping to attract more than 50 pubs in the city and more than 40 breweries! Visit www.cityofale.org.uk

02.

BLUEBELLS The bluebell woodland at Sotshole Broad, next to Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, will be open every day from May 2 to 17. It is a fourmile round trip walk to see the best bluebells at the far end of the wood. There will also be a guided walk in the bluebell woodland on May 10, beginning from the visitor centre. Visit www.fairhavengarden.co.uk or call 01603 270449.

03.

BUSKING DAY Wymondham’s Annual Town Busking Day, organised by Wymondham Music Festival, returns on May 23. The day is one of Wymondham’s well-established events with musicians performing all over the town. Individual musicians and groups are very welcome and are invited to call 01953 333500 to register.

WHAT’S ON

FESTIVAL PREMIERE This month’s Norfolk & Norwich Festival includes the WildWorks World Premiere of Wolf’s Child, from May 5 to 23, an immersive journey which takes its audience deep into a world of shape-shifting humans and animals and which has been created especially for the enveloping dark woods of Norfolk’s Felbrigg Hall. Visit www.nnfestival.org.uk

MONTHLY ROUND-UP

ELIA Picture by AM

TROUBRIDGE

FILM PREMIERE A fiery British drama set against a stunning Norfolk back drop, THE GOOB, comes to cinemas on May 29. It stars newcomer Liam Walpole alongside a cast including Sean Harris, Sienna Guillory, Marama Corlett and Hannah Spearitt. Guy Myhill’s film also receives its premiere at Cinema City in Norwich on May 25. Visit www.picturehouses.co.uk

BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL The annual Great Yarmouth Beer and Cider Festival takes place from May 15 to 17 at St George’s Theatre. More than 50 real ales and ciders will be available to try, with beer sommelier Day Harvey on hand to advise! The event is supported by Lacons and live music is also planned. Visit www.stgeorgestheatre.co.uk for more.

GARDENS The National Gardens Scheme in Norfolk has plenty for you to feast your eyes on this month, with 17 gardens opening, including Witton Hall near North Walsham opening on Bank Holiday May 4; Holme Hale Hall, situated between Swaffham and Dereham, on May 10; Lexham Hall, near Litcham and How Hill Farm, Ludham, on May 17, and Sheringham Park on May 21. Visit www.ngs.org.uk

LECTURE Michael Loveday, formerly of Norwich HEART, looks at some of Norwich and Norfolk’s radical daughters and sons, in his Rebels & Innovators lecture on May 7 in Caley’s Cocoa Café at The Guildhall, Norwich. ‘Dangerous Radicals: Norwich and Norfolk’s Anarchic Characters’ will include Thomas Paine, Harriet Martineau, Nelson and Elizabeth Fry. Visit www.norwich-heart.eventbrite.co.uk SHOW See dapper band The Overtones appearing live at Potters Resort on May 31. Hear their unique blend of classic 50s harmonies mixed with modern pop, following their two sold out performances in 2014. Plus enjoy comfortable accommodation, a five course dinner with selected wines, a midnight dish, breakfast and use of the Resort’s facilities. Visit www. pottersholidays.com or call 0333 3207 497. VEHICLE FEST East Anglia’s Spring Vehicle Fest offers a marvellous mix of vintage and modern vehicles at the former RAF Coltishall Airbase on May 10. The charity sporting event is looking to be an extraordinary day with everyone dressed to match the era of their vehicle plus a plethora of trade stands and local food and drink stalls. Call 01603 626668 or visit www.charityse.co.uk 29

JULY 26 JEFFREY ARCHER: Politics Life & Literature - The author of 33 published books which have sold over 270 million copies in 97 countries and been translated into 37 languages. The former MP and Chairman of The Conservative Party will talk about his extraordinary life, his books and his career in politics and invite questions from the audience.

JULY 22 BLAKE - Brit Award winning harmony trio singing eclectic classical music and pop songs. They have sold well over a million albums, topped classical charts around the world and appeared on more than 150 TV shows worldwide.

Pop, politics and poetry - the first highlights of Holt Festival have been announced and it’s shaping up to be the best event on north Norfolk’s cultural calendar, as Emma Outten reports

nder the stewardship of new Artistic Director Charles Pugh, this year’s Holt Festival is already looking to include something for everyone. From comedy to cuisine, and politics to pop, north Norfolk’s premier mixed arts festival brings you the best in music, theatre and the spoken word in a glorious artistic celebration. Staged in the last week of July with the charming north Norfolk Georgian country town as its backdrop, this award winning annual feast of the arts has quickly become one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the Norfolk calendar. The full programme of shows and events will be revealed this month, but, in the meantime, Charles says: ‘My principal objective for 2015 is to ensure that there are quality arts and entertainment across a range of styles and disciplines. ‘Past successful visits from the likes of David Starkey, Melvyn Bragg, Sandi Toksvig and Michael Palin have demonstrated the appetite for this type of afternoon event so I’m pleased to be welcoming speakers of the calibre of Jeffrey Archer, Michael Buerk, Dame Stella Rimington, Loyd Grossman and Tom Parker Bowles to Holt.’

Other big names at the festival include chart topper and pop pioneers Steve Harley with his band Cockney Rebel; influential and constantly evolving folk rock legends Steeleye Span and the rejuvenated original punk poet, comedian, movie radio and rock star John Cooper Clarke and his special guest Martin Newell. Then there’s Blake, the classical crossover boy band who have delighted TV audiences and topped charts the world over with sales of more than a million albums. There’s a world exclusive with the premiere of Hello Mr Gershwin, a musical journey through the remarkable but tragically short life of George Gershwin; and a UK exclusive as masterful award winning classical guitarist Mariano Mangas performs his first ever British show in Holt after previously earning standing ovations all over mainland Europe and the USA. Lorraine & Alan is a retelling of the Orkney Selkie myth relocated to Norfolk using live sound design and several hundred plastic bottles. It was an award winner at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe. Charles adds: ‘I’m looking JULY 24 to make my first Festival DAME STELLA RIMINGTON in as director intriguing, conversation - The first female provocative and amusing – Director General of MI5, now a and of course entertaining.’ successful novelist, talks about her creative life and career, with Daily Telegraph critic Jake Kerridge.

WHAT’S ON

HOLT FESTIVAL

JULY 26 STEELEYE SPAN - Folk rock pioneers with a new live show. Singer Maddy Prior leads a line-up featuring faces old and new performing the classics that established their reputation alongside newer songs from their 2014 album Wintersmith: a collaboration with Sir Terry Pratchett.

JULY 20 JOHN COOPER CLARKE with special guest MARTIN NEWELL - The original punk poet, comedian, movie radio and rock star. TV and radio presenter, social and cultural commentator and legend, the bard of Salford is joined by Essex’s inspirational wordsmith Martin Newell.

JULY 22 MARIANO MANGAS - One of the world’s greatest classical guitarists, a professor of the instrument in his native Spain and Chair of Flamenco at the Conservatory of Rotterdam. He comes to Holt for his very first UK appearance following performances all over mainland Europe and the USA.

JULY 23 MICHAEL BUERK & ERNIE REA - One of the UK’s best known broadcast journalists and writers, Michael Buerk has won a multitude of awards for international TV reporting. He will discuss Islamic fundamentalism with radio presenter and former BBC head of religious broadcasting Ernie Rea.

JULY 25 HELLO MR GERSHWIN - World premiere of a brand new musical from Seastar. A musical journey through George Gershwin’s remarkable life and tragically early death, featuring British pianist and composer Michael Finnissy’s arrangements, devised and directed by composer and director Susie Self.

JULY 25 STEVE HARLEY & COCKNEY REBEL – The pop music pioneer has written and recorded eleven albums in a prolific career covering four decades. He has enjoyed chart success with Top 20 hits including Judy Teen, Mr Soft, Mr Raffles, Here Comes The Sun and the number one Make Me Smile (Come Up & See Me).

JULY 26

AND HOT-OFF-THE-PRESS JULY 24 JENNY ECLAIR AND MARGARET HODGE - In this first public coming together the first woman to win the coveted Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe and the first elected and first female Chair of the Public Accounts Committee will interview each other about people, politics, power, petticoats, performance and passion!

JULY 24 GENO WASHINGTON & THE YO YO’S - The UK’s very own, resident Godfather of Soul first came to the UK with the US Air Force in the 60s when he was stationed right here in Norfolk. He was the subject of Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ Geno hit and his magnetic stage presence makes him an inspiration and a joy to behold.

JULY 25 HENRY BLOFELD & PETER BAXTER: Rogues on the Road Globetrotting reminiscences and hilarious anecdotes from bubbly and boisterous Test Match Special commentator Blowers and his long time producer Peter Baxter.

JULY 21 TOM PARKER BOWLES & LOYD GROSSMAN - Original Masterchef presenter, entrepreneur, writer and all round foodie in conversation with Mail on Sunday and Esquire restaurant critic: a culinary chat from two of the UK’s best-known food experts.

LORRAINE & ALAN - Original award winning playful re-telling of the Scottish Selkie myth set on the north Norfolk coast featuring live sound design and several hundred plastic bottles. A Marine Biology graduate falls in love with a mysterious young woman he discovers lying amongst the seals and their lives become irreversibly entwined.

THE 2015 HOLT FESTIVAL runs from July 19-26. Call 01603 598699 or visit www.holtfestival.org.

MAY

BOX OFFICE: (01603) 63 00 00 Mon 11 – Sat 16 May PETER PAN GOES WRONG Hilariously disastrous fun for all ages £7 - £23.50

Sun 3 May TAP SHOES, TUTUS, ROCK CHICKS & COOL DUDES Heather Millan School of Dance & Performing Arts £7 - £17.50

Sun 17 May TARAF DE HAIDOUKS £7 - £25

Tues 5 – Sat 9 May THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS Heart-wrenching tale of an unlikely friendship, adapted from the best-selling novel £7 - £24

Tues 19 May THE HOT SARDINES £7 - £22.50

Mon 18 May OLAFUR ARNALDS £7 - £22.50

* *

Wed 20 May ABDULLAH IBRAHIM £8 - £27

Sat 23 May POLITICAL MOTHER £7 - £20

Sun 24 May CHRIS & PUI CBeebies’ favourite double act £7 - £12 Thur 28 – Sat 30 May CAROUSEL Classic musical from Opera North £8 - £45 Sun 31 May RAT PACK LIVE Swingsational tribute to Frank, Sammy and Dean £7 - £24

Thur 21 May THE MEASURE OF ALL THINGS £7 - £18

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

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Mon 27 Apr – Sat 2 May DEAR LUPIN James and Jack Fox star in touching tale of a father and son £8 - £27

WHAT’S ON

IT’S FESTIVAL

VISITNORWICH

SEASON!

MAY IS BURSTING AT THE SEAMS WITH EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR ALL, SAYS MELANIE COOK

ESTIVALS ARE NOT ALL ABOUT MUSIC AND MUD.. Norwich plays host to a wealth of them throughout the year: multiple celebrations honouring Norfolk’s panoramas, natural habitats, performance, literature, comedy, arts, beer, food – the list goes on. And this month is no exception. THE BROADS OUTDOOR FESTIVAL (May 2-17) is all about Norfolk’s waterways and wildlife. It is a magnificent chance to get close to nature and participate in specially designed events that are geared to giving us an experience we won’t forget. Take a dawn chorus walk, or have breakfast with the birds, sail on a Wherry, or take a family canoe trip perhaps even get into bushcraft? This marvellous festival makes it really easy for us to participate, we’ve all seen incredible wildlife studies on television, well now we can be part of them, so get stuck in and get acquainted with boats, birds and beautiful landscapes! One of the highlights of the year has to be the NORFOLK AND NORWICH FESTIVAL (May 8-24), two weeks of pure unadulterated fun. The range of entertainment, passionate performance, art and talent this festival brings us is quite breathtaking. Audiences are served up such an assortment of audiovisual gifts it’s hard to put into words what you may experience at any given event. A headline performance in this year’s festival is Wolf’s Child. Many years in the planning, this modern day grown-up fairytale is a bespoke piece of promenade theatre which will remain with its audience long after the curtains have come down. Many may recall, in 2011, The Passion featuring Michael Sheen. Nationally acclaimed, it was a hugely celebrated piece of large-scale participatory theatre and came from the Landscape Theatre company; Wildworks, the people behind delivering Wolf’s Child – one of the UK’s most exciting site-specific theatre companies. In partnership with the National Trust and co-produced by the Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Wolf’s Child will be performed in the woods of Felbrigg Hall to an audience of 250 each night. Observers will be taken on an immersive journey deep into a dark woodland area. As dusk turns to night they will encounter – in the words of the Festival themselves – ‘a world of shape-shifting animals and humans’. Over the years, the Festival has thrilled audiences with big, outdoor theatre productions. Those who took a chance on Air Hotel and Dining With Alice, not really knowing what delicious experiences awaited them, will no doubt be first in the queue for tickets to witness Wolf’s Child. Productions such as these are awe inspiring and provide lasting, vivid memories for years to come. Don’t miss your chance to be part of a once in a lifetime opportunity – talking from experience, you will not regret it. If you are giddy from tea dances, performance giants, extreme acrobatics and symphony orchestras, then grab your pint glass to dive straight into the NORWICH CITY OF ALE FESTIVAL (May 21-31)! This 10-day extravaganza, celebrating Norwich’s ale history and craft beer culture, is a world away from the international arts scene yet every bit as alluring. So grab your friends and get together to enjoy good company and storytelling at special events and pubs across the city centre.

FOR MORE INFORMATION visit www.visitnorwich.co.uk

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Rule Britannia · Jerusalem · Dambusters Pomp & Circumstance No.1 & No. 4 Nessun Dorma · O Mio Babbino Caro · Habanera Carmen Overture · Finiculi Finicula Raiders of the Lost Art · William Tell Overture Cancan · Figaro Overture

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British soul queen Beverley Knight steals the show in Memphis, a fast paced and thought provoking musical about segregated America in the 1950s. Sarah Hardy reviews Memphis The Musical, Shaftesbury Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, visit www.memphisthemusical.co.uk

WEST END REVIEW

MEMPHIS

ell, I knew she could sing but

wow, Beverley Knight is quite a revelation in this energetic musical which has already won four Tony Awards in America. She is right at the heart of the action-packed show as nightclub singer Felicia Farrell, and she’s a real powerhouse, whether she’s belting out ballads, gospel or rhythm and blues. Every muscle in her body seems to be pushed to the maximum as she reaches and holds note after challenging note to produce what must be one of the most punishing performances in the West End at present. The show, with its book by Joe DiPietro and score by David Bryan, a founder member of Bon Jovi, is set in Memphis in 1955, when segregation still existed. So, life is ugly: unfair and dangerous with many rules and regulations. It is hard for us modern day audiences to comprehend this overt racism and strange to think that it was under 50 years ago. The show is based on a true story and doesn’t shy away from showing the brutal side of it. Indeed, one scene is shocking – when Felicia is attacked by a group of thugs simply for being out with a white man. Despite this political backdrop, the storyline is relatively simple. Its hero, Huey Calhoun, is a poor white guy who inveigles his way into one of Memphis’s Beale Street clubs, where he falls head over heels for both the intoxicating rhythm and blues sound, and a young black singer, Felicia. He then insinuates himself into one of Memphis’s mainstream radio stations as a DJ and substitutes R&B for the blandness of Patti Page and Perry Como, with devastating results. Tennessee’s strict race laws inevitably blight his romance with Felicia, and she is forced to choose between Huey and her burgeoning career.

