Places&Faces 69 December

£3.50 WHERE SOLD DECEMBER 2015

THE Magazine for Norfolk & North Suffolk

FASHION:

IT’S TIME TO SPARKLE!

BLAKE SING WITH SHIRLEY BASSEY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN

SOUTHWOLD

LADY EDITH CRAWLEY JENNIFER ELLISON SHOWS HER WICKED SIDE HEAD TO EDINBURGH FOR

HOGMANAY

WIN

A DELICIO US M FOR SIX A EAL T COSMO

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

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Be Inspired!

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CONTRIBUTORS Lucy Allen, Carolyn Atkins, John Bultitude, Benet Catty, Melanie Cook, Rebecca Coulby, Andrew Florides, Julian Gibbons, Pete Goodrum, Ross Hagan, Roger Hickman, Matt Kimberley, Carl Lamb, Victor Ling, Ellen Mary, Nick Mobbs, Andy Newman, Mark Nicholls, Hayley Philpot, Franck Pontais, Jennifer Read, Mike Talbot, Donna Titcombe, Simon Wainright

See all of our Society photos on our website placesandfaces.co.uk

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WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER ISSUE of Places&Faces , which has a distinctly festive feel.

All sorts of Christmas shows are coming to the region, so check out the What’s On pages, Melanie Cook’s column, our interview with Bure Valley Railway’s owner Andrew Barnes, and the special panto round-up to find out what’s happening near you.

This is a star-studded issue, too, with interviews with Blake’s Humphrey Berney, TV’s Jennifer Ellison, and even a catch-up with Downtown Abbey favourite Laura Carmichael. Laura plays Lady Edith Crawley in the acclaimed costume drama, and with the last-ever episode scheduled to be screened on Christmas Day, we simply couldn’t resist!

Naturally, Christmas shopping and travel are also very much on our minds, so Mark Nicholls heads to Edinburgh to see what’s happening over Hogmanay, while we also pop over to Southwold for a seasonal seaside stroll.

Elsewhere, Wymondham Abbey’s multi-million new development has been completed just in time for Christmas, while Mixed Voice are getting ready for their Christmas concert at OPEN in Norwich, so we find out more about both.

London’s must-see musical Les Miserables is celebrating its 30th anniversary, while back in East Anglia Pete Goodrum takes a look at the hits of the 1960s, along with their local connections.

December is a great time to dress up, so turn the pages for dazzling dresses and accessories, while Daniel Craig and Co are influencing men’s fashion in true James Bond style.

And then there’s the food. At this time of year food and drink simply come into their own, so we visit a Norfolk free-range turkey farm; feature some delicious recipes from Roger Hickman, Simon Wainwright and Franck Pontais, and head over to Hingham whose lovely central pub is once again the hub of the community.

Plus there’s more valuable kitchen advice from Rebecca Coulby and plenty of recipe ideas in the new Suffolk Cook Book. We also have another great restaurant competition in this edition – with COSMO Norwich - so turn to page 87 to enter.

Merry Christmas!

Carolyn Atkins

12 ISSUES FOR £24 GENERAL ENQUIRIES

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

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CONTENTS

21 87

56 CELEBRITIES

COVER STORY

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18 Will Blake and Shirley Bassey have a Christmas Number One? 21 Jennifer Ellison stars in Norwich Theatre Royal’s panto 38 Pete Goodrum on the hits of the 60s

£3.50 WHERE SOLD DECEMBER 2015

FASHION AND BEAUTY

THE Magazine for Norfolk & North Suffolk

42 How to look dazzling this season 45 Fabulous festive fragrances 53 Dress to kill aka James Bond 55 Great-looking gifts for good-looking men

FASHION:

IT’S TIME TO SPARKLE!

BLAKE SING WITH SHIRLEY BASSEY

WHAT’S ON

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN

SOUTHWOLD

LADY EDITH CRAWLEY JENNIFER ELLISON SHOWS HER WICKED SIDE HEAD TO EDINBURGH FOR

HOGMANAY

WIN

A DELICIO US MEAL FOR SIX AT COSMO

10 Festive events and activities 13 What’s on In Norwich this Christmas 28 Get ready to boo and cheer – panto season is here!

33 Mixed Voice celebrate this wonderful time of the year 36 London’s Les Mis celebrates 30 years

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

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A fond farewell to Downtown Abbey

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NOVEMBER 2015

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TRAVEL

56 See in the New Year in Edinburgh 64 Christmas shopping in Southwold

HOMES AND GARDENS

70 The stunning Two Saints Barn in Hoveton 89 Rebecca Coulby: how to use copper in the kitchen 96 Great festive ideas from The Granary 102 Winter plants, flowers and wildlife

FOOD AND DRINK

74 All about our festive feathered friends 75 Turkey with a twist 78 Impressive food and drink from The Imperial Hotel 81 A decadent December dessert 86 Take a look at the new Suffolk Cook Book 87 Could you be our lucky winner?

STAR WARS EPISODE VII

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Editor’s Choice Carolyn Atkins selects her favourite

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December events and activities BEST NEW FILM

It has to be Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, the mustsee family movie out on December 17. The first of three further instalments in George Lucas’s Star Wars franchise, this highlyanticipated new film is set 30 years after Return of the Jedi and stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. Lightsabers at the ready!

BEST CAFÉ

La Petite Coffee Shop on the corner of Sackville Place on Magdalen Street in Norwich is a new haven for café-lovers. This pretty place is small but perfectly formed, tastefully decorated with pretty bunting and fresh flowers, and serves great coffee, delicious cheese scones, sausage rolls, a more-ish Victoria Sponge cake and other lovely baked goods created on the Aga. Well worth popping in if you’re in the area.

BEST BOOK

24 BUSINESS

24 Bure Valley Railway has come a long way 60 The Abbey Experience 107 Talking politics with Julian Gibbons 109 Carl Lamb looks at Inheritance Tax 122 Five minutes with the NNAB’s Mike Talbot

MOTORING

112 The lovely-looking new Lotus Evora 114 Test-drive the new Peugeot 308 GTi 117 Winter motoring: take care out there!

REGULARS

118 Picture this: more High Society snaps

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A new edition of Black Beauty is on sale exclusively at Jarrold in Norwich until the new year, priced at £20. Written by Great Yarmouth-born Anna Sewell at her Old Catton home, Black Beauty is one of the best-selling books of all time, with over 50 million copies sold. It tells the tale of the famous horse’s life from his happygo-lucky days as a colt to hard times pulling London cabs before his retirement in the country. This new version is the facsimile of an edition first published by Jarrold in 1912 and contains beautiful illustrations by renowned watercolour artist Cecil Aldin.

BEST ALBUM

Adele’s new album 25 has to be on this year’s Christmas present list, following the huge success of the lead single Hello. The new release features 11 new songs and comes after a long break for the Rolling In The Deep star. Adele says: “25 is about getting to know who I’ve become without realising. And I’m sorry it took so long, but you know, life happened.”

BEST EVENT

If you’ve ever dreamt of being a food critic, an event at The Norwich Playhouse on Monday, December 14 should confirm some facts and dispel some myths. Jay Rayner: My Dining Hell focuses on the award-winning restaurant critic’s dining experiences, including some of the worst meals he’s ever eaten, and with over 700 restaurant reviews under his belt, he should have plenty to say.

A book signing follows the show. Tickets £15. www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk

BEST SHOP

This month’s must-see store has to be Trollbeads at 9 Swan Lane, Norwich. This stylish new shop has a huge range of the fashionable jewellery collection, from necklaces, earrings and rings to an array of bangles and bracelets. Each of the hand-made glass beads is original and tells a story; pop in to find out more. Open daily. www.trollbeadsnorwich.co.uk

whaotn’s

HO! HO! HO!

SEASONAL SERVICES

Hoveton Hall Gardens in the Norfolk Broads will be home to a Christmas Craft Fair, Children’s Santa Trail and real reindeer on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December. Tickets are £5 each and include a visit to Father Christmas and a present for the children and free mulled wine and mince pies for the grown-ups. www.hovetonhallestate.co.uk

Christmas is a very special time at Norwich Cathedral, with all sorts of festive services. The Christingle family celebration takes place on Saturday, December 12; the Christmas Procession with Carols on Sunday, December 20; the Midnight Eucharist of Christmas at 11.15pm on Christmas Eve; and then two special services, at 10.30am and 3.30pm, on Christmas Day. Full details at: www.cathedral.org.uk

CHARITY CHRISTMAS CARDS

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

The Original Norwich Charity Christmas Card Shop is celebrating its 50th anniversary and is located in a prestigious new location in the city’s Royal Arcade.

Helping local, national and international charities via the sale of cards, paper, tags, gift bags and more, the pop-up shop is open from 9.30am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, until Friday, December 18. www.onccs.org.uk

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NOVEMBER 2015

December’s What’s On roundup has a fabulous festive feel

PICTURE: PAUL HURST

Seraphim will be performing at St Edmund’s Church, Southwold, at 7.30pm on Saturday, December 5. The Suffolkbased vocal ensemble, with flute and harp duo Anna Noakes and Gabriella dell’Olio, will perform Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, along with works by Bach, Durufle, Klatzow and others. A reception celebrating the new Southwold Music Trust, open to all ticket holders, will precede the event at 6:30pm in St Edmund’s Hall. Tickets £12; call 01502 726161 or email halcyon@agencyforchange.co.uk

WHAT'S ON

WONDERFUL WINTER WALKS

Explore the region at its wintry best with the Ramblers’ free, annual Festival of Winter Walks.

Ramblers groups will be leading hundreds of free walks from December 19 to January 3, from short festive strolls to blow away the cobwebs, to heartier rambles to burn off all those Christmas calories. You’ll find the festive routes on offer at: www.ramblers.org.uk/winterwalks.

A WHOLE LOT OF LEGO

What do Doctor Who’s Tardis, Lord of the Ring’s Gandalf, the seven wonders of the world, a woolly mammoth and three million LEGO bricks have in common?

They’ll all be at BRICK 2015, the UK’s biggest LEGO show when it debuts at London’s ExCeL from December 11 to 13.

Aimed at Lego fans of all ages, the amazing LEGO models will also include characters from the recent LEGO Movie, Lord of the Rings, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and many more. www.brick2015.com

DESTINATION NORWICH

Looking for a Christmas gift with a difference? The 10th anniversary edition of the Destination Norwich board game is available exclusively at Jarrold in Norwich and sees players compete to race through the city’s streets in a minicab. Created by ex-taxi driver Rachel Lowe of Dragon’s Den fame, the game has lots of local sponsors and is priced at £24.95.

SEND A SMILE

DEEPDALE CHRISTMAS MARKET

‘Tis the season for festive fairs and you’ll find them in halls, streets and market places up and down the country. Deepdale Christmas Market in Burnham Deepdale on the beautiful North Norfolk coast is one of the most well-known, welcoming over 100 stalls on Friday 4, Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December. Held from 2pm to 8pm on Friday, 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday, entry free.

THE ART OF BEAUTY

Alphonse Mucha: In Quest of Beauty is on display at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich until March 20, 2016. Czech-born Alphonse Mucha (1860 to 1939) is famous for his elegant designs for decorative panels and stunning advertising posters, with his style synonymous with the Art Nouveau movement. Exploring the work of the artist around the theme of beauty, the exhibition is well worth a look. www.scva.ac.uk

OUTDOOR ICE SKATING

Get your skates on at Great Yarmouth’s real ice rink in the town’s historic Market Square, open daily until Sunday, January 3 (except Christmas Day). The rink will be open till 9pm on Wednesday late shopping nights, with tickets available from the Box Office in the Market Square and online at: www.great-yarmouth. co.uk/gyChristmas.

There’ll be festive fun for all the family in Castle Mall Gardens, Norwich, too, with an outdoor ice rink, giant snowman bouncy castle and other attractions open from Sunday, December 6 to Saturday, January 2. See: www.icerinknorwich.co.uk

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Charity is calling on local people and businesses to donate more than 900 gifts so that every patient at NNUH wakes up to a present from Santa this Christmas. Besides drop-off points for presents on the hospital site, they can be donated at NatWest branches in Wymondham, Diss, Cromer, North Walsham, London Street, Boundary Road and St Stephen’s Street in Norwich, East Dereham and Great Yarmouth. All gifts should be unwrapped and donated by Friday, December 11.

CHRISTMAS TREE EXTRAVAGANZA

The 12th annual South Norfolk Christmas Tree Extravaganza, 50 Christmas Trees in a Church, takes place at All Saints Dickleburgh near Diss. The event, which began on Sunday, November 29, runs to Sunday, December 6 and is open from 10am to 7pm daily (till 4pm on December, 6). This year’s theme is Christmas Hope and entry is free, with donations welcome for local charities. www.50christmastrees.com

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WHAT’S ON

NAUGHTY OR NICE

Norwich offers all sorts of cheeky distractions this Christmas, so put them on your wish list, advises Melanie Cook at VisitNorwich VISIT NORWICH, www.visitnorwich.co.uk

Christmas in Norwich is always special. The city celebrates the festive season in style and is simply bursting with spectacular entertainment, twinkly lights and seasonal music at this time of year – not to mention all the fabulous places to eat, drink and shop!

This year is no exception. If you love a traditional festive celebration, then head to Norwich Cathedral on December 11, 20 or 24, The Great Hospital on December 21, or St Peter Mancroft on December 24 - the largest of Norwich’s beautiful medieval churches. If you yearn for a warm, fuzzy feeling of well-being then these atmospheric, immersive choral harmony experiences will hit the spot nicely.

Of course, Christmas really wouldn’t be Christmas without music in all its guises. The county’s famous Thursford Christmas Spectacular is the biggest and most exciting Christmas show in Britain with dazzling dancers, glitzy costumes and a cast of over 100 - it’s magical!

Norwich Theatre Royal’s nostalgic 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain RAF Concert on December 6 also promises to be an evocative and rousing evening, while the theatre will become a hothouse of laughter, comedy and riotous behaviour when the panto comes to town from December 15 to January 17. Snow White will grace the stage with TV’s Jennifer Ellison as the Wicked Witch (see the interview on page 21) while, rather unusually, a live six-piece band promises to make the show all the more special.

If swing is your thing, then head to The Norwich Playhouse on December 8 and 9 for It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, a musical winter wonderland presented by Joe Ringer and his orchestra. By comparison The Locrian Ensemble: Carols by Candlelight, on Monday December 7, is a lavish period costume performance in an evocative candlelit setting. The production will be thrilling and charismatic - the hottest tickets in town – quite literally.

For the more whimsical amongst us, a treat for man’s best friend is a must. Santa’s Grotto for Dogs returns to The Forum

on Saturday, December 12 for more light-hearted moments with your pooch; meeting Santa Paws is an essential date in the family diary.

If, however, you are to be found firmly on Santa’s naughty list, then there are plenty of mischievous, playful yet deliciously decadent Christmas events this year. For a true seasonal rebellion, seats for Jack the Ripper The Panto, at The Norwich Playhouse from December 10 to 12, are just the ticket. Expect politically incorrect comedy with a pantomime structure – this is a love story with prostitutes, murderers, drugs and a good old sing-along. What more could you ask for?

Later the same week The Playhouse pushes the buttons further with Amateur Transplants: Adam Kay’s Smutty Christmas Songs on Tuesday, December 15 - an evening of seasonal smut to raise a smile from the most miserable misers! Adam’s dark re-imagining of songs has earned him 20 million hits on YouTube – just remember, be careful what you Christmas wish for.

Meanwhile, if your weak spot is for naughty food rather than freaky performance, you’re in the right place. A day’s shopping in the city will be enhanced with a pit stop at Louis’ Deli, The Iron House and The Britons Arms. Enjoy steaming hot drinks, organic chocolate, warm sausage rolls and homemade mince pies in welcoming, cosy premises.

And if you want to pull out all the stops, take Festive Afternoon Tea at The Assembly House between November 28 and January 3. Savour dainty finger sandwiches filled with roast Norfolk turkey, stuffing and cranberry, as well as Cley Smokehouse salmon with cracked black pepper, cream cheese and cucumber. There are also Colman’s mustard and chive savoury scones plus sweet scones with cranberry and clementine served with Norfolk strawberry jam and clotted cream. And if you are feeling particularly wicked, add a glass of champagne. Priced at £32 for two plus £7.95 per person for a glass of bubbly.

DECEMBER 2015

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A FOND FAREWELL With the final ever episode of the hit costume drama Downtown Abbey set for Christmas Day, Lady Edith Crawley (actress Laura Carmichael) tells Places & Faces速 what we can expect...

LAURA CARMICHAEL SPOKE TO LUCY ALLEN

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DECEMBER 2015

WHAT’S ON

DECEMBER 2015

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D

MISSING DOWNTOWN ALREADY?

Don’t despair – if you can’t quite make it to Highclere Castle in Berkshire, where most of the series was filmed, there are plenty of impressive stately homes in East Anglia which are always well worth a visit. Simply dress up to the nines and summon your chauffeur to take you to one of the following:

Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire www.nationaltrust.org.uk/anglesey-abbey Blickling Hall, Norfolk www.nationaltrust.org.uk/blicking-estate Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk www.nationaltrust.org.uk/felbrigg-hall Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburgh-hall Somerleyton, Suffolk www.somerleyton.co.uk

OWNTOWN ABBEY followers are having to come to terms with the fact that their favourite upstairs, downstairs saga is coming to a close.

Julian Fellowes’ hit show is the country’s highestrating drama of the past decade across any channel, with an average of nearly 11 million viewers over the course of all six seasons, including the Christmas specials.

The adventures of the aristocratic Crawley family Robert and Cora and their three daughters, Mary, Edith and Sybil, debuted on ITV in 2010 and have since become a worldwide phenomenon, with Downtown Abbey being screened around the globe. It has made international stars of the entire cast, from the Earl and Countess of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern) to troubled under-butler Thomas Barrow (Rob James-Collier).

