FineCity Magazine - December 2015 by Spider Creative Media

Issue 49 December 2015

FINEMotors

Enter our Christmas Competition to win Winter Ale, courtesy of St Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brewery

FINEplaces FINEpeople FINEarts FINEEvents

NORWICH

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Issue 49 December 2015

FINEMOTORS

Enter our Christmas Competition to win Winter Ale, courtesy of St Peter’s Brewery

FINEPLACES FINEPEOPLE FINEARTS

FINE people

FINEEVENTS

FINE places

NORWICH

Issue 49

Your community magazine Cover image courtesy of intu Chapelfield Other images courtesy of Daniel Tink, www.scenicnorfolk.co.uk FineCity Magazine would like to thank all those who have contributed to this issue. This includes but is not limited to: Pete Goodrum, Stephen Browning, Tony Cooper and Thomas Dick.

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© FineCity Magazine Disclaimer: No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Publisher. Every effort is taken to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate, but the Publisher can not assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. Whilst reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements the Publisher will not accept any resulting unsatisfactory transactions. They will, however, immediately investigate any written complaints. The Publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.

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2015 December | 05

Fine City Chorus Singing since 1975 If you are interested in coming along to one of our rehearsals or even possibly booking Fine City Chorus for your function, please do not hesitate contact us.

www.finecitychorus.org.uk

Fine City Chorus “Men of Norfolk” We need you! Fine City Chorus is a Norwich based Barbershop chorus and we are looking to attract some keen new members. You don’t need to have sung before or be able to read music, enthusiasm is more important. We practice every Wednesday evening in Thorpe, Norwich and sometimes sing at local fetes and events. We’re a friendly group with ages from 21 to 70. We like to include 06 | December 2015

our wives and partners whenever possible and have several social events during the year and raise money for local charities. We sing a wide variety of songs from Elton John, Adele, The Beatles through to 1940 style musicals. If you would like to book us to sing at your event please phone us on 07534 987921 If you would like to see us perform this winter we can be

seen on: Saturday 5th December 10am - 4pm at The Christmas Fayre, Woodforde’s Brewery, Woodbastwick, Norwich NR13 6SW And on Saturday 12th December at 7pm – where we will be supporting the ladies Barbershop choir, “Norwich Harmony” in their Christmas Concert at The City Academy, Bluebell Road Norwich. For more details on this concert phone 01508 495580. If you are interested in seeing what we do, come along to our rehearsals on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm at Lionwood Infant School, Telegraph Lane East, Norwich, NR1 4AN where you will be warmly welcomed. In January each Wednesday will be “Open Evenings” where

you can listen to us and have a chat or if you would like to know more before then, you can phone Brian on 01508 578409. It is well known that singing and being part of a group activity is good for your mental and physical health, but mainly we just enjoy it! Here are some quotes from our members “The reason I joined the chorus was that it gave me a new lease of life when my wife passed on”. “We are a very friendly bunch and give a warm welcome to anyone who walks through the door”. “I’m still not the best singer in the world but I make a positive contribution to rehearsals and to our famous sing-outs when we make the most beautiful harmony. It’s much better than the telly!” “It is a rewarding and motivating hobby to sing and perform in a way that lifts the spirits”. Then call Brian on 07795507421 or visit our website www.finecitychorus. org.uk or Facebook pages www.finecity.co.uk

Steve Magnall Pete Goodrum meets Steve Magnall, CEO of St Peter’s Brewery for this month’s FINE PEOPLE - and brings you the chance to win some beer!

’ve been talking with Steve Magnall, Chief Executive of St Peter’s Brewery, for about an hour. And I’m slightly dizzy. No. It’s not his beer. No alcohol has been consumed during this meeting. It’s the sheer amount of information coming across the table. The data. The statistics. The forecasts. I doubt there’s a more passionate, more informed and more totally involved CEO working within a hundred miles of here. ‘Here’ is Steve Magnall’s office in the St Peter’s Brewery www.finecity.co.uk

building just outside Bungay. It’s a big, bright, room with fresh fruit in a bowl on the heavy duty oak meeting table. When he’d welcomed me in I’d commented on the really rather good pictures on the wall. ‘They were here when I arrived, so I can take no credit’, he says, adding, ‘As a matter of fact my tastes are a bit more Banksy’. It’s a subject we’ll return to. For the moment we return to Steve’s origins. He was born in Tottington, near Bury in Lancashire. After Bacup and

Rawtenstall Grammar School (‘ a bit Dickensian but a good school’) he went to Leeds where he graduated in a food sciences degree, with Business Studies. From there he went on to Reading University where he obtained a Masters in business. At my suggestion he agrees that the building blocks for his career were already in place by then. His first employer was Boots. ‘I didn’t really enjoy that ‘ he says. ‘I was young, it was a job that meant I worked Saturdays, it wasn’t easy’. However, as a graduate entrant he was put in charge of buying records. And something he did set an early precedent for his subsequent track record. ‘The records that Boots sold were pretty much all in the ‘Easy Listening’ category,’ he explains. ‘I bought in - wait for it - it shows how the time has flown - ‘Now That’s What I Call Music 4. Sales went up’. But Steve went out. He moved to Hillsdown Holdings a FTSE 100 conglomerate amongst whose brands was Buxted

Chickens. In one of those small world coincidences he was sent to train at Flixton, not far from where we’re sitting today. The training was pretty visceral. ‘I was cutting up chickens’. But Steve flew. Promoted to his first supervisory role in Wiltshire he moved around the empire, climbing the ladder until he reached General Manager. ‘And from there on I’ve never applied for another job. I’ve always been head hunted into the next role’. There’s no immodesty about this. It’s a fact. Steve Magnall likes facts. The first time his head was hunted it was to join Northern Foods. It was to be his first real taste of being responsible for the bottom line. It was a challenge he rose to. He took the business from a £28,000 per week loss into profit. It would be the catalyst to

feature by:

Pete Goodrum Writer, broadcaster @petegoodrum

2015 December | 07

FINEPeople forging his reputation as a ‘turn round specialist’ as he calls it. A man who sorts out businesses. As we rush through his cv even he has to check, via his LinkedIn profile, to make sure we have the dates right. The next key item on that cv is his spell with The Grampian Country Foods Group. It was a role made for him. They acquired businesses and turned them around. Who better to do that? The job took him to Edinburgh, and whilst he was with them they grew from a £200m company to a £1 billion company. His time there he says was pivotal and it fixed in his mind three core elements of strategy he employs to this day. Get the cost base right. Get the right people. Get the marketing right. By 2000 he was with John Rannoch Foods. ‘It was my first full directorial post’. Interestingly, he was head hunted for it - again - having been recommended by Marks and Spencer. They were a customer of Rannnoch and they knew him from when he’d looked after them at Grampian. ‘It was nice to be recommended but this was the time when M and S were on a roller coaster and they were a demanding client’. The John Rannoch job was based in Stowmarket, so, now in his late thirties, he’d arrived in Suffolk. By 2002 John Rannoch had been sold. A role was effectively created for him at G’s Marketing. Going in as Operations Director he was now in charge of a huge

08 | December 2015

portfolio. His role covered salads for M and S and Tesco. There was an entire beetroot factory to run. He took charge of their growing Organics line. In fact, if it was processed in any way, Steve was responsible for it. Plus, any bagged products for Spain came under his watch. And he was running the HR side of the business. ‘That’, he says. ‘was demanding. We had an enormous temporary workforce, often working at picking salad crops, and I was dealing with staff who spoke somewhere around 14 languages’. And now beer arrives in his career. Greene King, who he’d said no to when they first approached him, appointed him as their Operations Director. He spent ten years there, rising to Deputy Managing Director. He was on holiday, in Centre Parcs in Thetford when he got a call from Thwaites. The brewery wanted him as their Managing Director, and he took

the job. It meant moving to Lytham St Annes, but it moved him upwards. Now he had full responsibility for a £65m turnover business. As a mark of his prowess as the ‘turn round specialist’ it’s worth noting that, when he joined, the company was losing somewhere around a half a million pounds a year. Their Wainwright ale brand was not even showing in the 200 best selling brands chart. The business was making £1.4m a year profit and Wainwright was at number 13 when he left. He left because the business was sold. ‘I came out of it ok. Not wealthy, but ok. I thought about starting something on my own. I joined (he mentions a certain well known national spectacles retailer) but it was brief’. ‘How brief?’ ‘A day’. Moving swiftly on then! He got a call from John Murphy the founder of St Peter’s Brewery. Murphy had almost legendary status as a brand guru, and his track record includes the creation of Plymouth Gin. Now, determined to create an ‘iconic beer brand’ he’d founded St Peter’s Brewery in 1996. By 2015 he had a £4m turnover business. By May 2015 he had Steve Magnall. ‘St Peter’s is a brilliant brand. And what I saw was an opportunity to realise its full potential’. And so we’re here. And we’re off. This is where the dizziness come in. In a master class of marketing and business management Steve takes me

through where the company was, where it’s going, and how it’s going to get there. He holds nothing back. He actually gives me a hard copy of the company’s strategy document. ‘People often to say to me why are you sharing this so openly? My answer is that I’ve nothing to hide. This is what we’re doing. It’s not a secret’. The point to ponder here is that a lesser person would keep the goals secret, in case they don’t achieve them. That’s not the person Steve Magnall is. He will achieve them. And these goals are about making St Peter’s ‘The International Brand of English Beer’. He’s on track. In fact he’s just back from the USA where he’s done deals to sell beer - and he’s able, without a moment’s hesitation, to give me market figures, typical bottle sizes in the USA, a proof of the new design of label for America and statistics of how many distributors there are in each state. He gives me precise costings on the company using their unique glass bottle, and how he’s preserving that packaging at the same time as making savings on it. We cover the positioning of St Peter’s as a ‘specialist Brewery’ because he wants to differentiate it from the current buzz word of ‘craft’ breweries. He’s on his feet to show me the new cartons for delivering beer to supermarkets and retailers, and can tell me exactly what savings that’s making. In a heartbeat he’s across the room to pick up and show me the

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FINEPeople new pump clips for the beers, explaining that the brand is now the hero because the beer is generic. “Nobody can own India Pale Ale - but we can make them ask for St Peter’s’. Sat down again he’s explaining how he’s changed the way they buy malt - to make savings. How the export trade now includes Mexico, Sweden and Italy. What the margin is on retail sales and how it differs - he has the precise figures - between chains. There’s the pubs the company are running , and a projection for their future. There’s a complete rundown on St Peter’s success in gluten free beer, which covers not just the overall strategy but the exact details of which shelves its best sold on in supermarkets. See what I mean about the dizziness? But here’s the thing. Well two things actually. Firstly most people would have needed notes, a Powerpoint presentation and about half a day to explain everything he’s run through, straight out of his head, in the last hour. Secondly, you’ll have noticed that much of his amazingly frankly disclosed, strategy is about growth - new products, new markets. But you’ll have noticed too the frequent references to savings. It would be almost logical to expect that the man who is famous as the ‘turn round specialist would now proudly

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tell me that he is driving those savings straight in to the bottom line. It would impress the owners. He has a stake in the business himself - so it would help him. But no. ‘Those savings are being reinvested - in people’. Remember the mantra he’d established for himself at Grampian? ‘Get the cost base right. Get the right people. Get the marketing right’. That will be all three boxes ticked then. Drawing breath I ask him about his personal life. ‘I’m buying a house in Saxmundham after living out of suitcases for a while’, he says. ‘It’s been a period of lodging with parents, friends and in hotels’. Does he have outside interests? ‘I love golf, but I’m not playing too much at the moment’. He’s been active in charity

work and has served as Chair of FOCUS 12 , a drug and alcohol charity. He was fundraising director of Butterfly Ball, raising money for the Princes Trust. He’s done the Three Peaks and The London Marathon - for charity. ‘I also ran with the Olympic Torch. In Ipswich’. I swear to you that the moment of telling me that is the only time I see this demonstrably successful man look pleased with himself! We talk of his children. Ben, who is 21 and reading Economics at Sheffield. Abi is 19 and doing Chemistry at Bristol. Will is 16 and immersed in A Levels. Fabian is just 7. (OK - he does also look proud when he talks of them!) I return to his earlier comments about the pictures and he tells me more of his liking for the work

of Banksy. He likes art. He owns a Dali! And - he owns works by Dom Pattinson. He shows me pictures of them and explains that Pattinson worked with, and studied with, the mysterious phenomenon that is Banksy. At this point you need to indulge me. It occurs to me that I am speaking with someone who knows someone - who knows who Banksy is! I say that out loud and he laughs. Steve Magnall is intensely focussed. Casually dressed and extremely amiable, there is though an intensity about him. He has what can only be called a total grasp. From international strategy to the price of a pump clip he has the facts, the vision, and crucially, the plan of how to get there. ‘I love business. I love developing people. I love getting a business into a positive position’. They are his closing remarks when I ask him what of the future. What next? It’s been an informative, enthralling couple of hours for me. If modern, forward thinking management has a face, it probably looks like Steve Magnall. And one more thing! Steve Magnall has kindly donated some St Peter’s beer for you FINE CITY readers to win. We talked about how you can do that, and here’s what Steve wants you to do. Just answer this question. What will St Peter’s Brewery be celebrating next year? Good luck - and cheers Steve!

2015 December | 09

FINEPeople

St Peter’s Brewery Competition! Here’s your chance to win a case of St Peter’s Winter Ale. All you have to do is answer the following question... What will St Peter’s Brewery be celebrating next year? You can send us your answer in 1 of 3 ways: You can send it via post by filling in the form below with your answer, name and contact details and send it to FineCity Magazine, Queens House, Queens Square, Attleborough, Norfolk, NR17 2AE You can email your answer to office@finecity.co.uk, with the subject title “Competition”. Or you can tweet your answer to @FineCityMag with the hashtag #StPetersBrewery All entries must be received by Friday 18th December 2015 and winners will be notified by email, phone or twitter on the same day* *Winners will need to collect their cases from the FineCity Offices Terms and Conditions apply. Go to www.FineCity.co.uk for full T’s & C’s.

St Peter’s Brewery Competition! Answer:

Your Name

Your Telephone Number:

Your Email:

10 | December 2015

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FINEPeople

All your unwanted textiles

can be used again, no matter what condition they are in. National research shows that around half the clothes and textiles we throw away end up in landfill, about 350,000 tonnes every year in the UK. It’s such a waste - much, much more could be recycled. Many people think that worn out items are only fit for the bin. In fact holey jumpers, busted bras, odd socks, broken belts, thin sheets, worn out towels, cushion covers, curtains, shoes and boots can all be recycled. These items should never be put in your rubbish bin and go to landfill. It’s bad for our environment, costs us all money and simply isn’t sustainable. Worn out textiles can be recycled into materials like sofa padding or insulation for buildings. Just think, turned into insulation, your old underwear could continue keeping you warm for decades to come. So please don’t throw them away! Bag them up and take them to your local recycling centre or community textiles bank. Many local charity shops will take even your worn out, unwearable textiles because Norfolk County Council pays community organisations recycling credits for the textiles they collect – no matter what condition the items are in. www.finecity.co.uk

To find your nearest textile recycling point and for more information

2015 December | 11

on how to recycle your textiles go to www.norfolk.gov.uk/textiles

FINEPeople

Chestnuts Roasting Dame Shirley Bassey joins forces with British trio Blake in the fight for the Christmas number one single.

eaming up with vocal harmony group, Blake, Dame Shirley Bassey has recorded her first ever Christmas hit, ‘The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)’, set to be the soundtrack for the festive season, with soaring strings, swoonsome harmonies 12 | December 2015

and, of course, Dame Shirley’s distinctive voice. During recording of the single’s video at a North London studio, alongside Blake’s Ollie Baines, Humphrey Berney and Stephen Bowman, Dame Shirley revealed, “I would love to have a Christmas number one.” So, how did this special

collaboration come about? Dame Shirley explained, “Blake sang Moon River at my 70th birthday party, and then we met again at the reception of Variety’s 70th anniversary six months ago. Ollie mentioned singing a Christmas song together, and I said I’ve never done a Christmas song before!” Blake toyed with the idea of writing an original song, but decided that, when recording a voice as iconic as Ms Bassey’s, only an absolute classic would

do. Having compiled a shortlist of their favourites, Dame Shirley chose the one that she liked the best, which turned out to be The Christmas Song. After the recording, Dame Shirley said, “I was quite overwhelmed because it just fits my voice so well. I was amazed how well our voices blended. It’s so lovely to finally get to release a Christmas song, and my royalties will go to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital in Cardiff.”