It vividly conveys this key moment in pop history – when the so-called ‘race music’ was adopted by white teenagers who didn’t care who or how it was created: they just knew that they loved it! Naïve and carefree Huey is usually played by Irish actor Killian Donnelly but I saw understudy Jon Robyns take on the role on the night that I visited. And he was terrific! Originally from Liverpool and a founder member of Only Men Aloud, Jon has the voice of an angel and was utterly charming. We feel his disbelief at not being allowed to have black dancers on his TV show and his frustration at having to keep his love for a black woman a secret. But don’t imagine the piece is too heavy; there are some great comic moments, especially ones involving Huey’s mother Gladys, played by Claire Machin, who is everything an over anxious parent should be! The show, at just under two and a half hours, is very full on. The hits keep coming at you and there really isn’t much time for reflection. Sure, you don’t know many of the songs so this show is about as different as you can imagine from say Mamma Mia! where we all know every word to every tune, but the numbers, especially those delivered by Ms Knight, are striking and look set to become evergreens. There are some great dance routines, with much tumbling and a real rock and roll feel, and mention must also go to the costumes which really capture the era. The figure-hugging cocktail dresses, the guys in suits all trying to look like Sinatra and the heels – ouch! How did women walk let alone dance in those kitten heels! So for a great night out, seeing a production with a bit of bite and watching a songstress at her peak, this is the show for you!

Southwold’s Second Helpings

Last year’s first ever Southwold Arts Festival was a huge success attracting thousands of visitors over eight days of music, drama and art. It should come as no surprise that it’s back this year, says Emma Outten!

HE PLANNING FOR THE SECOND SOUTHWOLD ARTS FESTIVAL is complete and it’s shaping up to be another successful foray into the festival scene for Suffolk. The festival will take place for eight consecutive days from June 27 until July 4 and will comprise of an eclectic mix of arts-related entertainment including some high profile and well known names. Following the popularity of the morning and afternoon events last year, the organisers have extended the programme for 2015 to provide four events each day including morning, lunchtime, afternoon and evening sessions. The main venue will be St Edmunds Hall but other local venues will also be used.

WHAT’S ON

SOUTHWOLD ARTS FESTIVAL

SOUTHWOLD ARTS FESTIVAL takes place from June 27 to July 4. Visit www.southwoldartsfestival. co.uk or call 01502 722572.

Festival Director Lin Le Versha says: ‘We hope that visitors will go from one event to the other to get the most from the week and to enjoy the wonderfully diverse range of entertainment that will be provided. We are particularly pleased to have a Young Musicians showcase each lunch time, including Olivia Castle, Daniel Massey and some new classical musicians.’ The festival will begin with an exciting street event including stalls, entertainment, music and children’s events. The children’s street parade will be based on the theme of wheels encouraging the creative use of bicycles, prams etc. Sarah Green says: ‘Last year’s Street Festival was certainly a day to remember with crowds flocking to Southwold to enjoy the free entertainment and to soak up the atmosphere. We are planning for another great event on June 27 at which time the High Street will be closed to traffic.’ For its opening concert the festival will welcome Canada’s premier folk/country harmony trio the Good Lovelies on their UK tour Many of the morning events will be talks of local interest including the story of the radical Aldeburgh sisters Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Millicent Fawcett and also a presentation of the story of the famous pirate ship: Radio Caroline. There will also be guided walks tracing George Orwell’s links to the town and a very special arts talk presentation by the Southwold Decorative and Fine Arts Society. And there will be special shows for children including the Dinosaur that Pooped and The Wimpy Kid. The afternoon sessions are packed with immense range and variety including a one-man show about Stan Laurel by Jeffrey Holland of Hi-de-Hi fame and fascinating talks about their extensive and prolific careers by both Denis King and Roy Hudd. There will be two plays in The Talking Heads series and Sidi Scott will present Joyce Grenfell’s Letters from Aldeburgh. There will also be song and verse from Jill Freud and friends. Deputy festival director Chris Ure says: ‘I am delighted with the programme for 2015, it provides an exciting mix of music, drama, comedy, art and talks and there should be something

for all age groups and interests. We have tried to keep the ticket prices as low as possible so that all the events will be affordable and accessible. The evening events - some of which include book-signings - will bring some huge names to the town including the BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson and the performance poet Roger McGough. There will also be drama with the Kepow Theatre Company and jazz from Bob Kerr’s Whoopee Band. Ruby Wax who had been scheduled to appear has unfortunately had to withdraw due to other commitments. The new event to replace Ruby is The Shakespeare Revue by White Cobra Productions. Finally, to celebrate July 4 - and to bring the festival to a close - there will be a special musical concert celebrating the American songbook featuring broadcaster and award winning jazz singer Clare Teal.

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How do you fancy living in a country house dating back to the 15th century, with a very romantic history? Emma Outten takes down the particulars of Topcroft Hall

T DOESN’T GET MUCH MORE romantic than this: Topcroft Hall, on the border of Norfolk and Suffolk, is said to be the backdrop for the very first Valentine’s Day love letter way back in 1477 - probably the oldest surviving Valentine’s letter in the English language. It was written by Margery Brews to her fiancé John Paston in February of that year. Describing John as her ‘right well-beloved valentine’, she tells him she is ‘not in good health of body nor of heart, nor shall I be till I hear from you.’ She explains that her mother had tried to persuade her father to increase her dowry - so far unsuccessfully. However, she says if John loves her he will marry her anyway: ‘But if you love me, as I trust verily that you do, you will not leave me therefore.’ And this outpouring of love all took place right here at the hall: she finishes the letter by saying: ‘And this letter was written at Topcroft with full heavy heart.’

However, there was a happy ending to the story, as the couple would eventually marry! The letter comes from one of the largest collections of 15th century English private correspondence, known as the Paston letters, many of which were written by Margery Brews who is known to have lived at Topcroft in 1482. The collection offers a unique glimpse in to the personal lives of the Paston family from Norfolk, who had risen from peasantry to aristocracy in just a few generations: John and Margery’s son, William, would become a prominent figure at the court of King Henry VIII. Topcroft Hall remains an attractive and elegant country house occupying a delightful position in a parkland setting overlooking a small lake. Parts of the house date back to the 15th century and some fine old timber framing still remains in the oldest part of the house. In about 1878 further additions were made to the house, in particular the large drawing room. Modernisation and

PROPERTY OF THE MONTH

TOPCROFT HALL

FACTFILE Kitchen/dining room with 4 oven Aga 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms Brick built garage block with adjoining workshop and boarded first floor barn In all 5.67 acres ESTATE AGENTS Savills, Hardwick House, Agricultural Hall Plain, Norwich, NR1 3FS Tel 01603 229249 www.savills.co.uk

extensive alterations were carried out in 1966 when the principal facade was incorporated in the style of the early 18th century. Most recently, the house was acquired by the current owners in 1991 and since then significant improvements and refurbishment have been carried out. Much work has been undertaken, including provision of a new custom built oak kitchen with granite work surfaces, refurbishment of all the bathrooms, complete redecoration and the addition of a fine Amdega conservatory, Amdega being the world’s oldest established brand in conservatories and a British design classic. And I have to say it looks absolutely stunning! As for the location, the parish name, Topcroft, is very probably derived from ‘the croft or enclosure at the top’. The church stands on one of the highest points in South Norfolk and the top of the tower has been used as a principal observation point by the Ordnance Survey.

It is a lively village with a thriving cricket club, and is also home to a coarse fishing venue, Topcroft Lakes. The historical connection to the Paston Letters is even marked by a brick village sign in The Street depicting Margery of Topcroft Hall writing the first Valentine to John. The picturesque Waveney Valley market town of Bungay is about three miles to the south and has good shopping facilities including a weekly market. Renowned for its beauty, Bungay is often known as ‘the jewel in Waveney’s crown’, whereas the fine city of Norwich is around 12 miles to the north. But back to Topcroft Hall itself: it is approached through electrically operated wrought iron entrance gates and via a long gravelled drive which approaches the house through the park-like grounds. And I should probably mention at this point that there’s a fine brick built garage block complete with clock tower and enough garage space for two cars and a workshop. Situated to the south of the house there is an attractive area of formal garden with mature beech hedging dividing the formal garden from the surrounding parkland. French windows lead off from the conservatory onto a paved terrace and there’s a further paved terrace with ornamental fish pond approached by French windows from the sitting room. Finally, I must mention that here are many magnificent mature trees, in particular oak, horse chestnut and acacia and a fine and ancient mulberry tree: as apparently it was under this very tree that Margery wrote her letter to John!

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PROPERTY

My Town PROPERTY EXPERT MARK DUFFIELD IS BACKING GREAT YARMOUTH - HE TELLS US WHY

GREAT YARMOUTH

Y HOME TOWN has always had two parts. Great Yarmouth was only so named to differentiate it from Little Yarmouth, an area most of us now know as Southtown (which says to me that our forebears lost their compass as Southtown is actually west). It is still a town of two parts. One part has enjoyed enormous investment for commerce which is on-going in the form of themed restaurants, budget hotels, retail and warehousing/factories. The other part is struggling with the decline of traditional retail, the squeezing of the use of holiday bed spaces and the rationalisation of the retail banks and the professions. I have the impression this recession has affected the much loved historic heart of the town more than most towns of similar size in our country, although lots of coastal towns have a common difficulty. That is not to say there have not been some highlights. The regeneration of the Golden Mile is a delight. I meet many people who sing its praises. More centrally, the makeover of the parks and the unique theatre housed in St George’s is stunning. The investment of the Diocese in the parish has not gone unnoticed. That said, there is work to do. Whilst we have some great restaurants and hotels, the town needs the 21st century presence of themed restaurants. There are extraordinary opportunities for such establishments to set themselves up very economically in the old banking centre (which happens to be near me on Hall Quay). We have one Wetherspoons but we could still do two, and yes, they should make handsome margins. Other parts of the Quay are being

bought to convert to residential accommodation. What a marvellous opportunity for the residential investor. It seems to me there is a positive ‘knock on’ for the residential investor in a town that recognises huge affordable housing costs are impossible as a condition to planning consent for open market housing. Great Yarmouth has a high proportion of private rented housing. It seems to me it works and brings back into use buildings that are past their economic commercial use. ‘You have forgotten the enormous investment from New York into the outer harbour,’ I can hear you say. Whilst certainly controversial, the outer harbour as an extension of the land mass to the east of the River Yare has been created by a large investment. The idea came from the Port and Haven Commissioners who, it seems to me, get little credit for a facility that may yet prove to be a huge asset because in truth the timing of the completion of the facility could not have been less fortunate as world shipping declined so dramatically with the banking crisis. I am not sure off shore renewables will bring the Outer Harbour facility more work which raises a question mark against the County and Borough Authorities’ ongoing investment into the South Denes which currently seems to be less appreciative of the needs of established business and gives great emphasis on what ‘might be’. In April, the rules for pension pots changed. The expectation is that much money will be invested in property as bank deposits fail to bring decent returns. In my opinion it is difficult to get a better income return on residential investment than in Great Yarmouth. Investors should not forget the VAT regime on conversion of commercial property to residential is relatively benign. This is a real opportunity.

The regeneration of the Golden Mile is a delight, and the makeover of the parks and the unique theatre housed in St George’s is stunning

MARK DUFFIELD ALDREDS 17 HALL QUAY, GREAT YARMOUTH TEL: 01603 706740 WWW.ALDREDS.CO.UK

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A LOOK AT LIFE

RICHARD BARR

The

1 Club

in 10,000

Our Richard goes from one extreme to another. Last month he talked about the cosmos and beyond. Now he gets his microscope out to see his new friend who tells him his story

y name is Michael Robe. My friends call me Mike. I live on a huge mobile skyscraper with several thousand of my kind. It is not a bad place to live and has lots of nooks and crannies. Unlike skyscrapers that are fixed to the ground this one is moved around and we never know what we will see next. I am desperately in love with Violet Russ. Her friends call her Vi. We live as a colony among the giants. These are huge creatures, so big that without effort they pick up our skyscraper and carry it around with them. Some of us are crushed when the giants press huge fingers and thumbs onto our skyscraper home. Others live on, and even inside, these giants but I prefer to stay outside them. We are often jarred by noises that come from our skyscraper which can come to life and make strange sounds. Some of our colony recognise the sounds as the din from other giant animals like sheep bleating or dogs barking or songs that they have heard coming from other skyscrapers. Things get worse when the giants hold our skyscraper close to big roundish pink things (with huge hairs sticking out of them) that are attached to their heads. Could these things be ears? They are massive and revolting. When the giants do this they make their own noises – which we find quite deafening, especially as our skyscraper then makes noises back.