The Golden Globe, Emmy, PGA, BAFTA, National Television Awards and Screen Actors Guild awardwinning production became a Sunday night must-see, but after years of sensational storylines, fabulous 1920’s fashion, stunning cars and a string of acerbic one-liners from the Dowager Countess Violet, played by Dame Maggie Smith, the series ended with Lady Mary’s (Michelle Dockery) whirlwind wedding, with the Christmas Day special set to tie up the remaining loose ends, although it’s rumoured that a Downtown movie could be in the pipeline.

In the festive finale, Lady Mary endeavours to build bridges with her sister while Edith’s secret (about her hidden daughter) continues to pose a threat, despite the fact that she has nothing left to lose.

As Henry Talbot (Matthew Goode) settles into the role of husband and stepfather, finding his place at Downtown proves more difficult. Meanwhile, below stairs, Carson faces some personal challenges, which prove that even he is not invulnerable to change.

The last ever episode offers all the love and loss, happiness and heartbreak that we have come to expect of Downtown Abbey, and as the family and servants prepare to welcome 1926, they celebrate an unforgettable New Year’s Eve together at the great house.

Fans of the series will already know that Laura Carmichael’s character, Lady Edith Crawley, has had a pretty rough time of it all, what with a dear departed partner, a child born out of wedlock (and out of sight, although not out of mind, for most of the series), and her new-found happiness with Bertie Pelham, the new Marquess of Hexham (played by Harry Hadden-Paton) dashed by her devil-in-disguise sister Lady Mary.

With so much going on and so much still to be resolved, Laura Carmichael’s character is bound to be at the centre of things during the Christmas special, but the question is, will Lady Edith ever find true happiness?

Laura Carmichael says: “She says at one point, she’s staring middle age in the face. And I think she’s sort of written it off for herself, but that doesn’t mean Julian [Fellowes] has.”

Lady Edith was born in 1892 so is in her mid-30s by the end of the series, which is set in 1926.

Laura Carmichael, who was born in 1986, says: “It’s a really satisfying ending, but there’s going to be a lot of gasps and a lot of tears – but all in that classic Downton way!”

She adds: “I love the journey that Edith has gone on because to begin with she could have been the most conventional of the three daughters. I think she wanted a life much like her parents and grandparents, but because of the knocks, because of the heartache, really, she’s had to find a different path for herself.

And I am delighted by the direction the journey has moved with her, because she’s incredibly resilient.

And in this era, because of the time that we are displaying, there are these windows of change. So after the war, she has found the enjoyment of work, and it has been a really interesting journey.”

The award-winning actress is referring to Lady Edith’s role as a magazine proprietor, which sees her having to travel to London often.

Laura confides: “I want to take most of the set home from the newspaper office, just because it’s really cool and sort of nerdy, and oldfashioned stationery that I somehow find very exciting, and

Unsurprisingly, Laura plans to stay friends with the cast, saying: “They have become like family and I think it’s not a coincidence that Michelle [Dockery – who plays Lady Mary] and I are so close.

We are from two three-sister families and when you’re bought up with sisters that you are very close to, you end up forming close female friendships like that very quickly.”

Laura continues: “In the case of Edith and Mary, they know how to wind each other up and really do the worst they possibly can.

They’re witty, smart girls and they know what they’re doing. It’s been really fun to play.”

So what does life after Downtown Abbey hold? Laura says: “I’m not sure yet - we’ll see. I’m going to have to get used to the fact that they’re not all going to be like Downton Abbey. But I feel like I’m in a really nice position and I don’t want to just rush into the next thing.”

She adds: “It’s just about the script and the part really. It’s just good writing that I’m really open to. I’m looking forward to doing more theatre soon and I’ve loved doing film and I’ve loved doing television, and it’s about the next thing that gets me excited.”

Back to the 1920s and Lady Edith - can we expect her to find happiness in the end?

typewriters. And big leather sofas - it’s a really cool set, and I love all the props.”

Lady Edith also gets to wear the latest 1920’s fashion, along with the glamorous hairstyles of the period, including the chic Marcel wave.

She adds: “The clothes have been wonderful; it’s been really, really special.”

So what will she miss most about playing Lady Edith?

“The clothes. They’re amazing. It’s a big part of the job for us and we’ve loved it. Who wouldn’t? It’s super fun and the team who are making our costumes, they’re just phenomenal. They’re whipping up clothes within the night.”

So will she be taking a dress home as a memento?

“I wouldn’t dare. They’re too expensive and they’re too beautiful and, actually, they’ll go off to exhibitions so the world can see all the work that’s gone into them.”

One thing Laura Carmichael won’t miss, however, is having to have her hair styled for the show. She laughs: “I love the team that do it and I know it’s beautiful and clever, but it’s time consuming and it kind of hurts in the morning and I hate it!”

So what was it like filming the last scenes at Highclere Castle, the home of the Earl and Countess of Carnavon in Newbury, Berkshire, where the popular drama is filmed?

Laura says: “It was very strange saying goodbye to the castle, because it felt like it wasn’t our home any more. And, of course, it was never our home - it was Highclere Castle, but it felt like it for over six years. As soon as they said ‘cut’ on that day, you realised it was just pretend. But it’s full of so many fond memories, and it was very emotional - we had a big cry.”

She adds that the stand-out memories of her time on the show were: “Wrapping on the first series. Wrapping on the final series - we’re very sentimental people!”

With production spending a week at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, which doubled as the location for Brancaster, home of Lady Edith’s love interest, Bertie Pelham (Harry HaddenPaton), the new Marquess of Hexham, we can only hope that the couple manage to re-kindle their romance on Christmas Day. Meanwhile, below stairs, after years of trauma and heartbreak, Laura’s co-stars Joanne Froggatt and Brendan Coyle (Anna and John Bates) could well be hearing the patter of tiny feet at Christmas time.

So how is Laura Carmichael feeling about the end of Downtown?

“It’s been really fun but lots of tears. It’s a bit like finishing school, but after longer. Six years!”

The broadcast of the finale on Christmas Day will mark the end of a true icon of British television history and no doubt Downtown fans will be shedding some tears of their own.

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A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS

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DECEMBER 2015

INTERVIEW

MARK NICHOLLS SPEAKS TO BLAKE’S HUMPHREY BERNEY ABOUT A SINGLE WITH SHIRLEY BASSEY, TOURING AND A TRADITIONAL FAMILY CHRISTMAS

Humphrey Berney isn’t so much dreaming of a

white Christmas, but he does have his eyes on a festive Number One single.

And when your Christmas record features Shirley Bassey singing an all-time classic with you, there’s a good chance of dreams coming true.

Dame Shirley has joined Humphrey and his fellow Blake members Ollie Baines and Stephen Bowman to record The Christmas Song.

Instantly recognisable from the opening lines “chestnuts roasting on an open fire…” it proved a popular choice when Blake and Dame Shirley started talking about making festive music together.

Humphrey, who grew up in Norfolk, explained the connection to Dame Shirley began serendipitously when they appeared on breakfast TV a few years ago.

“Unbeknown to us, it was Shirley Bassey’s 70th birthday and someone from her management saw us sing on breakfast TV that morning and asked if we would perform at her birthday party that evening,” he said.

Blake sang Moon River that night but it was some time before they met Dame Shirley again – at a gala reception earlier this year for Variety (The Children’s Charity), for which Blake and Shirley Bassey are ambassadors.

The subject of Blake’s Christmas album arose and when it transpired that Dame Shirley had never recorded a Christmas record, the boys invited her to do a festive song with them.

“She said yes,” said Humphrey, “and that saw the start of an amazing journey. We started recording and that was one of the greatest experiences of our lives.

“It was amazing how Dame Shirley’s voice came alive with the song once she was happy with the arrangement and she gave the most unbelievable vocal performance.

“From there, we weaved our voices around her and she was really happy with the outcomes. The result is a fantastic Christmas song.”

Renowned for mixing eclectic classical and pop songs with rich harmony vocals, Blake have enjoyed several Number One hits and performed at major stadiums, concert halls and sporting events across the globe. They are currently midway through a winter tour on the back of the new album entitled A Classic Christmas.

The boys have previously released Christmas singles – When a Child is Born and White Christmas - but this is their first Christmas album.

“We are very much old school when it comes to Christmas songs,” said Humphrey, “and with the album we have Hollywood Christmas songs mixed with beautiful choral and vocal harmony pieces and we feel that this is perhaps the most honest representation of what we do. Having Dame Shirley involved in it with us is just amazing.”

The album includes Silent Night, In The Bleak Midwinter, a full orchestral version of Walking In The Air, Oh Holy Night and upbeat Christmas songs such as Frosty The Snowman, Let It Snow and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.

“It ticks all the Christmas boxes and has all the songs people want to hear,” said Humphrey, who went to school at Gresham’s in Holt, and who joined Blake in 2009.

The new album, which is out now, has been funded through crowdfunding site PledgeMusic with a significant donation to Variety, which works for disadvantaged children in the UK. “It would be amazing if we could achieve that, especially for our fans as this is an independent record, crowd-funded by our fans,” said Humphrey. “It would be wonderful to have a Christmas song at Number One rather than a random pop song.”

With more dates planned for 2016, Blake hope there will be a further Norfolk show following their recent performance at Cromer Pier.

“That is such a great venue, and just shows the variety of shows we do – Wembley Arena one night, Cromer Pier on another,” added Humphrey, who is planning a traditional Christmas with his wife Charlotte and her family on the Isle of Wight.

“There’ll be walks on the beach with the dog, but I will be up to Norfolk some time in December for an early Christmas with my brother Oliver and his family who live at Hockering.”

His mother Susan Preston and step-father Robert will travel down from Norfolk to join the festive gathering on the Isle of Wight, where there may be a little extra fizz to the champagne if The Christmas Song tops the charts.

With live shows planned in China, America and the Philippines and the possibility of further projects with Dame Shirley Bassey, it’s set to be an exciting 2016 for Blake.

“But between all that I will make time to head back to Norfolk when I can,” promises Humphrey.

In the meantime, Humphrey, Ollie and Stephen will be keeping a close eye on the top of the charts with a dream they share with Dame Shirley Bassey…of a Christmas Number One.

DECEMBER 2015

19

WHAT’S ON

WICKED NO REST FOR THE

TV and West End star Jennifer Ellison arrives in Norwich this month to play the Wicked Queen in Snow White, this year’s Theatre Royal pantomime PETE GOODRUM MET HER

SITTING AT A CORNER TABLE in the restaurant at the Norwich Theatre Royal, Jennifer Ellison is sipping coffee and making notes. Dressed in black, she looks for all the world like a business woman on her way to a meeting, and on her agenda the only business is show business.

The well-known TV and stage star is preparing to take on the role of the Wicked Queen in this year’s pantomime, Snow White and, no matter how busy her life is, she can’t wait.

Indeed, life has always been busy for the Merseyside actress, who is perhaps best known for playing Emily Shadwick in Channel Four’s Brookside and for her portrayal of Meg Giry in the big screen adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera.

Jennifer Ellison is also no stranger to pantomime, having appeared in several across the country, including Liverpool Empire’s production of Cinderella in 2008 opposite Les Dennis and the late Cilla Black.

“I love pantomime”, confides Jennifer. And what about playing the wicked queen? “I can’t wait! It’s the whole thing with the children – of course, I’m scary, but the interaction is fantastic.”

Jennifer has been married to boxer Robbie Tickle since 2009 and they have three young boys, Bobby, Harry and Charlie; Jennifer is proud of the fact that they will see her on stage in the Norwich panto.

However, despite the fact that pantomime is full of family fun, Jennifer takes her new role very seriously.

She says: “I go on to a pantomime stage as an actress.

It’s like any other role. There’s never a sense of taking it lightly because it’s so much fun. The role – and the audience – deserve my maximum effort.”

Jennifer laughs a lot, and is clearly down-to-earth, grounded and approachable. No doubt she’s used to being interviewed, having broken into TV at a very young age.

“I auditioned at seven years old,” she says. “It was huge. I was already a champion dancer, but to break into acting like that was massive. There was no reality TV and no big time talent shows then.”

Born in Liverpool in 1983, the popular performer spent five years with the famous Channel Four soap Brookside, from 1998 to 2003, when she was at the centre of a number of high-profile storylines including losing her father and brother in an explosion, a blackmail plot, and her long-running relationship with Tim ‘Tinhead’ O’Leary.

Joining the cast as a teenager meant that she grew up in character as well as in real time. “I did!” exclaims Jennifer, “I went from that child into all of the incredible storylines that were written around me.

And they were pretty incredible!”

Since she shot to fame in Brookside, Jennifer’s televisions credits have been impressive. She appeared in the travel documentary Jennifer Ellison Does Thailand and emerged victorious in Gordon Ramsay’s cookery challenge show, Hell’s Kitchen. She also hosts the Lifetime TV show Dance Mums which follows the tears, tantrums and tutus of young performers and

DECEMBER 2015

21

SALES CALENDAR JANUARY – MARCH 2016 General Sales every Monday plus extra sections each week

January 2016

February 2016

March 2016

April 2016

Monday 4th

Commercial, Deadstock & Cars

Monday 11th

Antiques to include Pictures & Prints

Monday 18th

Boxed Books

Monday 25th

Antiques to include Books & Maps

Monday 1st

Commercial, Deadstock & Cars

Monday 8th

Antiques to include Furniture, Ceramics, Silver, Clocks & Jewellery

Monday 15th

Boxed Books

Monday 22nd

Antiques to include Furniture, Ceramics, Silver, Clocks & Jewellery

Monday 7th

Antiques to include Furniture, Ceramics, Silver, Clocks & Jewellery

Monday 14th

Boxed Books

Tuesday 15th

Specialist sale of Fine Antiques (Day 1)

Wednesday 16th

Specialist sale of Fine Antiques (Day 2)

Thursday 17th

Specialist sale of Fine Antiques (Day 3) To include The East Anglian Sale (Part 1)

Monday 22nd

Antiques to include Furniture, Ceramics, Silver, Clocks & Jewellery

Monday 29th

Commercial, Deadstock & Cars

26th/27th/28th/29th

Morningthorpe Manor Country House Sale To be held at Aylsham Saleroom

Boxing Day & New Years Day Guided tours @ 11am Followed by mulled wine & mince pies www.fairhavengarden.co.uk

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Exhibition curated and organised by Barbican Centre, London

SNOW WHITE is at the Norwich Theatre Royal from Tuesday December 15 to Sunday January 17. Tickets £7 to £21.50. Discounts for Friends, over-60s and under-18s. Box Office: 01603 630000. www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

SHE IS PERHAPS BEST KNOWN FOR PLAYING EMILY SHADWICK IN BROOKSIDE AND MEG GIRY IN THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

their mothers seeking fame, and which is shot at her own dance space, Jelli Studios.

Jennifer’s theatre work is equally successful. She played the lead role of Roxie Hart in the West End production of Chicago, in which she also toured. She also toured the country in Legally Blonde and played Lina Lamont in a West End run of Singin’ In The Rain, while also shimmying through to the semi-finals of ITV’s hit reality show Dancing On Ice. Other projects include a fitness DVD, West End Workout, judging British reality TV competition Dirty Dancing; The Time of Your Life, presenting a radio show, glamour modelling and breaking into the charts with Baby I Don’t Care (originally released by Transvision Vamp) and Bye Bye Boy. With so much on the go, it’s unlikely that Jennifer Ellison has any spare time. But if she has, what does she like to do?

The soap star, movie actress, singer, pop star and winner of the Carl Alan Award for Outstanding Services to Dance has a very surprising answer: “I like to go fishing,” she says. “My husband and my kids love it - so do I. Where can we go to fish in Norfolk?”

Jennifer is also keen to know where to eat in the county while she’s here, what she should see, and where it would be nice to go for Christmas. So it seems that, in addition to her long list of other roles, we need to add wife, mum and all-round very normal person.

However, her one special, stand-out memory reminds us that Jennifer Ellison is a star. She says: “The New York premiere of Phantom. I mean, when people like Michael Douglas are coming to see you - that’s massive, isn’t it?”

Back to talking about her forthcoming role, she says ‘’It’s a wonderful show. You’ll fall in love with Snow White!”

No doubt we’ll fall in love with the Wicked Queen, too!

DECEMBER 2015

23

ON TRACK FOR

CHRISTMAS In the year that the Bure Valley Railway marks its 25th anniversary, Mark Nicholls speaks to owner Andrew Barnes ahead of the busy Santa Special season

24

DECEMBER 2015

I

F THE FAT CONTROLLER were in charge, he’d be a happy man watching trains arrive and depart on the Bure Valley Railway.

On time, the locomotives are powerful, efficient and smartly turned-out…and the carriages behave themselves too!

Yet as the BVR marks its 25th anniversary year – with the Santa Special season fast approaching and having achieved record passenger numbers – there have been challenges along the way to it becoming the successful tourist attraction it is today.

Key to the transformation in fortunes of the line between Aylsham and Wroxham has been Andrew Barnes, who runs the narrow gauge line with his wife Susan Munday (pictured right).

In railway terms, the Bure Valley Railway is a roller coaster ride in every sense and, as Andrew explains, that sits in line with its history.

The track bed was laid by a railway company in financial difficulties in the 1880s which meant no tunnels or cuttings, but simply letting the line follow the lie of the land, so powerful locos are needed to work the gradients.

There have also been financial challenges, right from the very earliest days of the line in the Victorian era.

Today’s 15-inch gauge BVR is a modern rail incarnation, sustained by tourists and a few locals who patronise the trains, bolstered by special services such as the Santa specials in December.

Following the agricultural landscape of the Bure Valley with halts at Coltishall, Buxton and Brampton, the nine-mile route has a path alongside it which is popular with cyclists and hikers.

Its origin can be traced to the opening of the Norwich to Cromer route – now the Bittern Line - in the late 1870s. In 1880, East Norfolk Railway decided to build an Aylsham branch as a standard gauge line from Wroxham to Aylsham.