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FINEPeople

When Blake Met Bassey… Blake band member Humphrey Berney is from Norfolk. We spoke to Humphrey following his studio date with Dame Shirley. Q. Where did you grow up? A. I was raised on a farm about five miles from East Dereham. My parents moved from there a few years ago, but I still think of it as home. It’s full of memories. Q. What do you love about Norfolk? A. I love the fact that it is still relatively unspoilt. It has so much to offer, from the stunning coast, The Broads, the huge skies, numerous amazing country estates and houses, wonderful produce, and its great history of art and music. It also has one of the finest cathedrals in the country. People always says it’s such a hassle getting there, which means they only come to Norfolk when they want to and it stops it changing too quickly. You can really escape from busy modern life. www.finecity.co.uk

Q. Do you come to Norfolk on tour? A. Of course! The audiences are always great and very vocal, whether it is The Corn Exchange in King’s Lynn, the end of Cromer Pier, or in the magnificence of Norwich Cathedral. Q. How do you relax when you’re on the road? A. I always take my gym kit and running shoes, as exercise is a good way to unwind. As a band, we try and explore the towns we visit, looking for good local antique shops. Q. What was it like working with Dame Shirley Bassey? A. It was the highlight of my career so far. To meet her, listen to her stories and then to hear that voice was something else. She sounds so amazing, I could never

get tired of that voice. To sing with her is something I will never forget. Stars like her just don’t exist anymore. She is from a time when people were famous and successful for having a fantastic talent, rather than being on some reality TV show. We laughed so much talking about her sketch with Morecambe and Wise, which is one of my favourites. Q. What did you learn from her? A. To give everything you have. That honesty in her performance is one of the keys to her success, and every singer and artist can learn from that. She is also great fun, has a wicked sense of humour, and clearly loves life.

laughter. I can’t wait! Q. What’s on your Christmas list? A. A Christmas number one has to be top! Other than that, I will be with my wife, my dog Claude and all our family, so that sounds pretty good to me. ‘The Christmas Song’ will appear on Blake’s new album ‘A Classic Christmas’, which also features a collection of timeless Christmas songs including ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’, ‘Frosty The Snowman’ and ‘Let It Snow’. For further information, visit www.blakeofficial.com

Q. Are there any other singers you would like to work with? A. I think Tom Jones is one of the greatest voices of all time, and like Shirley, is still sounding incredible in his later years. I have met him a few times, but it would be great to collaborate. Q. How will you be spending Christmas this year? A. With family. Lots of Champagne, open fires, food and

2015 December | 13

A Dickens Walk A Dickens Walk Around London Especially For Christmas

very special ‘thankyou’ to all of our readers who said how much they enjoyed the Dickens Walk around the West End of London which we featured in the August edition. I am reliably informed that there were folk to be seen walking with a rapt expression up the Strand, through Soho Square and along Oxford Street, clutching a copy of FineCity magazine and muttering about Dickens. Well, now it’s Christmas and here is another walk to ward off the winter chills. Dickens is probably more associated with Christmas than any other writer. True, it is probably thanks to Prince

14 | December 2015

Albert, the great love of Queen Victoria’s life, that we have the traditions – Germanic in origin – of a tree, cards, and presents. But it was not until Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol in 1843 that the ‘mould’, so to speak, was set of how to spend the perfect Christmas. What did he bring to the party? He brought love, family, kindness, and the idea of Christmas as a special time when even the nastiest, meanest of human beings, those who had flint for a heart, could find redemption and atone for past sins. In short, he created Ebenezer Scrooge who begins this awesome book as a hypocritical parasite, a dealer in

human misery, and yet ends up the merriest and most generous of fellows. This is how Dickens describes him at the end: ‘He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own

heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.’ Where would we be without Dickens and Scrooge at Christmas? It wouldn’t be Christmas, would it?

feature by:

Steve Browning Writer @returningperson

www.finecity.co.uk

FINEPLACES existence near Todgers’, would fill a goodly book; while a second volume no less capacious might be devoted to an account of the quaint old guests who frequented their dimly lighted parlours.’ Everywhere there was wiggledy-ness and confusion; smoke and noise. This is the view from the roof of Todgers’ itself: ‘There were steeples, towers, belfries, shining vanes, and masts of ships: a very forest. Gables, housetops, garret-windows, wilderness upon wilderness. Smoke and noise enough for all the world at once.’ The year is 1843 and Dickens is to very much concentrate his energies on this area, first in Martin Chuzzlewit – though poor sales led to the incongruous plot idea of whipping Martin and Mark Tapley off to near death in America before returning, less selfish, broke and redeemed, to England for happy endings – and then in my personal number one, A Christmas Carol, which was published in December of this year and went through six editions very smartly indeed.

Food, Glorious Food

The Walk Begins This walk, then, is to celebrate this wonderful time. It starts at Monument Tube – as we have to go ‘up east’ on this one. Then it zig-zags to Bank, Mansion House, St Paul’s and up to Smithfield. We shall take a look at Dickens’ characters as we proceed. As we set out, the first novel that springs to mind is Martin Chuzzlewit. In this book, which Dickens himself thought his finest work although extremely disappointing sales showed that the general public disagreed, we have an amazing description of the area of London around the Monument. This is where Todgers’ - accommodation for young gentlemen - existed: ‘You couldn’t walk about Todgers’ neighbourhood,

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as you could in any other neighbourhood. You groped your way for an hour through lanes and bye-ways, and courtyards, and passages; and you never once emerged upon anything that may reasonably be called a street. A kind of resigned distraction came over the stranger as he trod those devious mazes, and, giving himself up for lost, went in and out and round about and quietly turned back again when he came to a dead wall, or was stopped by an iron railing, and felt that the means of escape might possible present themselves in their own good time, but that to anticipate them was hopeless.’ You fell over pubs: ‘To tell of half the queer old taverns that had a drowsy

Dickens was always much aware of making the reader hungry, or thirsty, and it seems to me that, during this year, we have some of the best – and funniest – writing on the subject of food. Almost immediately upon meeting Mrs Todgers, we learn of the anxiety and stress caused by providing enough gravy for her resident gentlemen. It has aged her twenty years, she confides to the two Miss Pecksniffs. She continues, in what I believe to be the only anti-gravy tirade in

English Literature: ‘There is no such passion in human nature, as the passion for gravy among commercial gentlemen It’s nothing to say a joint won’t yield – a whole animal wouldn’t yield – the amount of gravy they expect each day at dinner. And what I have undergone in consequence,’ cried Mrs Todgers, raising her eyes and shaking her head, ‘noone would believe!’ Later there is dinner – usually served at two but today at five to give extra time for cooking as there are special guests served by the comical young Bailey, whom, according to Mrs Todgers, the young gentlemen spoil to that extent ‘that I’m afraid nothing but hanging will ever do him any good’. It consists of boiled beef, roast veal, bacon, pies and ‘an abundance of such vegetables as are favourably known to housekeepers for their satisfying qualities’. All is washed down with bottles of stout, bottles of wine, bottles of ale, ‘and divers other strong drinks, native and foreign’. And one assumes, lots of gravy. Leaving Todgers and walking up King William Street, we come to Bank, Cornhill and Threadneedle Street. Between here and Mansion House existed the financial centre of the British Empire. This is where Scrooge and Mr Dombey - Dombey And Son - would barter and bargain, and buy and sell debts, ruining countless souls in the process.

London’s Financial District A Christmas Carol is remarkable for many things, but one of the most striking is that

2015 December | 15

FINEPLACES while it deals in great themes – love, selfishness, redemption – it is the most vague of Dickens’ great novels in exactly where we are at any one time. Of course, a lot of it is spent whisking Scrooge over the universe and from life to death to life again, with a touch of time-travel thrown in. But as to its earthly

16 | December 2015

origins, most people know that it is based somewhere in the East End of London but will not be able to tell you more than that. However, at the beginning, as Dickens begins to warm to his theme of Christmas – cold, gaslight, ‘gruff’ old church bells, braziers, rapture of everyone for the time of year, holly, oranges, plums, nuts, stirring Christmas puddings in garrets, skating on the snow, singing carols, good cheer, meanness and forgiveness – he refers to ‘The Lord Mayor, in the stronghold of the mighty Mansion House’ who is giving instructions to his fifty cooks and butlers to keep Christmas as a Lord Mayor should. So we know where Scrooge is when he utters the immortal words ‘Bah. Humbug!’ When I was younger I was lucky enough to share a London

house with several other people, all of whom were great Dickens fans. Every Christmas Eve, those of us who did not go somewhere else, had a ritual that I cannot help but smile about whenever I think back. We would make sure that we had finished dinner and washed up etc by about 8. Then, we would settle down in a

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circle on the living room carpet with coffee, mints, nuts, Tawny Port and Guinness. We would take it in turns to read the whole of A Christmas Carol aloud. We had a particularly gruff-sounding flatmate who would say Scrooge’s lines with such brilliance that we would often have to stop for a few minutes, quite helpless with laughter. It was maybe fortunate that he had the invariable habit of nodding off about the same time as the second apparition occurred: this would be about 11 o’clock. The art, of course, was to make sure that the final words from Tiny Tim – ‘God Bless Us, Everyone!’ – were said just after the clock struck twelve. In all the years we did it, I think we always achieved this (you can speed up or slow down, you see, or have another nut or something to keep on time…)

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Mansion House is also the area we find Sam Weller sauntering about, thinking and scheming how to help his hapless but golden-hearted master, Mr Pickwick, in The Pickwick Papers. Dickens, always the romantic, has him stop in front of a stationer’s shop, where he espies a valentine’s card. But can the mischievous 24 year-old author present this in a suitably soft-focused, loving fashion? Well, perhaps that was asking

too much: ‘The particular picture on which Sam Weller’s eyes were fixed, as he said this, was a highly-coloured representation of a couple of human hearts skewered together with an arrow, cooking before a cheerful fire… A decidedly indelicate young gentleman, in a pair of wings and nothing else, was depicted as superintending the cooking…’ A little farther north is Smithfield. This is the location of Mr Jaggers’ office in Great Expectations. Young Pip has to come here and, as Mr Jaggers is not available, he goes for a walk to pass the time. ‘So I came into Smithfield; and the shameful place, being all asmear with filth and fat and blood and foam, seemed to stick to me. So I rubbed it off with all possible speed by turning into a street where I saw the great black dome of St Paul’s…’ He carries on and is confronted with a ‘partially drunk’ minister of justice who tries to extort money from him by promising to show him the local gallows and the Debtors’ Door out of which will come, at eight next morning, four convicted felons sentenced ‘to be killed in a row’. Pip is sickened and gives him a shilling to make him go away. This walk ends here as we leave Pip to his devices, which, incidentally, lead him on his very own voyage of discovery although not with as happy an outcome as that of Ebenezer

Scrooge. It has been suggested that this reflected Dickens’ very own state of mind at the time of writing when he was not a happy man. But that is another story, and this is Christmas-time. It seems appropriate to quote the reformed Scrooge at the end of my favourite Dickens’ book, A Christmas Carol: “A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world. Hallo there! Whoop! Hallo!”

The World of Charles Dickens by Stephen Browning is published by Halsgrove at £16.99 and is available at all good bookshops and on all major online sites including Amazon, Waterstones, WH Smith, and Barnes and Noble. It includes six walks around London and also takes the reader to other places in the UK featuring Charles Dickens and his characters. The Daily Telegraph website is currently running a feature on the book, along with 26 photographs, in their ‘Books’ section. Please take a look at my page www.facebook.com/ stevebrowningbooks 2015 December | 17

FINEPLACES

EACH Show you care this Christmas!

hristmas is a time for giving, for helping others, for spending quality time with loved ones and for having fun, so it’s the perfect time to show you care this Christmas and support your local children’s hospice charity – East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). There’s plenty to see and do this Christmas across Norfolk to support EACH – here’s some ideas: •

Norwich Santa Run Hundreds of Santas will

18 | December 2015

•

descend on Eaton Park on Sunday 6th December for the first ever EACH Norwich Santa Run to raise funds for the nook appeal. The event will see participants running 2km dressed in full Santa garb to raise valuable funds. Adult entry is £10 and includes a Santa suit, while child entry (13 years and under) is £6 and includes a Santa hat. You can enter here: www. each.org.uk/santarun New EACH Norwich

shop opening Join us at 10am on Friday 11th December for the grand opening of our new Norwich shop at 321b Aylsham Road. Come and enjoy refreshments and hunt for bargains in our new flagship shop stocked full of high quality items including clothing, bric-a-brac, books, toys, jewellery, DVDs/CDs, household linens, retro and vintage clothes and electrical items. We’re also looking for volunteers to help run the shop and always need high quality donated items to sell. For more information, please contact the shop on

•

(01603) 301475. Family Christmas carol services across Norfolk where everyone is welcome. North Norfolk Service - Gresham’s Chapel, Holt, 7pm, Tuesday 15th December South Norfolk Service Diss Methodist Church, Diss, 7pm, Wednesday 16th December Norwich Service - St Andrews Church, Eaton, 7pm, Thursday 17th December There will be a retiring collection in aid of EACH at these services. Santa Skydive in conjunction with EACH and The Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund. Is a skydive www.finecity.co.uk

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•

on your bucket list? Are you brave enough to jump out of a plane at over a thousand feet to support EACH? Why not enjoy the thrill of a tandem skydive dressed as Santa or what a great Christmas present for your loved one! The skydive takes place at Beccles Airfield, Ellough and is organised by UK Parachuting who also provide the Santa Suits. You can take part on Friday 11th, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th December. To book your place call (01502) 476131, email jump@ ukparachuting.co.uk or visit: http://ukparachuting. co.uk/ We’re now selling EACH gift cards online: www. each.org.uk/support-us/ online-store and in all EACH shops: www.each. org.uk/shops and can be

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bought as a charitable gesture from yourself or as a present for someone this Christmas. They’re available in the following denominations: £5 – which could pay art supplies for a session of art therapy. £10 – which could pay for a nursing care kit. £20 – which could pay for a support group for siblings. £35 – which could pay for an hour of care.

Volunteering We’re looking for volunteers right across Norfolk to help us continue our vital fundraising work. It’s a great way to make new friends, learn new skills or hone existing ones while helping to raise awareness and funds. Roles include, but not limited to, attending cheque presentations, talks and events on our behalf, helping with bucket collections and administration. Full training

will be given. Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organisation and make a profound difference to the work we do – we simply couldn’t achieve what we do without them. Carol Plunkett, EACH Norfolk Fundraising Manager, said: “Here at EACH we’re really excited about the festive period and all the fantastic events, fundraising and volunteering opportunities we have taking place across Norfolk. “There really is something for everyone and we’re looking forward to seeing as many people as possible to help us celebrate Christmas and raise valuable funds to ensure we can continue to deliver vital care and support to life-threatened children, young people and their families across Norfolk. “We’re always looking for support, so please get in touch, and show you care this Christmas – thank you.” There are many more events across Norfolk and details can be found at: www.each.org.uk/

events and for more information contact the EACH Norfolk Fundraising office: East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), Suite 5, The Old Dairy, Elm Farm Business Park, Norwich Common, Wymondham, Norfolk, NR18 0SW. Tel: 01953 666767 email: norfolk@each.org.uk web: www.each.org.uk/thenook Twitter: @EACH_Norfolk Facebook: /thenookappeal

2015 December | 19

FINEPLACES

Two Top Chefs, One Great County Award-winning Adam Simmonds Partners with Eric Snaith for a Six-Course Norfolk Menu Marvel.

n Tuesday 1st December, Titchwell Manor will showcase a culinary collaboration setting foodie fireworks alight. Celebrated head chef, Eric Snaith welcomes multi-award winning chef Adam Simmonds to create a show stopping six-course tasting menu that will reflect the duo’s flair for flavours and innovation. For one night only, the unique seasonal menu will combine their creative brilliance and

skills which champions the very best of local produce. Expect dishes using Brancaster mussels from the clean local harbour waters, and venison from nearby Houghton Hall. Currently in a holding role at Launceston Place in South Kensington whilst preparing to open his own restaurant next year, and formerly of Michelinstarred and four AA Rosettewinning Danesfield House, Adam Simmonds hails as one of the most highly respected

for the evening cost £60 including wine in the hotel’s Eating Rooms from 7pm with the chef duet on hand after the dinner to answer any questions. Titchwell Manor, a stunning 27-bedroom boutique hotel, which was transformed from a Victorian farmhouse into an elegant coastal retreat, will also offer special room rates for £100 bed and breakfast to those attending the dinner. chefs of his generation having worked in many of the UK’s best restaurants, as well as appearing on BBC2’s Great British Menu. With limited availability, tickets

For more information call 01485 210 221 or visit www.titchwellmanor.com.

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Win A Mini! or £10,000 cash!

All you have to do is complete the following sections and send it back to ensure your are included in the draw. Or enter online at: www.FineCity.co.uk/winamini Only one entry per household Your name: How much is your home phone bill ? £ Your address: Would you like to pay less than that? Postcode: Your landline contact number: Your email address:

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household bills every month?