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You may think we have a charmed life, but that is not the case. From time to time other giants come along with huge cylinders. They look like well possibly are - space rockets, except that they never seem to go into space. We dread it when this happens. I will tell you why later. Sometimes there are smaller giants, but these do not touch our home. They live on the land where the giants walk – so far down from our skyscraper that we can hardly see them. They are furry and have whiskers. They make vibrating noises when the giants stroke them and we have seen those giants eat smaller giants which squeak and try to run away. We inhabit this land of giants but we are so small that they cannot see us. We are not afraid of most things because we know that if some of us are killed, we can quickly make more of ourselves and keep our colony alive. Don’t tell the giants, but our favourite pastime is to get right inside them, because there it is warm and we never want for food or drink. Some of us hitch a ride into what we call the giant’s ‘Cave’ by clinging onto their pudgy fingers. Giants almost always put their fingers into the caves (it is difficult to imagine, but some say these caves are their mouths) after they have pressed the buttons on our skyscraper. Then it is easy to hop off and into the wonderful world within. There we are so happy that we have lots and lots of children (and then more children), and this makes things even better for us. The giant will grow hot and pleasantly sweaty, then entertain us by giving us an exciting ride out into the world again. I think I have heard it being referred to as sneezing or coughing, but those are far too boring expressions. It is more thrilling than a trip to Disneyland. If we are sneezed or coughed out of a giant we can travel colossal distances. It is so much fun. My great uncle managed to get sneezed out of the same giant 14 times because each time he managed to land where the giant picked him up again. We have to be careful not to overdo it. If there are too many of us inside the giants they sometimes stop playing and grow cold. Life is not always a bed of roses for us. We actually dread the smell of roses. Do you remember I talked a while back about these space rockets? Well the giants sometimes press the rocket motor at the top of them and there is a terrifying hissing sound and this horrible vapour, smelling of – roses comes out. One of my learned friends can read. It took him a whole week to make his way across the writing on one of the cylinders. These are the chilling words he read to us: kills 99.99 per cent of all known germs. Happily, even if that is true, there are many millions of us and the surviving point nought one percent of us can keep the species going. We have also formed the ‘One in Ten Thousand Club’ to show that some of us have the right stuff. So far I have survived three attacks. But, oh dear, here it comes again – the big giant hand with the big giant finger on the top. Then a hiss and more of that horrible spray. And now I am beginning to feel very ill and my body is dissolving. I think my number may be up. I am not sure I am going to survive. Please, if you read this, can you tell Vi Russ I love her but also that she must not grieve. There are still many thousands of the Mike Robe family who I am sure will give her the love she deserves.

Sheridan Parris bedding in Forest Green, double duvet RRP £119 now £59.50, pillowcase pair RRP £39 now £19.50 Take a trip to the Tropics with this lush and vivid rainforest floral. Intricately drawn vines of native palms and flowers are intertwined in the pattern, and printed in a brilliant palette of jungle greens. Select any of these single shades to coordinate the curtains, cushions and accessories and dress the complete bedroom. It is cotton sateen and fully reversible.

| MAY 2015

Totally

Evans Lichfield cushions, Flamingos square 17” x 17” and Twin Flamingos 43cm x 33cm £18, 5 Parrots 43cm x 33cm £15 The spirit of the Tropics is well and truly brought to life with these fabulously OTT scatter cushions that would immediately lighten the mood in any room, and even make you smile. The flamingo cushions are 73 per cent polyester and 27 per cent cotton, and the parrots cushion is washable with 96 per cent polyester and four per cent linen. Great for that patio or conservatory furniture too.

tropıcal Our homes writers Hayley Philpot and Jennifer Read help you create a tropical paradise as temperatures start to rise

HAYLEY & JENNIFER are homeware buyers 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

OOKING AT THE TRENDS in

fashion and interiors for this summer, things are certainly sizzling and ‘Feeling hot, hot, hot’! Sunglasses are definitely required, as palm trees, flamingos, bird of paradise flowers and citrus cocktails are everywhere. It may be a little too much for some but the theme could be introduced in a subtle way, with just an exotic bed cover or a scatter cushion. However, if you are brave and anticipating the imminent summer heat, then the full-on Copacabana effect could be such fun. No Caribbean holiday this year? Never fear – you can create your own tropical paradise at home.

Fatboy Garden Hammock £349 Who says this has to stay in the garden? If space permits, why not jazz up the living space for a party night with this lime green lovely, which has room for several people. Safely attached to a secure frame and made of water resistant fabric, cocktail spills would be no problem. For a fine May evening outside though when the sun is still shining, there’ll be no problem with the vibrant colour fading as the fabric is UV resistant. There will definitely be a queue to try it out.

INTERIORS

TROPICS

Talking Tables paper decorations, Pineapples £7.50 per pack, Honeycombs £6 per pack in 3 assorted sizes For maximum impact, stand these pineapples in the centre of the buffet table and hang the honeycomb balls from the ceiling for double the effect – such a simple, inexpensive and instant way to dress the room.

Sia Home Fashion, Stem Pompom flowers £7.39 These giant single stem pompom flowers are structurally beautiful from all angles and look best in a simple arrangement against a plain background or window. Try embellishing them with some palm leaves or other exotic leaf shapes from the garden.

Accessorize Home, Birds of Paradise beach towel £18 Guaranteed to get you in the mood for relaxing – hopefully on a sunny beach somewhere. But if not, simply lay it on the lawn, close your eyes and dream. It’s easy to care for with 100 percent cotton and is machine washable.

IT’S HOUSE PARTY TIME, so let the fun begin. Cocktails are a must to fit in with this theme and you need the tools and accessories to impress your guests. On the list for the drinkers, the essentials are: a cocktail shaker, cocktail glasses, stirrers and parasols. For the foodies, make your tableware, cutlery and napkins zing with the many tropical shades and designs that are available this season. Complete the look with some amazing paper decorations and statement artificial flowers. So dig out that Hawaiian shirt and put a calypso on the sound system!

Boston cocktail shaker £16, cocktail parasols £1.50, novelty fruit cocktail stirrers set £4.50 What’s your favourite – a Singapore Sling, Pina Colada, Mojito or a Martini, shaken and not stirred! Whatever your choice, this superb shaker will provide the most delicious cocktail in no time, and the parasols and stirrers provide a truly professional finishing touch.

Symphony Prism glasses, set of 6 £30 Fancy a longer drink? Then these glasses are ideal and each one in this set of 6 features a different colour base, providing a gorgeous injection of colour into any occasion. Party cutlery £5 per pack Tropical Fiesta napkins £3 Perfect for indoor or outdoor gatherings, these fun cutlery items are safe and durable yet still decorative and fun, and these napkins are simply perfect.

Kitchen Sense of Harleston For Quality Fitted Kitchens and Appliances

KITCHEN SENSE COMMON SENSE

62 London Road, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9BZ Tel: 01379 852592 Fax: 01379 854411 staff@kitchen-sense.co.uk | www.kitchen-sense.co.uk

Specialists in truly bespoke handmade kitchens and joinery, based in Oulton Broad reidesign-joinery.co.uk 07840 808953

reidesignjoinery@yahoo.com Visit our showroom: Unit 1 Tilia Court, Wendover Road, Rackheath Industrial Estate, Norwich, NR13 6SX (Directions: Turn left into Tilia Court at end of Stratstans premises)

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

LUST LIST

NURSERY FURNITURE

02.

01. 03.

AS A NEW ROYAL BABY MAKES ITS ENTRANCE, EMMA OUTTEN TAKES A LOOK AT NURSERY FURNITURE FIT FOR PRINCE GEORGE’S NEW SIBLING

01. Ribbons Four Poster Bed, from £4,350, And So To Bed, www.andsotobed.co.uk 02. Tidy Books Box White, £79, Tidy Books, www.tidy-books.co.uk 03. Hand painted butterfly bin, £25, Sarah Sherrington, www.sarahsherrington.com 04. Story Cot-Bed – Owlet, £450, Cosatto, www.cosatto.co.uk 05. Dylan & Boo Rocking Horse, £130, Little Bird Told Me, www.littlebirdtoldme.co.uk

05.

04. 51

DUST-FREE FLOOR SANDING, FRENCH POLISHING & RESTORATION SPECIALISTS

dustfreesanding@hotmail.com | 01603 621 354 | 07766 466 078

www.dustfreesandingnorwich.com

Entertaining Kitchens Flaming Good. William Frost Way, Longwater Business Park, Costessey, Norwich NR5 0JS Open Monday - Friday 7.30am - 5.00pm and Saturday 8.00am - 2.00pm

01603 731551 www.longwaterliving.com

It’s all about creating your style...

the small details that make you smile each time.

n to

Brinell Way

Bessemer Way

Shoreline Bathrooms Ltd. Morton Peto Road Harfreys Industrial Estate Great Yarmouth NR31 0LT

Boundary Rd

Harfrey’s Rd

01493 652073 shorelinebathrooms@btconnect.com

www.shorelinebathrooms.com

William Adams Way

Morton Peto Road

A12

For free advice call us on

01502 531825

Taking Your Camera Off Auto 9:30am - 12:30pm Sat May 23rd

Change your perspective Luxury conservatories, quality and hand-built to meet your needs

Practical workshop in our woodland garden for beginners using DSLR cameras ÂŁ35 per person

Booking essential please telephone 01603 270449

www.fairhavengarden .co.uk

We are a friendly family run business specialising in plants, shrubs, trees, roses, conifers, perennial and seasonal plants with a huge selection of well established mature trees and shrubs for that professional finished look. We grow everything on the premises.

www.earlydawnwindows.co.uk Rushmere Road, Carlton Colville, Suffolk NR33 8HA Opening Times 10am-4pm | 7 days per week

SUMMER BEDDING & HANGING BASKET PLANTS NOW AVAILABLE

Our Cafe specialises in freshly prepared home cooked food. Yes we mean really homemade! Like Mother used to make!

Ormesby St Michael, Gt Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR29 3LT 01493 732694 www.broadlandnurseries.co.uk

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we are now stocking the following grass ranges

Beautiful, Quality Lighting The Living Light Company will help get your garden ready for summer. We offer a wide range of garden lighting ranging from lights for decking, ﬂower beds and an amazing waterproof range of cordless colour changeable mood lights including plant pots, pebbles, mood balls and lit garden furniture.

Light up your world love ours!

L A N D S C A P I N G

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The

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E S TA B L I S H E D OVER 35 YEARS We specialise in bespoke joinery & carpentry which includes all outdoor furniture, garden buildings & fencing. If you are looking for a custom handmade shed or summerhouse or any kind of garden or interior furniture please don’t hesitate to call for a quote or call in and see us.

S.T. Goodwin

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Visit us online at www.stgoodwin.com

www.livinglightcompany.co.uk T: 07768 717919 or 01493 484903 E: info@livinglightcompany.co.uk

| MAY 2015

LIFT OFF Ellen Mary is as busy as a bee in the garden this month as the milder weather sees everything start to grow - and that includes the grass!

T’S TIME TO START really enjoying the early mornings, listening to the enchanting sound of the dawn chorus during the magical month of May. With everything springing into life, busy bees will be pollinating and butterﬂies will be enjoying the sunshine. Let May inspire you to try something different like planting up an old tea pot with herbs or standing a pair of old boots on your patio full of succulents to add that touch of individuality to your garden.

Garden and Flowers • May is all about trimming, supporting and preparing your blooms for their colourful display to come. Trim your lavender, prune your penstemon and tie your sweet peas and climbing roses to their supports. • Your lawn will be growing in the sunshine but striving for that velvety green carpet takes some work. Scarify moss and weeds and mow little and often, without going too low. Gradually reduce the height as we head into late spring. Leaving an area for longer grass and wildflowers, however small, will help to encourage little creatures to enjoy your space. • After spending time making your garden beautiful, you will need to keep a close look out for pests such as vine weevil, slugs, snails and lily beetles. They can soon destroy your plants in pots, containers and borders. There are so many methods to control pests such as nematodes, broken egg shells and copper tape but the first step is to keep a check on your plants every day.

What’s On

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GARDENING

JOBS FOR THE MONTH

Fruit and Vegetables • Growing strawberries is sweetly satisfying, so allow them to be insect pollinated and lay straw underneath them if you are growing them in the ground. This can help with minimising slug damage and will also keep the fruit clean. There are many varieties which can be grown to extend the harvest from summer into autumn. Try ‘Cupid’ for its amazing flavour. • Growing salads is easy in pots, troughs or in a vegetable patch but have you tried to grow nasturtium? It’s easy to grow from seed and can be grown in the ground or as a cascading display in a hanging basket. The petals are edible and can be added to a salad for a peppery flavour. • Herbs will be growing in abundance from now on and the more you pick, the more they will grow. Don’t let them go to waste, just freeze them for winter use. Try making a frozen herb butter by chopping up your favourites and putting them in ice trays with oil or butter. Or simply add them to water in an ice tray for use with a summer cocktail.

Wildlife Gardening • Swifts, swallows and martins once again grace our skies whilst warblers enjoy the hedgerows full of blossom. At this busy time of year, birds are feeding their young which gives us the chance to both enjoy watching them and help them along. Keep bird baths clean with fresh water and provide plenty of food available. • Algae can become a problem in ponds which can harm wildlife living in the water. Remove blanket weed and leave it next to the pond giving wildlife the chance to make it back into the water. • Bats are fully active during May and really are amazing creatures. Like birds, they need a place to rear their young so why not put up a bat box. They can also help to control pests in your garden.

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

Using these seedballs to grow your own herbs or salads couldn’t be easier! Just scatter them where you want them to grow, in your borders, pots or hanging baskets. Before long you will be eating your own rocket, chives, red mustard and much more with very little effort. Only £6.95 from www.notonthehighstreet.com/ellenmarygardening

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A FAMILY AFFAIR

A family run farm shop and plant centre celebrates its 80th birthday this year. Sarah Hardy visits A G Meale and Sons in Stalham and comes home with a haul!

G MEALE & SONS is quite a shopping experience, selling everything from bedding plants to plump sausages! Now taking in 260-acres of land at Stalham, the highly successful family business started out with Allen Meale and his small holding of just one acre of land on Camping Field Lane 80 years ago. Fast forward to 1965 and the ever expanding company became a limited one, with a move to a new site at Wayford in the 1970s. Now the business, which has members of the fourth generation working for it, is run by two of his sons, Stephen and David and it is a happy, thriving place where customers know they are getting both quality products and value for money.

ADVERTISER’S ANNOUNCEMENT

A G MEALE AND SONS

A G MEALE & SONS LTD Wayford Nurseries Stalham, Norwich NR12 9LJ Tel: 01692 580226, visit www.agmeale.co.uk OPENING TIMES Weekdays: 8am - 6pm Saturday: 8am - 5pm Sunday: 10am - 4pm

But what a lot of choice there is! It is hard to know where to start. First, perhaps, is the wonderful selection of fruit and vegetables grown at the site. At the right time of year, you can buy home produced potatoes, broccoli, pumpkins, cauliflowers, runner beans, cabbages and more. Right now expect to see the most delicious tomatoes which smell and taste divine, plus asparagus, freshly cut from surrounding fields, of course, and strawberries, surely the perfect summer fruit. The business is one of the biggest producers of tomatoes in the region and they are grown without the use of insecticides. Most, which are pollinated by bees, are sold on site and through local retailers. I was lucky enough to be given a good few of the earliest pickings to try at home and bingo, what a treat. They do taste so very different – the skin is softer and they just ooze juiciness. A weekend of salads, ploughman’s and eventually a creamy soup followed!

