Essential Suffolk December 2014

December 2014 | Priceless

Essential SUFFOLK

STRICTLY DARCEY Darcey Bussell talks exclusively to Essential Suffolk Theatre | Food | Fashion | Gifts | Homes & Interiors | Elite Properties

www.essentialsuffolk.com

CELEBRATING ALL THAT MAKES OUR COUNTY GREAT

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DECEMBER 2014

Lesley Rawlinson Director lesley@achievemoremedia.co.uk T: 01473 809932 M: 07519 477583

Adrian Rawlinson Director adrian@achievemoremedia.co.uk T: 01473 809932 M: 07718 149307

Alison Watson Account Manager alison@achievemoremedia.co.uk T: 01473 809932 M: 07546 485204

Anne Gould Editor editor@achievemoremedia.co.uk M: 07411 701010

Paul Newman Designer paul@newman-design.com

Cover: Strictly Come Dancing – courtesy of BBC

| Welcome

WELCOME There’s a time when you are young when Christmas is very much about what you are going to receive under the tree on December 25. But as we get older – and hopefully wiser – the magic of Christmas is much more about giving, entertaining, relaxing and hospitality. It’s about treasuring those once-in-a-lifetime moments when your little ones participate in the school nativity or star in the school carol service. It’s about having family to stay, meeting friends and sharing in traditional festivities, dressing the house, buying the turkey, trips to the theatre, reading lovely books and making plans for Boxing Day walks.

It’s also about making all the right preparations to make sure the Season goes without a hitch and it’s with all of this in mind that Essential Suffolk has come up with planning guides a-plenty; for gifts, recipes, wine, pantomimes and Christmas shows. Dare I say it, but Christmas is also about television – Carols at King’s, Downton Abbey and of course Strictly Come Dancing. That’s why we are thrilled to have interviewed Strictly judge, Darcey Bussell who talked not just about dance but her philanthropic work as well. For those who enjoy books we’ve talked to Esther Freud about her latest novel, Mr Mac and Me – an essential gift for anyone who loves reading and the county.

We’ve also taken a look at a charity that knows that the fallout from Christmas will inevitably mean a burgeoning roll call – The Blue Cross.

Rehoming unwanted pets is at the forefront of its efforts and plans for a new centre on the outskirts of Ipswich is very welcome news.

The magazine is also packed with all your regular goodies including fashion, homes and interiors, property and gardening. Don’t forget you can keep up to date with what’s going on by following us on Twitter @EssentialSFK and visiting our website essentialsuffolk.com.

Happy reading and best wishes for the festive season,

See all our Social photos at essentialsuffolk.com Follow us on twitter @EssentialSFK

TERMS AND CONDITIONS Copyright on all content is with Achieve More Media Limited.

Reproduction in part or whole if forbidden without the express permission of the publishers. All prices, events and times were to the best of our knowledge correct at the time of going to press and you are encouraged to contact the venue prior to booking.

All expressions and opinions within the publication are those of the editor including contributors. Essential Suffolk is a trading name of Achieve More Media Limited.

Anne Gould Anne Gould Editor editor@achievemoremedia.co.uk

Essential SUFFOLK is Suffolk’s most exclusive magazine delivered only to individually selected homes, businesses and venues. It is brought to you each month with the valued support of our commercial partners. Please let them know you saw them here.

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KITCHENS BATHROOMS BEDROOMS HOME OFFICES HOME CINEMAS LIBRARIES

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Contents

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24

37

73

56

60

FEATURES

24

Christmas Shows

28 37

Blue Cross

58

56

On writing about Suffolk and her new novel

Pantomimes and theatre trips for the Festive Season

Rehoming unwanted pets

Gorgeous Gifts Inspiring ideas for your Christmas shopping

REGULARS

15 16

Books for Christmas Gift ideas for the book lovers in your life

23

PEOPLE

10

Esther Freud

Darcey Bussell Talks dance, Strictly and philanthropy

32

Suffolk in Brief News from around the county

What’s On Where to go and what to see in Suffolk during December

Mini Previews Caroline Wiseman Contemporary Christmas Art Show and the Christmas Fayre at Jimmy’s Farm