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Would you like to have an extra income?

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Please send your entry to: FineCity Magazine, Queens House, Queens Square, Attleborough, Norfolk, NR17 2AE. Terms & conditions apply. Go to www.FineCity.co.uk/winamini for full T’s & C’s.

2015 December | 21

FINEPLACES

‘Tis The Season Feature writer Thomas Dick shares some of his winter highlights

n the winter months, our wonderful county has just as much to offer as during the busy summer period, with the added bonus of there being fewer tourists around, the roads are quieter, and Norfolk’s wide open skies are often at their most beautiful. So, here’s my guide to making the most of the local area in the wintertime.

Come To Norwich At Christmas Norfolk’s capital city gives Christmas visitors everything they could wish for, from eyecatching Christmas light displays and seasonal themed river trips, to stores brimming with festive goods and locally produced delights. Home to one of the last remaining city centre markets in 22 | December 2015

the country, you’re guaranteed to find the perfect gift, stocking fillers and dinner table treats. Plus, don’t miss the Christmas performance of The Messiah in the magnificent setting of Norwich’s mediaeval cathedral, which dates back to the 11th century.

Book A Cottage Break Most of the holiday cottage letting agents have accommodation available throughout the autumn and winter. If you are looking for a relaxing weekend escape, a selfcatering cottage offers a cosy home-away-from-home with all the creature comforts you could crave. If you would prefer not to run the risk of being snowed in when bad weather hits, make sure you choose a location within

walking distance of a local town or village. And don’t forget to bring your walking boots! What’s more, rates are considerably lower out of season, as well as the option of special last-minute rates.

won’t find yourself queuing for a space. Sleeping under the stars then waking up surrounded by a slight mist which has settled over the water, you’ll really get a sense

Explore The Broads In summer, The Broads can resemble the boating equivalent of some of our motorways, but when autumn arrives, the waterways quieten down. Hire companies rent out cruisers throughout the year, so this is one of the best times to get out onto the water, at a reduced off-peak price. Why not rent a boat for a few days and cruise through the stunning countryside at your own leisure? Many of today’s modern boats have central heating, while mooring is easier because you

feature by:

Thomas Dick Guest Writer

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FINEPLACES

of being close to nature.

Hit The Beach Norfolkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sandy beaches stretch from The Wash between Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lynn and Hunstanton, whose beach has the distinction of being the only one in Norfolk where the sun sets to the west over the sea. Brancaster, with its picturesque beach chalets, follows the coastline east from Hunstanton, before hitting the vast expanse of Holkham Bay, truly one of the most spectacular beaches anywhere in the world. Going south brings us to the beach at Wells, which, again, is backed by traditional beach huts, which sell for the price of small houses in some parts of the country.

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North Norfolk Beach

2015 December | 23

FINEPLACES Spot The Birds Moving further east, the landscape starts to change from sandy beaches to salt marshes, most of which are National Trust property and home to many migratory birds in the winter… A bird watcher’s paradise! En route, stop off at Morston or Blakeney to take a boat trip to Blakeney Point to view one of the largest breeding colonies of grey seals in the country. Beyond Blakeney, Cley is home to an RSPB viewing centre, which provides plenty of information for keen twitchers, as well as a lovely coffee shop.

Visit A Country Estate There is an abundance of impressive country homes in Norfolk. Arguably, some of the most spectacular are Houghton Hall and Holkham Hall. Some remain in private hands while others such as Oxburgh Hall, Felbrigg Hall and Blicking Hall are managed by the National Trust. They run a programme of

seasonal events, so do check their websites before planning your visit. Even if you do not wish to look around the house, a nature walk in the park can be just as appealing.

Enjoy The Theatre The King’s Lynn Corn Exchange is open year-round, with an annual pantomime in December... This year, it’s Robin Hood. Sheringham Little Theatre is presenting Cinderella, while Norwich Theatre Royal is putting on Snow White. And that’s not forgetting the amazing Thursford Christmas Spectacular, which attracts thousands of visitors to Norfolk. Cromer Pier Pavilion also sees large audiences come to enjoy its Christmas end-of-pier show, one of the last remaining shows of its kind in England. Local communities have recently installed satellite receivers on the roofs of village halls , theatres and cinemas, so you can even watch live performances from the West End of London, New York’s

Metropolitan Opera and The Mariinsky in St Petersburg right here in our county.

See The Lights The Christmas lights in Holt are some of Norfolk’s finest! This little market town is transformed into a winter wonderland of white lights outlining the elegant gables of the Georgian town centre, with a total of not one, but three, pretty Christmas trees in place. Drawing in coachloads of tourists to admire the town’s efforts, why not stop off for a glass of mulled wine in one of Holt’s pubs or

wine bars?

Discover Thetford Forest On the border between Norfolk and Suffolk, Thetford Forest is home to a myriad of different trees, plants and associated wildlife. It is open from dawn to dusk throughout the year, with many organised walks and trails to enjoy. Visitors are attracted to the peace and tranquility of the forest, as well as the wide range of recreational facilities including the Go Ape zip-wire adventure course.

Thetford Forest Photo courtesy of www.visitnorfolk.co.uk

24 | December 2015

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“Norfolk’s capital city gives Christmas visitors everything they could wish for”

Photo courtesy of www.visitnorfolk.co.uk

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2015 December | 25

FINEPLACES

The FineCity Christmas Quiz Here is a fun family quiz about Norwich. How will you do? Can you do better than other members of the family? (The answers are given at the end but no peeking or you could turn into a pumpkin!) 1. The Norwich football team is known as? a) The Lions b) The Green and Yellows c) The Canaries d) The Conquerors 2. Norwich Anglican Cathedral was started by? a) King Henry VIII b) The 10th Duke of Norfolk c) The Pope d) Herbert de Losinga 3. The University of East Anglia was begun in? a) 1735 b) Medieval times c) 1980 d) The 1960s

feature by:

Steve Browning Writer @returningperson

7. Which of the following industrial enterprises are NOT associated with the city? a) Caleys chocolate b) Boulton and Paul c) Wills cigarettes d) Colman’s mustard 8. Who is often referred to as ‘the First Lady of Norwich’? a) Margaret Thatcher b) Delia Smith c) St Agatha d) Madonna 9. The original use of the Assembly House was as a? a) A centre for the entertainment of the gentry b) Conference venue c) Prison d) Art gallery 10. Who finally defeated Robert Kett on Mousehold Heath in 1549? a) Queen Elizabeth I b) The Marquis of Northampton c) No-one: he won the day d) The Earl of Warwick 11. The Bethel Hospital, built in the late 17th Century, was for? a) Curable lunatics b) Soldiers who had lost a limb in Empire Wars c) Lepers d) Children’s ailments

4. Where is this? (above) a) UEA campus b) Plantation Gardens, next to Roman Catholic Cathedral c|) Eaton Park, at the rear d) Mousehold Heath 5. The present slogan for the city is? a) Norwich – a fine city b) Norwich – it’s got everything c) Come shop: come drop: come to Norwich d) Norwich: the finest city in the Kingdom 6. Julian of Norwich is famous for? a) Being the first female to write a book in English b) Standing up for Anglicans against Edward I c) Defending Norwich against French invaders d) Living to be 112 years old 26 | December 2015

12. Where is this? (above) a) in front of City Hall b) in Cathedral Close c) Hay Hill d) Carrow Road H www.finecity.co.uk

FINEPLACES 13. Norwich Castle was begun in? a) 687 AD b) About 1200 BC c) Probably 1067 AD d) Probably the late 1400s AD

20. Which ONE of the following statements is correct? a) The Adam and Eve pub is about 300 years old b) In the 2nd World War Lord Haw Haw predicted the destruction of the 1938 City Hall by German bombers c) Happily, all redundant Norwich churches have found alternative uses d) Norwich was once famous for making bicycles This quiz is adapted from the book ‘Norwich’ in the Halsgrove Discover series, on sale everywhere at £14.99. This book was shortlisted for the EDP/ Jarrolds East Anglian Awards.

14. This is Cow Tower. Where is it? (above) a) Bracondale b) Colegate c) in a field off the Earlham Road d) beside the River Wensum 15. Why is Admiral Lord Nelson famous? a) He discovered a cure for the Black Death b) He was the first man to sail around the world c) He won many battles in India, especially the Battle of Mingpur in 1807, which secured colonial domination over that area. d) He won many famous battles, notably the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 16. Why is John Crome considered a famous name? a) He is perhaps the most famous of the ‘Norwich School’ of artists. b) He invented central heating c) He published a book about the effect of wealth upon general wellbeing d) He invented the ‘overarm’ delivery of a ball in cricket 17. Where is this rare postbox? (right) a) Prince of Wales Road b) at top of Market Place c) by John Lewis store d) Bethel Street 18. Which hotel is the oldest in the city? a) The Nelson b) Premier Inn c) The Maids Head d) Travelodge

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Quiz Answers 1 c, 2 d, 3 d, 4 b, 5 a, 6 a, 7 c, 8 b, 9 a, 10 d, 11 a, 12 a, 13 c, 14 d, 15 d, 16 a, 17 b, 18 c, 19 b, 20 b

19. Which ONE of the following statements is incorrect? a) At one time, Norwich was reputed to have more churches that London b) Coslany has always been a fairly affluent part of the city c) Brewing and chocolate making were two of the city’s main industries in the 19th century d) Oak Street had bad reputation for ‘unofficial’ pubs well into the 20th century

2015 December | 27

Cirque De Glace Dazzling ice dance from renowned Russian Ice Stars – January 19-23, 2016

aking audiences back to the dawn of time and the creation of the world, the Russian Ice Stars are all set to thrill when Cirque de Glace arrives at Norwich Theatre Royal from January 19-23. As the festive panto dame’s frocks are packed away for another year, this dazzling ice dance show will sweep onto the stage with sparkle aplenty to start off the theatre’s New Year programme with a breath-taking and magical experience. The show combines ice and fire with music, colour, incredible costumes, jaw-dropping acrobatics and awesome skating talent, presenting dazzling ice dance from the internationally renowned professional Russian Ice Stars infused with the world of Cirque, made famous by Cirque du Soleil. 28 | December 2015

The professional skaters, many of them former competitors at National, European, World and Olympic level, present a fastpaced extravaganza to bring to life the story of the creation of our planet, man’s evolution and a journey to the limits of technology. The concept of ‘theatre on ice’ – full-length arena productions designed to fit on theatre stages – was created in the UK by Deplidge UK Productions in 1993 with Sleeping Beauty On Ice, followed by The Phantom of the Opera On Ice and then the stories of Peter Pan, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast and others. Taking a step away from traditional fairy stories, creative director Julien Deplidge then introduced aerial acrobatics to take the productions to another level with the skaters performing in stunning set pieces at breakwww.finecity.co.uk

FINEARTS neck speeds. Preparations for the show in each venue are complex. Working against the clock, technicians lay two industrial pool liners on the stage and put chiller units in place to freeze four tons of ice and a continuous spraying of water down to minus-15 degrees C, producing a rink surface 7-8cms thick – a process taking 14-18 hours to complete. The innovative process enables audiences to experience a show beyond imagination.

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Listing: Cirque de Glace, Tuesday to Saturday, January 1923, 2016. Eves 7.30pm, Mats Thur & Sat 2.30pm. Tickets £8-£32.50. BOX OFFICE 01603 630000. Discounts for Friends, Corporate Club, Over 60s (Thur mat), Under 18s and Groups. For more info or to BOOK ONLINE www. theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

2015 December | 29

FINEARTS before. “I toured with him last year in the Gilbert and Sullivan Company. He was quite a character, brilliant to work with and very funny.” Snow White will also mark a first in his career. David explained: “It is very, very exciting as it is my very first panto. I have never ever done one before. To be asked to do it, especially somewhere like Norwich, is amazing. “ As well as Jesus Christ Superstar, he has a strong musical theatre pedigree starring in the West End version of Evita and also touring in the musical for two years, as well as the hit show Whistle Down The Wind around the UK, and even performed at the Olivier Awards singing a Cabaret medley backed by a 57-piece orchestra at the Royal Opera House in London. Now he is looking forward to spending the festive season in Norwich starring in Snow White, which runs from December 15 to January 17. Away from the stage, he is hoping to visit his favourite pub in the city – The Coach and Horses on Little Bethel Street – and also indulge his love of all things sci-fi and superhero at the TV and Movie Store opposite The Forum. He laughed: “I absolutely adore it in there. I don’t think I will have any wages left after the panto.”

Listing:

Snow White Musical Theatre Stalwart Joins Panto Cast – Dec 15-Jan 17

n experienced musical theatre performer who has appeared in a host of top shows in the West End and around the UK is set to star in this year’s Norwich Theatre 30 | December 2015

Royal pantomime. David Burilin will play the heroic Prince Frederick in Snow White opposite a star cast which includes stage and TV favourite Jennifer Ellison, Norwich Theatre Royal panto stalwart Richard

Gauntlett, Norfolk’s popular comedy entertainer Ben Langley and young Norwich actor Amie Howes who will be Snow White. And David is no stranger to Norwich Theatre Royal audiences having appeared in the acclaimed production of Jesus Christ Superstar in the autumn as Matthew. Brought up in Merseyside, he went to the same drama school as panto co-star Jennifer, and has also worked with Richard

Snow White, Tuesday December 15, 2015-Sunday January 17, 2016. Tickets £7-£21.50. Discounts for Friends, Over-60s and Under-18s. Signed performances on Saturday 9 January at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Audio-described performances on Monday 4 January at 1pm, Friday 8 January at 7.30pm and Saturday 16 January at 2.30pm. Captioned performances on Sunday 10 January at 1pm and 5pm. To book, log onto www. theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk or call the box office on 01603 630000.

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FINEARTS

Women Of Troy Power, Plotting And The Treachery Of Troy In New Production – December 3-5

he treachery, passion and drama of one of the most dramatic times in history is chronicled in the latest production from the Norwich Theatre Royal Arts Courses. Women Of Troy picks up on life in the aftermath of the Trojan War with a female population left as widows and orphans. Their one-time Queen, Hecuba, is determined to rebuild their status and dignity amid a background of their whole world collapsing around them. www.finecity.co.uk

So the scene is set for treachery, power-plays, murder and death in this production featuring students drawn from the Norwich Theatre Royal Arts Courses, which is performed at The Garage on the city’s Chapelfield North, on December 3-5. Based on the writings of Euripides, this production has been adapted and directed by arts course director David Lambert. Lea Igali, who plays Andromache, said her role is a

challenge as her character is married to a warrior and has a strong position in society, yet has to cope with the loss of her home and her son. “It is very interesting getting into the mind-set of the characters. You have to think about how you would react if you lost the roof over your head and then your child. “Rehearsals are going very well. There are great contributions from all the different people involved and it is interesting to see it developing.” It also marks a change of pace and role for Sam Todd, who last appeared for the arts course in the title role of its summer show Peter Pan, and plays Odysseus in Women Of Troy. He said: “I have never done a Greek tragedy before. It is also in a modern setting which is interesting to do. It has been fascinating to learn about the mythology. It is very different from anything I have

done before. There is a constant war which is the base for the play. It is very dark but very good to work with.” And it marks an Arts Course debut for ten-year-old Zachary Dunscombe who takes on a number of roles. He only joined the course in September and is enjoying the chance to be part of the production. “It is quite hard but I am enjoying it. I have to acts as though I am dead in some scenes but I have coped with it. It is amazing being in the production.”

Listing: Women Of Troy, Thursday 3-Saturday 5 December at 7.30pm at The Garage on Chapelfield North. Tickets £9, and concessions £7.50.