Add in Swannington Farm to Fork and Tavern Tasty meats, Broadland Hams, Mrs Temple’s cheeses, Ferndale cheeses, Norton’s milk and cheese, and what a hamper of fine locally grown you goodies you have! Then there is the plant side of the business which sees, especially at the time of year, the site brimming over with colour. The growing houses stretch to about three acres and then the fledging plants are transferred to one of eight poly tunnels where the green fingered among us can choose what we fancy! At present, there are many varieties of geranium, fuchsia, salvias, pansies and lupins to enjoy – plus roses, lavenders and other shrubs. The company prides itself on customer service, and offers lots of little touches – staff will always help people carry items to their car, have masses of gardening advice they can share and do offer a planting up service for say hanging baskets at the start of the season. The company is always looking at new ideas and developments. This spring sees a new range of garden pots and containers, including a very smart National Trust range of planters in beautiful heritage colours. There are also stunning garden houses from Palmako which are crafted from slow grown Nordic timber, giving extra durability. They are very attractive and becoming very popular as summer retreats, offices or simply somewhere to escape to in the garden! Plans are also afoot to create a coffee house on the site, too. So watch this space! And, before you know it, it will be the ‘pick your own’ season when you can fill tub after tub with strawberries, raspberries, plums and runner beans. It is always great fun, a real family occasion, and very much part of a typical English summer!

Pictures by BARKERS PHOTOGRAPHIC, GORLESTON www.barkersphotos.co.uk

| MAY 2015

SERVES 4

Save the best ’til last THIS MONTH SIMON WAINWRIGHT, EXECUTIVE HEAD CHEF OF THE IMPERIAL HOTEL IN GREAT YARMOUTH, LEAVES US WANTING MORE WITH THIS PUD!

Caramel Pannacotta with Homemade Gingerbread and Spiced Apple Crisps 60

Ingredients for the Pannacotta

75ml of milk 300ml of double cream 1 leaf of gelatine, softened in water 75g of caster sugar 2tbsp of water 1 vanilla pod

Ingredients for the Gingerbread

225g of plain flour 60g of dark brown sugar 1 ½ tsp mixed spice 1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda 2 ½ tsp of ground ginger 120g of unsalted butter 120g of black treacle 85g of golden syrup 140ml of milk 1 egg

Ingredients for Spiced Apple Crisps 2 Braeburn apples 1 tbsp of cinnamon

IMPERIAL HOTEL

RECIPE

Method 1. First make the pannacottas by bringing the milk, cream and scraped vanilla pod to the boil. Add the softened gelatine leaf and gently mix in 2. In a separate saucepan, put the sugar and 2 tbsp of water and place onto a high heat to make a caramel, not taking it too far (if it goes black, you have gone too far). It needs to be a golden caramel colour 3. Once it is at the caramel stage, slowly and carefully whisk it into the milk and cream 4. Place into ramekins and sit in the fridge for about six hours

TO MAKE THE GINGERBREAD 5. Prehead the oven to 150°C 6. Sieve the plain flour, dark brown sugar, mixed spice, bicarbonate of soda and ground ginger in a bowl. In a heavy saucepan melt the butter, treacle and syrup together 7. Allow the warm melted ingredients to cool then slowly whisk in the egg and milk. Add the sieved dry ingredients to the saucepan, mix well to combine then pour contents into a tin, lined with baking parchment 8. Bake the gingerbread for approx 1 hour until a knife inserted into the centre comes out clean. Once baked and cooked but still a little warm, wrap in Clingfilm until needed

TO MAKE THE APPLE CRISPS 9. Heat the oven to 160°C, core the apple and slice through the equator into very thin slices 1-2mm thick, dust with cinnamon and lay flat on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper 10. Cook for 45 minutes to an hour, turning halfway through until the apples have dried out and are a light golden colour. Cool and store in an airtight container To serve, turn out the pannacotta by placing the mould in a little hot water for about three seconds, being careful not to get any water into the mould. Garnish with two slices of gingerbread and three slices of apple crisps

Wine Choice 2011 ALVEAR PEDRO XIMENEZ, FROM MONTILLA MORILES, SPAIN NICK MOBBS, DIRECTOR AND WINE EXPERT AT THE IMPERIAL HOTEL, SAYS: Simon’s caramel pannacotta has some really great flavours with the taste of caramel, ginger and spiced apple plus the richness of the cream. To accompany this dish I have chosen: 2011 Alvear Pedro Ximenez, from Montilla Moriles, Spain. The name of the grape is the Pedro Ximenez or commonly known as the PX. Classically, this wine is grown in the sherry region of Spain. However, Bodegas Alvear does not make sherry. This wine comes from Montilla which is warmer and away from the coast. The grapes are harvested, and then laid out on mats to dry in the autumnal sun. Drying the grapes makes them sweet and really concentrated. They are then pressed, the sweet juice run off, and grape spirit added to prevent fermentation. The wine is then aged in large casks before bottling. The colour of the wine is clear amber, almost like caramel, and the taste is rich in dried fruit and toasty flavours with rosemary and honey and it works well with the caramel and ginger. It is also delicious poured onto vanilla ice cream!

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

www.cafecru.co.uk

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

EDP Norfolk Food and Drink Awards 2013

CHEF OF THE YEAR

EDP Norfolk

PUB OF THE YEAR

Finalist 2014

MARK DIXON & A NATASH E ROOK

welcomtheeyou to

Restaurant & Country Pub

Fine Dining & Bar Meals

Real Local Ales & Speciality Beers & Wine

Tel 01493 368333 www.kingsarmsfleggburgh.com

Large Outdoor Eating Area & Kids Play Area

/kingsarmsfleggburgh

Events Room Weddings & Functions

@KingsArms_Flegg

The Kings Arms, Main Road, Fleggburgh, Great Yarmouth, NR29 3AG

Green Asparagus, Poached Eggs and Hollandaise Sauce (with marinated anchovies)

RECIPE

FRANCK PONTAIS

SERVES TWO

Ingredients 1 bunch of asparagus 1 /4 of a bunch ﬂat parsley 2 medium eggs A few fine slices of red onions 4 pieces of anchovies 2 pinches of Maldon salt 1 tbsp of cider vinegar

For the hollandaise sauce 1 tbsp of white wine vinegar 1 tbsp of white peppercorns, crushed 4 egg yolks 250g of unsalted butter 1 pinch of table salt Juice of half lemon 1 tsp of chopped parsley

Go Green OUR FRENCH CHEF FRANCK PONTAIS USES THAT MOST SEASONAL OF TREATS – ASPARAGUS – IN HIS RECIPE THIS MONTH

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

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

Method 1. Bring a large pan of slightly salted water to the boil. Plunge the asparagus in the water and cook, covered, for 2 minutes, refresh straight away in icy water for 30 seconds. Set aside on kitchen paper. 2. Put the eggs in a little bowl with the cider vinegar. 3. Bring a pan of water to boil and pour the eggs gently in it, cook for 30 seconds and refresh immediately in icy cold water for 30 seconds. Set aside. 4. Place the asparagus on plates, add the poached eggs and pour the hollandaise sauce on top. 5. Sprinkle with a generous pinch of Maldon salt and garnish with the anchovies and red onions.

For the hollandaise sauce 1. In a saucepan, mix the wine vinegar with 4 tbsp of cold water and the pepper. Reduce by one third and leave to cool completely. 2. Add the egg yolks and mix with a whisk. Put the saucepan on a medium heat and continue whisking, gradually increasing the heat so that the sauce emulsifies. 3. Once emulsified, take off the heat and gently pour the melted butter while still whisking. Add the lemon juice, chopped parsley and the pinch of salt. 4. Pour the sauce over the poached egg and serve. 63

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

Carefully selected signature dishes

TASTING MENU*

Savour the whole dining experience with 7 courses

SUNDAY LUNCH*

Featuring our popular ‘Roast Fillet of Beef ’

LUNCH DU JOUR DINNER DU JOUR 2 courses for £16.50 3 courses for £20.95

2 courses £22.50 3 courses £28.00

*Booking is essential for these options due to popularity

The Ingham Swan, Sea Palling Road, Ingham, Norfolk, NR12 9AB

WINE COLUMN

DESSERT WINES

Last Impressions

or me, the two most important parts of any dining experience are the first and last impressions. That all important start is vital and sets the tone for the rest of the occasion. Get it wrong, and it’s an uphill struggle from then on for both restaurant and diner. Equally important, in my eyes, is the last lingering taste memory of a dining experience in a restaurant. That’s the one that stays freshest in the mind (at least on the occasions where you resisted a second bottle of wine); when you are passing on your carefully considered analysis to family, friends, or (if you have to), the dreaded green box on the TripAdvisor website. Our drinks choices, of course, can enhance our dining experience. More often than not though, once the nice glass of crisp Sauvignon has been enjoyed with the cod, or the rich Malbec with the beef, we sit there idly sipping luke-warm tap water until it’s time for a decaf cappuccino. Hang on a minute though, dessert wines are on the up again in the restaurant trade, appearing on more and more menus across restaurant, pub and bar menus. The question: ‘Do you have any dessert wines?’ is a daily occurrence in the restaurant at The Assembly House these days, and it is a joy to serve them alongside our fab pastry chef Mark Mitson’s stunning desserts, where they work beautifully. Because the sweet wine revolution is a bit of a returning trend in the hospitality industry, the prices are still reasonable and you can find good value for money in a product which is actually quite difficult to produce. Sweet wine is made from hundreds of different grape varieties, in a number of different ways. A sweeter grape is obviously needed to make a good pudding wine and the most common way of achieving this is extracting the excess water from the grapes. This is done in a few ways by drying the grapes, almost turning them into raisins before pressing, letting the grapes freeze naturally, or letting them rot, yes I do mean rot! Don’t worry, this is a healthy rot, and by not too much before they are picked and pressed! Because of the slightly shrivelled, dry, frozen or rotting grapes, the yields are naturally less than that of a small plump juicy grape which is why some dessert wines can be on the pricier side. There is simply less liquid available.

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Our wine writer Sam Matthews discusses dessert wines and post dinner drinks in his latest column

Often in restaurants you can find dessert wines in accessible tasting sizes which don’t blow the budget, and they’re that perfect size to accompany just the one course, so I’d say well worth a try. But the drinks options don’t have to stop there. Another big trend hitting the industry at the moment is in the spirits selections that restaurants are offering, with a big focus on after dinner drinks. Whiskies, brandies and liqueurs are all enjoying renewed prominence on the menu. For me, to accompany a good coffee, a few chocolates or sweet petit fours, there is nothing better than a warming whisky or brandy to finish off a meal. It’s my favourite way to end a dining experience and it gives you that all-important good last impression of a night out with good food. So remember that last impression is in your hands and you don’t have to push the boat out to enjoy a glass of something different. Instead of that bottle of wine, have a glass of this and then a glass of that, making use of a restaurant’s by-the-glass options and the staff ’s knowledge, and savour making that moment last.

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

Now serving breakfast Tuesday to Sunday 9.30 - 11.30 and a brand new lunch menu

Celebrating Norfolk Produce Is Our Passion Located in a fabulous Grade II listed building on Pottergate, Roots bistro provides a warm, friendly atmosphere in which to enjoy a quick snack, romantic evening meal or Sunday lunch with friends. We are committed to using only the freshest seasonal produce from around East Anglia, and have won the prestigious Waitrose Good Food Guide Award 2015.

6 Pottergate Norwich NR2 1DS To Book, please call us on 01603 920788

Check out our new website at www.rootsnorwich.co.uk

Tel: 01493 923113

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| MAY 2015

the sweetest

honey

ANDY NEWMAN MEETS A NORFOLK BEEKEEPER WHO IS ‘LIVING THE DREAM’, WHILST ROGER HICKMAN REMEMBERS TIMES PAST WITH SOME DELICIOUS HONEY MADELEINES

F GETTING BACK TO NATURE is what you are looking

for, then there are few occupations more suitable than food production. Whether it is growing crops, rearing animals or foraging for ingredients, living in sync with the rhythms of the natural world is sure to play a part. But there are few types of food production as natural as making honey. Perhaps this explains the huge growth in beekeeping as a hobby – membership of the British Beekeeping Association has nearly doubled over the past six years, with their 24,000 members responsible for anything up to three billion honey bees. Like so many other types of foodstuff, Norfolk is a great place to make honey. It’s not that our county’s bees are in anyway superior to those working in other counties; it is the sheer variety of plant life, and hence pollen, which makes this region such a honey-pot. I first met Leigh Goodsell at the Creake Abbey farmers’ market. Leigh is a talented photographer, and for many years made his living in the commercial and advertising world. But over the past six years he has slowly built up a second career, and one which clearly gives him a great deal of pleasure. Leigh is a beekeeper, and markets his amazing Norfolk honey under the simple moniker ‘Leigh’s Bees’. Beekeeping is not new to 49-year-old Leigh. He started at the tender age of 10 in his home town of Snettisham; his best friend kept bees, and as is the way with young boys, he wanted to do the same. His mother encouraged him in what he calls a ‘floaty sandals type of way’, until repeated stinging drove her back indoors and left Leigh to nurture his bees on his own.

Leigh’s Bees Norfolk honey is available from a number of retail outlets, including Humble Pie at Burnham Market, Drove Orchards Farm Shop, Creake Abbey Food Hall and Wiveton Hall Farm Shop. Leigh also attends the Creake Abbey farmers’ market on the first Saturday of every month, and the Norwich Forum farmers’ market on the second Saturday of every month. For more details, visit www.leighsbees.co.uk.

The interest stayed with him, and keeping bees has been part of Leigh’s life since that moment. But it was only six years ago, when the idea of turning his interest into a business first crystallised. ‘Like many people I had been re-evaluating what I did for a living,’ he explains. ‘The advent of digital photographic technology was squeezing the market for professional photographers, so I wanted to find something else I could do to supplement my photographic work.’ The idea of producing a natural Norfolk honey appealed, not least because of the huge variety of plant life around his home (he now lives near Ringstead). From rape in the spring, through May blossom and sycamore, to the summer mix of wild flowers, lime, clover and marjoram, to the sea lavender to be found on the marshes at Brancaster, the mix of nectars gives Leigh’s honey the true taste of the Norfolk countryside.