But as Andrew, who is a mine of knowledge on the history of the route, explained: “It ran into financial difficulties even before it opened and was operated by the Great Eastern Railway, which formally took it over in 1882, but even it did not have much success in attracting passengers.”

The line, which also ran beyond Aylsham to Cawston, Reepham and County School Station north of Dereham, did see an upturn in World War One, moving personnel and transporting timber for the trenches on the Western Front.

Later, the opening of Scottow Aerodrome - which became RAF Coltishall – saw a further revival as it was needed to carry personnel and munitions in World War Two. “A railway’s best friend is a decent war,” comments Andrew.

By September 1952 it closed to passenger services, though remained open for freight until 1982.

The lifting of the standard gauge track in the mid-1980s could have heralded the end of the Bure Valley route.

But with a sympathetic approach from Broadland District Council and the intervention of John Edwards and Robert Hudson, who ran the light railways at Pleasurewood Hills, along with the resort owner Joe Larter, funding was secured to lay 15-inch gauge track, which would also allow the footpath and cycle route alongside it.

The first narrow gauge train ran on July 10, 1990, but Mr Barnes says there were financial hiccups early on; somewhat reminiscent of when the original route opened in the 1880s with the BVR actually entering administration less than a year after – not because it was unsuccessful, but due to the failure of its parent company.

Originally operated using engines hired from the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, these returned to Kent when the line was bought out of administration.

Eventually, locomotives specially-built to cope with the demanding route were acquired.

However, the line remained in financial difficulty and was often close to failure before Andrew and Susan – who had connections to the BVR going back to 1990 and had been investors since 1996 - took over in 2000.

Today, the BVR is going from strength to strength. Indeed, it is more successful than any service which ran along it during its previous British Rail and GER history.

Figures show that at its busiest a century or so ago, it carried 6,000 passengers a year as a standard gauge route. Today, as a narrow gauge route some 125,000 people travel annually on the Bure Valley Railway.

“The future of the line is now secure, debt-free and the business is stable and enhanced by a shop, model railway business and café,” adds Andrew.

The BVR runs 252 days of the year and the station and shops at Aylsham are open 363 days a year, with engine sheds, offices and maintenance works. And BVR now employs 22 full and part-time staff.

With five steam locomotives and three diesels, trains are usually made up of 10 coaches, with 20 seats per carriage.

All are fully enclosed, have heating in the winter, with six coaches which have been specifically designed to accommodate wheelchair users, and there is no standard or upper class.

“All our carriages are first class,” remarks Andrew.

Following the 25th anniversary celebrations in July, the Bure Valley Railway is now gearing up to take festive passengers on a magical journey to visit Santa Claus.

SANTA SPECIALS

Santa Claus will be making an appearance at an array of Norfolk’s private railways in the run-up to the festive season, with opportunities to board Santa Specials, Magical Christmas Specials and Santa’s Lapland Express.

Barton House Railway Santa Special www.bartonhouserailway.org.uk Bressingham Steam and Gardens: Christmas visits with Santa www.bressingham.co.uk Mid Norfolk Railway: Santa’s Lapland express www.mnr.org.uk North Norfolk Railway: Santa Specials www.nnrailway.co.uk Wells & Walsingham Light Railway: Magical Christmas Specials www.wellswalsinghamrailway.co.uk Whitwell and Reepham Railway: Santa Specials Night www.whitwellstation.com

DECEMBER 2015

25

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SNOW WHITE

Norwich Theatre Royal Tuesday, December 15 to Sunday, January 17 Box Office: 01603 630000 www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk One of the UK’s best-loved pantomimes comes to Norwich starring Jennifer Ellison (Brookside, Chicago) as Queen Evilynne, Richard Gauntlett as Nurse Dorothy Dumpling, Ben Langley as Muddles, Bruce Graham (Phantom of the Opera, Cats) as Igor the Henchman, West End actor David Burilin as Prince Frederick and Norwich’s own Amie Howes as Snow White. Expect great songs, comedy, costumes, spectacular sets, special effects and plenty of audience participation.

IT’S SHOWTIME!

Oh yes it is! Festive shows are opening at venues around the region, promising seasonal glitz, glamour and family fun RUMPELSTILTSKIN

Norwich Puppet Theatre Saturday, December 19 to Thursday, December 24 Then Saturday, December 26 and from Monday, December 28 to Sunday, January 3 Box Office: 01603 629921 | www.puppettheatre.co.uk

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds Friday, November 27 to Monday, December 21 Box Office: 01284 769505. www.theatreroyal.org Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum! This well-known rag-to-riches tale of Jack and The Beanstalk promises to be full of music, magic and fun. Follow the poor boy who swops his only cow for a handful of magic beans and encounters an ogre and another world in the clouds.

THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD

King’s Lynn Corn Exchange Thursday, December 10 to Sunday, January 3 Box Office: 01553 764864 www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk Expect a fun-filled family night out as Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men clean up at the annual archery contest, wind up the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham, and battle to rescue Maid Marian from his evil clutches… all without laddering their tights! Shaun Williamson (EastEnders, Extras) plays the hero, while Will Scarlett is played by Steven Kynman of CBeebies’ Robert The Robot fame, with the hilarious Ian Marr playing Dame Double Top.

28

DECEMBER 2015

Aimed at three to eight year olds (as well as parents, grandparents and carers, of course), this famous fairytale is ideal for a family outing. In this new show by Ripstop Theatre, Auntie spins as hard as she can to make the wool for the King’s special festive jumper and everyone gets their threads in a twist until Rumpelstiltskin arrives. With a special opening night gala performance on Saturday, December 5.

WHAT’S ON

DICK WHITTINGTON

Pavilion Theatre, Gorleston Wednesday, December 9 to Saturday, January 2 Box Office: 01493 662832 | www.gorlestonpavilion.co.uk OhYesItIz Productions presents this traditional family pantomime about Dick Whittington and his talented cat. Discover how the poor boy and his rat-catcher made their fortune, even though the streets of London weren’t paved with gold. One for all the family.

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Marina Theatre, Lowestoft Tuesday, December 15 to Saturday, January 2 Box Office: 01502 533200 Having been cursed by naughty fairy Princess Aurora, Sleeping Beauty is doomed to slumber forever until awoken by true love’s kiss. Featuring a host of colourful comic characters, spectacular sets, fabulous costumes, delightful dancers and lots of audience participation, this looks set to be a fun-packed show.

THE CROMER CHRISTMAS SHOW 2015

Saturday, November 28 to Wednesday, December 30 (except Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve) Box Office: 01263 512495 | www.cromerpier.co.uk

THURSFORD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR

Daily until Wednesday, December 23 Box Office: 01328 878477 | www.thursford.com The largest Christmas show in the country opened in Norfolk in mid-November and has been in full swing ever since. This three-hour extravaganza of non-stop singing, dancing, music, humour and variety has a cast of 130 and features both seasonal and year-round favourites.

Set against an enchanting backdrop of mechanical organs and fairground carousels, the show includes many West End performers.

CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR AND WATER SHOW

Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth Saturday, December 12 to Sunday, January 10 Box Office: 01493 844172 www.hippodromecircus.co.uk

This dynamic and fast-moving show is the only one of its kind in Europe. It promises to be bigger and better than ever with host Jack Jay joined by some of the world’s best international circus artists including Roberto Carlos and his amazing juggling and lazer act and aerialist Mical Ionescu, culminating in the spectacular water show with a special Christmas finale.

The Pier of the Year 2015 celebrates the festive season with the Cromer Christmas Show – a live variety performance featuring comedy, music, song and dance plus, new for this year, a comedy magician. A great night out for all ages.

CINDERELLA

Sheringham Little Theatre Wednesday, December 9 until Saturday, January 2 Box Office: 01263 822347 www.sheringhamlittletheatre.com Cinderella is set to sparkle in this pantomime written by West End star Killian Donnelly (known for his appearances in such hit shows as Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and Memphis). Aimed at all the family, this fast-paced pantomime features singing, dancing and hilarity and plenty of toe-tapping tunes.

THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE

CINDERELLA

St George’s Theatre, Great Yarmouth Friday, December 18 to Sunday, January 10 Box Office: 01493 331484 | www.stgeorgestheatre.com

The Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich Friday, December 18 to Saturday, January 2 (closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day) | Box Office: 01603 620917 www.maddermarket.co.uk

Written by producer Gavin Dean, this fabulous production of Cinderella features extravagant sets and costumes galore. This year’s production sees the return of dancers from the Nabjab school of performing arts, and Woody Bear from Pleasurewood Hills who has decided to skip his winter hibernation this year to join the cast!

Join Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy as they set off on a magical mystery tour through the wardrobe to the land of Narnia.

Adapted from the famous book by CS Lewis, this version of The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe by Glyn Robbins is a fantastical adventure, with the children meeting Aslan the lion, representing all that is good, and the wicked White Witch representing the forces of evil.

Ipswich Regent Saturday, December 19 to Sunday, January 3 Box Office: 01473 433100 | www.ipswichregent.com

ALADDIN

Popular magician Paul Daniels, X-Factor runner-up Andy Abraham and Disney Channel presenter Samantha Dorrance take a magical carpet ride to the Far East in this fun-packed family pantomime. The show also features a live band and is packed with songs, dance routines and plenty of laughter.

29

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WHAT’S ON

MUSICAL MAGIC

This year Mixed Voice will be performing at OPEN in Norwich, the biggest venue so far for their fabulous Christmas Show

F

or the past few years Mixed Voice have performed their wonderful Christmas Show at The Assembly House in Norwich, which provided an attractive, atmospheric backdrop for the group’s festive renditions.

However, with an ever-increasing following and call for tickets, this year the talented ensemble, which comprises a professional band and over 50 of the region’s best singers and dancers, is moving to OPEN on Bank Plain to cater for the increased demand.

Anyone who still isn’t feeling festive by the third week of December really needs to go along to this uplifting concert which this year is inspired by the classic Christmas family movie, Home Alone.

The Mixed Voice cast promises to take the audience on a musical journey through the Christmas songbook, with the story following Joshua, a 10-year-old boy, who discovers a magical winter wonderland in the depths of his dusty old attic – however, this is only the beginning of an evening full of wonder and surprise.

The Mixed Voice Christmas Show is a new kind of Christmas entertainment, with the singers performing new and exciting arrangements of the Christmas songs we all

know and love, as well as delivering a few unexpected numbers.

The aim of this cleverly-arranged concert is to send the audience home feeling full of Christmas sparkle, and this new show comprises toe-tapping tunes aimed at all ages.

The Mixed Voice Christmas Show will take place on Monday, December 21 and Tuesday, December 22 at the Norwich city centre venue, with family tickets available for the first time.

Formed in 2007 with the objective of bringing together East Anglia’s finest singers, dancers, actors and musicians to the stage with shows that rival those of the West End, Mixed Voice has put on a number of musicals over the years, from Grease, Godspell and Rent to I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.

The talented ensemble’s fresh approach to classic Christmas songs and carols, mixed with contemporary arrangements and bang-up-to-date songs, is a successful one and this year’s festive event promises some traditional favourites as well as a few surprises.

From Christmas medleys and great harmonies to life-affirming solos, this is one Christmas concert not to miss – take some well-deserved time out over the Christmas holidays to listen to this fabulous festive performance, as it’s simply great to hear their voice.

THE MIXED VOICE CHRISTMAS SHOW will be at OPEN in Norwich on Monday, December 21 and Tuesday, December 22. Shows at 7.30pm; tickets £18, 15% off with voucher code ‘Rudolph’ before December 10. Call 01603 628319 or visit: www.mixedvoice.co.uk

DECEMBER 2015

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RECORD-BREAKING

SUCCESS It was a great time for British musicals in the 1980s. Not one, not two, but five musicals opened in that decade that looked like they’d run forever and which went on to play all over the world. Cats (1981), Starlight Express (1984), Les Miserables (1985), The Phantom of the Opera (1986) and Miss Saigon (1989) reclaimed the mantle of the musical theatre from America and each sustained hitherto unimaginable runs.

Saigon was gloriously revived last year and runs until next spring. Cats has returned for a Christmas season. Starlight continues to tour and to inspire children to experience live theatre. Phantom remains perhaps the most famous musical in the world. But standing above them all is Les Miserables.

For the scale of its ambition (a 1,200-page French novel about student insurrection, religious devotion and romantic tragedy) to the ingenuity of its staging (two thirds takes place on a bare stage) to the symphonic sweep of its music (it pauses for applause just six times in three hours) combined with the overwhelming emotional force it has on audiences, Les Miserables is a masterwork of the popular theatre. And this year it celebrated its 30th birthday.

Based on Victor Hugo’s sweeping historical novel about good, God, love, forgiveness, redemption, insurrection and sacrifice, Les Miserables’ hero is Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s son. He is pursued through the years by his jailer, Javert, who thinks no good can come of Valjean and seeks the chance to re-incarcerate him. Valjean’s path crosses with Fantine, a prostitute who asks him on her deathbed to save

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DECEMBER 2015

WEST END REVIEW

LES MISERABLES

LONDON’S IS THE WORLD’S LONGEST-RUNNING MUSICAL, HAVING BEEN PERFORMED AT THE QUEEN’S THEATRE FOR OVER 30 YEARS. BENET CATTY ATTENDS THE CELEBRATIONS

orchestrations that were incorporated a few years ago, which her daughter Cosette from the villainous Thernadiers. Years strip out many of the synthesised sounds that dated it and later, Valjean’s path crosses that of students who are mounting give it an even more sumptuous operatic flavour. It also has an insurrection and seeking a better tomorrow. the most immaculate sound design of any show in London; The interweaving of these various stories and a disparate a striking reminder of how shamefully rare it is to be able to collection of heroic and tragic characters makes Les hear the words in many major musicals.

Miserables one of the great plots of any musical - an art form The clarity and ingenuity of the Trevor Nunn/ which so often thrives in the broad brush and John Caird staging remains as vivid, simple and the one-sentence plot. But at its heart Les Mis LES MISERABLES, stylish as it ever was. Fans of their miraculous is about the struggle to be (or stay, or become) Queen’s Theatre, 51 Shaftesbury Avenue, staging of Charles Dickens’ Nicholas Nickleby good and ends with the famous line adapted London, W1D 6BA | Box (available on DVD) will recognise how many from Hugo: “To love another person is to see the Office: 0844 482 5160 of the techniques they brought from that great face of God.” show to this. These are aided by John Napier To celebrate Les Mis - as it is universally - surely the greatest post war theatre designer - whose bold known - becoming the first musical in history to enter its minimalism conjures worlds out of just cobbles and furniture, fourth decade (Phantom will join it next year), producer delivering them fluently with the famous revolving stage.

Cameron Mackintosh presented a gala performance at David Hersey’s lighting design created many effects and London’s Queens Theatre in October in front of invited settings which have become so famous since 1985 as to be friends and a lottery-picked crowd of devotees. Compared clichés, but he invented them for this show and here they still to the show’s tremendous 25th anniversary concert staging are. at the 02 Arena in 2010 (which made such a star of Alfie Until 2002, Cats (also produced by Mackintosh and Boe) and, indeed, the 10th anniversary concert at the Albert directed by Nunn) had been the longest-running musical in Hall, it was a more sedate, reverential affair. Original stars history. For years its tagline had been “now and forever”.

Colm Wilkinson and Patti Lupone returned to sing with their This is surely a line that could now be adopted by Les Mis. It successors, and the massed ranks of a Welsh children’s choir is impossible to imagine it ever closing. The story remains as filled the aisles to sing from their own imminent production. relevant and universal as it was when Victor Hugo wrote it in This special finale and the various speeches were 1862. glamorous and stirring, but the special event of the show that London is full of choice. But, really, if you want to see one of night, like every night, was the show itself. the world’s greatest musicals in one of the legendary stagings, It’s impossible to overstate how fresh, precise and detailed Les Miserables remains. This is hugely aided by the fresh then it’s Les Mis you’re looking for.

DECEMBER 2015

37

FAB FOUR FOLLOWING THE

Pete Goodrum continues his series on the tracks that defined the decades with a look back at the hits of the 1960s. Looking at the main events as well as lesser-known but influential artists, he covers the singers, their songs and where they came from as well as their local connections

I ended last month’s Backtrack column with a

mention of a certain Norwich gig in 1963. It was in April that year when The Beatles made their only appearance in Norwich, although they knew and had worked with Great Yarmouth’s Peter Jay. They played the old Grosvenor Rooms on Prince of Wales Road, and you’ll find a blue plaque there to say so. Booked by Peter Holmes, Ray Aldous and Geoffrey Walker for the princely sum of £250, they were supported by local outfit Ricky Lee and The Hucklebucks and, of course, went down a storm.

What really fascinates me about this event are the details of the day. By that April The Beatles were already stars. Love Me Do had been a Number One, as had the Please Please Me album. But somehow the trappings of success hadn’t quite materialised just yet.

They arrived in Norwich in a blue Ford van, and their pre-gig entertainment was watching a film at the ABC cinema just up the road. Their wild rock and roll night of madness after the show consisted of fish and chips at Valori’s in Rose Lane.

Within months of that night those four young men would be rich beyond their wildest dreams and have the world at their feet.

They would be the four most photographed and famous men on the planet and they would be the most influential band in the history of popular music.

As they rushed in to the mid-1960s, the music scene followed them, and the years from 1963 to 1967 saw a pop music revolution.

The Beatles’ initial ‘Liverpool’ tag became subsumed as the ‘British’ sound conquered the world.

Lennon and McCartney had realised very early on that, for all its fame, performing was less lucrative than song-writing; you can hear them, especially Lennon, say so in interviews of the

38

DECEMBER 2015

time. And as songwriters they were astoundingly successful - there were countless cover versions of their records, as well as hits they wrote for other acts.