Fashion Ideas for stylish gifts

60

Food and Drink

73 77 78 79

Homes & Interiors

92

Essential Faces

98

My Suffolk

Christmas recipes from top Suffolk chefs plus Christmas wine picks from Adnams’ Rob Chase

Christmas decorations

Antiques & Auctions James Neal takes an iron in hand

Gardening Travelling for winter inspiration

Property A selection of our county’s finest homes for sale

Highlights from Suffolk’s social calendar

Sarah Holmes, Chief Executive of the New Wolsey Theatre

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DECEMBER 2014

STRICTLY DARCEY The BBC’s ever popular Strictly Come Dancing is drawing to its Christmas finale.

Anne Gould speaks to judge and ballerina Darcey Bussell

S

aturday mornings, when the nation is getting a lie-in after a working week, is always a guaranteed early start during Strictly season – even for the judges. “I leave home at 7.30am, it’s an hour’s drive to Elstree Studios and it can be a long long day. Once we finish the live event, I don’t think it’s any secret that we then go on to pre-record the Sunday show,” says Darcey Bussell. In fact there’s very often so much prerecording that the live audience don’t always see what goes out on TV. “Sometimes there will be a performer who is only available on a certain date and so they are pre-recorded like Celine Dionne, last year, who was in the studio five weeks ahead of it being shown on television.” This means there’s the added complication for Darcey in particular of needing to know what she’s going to be wearing – not just on the day but five weeks in advance too. Of course the glitz, the glamour, the frocks and the footwear are very much a hallmark of the show, not just for the performers but for Darcey, Tess and Claudia too.

Darcey says, “I am very lucky with my management team and have a stylist and we have a lovely time choosing clothes which we rent from designers.” They are beautiful and incredibly expensive

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dresses, she says, but probably not the sort of clothes that you’d wear every day.

And there are those impossibly beautiful and teeteringly high shoes to contend with too – not that she’s complaining.

“Tess as a former model is an expert in walking in them but although Claudia and I love them I wouldn’t say we were exactly comfortable. I think Claudia is just trying to be as tall as Tess.”

Of course this year is something special – because the standard of the dancers is so high and, she says, it makes it so much harder to see people’s journeys. “Each contestant will always find one dance easier than the others and another that’s more difficult. Even so it’s hard to tell who will make it to the final. But you fall in love with all of them, they are all lovely people and they are all enjoying being on the programme so much.” Whether they are finding that dancing comes naturally – or not – they all put in so many hours and really do their best. “Take Judy Murray – it’s so lovely that she was paired with Anton.

Strictly was so different from her life which has been really strict and she’s had to be incredibly disciplined with her boys.” No matter what their background though Darcey says that TV doesn’t

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Celebrity Interview | Darcey Bussell

show everything – the butterflies before the celebrities perform have to be seen to be believed – “people are often literally physically shaking with nerves”.

Even the most natural celebrity dancers make mistakes she says – but it’s often covered up by clever camera angles, smoke across the floor and a dress that maybe kindly suggests a hip action that isn’t, perhaps, there.

Of course Darcey knows only too well about nerves – she spent a lifetime perfecting her art and was a contemporary at ballet school with Suffolk born dancer Gary Avis who is Ballet Master at the Royal Ballet and well known to regular readers. “Nerves are only natural but for some people its total fear. You can use it to your advantage using breathing techniques and reminding yourself that you’ve done the work.” For Darcey, her performances at the most prestigious venues across the world lasted for up to three hours rather than a matter of minutes and there were inevitably mistakes, “You cannot do a live performance, with an orchestra and other dancers for that long without something going wrong, but as a professional you know how to hide it.” ‰ Photograph courtesy of Sanctury Spa

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AT HOM E . . .