NORFOLK PRODUCE

HONEY

RECIPE

Roger Hickman’s Norfolk honey madeleines SERVES FOUR

INGREDIENTS 135g unsalted butter, 3 eggs, 75g caster sugar, 75g Demerara sugar, 15g Norfolk honey, 135g plain flour, 3g baking powder

His 40 or so apiaries are dotted around the north Norfolk countryside, on the edge of the marshes, and further inland on organic farms and nature reserves. Farmers welcome his bees – they help with pollination, and increase yields on crops. With each hive producing around 40-60lbs of honey each year, Leigh’s is very much a human-scale enterprise, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Although he would like to expand his business, 100 hives is his limit, because this will enable him to continue making his honey the natural way. As well as the known origin of the honey, Leigh does not filter his honey, ensuring that it contains the local pollens that the bees wanted in it in the first place (although it is strained through a fine sieve, to remove any stray pieces of wood from the hive, bits of wax and so on). The honey is then gently heated to 40°C to enable it to be bottled, without destroying any of its natural tastes and enzymes. As Leigh says: ‘A bee feasting on a jar of my honey would taste little difference from what it would expect to find in the hive.’ Honey will naturally crystallise, but can be brought back to its more attractive liquid state by gently heating in warm water – although surprisingly, Leigh says that around a quarter of people prefer crystallised honey. Liquid or crystallised, one thing that does remain constant is the taste, which will reflect the nectar which the bees have feasted on. Leigh’s honey is noticeable for the depth of flavour, the range of different tastes and aftertastes, and the complexity. When you have tasted this, you won’t ever be satisfied with mass-produced supermarket honey again. As well as the honey, Leigh sells beeswax polish, a natural by-product of the honey-making process, and a natural way to bring the lustre back to wooden furniture. And his latest venture is beekeeping experience sessions, aimed at those who are curious as to how honey is made, and who want to get up close and personal with the bees. As with so many artisan food producers, Leigh is very clearly happy in his work. ‘I think I probably am living the dream,” he admits. “I’ve no desire to get rich – all the work I do, I enjoy.’

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Heat the butter in a pan until it melts, foams, and starts to turn light brown. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly – it will continue to become slightly darker in colour. This is called beurre noisette. In a Kenwood mixer, whisk the eggs and caster sugar together until they are light and fluffy. Heat the Demerara sugar and honey in a pan to a temperature of 120°C, then add to the egg and sugar mixture, while whisking slowly. Mix the baking powder into the flour, and then add this to the mixture, with the whisk still going slowly. Next, add the beurre noisette, very slowly at first, as if you were making mayonnaise. Once it starts to come together, you can increase the speed both of the whisk, and of how quickly you add the remaining butter. I use silicone Madeleine trays, which require little or no greasing. But if you are using a metal tray, butter the tray, and shake flour into the indentations. Now pour the madeleine mixture into the tray, being careful not to overfill the indentations. The madeleines will rise during cooking, so only fill the trays until they are level. Bake in the oven at 180°C for about six minutes, until the madeleines are golden brown and slightly puffed up. Remove from the oven and cool on a cooling rack.

ROGER HICKMAN is chef-proprietor at Roger

Hickman‘s Restaurant in Upper St Giles, Norwich. More details at www.rogerhickmansrestaurant.com.

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Luck 72

SARAH HARDY RETURNS TO THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF GREAT YARMOUTH FOR A NIGHT AT THE CASINO WHERE SHE ENJOYS A GAME OF POKER ALONGSIDE A GREAT SUPPER!

FOOD REVIEW

GROSVENOR CASINO

The Grosvenor Casino

in Great Yarmouth is one of the most popular entertainment spots in the town and offers a wide selection of games ranging from poker to black jack – and a fine dining restaurant with a growing reputation. It is set in one of the town’s most attractive buildings, Shadingfield Lodge on Marine Parade. It is an elegant Grade Two listed building which was built in 1865 as a private family home. The Prince of Wales, Bertie, later King Edward VII, (and Lillie Langtry, allegedly) were visitors and it’s certainly worthy of royal patronage. It was also a hotel but is now home to a Grosvenor casino, one of just under 60 in the country. Inside, a family home feel remains along with plenty of original features such as large fireplaces, huge chandeliers, coving and picture windows overlooking the seafront. There is also a decent sized garden, too. It is an easy place to find your way around. There’s a very nice bar area (with good prices, I thought) where food is served including all your favourites such as curries, fish and chips, burgers and so on. Then there’s a more formal restaurant, where I dined, while the main action is downstairs, on the gaming floor, where there are plenty of slot machines and several so called live tables where you can play roulette, three card poker and blackjack. This was my second visit to the casino and was just as much fun as I’d remembered. And I even returned with the same girlfriend who’d also enjoyed her night out so much that she wanted a repeat run!

We started with a drink in the bar which is all comfy sofas – and Sky Sports. There is a great cocktail list but I went for my firm favourite – a glass of cool Prosecco while my friend sampled a port and lemonade – those retro drinks are quite the rage these days! After swapping our news of the day, we moved through to the dining room which is all white linen cloths and attentive waiter service. Mention here must go to Teresa, our waitress for the evening who was very charming. The menu is easy on the eye with starters including cheesy garlic mushrooms, spicy chicken wings and a Bloody Mary king prawn cocktail. I went for crispy calamari at £4.95 which really is a favourite of mine although the homemade pasta with mozzarella, tomato and basil was very tempting. My friend tried the soup of the day, mushroom and stilton, at £3.95 which was described as thoroughly delicious so you can’t say fairer than that. Main courses include Chinese style sea bass, chargrilled half chicken, a full rack of ribs and Nicoise salad. I tried a juicy 8oz sirloin steak, cooked medium as requested, and with a peppercorn sauce at £14.95. It was accompanied by battered onion rings, a plum tomato, a chargrilled mushroom, red onion slaw and skin-on fries – perfect! My friend had Cajun salmon at £11.95 which beat her as it was such a generous portion, as indeed all of the dishes seem to be. We kept going to the dessert course with me enjoying a banoffee brulee tart which was lovely and creamy and my friend had a chocolate and salted caramel tart. Both were just £3.95 which is incredible value! We were impressed by the food which was well presented and nicely prepared – and very good value. The wine list had plenty to go at, too, but I stuck with another firm favourite, a glass of Australian Pinot Grigio at £4.10. By the time we had lingered over our lattes, the tables were very busy, with all generations enjoying themselves. And it looked especially popular with birthday parties. So how did I fare? Well, that would be telling, wouldn’t it?

THE CASINO offers several themed evenings, experience packages, and networking events. The Grosvenor Casino, Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, visit www. grosvenorcasinos.com or call 01493 850444. It opens from noon until 6am. Over 18s only.

| MAY 2015

On the

Right Track TONY MALLION TAKES A LUXURY TRAIN RIDE THROUGH THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

TRAVEL

CANADA

anada didn’t build railways. It was the other way round. Railways helped to create this vast and beautiful country. With Vancouver as our destination it was time to fulfil a long ambition and ride the Rocky Mountaineer, one of the world’s most spectacular train journeys. And it came with a bonus, the newest double decker coach introduced into service the week before. Luxury travel doesn’t get much more luxurious. Here’s a quick history lesson on why train tracks played such a major role. The Dominion of Canada is almost a youngster, a country officially created by Queen Victoria on July 1st 1867. But its provinces lacked a sense of identity and feared the USA, having already bought Alaska from the Russians, was hungry to take over and grab even more territory. And the UK still controlled British Columbia. The first Canadian Prime Minister Sir John Macdonald came up with an ambitious plan to construct a Canadian Pacific Railway stretching thousands of miles from one coast to the other which he gambled would bring it together as a nation and keep the USA at bay. After a shaky start William Cornelius Van Horne, a rising star of American railroads, took charge of a task which was in danger of grinding to a halt. He forged ahead and on November 7 1885 the final tracks were historically connected in the mountainous Eagle Pass at Craigellachie. Van Horne also created Vancouver which would have remained the small coastal town of Granville if the engineer hadn’t decided it would make a better rail terminus for the transcontinental line than Port Moody about 20km away. We can have a bit of Norfolk pride since this now vibrant city and port owes its new name to the 18th century discoverer and son of King’s Lynn Captain George Vancouver. We flew into Calgary airport and, yes, they sure do have aged cowboys with Stetsons offering a warm greeting and buggy transport for those who need it. Then, by coach to Banff, highest town in the Rockies. No surprise that it was those railway engineers who first discovered the town’s hot springs at the base of Sulphur Mountain which led to the area becoming the world’s first national park in 1887. We wallowed in the warm 40 degree spa water in sunshine before taking the steepest cable cars ever built to the top of the mountain where for a time we were engulfed in a snow storm. Way down below in the valley we could see, once the snow lifted, the train track. Next morning a coach took us to Banff station and the start of the Rocky Mountaineer experience. Soon came the rumble of diesel engines and the blast of a horn as powerful locomotives (it needs two to do the work) came down the track pulling a long line of coaches including our gleaming brand new Gold Leaf one. Flags, a red carpet and cheery staff welcomed us on board. Upstairs, in the glass domed viewing area, we were allocated our internally heated leather seats which reclined at the press of a button and had a nifty table which slid effortlessly from the side. Downstairs was a rear open air viewing platform (the new design had made this a much larger feature than the previous carriages) and the comfortable dining room. Each Gold Leaf coach has its own kitchen and staff preparing fresh locally produced food. The breakfast and lunches were fine dining with a fine view and served in two sittings. If that meant waiting for

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TRAVEL

CANADA second seating extra snacks were served; drinks of any kind were constantly supplied. It’s almost like a cruise liner on wheels. Gold Leaf was definitely my cup of tea. The six staff were there to please, providing not just first class service but keeping you informed about the scenery, history and wildlife. This is a sedate ride which allows massive freight trains to take precedence and means you have all the time in the world to watch the awesome spectacle of snow capped mountains, valleys, gorges, rivers and lakes together with the incredible 19th century engineering which makes it all possible. Then the cry went up, ‘bear on the right’ with a mother and cub looking cuddly like something from a Sugar Puffs carton. The Rocky Mountaineer is a daytime service operating from May to October so we arrived at Kamloops where coaches awaited to whisk us to a hotel for the overnight stay – our luggage having gone ahead separately to our rooms. To our joy our hotel had an open air heated roof top pool providing a swim against a backdrop of mountains and sunset. Wow!

Day two saw the scenery subtly change with our slow train to Vancouver hugging steep mountainsides with the Thompson River far below and wildlife treats including bald eagles, osprey, marmots and mountain goats. An endless pleasure which sadly had to come to an end. Everything you’ve ever heard about Vancouver is probably true. Sea and beaches to one side, mountains to the other and a relaxed welcoming atmosphere which many suggest makes this even more laid back than the American west coast. Here too those railway pioneers left their mark. Around 15,000 Chinese labourers were drafted in leading to a legacy of a large Chinatown and the peaceful oasis of Dr Sun Yat-Sen’s classical Chinese garden. Eating fish and chips by the waterside of the bustling Granville Island market before heading off to the Improv Theatre (where ‘Whose Line is it Anyway?’ was born) was yet another treat. And yes, you’ve guessed it; the market area replaced former railway sidings.

Tony and Jenny Mallion booked ﬂights, connections, hotels and the Rocky Mountaineer through Canadian Affair www.canadianaffair.com More details and bookings also available direct from www.rockymountaineer.com Also recommended reading is Melissa Graham’s Trans-Canada Rail Guide www.trailblazer-guides.com

FACTFILE The privately operated Rocky Mountaineer celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The main route is the one from Banff to Vancouver – you can travel either way – and there are also links from the city to Jasper, Whistler and across the US border to Seattle. Some combine this with a cruise from Vancouver to Alaska.

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| MAY 2015

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Got Broad Appeal More details on www.hovetonhall.co.uk

TRAVEL

THE BROADS

Imagine waking up in your very own stately home with views over glorious countryside in The Broads. Well, now you can, says Sarah Hardy as she visits Hoveton Hall Hoveton Hall is a wonderful Regency house right in

the heart of The Broads. Owned by Harry and Rachel Buxton, this charming, forward thinking couple are determined to make the most of their home and its 620-acre estate. They have decided to use two of the Hall’s most splendid bedrooms for luxury B&B accommodation, allowing holiday makers to sample life on a country estate – and boy, it is fab! I could really get used to living in such historic surroundings, with so much space and acres of parkland to enjoy, too. The hall has an impressive 51 rooms and guests enter via the grand front door, into a large reception room and then the main hall, which boasts an impressive circular staircase. This leads up to the first floor where, in the west wing, are the two guest properties: the Buxton Suite and the South West Room. My husband and I stayed for a couple of nights of pure escapism in the South West Room which has amazing views over the main lawns, taking in the lake and, when we stayed, hosts and hosts of daffodils. It was idyllic. The room, classically kitted out with Eric Bates furniture, bold wallpaper and a modern flat screen TV, also had an ensuite bathroom with what must be the biggest bath in Norfolk; it must be easily 6ft long and very deep too, so you are really talking a good, long soak here! The breakfasts are delicious, too, with masses of fresh fruit and a choice of all your usual farmhouse favourites, including eggs from the estate hens! You eat in the Library, with its book-lined walls and enormous open fire, and think yourself very much part of Downton Abbey life – as a member of the upstairs clan, of course! The couple do offer evening meals but we headed to one Places&Faces® favourite – the Swan at Ingham, about eight miles away for dinner. Here chef patron Dan Smith and his newish head chef, Robert Tragarz, from the Lavender House, continue to offer highly imaginative food in stylish surroundings – clock the Vivienne Westwood wallpaper for a start. Dan is developing the garden which will be wonderful for al fresco dining as the weather improves and is always looking at ways to ‘do different’! He is quite a whirlwind! But back to the hall. When you are staying, you have private access to one of the loveliest gardens in the county. Sure, they open to the public on a regular basis but not much beats being able to stroll around the various areas at your leisure, pausing for a while on one of the carefully positioned benches, to admire the view.

The Spider Garden must be the main attraction; a walled garden with deep herbaceous borders which brims over with colour. It leads into the Old Kitchen Garden, complete with a knot garden and well tended beds where fruit, vegetables and herbs are produced. There is also a water garden with many charming bridges, mature specimen trees, a wood with a kidney lake, and an ice well to discover. You can also wander over the fields to St Peter’s Church, a 17th century red brick and thatch treasure. The garden offers different things at different times – the spring bulbs are magnificent and in May the azaleas and rhododendrons are at their best. Nearby, there is much to see and do. The legendary Wroxham Barns are within walking distance so you can trot out for lunch and a spot of retail therapy while Wroxham itself is just about a 15 minute walk away and who can resist a look around Roys?! Not me for one! It’s easy to hire a boat here or simply hop on one of the organised excursions but we preferred to head off in the car and explore the villages and hamlets of The Broads. It is a wonderful place to potter – Neatishead has a great pub called the White Horse and Barton Turf is picture postcard pretty with its bustling staithe. Add in Ludham and Horning, and there’s plenty to take in, and places to eat and drink – surely a key part of any decent mini break! But after a day spent exploring the waterways and walking routes, there is no better place to return to than your own country estate – if only for a couple of days. It is a perfect spot for stressed out couples seeking some peace and quiet in beautiful surroundings but equally, as Harry and Rachel have four children, it is a great place for families too – especially with all those lawns where you can practise your cricketing skills and there’s a tennis court where you can prepare for Wimbledon!