Even the band some would call their rivals, The Rolling Stones, had their second hit, reaching Number 12 in 1963, with the Lennon and McCartney song I Wanna Be Your Man. A glimpse of some other Lennon and McCartney-penned songs of the time is like a snapshot of mid-60s British pop. The Fourmost had a hit with Hello Little Girl and Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas charted with Bad to Me in 1963, and in 1964 they wrote It’s for You for Cilla Black. The same year saw Peter and Gordon launch their careers with John and Paul’s A World Without Love.

PJ Proby’s That Means A Lot was a 1965 hit and Cilla was back in 1968 with Step Inside Love – and there were many more.

But what of the other acts of the time? As previously mentioned, The Rolling Stones were seen as rivals to The Beatles, and there’s much talk of the bands representing either end of the pop spectrum. With their leather jacketed Hamburg days behind them, The Beatles were now clean cut popsters and the antithesis of the still dirty and bluesy Stones. However, this theory doesn’t stand up to much examination. The Stones had had a hit with a Beatles tune, and a little delving into biographies reveals a canny collaboration between the two groups to ensure that record releases did not coincide - why risk it?

Meantime, something was happening on a global scale and two events had triggered it. Events that, predictably, involved The Beatles, but would spread much wider than the Fab Four.

Just six months after The Beatles were tucking into fish and chips in Norwich, the October 29, 1963 issue of The Washington Post carried a story about the mayhem being caused by the band in England.

When, a month later, The Beatles made their now legendary appearance at the November 1963 Royal Variety Show, there was no stopping it; American broadcast media, and the newspapers, were full of a phenomenon called ‘Beatlemania’, and virtually overnight they created a catalyst for what would become known as ‘The British Invasion’.

BACKTRACK

THE BEATLES’ INITIAL ‘LIVERPOOL’ TAG BECAME SUBSUMED AS THE ‘BRITISH’ SOUND CONQUERED THE WORLD

Between 1964 and 1966 a constant stream of British acts toured, recorded and had hits in the USA. Aside from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, the USA fell in love with, among many others, The Animals, The Kinks, The Dave Clark Five, Georgie Fame, The Hollies, The Who, Gerry and The Pacemakers, The Troggs, Manfred Mann, Cilla Black, The Fortunes, The Searchers and Hermans Hermits.

In the vanguard was Dusty Springfield. Her white soul voice soon found a place in the USA Billboard charts and so Britain completed the process of taking back to the States a popularised version of the American blues and soul that had given birth to rock and roll in the first place.

But now, pop music had spread its wings and could truthfully be called pop culture. Like never before, what you wore was as important as, and inextricably linked to, what music you listened to and liked.

The post war, newly affluent TV generation became defined by one television show. Other shows, including Top of the Pops and Thank Your Lucky Stars, had seen pop TV evolve from its raucous earlier days of Oh Boy! and its more sedate manifestations such as Juke Box Jury but nothing, ever, was as cool as Ready Steady Go! Launched as early as 1963, the show was in full swing by 1964 and 1965. Definitely more mod than rocker, the Friday night transmissions were essential viewing. Apart from choosing the coolest-looking kids to be in the audience - who danced and milled around as if they were in a club - the show also brought to our screens acts from America.

The music scene had begun to divide itself into ‘pop’ sounds and a more selective, less commercial taste. Ironically, the British Invasion was selling pop to the USA while this country’s more intense music fans were searching for lesser-known American performers and Ready Steady Go! obliged.

In December 1966 a relatively unknown Jimi Hendrix made his UK TV debut on the show. A few weeks later he’d play at The Orford Cellar in Norwich and within months he would be world famous.

There’s a bizarre twist to the Ready Steady Go! story, and it brings us back to The Beatles. During their first appearance on the show, in 1963, Paul McCartney was given the task of judging four young girls as they mimed to Brenda Lee’s Let’s Jump the Broomstick. He chose the winner - the then (unbelievably!)

13-year-old Melanie Coe. Four years later Melanie made the front pages when, 17 and pregnant, she ran away from her parents’ home. In an astonishing coincidence, because he almost certainly didn’t realise that he’d met her on Ready Steady Go!, McCartney read the story and thought that there might be an idea for a song in it. There was, and he called it She’s Leaving Home.

He worked out the composition with Lennon and recorded it as a track for the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album which was released in June 1967.

The album was groundbreaking and the song won an Ivor Novello award but She’s Leaving Home has another place in the footnotes of musical history.

An integral part of a - some would say the - Beatles LP, it was recorded by Lennon and McCartney, without Harrison or Starr being involved. The work was unquestionably brilliant, but the cracks were beginning to show.

Records were made differently then, but there was more to it than the technology.

This was 1967, the 60s were halfway over and things were changing.

NB. Pete Goodrum’s look back at the music of the last decades continues next month with more on the 1960s.

39

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PARTY! TIME TO

FOR FESTIVE FUN AND A NEW YEAR BREAK, WHERE BETTER THAN SCOTLAND’S PARTY CAPITAL EDINBURGH?

TRAVEL

IT HAS CARVED A REPUTATION as Scotland’s party capital, and Edinburgh certainly knows how to celebrate.

A magical Christmas aura of lights and festivities spills over into Hogmanay revelry for one of the best New Year Eve’s that you’ll have anywhere.

Yet what it does so well is combine the party atmosphere with culture, magnificent sights, attractions, museums and monuments as well as offering some tantalising destinations to eat, drink and celebrate.

For those who want to party, the festive celebrations are already getting under way in the Scottish capital with the stalls of the Continental-style Christmas market on east Princes Street Gardens now open for business set against the monolithic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.

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DECEMBER 2015

the Palace of Holyroodhouse at its foot.

Along the way are many historic buildings including Gladstone’s Land, Mary King’s Close and John Knox House as well as St Giles Cathedral, established during the reign of King David in the 1120s, and the Scottish Parliament.

Elsewhere the New Town, actually designed in 1767, is a mixture of classical architecture, squares and terraces, gardens and lanes, while a walk from Charlotte Square to Stockbridge incorporates some of the most impressive parts of the Georgian New Town with streets which have remained virtually unchanged since the early 1800s.

For a splendid view of Edinburgh, there is nowhere better than Calton Hill, which is arguably the city’s most picturesque location and also home to some of Edinburgh’s iconic monuments.

The National Monument, built to commemorate Scottish service men who died during Napoleonic Wars, was never actually completed, as funds ran out, leaving 12 majestic columns towering over the city.

Calton Hill is also home to the Nelson Monument, built in 1816. The Time Ball on the Monument, added in 1853 to enable ships anchored in the Firth of Forth to set their time-pieces accurately, still drops at one o’clock, six days a week.

Meanwhile, Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano set within Holyrood Park, sits 251m above sea level and also gives excellent views of the city.

Eating and drinking are great experiences in the Scottish capital and the Grassmarket – in Edinburgh’s Old Town - is one of the most vibrant, picturesque and convivial areas of the city with independent merchants, designers and artisans, as well as hosting a selection of the best restaurants and some of the more eclectic bars.

To name but a few: there are the Whiski Rooms on the walk up The

Images courtesy of VisitScotland

There are funfairs, street shows, carousels, an ice rink and bars to raise a glass of Christmas cheer.

In what is a new feature for Edinburgh’s 2015 Christmas celebrations, the Virgin Money Street of Light is a speciallydesigned architectural installation of 60,000-plus lights stretching along the Royal Mile, from the City Chambers to the Tron Kirk.

It is a mesmeric illuminated canopy, rising 19 metres high and with a soundtrack of commissioned recordings from choirs from across Edinburgh, all synchronised to the lights.

And then, once Santa has graced the city, Edinburgh and the whole of Scotland look forward to celebrating the arrival of the New Year.

The city’s world-famous Hogmanay celebrations begin on Wednesday, December 30 with the Torchlight Procession as 10,000 torchbearers wind their way through city streets lined with spectators before the countdown to 2016 truly begins on December 31 with bands and artists performing on seven stages to thousands of revellers.

While the street party is an all-ticket affair, Edinburgh has much to offer those who want to see a traditional Scottish welcome to the New Year.

And once midnight has struck, the partying continues with events on January 1 and the famous Loony Dook which sees 1,250 ‘Dookers’ in fancy dress, ranging from the weird to the wonderful, welcome the New Year with a dip in the River Forth at South Queensferry.

There’s also Scot:Lands, set in the buildings and outdoor spaces in the city’s Old Town, where audiences can discover free music, art and theatre, created and curated by Scotland’s most innovative artists, arts organisations and musicians.

Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations apart, Edinburgh remains a wonderfully intriguing and fascinating city to visit with its ancient heritage, landmarks and ambience.

The Royal Mile is at the centre of the Old Town with Edinburgh Castle at its head and

Mound toward The Royal Mile offering 300 Scotch whiskies and a great menu to match; the Contini Cannonball which blends finest Scottish dining with a hint of Italian heritage; Holyrood 9A where you can enjoy real ales and craft beers in a stylish woodpanelled pub and feast on gourmet burgers; or the Leith Chop House which brings an innovative blend of classic British steakhouse and cocktail bar to the city’s culinary scene.

Accommodation includes the luxury of The Balmoral or the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, the quirky intimacy of the Hotel du Vin, housed in the old asylum in the Old Town, the comfort of Motel One or the Caledonian Waldorf Astoria. Affectionately known as ‘The Caley’ among Edinburgh locals, this former Victorian railway hotel nestles in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle and boasts the largest bathrooms of any hotel in the city.

You’ll never be hungry, thirsty, short of accommodation or attractions to visit in Edinburgh.

And if you do decide to toast Christmas and New Year with a wee dram north of the border, it’ll set you up nicely for 2016.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TICKETS DETAILS VISIT: www.edinburghschristmas.com www.edinburghshogmanay.com and www.thisisedinburgh.com

SHOPPING IN THE SCOTTISH CAPITAL When it comes to Christmas shopping (or grabbing a bargain in the sales), Edinburgh has it all, from the major high street names to independent retailers in chic shopping areas. Multrees Walk is the heart of luxury shopping in the city for Armani, Mulberry, Louis Vuitton and stores such Swarovski and Harvey Nichols, while the Grassmarket offers a different style with over 90% of the shops independently owned and packed with vintage, boutique, arts and crafts.

Meanwhile, the West End shopping area is a cobbled oasis of independent retailers and stylish boutiques spread across William Street and Stafford Street, with the beautiful façades to the old buildings along Princes Street housing some of the most popular.

GETTING THERE Edinburgh is accessible by train via Peterborough from Norwich with regular direct northbound services, whilst Flybe flys to Edinburgh from Norwich International Airport every day except Saturday.

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59

THE ABBEY EXPERIENCE Mark Nicholls highlights the evolving faรงade of Wymondham Abbey as it takes on a modern new dimension MORE AT WWW.WYMONDHAMABBEY.ORG.UK

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DECEMBER 2015

REVIEW

T

HE TWO TOWERS rise like beacons across the Breckland landscape, irregular and incongruous as the defining features of the 12th century Wymondham Abbey.

They symbolise the fascinating, changing, history of a church that was once two houses of worship.

The larger western tower was for the people; the smaller easterly structure for the Benedictine monks that once inhabited the abbey before its dissolution under King Henry VIII in 1538.

Over the centuries the abbey has moved with the times, responding to the needs of the community and now it has taken on a new dimension for the 21st century with two innovative extensions on either side of the east tower.

Modern in design, yet retaining the character and historic lines of the building, the new Abbey Experience provides Wymondham Abbey with a function and meeting area with a servery, toilet facilities and a new vestry for choristers as well as education and information points that help bring the history of the building to life.

Church warden Brian Randall said: “Wymondham Abbey, the parish church of St Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury, has undergone a transformation with two modern extensions that reflect the evolving nature of the church.

“We are a thriving parish church and these extensions are our contribution to the 21st century and to providing better facilities.

“They are also important in making the church, and the treasures we have to display, so much more accessible not only to our congregation but to the wider community.”

The Heritage Lottery Fund has provided £1.7m towards the cost with the church finding a further £1m from charitable trusts, individual and organisations.

The idea for the extensions – known as St Benedict’s and St Margaret’s - was first mooted in 1998 but then shelved before plans were revived more recently with a funding process set under way, archaeological digs and surveys carried out last year, and construction taking place over many months.

The new development uses stone similar to the original Caen stone with the contours of the new facilities - clearly of their time and modern, practical and aesthetically pleasing, yet ecclesiastical in outlook following the line and character of the existing church.

The larger extension, St Benedict’s, is an area for events, functions and for the congregation to enjoy coffee and refreshments after services, and also has displays for people to learn more about the building’s history.

Mr Randall added: “The displays are about trying to make our history more accessible to everybody, whether they are local school children, parishioners or visitors from overseas.

“We also have records in the church which go back 700 years and are

of national importance, and the idea is to put some of it on display or make it more easily available for those wanting to do research.”

During the work, which was completed last month, a number of important discoveries were made: a doorway was uncovered and behind it lay piles of worked medieval stonework, which will be put on display; elsewhere medieval graffiti was found; while in another area the design for a large window was shown to be etched on a wall by medieval planners.

“It has emerged that for its time this was quite an advanced design suggesting that those working on the original abbey were using the latest construction techniques in their day,” Mr Randall added.

The second element, St Margaret’s, was originally a guild chapel but is now a choir vestry and an educational area. The two extensions are linked by an external corridor.

As part of the development, the shops facilities have been moved and modernised, and there are learning points around the church with interactive screens reflecting the history and features of the building.

Meanwhile, at the west end of the abbey, there are display cases, with one showing the original organ, and others showcasing the church’s silverware and the rare 1613 parish bible.

Mr Randall said: “The Abbey currently has 20,000 visitors a year but it would be nice to increase that as we now feel we have so much more to show them.

“We remain primarily a place of worship but at the same time we want to welcome a growing number of visitors.”

The Abbey has also appointed a learning and events co-ordinator with the role of establishing a closer liaison with schools and the community.

A blessing for the building work was held in mid-November along with a reception for those involved in the project. The Bishop of Thetford, the Rt Rev Dr Alan Winton, conducted the packed service, which was followed by drinks and a buffet lunch.

After years of planning, fundraising and construction, The Abbey Experience is now ready for the congregation and visitors to enjoy in the run-up to Christmas.

Pictured in the new St Benedict’s area left to right: Sybil Martin, Church Warden, The Rev’d Canon Christopher Davies, Vicar and Chair of The Abbey Project Steering Group, The Rt. Rev’d Dr Alan Winton, Bishop of Thetford, Brian Randall Church Warden, Bernard Douglass Church Warden and Mike Halls Vice Chair The Abbey Project Steering Group.

FOOD GA LLE RY: BOOK NOW FOR CH R IST M AS

The

Manor House

Beccles Wine Vaults

Albatros

Acle Tea Rooms

Beccles Wine Vault has an extensive Christmas and New Year Menu from £21 per person – enjoy a pre Christmas meal in our unique venue.

The Albatros, which is moored at Wells-nextthe-Sea, is a 100-year-old Dutch clipper, built in Rotterdam. The beautiful vessel was built for Johannes Muller from Middelhanis, Holland, where she remained until being sold to a Danish owner, believed to be Captain Ramussen, who used her as a cargo ship to export grain from Scandanavia. In 1983 Ton Brouwer bought and fully restored her. The Albatros is a Dutch-style café bar and restaurant serving sweet and savoury pancakes and other Dutch specialities.

Have your meal alfresco on the main deck and enjoy the views of the harbour. Fully licensed bar, real ales, live music and bed & breakfast.

Private and corporate parties welcome.

Our family run tea rooms has oodles of charm The Green, Acle, and character, nestled in the village of Acle Norwich, Norfolk, NR13 3QT just a short distance from Norwich and Great Tel: (01493) 751811 Yarmouth, why not get away from the bustle of the city and enjoy a light lunch in our charming eclectic surroundings, or just stop off for afternoon tea and enjoy a slice of home made cake. We can also arrange for you to take home a cake for the family so they do not miss out on our fantastic home made delights.

Open: Mon-Thurs - 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat - 11am -1am, Sun - 10am-11pm A: 2a Blyburgate, Beccles, nr34 9TA T: 01502 713381 W: www.beccleswinevaults.co.uk

Open: 12 noon until late A: Quayside, Wells-next-Sea, NR23 1AT T: 07979 087228 W: www.albatros.eu.com

Open: 10-6 (closed Mondays) A: The Green, Acle, Norfolk NR13 3QT T: 01493 751811

Acle Bridge

Café Britannia

Planet Spice

Phil and Vanessa welcome you to a family run pub.

Enjoy a festive feast with family, friends or colleagues in one of the café’s luxury, private rooms. Everywhere will be full of Christmas cheer and there’s a variety of seasonal menu choices including a three course meal, buffet selection or festive afternoon tea.

Santa will also be in the cafe’s grotto for the first three weekends in December, and on the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd December between 11am and 6pm. Plus Christmas Eve between 11am and 4pm.

THE SPICE TRAIL...

Planet Spice is an Indian restaurant in the heart of the Norfolk countryside. Our aim is to provide an exquisite, unrivalled range of authentic and imaginative Indian dishes to all food lovers in the area. We are dedicated in our approach to healthy eating, which demands we use the highest quality, fresh, organic ingredients. All spices are freshly ground to maintain natural flavours and aromas.

Absolutely no additives are used in our kitchen.

Sample Pre-Christmas Menu: Feta, pomegranate and pecan salad with a light honey and Dijon mustard vinaigrette. Roast Norfolk turkey served with chestnut stuffing, bacon wrapped chipolata, roasted new potatoes, brussel sprouts, roast winter vegetables. Toffee and pecan cheesecake with a rich butterscotch sauce Only a few tables left for Christmas day and New Years Eve

You are assured of a warm welcome from all the staff here at the Acle Bridge pub and restaurant on the Norfolk Broads.