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Celebrity Interview | Darcey Bussell

Aside from her one comeback – at the closing ceremony of the Olymic Games, where she led 200 dancers, including Gary, she’s left the life of a performer behind her.

Not surprisingly, leaving Strictly aside, she’s still very much involved particularly in dance and philanthropy.

She is President of the Royal Academy of Dance and involved in giving grants to talented young people who might not otherwise have opportunities to take their dancing to the next level. Darcey is also patron of a number of small dance companies, and is thrilled that she’s able to make a real difference. Another charity that’s close to her heart is Borne – an organisation funding research into premature birth – because

both her daughters, Zoe and Phoebe, were premature due to pre-eclampsia.

But there are a couple of other projects keeping her busy too; she’s working on a documentary about Audrey Hepburn which is due to be screened some time before Christmas. “She was obviously such an icon for me as a dancer.

I watched her movies and she was always dancing, especially in those early films. I fell in love with her. Of course she trained as a ballet dancer until she was 19 when she changed career and became an actress. She got a scholarship to the Royal Ballet School, which was then Rambert, and she actually trained in the same studios that I did when I was five-years-old.” Darcey says it was a real honour and a great experience to be able to talk to people who knew Audrey

including actor Robert Wolders – who was her last partner.

In her final project she’s reaching out to one and all with ‘Dancing Futures’ which aims to get us all on our feet and use movement as a method of fitness.

It’s based on a number of different genres – Latin, Flamenco, 70s Disco, Samba, Charleston and traditional Scottish and Irish dancing too.

“The idea is that it’s a really fun programme and during a class you’ll do two to four minutes of ten to 12 styles of dance. “We’ve created the music but the idea is not so much to do this in your own home but to go to a class in a dance hall or a gym.” There’s no set launch date just yet but, says Darcey – watch this space.

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News

SUFFOLK in brief Seckford Hall is delighted to announce the appointment of Ian Kyle as the new Head Chef of the hotel. Ian joins Seckford Hall with a wealth of experience in both local hotels and London restaurants. Ian commented: “I’m really excited about my move to Seckford Hall Hotel and being involved in the re-development of the restaurant. I’m currently working on designing a new menu concept centered on my passion for local, seasonal and ethical produce. I firmly believe that if you love food it will love you back. I’ve built my career on loving what I do. Coming to work every day is not a chore, it’s fulfilling my passion for food.

Good, tasty, wholesome and fresh food is therefore what I aim to deliver.”

A recently launched scheme that encourages people to shop locally in Woodbridge is backing the national campaigns of Indie Christmas and Small Business Saturday UK, which takes place on the 6th December. Both campaigns aim to highlight small business success, encourages people to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities.The recently launched Local Values promotion in Woodbridge and the surrounding area is offering vouchers to every customer visiting a Local Values member business on Saturday 6th December.

Customers visiting any of the 40 participating businesses in Woodbridge and surrounding area on the day will be rewarded with a seasonal Local Values 10% Discount Voucher, regardless of how much they spend (normally £20 minimum), which is valid for one month and can help towards their Christmas shopping. More information about the national Small Business Saturday campaign on the 6th December is available at www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com and Indie Christmas www.indiechristmas.co.uk

The CLA has said the Government’s announcement to increase the maximum speed limit for conventional tractors from next March will make British farming more competitive and the roads safer. The Association, which represents landowners, farms and rural businesses, said it welcomed the changes to tractor speeds but was

disappointed that the maximum weight on trailers will not be increased further. CLA Eastern Regional Director Nicola Currie said: “Raising the speed limit to 25mph will bring the UK’s speed limit into line with the majority of Europe, making British farming businesses more competitive. Not only that, roads will become safer as unnecessary congestion is reduced along with the risk of accidents associated with overtaking”

Ipswich fashion boutique Marianna (recently voted one of the top premium independent boutiques in the country by Drapers) has changed ownership with Emma Lloyd selling to Arabella Brown. Emma said “When I bought Marianna seven years ago, my dream was to build the boutique into a leading light in Suffolk's fashion world. The time is now right for me to hand over the reigns to a new owner. I am incredibly excited for Arabella Brown, an expert in the fashion and media industry, who will be taking over Marianna on 1st December 2014. Arabella qualified through the London College of Fashion in 2012 and her style credentials make her a natural successor.”