2015 December | 31

FINEARTS

Beyond The Barricade Les Misérables stars will help lift the winter blues – January 11, 2015

ecreating the rousing original West End and Broadway musical hit songs so beloved by audiences, Beyond The Barricade will lift the January blues at Norwich Theatre Royal on January 11. Performed across the UK and mainland Europe for more than a decade, the show brings an exciting concert portrayal of the greatest songs in musical theatre, all performed live. Boasting a cast of past principal performers from Les Misérables, Beyond The Barricade presents a blockbusting two hour show. Starring Andy Reiss, David Fawcett, Katie Leeming and Rebecca Vere, together with an ensemble of talented musicians, 32 | December 2015

the show features songs from The Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Jersey Boys, The Lion King, Blood Brothers, Miss Saigon and many others, culminating in a spectacular finale from Les Misérables. Andy Reiss and David Fawcett devised Beyond the Barricade after appearing in the Manchester and London casts of Les Misérables. David played the lead role of Jean Valjean in both of these productions, and Andy played most of the male characters, including Enjolras and Valjean. He still remains the only person to take on the job of being the show’s resident director and performing in it at the same time. Also on stage is Katie Leeming, who joined Beyond the Barricade after playing the lead www.finecity.co.uk

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role of Eponine in the West End production of Les Misérables, and Rebecca Vere who played Cosette in the show. Andy, David, Katie and Rebecca also featured in the musical’s 25th Anniversary Concert staged at the O2 Arena, London. Katie appeared with the Les Misérables cast on the televised Classical Brits awards and the Royal Variety Show, and Katie and Rebecca were ensemble vocalists in the Les Misérables movie. www.finecity.co.uk

For more information see www.beyondthebarricade. com

Listing: Beyond The Barricade is on Monday January 11 at 7.30pm. Tickets £7-£21. Discounts for Friends. BOX OFFICE 01603 630000. For more info or to BOOK ONLINE www. theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

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National Theatre of Scotland National Theatre and Edinburgh InternationalFestival presents The James Plays, photo credit: Manuel Hardan

Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2016 First Programme Announcements: Norfolk & Norwich Festival Announces UK And World Premieres For 2016 2016 Festival Runs From Friday 13 – Sunday 29 May With Public Booking Open From Wednesday 11 November

orfolk & Norwich Festival, one of the biggest arts festivals in the UK, has today announced the first shows of its 2016 Festival. With more to be announced, highlights for 2016 so far include: a ground-breaking UK Premiere from contemporary circus cabaret troupe Race Horse Company; the World Premiere of a major new commission from one of the UK’s foremost young composers - Kemal Yusuf; excerpts from electroacoustic polymath Max Richter’s intensive investigation in the power of the human brain – Sleep; Aurélien Bory’s industrial robot’s dance with acrobats Sans Objet; Twenty Feet From Stardom’s Lisa Fischer’s first ever solo UK concert; an epic staging of Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand by Norwich Philharmonic and a revival of Rona Munro’s critically acclaimed The James Plays. The festival runs 13 – 29 May 2016 with full line up still to be announced. The flagship arts organisation for the east of England, Norfolk & Norwich Festival showcases some of the world’s most renowned international artists alongside regional talent, drawing audiences from across the UK. On the 2016 programme the Festival’s Artistic Director William Galinsky said: “We are hugely excited to announce some of the first shows for the 2016 Festival. Next year’s programme continues our commitment to nurturing the best of local and national talent as well as bringing in the best new international work. 2016 is shaping up 34 | December 2015

to be one of our most ambitious Festivals to date and I look forward to announcing the full programme for the Festival early next year.” Full information on all Norfolk & Norwich Festival events at www. nnfestival.org.uk. Race Horse Company presents

White Nights

UK Premiere Race Horse Company presents a sophisticated circus cabaret. White Nights is made of Race Horse blood; classy and edgy with an international cast. Be led into the night by soulful and mesmerising New York City singer and host Sophia Urista, while Race Horse Company’s Finnish circus boys provide danger, fun and fury. Dancer and wild child Iona Kewney completes this ensemble of delicious performers. Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Festival Chorus

David Parry conductor Savitri Grier violin Jeni Bern soprano Christopher Diffey tenor Alexander Robin Baker baritone Chausson Kemal Yusuf Franck

Poème Op. 25 Cain (World Premiere) Symphony in D minor

The World Premiere of an ambitious choral work is flanked by two masterpieces of nineteenth century Romanticism. From one of the foremost young composers today, Kemal Yusuf’s Cain recounts the Biblical story of the first-born human in music of breathtaking scope and power. It contrasts exquisitely with Chausson’s rhapsodic Poème and Franck’s richly textured Symphony.

Max Richter Ensemble Hailed as the most influential composer of his generation, British electro-acoustic artist Max Richter is inspired equally by Bach, punk rock and ambient electronica. Richter’s sonic world blends a formal classical training with modern technology, with work including scores for the award-winning films Waltz with Bashir and Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island. www.finecity.co.uk

FINEARTS Richter and his ensemble will perform selections from SLEEP, his landmark work scored for piano, strings, electronics and voice, which was broadcast as part of BBC Radio 3’s Why Music?. Described by Richter as his ‘personal lullaby for a frenetic world,’ don’t miss an astounding night from this leading contemporary classical artist.

Norwich & Folk Festival 2016 presents Sans Objet, photo credits: Aglae Bory

Aurélien Bory presents

Sans Objet

In the 1970s it made cars. Now transplanted from assembly line to stage, an industrial robot stars with acrobats Olivier Alenda and Olivier Boyer in a spectacular dance between man and machine. By turns friendly and frightening, the robot is the unlikely hero of a remarkable futurist fantasy.

Lisa Fischer The star of the Oscar-winning Twenty Feet From Stardom, Lisa Fischer is best-known as the woman who sings her heart out with the Rolling Stones – the YouTube of her Gimme Shelter duet with Mick Jagger has had millions of hits. National Theatre of Scotland, National Theatre and Edinburgh International Festival present

The James Plays

By Rona Munro Directed by Laurie Sansom Exhilarating and vividly imagined, The James Plays trilogy brings to life three generations of Stewart kings who ruled Scotland from 1406 to 1488. The productions include: James I: The Key Will Keep The Lock; James II: The Day Of The Innocents and James III: The True Mirror.

Listings Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2016 will run from 13 – 29 May. Tickets are on sale to the public from 9.30am on Wednesday 11 November with priority booking opening at 9.30am on Thursday 5 November. Box Office 01603 766400, online www.nnfestival.org.uk or in person at Norwich Theatre Royal Box Office. Concessions and Under 25s discounts available

Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus present

Race Horse Company presents White Nights Wednesday 18 May – Saturday 28 May, 7.30pm and Sunday 29 May, 5pm (except Thursday 19 & Tuesday 24 May) The Adnams Spiegeltent, Norwich Tickets £20 Recommended age 14+.

Matthew Andrews conductor Kirstin Sharpin soprano Katherine Broderick soprano Catherine May soprano Anne Marie Gibbons alto Anna Burford alto Peter Wedd tenor James Harrison baritone Richard Wiegold bass

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra presents Festival Chorus Sunday 15 May, 7.30pm St Andrew’s Hall, Norwich Tickets £37, £32, £25, £20, £10, £7 Max Richter Ensemble Thursday 19 May, 8pm Norwich Theatre Royal Tickets £28, £24, £20, £15, £8 Aurélien Bory present Sans Objet Tuesday 17 & Wednesday 18 May, 7.30pm Norwich Theatre Royal Tickets £22, £18, £15, £12, £7

Mahler’s Symphony Of A Thousand

To celebrate its 175th Anniversary, the massed ranks of the Norwich Philharmonic are joined by eight outstanding soloists and several choirs from across Norfolk for a spectacular staging in the Norfolk Showground Arena of Mahler’s epic and rarely-performed Symphony of a Thousand.

Lisa Fischer, photo credit: Djeneba Aduayom

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Race Horse Company presents White Night, photo credits: Jouni Ihalainen

Lisa Fischer Saturday 21 May, 8pm Norwich Theatre Royal Tickets £22.50, £22.50, £18, £15, £7 National Theatre of Scotland, National Theatre and Edinburgh International Festival present The James Plays By Rona Munro Directed by Laurie Sansom Saturday 14 - Sunday 15 May, 11am/3pm/7.30pm daily Norwich Theatre Royal Tickets £85, £80, £68, £58, £24 Recommended age 14+. Running times: James I 2hrs 30 mins, James II 2hrs 22mins, James III 2 hrs 30 mins (all including interval). The James Plays are only available to book as a trilogy. Please note these productions contain strong language, flashing and strobe lighting, violent scenes, nudity and are not suitable for children. A Norwich Theatre Royal presentation Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus Mahler’s Symphony Of A Thousand Saturday 21 May, 8pm Norfolk Showground Arena, Royal Norfolk Showground

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The famous sculpture of Holmes outside Baker Street Station. Photo Stephen Browning

The Adventure Of The East Cheam Retirement Home Narrated By John H Watson MD Part 2 LAST TIME: A young man, well-dressed yet febrile and distressed, calls on Dr Watson in his Paddington surgery but flees before the good doctor can discern the reason for his panicky state. He leaves behind a pale blue notebook made of Elk skin containing nothing but a Latin motto ‘Spectamur Agendo’. Watson takes the book to his good friend, Sherlock Holmes, and, with a little from Holmes’ brother, Mycroft, they trace the sale of the book to an exclusive retail establishment in the Burlington Arcade. Following initial reluctance to divulge the name and address of the purchaser, the shop manager

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completely changes his tune when he realizes that Holmes was responsible for previously assisting a good friend of his, Johnston Bull, get off a murder rap. Now, armed with the name and address of the man who bought the book, who was presumably also the young man who burst into Dr Watson’s surgery, the famous two set out once more on their travels…

Lily Cardstone ‘Oh, Mr Holmes, Dr Watson, it is indeed my dear brother’s notebook. Oh, my dear brother, he is all I have left now…now that mother has gone…far too early, far too early…’ The young lady half fainted as I helped her

onto an elegant chaise longue and pulled the bell-rope for the morning maid. The lady recovered quickly as her servant produced a glass of water. ‘I am so sorry, gentlemen. I am in a state of utmost anxiety regarding my poor brother. Oh dear. Oh dear!’ Holmes and I found ourselves in a most elegant detached villa, in East Cheam, a 35 minute train ride from Victoria and the address we had so memorably found in the register of the shop in Burlington Arcade. ‘I always find it is best to begin at the beginning, Miss Lily Cardstone – for such is your name, I believe. Please tell us in your own time of your worries.

Leave nothing out as often the smallest details can be infinitely revealing.’ I was always amazed at Homes’ ability to charm and calm and the effect of his words along with a warm smile appeared to have the desired effect. ‘Well, gentlemen, well…’ Miss Cardstone began. ‘It all began to go wrong last summer. My dear brother, John, and I lived here with my Mamma and we were very happy until it became clear that Mamma was beginning to forget things and became very careless. Indeed, she actually injured herself with the fire coals and almost died one day when we were both in the garden. That was that. John and I both realized that, although physically very healthy, it was imperative that we found Mamma 24 hour nursing care.’ ‘And you did?’ asked Holmes. ‘Yes, Mr Holmes. That was when we discovered the East Cheam Retirement Home. Oh, I would do anything not to have heard of that hideous place!’ ‘Was it not comfortable? Was it not well staffed?’ I gently asked. ‘Oh, indeed, Dr Watson, it was both of those things. Our first impressions were very favourable. It was set in beautiful grounds and Mamma was given her own elegant room. John and I thought ourselves VERY fortunate, until…’ ‘Until?’ I prompted. ‘Until, until dear Mamma started to go rapidly downhill. Within a few months she went from ‘ruling the roost’ as she was always want to do, to a pathetic wreck with a parched, stretched face. She suffered from severe

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Steve Browning Writer @returningperson

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FINEARTS stomach cramps. Dr Halstrom of the home said it was a rare case of extremely rapid dementia. We watched helplessly as she grew weaker and then she just gave up the will to exist. We buried her two months ago.’ Holmes lifted his eyebrows to me and I quietly muttered ‘arsenic poisoning’. The effect on Lily Cardstone was electric. ‘That was exactly what my dear brother said and he said it direct to Dr Halstrom for he has a temper and cares not for his welfare when he is roused! Oh, my darling silly brother. Now he is in hiding for he fears for his life! Mr Holmes, he is convinced that something is terribly amiss at East Cheam Retirement Home and he thinks our dear mother, being a very inquisitive and brave lady, found out about it and that is why she was killed.’ ‘What were your Mamma’s hobbies, Miss Cardstone?’ ‘Hobbies, Mr Holmes? What a strange question! She liked the usual things – she liked to walk in the countryside, and to read, especially Mr Dickens. She was a great fan and was very fond of ‘David Copperfield’. Apart from writing to my brother and me twice or three times week, that was how she spent her time mostly.’ I knew Holmes well and no-

Holmes and Watson at breakfast

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one but I would have noticed the tell-tale brightening of the eyes and the almost imperceptible narrowing of his nostrils that told me he was intensely interested in Lily Cardstone’s comments. He sounded nonchalant as he said: ‘she liked to write letters, did she? And did these letters grow increasingly rare as her condition deteriorated?’ ‘Why, yes, Mr Holmes. Towards the end of her life her writing grew scrawnier and the period between the letters themselves increased. In the end we received no letter from her for about a fortnight and John and I knew that something terrible was amiss.’ ‘Have you the letters?’ Holmes was abrupt almost to the point of rudeness as he was wont to be when getting to the nub of any matter. Lily Cardstone rose up a little shakily and went to a redwood bureau by the window. ‘Here they are, Mr Holmes,’ she said, handing over a small batch of letters tied with a red ribbon. ‘No sealing wax, I see’ muttered Holmes, almost to himself. ‘Indeed not, Mr Holmes’, said Lily Cardstone. ‘My dear Mamma was fond of being what she called ‘a modern woman’. She laughed. ‘Dear John and I always gently ribbed her about it – she kept up with all the latest trends,

including the new-fangled way of sealing letters by wetting the glue on the envelope and pressing it down. She also believed that women had a perfect right to drive cars and to vote. Oh, my dear Mamma – she was born a little too early, I think!’ ‘I will keep these, if you do not mind’ said Holmes. ‘Now, let us talk about your brother. How long is it since you have seen him?’ Lily Cardstone dabbed her eyes with a silk handkerchief. ‘A few days ago I actually got my brother John’s agreement to see Dr Watson for he was in dire need of medical care. I have seen your image in the paper, you see, Dr Watson, and also read all of your adventures with Mr Holmes in the Strand Magazine. John and I used to read them to each other and to Mamma. They are just wonderful! So we felt a bit of a connection, you see. I suggested to him that he should consult you and after this seek to engage the services of the only man in England capable of getting to the bottom of this affair – your friend, the great Sherlock Holmes. But, as you now know, his nerves got the better of him and he ran from your surgery. I know because he came back here briefly to change clothes. He said he had found a safe bolt-hole and that he would go there and I was not to worry. And now he is gone again.’ Tears were flowing readily now. ‘Where has he gone?’ I asked softly. It was Holmes who replied: ‘He has gone where no one will know him, has he not? I suspect he is hiding amongst the vendors and sailors at the docks. When I came in I passed your maid with a bundle of men’s dirty clothes. They were stained with the reddish-brown mud of the filthy Thames and the smell was unmistakable.’

‘But Holmes,’ I muttered. ‘The East End is huge and very dangerous. He could be absolutely anywhere. How can we possibly locate John without help?’ ‘But, Watson, we shall have help. Think a second! Who is it that is coming out of prison as we speak? And who is it that knows the most dangerous places in the East End like the lines on his face? And who is it that owes me a favour?’ ‘Why, Johnston Bull,’ I realized with a grin. ‘Johnston Bull’. ‘Precisely, my dear chap, precisely!’

My Frail Uncle Holmes It was just after 10 the next morning when Holmes said: ‘Now, you’ve got the story clear, I trust?’ as the very expensivelyrented coach and horse clattered along the country road towards East Cheam Retirement Home. I looked at the frail, elderly man beside me. I had often had cause to marvel at Holmes’ ability to take on new personas but his time I swear even I would not recognize him if I passed him in the street. Gone was the sharp aquiline nose, the piercing eyes and the look of mastery he often evoked. Instead was a frail old man of about 80 years, sad and slightly delirious. The only telltale sign of Homes to me was the slight twitching of the nose and cheeks that I had come to expect when he was closing in on the scent, when the ‘Game was Afoot’ and rapidly drawing to a conclusion. ‘Yes, Holmes, you are my frail uncle in need of somewhere safe to stay. I have, as you instructed, confirmed by telegram with Dr Halstrom that we shall make a visit today. I have further agreed a colossal amount of money for 2015 December | 37

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The Sherlock Holmes Museum is not actually at number 221B but just up the street and well worth a visit

your weekly care if we choose to engage the services of the good doctor and his Retirement Home.’ ‘Excellent. I have instructed Inspector Lestrade and his team to wait hidden in the gardens until the signal is given for action. I have also asked Johnston Bull to bring a few of his boys along as I fear there may well be trouble.’ ‘How will I know when to act? What will the signal be, Holmes?’ ‘No idea, Watson, but I suspect there will come a time when all hell will break loose. And Watson…’ ‘Yes, Holmes?’ ‘I aim to give you and the doctor the slip as we are shown the premises. Remember to give me as long as you can when I go missing. Explain to Dr Halstrom that I am extremely confused sometimes, often go off missing for a few minutes and will probably come back when I am ready. If that fails to hold him up from raising the alarm, employ plan B.’ ‘Which is?’ ‘Hit him.’