At Acle Bridge we can cater for all your Christmas and New Year functions, or book a table with family and friends and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere.

Contact us for our Christmas lunch menus. Come and see the New Year in with us at The Acle Bridge.

Open: Mon-Sat – 11am-11pm, Sun – 11-10.30pm, Food served 12-9pm A: Old Road, Acle NR13 3AT T: 01493 750288

Acle TeA Rooms

Our daily specials board is full of tempting treats, catering for all dietary needs.

For more information or to book call 01603 708600 or follow Café Britannia on Facebook for more updates.

Open: Mon to Fri - 7.30am-10pm, Sat - 8am-10pm, Sun - 8am-10pm A: Britannia Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 4LU T: 01603 70860 W: www.cafebritannia.co.uk

Open: Every day for lunch 12-2pm and dinner 5.30-11pm A: 2 Filby Lane, Ormesby St Margaret, Great Yarmouth, NR29 3JR T: 01493 731111 / 01493 731101 W: www.planetspiceormesby.co.uk

EUROPEAN CULTURE REBECCA TAYLOR CANDICE COOPER 360 CASHMERE MATCHLESS VELVET DKNY YERSE HOD HIGH ALPE FEMME BOBBL

sosouthwold.co.uk 01502 543133

18 Market Hill, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 4LU 01394 385757 80 High Street, Southwold, Suffolk, IP18 6DP, 01502 725197 www.chattertonshop.co.uk

ELECTRIC PICTURE PALACE Recreating the heyday of British cinema-going in a small but perfectly formed, 70 seat cinema in Southwold.

N

EW

Join us in this theatrical environment, with commissionaire, usherettes and a rising cinema organ all as a vital accompaniment to the showing of good films old and new. We run 4 seasons per year and details of films and events can be found on our website.

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE

We are very excited to be able to bring you these incredible perfomances

WEDDINGS & PARTIES Enjoy your special day in this magical location

FILMS FOR EVERYONE

Shown on most Fridays & Saturdays throughout the year

For bookings call 07815 769565 or for more information visit southwoldcinema.co.uk

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

BY THE SEA

The lovely seaside town of Southwold has so much to offer, from gorgeous gift shops and galleries to convivial cafés.

Carolyn Atkins takes a stroll…

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TRAVEL

IF CHRISTMAS SHOPPING GETS YOU DOWN, make your way to Southwold where the sheer variety of stores on offer is sure to lift your spirits.

This well-heeled seaside town, with its pretty pastel-coloured buildings and genteel air, is perfect for a spot of festive retail therapy, thanks to an array of upmarket chain and independent stores.

Foodies should head straight to the Adnams Cellar & Kitchen Store on Victoria Street, the flagship shop for this Southwold brewery, which has a collection of pubs and hotels in the town, from the contemporary Blyth Hotel on Station Road to the Sole Bay Inn underneath the lighthouse, as well as a vast UK distribution centre up the road in Reydon.

The Cellar & Kitchen Store is a delight – full of attractivelywrapped, indulgent goodies such as candied peel, Christmas puddings, nuts and marzipan fruit as well as a multitude of beer, spirits, wine and, of course, mulled wine.

If food and drink are your thing (and consumables always make great presents), then the Black Olive Delicatessen on the High Street is well worth a look for jam, preserves, chutney and other Christmas hamper items, while the Two Magpies Bakery next door is full of delicious bread and cakes to munch on your shopping day.

This chic market town also boasts cafés, bars and restaurants galore, from the extensive convivial café at the back of the Adnams store to the more formal lounge in The Swan Hotel and the busy Le Roc, which is a cross between a French café and a traditional English tea room.

This thriving market town, famous for its wide stretch of Blue Flag sandy beach, traditional pier and multi-coloured beach huts, has managed to retain its old-

DECEMBER 2015

65

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Christmas all wrapped up!

SOUTHWOLD Substantial house requiring refurbishment with eight bedrooms overlooking Southwold Common.

Two sitting rooms, large family dining room, 3 bathrooms. Gardens and double garage. Potential to divide into two houses (stp) EER:E

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REYDON

Spacious extended two double bed detached bungalow in good order. Cul de sac with attractive gardens and garage EER: tba

£260,000

REYDON

Individual four bed New Build in popular location - walking distance of Southwold. Landscaped gardens and parking EER: tba

£485,000

45 High Street, Southwold, Suffolk IP18 6DJ 01502 723007

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TRAVEL

fashioned charm and festive shopping here is a joy.

Followers of high fashion will adore Collen & Clare in the market square which has a gorgeous collection of on-trend men’s and women’s wear, along with jewellery, accessories, fragrances and bags.

There are plenty more clothes shops, too, with Joules, Jack Wills, Fat Face and Gunhill among those covering outdoor wear, Chatterton’s offering designer labels, and Denny of Southwold ideal for smart casual men’s and women’s clothing.

As for Christmas gifts – from fabulous, old-fashioned children’s toys to pictures, home décor and so on, this town is a treasure trove, with all kinds of places to visit from buoyant local company Gone Crabbing to the inviting children’s paint, make and create shop Gulls & Buoys.

Meanwhile, those looking for something special should head to The Amber Shop & Museum which sells all sorts of amber jewellery, figurines and accessories at the front of the shop, tells the story of amber in the museum in the middle, and which has a collection of contemporary jewellery at the rear.

Christmas is a time for giving and there are a number of charity shops here, too (always well worth a look) including the RNLI store just around the corner from The Amber Shop & Museum, and a number of gorgeous galleries.

Unsurprisingly, given Southwold’s location, many of the souvenirs and pictures here have a nautical theme and you’ll find plenty of paintings and drawings of Southwold and its coastal neighbours in the gift shops and galleries.

The contemporary Serena Hall Gallery is simply a must-see; step into this lovely modern place for a burst of colour on a grey winter’s day for uplifting paintings, jewellery, ceramics, cushions, glassware,

textiles and more. The gallery’s Christmas exhibition is now on and there’s a host of fabulous items for sale which would grace any selfrespecting wish list.

And if you need a break from all that shopping, take a stroll away from the High Street to Southwold Pier to watch Tim Hunkins’ famous Water Clock, play some old-fashioned arcade games or simply to enjoy some freshly-cooked fish and chips.

And if Southwold has you hooked and you fancy staying on for a while, there are some wonderful holiday homes here ideal for a minibreak. New luxury holiday accommodation brand, So Southwold, offers a hand-picked selection of some of the finest holiday properties in the town, as well as in Reydon and other surrounding areas, from Georgian townhouses and picture postcard cottages to stunning apartments and beachside retreats.

Besides the many lovely retail outlets, eateries, galleries and seaside activities, Southwold is also famous for its 70-seat Electric Picture Palace cinema which is run by the Southwold Film Society and which was opened by Michael Palin in 2002.

This award-winning building recaptures the experience of cinemagoing in the 1920s and screenings come complete with usherettes and even a Tiny Wurlitzer organ which rises up mysteriously during the interval.

Now that the Christmas Fair and light switch-on night has taken place, the twinkling lights along the High Street and other buildings add some festive cheer, and with such lovely displays in the shop windows and a wealth of other activities on offer (such as drama, jazz, poetry and fine arts nights), the lovely town of Southwold has just as much to offer in the winter season as it does in the summer.

Southwold Tourist Information Centre is located just off the Market Place at 7 Child’s Yard, Southwold, IP18 6DZ. Tel: 01502 724729; email: southwold.tic@waveney.gov.uk Find more information on Southwold at: www.visitsouthwold.co.uk

DECEMBER 2015

67

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Bright & Beautiful

Two Saints Barn has a wealth of attractive features to offer a prospective owner, from an attractive, sunlit interior to a host of useful outbuildings

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DECEMBER 2015

PROPERTY

ESTATE AGENT

Arnold Keys Collection The Bridge, Norwich Road Hoveton, NR12 8DA Tel: 01603 782053.

Email: wroxham@arnoldkeys.com IN A NUTSHELL

Two Saints Barn is perfect for those who love the countryside but who still like to have amenities (shops, bank, schools, library, doctor, vet and so on) close to hand

This fabulous, light and airy barn is located in Hoveton in the heart of the Norfolk Broads. Finished to a high standard, it offers space, character and countryside views as well as delightful grounds of around an acre.

This quality barn conversion is well-presented and finished to a high standard and is located on Tunstead Road on the edge of the village, close to its many amenities, making it a desirable family home.

Converted in 2008 by renowned local barn specialist, Barn Owl Properties, the ground floor boasts an appealing, openplan layout with a high quality kitchen, spacious dining and sitting areas and a wealth of exposed timbers and brickwork.

This attractive property has two ground floor en-suite bedrooms, a first floor sitting room which opens on to a lovely roof terrace and a master bedroom suite which also has a roof terrace as well as its own dressing room.

There are three attractive en-suite bathrooms and, in addition to the main barn, the property has a four-bay cartshed/garage with a useful storage room above, as well as a substantial 1,600 square foot detached storage barn/workshop suitable for a number of purposes.

With its high ceilings and light, spacious, airy rooms, this impressive property has a welcoming feel, and is approached from the road by a long, sweeping gravelled driveway.

The attractive, landscaped gardens also include an ornamental pond, a wealth of mature shrubs and trees, beds and borders, a vegetable patch, chicken run and a substantial gravelled parking area.

The property is located on the edge of the well-known village of Hoveton/Wroxham which has numerous facilities as well as access to the Norfolk Broads network. Norwich is eight miles away and there is a rail link from Wroxham as well as a regular bus service.

ASKING PRICE

Two Saints Barn is on the market for ÂŁ725,000 DECEMBER 2015

71

Relaxed fine dining with brand new menus created by Chef Patron Daniel Smith, located close to central Norwich in the South Norfolk village of Stoke Holy Cross.

RESTAURANT

01508 492497 WWW.THEWILDEBEEST.CO.UK Norwich Rd, 82-86 Stoke Holy Cross, Norwich, Norfolk, NR14 8QJ

TALKING TURKEY

Andy Newman gets festive at a Norfolk free-range turkey farm, while Roger Hickman gives us his refined take on a festive meal

For many years,

Photographs by Phil Barnes

all most people knew about Norfolk turkeys were that they were “bootiful” – courtesy of a certain tweed-wearing Great Witchingham poultry tycoon, who harnessed the power of the television commercial to build a hugely successful turkey empire.

But there is far more to the county’s turkey heritage than Mr Matthews can lay claim to. And in these days of consumer demand for proven provenance, free-range, small-scale production, Norfolk’s artisan turkey rearers are enjoying something of a comeback.

Originating in Mexico, turkeys were brought to Europe by the

Spanish, and were introduced to Britain as early as the 16th century. It wasn’t long before East Anglia, and particularly Norfolk, had established itself as the centre of turkey production, with great flocks of the birds being driven to London markets from the 17th century onwards.

The two breeds which predominated in those days were the Norfolk Black and the Norfolk Bronze – and these are the birds which are once again finding favour with consumers who are increasingly turning their backs on the intensively-reared Broad Breasted White variety so beloved of factory-scale producers intent on gaining the maximum return for the least effort.

Whitwell Hall Farm at Skeyton is home to the Morton family, who for more than two decades has been raising Black and Bronze birds for the discerning Christmas market. Definitely a human-scale operation (fewer than 1,000 birds are raised each year), this is free-range farming as you hope to find it: large, open fields full of roaming birds leading a happy and healthy life.

Rob Morton’s grandfather founded the farm after the war, starting with around 300 acres, mainly given over to dairy production. Gradually the family holdings grew, with 1,000 acres now overwhelmingly arable in nature, overseen by Rob’s older brother Andrew.

Forty-three-year-old Rob finished school at 16, and went off to college to pursue a career as an agricultural engineer. But having grown up on a farm, the lure was too strong, and after just a year at college, he went to work on another farm, where he found himself raising geese – and realised he had an affinity for poultry.

Finally, aged 20, Rob found himself back on the family farm, and decided to carve out his own niche by making the most of that affinity, firstly by raising geese, and then pretty soon moving into turkey production.

Two decisions were made early on which continue to pay dividends. The first was to concentrate on the two traditional Norfolk breeds, Black and Bronze. Although slower-growing than the commercial white varieties, both have a greater depth of flavour: the Bronze is similar in shape to the white, but with a slightly gamier taste; the Black is a longer, thinner bird with an even more pronounced gamey flavour.

The second decision was about how the birds would be raised.

Not for Rob the rapid-growing, shed-constrained production

NORFOLK PRODUCE ROGER HICKMAN’S

NORFOLK TURKEY BREAST STUFFED WITH CHESTNUT AND CONFIT TURKEY LEG BON-BONS

which had become the norm. Morton’s is the antithesis of this: day-old poults arrive in June, before a slow 24-week growing period which sees an intensity of flavour develop that intensive growers can only dream about.

And then there is the free-range aspect. By law, this much abused term is defined: a maximum of 25kg of bird per square metre. That is better than an intensively farmed bird – just – but in practice, many of the free-range birds on sale in our supermarkets have never been outside.

Contrast this with genuine free-range production, which is what you will find at Almost all of Morton’s Morton’s. The birds have free range turkeys are sold outside access 24/seven, and direct at the “farm gate” plenty of space there is, too. which, in practice, means via They roam in a large field, the farm’s website at www. and even if they all decided freerangeturkeys.co.uk. to go inside at the same time, They can be collected at the the sheds would only be twofarm in Skeyton, or delivered thirds full. The fact that the anywhere in the country. birds exercise more means their muscles are used more and the meat develops a deeper flavour. And, of course, the turkeys are happier.

Inevitably, this method of production comes at a (financial) cost: properly reared birds like this cannot compete on price with intensively-reared supermarket turkeys. Fortunately, people are increasingly willing to pay for quality meat, especially at Christmas time, and customers come back year after year for their Christmas bird.

Investment has been made in the meat production as well: the turkeys are slaughtered, dry-plucked and hung for ten days on-site.

Despite growing demand, Rob is quite happy with the scale of his operation. It’s largely a family affair, with Rob’s wife and eldest son George helping in those final weeks before the festive season, and that means capacity is finite.

“We often go on farm walks at other producers who are rearing thousands of birds, and it all looks like success,” says Rob. “But then we get to 25th December, after the final frantic weeks, and we sit down to our Christmas Day dinner – turkey, of course – and realise we have got it just right.”

INGREDIENTS 1 Norfolk turkey breast, 1 Norfolk turkey leg, 8 slices Serrano ham, 1 pack cooked chestnuts (the vacuum-packed variety), 1/2 head garlic, 3 parsnips (peeled), plain flour, 1 egg (beaten), Panko breadcrumbs, 1/4 Savoy cabbage, 4 rashers smoked streaky bacon (chopped), A sprig of thyme, rapeseed oil, butter, a little chicken stock

METHOD Flatten the turkey breast between two sheets of greaseproof paper and season with salt and pepper.

Lay a large rectangle of clingfilm on your work surface, and then place the Serrano ham slice on this, overlapping, then lay the flattened turkey breast on top.

Chop the chestnuts and make a line of them, about one inch wide, down the middle of the breast. Reserve a few chestnuts for the cabbage.

Roll the whole lot up in the clingfilm, and put this in the fridge for an hour to firm up.

Then remove from the clingfilm, and wrap the roll in tin foil, greased on the inside with butter.

Sear the roll in a hot pan for two minutes on each side (heating it through the tin foil), and then cook in a pre-heated oven at 180°C for 15 minutes.

To confit the leg, submerge it in rapeseed oil with the garlic and thyme, and then bring the oil to the boil and simmer gently for 1½ hours. Remove from the oil and allow to cool, then shred the meat, squeezing out any excess fat and oil.

Shape into small balls, and then pane them: roll first in flour, then beaten egg, then the Panko breadcrumbs.

Deep fry the bon-bons in oil at 180°C until golden – about three minutes.

Cut thin strips from one of the parsnips with a peeler and deep fry these for 15 seconds to produce parsnip crisps.

Cut the other two parsnips into disks, and then cook them in oil and melted butter, covered with buttered greaseproof paper, turning them occasionally.

After about 15 minutes you should have soft, golden fondant parsnips.

Sweat the bacon in a little oil, and then add the shredded cabbage, cooking it until it wilts. At the last minute, add the rest of the chestnuts.

TO SERVE Slice the turkey breast roll and put it on a bed of cabbage.

Serve two or three bon-bons on each plate, along with the fondant parsnips, parsnip crisps, and a reduced chicken stock jus.

ROGER HICKMAN is chef-proprietor at Roger

Hickman’s Restaurant in Upper St Giles, Norwich.

More details at www.rogerhickmansrestaurant.com.

THE RESTAURANT HAS RECENTLY WON THE AA NOTABLE WINE LIST AWARD

HART OF THE

COMMUNITY Now under new management, The White Hart in Hingham looks set to become a true local hub New owners Katie and Matthew Pamlin have their sights set firmly on making The White Hart in Hingham the heart ofthe community and have plenty of plans for this attractive, welcoming pub.

Located in the centre of this busy market town, The White Hart has been under the newly-married couple’s management for just a few weeks, but is clearly in good hands.

Many customers will already know the pair from their successful Norwich venture, The Earlham Arms, which they have been running for the past three years and, if their city centre establishment is anything to go by, The White Hart will soon be just as busy.

Locals are already flocking back to the Hingham watering hole, drawn, no doubt, by the recent drop in bar prices and the re-establishment of a fresh, seasonal menu which features a fab Sunday lunch. Prices are fair, with roasts at £9.95 each

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DECEMBER 2015

(£10.95 for beef ) and all the food is home-made.

Kate and Matthew are very much hands-on, overseeing lunch and dinner, and are also very grateful for the sterling work of their Polish general manager, Marta Sztorc.

All three are looking forward to fresh reviews on social media sites and online now that their new menus and prices are in place. Mike Smith (also from The Earlham Arms) is currently overseeing The White Hart’s kitchen and says: “We’re offering a twist on traditional pub food. Our food is modern British – we use fresh produce and we don’t muck around with it too much.”