Three Suffolk pubs, The Packhorse Inn at Moulton, The Ramsholt Arms and The Shepherd & Dog at Forward Green, have been included in the 2015 edition of the Michelin guide to eating out in pubs.The guide features over 590 pubs from Great Britain and Ireland and all the pubs have been selected first and foremost for the quality of their food.

St Joseph’s College in Ipswich has appointed six new governors. Paul Clement who was appointed as chairman of the governors in the summer has thanked the group for their commitment.The appointments include John Button, senior partner at Castons Chartered Surveyors and Penny Cavanagh, dean of academic affairs at UCS. Curent parents appointed are Renata Chester and Penny Glading while former pupils joining the board are Joe Cook and Phil Dennis.

Suffolk favourite Blythburgh Pigs has recently been awarded the title of Producer Retailer of the Year at the National Pig Awards held at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington.

Every week Blythburgh Pigs supplies over 100 independent retail butchers and farm shops across England and Wales as well as two national catering butchers.Via the latter, its

pork makes its way to Heston Blumenthal’s two flagship restaurants, the Fat Duck and The Hinds Head at Bray.

Ipswich High School is celebrating the success of its school ski squad following recent selection competitions across the Eastern Region and England. Pupils, Emma Dereve (aged 15), Antonia Durant (aged 15), Scarlett McCabe-Abel (aged 14), Natasha Royal (aged 15), Grace Levene (aged 13) and Alexa Elliff (aged 11) have all been selected for the England Schools National Squads and will attend training in Europe next Spring.This is an incredible achievement as only 30 out of 500 ski racers throughout the UK have been chosen to join the elite training camps.The squad has also gained two team places for the British Schoolgirls Ski Racing in January 2015.

Natasha, Antonia, Emma and Scarlett are also being considered for the World School Ski Championships in Italy next year.

The New Wolsey Theatre has announced that its Chair of the Board David Edwards is to stand down at the end of his term in office.

He will be replaced by Richard Lister, current Vice Chair, and Provost at University Campus Suffolk, from Wednesday 10 December 2014.

Richard said: “It’s a privilege to be asked to Chair the New Wolsey Board following David who leaves a splendid legacy. The New Wolsey Theatre is close to the hearts of many people and plays a central role in the cultural life of our town.The financial squeeze on arts organisations is acute but the Board will face this challenge, support the outstanding management and staff, and help them continue to bring outstanding productions to this fantastic theatre”

More news can always be found at www.essentialsuffolk.com/content

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DECEMBER 2014

WHAT’S ON Hits from the Blitz: We’ll Meet Again The Apex, Bury St Edmunds 2.15pm

NOVEMBER 27 – JANUARY 31

Beauty and The Beast New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich Rock ’n’ Roll pantomime See Christmas Shows pages 24 to 27 Box Office: 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

NOVEMBER 28 – JANUARY 11

Cinderella Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds See Christmas Shows pages 24 to 27 Box Office: 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org

DECEMBER 2

by award-winning pianist Lucy Parham, interspersed with extracts from their letters and diaries, which are read by actors Martin Jarvis and Joanna David.

Tickets: £18, £15 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk Madam Butterfly Ipswich Regent, 7.30pm Opera & Ballet International proudly presents an Ellen Kent Production featuring the Chisinau National Opera and Philharmonic with international guest soloists.

Back by overwhelming public demand, this award winning Opera returns with exquisite sets including a spectacular Japanese garden and fabulous costumes including antique wedding kimonos.