HOVETON HALL is available for wedding, corporate events and parties. There is also, in the east wing, a self catering apartment which sleeps up to six which is available for hire. Various events are planned over the coming months, including a country fair weekend on May 23 and 25 and a producers’ pop up picnic on July 11 and 12. There is also a summer concert with the Jonathan Wyatt Big Band on June 13.

| MAY 2015

Picture: The offices at Thornham

BAREFOOT RETREATS, High Street, Thornham Tel 01485 512245, www.barefootretreats.co.uk

EMMA TAGG

The Girl is Back

After 20-plus years at The Hoste in Burnham Market, Emma Tagg is now co-director of a new luxury holiday home agency. Sarah Hardy catches up with her

s joint managing director of

The Hoste in Burnham Market, one of Britain’s leading independent hotels, Emma Tagg was the very public face of this popular north Norfolk institution. With a sunny disposition, she was famous for remembering not only the names of guests but their favourite hotel bedroom, children’s hobbies and birthdays! Now, five years after the death of The Hoste owner Paul Whittome and a couple of years out of the business world, Emma is embarking on a new career as joint boss of an exclusive holiday letting company called Barefoot Retreats. Based in rather swanky offices above the Thornham Deli, the company, which was set up in October 2014, aims to offer something a little bit different in the holiday accommodation world. And, not unsurprisingly, that most definitely means upmarket!

Her business partner is an old friend, Helen Millin, who worked in marketing for a global car manufacturer before moving to Norfolk. ‘We are going for the top end; we are offering a boutique hotel experience but with a little added freedom,’ says Emma, now in her early 40s. At present the company has 30 properties on its books, ranging from romantic boltholes for two to larger properties where families can gather. The majority are on the north Norfolk coast and all look highly tempting! Think decks, scrumptious bathrooms, to die-for kitchens and all mod cons! ‘We plan to have around 100,’ says Emma. ‘We don’t want to have too many as we want to keep a very tight eye on them, and to offer a really personal, exclusive service.’ The company offers a full concierge service and will arrange everything from dog walkers to helicopter rides for holiday makers. ‘People are busy, aren’t they? We can take away any and every stress – book tables at restaurants, find a babysitter, recommend beaches for picnics and more.’

BUSINESS PROFILE

EMMA TAGG

All the properties will use luxury bed linen, offer fluffy towels, bathrobes and slippers and a welcome hamper packed with local goodies! Away from work and Emma is kept busy with her two young daughters, Lola and Coco, and her older daughter Ellie and husband Chris, and she commutes from Lincolnshire two or three days a week. ‘I am enjoying working again and catching up with all my old friends. People will recognise lots of old faces from The Hoste with us.’ Emma is a big fan of the north Norfolk coast and points out that she started her career in the hospitality trade at The Lifeboat in Thornham almost 30 years ago. ‘It is such a special part of the world, still so unspoilt but with great restaurants and such a wonderful coastline.’

And she is very much enjoying working in offices above Thornham Deli which is now owned by Jeanne Whittome, Paul’s wife who was very much involved with The Hoste, and Janie Thompson - and yes, you’ve guessed it, another former Hoste boss! ‘I think the Thornham Deli is really developing into somewhere special,’ says Emma. ‘It has a great café, deli and a lovely shop, then there’s also the play area, and playing field – and they are organising special evening events, too.’ The company is also keen to hear from home owners who might like to rent out their properties. ‘Maybe someone has been thinking of doing so for some time; perhaps their children have grown up and they are not using their holiday homes as much as they used to. We can reassure them that we look after everything, we make it very easy,’ says Emma.

Almary Green Investments Ltd

Advising clients throughout East Anglia Tel: 01603 706740

www.almarygreen.com

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LUXURY PROPERTIES • AMAZING PL ACES • UNIQUE EXPERIENCES Barefoot Norfolk Ltd, The Boardwalk, High Street, Thornham, Norfolk PE36 6LX 01485 512245 • enquiries@barefootretreats.co.uk • www.barefootretreats.co.uk 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

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WEALTH MANAGEMENT

PROTECTION

Preparing for the Unexpected What happens to the family in the event of the breadwinner’s illness or death is a serious concern for many. Carl Lamb looks at the different types of protection plan available

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

hilst we all accept that we should insure our homes, our cars and our travel, we are less likely to automatically put steps in place to help our families cope in the event of the temporary or permanent loss of their main income stream. The impact of serious illness or death on the family’s financial circumstances will be fundamental but there are simple ways to put protection in place. The first two options are designed to help in the event of serious illness. Income Protection does what is says on the tin: it replaces some of the income that has been lost. Normally this will be set up to kick in after a pre-agreed deferral period – perhaps either three or six months. Once the policy holder has been signed off sick for that period, the insurance company will pay an agreed percentage of the income covered. Cover is normally set at up to 70 per cent of the full income figure that has been set out in the policy. Payments are tax-free and will continue until the policy holder returns to work, retires, or dies. The second option for help when a family is hit with illness is Critical Illness cover. Unlike Income Protection, this pays out a single tax-free lump sum in the event of the person covered falling ill with one of a defined list of serious illnesses. The cover will pay out irrespective of whether or not the individual continues to work. The death of a family member is, of course, a dreadful thing and piling money worries on top of grief will put extra pressure at a time when family members are least able to cope. Policies that help in the event of death are particularly important for those who die young, but have their part to play in later life too, especially if a couple’s income is reliant on one partner’s private pension that doesn’t include a spouse’s pension. They can also help to ensure that sufficient funds are available to meet Inheritance Tax or funeral bills on death.

Life insurance can be bought on a single or joint life basis. Provided you write the beneﬁts from your policy in trust, they will not be included in your estate and therefore not subject to IHT Life insurance provides for a lump sum payout in the event of the policy holder dying within the agreed term. Premiums are paid throughout the term and cover ends when the term finishes, usually without a payout if no death has occurred. Whole of life policies are also available where the payout happens whenever death occurs, but these will be more expensive as they are dealing with what will happen rather than what might happen. Life insurance can be bought on a single or joint life basis. Provided you write the benefits from your policy in trust, they will not be included in your estate and therefore not subject to IHT. Premiums for life cover have come down in recent years and so it is always worth reviewing your current cover to check that you are not paying over the odds. However, health and lifestyle factors when you take out your policy may mean that you will pay higher premiums, if your life expectancy is considered impaired. A less well-known type of life cover is Family Income Benefit. This cover will pay a tax-free income to beneficiaries for the rest of the insured term if you die while the insurance is in place. This is generally cheaper than life insurance cover as the longer you live, the less the insurance company has to pay out.

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

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Close Encounters THIS MONTH OUR LEGAL WRITER JULIAN GIBBONS MEETS A VIP AND BENDS HIS EAR!

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realised quite recently that I had not done any ‘networking’ or marketing for a while. All lawyers need to be seen from time to time to remind friends, colleagues and clients that they still exist. This coincided with an invitation to a business lunch with our local MP and Chris Grayling. Mr Grayling is well known to lawyers, as he is both Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor. In a sudden rush of blood to the head, I booked myself onto the lunch and immediately prepared a number of questions for Mr Grayling around access to justice, something any Lord Chancellor, traditionally a largely non-political role, should be fighting to protect and promote. A raft of measures over the last five years has seen huge reductions in legal aid, big increases in court fees and a massive rise in litigants in person in the courts. Those that financially qualify for either the limited legal aid which exists, or for a reduction in the court fees payable, have such a rigid means assessment process to go through that many give up or lose out because they are unable to provide the wads of documents demanded to prove that they qualify. This is not just a lawyer trying to hang onto his work. Criticisms of Mr Grayling and the government’s approach on these issues and their effect on access to justice have come from the Lord Chief Justice, the President of the Family Division, Lords Justice of Appeal and the Commons Justice Committee, to name but a few. Imagine my surprise, therefore, to be seated at lunch next to the man himself. For 45 minutes I monopolised him. The experience was - interesting. My opening gambit was over the levying of fees in the employment tribunals. Since their introduction about 18 months ago, tribunal applications have dropped by around 70 per cent. Of those who made an application for fee remission on grounds of income, only 25 per cent were successful. Whilst of course quite a number of claims without merit will have been rightly weeded out, it is equally certain that many people have not claimed because they cannot find the £1200 required to issue a claim and bring it to a hearing. This is against a background of employees’ rights, such as

not to be discriminated against or not to be unfairly dismissed, all being granted by Parliament. Our Lord Chancellor’s reply (bearing in mind his role in promoting the rule of law and our system of justice) was that something had to be done to protect employers from facing unmeritorious claims. Whilst true, this is a wholly different issue from the right of access to the courts for those who do have a claim. It was ironic that this conversation came the same week that Nigel Farage of UKIP was on record as saying that any government he formed would sweep away the discrimination laws. In many respects one could say Farage was being the more honest in coming out in saying what he thought; more honest than giving people the rights with one hand and then preventing them in practical terms from exercising them with the other. I have to report that the rest of the conversation was in a similar vein. The government’s belief that litigants should

One recent claimant I heard about with fairly catastrophic personal injuries will now probably not be able to aﬀord the £10,000 court fee to issue his claim, valued at over £200,000. This amounts to a denial of justice pay the whole cost of the justice system via court fees – a dubious proposition given that like defence and policing an accessible justice system is something government has a duty to provide – has seen some court fees rise by more than 600 per cent. One recent claimant I heard about with fairly catastrophic personal injuries will now probably not be able to afford the £10,000 court fee to issue his claim, valued at over £200,000. This amounts to a denial of justice. Clearly though, to believe our Lord Chancellor, there is something of a conspiracy amongst lawyers and judges against his department’s approach to access to justice. Being a minister of Justice is one thing. Appointing a non-lawyer with a clear political agenda to the role of Lord Chancellor is quite another and devalues it still further.

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TAX

CHARITY

Feeling

Charitable? KEVIN BUNTING E X P L A I N S H OW C H A R I TA B L E D O N AT I O N S QUALIFY FOR TA X R E L I E F

’m sure readers know donations to charity qualify for income tax relief. What you most probably don’t realise is there are a number of ways to make a donation and it pays to look at the various scenarios before deciding what to do. The route known to most is gift aid. This route effectively means you get income tax relief at your marginal rate of tax via a cash donation. The charity often requests a box is ticked to confirm the payment falls within gift aid. They do this because it means they can make a claim via HM Revenue & Customs to get a further payment due to treating your donation as made net of basic rate tax. For example: You make a donation of £80. The charity can claim £20 (basic rate tax) from HMRC making the total received £100.

FOR EXAMPLE: Shares costing £10,000 have a current market value of £50,000. Your marginal income tax rate is 45 per cent. You would like to make a charitable donation which equates to £50,000. Under gift aid the post tax relief cost would be £27,500. Gifting the shares creates a post tax relief cost of £16,300. An additional saving of £11,200 arises via the share gift. The above example could compare actual cost less tax relief. Doing so results in an overall refund of £12,500 because tax relief greatly exceeds the cost of the shares. Timing tax relief is often important because any relief is based on your income for a given tax year. If your charitable intentions are factored into your annual tax planning it is often possible to maximise the tax relief by

Creating a personal charitable fund is often the preferred route because it entitles donations to be made at your discretion

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On the assumption the donor pays income tax at basic rate there is no further consequence. However, if the donor does not pay tax at the basic rate they are liable to pay the income tax reclaimed by the charity. This can be a frequent problem for pensioners or those who are ‘asset rich’ but ‘income poor’. If you find yourself in the position of paying less tax than the charity can reclaim, you should consider not ticking the gift aid box when making the donation. Something becoming more recognised is the gifting of qualifying assets to charity. Such a gift is outside of gift aid but the market value of the asset qualifies for income tax relief. In addition any gain on the asset is also exempt from Capital Gains Tax (CGT). As a result you get CGT exemption alongside income tax relief at your marginal rate.

creating a structure which best suits your personal affairs. Creating a personal charitable fund is often the preferred route because it entitles donations to be made at your discretion. In addition the fund is likely to qualify for income tax, and CGT, exemption resulting in the future growth of the donation falling outside of tax. With this scenario the fund acts as a way of accelerating tax relief and ensures the charitable intention is not linked to your personal tax position. This additional flexibility allows better decisions to be made due to a charitable intention not having to be linked to your tax position. Whilst this is only a brief summary it hopefully illustrates that planning charitable intentions can provide very attractive tax relief.

Disclaimer: Please note that this article is provided for your information only. While every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy, information contained herein may not be comprehensive and you should not act upon it without seeking professional advice.

The many characters of Saint Felix Please contact us for a copy of our prospectus. 01502 727048 • melissa@stfelix.co.uk • stfelix.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

EDUCATION

LESSEN THE STRESS AT EXAM TIME Exam season is upon us and students and parents alike in this part of the region could probably do with a little less stress as Emma Outten reports

ITH MANY STUDENTS across Norfolk and Suffolk preparing for their upcoming exams some timely advice on how to prepare for them definitely wouldn’t go amiss. Let’s face it, we’ve all been there/done that and can remember it being a rather stressful time of the year! A good start would be to encourage your son or daughter to create a revision timetable, preferably six weeks before the start of exams, although time is of the essence now. Take a note of their exam dates so that you know when the pressure times begin and end, and by all means offer to help (but certainly don’t push them if they do not accept your support). Continue to encourage them over the exam period, and remember that, while they may be motivated at the beginning of their revision, after a few weeks it can start to feel like a chore, so help to keep their spirits up and tell them how well you think they have done. Keep their energy levels up by stocking the cupboards with food and snacks, and, provide rewards for their efforts. Ian Mann, Educational Psychologist at the Norfolk County Council, makes this very valid point: ‘Most schools provide excellent advice on revision plans, and tips such as preplanning, breaking work down into smaller chunks, tick lists and regular breaks are all wholly relevant.’ And he also has this very good advice: ‘To maximise your learning, it is best to adopt a little and often approach, spending no longer than 20 or 30 minutes on each new topic, but returning to and revising that topic regularly.