With winter on its way, the menu, which changes fortnightly, features lots of lovely lamb, venison and game – hearty, seasonal food – along with savoury suet puddings and fresh fish (there’s always a catch of the day).

A number of interesting touches set The White Hart’s menu apart, however, with their home-made pork scratchings and innovative take on such British classics as fish and chips, for example. Mike explains:

“We change the fish we use, so we have plaice, hake, pollock, codlin – it’s a little bit different and keeps things interesting.”

With plenty of regular customers already and no doubt many more on their way, the team at The White Hart is, of course, keen to keep their customers happy and visitors’ feedback is very much valued.

Katie says: “Feedback is important. The support from the locals has been unbelievable and we want to be part of the community.” Matthew adds: “We want to love this place as much as everybody around here and we’ll do whatever it takes.”

It’s certainly an interesting time at The White Hart, with five bedrooms on course to be opened next summer (and a sixth later), which will be ideal for corporate customers, shooting parties and those attending local events and weddings at nearby Kimberley Hall.

Hingham itself is steeped in history, boasting ancestral links with the town of the same name in Massachusetts, USA, and even with President Abraham Lincoln.

A number of well thought-out changes have already been introduced, with the main restaurant now located upstairs in The Old Court Room, famous for its stag antler chandelier.

The town is hosting a medieval fayre on Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13, and The White Hart will be involved. By that time the popular pub will have been professionally decorated for Christmas and it will be open (as it is every day) for drinks and meals, as well as donating raffle prizes for the event.

The room is impressive – spacious yet homely - with an adjacent elegant private dining area that seats a dozen.

The White Hart will also be open for Christmas Day itself, with the special celebratory meal priced at £59 (more details on the website).

Customers can eat downstairs, too, in both bars as well as in the attractive raised dining area, and there is a lovely little courtyard just off one of the bars, with plans to build a roof garden in the future.

In the meantime, all sorts of clubs, events, bands, a pub quiz and other activities are planned over the coming months, with everyone welcome and Katie and Matthew and their team cherishing the local trade.

Plus there is a large garden behind the building for alfresco eating and drinking in better weather, together with a “secret garden”, a fabulous outdoor space at the back of the main garden, where Katie and Matthew plan to install some attractive wooden play equipment for

With a five-star food hygiene rating, plenty of parking and a new website on its way, this lovely, hospitable place has plenty to offer, with The White Hart clearly on track for being an integral member of the Hingham community.

children, along with a herb garden for their chefs.

The gardens will be great in the warmer months, while for the cold, wintery days ahead, the indoor areas are perfect – there are real fires coupled with some cosy seating areas ideal for relaxing with a cup of coffee and a magazine or two, as well as an old-fashioned bar billiards table for a bit of fun.

Attention has also been paid to modern-day details, however, with free WiFi throughout, first-come-first-served tables in the first bar area (in other words, tables that can’t be reserved in advance), a children’s menu, an array of freshly-prepared sandwiches and lunchtime snacks and the introduction of a faster meal service.

The White Hart’s list of cocktails is extensive and includes a Hingham Breeze (Midori, berry vodka, pineapple and cranberry) as well as a comprehensive wine list, wide range of spirits and a host of craft beers.

Jo C’s beer – Norfolk Kiwi ale and Old Bustard bitter – are standard, and there’s always an Adnams ale on tap, together with a guest beer from a different local brewery each week, to keep things fresh and interesting.

THE WHITE HART

3 Market Place, Hingham, Norwich NR9 4AF Tel: 01953 850214 • www.whitehartnorfolk.co.uk

DECEMBER 2015

77

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

GRILLED WING OF LONGSHORE SKATE With Saffron, Spinach and Chorizo Risotto

INGREDIENTS 2 large skate wings, trimmed from the bone for four portions FOR THE RISOTTO ½ pint Arborio rice, ½ pint white wine, ½ pint fish stock, 1 onion, diced, 2 tbsp olive oil, Pinch of saffron (10 to 15 strands), 2oz butter, 2oz Parmesan, 50g spinach, 2 tbsp chopped parsley TO SERVE Handful of pea shoots

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IMPERIAL HOTEL

Simon Wainwright, executive head chef of the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth, shows us how to make this fabulous fish dish METHOD To make the risotto, sweat the onions down in a medium saucepan with the olive oil until soft. Add the Arborio rice and stir until the rice goes clear, then add the white wine and saffron and mix until all of the wine has absorbed into the rice.

Slowly add the fish stock, a little at a time, until the rice won’t absorb any more. Remove the pan from the heat. Next place the skate on to a buttered tray and cook on a high grill until cooked through – about five or six minutes.

While grilling the skate, add the butter, Parmesan, chorizo, spinach and parsley to the risotto, then place this back on the heat until the spinach has wilted and the Parmesan and butter have melted.

To serve, spoon the risotto into a bowl, place the skate on top and garnish with pea shoots.

Wine Notes

2011 CARMEL ROAD CHARDONNAY, MONTEREY VALLEY, CALIFORNIA NICK MOBBS, director and wine expert at the Imperial Hotel, says: Carmel Road is a boutique winery in the heart of Monterey County, a region famed for its fine, cool climate wines and a famous mayor - Clint Eastwood. The Chardonnay is expressive of the region and shows great complexity.

The wine is made by a Bulgarian winemaker, Ivan Giotenov, who grew up as part of a wine-producing family in his home country before travelling further afield to work in wineries in Australia and California. He joined Carmel Road in 1999.

The wine is made by fermenting the juice, after which it is matured in a mixture of French oak, American oak and stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and add complexity. The wine is left on its lees during this period, to enhance its rich, creamy texture. After around seven months, the different barrels are blended and the wine is bottled.

I have chosen to put this wine with skate, probably my favourite fish.

The flavour of the fish is quite powerful and so needs a well-balanced wine with structure to complement it.

The taste of this wine is Californian Chardonnay with a difference. While the rich tropical fruit, butterscotch and cream notes that we expect from the region are present, there is also a stony mineral taste together with a citric twist that balance the wine beautifully and keep it fresh and elegant. It is powerful enough to cut through the flavours of the fish, refresh the palate and prepare you for another mouthful of that delicious skate.

• 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

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THROWERS OF LUDHAM ...More than just a village store.

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Why not give Throwers deli a visit? Many other local goodies in store including Letheringsett Watermill flour, local milk, How Hill honey, Lakenham Creamery ice cream, Brays pork pies, paté and much, much more.

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RECIPE

HEAVEN ON A PLATE

CHOCOLATE FONDANT WITH COCONUT ICE CREAM AND STEM CRYSTALLISED GINGER

MAKES

Our French chef Franck Pontais creates a decadent dessert

5

INGREDIENTS For the chocolate fondant: 50g melted butter for brushing, 10g cocoa powder for dusting, 200g 70% dark chocolate, 200g unsalted butter, 200g golden caster sugar, 4 whole medium eggs, 4 egg yolks, 200g plain flour METHOD 1. Using upward strokes, brush the melted butter all over the inside of nine 150ml pudding moulds. Place them into the fridge or freezer. Once they are chilled, brush more melted butter over the chilled butter, and then add a good spoonful of cocoa powder into each mould, tipping the mould so the powder completely coats the butter. Tap any excess cocoa out, and then repeat with all of the moulds.

2. Place a bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, and then slowly melt the chocolate and butter together. Remove the bowl from the heat and stir until smooth. Leave to cool for about 10 minutes. In another bowl, whisk the eggs and yolks together with the sugar until thick and pale and the whisk leaves a trail. Sift the flour into the eggs, and then beat the mixture together.

3. Pour the melted chocolate into the egg mixture in thirds, beating well each time until all the chocolate is added and the mixture is completely combined to form a loose cake batter.

Tip the fondant into a jug and then divide it evenly between the moulds. These can now be frozen for up to a month and cooked from frozen. If not freezing, chill the moulds for a minimum of 20 minutes or up to 24 hours.

4. Place the fondants on a baking tray then cook for 10 to 12 minutes until the tops have formed a crust and they are starting to come away from the sides of their moulds. Remove them from the oven and then let them sit for one minute before turning them out.

5. Loosen the fondants by moving the tops very gently so they come away from the sides, easing them out of the moulds.

HOW TO DRESS THE PLATE Ingredients: Chocolate fondant (one each), 60g coconut ice cream, 10g dark chocolate tuille, 5g stem ginger, 1g icing sugar.

METHOD • 1. Make a little chocolate shard by spreading some melted dark chocolate on to bubble wrap and leaving it to set.

• 2. Make the chocolate fondant as outlined already.

• 3. Slice the stem ginger.

• 4. Place the chocolate fondant on the plate, add a ball of coconut ice cream next to it and then add some slices of stem ginger to the plate.

• 5. Garnish with the chocolate shard and a dust of icing sugar.

Let our French chef Franck Pontais cook for your private dinner. Plus, for those who really enjoy cooking, Franck also offers masterclasses for all abilities in your own home.

See: www.franckpontais.com

Relaxed fine dining in a 14th century coaching inn with luxury rooms and Michelin award-winning food just a stones throw away from the North Norfolk coast.

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REVIEW

A FEAST FOR

FOODIES

Perfect for the food-lover in the family, the new Suffolk Cook Book features over 45 recipes from some of the county’s finest independent restaurants, cafés, delicatessens, pubs, farm shops, producers and suppliers

This fabulous 192-page full colour book features guest recipes from a number of well-known local faces such as Ipswich Town football manager Mick McCarthy, Radio 4 presenter Martha Kearney, and food champion, TV presenter and Britain’s most famous pig farmer, Jimmy Doherty.

In his introduction to the new cookery book, Jimmy Doherty says: “From pork, beef or lamb to breads, jams, preserves or ice creams, Suffolk has so much to offer when it comes to great produce. There are many world-class producers as well as some established family firms that have been producing some of the best food and drink for generations, and we stock a lot of products in our farm shop. It’s so great to see local producers, shops and restaurants working together towards a common goal of putting great British food on the map, and I am happy to be a part of it.”

Jimmy’s recipe in the book is for roast pork with crackling and apple ketchup, while Mick McCarthy opts for beef stew with Yorkshire pudding, and Martha Kearney, who took part in the Comic Relief Bake Off in 2013, recreates her memorable beehive cake from the TV show.

The Suffolk Cook Book is published by Meze Publishing, priced at £14.95.

It is available from all of the businesses featured in the book as well as from a number of local gift shops, bookshops including Waterstones and online at www.amazon.co.uk. For more information, see: www.mezepublishing.co.uk

86 D E C E M B E R

2015

Martha Kearney said: “One of my proudest moments was winning Celebrity Bake Off and I am often asked for my Beehive Cake recipe so I’m delighted to share it with the bakers of Suffolk.”

Of course, this isn’t just a book for people who live in Suffolk, but also for those who like to visit the county and who are fans of the fabulous coastal towns such as Aldeburgh and Southwold as well as its picturesque villages and pretty market towns.

This new collection of recipes highlights great food from the chefs, producers and suppliers from across the county, from Aldeburgh, Ipswich, Walberswick, Lavenham, Bungay, Depden, Elveden, Sudbury, Saxmundham and Halesworth. It also includes entries from well-known foodie ventures such as The Imagined Suffolk Food Village, The Suffolk Young Producers and Food Safari.

The Suffolk Cook Book also includes stories and anecdotes from the people behind the county’s vibrant food and drink scene. These include The Great House in Lavenham, which won the Editor’s Choice Gourmet Award in this year’s Good Hotel Guide, Maison Bleue in Bury St Edmunds which is included in the UK’s top 10 fine-dining restaurants on TripAdvisor, and The Edwardstone White Horse Inn which boasts a Green Tourism award as well as the award-winning Mill Green brewery.

There are also contributions from Vernon Blackmore, who owns The Anchor and The Table in Woodbridge, as well as from Gressingham Duck, Munchy Seeds, Sutton Hoo Chicken and many more.

In essence, The Suffolk Cook Book is all about championing local suppliers and making the most of the food and drink on offer by making innovative delicious dishes that all home cooks can try. As we enter the cold, dark months of winter, there are plenty of comforting seasonal dishes from Red Chilli Kitchen’s chicken and sweet potato curry, and Depden Farm Shop Suffolk blue and broccoli tart, to the delicious-sounding Elveden gluten-free sticky toffee pudding with Earl Grey ice cream.

COMPETITION

*

a delicious meal for six at COSMO in Norwich THIS VAST, MODERN RESTAURANT upstairs on London Street is a slick operation and is the perfect venue for festive celebrations, with an extended Christmas menu featuring traditional favourites alongside more than 150 dishes from for tables at COSMO around the world.

Customers have been queueing round the block Authentic World Kitchen in Norwich, with word spreading fast about its fabulous eat-all-you-like, one-set price world banquet dining.

TO ENTER Places & Faces® has teamed up with COSMO Restaurant

East meets west at COSMO Restaurant Norwich where the food is fresh, hot and tasty as well as incredibly good value, with lunch prices from £7.99 and dinner from £13.99 (depending on dates) and children eating at half price.

QUESTION: On which Norwich street is COSMO located?

With Chinese, Thai, Indian, Italian, Mexican, Japanese and Continental cuisine, customers are spoilt for choice, and with the food freshly-prepared at eight live cooking stations, along with a host of dainty desserts, the new venue is perfect for family groups and parties, with something for everyone.

Norwich to offer one lucky winner a delicious meal for six.* To enter, simply answer the following question and send your answer, along with your name and contact details to: competitions@placesandfaces.co.uk

by January 31, 2016 latest.

*Terms and conditions The prize entitles the winner to dine free of charge with up to five friends at COSMO Restaurant Norwich during lunch or dinner service. The prize is for food only and is valid from Monday to Thursday excluding bank holidays and the month of December. If the winner is under 18, then he or she must be accompanied by an adult when redeeming this prize. One entry per person. This prize is non-transferable, non-negotiable and cannot be substituted for any other prize or cash value, nor can it be used in conjunction with any other offer.

The prize must be redeemed by May 31, 2016 at Cosmo Restaurant Norwich only by advance reservation. The prize is subject to availability and COSMO cannot guarantee a particular time or date until booking is made and confirmed. The closing date for entries is January 31, 2016, and the prize must be taken by March 31, 2016. The prize excludes February 12, 13 and 14 and is subject to availability.

No expense has been spared when creating this fab new eaterie and it is well worth booking ahead, especially if you want to avoid the queue!

www.cosmo-restaurants.co.uk

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

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

HOMES & INTERIORS

TRUE COLOURS

Our new columnist, Rebecca Coulby from Coulby Interiors explains how to add colour in the kitchen

VISIT

WWW.CO ULBYIN T ERIO RS.CO.U K

NATURAL COLOURS

COLOUR SCHEMES and adding colour are two of the most common areas that I’m asked to advise upon. Most people know the colours they like but are unsure where and how to introduce them into their homes, particularly in the kitchen.

My advice is usually to add colour - particularly bold colours - by way of accessories, such as small appliances, tea towels, cups and plates, vases or even cushions, throws and bar stools if you have an open plan kitchen with a seating area.

Colours go in and out of fashion and people can quickly fall out of love with a colour if they are faced with it on a daily basis. Keeping kitchen cabinets, doors and work surfaces to a fairly neutral palette will increase the longevity of your kitchen and will also be an advantage should you decide to sell.

I also suggest looking at two or even three complementary colours to brighten up your neutrals. If you just stick to one colour, even if only used in accessories, it can quickly dominate a room. Two colours allow for more flexibility; for example, you could use a softer shade for more permanent fixtures of your kitchen such as pendant light fittings and glass splashbacks or wall tiles, and a bolder colour for the smaller accessories, or even a wall or two, that could be changed quickly and easily if required. Metallics and pastel shades work well together with the metallic giving a modern twist to the more vintage pastels.

It is also worth remembering that when adding any darker colour it will always enclose a space, particularly if used on a horizontal area such as a work surface as it is closer to eye level. It’s therefore far better to add depth of colour to a floor than a work surface if you are trying to make the room appear as big as possible.

In the worlds of architecture and interior design, there is currently a real move towards exploiting the beauty of raw and natural materials such as brick, wood, glass and even concrete. Each of these when used properly within a kitchen design can create a fantastic and natural range of colour in themselves. I often use wooden work surfaces such as Black American Walnut which, when oiled, contains a wonderful array of warm, natural colours.

COPPER IS KING THIS CHRISTMAS In keeping with this natural and pared-down look, just use a few sprigs of holly or some lit driftwood or logs, together with a bowl of oven-dried oranges and pine cones as a centrepiece, and maybe even a fur cushion or two, and you’ll have a simple, beautifully-decorated kitchen with minimum effort.

Copper is a key accessory colour currently and it is the perfect shade for kitchen accessories, as this beautifully coloured metal with light-reflecting qualities also has a wonderful vintage and traditional vibe. It also works beautifully with a pistachio or mint green colour – perfect for Christmas!

89

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PRIORY KITCHENS AND INTERIORS

207 High Street, Gorleston-on-sea, Great Yarmouth NR31 6RR priorykitchensandinteriors.com priorykitchensandinteriors@gmail.com

92

DECEMBER 2015

ADVERTORIAL

DECISION TIME

Choosing a new kitchen or bathroom is a big decision, so it’s important to get it right.

Priory Kitchens and Interiors in Gorleston is here to help…

Buying a new kitchen is one of the biggest household decisions many people will make.

Most people spend hours searching for the design and style they like and then seeking a supplier to deliver and install it within their budget and time frame.

It can be a major challenge choosing the right kitchen - one that dovetails with your family needs, lifestyle and what you have to spend.

Yet it is so critical to get it right as the kitchen in most households is the heart of the family home It is where meals are prepared and cooked, where the family congregates and a hub for cosy conversation and socialising.