Dr Halstrom Dr Halstrom was charm itself. He welcomed us along with his staff of about ten who all lined up in a row to be introduced to my ‘uncle’ and myself. We were ushered inside and quickly upstairs which seemed a trifle brisk to me. Halstrom led us into a finely appointed room and said ‘I trust your dear, dear uncle will have everything he needs here. If not, he only has to ask me.’ ‘I am sure he will be fine, doctor. Isn’t that so, dear uncle?’ I turned around but Holmes had vanished. ‘Oh, such a scatterbrain!’ I said. ‘I am sure he will be back soon!’ The doctor’s face turned white and twitchy with anger. ‘I do not

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allow my patients to wander off at will. It is far too dangerous! I must summon the staff to find him immediately!’ Doctor Halstrom reached out for the bell-rope. I had no alternative but to employ plan B. The doctor collapsed on the floor and I held onto my bloodied hand, gritting my teeth in an effort not to make any sound. One minute passed, then another.

The Fight It was a faint sound at first – a sort of gurgling and glugging. Then I heard some human voices from what seemed below me in the garden. They didn’t sound too happy. A shot rang out, followed by another. I looked out of the window and saw an amazing sight. There, running from the house and seemingly after a group of eight very dirty ruffians, brandishing a gun was an old man of about 80 years old. Only his agile and athletic stance showed that it was Holmes. Towards them were running another group of about five men headed by the huge figure of Johnston Bull. As the groups collided, Johnston Bull swatted one, then another of the ruffians with a huge grin on his face and as easily as if they were flies. ‘There’s one for you, Mr ‘olmes and …’ wallop ‘…here’s another for you Mr ‘olmes’. He was obviously having the time of his life. Beside him, completely rejuvenated by the turn of events, was his unlikely ally and new best friend, John Cardstone. Slowly, though, the ground they were standing on became a wet mess as more and more water poured from what must have been nearby manholes. Soon there was a mass wrestling match in a sea of mud and it was very difficult to work out who was who.

I rushed down to help, drawing my army revolver from inside my coat as I did so. Standing just clear of the mayhem was Inspector Lestrade and his men, also with guns in hand and handcuffs at the ready. Gradually, with the help of myself, John and Johnston Bull, each of the eight ruffians was identified, dragged kicking and screaming from the mud and brook to book. Then the air was rent with a mad, agonized cry. Walking unsteadily from the house was the figure of Dr Halstrom. He looked at Holmes, now about ten feet in front of him. ‘I shall go, but so shall you, you meddlesome nobody!’ he shouted, bringing his gun up to chest height. Take that!’ He fired but, as he did so, a huge gush of water erupted from a manhole; he tottered for a moment, and then fell on his back in the mud. A police constable was on him in an instant and he was dragged to the waiting police van, a broken man now, bent and frail, offering no resistance.

Holmes Explains The next day witnessed a happy late morning meeting in 221B. Present were Holmes, myself, Inspector Lestrade, along with Lily and John Cardstone. Mrs Hudson left us to fetch coffee. Holmes began. ‘It became obvious to me that your assessment of the situation must have been correct, Miss Cardstone. Your dear mother had indeed found out that something was badly amiss at the Home. Tragically, her bravery caused her death.’ ‘If only I had been braver myself, I could have helped sort it all out!’ said John Cardstone. ‘But it needed your genius, Mr Holmes – and yours also,

Dr Watson – to bring matters to a conclusion.’ I must say I felt tickled pink to be so complimented, although my task had been merely to follow instructions. John continued, ‘Mr Holmes, I know that you and Dr Watson have established that my dear mother was poisoned. I cannot, though, for the life of me work out how the arsenic was administered – my dear Mamma was sharp as a stick and would have smelt and checked her food. Where was it? In her soup? In her nightly cocoa?’ ‘No, John!’ Holmes reached across to his writing desk and took out a pile of letters. ‘It was in – or more accurately ON these.’ He held up the letters. ‘It was a work of genius – almost. It didn’t take Dr Halstrom long to see that your Mamma liked nothing better than to write to your sister and yourself. Your Mamma was a private woman and insisted that she alone lick the envelopes and seal them down BEFORE letting them get collected for the postman. Dr Halstrom simply coated the glue on the envelopes with a thin coating of arsenic. I have had these letters analyzed by our forensic friends at Scotland Yard. The results will put a rope around the neck of a doctor who did just the opposite

John Cardstone arrives at 221B for the late morning meeting

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The author’s favourite portrait of Holmes by the legendary artist, Sidney Paget

of what doctors are supposed to do – he killed rather than cured.’ ‘Surely, Mr Holmes,’ said John, ‘surely she would have detected the taste of arsenic on the letters, would she not?’ ‘Why, what does the glue on letters taste like, John?’ ‘Well, whenever I have had occasion to lick a letter it tastes pretty disgusting’. ‘Precisely, the glue on even the finest stationery, which your Mamma would have used, is made of fish heads and skin and god knows what else. Arsenic tastes slightly sweet and metallic - a small amount, probably applied with a brush, would have been undetectable.’ This talk of her mother was all too much for Lily who let out a sob while John moved over to comfort her. ‘But why, Mr Holmes?’ she asked. ‘What was so important that such a man would consider murder? What on earth could justify such a thing? Do you think others were murdered apart from my mother? What was it all for?’ Holmes loved his theatrics and had no intention of spoiling his fun this morning. He possessed a large streak of vanity and was quite aware of the fact, regarding it as a most natural corollary of genius. He was going to take his time explaining things. That it seemed to me totally inappropriate to ‘have fun’ at such a time or ‘to play to the gallery’ would not have occurred to him. He knew all too well that the Cardstones and I, if not Inspector Lestrade who presumably knew everything, were itching to find out exactly what had gone on but he feigned

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nonchalance and sipped a cup of coffee. It fell to me to ask the question everyone was thinking: ‘What, exactly was going on there, and what did you do when you vanished, Holmes?’ Holmes and Lestrade exchanged amused glances. ‘To answer your question, Watson, in reverse order. What did I do? I went to the ground floor and turned on all the taps. Well, I say taps but they were more industrial gushers. I was not at all surprised to find them. It was obvious to me that Halstrom’s reluctance to let us stay on the ground floor meant that he was afraid we would find something out. I heard the faintest of sounds coming from the basement and an infrequent but detectable tremor. There was only one obvious course of action - I decided to flood out whoever was down there.’ ‘What WAS going on in the basement?’ It was Lestrade who replied – ‘Oh, the manufacture and refining of all sorts of drugs and illicit substances. Drilling, too, which explains the vast amounts of water needed: exactly what for we shall undoubtedly find out at the trial - maybe gold as there have been rumors of great wealth lying under the soil thereabouts for generations. Anyway, what better cover than a Retirement Home where people could be kept permanently befuddled and, if necessary, I am sorry to say, got rid of quickly as became necessary with your dear Mamma, Miss Cardstone. As to other victims, I have applied to the authorities for exhumations of seven other persons who have died at the home in the last three months. I fear there may be even more shocks to come.’ ‘Yes, the whole operation was a massive one’, continued Holmes. ‘It must have cost a king’s ransom to fund. I fear, however, that we have arrested the employees but not the boss. It has Moriarty’s prints all over it but he is far too smart to be anywhere nearby.’ ‘I have one last question,’ I said. ‘What was the significance of the motto in John’s notebook –

what was it ‘Spectemur Agendo’? ‘Oh, that,’ said John sheepishly. ‘That was just my school motto: ‘Let us be judged by our actions’. I wrote it to keep up my courage which I am afraid I lost in spectacular fashion before getting it back at the last. I have to thank Johnston Bull for that as it was he who found me in my disgusting hide-away adjoining the stinking Thames, and also made me see I had to fight back. He is not here this morning as he is engaged in some venture in the West End of London, the exact nature of which I am sure neither Mr Holmes nor Scotland Yard will want to investigate too closely,

but he told me he needed to sort his bank out, by which I hope he means he is opening an account and nothing else!’ There was silence for a moment as Lestrade looked uncertainly at John and then at Holmes before all of us erupted into laughter. A new book by Stephen Browning containing eight brand new tales of the world’s greatest detective will be published in 2016 under the title ‘Forever Sherlock’. Please visit my page www.facebook.com/ stevebrowningbooks

Hear Holmes speak! This ‘talking statue’ is outside Baker Street Tube in London

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Cinema City Special screenings at Cinema City this month focus on drama, opera and ballet. Tony Cooper reports

lmost three decades on from its wellreceived première, Jonathan Miller’s uproarious production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado for English National Opera returns to the London Coliseum coming to the big screen at Cinema City on Thursday, 3rd December, 7.30pm (certificate: 12A). Miller’s Marx Brothers-inspired songand-dance Mikado proved a popular hit with critics and audiences alike with the setting an ever-so-English seaside hotel of the 1930s and, of course, far removed from the opera’s traditional setting of Japan. However, the combination of Gilbert’s virtuosic wit, Sullivan’s memorable melodies and Miller’s hilarious antics is irresistible. It’s a show to put more than a smile on your face! Following on from comic opera comes the Bolshoi Ballet’s sensuous production of The

Lady of the Camellias (12A) Sunday, 6th December, 3pm - with the scenario surrounding the young bourgeois gentleman, Armand Duval, who falls madly in love with Marguerite Gautier, a gorgeous courtesan celebrated by Parisian high society. But despite her infidelity, Armand does all he can to win her hand and heart convincing her to part with her indulgent life. The Bolshoi breathes new life into this tragic masterpiece brought to the stage by the American-born choreographer, John Neumeier, while the ballet - inspired by Alexandre Dumas’ novel and accompanied by an exquisitely-beautiful score by Chopin - assumes a new emotional and dramatic texture that only the Bolshoi’s dancers can deliver. The Financial Times critic wrote: ‘Neumeier’s character-rich ballet has found a company that is equal to its challenges.’ Praise, indeed!

pit for two short (but very The Royal Opera’s music director, Antonio Pappano, is in the Rusticana and Pagliacci. well known) Italian operas by Ruggero Leoncavallo: Cavalleria

The inaugural season of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company promises an exceptional series of plays broadcast live to cinemas from London’s Garrick Theatre over the course of a year. The season opens with The Winter’s Tale (12A) on Monday, 7th December, 2.30pm, with a repeat performance on Thursday, 24th December, 2.30pm. Shakespeare’s timeless tragi-comedy of obsession and redemption is re-imagined in a thrilling production codirected by Rob Ashford and Kenneth Branagh (who stars as King Leontes) following their triumphant staging of Macbeth in Manchester and Manhattan. The

scenario centres upon Leontes who appears to have everything: power, wealth, a loving family

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Dame Judi Dench stars as Paulina, the noblewoman of Sicily, in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale staged by the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company.

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Madeline Worrall stars as Jane in the National Theatre's acclaimed re-imagining of Charlotte Brontë’s celebrated novel, Jane Eyre.

and friends. But sexual jealousy sets in motion a chain of events with tragic consequences. The cast also includes Judi Dench (Paulina), Tom Bateman (Florizel), Jessie Buckley (Perdita), Hadley Fraser (Polixenes) and Miranda Raison (Hermione). Introduced by film expert, Chris Rodden, in association with the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, The Collector (15) - Monday, 7th December, 8.30pm - is inspired by the exhibition, Magnificent Obsessions: the artist as collector, showing at the SCVA until 24th January 2016. Charlotte Brontë’s well-loved story about the trailblazing Jane in Jane Eyre is as inspiring as ever since it was first published in October 1847. Now a bold and dynamic new production by the National Theatre (NT Live: Tuesday, 8th December, 7pm / 12A) uncovers one woman’s fight for freedom and fulfilment on her own terms. From her humble

beginnings as a destitute orphan, Jane Eyre, a spirited heroine if ever there was one, faces life’s obstacles head on surviving poverty, injustice and the discovery of bitter betrayal before taking the ultimate decision to follow her heart. This acclaimed re-imagining of Brontë’s masterpiece was first staged by Bristol Old Vic last year when the story was performed over two evenings. However, in Sally Cookson’s celebrated production, the play’s presented as a single exhilarating performance running for about 210 minutes. Two short Italian operas by Leoncavallo (ROH Live: Cavalleria Rusticana / Pagliacci (12A) - Thursday, 10th December, 7.15pm - are regarded as the composer’s masterpiece and come together in a new staging by award-winning, Italian-born director, Damiano Michieletto, who sets both operas in a poverty-stricken village in southern Italy in the1980s where the Mafia has a strong hold. The Royal Opera’s music director, Antonio Pappano, conducts a brilliant cast that includes charismatic Dutch soprano EvaMaria Westbroek, exciting Italian soprano Carmen Giannattasio and the thrilling Latvian tenor, Aleksandrs Antonenko. Dance doesn’t come better than the Bolshoi Ballet who can be seen in The Nutcracker (12A) - Sunday, 13th December, 3pm - in a production that will, undoubtedly, enchant the whole family with its fairy-tale setting and Tchaikovsky’s timeless and gracious score. The Bolshoi’s

The corps de ballet of the Royal Ballet venture into the Land of Snow in The Nutcracker danced to Tchaikovsky's immortal score.

Stars of the Bolshoi Ballet: The heroic Denis Rodkin as the courageou s prince and the magical Anna Nikulina as Marie in The Nutcracker.

version of this classic ballet has a unique and beautiful sense of romance, danced by the heroic Denis Rodkin as the courageous prince and the magical Anna Nikulina as Marie who’s given a wooden nutcracker on Christmas Eve as a special present but when the clock strikes the deep chimes of midnight, the nutcracker transforms itself into a handsome young prince saving Marie from the evil Mouse King and his battling army. It’s sweeter than Bournvita but perfectly fits the bill as a pre-Christmas treat! A film tour of Florence - the cradle of the Renaissance - can be enjoyed on Monday, 14th December, 6.45pm, in Discover Arts: Florence and the Uffizi Gallery (12A). The film has been shot using the most advanced 3D and 4K technologies available including aerial shots, complex long takes and cutting-edge dimensionalisation techniques. As such, it ensure a totally immersive and unique experience allowing

the audience to see, listen, feel and savour the most outstanding and celebrated breeding-ground of creativity in the history of art. And The Nutcracker turns up again (two Nutcrackers are better than none, especially at Christmas time!) with a live performance by The Royal Ballet from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, on Wednesday, 16th December, 7.15pm. Loosely based on a story by ETA Hoffmann, the ballet opens with the Christmas Eve festivities of little Clara and her family and progresses through a sequence of dreams and enchantments taking Clara on her magical journey to the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of the Sweets. Peter Wright’s enchanting production, with its wondrously-growing Christmas tree and a rousing battle between the villainous Mouse King and an army of toy soldiers, mines the colour of Tchaikovsky’s score, retaining exquisite surviving fragments of Lev Ivanov’s original choreography including the beautiful pas de deux for the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.