‘Over time, and as this learning becomes more secure, you should not need to revisit this information so frequently, and your revision can be spaced out at everincreasing intervals.’ Supporting pupils through exam stress becomes allimportant at this time of year. Ian again: ‘In the period leading up to exams, some degree of worry or anxiety is totally normal. This anxiety has actually been shown to improve performance in exams.’ He adds: ‘It can become a distraction however, particularly if thoughts about what could go wrong come to dominate all other thoughts. ‘If this is the case, it’s worth remembering that the worst case scenario (for example, forgetting everything that you have learnt) is just one of many possible outcomes. ‘Look at the evidence available (for example, your experiences in previous exams / tests), and gauge the likelihood of each possible outcome. Have you ever forgotten everything? Is this likely? What is more likely?’ Headmaster of Hethersett Old Hall School, Stephen Crump, is also well aware that this time of year can be a stressful one. He says: ‘It’s that time of year again and A level and GCSE students entering the final furlong are beginning to feel the pressure – not as much as future generations, however, as the new exams from next year are reverting to exam only and coursework will become a thing of the past for most!’ He shares this advice: ‘The secret of calming those exam nerves is organisation. A comprehensive timetable for revision, shared with mum and dad, is essential. Then the golden rule is – a little and often. The brain can’t focus on one thing for more than about 40 minutes – so bite-sized chunks are the order of the day, followed by a change of activity. ‘Then there’s post-it notes – key facts scattered around the house help to build up the knowledge base.’ And he adds: ‘Old-fashioned technology, in the form of file cards and file boxes, still make a useful and portable way of building up revision notes - of course, an iPad or mobile phone can do the business nowadays.’ Headmistress of Saint Felix School in Southwold, Miss Fran D’Alcorn, also offers this simple but effective advice: ‘Preparation is the key so students must implement an efficient revision programme making time for breaks, family and friends. In short, work hard and play hard.’ Get the work/play balance right and revising for those exams, from either the pupil or parent perspective, could be a lot less stressful than it need be. Good luck!

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| MAY 2015

SEAT’S NEW DEAL IN NORFOLK NORFOLK’S LEADING CITROEN DEALER IS ON COURSE TO BECOME THE LEADING SEAT DEALER TOO. EMMA OUTTEN MEETS DUFF MORGAN’S DEALER PRINCIPAL AND DIRECTOR JEREMY TRETT

AVING ALREADY SOLD 50 SEAT cars within the first month of taking on the Norwich dealership, it would be fair to say that Duff Morgan’s new direction as a dealer is going very well so far. Following a request from SEAT UK to initially consider the Lynn market area, Duff Morgan was also invited to take on the Norwich territory. ‘We were approached by SEAT UK about six months ago to take on the whole market area – Norwich and King’s Lynn,’ says Dealer Principal and Director Jeremy Trett in Duff Morgan’s head office on Whiﬄer Road in Norwich. ‘SEAT approached us, having looked at our market area penetration, our customer satisfaction scores, the way that we did business and obviously the fact we had the market share and were significantly impressed.’ As Duff Morgan already holds the market area for Citroen in Norwich and King’s Lynn (and is also the authorised repairer, parts distributor and authorised Body Shop for Peugeot) Jeremy didn’t take long to consider. ‘After some thought we decided it would be a very good business move and we took over Norwich in February. And we should be opening the second one in King’s Lynn by the end of this year. It’s on the

existing King’s Lynn site but we have space to open a second showroom, so we’ll have a dual branded site.’ As the county’s leading Citroen dealer, Jeremy says that ‘the intention is to make our SEAT dealership just the same.’ He says of the two brands: ‘What Citroen is known for is completely different to what SEAT is known for. It’s a very different proposition with very different styles of vehicle, and definitely a different profile of customer. We thought this was a great opportunity because of the quality of the product; the appearance of the product - cars have to look attractive - and the customer offers, which are absolutely fantastic.’ Jeremy continues: ‘SEAT specialises much more in very sleek, very sporty looking three door coupés; estate cars and a very high quality brand, which is, of course, VW. (The Spanish manufacturer is a subsidiary of the Volkswagen group). ‘It’s a Spanish brand, and they describe it as having Spanish flair, but the engineering comes out of the VW stable. They are very sporty looking vehicles, extremely modern (we’ve got quite a young customer profile), and everything from small three-door city cars up to 280 horse power, top of the range sporty touring estates.’

ADVERTISER’S ANNOUNCEMENT

History

DUFF MORGAN

ONE OF THE PIONEERS within the motor industry, The Company Duff Morgan & Vermont was established in 1909 by three gentlemen: Colonel Granville Duff M.C., Mr John Delmar Morgan and, his brother in law, Commander Oliver Locker-Lampson C.M.G., D.S.O. and has had a long standing association in all aspects regarding the motor industry for in excess of 106 years. PRIOR TO THE SELLING and servicing of vehicles, Duff Morgan’s history started with the designing and manufacture of World War 1 armoured cars under the instruction of none other than Sir Winston Churchill! This was followed a few years later by the bespoke coach building of vehicles. DUFF MORGAN has progressed dramatically since 1909, however the company’s ethos of being ‘committed to exceeding expectations’ is borne out by the dealership being placed within the top three Citroen Dealers for Customer Satisfaction in the UK.

Adam Spence, Service Manager (left) with Sales Manager Aaron Frisby

DEALER DETAILS Duff Morgan (SEAT) Jupiter Road Mile Cross Lane Norwich, Norfolk Tel 01603 480200 www.duﬀmorgan.com

Operating from the existing Castlegate SEAT premises in Norwich, Duff Morgan SEAT has already recruited more staff as well as promoting some existing employees from within the group in order to bring the Duff Morgan disciplines and customer care processes to its new SEAT dealership. So stepping up to the plate are Aaron Frisby as Sales Manager and Adam Spence as Service Manager. ‘Both the senior managers at SEAT are people I’ve promoted from here,’ says Jeremy. All in all, Duff Morgan has kept 12 employees from Castlegate and Jeremy adds: ‘We’ve since employed another six, because we needed to expand the service and sales department. We can now open on Sundays – it wasn’t open on Sundays before.’ With Duff Morgan SEAT King’s Lynn expected to be completed later this year, operating alongside the existing Citroen dealership in Bergen Way, on North Lynn Industrial Estate, Norfolk motorists will be offered even more choice. As for the Norwich dealership: ‘The whole site should undergo rebranding with SEAT’s new corporate identity in the next three months, externally, and by the end of the year, internally,’ says Jeremy. ‘We will be one of the first in the country to undergo that process. It will be a brand new corporate identity, which was launched about a month ago.’ Jeremy is clearly looking forward to growing the SEAT brand in Norwich, and the new deal on offer in Norwich is going very well so far. He concludes: ‘Certainly within the first month we’ve seen lots of our existing customers coming to visit, but also lots of new customers coming, and we have sold in excess of 50 vehicles in our first month - that’s good from a standing start.’

| MAY 2015

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Big ideas This urban car is well worth a look. Matt Kimberley explores the ins and outs of the latest three-cylinder Peugeot 2008 compact crossover

he 2008 is a small car with big ideas, having so far proved popular in the growing compact crossover market. Peugeot has fitted it with its three-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol engine, which promises no regrets for urban drivers. At just a tonne in weight with an empty fuel tank the 2008 isn’t as chunky as it might look. But that high driving position can give a taste of the SUV lifestyle without the associated price tag.

Model Peugeot 2008 Allure 1.2 VTi 82, from £15,595

Engine Three-cylinder petrol producing 81bhp and 87lb/ft

Transmission Five-speed manual driving the front wheels

Performance Top speed 105mph, 0-62mph in 13.5 seconds

Economy 57.6mpg

CO2 Rating 114g/km All prices correct at time of going to press.

Looks and image Peugeot’s latest styling is among the prettiest and most balanced on the market, with tidy proportions and pretty, if sometimes a little safe, styling. The little intrusions at the bottom of the headlights give the face some character and the roof rails look great – adding the impression of extra height and the option to install a roof box. It all sends out the right messages. Space and practicality It seems you can’t win with the heights of seats. Most of us simply deal with whatever height they come at or use the in-built adjuster to fine-tune it, but for grandparents seats are always either too high or too low. The 2008’s just about pass the OAP test, though, being comfortably high without being a challenge to climb into. There are a good few practical touches in the cabin, but one thing you won’t find is four-wheel drive. You can get this pseudo-off-roader with a special system called GripControl, which does a sterling job of maximising the amount of traction from the driven front wheels even in really low-grip scenarios, but it’s not available with this engine. Behind the wheel With this engine the 2008 is a beast of two halves. In town it’s excellent, using an eager throttle map to deliver most of the engine’s torque in the first section of pedal

MOTORING

PEUGEOT 2008 1.2 VTI

DEALER DETAILS Sidegate Motors Gapton Hall Road, Great Yarmouth, NR31 0NL 01493 419700 www.sidegatemotors.co.uk

travel. That makes it feel eager, responsive and quick up to 40mph or so; a sense boosted by the dinky go-kartesque steering wheel that sits low beneath the raised instrument cluster. The test car has a strange clutch action, though, where the bite point is right at the top of the pedal travel and way out of sync with the way the throttle and brakes feel. It takes some serious getting used to, and isn’t good for confident stop-start driving. Unfortunately the engine simply isn’t powerful enough for main roads and motorways. It needs to be worked so hard that fuel economy plummets to depths little better than the likes of larger, much more powerful hot hatchbacks. The urban sprawl is definitely where the 1.2-litre VTi petrol engine belongs. Value for money From a purely subjective point of view the 2008’s asking price before options seems very reasonable indeed. A discount at the dealer will make things even sweeter. Beware that it’s not as big inside, or in the boot, as you might hope for if you’re looking for a family car, but then there’s always the larger 3008 to consider if that’s your priority. Who would buy one? The 1.2-litre VTi engine is quiet, it warms up quickly, feels instantly light and eager and comes with low emissions as standard. In short, it’s ideal for short journeys. Plus there’s the warm, fuzzy glow that comes with knowing that you’re not spewing harmful particulates out into urban areas, like diesels do. It’s an ideal choice for a young suburban family, or as a second, smaller family car. As long as the oddly high clutch bite point doesn’t bother you, you could describe it as very likeable indeed. This car summed up in a single word: Smiley If this car was a… Care Bear it would be Cheer Bear. It’s perky, optimistic and always on hand to put a little smile on your face.

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| MAY 2015

New kid on the block

DEALER DETAILS Wrights Mazda, Common Lane North, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 9BL | 01502 713885 101 Cromer Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR6 6XW | 01603 427011 www.wrights-motors.co.uk

THE SMALL SUV (SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE) MARKET IS PERHAPS THE MOST POTENT OF ITS KIND IN THE UK – SO WHAT SORT OF IMPACT WILL A NEWCOMER, THE MAZDA CX-3, HAVE, ASKS JAMES SPICER

OR OLDER READERS the name Mazda was always synonymous with a make of electric light bulb. But not so for the modern motorist. The marque in more modern times has meant a series of well-proven and efficient cars and light commercial vehicles embodying up-tothe-minute technology. To be fair, the company was building cars and trucks in Japan before the Second World War, and supplied the Japanese forces during that conflict. Since then, the make has become widely distributed around the world, where its pioneering engine technology (including development of rotary engines) producing great fuel efficiency, has made it a market leader. The latest from the Mazda stable to go on sale in the UK is the CX-3, the company’s first compact SUV. With an 18 vehicle range, and with prices ranging from £17,595 to £24,695 on the road, the car goes on sale here on June 19. The CX-3 is available in five grade levels, with a choice of petrol or diesel engines, and in either front wheel drive, or Mazda’s new all-wheel drive configuration.

MOTORING

MAZDA CX-3

A preview of the car can be seen at Wrights in Beccles on May 26 from 1 to 6pm. All prices correct at time of going to press.

As is usual these days, the CX-3 has generous standard equipment and Mazda’s latest safety systems. The top of the range Sport Nav model is the first in its class to come with LED headlights. All models have a 7-inch colour touchscreen, DAB radio, Bluetooth, and a multifunction steering wheel, while the Sport Nav package three years free European map updates, Bose surround sound, smart keyless entry and, in another first for the sector, Mazda’s Active Driving Display head-up display system. The CX-3 cabin layout sets new standards in material quality and design, while SE-L models benefit from heated front seats, automatic climate control and rain-sensing wipers. Optional stone leather available on Sport Nav models further enhances the premium feel. Standard safety features include a full complement of standard airbags, which includes curtain airbags, hill hold assist, tyre pressure monitoring system and dynamic stability control, while SE-L and Sport Nav models feature a lane departure warning system and smart city brake support. All models get cruise control, while rear parking sensors are standard from SE-L grade onwards, and Sport Nav models also benefit from a reversing camera. With a flexible cargo board boot floor, which can be lifted to provide a flat load space when the standard 60:40 split fold rear seats are tumbled, the spacious 350-litre boot ensures it has the practicality to match its upmarket cabin and stylish exterior.

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The 2.0 litre petrol engine, with an output choice of either 120ps or 150ps, is predicted to account for around 50 per cent of UK sales. Available in all trims, with both manual and automatic transmissions, the 120ps engine with front-wheel drive makes up the bulk of the line-up. However, at the top of the petrol range, the 150ps engine is matched exclusively to allwheel drive (AWD), and a six-speed manual gearbox in Sport Nav trim. Having made its debut in the all-new Mazda2, the latest 1.5-litre diesel engine completes the engine line up. As with petrol versions, front-wheel drive models make up the majority of the range, although the 150ps Sport Nav AWD is offered with both manual and automatic transmissions. With emissions of just 105g/km this unit has an official combined economy of 70.6mpg, although Mazda says that all models will deliver an efficient blend of performance and efficiency market. The CX-3 goes into an extremely popular market segment, but Mazda is confident that the combination of technology and spirited handling will enable the car to make its mark. Before its UK debut, the CX-3 will be seen at the Geneva Motor Show, which should give potential buyers a handy preview. Market competitors include the likes of the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Vauxhall Mokka. But the Mazda’s looks, performance and outstanding economy could well give it the edge in an age where a car owner’s image seems to be highly important – and this ‘crossover’ sector truly embodies that theory!