That means that not only does it need to be warm, welcoming and stylish, but it needs to be practical, too.

This is where Priory Kitchens and Interiors can offer a unique service, as all of their kitchens are tailor-made.

The business is run by brother and sister, Drew and Rie Underwood, who are experts in helping homeowners make the optimum use of the space available, particularly when that space is at a premium.

Based on the High Street in Gorleston, their strength is in designing, making and installing bespoke kitchens.

Following an initial contact from a customer, they will visit the client’s home and discuss designs and ideas, offering advice and suggestions on what will work best within the space available.

“We encourage our clients to look at various designs and ideas for their kitchen and then work with them to create the specific design that they want for their home,” explains Rie. “We listen to what the customer wants, talk through their ideas and then create a design that is right for them.”

“We are in a position to do exactly that because every part of the kitchen – from the units, doors and even the carcasses – is handmade to measure as we manufacture everything ourselves in our workshop behind the shop in Gorleston to give an all-round highend finish and service.”

The wood used for the kitchen units includes tulip, oak, reclaimed pitch pine, beech and ash.

For the work surfaces, Priory Kitchens and Interiors uses a range of wood or granite – usually supplied through Martham Granite – but if the customer is looking for a more economical finish, they can offer Formica work surfaces, together with the option to upgrade to wood or granite at a later stage should they so desire.

For a range of appliances, they work with regular suppliers to deliver the make, brand and size that a customer selects and they also supply sinks and taps as well as a range of flooring surfaces.

Rie says: “Basically, we will design a kitchen for exactly what people want and one that fits with their design, their lifestyle, their needs and their budget.”

From an initial design, they will make a final return visit to double check measurements and additional tweaks and adjustments required by the customer.

There is always flexibility within the design to give a pleasing and aesthetic end result.

With Drew’s background as a skilled carpenter and cabinet maker, he will then begin the process of making all the units which,

when complete, are left either in their natural wood finish or hand-painted by Rie using high quality Farrow & Ball paint.

The process from the first meeting to the complete installation takes about 12 weeks, which takes into account the fact that everything is hand-made to a set specification.

The next stage sees Drew remove and dispose of the old kitchen and unwanted units, ready to fit the new ones.

He says: “All the units are perfectly fitted to the walls or to accommodate various quirks of a property, particularly older style structures, which have an individuality and character of their own.

“Each kitchen is designed and fitted for a particular house; none of the products are off-the-shelf, everything is handmade and tailored to fit.

“We will fit and install and have our own team of electricians, plumbers, plasterers, gas fitters and decorators available to ensure that the kitchen is installed to the standard and at the time that the customer requires.”

Priory Kitchens and Interiors also works closely with their installation team to ensure that all fixtures and fittings are fully compliant with the necessary regulations.

Drew and Rie are partners in the business that was first started in 1984 by their father Arnold, who is a skilled carpenter.

Until recently it was trading as In-Pine, operating as a furniture and interior business making bespoke designs out of all types of wood in addition to pine. However, with the transition to making and fitting high-quality kitchens, the company has re-launched as Priory Kitchens and Interiors.

That said, Drew and Rie are keen to stress that they will continue to work to make high quality wood furnishings and interiors as part of their re-vamped company.

The furniture and interiors element of the business includes fitted wardrobes and cupboards, bath panels, vanity units for sinks, fire surrounds and bookcases. The items for bedrooms, lounges and dining areas are available in traditional, stylish or shabby chic finish.

Priory Kitchens and Interiors remains a family business with customers over large parts of Norfolk, East Anglia and even in London.

The handmade element is an underpinning part of the process for Drew and Rie. Drew said: “Effectively what we do is make bespoke furniture and kitchens and, within that, we provide the total package where we co-ordinate the installation to do the whole kitchen refurbishment. That is why we can adapt the designs so easily to meet the quirks of all houses.”

Their business is about craftsmanship, values, design and artistic taste and combining all those.

“Our uniqueness lies in our values as a family business,” adds Drew. “It is bespoke joinery and fits with traditional techniques and we will do whatever the customer wants.

“We enjoy what we do; we enjoy the experience of working with our customers and giving them a design, a service and ultimately a kitchen that they want and they trust us to do that.”

DECEMBER 2015

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CHRISTMAS Christmas is not only the season to be jolly but also to have enormous fun decorating the home. Whether your version of Deck The Halls is to splash the entire interior and exterior with seasonal trimmings or your preference is for understated Yuletide chic, there is a multitude of accessories out there for you to discover. Trends this year include lots of metallic finishes in bronze and gold; crisp icy blues with natural wood and frosty textures; and the evergreen, traditional Christmas colours with the addition of archetypal Scandinavian highlights. In a contemporary setting, don’t be afraid of single bold highlight pieces which can be a stunning alternative to an overcrowded look, and a real talking point with your guests. Remember to continue the festive theme throughout the house, too, and add just a little touch of seasonal cheer to every room.

Retro Santa bedding set – single £17, double £22, king £25, cushion £10 How could you walk into the bedroom and not smile at this retro bedding set with a perfect Santa of Christmas past – he’s absolutely adorable! It’s ideal for children (or young-at-heart adults) who want to make sure he doesn’t miss them out on Christmas Eve. The nostalgic design is reversible with a pretty snowflake pattern on the underside, and is easy care in cotton-rich percale material. This bedding gives you all you need for Christmas – comfort, practicality and merriment.

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DECEMBER 2015

Helen Moore faux fur stockings from £35 In complete contrast to the other sharp finishes that are on trend, these ultra-soft furry stockings are to die for. Simply use them for decoration or as an extra special way to offer your Christmas gift. The designer is part of a family-owned business based in Devon, specialising in quality accessories with a luxury feel.

INTERIORS

Talking Tables lantern decorations £10 per pack These metallic paper lanterns look great on their own or grouped together depending on space limitations, and the facets in the accordion foil catch the light beautifully. They come flat-packed for easy construction – simply fold open – and for easy storage after the festivities.

Design Ideas alpine moose, set of 4 £8.50 Just one of many Birch plywood figures available in various sizes, this cute moose is a favourite. Flat-packed, they simply slot together in seconds and dismantle quickly for easy storage at the end of the season.

HAYLEY & JENNIFER are homeware buyers

Jarrold’s

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Nordic Fairisle grey cushion £35, Skandi heart red cushion £30 The Scandinavian influence is seen clearly in these delightful wool blend cushions. The Fairisle grey has an intricate embroidered pattern with a mock button opening and is 45cm x 45cm. The red heart style would make a lovely Christmas gift for a loved one with the sentiment clearly in the motif.

Noel embroidered cushion £25 A delightful Christmas message is carried on this festive accessory.

Noel is in a luxury wool blend and has contrast blanket stitching, 35cms x 50cms.

Glencoe red throw £75 If you’re looking for a really soft and snuggly throw that you can wrap yourself in like a cocoon, then look no further than this gorgeous red cable knit with a white sherpa lining. It is also available in a stylish grey for a more subtle or masculine look.

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WINTER WONDERLAND

Colour needn’t be a stranger to your garden at this time of year, as our gardening expert Ellen Mary explains…

Garden & Flowers

There is still time to make sure there is plenty of colour in the garden over Christmas by planting up your winter pots with white and red cyclamen amongst trailing ivy. Make sure you situate them where everyone can enjoy the colours - by front doors and on patios viewed from the home. A sprinkle of festive snow will make them look magical.

We can’t get through Christmas without a poinsettia perched on a warm windowsill.

Keep them away from cold areas and ensure the soil is allowed to dry out before watering.

If you look after them well, you will enjoy the stunning red bracts all through the Christmas period and into the New Year.

Earthworms can cause problems with lawns and, although they won’t damage the grass, their movement does cause weeds and moss to grow, so it’s a good idea to gently sweep them off the lawn with a coarse broom as soon as you can. Make sure you continue to rake any fallen leaves off the lawn as well, to keep pests and diseases at bay.

Fruit and Vegetables

It’s all about fruit over the winter period and this is a great time of year to plant and renovate dormant canes. Raspberries and blueberries can be planted and old strawberry plants should be replaced before they stop producing more fruit.

Apply glue bands to the trunks of fruit trees to stop moths laying their eggs in the branches of the tree. There is nothing better than harvesting leeks, sprouts and Christmas potatoes to serve up for family and friends on Christmas Day; it’s the perfect time to enjoy the fruits of your labour throughout the year and share them with everyone else.

At this time of year, make sure you also remove yellow and dying leaves from your brassicas which can encourage pests and disease. Keep them well covered to ensure you are not sharing them with the local pigeons, who will be on the look-out for food.

Wildlife Gardening

It’s cold out there and we all like a cosy home over the Christmas period. By piling up old logs in a quiet corner of the garden, you will be providing a lovely home for birds, toads and other wildlife who need to keep warm.

Of course, we all know how important it is to help our feathered friends throughout the cold months, by providing a mix of seed and fat balls. Keep your feeders well protected from other wildlife by using a caged feeder, which can only be accessed by garden birds.

If your garden is full of seed heads and old plants, leave them as they are for a bit longer as they can be valuable food sources and hiding places for bugs and insects. When you are planning for next year, consider plants for pollinators and shrubs which will provide berries long into the winter months such as pyracantha and cotoneaster.

GARDENING

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December bri

For an extra special Christmas card, these hand-made to order flower cards are so beautiful. Many different varieties are available to show someone special how much you care this Christmas. From £16.99. www.notonthehighstreet.com/freshasadaisycards

What's On

tmas, join the e spirit of Chris th in u ere yo t ge To burgh Hall wh Workshop at Ox en rd ga g Festive Foliage in eath us eate a woven wr fee ce an visitors will cr nd te at £35 ke home. The h. materials to ta ments and lunc sh fre re ls, ia er at m l al es ud cl ll in burgh-ha ust.org.uk/ox www.nationaltr

Ellen Mary Gardening

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

DECEMBER 2015

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Super selection of house plants Wonderful selection of Christmas Trees, cut or pot grown Holly wreaths, homemade & individually decorated Our usual huge choice of seasonal interest plants to bring colour & winter wonder to your garden.

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LEGAL

AROUND THE HOUSES Julian Gibbons ponders on the current parliamentary set-up WWW.NORTONPESKETT.CO.UK | 01493 849200

IT USED TO BE THE CASE that Labour governments were wary and resentful of the House of Lords, but Conservative ones generally got along with their Lordships, on the basis that the Lords was, by composition and temperament, largely Tory. This was, quite simply, because most peers were then hereditary and therefore more inclined to the Conservative manifesto.

Recently, however, things in the Upper House have not gone well for the Government, with the Lords throwing out the Government’s planned reform of tax credits. This is undoubtedly due in large part to the 1999 reforms, which removed the automatic right of hereditary peers to sit in the Lords. However, those reforms preserved a representative group of 92 hereditary peers, with the rest of the House being composed of life peers and, of course, the Church of England bishops.

The Prime Minister’s response to defeat is to appoint Lord Strathclyde, ironically himself a hereditary peer, to look into the constitutional position and, in particular, how an elected House of Commons can ensure that Government measures are passed by parliament and not blocked or delayed by the second chamber.

It is really quite extraordinary that things have got to this stage. Politicians have talked of reform of the Lords for decades, with all sorts of proposals coming forward. At one end of the scale are those who still want an appointed Upper House. At the other are the advocates of an elected house. Most countries in the world have two chamber parliaments and differing methods of electing the two. The Upper House, often called a senate, might be elected by a different form of vote, or be selected on a regional basis. This is the way the United States Senate works,

with each state electing two senators, so that a state such as Montana (population of about one million) has the same vote as one such as California (population around 38 million).

The problem preventing reform in the UK is the House of Commons. As things stand, the Commons is directly elected and so has an unanswerable democratic mandate. As such, a weak, unelected House of Lords can be pushed around and threatened with either abolition, further reform or a flood of new life peers to ensure the Government’s legislation is passed (this was done as long ago as 1910, when the Lord’s rejected Lloyd George’s budget!).

The one thing that none of the major parties really wants is a more democratic House of Lords (or whatever the Upper House might then called), as such a One of the advantages be body would carry with it more legitimacy of the present House and any government of Lords is that the would face greater frustrations in trying appointment of life to pass legislation. For peers means that the this reason, no-one can agree on reform House has a diverse the Upper House set of legislators who and continues to limp are not all politicians. along with varied membership.

Reform debates have been driven largely by political interests. Yet politicians owe it to their constituents and the country to produce a parliamentary system which can command public confidence.

Recent scandals such as the expenses rows have shown that being democratically elected is not a guarantee of probity.

Though recent years have been characterised by either coalition or by governments with small majorities, it is not that long ago that parties with huge majorities were in power and came to be viewed as “elective dictatorships”.

Being the Government or having a large majority in the Commons is no guarantee of producing sensible laws. The Commons should not have things their own way all the time and it is the duty and function of an Upper House to amend and review legislation and sometimes to impose a breathing space for the Government to think again.

One of the advantages of the present House of Lords is that the appointment of life peers means that the House has a diverse set of legislators who are not all politicians. They may be actors, scientists, doctors, economists and people from a massive variety of other disciplines. They can bring their individual life experiences to bear on legislation in a way which benefits us all.

Certainly the Lords needs reform, and being a member on the basis of a title granted 500 years ago is not a rational basis for membership, neither is being a bishop in one particular religious denomination to the exclusion of others. What we don’t need though is just another political talking shop.

Julian Gibbons NORTON PESKETT SOLICITORS

DECEMBER 2015

107

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19/11/2015 16:18

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

HOME TRUTHS

The Chancellor has announced a new Inheritance Tax allowance for families who pass the family home down through the generations.

Carl Lamb looks at how the new measure will work when it comes into force in April 2017 WWW.ALMARYGREEN.COM | 01603 706740

The Family Home Allowance – or “residence nil rate band” to give its official name – will help those couples or individuals who own their own home and who want to pass it on to their children. This new allowance, due to take effect in April 2017, will be granted on top of the existing individual Nil Rate Band – the amount you can leave to your heirs without incurring an Inheritance Tax (IHT) liability – which currently stands at £325,000 per person.

Any part of your estate that you pass to a spouse or civil partner is already free of IHT and any unused Nil Rate Band can be transferred to your spouse or civil partner on death, so if you leave everything to your spouse, his or her total current combined Nil Rate Band will be £650,000.

Under the current rules, the value of the individual’s share in a property must be calculated when an estate is assessed for any potential IHT payable.

The proposed new rules will allow up to a further £100,000 to be added to an individual’s Nil Rate Band if they die from April 2017 onwards and leave their share of the family home to their children or grandchildren. This new allowance can also

be transferred to a spouse or civil partner on death, giving a total combined Nil Rate Band of £850,000 (ie. a combined Nil Rate Band of £650,000 plus two Family Home Allowances of £100,000) if the surviving spouse or civil partner were to die in the 2017/18 tax year. The Family Home Allowance is due to increase to £175,000 by 2020, so the total combined Nil Rate Band for a couple could potentially reach £1 million at that stage, depending on the value of the property being bequeathed. However, couples with a combined estate value of over £2 million won’t qualify for the full allowance: once their estate hits the £2 million mark, the new allowance will reduce according to the size of the estate.

Even if the first spouse/partner dies before April 2017, the surviving spouse/partner may still benefit from the deceased partner’s family home allowance providing he or she dies after April 2017.

It’s worth noting, however, that the allowance can only be claimed if the family home is left to children or grandchildren of the deceased, including step children and adopted children. It cannot be claimed if the property is bequeathed to other family members or chosen heirs.

The new rules may be of particular interest to single parents who own their own home as, from 2020, they will be able to bequeath up to £500,000 to their children.

The proposals include provisions for instances where couples have downsized in later life, or sold the family home to pay for care fees. In these circumstances the new allowance is expected to be still available in respect of the original family home and the value of the home that was sold will be set against other assets.

The new rules are intended to ensure that the vast majority of families will have no Inheritance Tax to pay, despite the increases in property prices. However, there are groups who will not benefit from the new allowance: those with large estates, those who are not home-owners and those without direct family members, for example.

The value of an investment and the income from it could go down as well as up. The return at the end of the investment period is not guaranteed and you may get back less than you originally invested.

Carl Lamb

ALMARY GREEN INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISERS

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.

DECEMBER 2015

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The official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the Mazda Range: Urban 30.4 (9.3) - 74.3 (3.8). Extra Urban 51.4 (5.5) - 88.3 (3.2).

Combined 40.9 (6.9) - 83.1 (3.4). CO 2 emissions (g/km) 161 - 89.

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.

Retail sales only, subject to vehicle availability for vehicles registered between 01.10.15 and 31.12.15 at participating dealers. T&C apply. *0% APR Mazda Personal Contract Purchase available on all all-new Mazda2 and Mazda3 models over 24, 30 or 36 months with no minimum deposit required. 0% APR Mazda Conditional Sale available on all all-new Mazda CX-3 models over 12, 24 or 36 months. You will not own the vehicle until all payments are made. Finance subject to status, 18s or over. Guarantee/indemnity may be required. Mazda Financial Services RH1 1SR. Models shown: all-new Mazda2 115ps Sport Nav, OTR from £15,995. Model shown features optional Soul Red Metallic paint (£650). All-new Mazda CX-3 120ps 2WD Sport Nav, OTR from £20,495. Model shown features optional Ceramic Metallic paint (£540). Mazda3 120ps Sport Nav, OTR from £20,195. Model shown features optional Soul Red Metallic paint (£660). OTR prices include VAT, number plates, delivery, 12 months’ road fund licence, first registration fee, 3 year or 60,000 mile warranty and 3 years’ European Roadside Assistance. Channel Islands excluded.

Details correct at time of going to print. Not available in conjunction with any other offer unless specified. °Test drives subject to applicant status and availability.

Wrights Motors Ltd, trading as Wrights Mazda Mazda is a credit broker not a lender for this financial promotion. We can introduce you to a limited number of carefully selected finance providers and may receive a commission from them for the introduction.