Box office: 0871 902 5724 Online: https://www. picturehouses.com/ cinema/Cinema_City The Dining Rooms are open daily from 10am to 9pm (Sunday: 8pm) Reservations: 01603 623435 www.norwichdiningrooms. co.uk

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FINEARTS

What’s On At Maddermarket Here’s What’s Happening At Maddermarket This Month Write Club Sat 31 Oct - Sat 19 Dec 11.30am - 1.30pm For 8 Weeks Creative Writing Classes - 8 Week Course Struggling to find time to write or not sure how to get started? Looking to join a friendly community of fellow writers? This eight-week course, led by award-winning author Lynsey White, will give you the time, space, and support you need. Get stuck into an existing project or work from prompts and exercises. Share your work with the group, get written feedback from the tutor and - most importantly - enjoy a free coffee and cake! Course starts on 31st October and concludes on 19th December (eight weeks). Tickets Course Fee £80.00

Miracle On 34th Street (1947) Wed 02 December 7.30pm Starring Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn. George Seaton’s classic family Christmas film stars Oscar-winner Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle, hired by Macy’s department The Barron Knights

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store’s toy department executive Doris Walker to play Santa Claus. But when he claims to really be Santa Claus, he finds himself in court, charged with insanity, where he’s defended by Fred Gailey, a neighbour of Walker’s, who also has a crush on her. The climatic court scenes will melt the hardest of hearts. Natalie Wood, in one of her earliest roles, stars as Walker’s daughter Susan, who refuses to believe in Santa Claus. ‘A perfect Pre Christmas film for all the family to love and cherish’ Santa will be available at the theatre in December to have that perfect pre Christmas grotto excitement! Tickets £6.00 (£5.00 concessions)

The Barron Knights Thu 03 December 7.30pm Probably the most entertaining group to come out of the 60’s and 70’s. Their musicianship, their harmonies and of course their humour makes them what their peers call them ‘The Guvnors’. They are supremely talented, a showbiz phenomenon and the best tonic the N.H.S. could give the population. They are the

only group to have toured with the Beatles and twice with the Rolling Stones. A show not to be missed. Over 300 shows at the London Palladium. A performance at Buckingham Palace. The Barron Knights inspired Bill Wyman to buy a Guitar back in 1961. You’ll be rockin and laughing as well as rolling. Lots of new material again. Apart from the old favourites like ‘Call Up The Groups’, they play their inimitable version of the ‘William Tell Overture’ and their flamenco party piece ‘Malaguana’ is always requested. Their parody of Killer Queen about “will Camilla be Queen?” and the hilarious take on ‘Windmills of Your Mind’ about “what happens to your body as you get older” will be in the show. Don’t miss this one! You will walk out the theatre with happy memories of the show titled SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES. Tickets £18.50

G2 - Definitive Genesis Fri 04 December 7.30pm G2 Definitive Genesis pays tribute to a Vintage period in Genesis’ long and colourful history, the four-man “Seconds Out” era (1975-78),whilst also dipping back into the earlier Gabriel years. Having been performing for well over a decade, G2 are making a long overdue return to Norfolk. Accolades posted online from recent shows included: ‘Best Performance by ANY Trib Band (not just Genesis ones either) I have ever seen...’ ‘Thanks to all the guys from G2 who were out of this world, I really cannot describe how

terrifyingly good you guys are.’ Ripples, Entangled, Los Endos, Blood On The Rooftops, Afterglow, mixed up with Gabriel era classics, Firth Of Fifth, Cinema Show and Suppers Ready, this is vintage Genesis, performed by G2 to a level Genesis themselves would be proud of! Well, Steve Hackett says he likes it… So take a little trip back and relive those wonderful moments of your Genesis musical history with G2. Tickets £18.50

The Blues Band - Sold Out Sat 05 December 7.30pm 35 Years and Counting! What does a great, lively musical tradition demand? Discipline, devotion, passion and love. Whether it’s Beethoven or B. B. King, Howlin’ Wolf or Handel, it all sounds better with a huge helping of skill and virtuosity. So when it comes to the Blues, aficionados of the genre can relax, because with The Blues Band, their music’s in good hands. Formed in 1979 by five seasoned musicians, The Blues Band are celebrating 35 glorious years as Britain and Europe’s leading exponents of one of the greatest musical traditions of all time. It began back then with a phone call by Paul Jones, actor, singer, musician and radio presenter, no stranger to the pop charts throughout the 1960s as front man for the hugely successful Manfred Mann. His fellow Manfred Tom McGuinness shared the same love of the music - he’d started out with Eric Clapton in the Roosters. And they knew the right people to make

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The Blues Band

their idea for a band ‘just to play the blues’ work; they brought in legendary slide guitar man and singer Dave Kelly, who brought along a talented fellow musician, bassist Gary Fletcher. With the addition of Tom’s chart-topping partner from McGuinness Flint, drummer Hughie Flint, (ex-John Mayall’s Blues Breakers), that first line-up stormed the postpunk music scene, and contrary to their expectations, they soon left the pub scene behind for an international career playing the music they loved. After two and a half years, Hughie Flint left due to the pressures of touring. His place was admirably filled by another fine drummer, Rob Townsend, a member of one of Britain’s most eclectic, legendary outfits, Family. The rest, as the saying goes, is history. But what history. TV, films, a stadium tour with Dire Straits, over 20 albums, within a few years the Blues Band’s deep, well-tended roots had brought them the status of lasting legends. From Greece to Finland, Poland to Portugal, Italy to Denmark, when the Blues Band arrive, the fans turn out in their thousands. What’s on offer is always the same; a stunning menu of original compositions and blues classics, all delivered with passion, knowledge, love of the genre and entertaining showmanship. Other blues groups come and go, but it takes something special to achieve the iconic prestige enjoyed by The Blues Band. If you want to know what 35 years of skill and devotion sound like, here’s your chance - if you love the blues, it doesn’t get any

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better than The Blues Band. Tickets £22.00

The Albion Christmas Band Sun 06 December 7.30pm Seasonal Carols, Spoken Word, Humorous Readings and Dance. For most people Christmas 2015 will bring with it the annual round of festivities, parties and pantomimes and all the hectic preparations. For the Albion Christmas Band it also signals the start of their annual xmas tour. The band’s inaugural appearance was 17 December 1999 – the first night of a six date tour. This year, the band that forms each year for its winter tour and then disbands until the next season will visit seventeen venues. The well-planned tour

a guided tour through the Christmas customs of Britain. Performing a mixture of seasonal carols, spoken word, humorous readings and dance, the show is the antithesis of the Christmas special shows filling television screens, reminding audiences of the simpler pleasures and values of a traditional Christmas. The Albion Christmas Band features the combined talents of Simon Nicol (founder member of Fairport Convention) on acoustic guitar and vocals, Kellie While (Albion Band), acoustic guitar, vocals and percussion, Simon Care (Edward II), melodeons, and the Guv’nor himself, Ashley Hutchings, (founder of Fairport Convention, Albion Band, and Steeleye Span) on bass guitar and vocals. Tickets £18.00 (£16.00 concessions)

Time Slots From 12.30pm To 3pm, And 4pm To 5pm Calling all boys and girls! Father Christmas will be visiting with his helpers this Christmas in his special ‘Narnia themed’ magical grotto at the Maddermarket Theatre. Book your opportunity to meet with Father Christmas, bring along your letters and receive a lovely gift! Why not come and see Father Christmas and stay for our Christmas production, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe from 18th December to 2nd January. And for the little one’s why not come to a very special performance from the Singing Squad on 19th December. Santa’s grotto has enough space for you and up to three other children from your family or friends group, plus the grown-ups! Grown-Ups FREE N.B. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets £5.00 per child

Intellectual Hooligans Sat 12 December Doors Open 8pm, Show Starts At 8.30pm. (Free Workshop 7-8pm For Ticket Holders) The show will consist of “Whose Line is it Anyway?” games based on audience suggestions The Intellectual Hooligans are a group of top notch improv

Father Christmas Comes To The Maddermarket Theatre

The Albion Christmas Band

has ensured the band will visit all parts of the country for audiences to enjoy a taste of Christmas without the commercialism. The band evolved from special Christmas shows by the last incarnation of the Albion Band. On a suggestion from Simon Care, a previous Albion band member himself, Ashley ‘The Guv’nor’ Hutchings brought together two other previous Albion Band members to create an autonomous band to present

Thu 10 Dec - Wed 23 Dec Thursday 10th December Time Slots From 4pm - 7pm Saturday 12th December Time Slots From 12.30pm - 5pm Sunday 13th December Time Slots From 12.30pm - 3pm Thursday 17th December Time Slots From 4pm - 7pm Saturday 19th December Time Slots From 12.30pm To 3pm, And 4pm To 5pm Sunday 20th December Time Slots From 12.30pm - 3pm Monday 21st December Time Slots From 12.30pm - 5.00pm Tuesday 22nd December Time Slots From 12.30pm - 5pm Wednesday 23rd December

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FINEARTS New Year’s Eve Celebration Event

Intellectual Hooligans

comedy performers led by Daniel Taylor (founder of UEA Headlights Comedy Society) and Rob aka Will Turner (creator of Reynard City). The show will consist of “Whose Line is it Anyway?” games based on audience suggestions. Prior to the show, there will be a one hour workshop open to anyone wishing to try their hand at improv. Held in the Redwell Bar, so get there early to ensure you get a good seat, and enjoy our local crafted beer and snacks Tickets £6.00 (free workshop 7- 8pm for ticket holders)

Norwich Jazz Club Mon 14 December 8pm In The Redwell Bar Norwich Jazz Club has been established in the city as a place to hear great live jazz since 1989. Arrive early to secure your seats. Our programme continues to

The Singing Squad

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feature jazz to suit a wide range of tastes, from mainstream through to the most exciting contemporary projects, featuring local, national and international artists alike. Why not come down to the Maddermarket Redwell bar and enjoy good music, great conversation with friends and a jam with the trio? Tickets £5 on the door

The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe Fri 18 Dec - Sat 02 Jan 2.30pm December 19 / 23 / 26 / 28 / 30 / 31 January 2 4.00pm December 20 / 27 / 29 7.30pm December 18 / 19 / 21 / 22 / 26 / 28 / 30 January 2 By Glyn Robbins Adapted from the book by C.S. Lewis Directed by Peter Beck The Maddermarket has a wonderful reputation for offering high quality original

family entertainment and this Christmas, we are proud to be presenting The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy embark on a magical mystery tour to the Land of Narnia through the wardrobe. There they encounter the wicked White Witch, representing the forces of evil, and the King of the Beasts, Aslan the lion, representing all that is good and right. The White Witch is destroyed, allowing good to triumph over evil in the timehonoured way. A fabulous evening of entertainment for people of all ages. Book to see Santa also at the theatre in his Grotto! Ticket £10 - £15, £19 parent & child, £38 family

The Singing Squad Sat 19 December 12.15pm And 1.00pm Shows Christmas is coming and so are The Singing Squad, with their brand new Christmas show at The Maddermarket Theatre. Look forward to 20 minutes of fun Christmas songs, followed by a visit from someone very special! Suits children aged 3 – 8, but all welcome. If you would like your little one to meet Santa after the show, separate tickets are available click here Seating in the performance area is around tables – café style in the Maddermarket Redwell Bar. There will be cushions available for your children to sit on. Tickets adults £4.00 / children £3.00 (under 2’s free on knees)

Thu 31 Dec - Fri 01 Jan Doors Open At 8:30pm, Party On Until 2am Dress to impress - Fizz and Buffet included. After the success of last year’s celebrations at the Maddermarket Theatre, ring in the New Year with Sound Ideas NYE - A Night at the Musicals. A troupe of Norfolk’s most talented performers present to you an evening of outstanding vocals from some of your favourite musicals. With a selection of entertaining gems, this show promises to have you laughing out loud and tapping your feet as we take you back through the musical theatre catalogue with songs such as Singin’ in the Rain, Catch me if you Can, Kinky Boots, The Rocky Horror Show, The Producers and Gypsy! With a smattering of tap, a touch of glitter and just a sprinkle of magic, come and enjoy this one-nightonly treat you won’t forget. Start your evening with a glass of bubbly and enjoy a light buffet in the interval. The evening starts at 8.30pm and finishes at 2 am. Tickets £30 (includes a glass of bubbly, served from 8.30pm and a light buffet)

Box Office Our box office is situated in the foyer area, opposite the coffee shop. Box Office opening hours Normal Open Hours Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm Saturday 10am - 5pm. On Show Days Monday to Saturday 10am - 7.30pm Sundays 5pm - 7.30pm Booking Tickets Tickets may be booked in person, by telephone or online. Box Office: 01603 620917 office@maddermarket.org www.maddermarket.co.uk

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Wayne Mardle

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The Norwich Match Play Darts Tournament 2016 Saturday, 2nd April 2016 from 6:00pm to 11:30pm

he Norwich Match Play Darts Tournament 2016 is the inaugural event in Norwich and brings some of the World’s biggest PDC darts stars to Norwich and Norfolk to play this tournament for the very first time. Although this is not an official PDC Match Play event it is an event sanctioned by the PDC, and an event that will capture the imagination of all Darts enthusiasts in the UK - a Darts spectacular for Norwich that will become a Norwich landmark sports event for years to come. ThevNorwich Match Play Darts Tournament 2016 is sponsored

by BIG DADDY PR & Marketing in Norwich and orgnaised and promoted by Lord Russell Baker of Little Moulton. The Quarter Final Draw will be made ‘live’ on BBC Radio Norfolk in March 2016 with Eric Bristow and Keith Deller drawing numbered balls from the ‘seeded’ and ‘unseeded’ bags. Each ball will be numbered and numbers allocated from the BBC Radio Norfolk studio to ensure a fair draw. The doors to EPIC TV Studio’s open at 18:00 and there will be a dedicated VIP room for VIP guests to enjoy meeting and greeting the players and officals on the night

with a light finger buffet. The bars in EPIC TV Studio’s will be open for all other guests at 18:00, with the Darts tournament set to start at around 19:30. There will also be tickets sold with the prospect of two lucky winners to play either Eric Bristow and Keith Deller on stage in front of an audience exceeding 750 noisy and raptuous darts fans. Simply amazing! A ‘live’ auction will take place on the night with ome remarkable memorabilia on offer from the World of sport, plus raffle cards available to win some outstanding darts products from the some of the biggest names in

the World of darts - sensational. The players signed up to play at the Norwich Match Play Darts Tournament and playing for the Norwich Match Play Trophy at the EPIC TV Studio’s on Saturday 2nd April 2016 are as follows:

Adrian Lewis An English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) who is a twotime PDC World Darts Champion. He is nicknamed Jackpot, following a visit to a casino whilst competing at the 2005 Las Vegas Desert Classic when he “won” a $72,000 jackpot but was unable to claim the money as he was under-age by US gaming laws – despite being eligible in the UK.[2] During the early part of his career until 2007, he was a protégé of multi-world champion Phil Taylor having practised together in their home city Stoke-on-Trent and made his television debut in 2004, aged 19 at the UK Open.

James Wade An English professional darts

Peter Wright

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FINEEVENTS player, currently playing in the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). He became the youngest player to win a major PDC title at the World Matchplay in 2007, at the age of 24. This record was broken when Michael van Gerwen won the 2012 World Grand Prix at the age of 23. Since winning the World Matchplay in 2007, Wade has also won the World Grand Prix in 2007 and 2010, the UK Open in 2008 and 2011, the Premier League in 2009, the Championship League in 2010, and the Masters in 2014. Wade has had a career-high ranking of second in the PDC Order of Merit and with eight major tournament wins is the third most successful player in PDC history, after Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen. He has yet to win the PDC World Darts Championship, with the semi finals being his best result.

Dave Chisnall An English professional darts player from St Helens who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He began his career participating in the British Darts Organisation (BDO) and was the runner-up in their World Championship in 2010. He switched to the PDC a year later and has won nine Pro Tour events. Since his switch to the PDC Chisnall is probably best known for defeating Phil Taylor in the 2012 World Championship, for reaching the final of the 2013 World Grand Prix where he was beaten 6–0 by Taylor and for reaching the final of the 2014 Grand Slam, losing a much closer match 16-13, again to Phil Taylor.

Peter Wright A Scottish professional darts player who plays in PDC tournaments. Wright was the runner-up in the 2014 PDC World Darts Championship. He currently resides in Mendham, England, and although he was largely raised in England, he chooses to represent the country of his birth. He is known for his Mohawk hairstyle which changes colour each tournament and is made by his wife who is a hairdresser. His nickname is derived from the www.finecity.co.uk

name of his favourite drink, the Snakebite.

Steve Beaton An English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). He won the British Darts Organisation (BDO) version of the World Professional Darts Championship in 1996.

Kevin Painter An English professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation tournaments, where he is known as “The Artist”. He is arguably most famous for finishing runner up to Phil Taylor in the 2004 PDC World Championship final, now widely credited as one of the greatest televised matches in the history of the game. He was also the winner of the Players Championship Finals in 2011.

Wayne Mardle An English former professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation, and former player in the BDO. He now lives in Romford. Before turning professional, he worked for the Association of Accounting Technicians. He has been known as “Hawaii 5.0.1” since 2000, due to the Hawaiian shirts he started wearing in 1998 for a bet, and 501 being the start score of a leg of darts. The name is also a play on the title of the popular television series, Hawaii Five-O. This dress sense coupled with his crowd-pleasing onstage activity (such as dancing to the interval music) has seen him become one of the most popular players on the circuit.

Colin Lloyd Nicknamed Jaws, is an English professional darts player on the Professional Darts Corporation circuit. He is a former world number one ranked player and he has won two major television titles in the PDC – the 2004 World Grand Prix and the 2005 World Matchplay. His entrance music is “Monster” by The Automatic. I am also deighted to announce that two World Darts legends will also be in attendance

Keith Deller and Lord Russell Baker at the Norwich Charity Darts Masters 2015

on the night with the prospect of player two lucky members of the audience on the night. Both players need no introduction as they are both household names:

Eric Bristow MBE (“The Crafty Cockney”) is a former professional English darts player. He was ranked World No. 1 from 1980–81, 1983–85 and 1990, and won five World Championships and five World Masters titles. In the 1980s, Bristow’s skill and personality helped turn darts into a worldwide spectator sport. In 1993, Bristow was one of sixteen top players who broke away from the British Darts Organisation to form their own organisation, which became the Professional Darts Corporation. He retired from competitive darts in 2007 and now works as a commentator and pundit on Sky Sports’ darts coverage.

Keith Deller An English darts player who won the Embassy World Professional Darts Championship in 1983. He was the first qualifier ever to win the championship and remains one of the youngest champions in history. For his world championship win, Deller used 18-gram springloaded darts, later banned for

tournament play but now legal again. He no longer uses these darts. Deller is the manager of two-time PDC World Champion Adrian Lewis. Keith is also the reigning Norwich Charity Darts Masters 2015 Champion. No big stage darts match play tournament would be without the following officials who will be the referee and MC on the night.