THE ALL-NEW SUZUKI VITARA. IT LIVES. FROM £13,999.* †

Rugged SUV Design. Advanced Safety. ALLGRIP 4-wheel Drive. Request a Test Drive today: mrking.co.uk

M R King & Sons

Horn Hill Lowestoft Suﬀolk NR33 0PX 01502 525425 | St. John’s Road Saxmundham IP17 1BE 01728 603435

Oﬃcial Fuel Consumption Figures for the Suzuki Vitara range mpg (litres/100km) and CO 2 emissions (g/km): Urban 42.1-61.4 (6.7-4.6), Extra Urban 55.4-76.3 (5.1-3.7), Combined 49.5-70.6 (5.7-4.0), CO 2 emissions 131-106 g/km.

£159 PER MONTH PLUS INITIAL RENTAL

ALL-NEW MAZDA2 AT WRIGHTS MAZDA The striking all-new Mazda2 has arrived at Wrights Mazda, turning heads and raising pulses. Packed with award winning SKYACTIV Technology, all-new Mazda2 delivers outstanding efficiency along with enhanced performance and driving dynamics. Experience a refreshingly engaging drive and economy that keeps the smile on your face even when you get out of the car.

TO BOOK YOUR TEST DRIVE° CALL 01502 713 885 TODAY. Wrights Mazda, Beccles

Wrights Mazda, Norwich

Common Lane North, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 9BL 01502 713 885 www.wrights-motors.co.uk

101 Cromer Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR6 6XW 01603 427 011 www.wrights-motors.co.uk

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.

BRIGHT YOUNG THING

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. Personal contract hire offer on all-new Mazda2 75ps SE on orders received between 01.04.15 and 30.06.15, subject to availability and status. Age 18+ only. Figures based on a non-maintenance contract hire package with advance rental of £1,409.83, then 41 monthly rentals of £159.00. Excess miles over contracted mileage of 31,500 over 42 months charged at 7 pence per mile. Excess charges also apply if you breach manufacturer servicing or maintenance guidelines or if the car exceeds BVRLA Fair Wear & Tear guidelines for its age/mileage when it is returned to Mazda Contract Hire. Package includes road fund licence and Mazda Assistance. Guarantee/indemnity may be required. Prices and details are subject to change without notice. For full specification and T&Cs contact your local retailer. You will not own the car. ALD Automotive Ltd., trading as Mazda Contract Hire, BS16 3JA. Model shown: all-new Mazda2 75ps SE, OTR from £11,995. Model shown features optional Soul Red Metallic paint (£650). OTR price includes VAT, number plates, delivery, 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 going to print. Not available in conjunction with any other offer unless specified. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The above fuel consumption figures are based on an EU test for comparative purposes only and may not reflect real driving results. Vitara range: Vitara SZ4 1.6 Petrol Manual available at £13,999 to Vitara SZ5 DDiS ALLGRIP Manual with Urban or Rugged Pack available at £21,799. All prices and specifications correct at time of going to print. For full details contact your local participating Suzuki Dealer. Offer subject to availability for vehicles privately registered between 1st April 2015 to 30th June 2015 from participating Authorised Suzuki Dealers only. For full details contact your local participating Suzuki Dealer. *Model shown is a Vitara SZ5 1.6 petrol available at £17,999 on the road (Single-tone metallic paint available at an additional cost of £430, Dual-tone paint available at an additional cost of £800.) †Optional extra for SZ5 models only, optional ALLGRIP 4-wheel Drive available at additional cost.

BRAND NEW

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BRAND NEW

ADAM GRAND SLAM

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PER MONTH on personal contract hire

£2,064

ADVANCE RENTAL

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PER MONTH on personal contract hire

£3,184

ADVANCE RENTAL

ALL MAKES

SERVICING

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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

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Official Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km). Vauxhall range (excl. Ampera): Urban: 14.4 (19.6) - 76.3 (3.7), Extra-urban: 27.4 (10.3) - 91.1 (3.1), Combined: 18.0 (15.7) - 85.6 (3.3). CO2 emissions: 373 88g/km. #Standard EU Test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Thurlow Nunn JV is a credit broker and not a lender. Finance subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Available to 18s and over. Guarantee / indemnity may be required. Finance provided by Vauxhall Finance, PO Box 6666, Cardiff, CF15 7YT. *Only £3,184 advanced rental and 35 monthly payments of £199. Excess mileage charged apply if over contracted 10,000 miles per annum. †Only £2,064 advanced rental and 35 monthly payments of £129. Excess mileage charged apply if over contracted 10,000 miles per annum. Subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. At the end of the agreement you will not own the vehicle.

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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

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MAY 2015 | £2.95 WHERE SOLD

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THE MAGAZINE FOR NORFOLK & NORTH SUFFOLK Make sure you receive your copy of Places&Faces® magazine every month, posted directly to your home

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Janet Woodward, Bob Byrom, Bridget Byrom, Terry Woodward

Martin and Jenny Sisley

Olli Schepp, Nathan Griffen

Oil Barons Ball, Ocean Room, Gorleston The 31st Oil Barons Ball of the Great Yarmouth Society of Petroleum Engineers was attended by 250 representatives of the local oil and gas industry and their guests.

Olly and Jenny Smith

Outgoing Oil Baron Andrew Stannard announced the new Oil Baron: Peter Self, a 45- year-old veteran of the industry. Entertainment Director Fred Rogers and Chairman Bob Byrom presented Peter with his Stetson, cigar and trophy. Barbara Storey, of SPS was presented with a large bouquet of flowers on her retirement, having organised the ball for the last 14 years.

Nick and Lynda Storey

The ball was sponsored by Steel Services, Weatherford, Weatherford BDK , SMS, and Red 7 Diving. The cabaret was provided by The Sound of the Supremes with Kaaren Ragland, (courtesy of Brian Russell Agency) who had flown in from the USA the previous day and kept the audience intrigued and dancing the whole night. The catering was excellent and provided by T & K Banqueting Services. Photos by ROSS

HAGAN

Christina and Peter Turner

Mick and Catherine O’Reilly

Eve and Kevin Finn

Bob Byrom and Peter Self

Vikki and Paul Wright

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HIGH SOCIETY

Colin and Sally Griffiths

Gary Matthews, Ann Matthews, Andy Taylor

Glenn and Theresa Connolly

Peter and Emma Fendercard

Paul and Lynda Patterson

Carol and Graham Lambert

Nick Lees and Serena Long

Fred and Pat Rogers

Ken and Val Barnes

Sophie Waters and Harrison Page

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Victoria Barr and Sam Lacey

Alex Crossley and Chrissi Rix

Lucy Wordsworth and Miranda Browne

Nancy Wedge and Antonia Hillier

The Style Show at Taverham Hall Preparatory School, Norwich

Christine Field and Lizette Malherbe

Fashion lovers enjoyed an evening of style, shopping and socialising held in the elegant setting of Taverham Hall School. Chrissi and Sue of The Style Show revealed how the right shapes and colours make all the difference, then guests were invited to try and buy. Delicious canapés were provided by Zest Catering, Gressingham Duck and the school’s fantastic chef, Joe. The bar was stocked by Peter Graham Wines and expertly run by gap students. Floral decorations were courtesy of Crown House Flowers. Thanks to the Friends of Taverham Hall School for organising another fantastic event for parents of pupils at this ‘outstanding’ nursery, pre-prep and prep school. Photos by

JAMES ROBINSON; WWW.JAMESROBINSONIMAGES.CO.UK

Julie Snelling and Polina Cleeve

Sue Dougal and Jenny Green

Fenella Littleboy and Penny Nicholas

Suzy O’Connor, Sarah Redgrave-Petersen, Belinda Thompson

Jo Butterworth and Jodie Hook

Zanna Joice, Sarah Worrall and Elaine Fullalove

page sponsored by

HIGH SOCIETY

Ricky Slade

Alison Bradnock, Penny Lindop

Sue Bullock, Lorraine Plummer, Jose Socao

John Pugh, Helen Cutting Thomas Oleson, Ian Russell

Visit North Norfolk Networking Event, Wroxham Barns

Felicity Hindley, Anne Reekie and baby Sylvia

Visit North Norfolk held their fourth networking event for tourism businesses and artisans at Wroxham Barns.Â The 100 attendees enjoyed a tour of Junior Farm, The Gallery and Artist Studios before hearing from guest speaker and owner of Wroxham Barns, Ian Russell. Great food, conversation and real ales, kindly donated by Woodfordes, followed. If you run a tourism business or are an artisan in north Norfolk and would like to attend a future event or learn more about joining Visit North Norfolk, please contact lucy@visitnorthnorfolk.com.

Lucy Downing, Rob Young

Ian Russell speaking

Rachael Shakespeare, Lindsey Kelman

Claire Knight, Mitchell House

James Stone, Scott Nichols

John Mills, Rachel Townsend, Jane King

Fiona Johnson, Ann Nickerson, Kit Calledine, Penny Graham-Jones

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Alison Jermy, Oliver Jones-Davies, Jane Wickstead, Jackie Higham, William Mellon, Aiden Watts

Becky Newman, Debbi Christophers

Michelle Gant, Tom Oxley

Carol Bundock, Biddy Collyer, Andrew Wood Fiona Temple, Ben Handford Bella Brodie

Love Norfolk, Norwich University of the Arts

Anna Sweeting, James Maas

More than 200 guests attended the 5th Love Norfolk event hosted by the Norfolk Community Foundation and sponsored by Rathbones, at Norwich University of the Arts. The event marked the 10 year anniversary of the Norfolk Community Foundation; during this period it has given out over £15 million in grants, and has built up a similar-sized endowment for the future. The Foundation’s founder Bishop Graham James, Bishop of Norwich, was there to help celebrate, and the guest speaker was UK Community Foundations Chairman David Sheepshanks, who spoke about the network’s ambition to be a driving force for philanthropy and local giving throughout the UK. Photos by ANDY

Tom Eyres, Tim Sweeting, Sal Thirlway

Virginia Edgecombe, Harriett Edwards

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The speakers - Charles Barratt, David Sheepshanks, Carol Bundock, Bishop Graham James, Anna Douglas

David Goldson, Shelagh Gurney, Sandra Goldson, Beverley Hannah, Jane Bowett

Mark and Catherine Clayton, Andrew Rackham

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HIGH SOCIETY

Lady Dannatt and General Sir Richard Dannatt

Henry and Jean Dent

Malcolm and Diana Loveland, Sebastian Waters Stephen and Maria Brindley

The 90th Charter of the Rotary Club of Great Yarmouth Celebration, Imperial Hotel, Great Yarmouth

Alan Jenner and Mag Morrison

More than 100 people attended the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth for a celebratory meal. As the club is twinned with one in Rambouillet in France, their president Michel Perichon and several of his members also joined in. There were also various presidents from clubs in the region. The guest speaker was General Sir Richard Dannatt who attended with his wife, the High Sheriff of Norfolk, Lady Dannatt. Photos by ROSS

HAGAN

Marilyn Dalgliesh, Luc Crozier

Janet and Mark Duffield

Peter and Carol Burman

Marlene and Peter Fairhead

Nanna Lay, Linda Davis, Hugh Davis

Michel Perichon and Gillian Brown

Jane and Rex Steadman

| MAY 2015

5 MINUTES WITH

Sian Croose

Conductor Sian Croose is working flat out on a new piece for the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. But she spends five minutes with us

Describe your job to us

I am co-director of The Voice Project which is an openaccess music project. We run large scale participatory projects, mostly in Norfolk and often in partnership with other arts organisations such as the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. We animate all kinds of locations with specially created choral performances, with music written by a range of fantastic composers and sung by a choir that is growing in size with each project – this one is nearly 200 strong! Since 2012 we have created pieces for Norwich Cathedral and Elm Hill, St Benet’s Abbey, Holkham and Norwich City Hall. The idea is that audiences come to what may be familiar locations and experience them differently – filled with music. This piece is set in and around The Sainsbury Centre at UEA and we are really excited to be working there. Jon Baker and I run the project together and we cover a lot of ground between us. I conduct the choir and Jon writes a lot of the music – and we both run all the rehearsals that prepare the choir for perfomances as well as run the organisation, plan, fundraise and all the behind the scenes stuff that goes into a project like this. We have a brilliant team of people who work with us as well – admin, finance, publicity – so that makes a big contribution to the success of the project. What’s great about the project is that we have a loyal core of people that do almost every project but that each one includes people who are singing with us for the first time and sometimes performing in public for the first time. It’s an intensive process and incredibly rewarding.

Where were you born and what brought you to Norfolk?

I was born in North Wales and came to Norfolk when I was five. I grew up in King’s Lynn and came to Norwich in 1980. What’s your ideal day out in the area?

There are some great walks all over Norfolk so that would definitely be part of my ideal day and, maybe if it’s warm enough, a swim in the sea. What do you miss most when you leave the region?

The big skies and the feeling of being at home. What are you reading at the moment?

Lots of music scores as we prepare for The Observatory. Would you prefer a day on The Broads or a day at Yarmouth’s Pleasure Beach? Why?

I loved working at St Benet’s Abbey last year. We worked with the Norfolk Archaeological Trust to create a special performance of a piece called Ideas of Flight which involved a boat on The Broads as well as singing on the riverbank and at the ruins of the abbey. They were magical performances with live birds appearing on cue, so I would have to say a day – or a night – on The Broads. Opera, musical, drama or movie - which would you prefer to watch?

Film and music are my things. And what was the last production/show you saw?

SIAN IS CO-DIRECTOR of The Voice Project, based in Norwich. On May 9 and 10 they are performing The Observatory, a new commission for Norfolk and Norwich Festival, at The Sainsbury Centre For Visual Arts. The Observatory is a promenade performance exploring humankind’s relationship with space. It features a 200 strong open access choir, solo singers and musicians including pedal steel guitar, percussion and two trombones.

110

The last live thing I saw was a reading by Ira Lightman at the Café Poets at Take Five in Norwich. He was surreal and brilliant. Sum up Norfolk in three words.

Great big skies. Sum up yourself in three words.

(At the moment) Working ﬂat out!

What Car? Best convertible 2015. Another reason to raise the roof. With its striking silhouette and advanced features like Bluetooth and Audi Music Interface, the A3 Cabriolet is already one of our most popular open-top cars. And because it’s secured the What Car? Best convertible award for the second consecutive year, it’s now even more desirable. To arrange your test drive in time for spring, call your local Audi Centre.

Norwich Audi 17 Meridian Way Norwich Norfolk NR7 0TA 01603 709200 norwich.audi.co.uk Official fuel consumption figures for the A3 Cabriolet range in mpg (l/100km) from: Urban 31.4 (9.0) – 60.1 (4.7), Extra Urban 47.1 (6.0) – 80.7 (3.5), Combined 39.8 (7.1) – 72.4 (3.9). CO2 emissions: 165 – 104g/km. Standard EU Test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results.