Box Office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

DECEMBER 4

Let’s Twist Again The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm

John Cooper Clarke The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm Britain’s best loved performance poet, John is as vital now as he was in the 70s; his biting, satirical, political and very funny verse, delivered in a unique rapid-fire performance style. Support is from Luke Wright, a Suffolk resident whose poems regularly feature on BBC Radio 3 and 4.

Tickets: £20 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

DECEMBER 3

Beloved Clara The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm An evening that brings to life the story of the intense relationship between Robert Schumann, his wife Clara and Johannes Brahms. Music by all three is performed 16

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Billed as the ‘Greatest 50s & 60s Music Show ever’ starring BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing lead singer Chris Madin with a full company of critically acclaimed artistes and musicians, the show combines fun and laughter with the greatest hits of Elvis, Dusty, Buddy, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Lulu, Sandie Shaw and many more.

Tickets: £22.50 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

Christmas matinee of the unique ‘feel-good’ 1940s show, as featured at Dame Vera Lynn’s Charity Gala Nights. Famous war-time tunes and ‘sing-a-long’ songs brought to life by the singers and multi-instrumentalists of the Five Star Swing band. Tickets: £15 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

DECEMBER 5

ABBA Party Night The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Swedish pop sensations ABBA winning the Eurovision Song Contest. ‘1974 ABBA Tribute Show’ is renowned for authentic voices, musical excellence and original costumes.

Tickets: £20 Box Office: 01284 758000 Chelsworth Christmas Fair All Saints’ Church, Chelsworth, 1pm – 8pm An afternoon and evening of shopping, Christmas carols and mince pies. More than 20 stalls crammed with local crafts and produce, plus raffle, lucky dip and complimentary mulled wine or hot spiced apple juice.

Entry: £5, children free.

Information: peterprobert@btconnect.com

DECEMBER 5 – 7

Lavenham Christmas Fair Market Place, Lavenham Lights switch on at 6pm December 5th.

There is fun for all the family at this Dickensian themed traditional Christmas fair.

With bouncy castle and donkey rides, Santa’s grotto, live music, festive stalls, lantern walk and of course mulled wine and mince pies.

DECEMBER 5 – 31

Cinderella Mercury Theatre, Colchester See Christmas Shows pages 24 to 27 Box Office: 01206 573948 www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

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What’s On DECEMBER 6

Bulmer Christmas Fayre Bulmer Village Hall, Sudbury, 2 – 5pm With more than 20 local traders with crafts, cakes, jewellery, beauty products, chocolates, glass, art, children’s gifts, cards, candles, many of which are handmade and unique.

Entry: free Information: 01787 373451 Farmers Markets Beccles, Beccles Heliport, 9am –1pm Metfield, Village Hall, 9am – 12 noon Snape Maltings, 9.30am –1pm

DECEMBER 6 – 7

Santa Special Mid-Suffolk Light Railway, Wetheringsett For children up to 10. Ride on a special steam train from Brockford Station to North Pole Halt for an individual visit to Santa in Christmas Brake Van. A gift for each child, children's entertainment, storyteller and a mince pie and drink for everyone.

(Also December 13 & 14 and 21) www.mslr.org.uk

with a refreshing cavalier attitude and plenty of humour putting their inimitable stamps on a range of familiar and not-so-familiar festive fare.

Tickets: 20 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

Giant Christmas Fayre Jimmy’s Farm, Ipswich See mini preview page 23

DECEMBER 7

Father Christmas at the Mill The Pakenham Water Mill, Bury St Edmunds Mill opens at 3pm, Father Christmas arrives at 4.30pm to hand out presents to all the excited boys and girls.

Woodbridge Mammoth Christmas Street Fair Organised by Choose Woodbridge Partnership. Stalls line the bustling Thoroughfare and Cumberland Street and the range of gifts and produce is outstanding.