Russ Bray A darts referee who works for the Professional Darts Corporation. He is considered by most to be the best darts referee in the world. He is also known as The Voice, due to his unique style of calling and his raspy voice.

Paul Booth Paul has appeared as MC on Channel 5 for all the LIVE Boxing events this year, the only UK Boxing MC on terrestrial TV, and established himself as one of the UK›s top all round MC›s, involved in both radio and TV for over 20 years. Quite simply not an event to be missed, and early purchase of tickets is advised as this event is expected to be a sell-out. So don’t delay and purchase your tickets for the Norwich Match Play Darts Tournament today. 2015 December | 47

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at Christmas www.finecity.co.uk

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Photo by Daniel Tink, www.scenicnorfolk.co.uk

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Photo by Daniel Tink, www.scenicnorfolk.co.uk

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Photo by Daniel Tink, www.scenicnorfolk.co.uk

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Photo by Daniel Tink, www.scenicnorfolk.co.uk

Wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year www.finecity.co.uk

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Great Reads For Christmas There really is nothing quite so good, in my opinion, as receiving a surprise book present at Christmas. Here are a few ideas.

Spirit of Norwich by Daniel Tink. This is a collection of superb photographs from this very talented Norfolk photographer along with interesting captions. It is a lovely little gem of a book and a perfect stocking filler at only £4.99. It is published by PIXZ books and is in all good bookshops as well as online from Amazon etc.

Mma Ramotswe and her team at Botswana’s only ladies’ detective agency. The stories are often slight – Sherlock Holmes Mma Ramotswe is NOT – but the charm of the writing will melt even the most flint-like of hearts, while the rest of the population should have a hanky at the ready, you know, just in case…..

The Walking Worried; A Young Man’s Journey with OCD by Aron Bennett, 29 from Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich. Aron wanted to set the record straight with regards to his own OCD and this memoire is his attempt at doing just that. Aron

This recommendation could have really been almost anything from this fine novelist who has the knack of making reading EASY – it seems that you just have to open the page and the book starts to dance in your imagination. It really is art disguising art and you have to be at the top of your game to write anything remotely as effortlessly charming as this. This book, of course, features the adventures of the remarkable

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suffers with a variation of OCD known as ‘moral scrupulosity’ which is, in essence, a fear of moral or ethical failure and is a form scarcely covered in the existing literature. Like those who wash excessively or check the locks repeatedly, Aron fears the consequences of his burdensome thoughts; of being a ‘bad person’. This is a candid and moving story and Aron is currently writing a follow-up. It is available at £10 from Amazon and other online sellers. We featured this fine novel a while ago and I have to admit a small amount of prejudice as Jack Holroyd is my own commissioning editor at Pen and Sword books. It is pretty amazing, though, featuring a rumbustious story and great research. An unusual feature is a series of coloured photographs of some of the settings in the book as they are today. It is quite a substantial book and you really need to ‘clear the decks’ for a few days to do it justice – do the shopping, make the tea,

put the cat out and plump up the cushions, then take a leap into another world. It is priced at £19.99 and is available pretty much everywhere and online.

Many people will know Norwich born-and-bred historian, speaker and chorister, David Berwick. He has also written ‘Beating the Bounds in Georgian Norwich’ a wonderful evocation of this once universal ritual. Here

feature by:

Steve Browning Writer @returningperson

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he takes a detailed look at one of our most remarkable but almost forgotten -until now - bishops. To say he had an interesting life is a total understatement. With colour plates and impressive research, this book will transport you back in time and you will never look at certain parts of the city in the same way again. £8.50 from Amazon online.

who may be reading – who seem to me to be even better at it than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself. It is to do with an engaging, comfortable tone, obvious love for the original canon, deftness of touch in storytelling and an understanding of what the reader wants. Elementary it isn’t and, indeed, this tale is darker than any from Sir Arthur, but here we have a master of his craft in full flow.

Anthony Horowitz will be familiar to many as the writer of many Midsomer Murder episodes and a substantial portion of Foyle’s War. He has also written a James Bond novel called ‘Trigger Mortis’ and the Alex Rider ‘Stormbreaker’ series. All are wholeheartedly recommended but I chose this one – I am currently half way through the fantastic follow up, ‘Moriarty’ – as I have more than a soft spot for Sherlock Holmes. There are many people who write Sherlock Holmes adventures, including me, and then there are just one or two – whisper it quietly so as not to upset any Sherlockian

Norwich In The 1970S By Pete Goodrum (Amberley Publishing)

or some the 1970s meant punk rock and political unrest. For others it was a time of Abba and affluence. The decade’s dual identity was as striking in Norwich as it was nationally. While once familiar streets were demolished, new buildings sprang up. Different brand names appeared in the city centre and with them came a new era of shopping and eating out. This book is a look over the shoulder to the steak houses and night clubs, the fashions and trends that defined the decade. Following his incredibly popular Norwich In The 1950S and Norwich In The 1960S Pete Goodrum’s look at the 1970s shines a light on another decade

in the city’s history. Drawing on vintage advertising and many never before published images this book is a fascinating glimpse, and reminder of how we lived in Norwich, in the 1970s.

Steve Browning’s New Book Due for release January 2016. Pre-Order Now!

everal times over the past year we have featured stories about Norwich and Norfolk in the Great War. Well, the book of which they form a part now has a release date January 31 2016. It is available for pre-order online from Waterstones, Foyles, Blackwells and Amazon or direct from the publishers pen-and-sword.co.uk Any bookshop can also obtain it for you. It is priced at £9.99. Based very largely on original material of the day, much of it never before released in book form, it is illustrated with many fascinating photographs of the www.finecity.co.uk

Fine City and its inhabitants who lived through, and vastly contributed to - Norwich was the centre for the production of the perfect marching boot, the Sopwith Camel aircraft and Caley’s Marching Chocolate amongst many other things - this pivotal time in history. The book also looks at everyday life year on year and how Norwich was changed by the demands of war. It concludes with a ‘Great War Walk’ around the centre of the city taking in many of the places discussed in the book. The cover shows men enthusiastically leaving for war by train from Thorpe Station in 1914. 2015 December | 55

WHAT’S NEW?

BIMBLEBOX NAME YOUR PRICE? WHY DID YOU START BIMBLEBOX? As holiday cottage owners ourselves, we’ve used a few big agencies over the years. Despite having really popular cottages here in Norfolk, there were always weeks they couldn’t sell for us. If we asked the agent they’d say anything over 25 weeks was a good result but we didn’t agree. We wanted more bookings and for people to enjoy our cottages, and Norfolk, all year round. We did some research and realised that nowadays people like to book their holidays later and later. They also like to find a deal! Rather than leave the cottage sitting empty, we knew we’d take a reasonable offer which still worked for us, as we found being flexible significantly increased our bookings. After a year or so, some friends asked us to do the same with their holiday cottages. before we knew it, BimbleBox was born! HOW DOES IT WORK? It’s very simple! People who want to book a holiday cottage within the next six weeks simply visit the BimbleBox website and look for somewhere lovely. They’ll already find a 10% discount but if they’d like to make an offer they can. They’ll find out immediately if it’s been accepted!

SLEEP TIGHT If you’re playing host to lots of visitors this time of year, you will want your home to look its best and guarantee your guests a peaceful night’s sleep. When it comes to gorgeous handmade beds, The Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Company in Shernborne is a family-run company, where all their beds are crafted in Norfolk and come with a lifetime guarantee. Inspired by traditional designs with some more contemporary looks thrown in for good measure, there’s a variety of styles on offer, ranging from iron beds to ornate brass and nickel designs. Customers are also provided with a variety of adaptations to suit their specific needs, so if you have your eye on a bespoke bedstead that will stand the test of time, be sure to pay a visit to the company’s extensive showroom to view their entire range in situ.

56 | December 2015

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For owners, they simply register their property, set a reserve price and tell us what dates they still have available within the next 6 weeks. They get a second chance to sell their late availability! WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS? To grow BimbleBox! The number of owners registering their properties with us is rising every week. We launched with properties in East Anglia but we’re now going national. HOW IS BIMBLEBOX DIFFERENT FROM OTHER HOLIDAY LETTING SERVICES? Visitors to our website can find a great holiday cottage and make an offer! We only list holiday homes available in the next 6 weeks so it’s all about last minute deals for customers and selling late availability for owners. If the customer’s offer meets or exceeds the owner’s reserve price they can book it there and then. WHY SHOULD HOLIDAY PROPERTY OWNERS USE BIMBLEBOX? For owners, it’s about having control. They simply tell us if and when their holiday home is unsold and set the minimum amount they’d accept. BimbleBox gives them another

opportunity to fill any late availability, at a price which works for them. That’s got to be better than an empty holiday home! Think of BimbleBox as a ‘bolt-on’. We don’t want to replace their existing agency or marketing. We are simply there when their normal advertising has let them down. It only takes a few minutes to register. In fact, we’ll do it for them! All they then need to do is let us know when their holiday cottage is free in the next six weeks. It won’t cost them a penny unless someone books.

“IT’S VERY SIMPLE! PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BOOK A HOLIDAY COTTAGE WITHIN THE NEXT SIX WEEKS SIMPLY VISIT THE BIMBLEBOX WEBSITE AND LOOK FOR SOMEWHERE LOVELY”

WE UNDERSTAND YOU SUPPORT A FEW CHARITIES? Yes, we support Nelson’s Journey and East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice (EACH), both here in Norfolk. There’s a great motto in business; make some money, then make a difference. That’s a big part of BimbleBox. We had a very special family stay in one of our holiday cottages. The young father was terminally ill and they were making some lasting memories. It only seemed right to play our small part, so we donate 1% of everything we earn to the two charities. We can also help owners wishing to use their cottages to give back too.

BimbleBox is the middle ground, where everyone gets a fair deal!

Find a cottage, make an Offer, pack your bags and go. It’s that simple! Or, buy now at a 10% discount below the standard rate. What’s your Offer?

Upload your property details, place your Late Availability and set your Offer Reserve. We do the rest!

For more information visit

www.bimblebox.com 01603 568273

FREE registration 3 week commission FREE period Refer another Owner and get another 2 weeks commission FREE period

Late availablility on Holiday cottages. Make an Offer! www.finecity.co.uk

2015 December | 57

Award Winning Landscaping and Design

Paving and Pathways Ponds and Water Features Lawn Laying Walls and Brickwork Timber and Decking Driveways, Fencing and Screening Garden Design by Georgina Read

T: 01953 852139 E: info@lifestylelandscaping.co.uk W: www.lifestylelandscaping.co.uk

Contemporary, classic or chic modern

Kitchens and Interiors The kitchen is the heart of the home. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why at Graham Torbitt Kitchens and Interiors we provide quality craftsmanship, contemporary design, unique and fresh ideas to bring you the kitchen you desire. With over 25 years experience, let us put the heart back into your home.

Bespoke design and budget Creative solutions Integrity and expert advice Professional service Free consultation Inhouse at Premier Marble 3 Dewings Road, Rackheath, Norwich NR13 6PS

01603 327727 | www.gtki.co.uk | graham@gtki.co.uk 58 | December 2015

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Quality blinds and cur tains

ClarkBuild, For All Your Building Needs Chartered building company for whom no job is too small

e provide professionalism and integrity, value for money, compliance with good building practice and with the proprietor/ director has been 35 years in business with a professional qualification. No job is too small for us. We offer bathroom and kitchen installation, loft conversions, renovations and extensions, as well as roofing, driveways, building maintenance and repair. At CLARKBUILD LTD we know you will receive a professional www.finecity.co.uk

and personal service for all your building, wet rooms and maintenance needs.

FREE fitting FREE quote FREE measurement NO hassle NO pressure Book online today

5 YEAR GUARANTEE on everything

Book your appointment today www.norwichsunblinds.co.uk/LT1

01603 334017 | 01953 544 017 Please call us for a free quotation. T: 01953 601678 M: 07788 722151 mailbox@clarkbuild.co.uk Unit 15, Penfold Drive, Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 0WZ

Visit us at our Norwich or Attleborough showrooms: 8 St Benedicts Street, Norwich NR2 4AG 11 - 14 Haverscroft Ind Est, Attleborough NR17 1YE 2015 December | 59

Service only your local independent electrical retailer can provide

FREE LOCAL HOME DELIVERY

For over 125 years, the Bosch name has been synonymous with engineering excellence. Bosch home appliances are renowned for their quality, reliability and performance which derive from their inherent, unflagging commitment and the painstaking thoroughness with which every unit is made. There are no gimmicks or frills with our products – just pure, clean lines and beautiful, functional simplicity that will enhance any kitchen.

Delivered direct to your door with our free home delivery service from your local independent electrical retailer when you buy a selected Bosch home appliance. Terms & Conditions apply.*

‘Bosch have won a Which? award 4 years in a row – another reason to have Bosch in your home’

ards 2014 Aw

Yeomans Electrical 65 North Walsham Road,Sprowston, Norwich, NR6 7QA Tel: 01603 426294 *T&C’s Apply. Ask Instore For Full Details.Selected Models Only. Sold As An Agent For Euronics Limited

60 | December 2015

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FINEHomes

Photo by Will Hurt

Posh Plants Autumn break!

suppose it’s fair to say our autumn has been typical this year, we’ve had gloom, fog and rain, interspersed with a few gloriously bright sunny days that have enabled the countryside to sparkle and sing as the year comes to a close. Here at Seven Acres Nursery it’s a time for cleaning, tidying and generally giving protection to those plants that will need it when the cold weather arrives. Wind can be as damaging as the cold so the large bays and olive trees are given some protection in the polytunnel. Here, they can enjoy some winter sunshine and they can be given just enough water so they don’t dry out. With living and working at the nursery comes the added responsibility of day to day care, so it’s not always easy to take holidays. So, when the rare opportunity arose and with the ‘thumbs up’ from my partner, who was left behind to keep everything alive, I was off to sunny Florida! I suppose, to be honest, never having been to the USA, I had some preconceptions in my mind but always one to keep an open mind I was really excited by the experience. www.finecity.co.uk

Yes, we had a few days in Disneyland for the girls, it had to be done! Then we headed south. The Florida Keys are a series of tropical coral islands, linked by a road. One of the bridges is seven miles long! Island names such as Key Largo and Key West are just as evocative and atmospheric in real life. Tiny, beautiful islands dependent on fishing and tourism were a delight to explore. Our final week was spent on Anna Maria Island off the west coast of Florida. We stayed in ‘The Tree House’, a wooden ‘Old Florida’ style house with a contemporary styled interior. Built with the open plan living accommodation up in the tree canopy it was the perfect base for a relaxing and chilled out week. Situated right at the point of the island we were surrounded by soft white sandy beaches within a minutes walk. Blue sky, turquoise sea, 30 degrees, shell collecting walks, new and interesting plants and trees and wildlife, as well as swimming and fishing! At the risk of sounding like a travel agent this really is a perfect place for a relaxing holiday...I can’t wait to return!

Photo by Will Hurt

Posh Plants

topiary, plants, shrubs and trees to hire or buy

Sue Huckle is the inspiration behind many award winning gardens, offering a professional and creative approach to the art and science of garden design. At Seven Acres Nursery we have a range of lovely plants and containers for sale, as well as our beautiful collection of large topiary plants available to hire for weddings, parties and your workplace!

07703 347014 email: sue@poshplants.com website: www.poshplants.com

Posh Plants, Seven Acres Nursery, Common Road, East Tuddenham, NR20 3NF

2015 December | 61

FINEHomes

Trinity Stained Glass

Dragonflies £19.99 each

Thank you for reminding me. I have enclosed my editorial and some photos but feel free to alter anything you feel needs it.

hristmas time is nearly upon us already. Struggling with ideas for unique and unusual Christmas gifts? At Trinity Stained Glass they offer a wide range of hand crafted and original ideas from little individual angels which can be hung on a Christmas tree or in a window from only £4.50 each or 5 for £20. Something very special for loved ones which is popular at this time of year is a miniature stained glass panel with an image of a relative , ancestor or pet neatly placed into its own solid

oak stand that it’s supplied with. These start at £198 each and both the glass and oak stand are made by hand in our workshop which trinity stained glass have been trading from for over 20 years on Ber Street in Norwich. Just bring in a photo and they can do the rest. They have one on display so you see the high standard of the end product. Or simply make your own stained glass gifts. Trinity stained glass sell starter kits from £98 which include all the tools, glass and instruction and pattern books to produce your own. Don’t forget about preparation

for Christmas. Repairs to your own stained glass windows or door panels so they are pristine and ready for festive visits from family and friends. Trinity stained glass can come out to you for free estimates or you can email details and photos and they can estimate from those. Come and visit this welcoming , family run shop to see the wide range of Christmas

present ideas. They welcome browsers or you can discuss your own specifications and have something made that is individual to you. Email trinitystainedglass@ btconnect.com www.trinitystainedglass.co.uk 103 Ber Street, Norwich,NR1 3EY 01603 622099

Doves from £13.99 each

62 | December 2015

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The Red Hart

Our new head chef has created a new & exciting menu Come & give it a try 10% off* on production of this advert

www.finecity.co.uk

he Red Hart is a traditional 17th Century Inn and family run so you’re always guaranteed a friendly welcome. We offer a traditional public bar with friendly locals, a pool table, dart board and banter. Then there’s the lounge bar for somewhere to relax with a roaring log burner through the winter months and there’s our restaurant with local artwork to purchase on the walls. We’re dog friendly (bar areas only) and we were the first, and believe still are the only, pub in Norfolk to offer our four legged friends their very own ‘doggie treat menu’. We have three fabulous garden areas for some gorgeous summer sun and are proud to host The Rock Bodham Sunday music event every July. We serve food 7 days a week and would love you to come our try our menu because…….