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Ampera): Urban: 12.7 (22.3) - 76.3 (3.7), Extra-urban: 23.9 (11.8) - 94.2 (3.0), Combined: 18.0 (15.7) - 88.3 (3.2). CO 2 emissions: 373- 85g/km.# *£2,000 Scrappage Allowance towards a new car is offered on condition that the traded-in car has been registered in your name as the owner for at least 90 days and the registration document is in your name and address. Offer available to private individuals and small businesses 1-24 units (purchase only). All other sales categories are excluded.

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Prices from £72,000. Those wishing to register their interest in the Lotus Evora 400 should visit: www.lotuscars.com/lotus-evora-400 Fastest production Lotus ever; High power, 400hp, 3.5 litre V6, 24 valve, water-cooled, all-aluminium engine, with Edelbrock supercharger.

Delivers punchy 302lbs ft (410Nm) of torque; mid-engine provides outstanding balance; aero package and lightweight rear sport diffuser deliver extra 23kgs of downforce; driver activated, postcat free flow exhaust enhancement; supercar acceleration from 0mph to 60mph in just 4.1 seconds

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Ergonomically and dynamically more capable than the previous Evora, this good-looking car is being billed by Lotus as a superior machine to the previous model in every respect.

The video ‘Lotus Evora 400 – From Road To Track, It’s Superior’ illustrates the new model’s key features and areas of improvement, as follows: Over two-thirds of the Lotus Evora is new, including its supercharged and charge-cooled mid-mounted 3.5-litre V6 engine.

Power has been increased from 345hp (350 PS; 257.3kw) to 400hp (406PS; 298.3kw) at 7,000rpm.

Torque has also been increased to 302 lbs ft (410 Nm) achieved between 3,500 to 6,500 rpm.

The new Lotus Evora 400 is 42kg lighter than the previous model, with a completely new aluminium chassis and significantly revised lightweight composite body front and rear.

The new version is also ergonomically more refined, with easier cabin exit and entry, enhancing everyday usability.

Dynamically more capable, lighter and faster, with revised spring and damper settings, a Limited Slip Differential (LSD) and a downforce figure of 32kg (70lbs) at 150mph (242 km/h), the new Evora 400 is one of the quickest cars in class A to B and offers a more evolving, sharper and more focused driving experience compared with the outgoing model.

DECEMBER 2015

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REVIEW BY MATT KIMBERLEY

DEALER DETAILS M R KING & SONS Horn hill Lowestoft NR33 0PX Tel: 01502 573955 www.mrking.co.uk

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WHAT’S NEW? You’re looking at Peugeot’s first return to the compact family hot-hatch market since the much-loved and increasingly rare 306 GTi-6.

Its efforts since then have been mixed, but the 308 provides a fantastic base from which to start.

There are entry-level 246bhp and upgradetastic 266bhp versions. They share a highly turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine, but the latter wears upgraded British-made Alcon brakes, larger but lighter wheels, sportier bucket seats and, crucially, a Torsen mechanical limited-slip differential. The price difference is very modest, too.

LOOKS AND IMAGE The 308 is a tidy-looking car as it is, but the lower stance of the GTi brings out unexpected muscle in the curvaceous shape.

The GTi 250 is 11mm lower than standard, but the 270’s ride height shifts back to normal thanks to its larger wheels.

GTi badges are everywhere in both, so you’re in no danger of forgetting you’re in a spicy

one. The seats in the 270 look especially good, though, with their high side bolsters and contrasting red stitching. There’s even an option on the 270 to add ‘Coupe Franche’ - two-tone red and black paint. It looks stunning but costs £1,300 and could prove tricky to respray.

SPACE AND PRACTICALITY The beauty of a hot hatch is that it’s a practical hatchback at heart. Put the back seats down and you can transport a chest of drawers for Auntie Irene. Very quickly. There isn’t much storage in the cabin, though.

Fortunately the GTi is spec’d up and comes with a reversing camera, keyless entry, front and rear parking sensors and a 12-volt power point for charging small devices. Sequential ‘scrolling’ indicators are a nice touch, too.

Legroom in the back is very reasonable, and there’s no shortage of headroom thanks to a typically high hatchback roof line.

MOTORING

PRACTICAL THINKING

BEHIND THE WHEEL In isolation the 250 is a great thing to drive. It’s balanced, fast and poised, and at 1,205kg fullyfuelled it’s a lightweight. But the 270 improves the package in lots of ways that you only see when you drive them back to back. The power and feel in the Alcon brakes is incredible, and the Torsen diff lets the car hold tighter lines at higher speeds through potentially tricky corners.

Plus, the variable-spring rate suspension is tuned well for British back-roads, the steering is quick and precise, and overall it flows brilliantly.

Sharper engine responses when you push the Sport button are joined by suddenly very red instruments. The 270 is big cat-aggressive in this setting but the artificial engine noise that’s piped into the cabin actually takes away a little from the drive. It’s just as fast in normal mode and feels better resolved; more rounded. Leave that button alone unless you really, really have to have red dials.

Keep the counter-rotating rev counter needle above 3,000rpm and turbo lag is negligible.

Below that it gives some throttle response

Prices correct at time of going to press

The new Peugeot 308 GTi is a hot hatchback with a broad appeal

away to its 2.0-litre rivals, but it certainly shifts when you chase the redline. Peak torque is maintained 1,500rpm longer in the 270, and that’s a good thing.

VALUE FOR MONEY The 270 is where it’s at for value. For £1,600 you get all that extra equipment, higher residual values, a better drive and more fun.

Its price is right in the thick of the best frontwheel drive hot hatchbacks around, so it’s competitive rather than a bargain. Strong rivals from Seat and Ford are a similar price or less, so it’s a straight punch-up between some serious heavyweights.

WHO WOULD BUY ONE? Hot hatchbacks have broad appeal. Young men are clearly going to be the targets, but the idea of a practical hatchback that can easily overtake old duffers in Nissan Notes who refuse to go faster than 35mph on country roads is one that can surely win plenty of favour. It has style and a measure of comfort on its side, too. It’s a real challenger, and a real GTi.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Peugeot 308 GTi 270, from £28,155 Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol producing 266bhp and 243lb/ft Transmission: Six-speed manual driving the front wheels Performance: Top speed 155mph, 0-62mph in 6.0 seconds Economy: 47mpg combined Emissions: 139g/km

DECEMBER 2015

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

Rugged SUV Design. Advanced Safety. ALLGRIP 4-wheel Drive.

Request a Test Drive today: suzuki.co.uk/mrking

M R King & Sons

Horn Hill Lowestoft 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 CO2 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), CO2 emissions 131106 g/km.

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 Rugged Pack available at £22,549. 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 July 2015 to 30th September 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 £18,499 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.

£750 EXTRA DISCOUNT ON NEW KUGA AWD ON TOP OF CURRENT OFFERS

Pertwee & Back Ltd www.pertwee-and-back.co.uk

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

01493 664151

Vehicle shown for illustration purposes only. Retail only, metallic paint and options at extra cost. Details correct at time of going to print. Subject to availability. CO2 120g/km, Urban 57.7 mpg (4.9 L/100km), Extra Urban 64.2 mpg (4.4 L/100km), Combined 61.4 mpg (4.6 L/100km).

SAFE JOURNEY

MOTORING

Preparation is everything when it comes to winter driving and it’s crucial to keeping you and your car safe

Driving in winter can be tricky.

Dark days and often dangerous driving conditions – snow, sleet and ice – mean that we should all be taking extra care, both during the drive itself and before we set off.

If you’re looking for stress-free travel, preparation is key and it’s worth getting up that little bit earlier in the morning to check that your car is in good condition before you begin your journey.

At this time of year, when many of us will be making long journeys to see loved ones for Christmas and New Year, it’s more important than ever to be vigilant. After all, no-one wants to be stuck on the hard shoulder when they could be getting stuck into a delicious Christmas meal.

There are a number of top tips for winter driving, a great many of which come down to common sense, but it’s worth double-checking that we’ve all done what we need to do.

Norfolk County Council advises following a few simple steps to help drivers reduce their risks and keep safe in hazardous weather conditions. These include listening to local weather forecasts before setting off, using main roads and letting someone know where you are going, taking warm clothing with you, along with a fully-charged mobile phone, topping up your vehicle’s oil, water and anti-freeze, checking tyre pressure and depth, and making sure your lights and wipers are clean.

The Council also reminds drivers that smooth and steady driving reduces the risk of skidding and that we should keep our speed down and leave plenty of space in front of us when driving in icy conditions, to allow ourselves additional stopping distance.

Up-to-date gritting information can be found on Norfolk County Council’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ norfolkcc) and by searching for #NorfolkWinter on Twitter.

Of course, if it’s been frosty, icy or snowy before you use your car, it’s important to de-ice it properly, making sure that both windscreens and all other windows and mirrors are clear. Poor visibility is a cause of many accidents, so a few minutes spent improving your car’s condition is time well spent.

Make sure that your car is regularly serviced and that routine checks and maintenance – fluid levels, tyres, wiper blades, bulbs – are carried out on a regular basis, too.

Have the winter basics (de-icer, scraper, cloths) with you and don’t forget that you and your passengers are just as important as the vehicle. Dress according to the weather, take extra layers and, if you’re going on a long journey, pack a drink and a few snacks and put a sleeping bag or rug and a shovel in the boot of the car.

In-car or portable chargers are handy for mobile phones, Sat Navs and other devices and a large, bright torch could prove useful, too – hopefully you won’t need any of these items, but if you do, you’ll be prepared.

DECEMBER 2015

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HANSELLS HOSTRY FESTIVAL NORFOLK ARTS AWARDS MADDERMARKET THEATRE, NORWICH

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The Norfolk Arts Awards, part of the Hansells Hostry Festival in Norwich, honoured finalists in 18 outstanding performance categories at a champagne gala night at the Maddermarket Theatre. Organised by PBSK Partnership, the evening was hosted by BBC Radio Norfolk’s Nick Conrad and Thordis Fridriksson, with excellent entertainment by pianist Simon Brown and the Voxettes.

TV star Caroline Flack won a special award for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts in Norfolk. Individual award sponsors included Newsmakers PR, Mediamakers and Hansells Solicitors and Financial Advisers.

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Photos by NEWSMAKERS PR

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page sponsored by

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1. Entertainers Simon Brown and Julie Mullins 2. Sally and Steven Wiseman 3. Gary Enderby, Sarah Veness and Ian Foster 4. Jessica and Richard Turner 5. Mary Kemp, Maurice Gowen and Marcia Reading 6. Kristie Ross (black sequins), Peter Wilson and Ria Conway 7. Ross Conway and Kathryn Francis 8. Susan and Mark Conway 9. Jessica Clarke and Joshua Hitch 10. Nick and Hannah Monk 11. Stash Kirkbride of event organisers PBSK, Jane Hawksley, Helen McDermott with Peter Beck of PSKB

12. The Voxettes: Ruby O’Callaghan, Laura White and Johanna Herron 13. Tony Linford, Carol Lake, John Kitson, Jason Larke and Anne Christensen 14. Simon and Susie Pritchard 15. James Gillespie, Emily Gwynne-Jones and Julia Blackburn 16. Amber Onat Gregory and Lucy Garland 17. Jonathan Denby, The Lord Mayor’s Consort, Brian Horner and The Lord Mayor of Norwich, Cllr Brenda Arthur 18. Rebecca Chapman and Peter Barrow of PSKB

19. Fiona Ryder, Michael and Carin Nutt with Caroline Jarrold 20. Rosie and Hugh Lansdell, Surrey Beddows and Roger Holden 21. Oli Franzen and Emma Knights 22. David and Jenni Clayton, Wendy Witham and Gary Standley 23. Martin Frost, Moira Hickson and Amanda Greenway

DECEMBER 2015

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ALMARY GREEN CHARITY AWARDS EVENING,

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THE HOSTRY, NORWICH CATHEDRAL

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In the fifth year of their annual charity awards programme, Norwich-based independent Financial Advisers, Almary Green, presented cheques to ten Norfolk charities at a drinks and canapés reception at The Hostry at Norwich Cathedral.

Photos by ROSS HAGAN

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Jan Staff, Jenny Prior, Colleen Sharpe Linda Groves, David Gosling, Amanda Wilson Brian Nichol, Keith Futter, Peter Bondi, Robert Lovick Chrissy Howlett, Steven Rogers, Tracey Wallis-Gore Sarah and Jonathan Barnard Sadie Goldspink, Carolyn Pinnock, Jess Glauert, Louise Cumberland

7. Bridgid Everitt, Hannah Worsley, Chris Callaghan, Lisa Marshall Nicholls 8. Hayley Tink, Carl Lamb, Amanda Hasell 9. Judy Holland, Brenda Gostling, Claudia Lowe, Michele Savage 10. Megan Kennedy, Emily Case 11. Rachel Parker, Karly Good, Jane Hawgood

page sponsored by

HIGH SOCIETY

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A BRUSH WITH THE BROADS EXHIBITION

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Ormesby broad on a beautiful autumn evening provided the backdrop for artists and the public to view an exhibition of over 60 paintings produced during A Brush With The Broads 2015.

The event, now in its second year, was hosted by local artist and gallery owner Linda Matthews and during the evening the public had a chance to vote for their favourite painting which this year was won by Mo Teeuw with her painting Winterton cafĂŠ. www.broadskiesgallery.co.uk

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Martin Dunford and Anne Blankson-Hemans Linda and Paul Matthews Louise Bougold and Penny German Anne Felgate and Claudia Araceli Liz Clarke and Roseanne Graves Jennifer Sendall and Kate Gabriel Lea Nixon and Linda Purdy Chris Clarke and Julian Lovegrove

9. Fiona Potter and Maggie Saduulah 10. Hannah Bruce and Deborah Masters 11. Anita and Dick Turpin 12. Monica Phillips and Jenny Oldknow 13. Steve Halford and Malcolm Cudmore 14. Richard and Elizabeth King 15. Irene and Cecilia May

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16. Caroline Waters,Glen Avis and Lynda Baxter 17. Oliver and Alison Hatton 18. Autumn On Ormesby Broad

DECEMBER 2015

121

FIVE MINUTES WITH

MIKE TALBOT

The Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind (NNAB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Talbot as its new chief executive officer, who will join the charity from his position at ITV Cymru Wales on January, 1, 2016

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HE NORFOLK AND NORWICH ASSOCIATION

for the Blind (NNAB) is one of Norfolk’s oldest charities and is celebrating its 210th anniversary this year. The charity’s goal is to help the county’s people with poor sight remain independent and confident. Sight loss affects all age groups and the NNAB supports everyone from babies and children to the elderly.

The Bradbury Activity Centre in Norwich, which was opened

by NNAB’s patron, HM The Queen, in 2010, acts as a focal point for all the charity does for Norfolk’s visually impaired and blind people – whatever their age and wherever they are in the county.

The Association receives no state funding of any kind, instead relying completely on legacies and donations, and the charity promises that all the money raised in Norfolk is spent in Norfolk.

Here the charity’s new CEO Mike Talbot tells us a little about his new role and what appeals to him about his home county of Norfolk.

What will your new job entail?

Leading a fantastic team running the oldest charity in Norfolk.

The NNAB helps 20,000 people with poor sight, providing specialist care in the community and in its own residential home and sheltered housing. Helped by an invaluable army of volunteers, the NNAB staff also provide advice, equipment and educational and leisure opportunities for the blind and visually impaired - including darts and archery!

Are you Norfolk born and bred?

I was born in the old N&N hospital, home was in Gorleston and I went to Town Close School. My dad was a solicitor, Borough Clerk and Coroner in Yarmouth. My maternal grandparents lived in Lowestoft - but still supported the Canaries.

Which Norfolk characters (historical or current) do you most admire and why?

I’d love to say Alan Partridge, a celebrated broadcaster who has done a huge amount to put Norfolk on the map. But I won’t.

Instead, I’ll go for Harriet Martineau, regarded as one of the first female journalists and a radical thinker, who was born in what is now my home.

How would you spend a day off in the area?

A long cycle ride round the byways of North Norfolk or a trip to Southwold, to wander along the pier and ‘bash a banker’ in Tim Hunkin’s gloriously eccentric amusement arcade.

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

Pubs tend to come in and out of favour, but I had a superb Sunday roast in the Buckinghamshire Arms at Blickling the other weekend. And the King’s Head in Magdalen Street, Norwich, not only has a wonderful collection of ales on offer but is also a few feet from my front gate.

How about your favourite local restaurant?

Where do you like to go and what do you order?

So many to choose from! I’d have to go for The Last Wine Bar, which has been a favourite for many years - and is only a few minutes from my front gate (there’s a theme emerging here).

The chicken in mustard sauce was a family favourite, but it’s been missing for a while (come on, James!).

What do you miss most when you’re away from the region?

The big skies and the little lanes. I love the way there’s an amazing medieval church round every corner in Norwich.

You’re never more than a few feet from a pew or a pint.

What are you reading at the moment?

Mostly my phone or tablet - how depressing is that? Stephen Fry’s More Fool Me is waiting on the bedside table.

And what are you listening to?

I’m a news and sport junkie, so Radios Four and Five Live are the default sound track to my life. Also enjoying Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox - contemporary songs in a fantastic vintage style.

Film, musical, drama or opera – which do you prefer to watch and what was the last production you saw?

I still struggle with opera, but love everything else. I’ve just seen Kinky Boots in the West End. It was a brilliant film (directed by Julian Jarrold) and now it’s a raucous and raunchy musical with songs by Cyndi Lauper.

Sum Norfolk up in five words Not so flat after all.

Sum yourself up in five words Norfolk through and through (and not very good at counting).

What are your plans for the future?

To make sure everyone knows about the wonderful work of the Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind. And to watch Norwich City lift the Champions League trophy. www.nnab.org.uk

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