WE WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR NEW TEAM MEMBER....... I’m Russell Morris and I am the new Head Chef at the Red Hart, Bodham. I have been a chef for the past 12 years and in Norfolk for the past 7 years, working in many great restaurants up and down the coast. My style of food is based on the great seasonal produce that can be found in Norfolk. We have great suppliers, offering us superb produce, fish, game and meat to use to create great dishes for you to try. From Norfolk classics such as free range pork belly and local baked crab to deep rich curries we aim to delight you and will feature on our daily menu, not forgetting our ever changing specials and delicious dessert menu.

2015 December | 63

Audi RS 3 Sportback

s the most powerful hot-hatch in series production, the all-new second generation Audi RS 3 Sportback is capable of giving supercars a complex.

feature by:

Tim Barnes-Clay Writer @carwriteups

64 | December 2015

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FINEmotors The RS3 is powered by a bonkers-quick turbocharged fivecylinder engine that beats fellow German, the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG. The Audi’s 2.5-litre engine pumps out 362bhp, allowing for a 0-62mph sprint time of just 4.3 seconds - and a potential top speed of up to 174mph. The car gargles and crackles at the best of times; but everything is taken up a notch when you select Dynamic mode via the Drive Select system. This opens the flaps in the sports exhaust system – an option that is a must have. Next, move the auto gear selector into Sport, stamp on the gas and the sound the Audi makes is like Thor having a bad day. Without a doubt, the engine and gearbox are perfectly

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harmonized. The seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic ‘box punches its way through the cogs quickly, cleanly and crisply. This adds to the car’s ability to be alert and precise at all times. In fact, the Audi feels well ahead of any other vehicle in the premium hot-hatch market. Being an all-wheel-drive (AWD) motor, the RS3 will lose a little grip from the front wheels when pushed to the edge, but you have to be driving crazily fast for it to start playing up. The Audi’s sporty suspension can feel a bit firm, but that’s the price you pay if you want balance and a feeling of security at speed. Indeed, The RS3 is brilliantly controlled at any rate of knots, and long sweeping bends are the car’s strong point. Tilt the

nose in, shift the weight to the outside wheels and the renowned Quattro AWD system ensures there’s gargantuan grip to be had, enabling you to increase the speed on the way out. Inside, the cabin is functional but it’s also marvellously refined. The materials used, and the solid fit and finish are exactly what Audi aficionados will love and expect. The interior is a comfortable and pleasurable place to be, and there’s the Audi multi-media interface (MMI) media system that is one of the finest around. The all-new Audi RS3 Sportback is not cheap, and there isn’t a lot of room for adults in the back, but it is a staggeringly quick road car that will handle track days. It will also

leave you with a big grin, no matter where you drive it.

Pros and Cons Power ✓ Thrills ✓ Handling ✓ Kit ✓ Pricey X Rear room X

Fast Facts Max speed: 155 mph (optionally raised to 174mph) 0-62 mph: 4.3 secs Combined mpg: 34.9 Engine: 2480cc 5 cylinder 20 valve turbo petrol Max. power (bhp): 362 Max. torque (lb.ft): 343 CO2: 189 g/km Price: £39,950 on the road.

2015 December | 65

FINEmotors

Northern Distributor Road

he NDR is only one of the ‘Transport for Norwich’ schemes currently

66 | December 2015

in the programme or under development that may be of interest to you For example, other schemes include the city

centre changes introduced last year, and a second round of changes that will begin early next year, taking traffic off more

city streets, including Westlegate and part of All Saints Green to link John Lewis with the main retail heart, and improved access to car parks, including the new Rose Lane multi-storey. There is also a large programme of cycle network improvements, including the Tombland works that are underway (led by www.finecity.co.uk

FINEmotors

Norwich City Council). When it comes to the NDR itself, one of its main purposes is to take traffic out of the city so that other transport schemes can be developed, including Bus Rapid Transit. The NDR has received Development Consent in June and preliminary works www.finecity.co.uk

should start this autumn, with main construction beginning around March next year, 2016. Completion is scheduled for late 2017. At the moment there is a legal challenge to the way the County Council approved funding for increased costs. If this is disposed of quickly it should not impact too much on

the programme or main start of works, but that is a matter for the court. This challenge has also delayed our website updates, with the exception of information about the Postwick Hub development, which will provide the NDR connection to the A47 at Postwick.

More information on this is here: http://www.norfolk.gov. uk/Postwick .

2015 December | 67

“If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you're not sure you can do it, say yes - then learn how to do it later”

What is Residual Income? What is Residual Income and how does it work? You have probably heard the expression that “the rich get richer while the poor get poorer.” It’s often used to explain the unfairness when it comes to money. However I don’t think this is unfair at all. The reason it happens is because the rich focus on a completely different way of earning money. There are thousands of stories about poor people who accumulated great riches and this choice is available to all of us. Richard Branson, Alan Sugar, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Oprah were not born into riches. Yet over their lifetimes they’ve amassed huge personal fortunes. This is because they understand and use the power of leverage through residual income. What Is Active Income? Active income comes as a direct result of our efforts. This is when we work for one hour and get paid a certain amount 68 | December 2015

for that hours work. This can be seen in wages, salaries, and selfemployed service providers like lawyers or doctors. There are many people who get paid vast amounts of money to become the CEO of a company, play professional sports, or star in a movie. Earning a high active income is often a lot of hard work and requires a dedication beyond most of us. It’s also limited because no matter how much money you get paid you still need to show up to work to earn your money. What Is Residual (Or Passive) Income? Residual income is when you continue to get paid after the work is done. This includes royalties from books, movies, or songs and also income that comes from property or business investments where you don’t actually have to be present to earn it. For example, Bill Gates is still making a residual income from Microsoft even though he isn’t working there anymore.

Residual income comes from building an asset that continues to pay you after the work has been done. A book, movie or song is an asset to the people earning royalties from it. A house is an asset to the landlord being paid rent and a business is an asset to the business owner who does not need to be involved in the day-to-day activities anymore. The Passive Income Myth Many people talk about passive income and create the impression that you never have to

do anything to keep that income going. The truth is that you will normally have to keep your eye on things if you want it to run smoothly. For example Richard Branson doesn’t run any of the 400+ companies he started but he goes over the numbers each day to make sure they’re performing well and calls the CEO if there are any problems. There is also an idea that we should work to build a passive income asset and then sit on the beach relaxing for the rest of our lives. The truth is that most www.finecity.co.uk

people would get extremely bored with this scenario and will be eager to find something to do. That’s why the world’s billionaires continue to work… they love what they do and it stopped being about the money a long time ago. How To Build Residual Or Passive Income The key idea here is leverage. You must be able to leverage other people’s time or other people’s money in order to create a residual income. Richard www.finecity.co.uk

Branson can run 400+ companies because he isn’t actually running any of them at all. His CEOs are. To create residual income, you need to create something that people will continue to buy on a regular basis long after you’ve created it. Utilities is a prime example of this as people will continue to pay for Gas, Electric, Phones and Broadband month after month after month. A business needs to have products that are sold over and over again rather than trading the business owner’s time for money.

The First Steps To Creating Residual Income The first thing is to be aware of how you work for active or residual income. Then you want to decide a path that transitions from active to residual income over time. It’s hard to start a new business and create residual income tomorrow so you have to have some patience. As you make more residual income you can start to scale back the hours you put into active income. This will mean your residual income will grow

even faster once you pay it more attention. As Jim Rohn was famous for saying: “I’m working full-time on my job and part time on my fortune. But it won’t be long before I’m working full-time on my fortune. Can you imagine what my life will look like?”

For more information on Residual Income: www. AskMeHow.co.uk or Call / Text me: 07802 690589 2015 December | 69

The Hazards Of A Homemade Will A Will is probably the most important document you will ever have drawn up so why do it yourself rather than instructing a solicitor? It is probably safe to assume that many people who choose the homemade route do it to save money but little do they realise that it may cost their family a great deal of money when a lawyer has to sort things out after their death. Common problems with homemade Wills include: •

•

For a Will to be legally binding it must be signed by the person making it and witnessed by two independent adults who must be present at the same time. If they sign at different times the Will is invalid. If someone who may benefit from the Will acts as a witness this could compromise their inheritance. The Will is lost!

If you instruct a lawyer to draw up your Will you will meet a legally qualified person who 70 | December 2015

listens to what you want and advises on how your wishes can be carried out. It is important that your Will is stored safely and can be found easily. Your lawyer will store the Will for you free of charge in a strong room or safe and some will send you reminders to review your Will to make sure it is up to date. Be careful when it comes to cheap Will writers as they are often not legally qualified and they may make an annual storage charge which could cost you several hundred pounds. We advise you not to cut corners when making a Will as this may lead to high legal costs or an invalid Will which could mean your assets being left to those you don’t wish to benefit. If you would like to discuss making a Will contact AnnMarie Matthews at Nicholson Solicitors on 01603 478567 or email amatthews@ nicholsonslaw.com.

JTD 14111 Nicholsons Advert.qxp_Layout 1 07/01/2015 13:06 Page 1

If you need a will, Nicholsons make it easy... Making a Will is the only way to protect your family and assets for the future. Nicholsons specialise in Will writing, inheritance tax planning, Powers of Attorney and property trusts. We pride ourselves on making the whole process as easy as possible either by meeting in our office or visiting you in the comfort of your own home. If you are interested in discussing a Will or any other legal matter contact Ann-Marie Matthews on 01603 478567 or email amatthews@nicholsonslaw.com

Nicholsons Solicitors LLP, 97 Yarmouth Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR7 0HF

SPECIA L OFFER with this simple w advert ill fo or pair fo r £110* r £150*

Tel: 01603 478567 Email: info@nicholsonslaw.com www.nicholsonslaw.com

* Excluding VAT

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Stunning, responsive websites from the creators of

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2015 December | 71

Trusted by local families since 1925 George Bush 93 Oak Street 01603 764157 St Stephens Square 01603 625495 321c Aylsham Road

01603 483060 Witard Road 01603 431797

72 | December 2015

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Hearing Aids & Happiness By Hearing Care Centre Managing Director Karen Finch In terms of our health, happiness is a miracle drug. It can help us live longer, be more optimistic — even increase marital satisfaction. We’re all aware that smiling and laughing are physical signs of happiness and joy, yet characteristics of a perpetually happy person depend on how satisfied they are with various aspects of their life. And since finding happiness is a personal journey, here’s a tip to start you on your way: of you have hearing loss, wear hearing aids. Hearing aids improve relationships At home: Research indicates that individuals with hearing loss who wear hearing instruments have better relationships with family members, friends and colleagues than those with untreated hearing loss. A Hearthe-World Foundation survey of more than 4,300 people about hearing aids and relationships revealed: 69.7% believe hearing aids have improved their relationships. 81% whose partner has been fitted with a hearing aid say they

are glad. 40% say they receive more attention from their partner. More specifically, married couples say hearing aids make it easier to carry on a conversation and relate to each other on an interpersonal level. They also say hearings aids diminished feelings of frustration, anger, depression, loneliness, stress and anxiety they were experiencing before wearing the instruments. With friends: Studies indicate people are happiest when they are connected to a social group, a characteristic threatened by untreated hearing loss. Amplification reduces the risk of self-imposed isolation, helping you hear the punch line the first time the joke is told or feel more comfortable participating in the conversation at your neighbour’s BBQ. In the workplace: When the Better Hearing Institute conducted a study of hearing loss in the workplace, seven in 10 participants reported improvement in their ability to communicate when they wore hearing aids. That means an increased ability to hear

what’s being said in meetings, understanding telephone conversations more clearly — and even more enjoyment interacting with your co-workers in the break room. Hearing aids improve earning potential A 2011 study by the Better Hearing Institute found untreated hearing loss can cost an employee as much as £20,000 in lost income every year. On the flip side, those who wear hearing aids to treat mild hearing loss reduce that loss by as much as 90 to 100 percent. In EuroTrak and JapanTrak surveys conducted in 2012, 60 percent of hearing aid users said they found hearing aids to be of significant use in the workplace. Hearing aids enhance cultural experiences Hearing aids bolster selfconfidence and give users a better sense of safety and independence. That might just give you the push you need to resume other activities you enjoy, such as attending concerts, the theatre — or even just appreciating the sweet sounds of nature on a winter walk. Music: Whether you like Beethoven, the Beatles or the Beastie Boys, listening to music is a pastime that invokes a lot of emotion. Neuroscientists say

listening to music stimulates dopamine which makes us happy. Music also lowers stress levels, improves our immune system and memory, and inspires us to exercise. Although today’s hearing aids are programmed to better understand speech, hearing aid users in a survey conducted by researchers at the University of Cambridge found they were helpful for listening to music, too. Theatre: There’s no reason to sacrifice the joy you receive from attending the theatre or a night at the cinema because it’s just too hard to hear what’s being said. Today’s hearing aids are becoming more and more adept at separating speech from background noise. And, thanks to UK legislation, many venues have installed hearing loops which literally pipe the dialogue right to your hearing aids. Nature: In a 2013 study by the David Suzuki Foundation, more than 10,000 people studied spent 30 minutes in nature every day for 30 days. As a result, they reported an increased sense of well-being, more energy, reduced feelings of stress and negativity, fewer sleep disturbances, better job productivity and more happiness. Being outside and experiencing nature reduces stress levels, improves your vitality, improves overall mental wellness and boosts your immunity. In short, it makes you happy. So, if you can’t remember the last time you heard the birds sing or the crickets chirp, it may be time to make an appointment with an audiologist at The Hearing Care Centre and have your hearing checked. Your first step to living happier and healthier may just be a phone call away. Call 01473 230330 to book an appointment. Karen Finch is the Managing Director and lead audiologist at The Hearing Care Centre. The multi-award winning, family-run company has 20 centres across Suffolk and Norfolk. For more information visit www.hearingcarecentre.co.uk or call 01473 230330.

www.finecity.co.uk

2015 December | 73

FineCity Magazine FineCity Magazine is THE premier lifestyle magazine for the fine city of Norwich. Available for collection throughout the city centre. Also read online.

Shepherd’s Crook Shepherd’s Crook is extremely sumptuous with full-size double bed, freesat flatscreen TV, and fully equipped kitchen including fridge and dishwasher. And unlike a lot of shepherd’s huts, our WC and shower is truly en-suite - you don’t need to go outside! Based on the edge of Framlingham Suffolk Call Becky on 07778 381953 for availability.

Antenatal Courses Increase your knowledge and confidence around labour and birth, becoming a new parent, and looking after and feeding your newborn baby. Small groups offer an opportunity to make life-long friends.

Free Early Pregnancy Class www.aboutbirthandbabies.co.uk 01508 536990

Make the most of your retirement Michael Boon is your local Equity Release Council member for professional independent advice. If you are interested in releasing a tax-free lump sum from your home then Michael will be delighted to guide you through the different types of equity release schemes available to find the best plan for your needs.

To find out more call Michael on 01508 483983 or visit www.businessmattersifa.co.uk

with equity release

Equity release schemes allow you to release tax-free cash from your home to boost your finances in later life • Many clients use this money to repay an existing mortgage, make home improvements, buy a new car and even go on a holiday of a life time, while others may wish to offer financial assistance to their children or to improve their own quality of life in retirement. • Business Matters is qualified and registered through the Financial Conduct Authority to offer a valuable equity release service for homeowners aged 55 or over. • Business Matters only recommend approved schemes from The Equity Release Council.

BusinessMatters

This is a lifetime mortgage, to understand the features and risks ask for a personalised illustration. Business Matters is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No. 301141.

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Shop with us: in centre | at home | on the go

Come and play for longer this Christmas! We’re open ‘til 8pm throughout December (9pm on Thursdays). Except Sundays 11am - 5pm