You’ll be spoilt for choice and delighted to be in the very heart of this lovely market town. choosewoodbridge.co.uk

DECEMBER 8

Carols & Capers 2014 The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 8pm Maddy Prior & The Carnival Band mixes renaissance, modern and ethnic instruments

Compagnia TPO presents

Butterflies

DECEMBER 10

Soul Legends The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 8pm Hits by Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Lionel Richie, Barry White, Wilson Pickett, Earth Wind & Fire, George Benson, Sam & Dave, Eddie Floyd, Kool & the Gang, Chaka Khan, Edwin Starr & many more.

Tickets: £22 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

modern fine dining & country bar.

13 – 22 DECEMBER A TRULY MAGICAL SHOW FOR CHRISTMAS FOR AGES 4YRS+

FAMILY TICKET

£25

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DECEMBER 2014

Dance for Parkinson’s Taster Workshop Jerwood Dance House, Ipswich In association with English National Ballet.

Contact: 01473 295230 www.danceeast.co.uk

DECEMBER 14

DECEMBER 16

The Taste of the Continent Woodbridge Market Hill, 10am – 3pm

A West End Musical Christmas Snape Maltings Concert Hall, 4pm and 7.30pm

Chef and restaurateur Ugur Vata of the Galley restaurant, is behind Woodbridge’s second Continental food market. Bringing together some of the very best and tastiest food and drink from across Europe, directly to you.

Stalls laden with Spanish chorizo, olives from Greece, figs picked in Turkey, sausages made in Portugal, Bulgarian Borek’s and much more awaits.

DECEMBER 12 – 14

Christmas Spectacular Snape Maltings Co-op Juniors Theatre Company (also December 16 & 17 and 19 – 21) See Christmas Shows pages 24 to 27 Box Office: 01728 687110 www.aldeburgh.co.uk

Farmers Markets Assington, The Barn, 10am – 2pm

From the team behind Frank and Ella’s Swingin’ Christmas comes a new musical treat. Four top West-End artists and a live band combine timeless Christmas classics with hit songs from musicals you’ll know and adore including The King & I, Showboat, The Sound of Music, Carousel, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and many, many more. www.adleburgh.co.uk

DECEMBER 14 AND 15 DECEMBER 13

Cratfield Christmas Fayre St Mary’s Church, Cratfield, 2pm – 5pm Crafts, prize draws, yummy homemade cakes and teas, mulled wine and mince pies.

Entry: free Information: Margaret Thompson 01986 799021 Farmers Markets Halesworth, Town Centre 9am – 1pm Woodbridge, Community Centre, 9am –1pm

RSPB Birds by Barge Stour Estuary Join the RSPB for a first-class wildlife spectacle along the Stour Estuary. See a fantastic wildlife spectacle with magnificent views from a 118 year-old Thames Sailing Barge. Thousands of birds (and hopefully a seal or two) to be seen en route from Harwich to Mistley and back. Hot food and drinks are served below deck.

Information: 01206 391153 or stourestuary@rspb.org.uk

We have the perfect gift!

Purchase our gift vouchers online or at any Milsom Hotels property www.milsomhotels.com/giftvouchers www.milsomhotels.com

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What’s On DECEMBER 20 – JANUARY 3

DECEMBER 22

DECEMBER 23

Cinderella Ipswich Regent

Father Christmas needs a Wee The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 2pm

An Albion Christmas The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 8pm

See Christmas Shows pages 24 to 27 Box office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

At every house Father Christmas eats and drinks the tasty treats that have been left for him. But when he reaches number ten he realises that he’s forgotten to do something rather important and he really, really, really needs a WEE! TaleGate Theatre hit the perfect combination of witty humour, fantastic music and the extra sparkle for which they have become known in this fabulously funny and brilliantly bouncy musical adaptation of Nicholas Allan’s much loved book.

Tickets: £12, £10 (family £38) Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

Featuring the combined talents of Simon Nicol (Fairport Convention), Kellie While (Albion Band) Simon Care (Edward II) and the Guvnor himself, Ashley Hutchings, this show takes you on a guided tour through the Christmas customs of Britain.

Tickets: £18 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

DECEMBER 20

Farmers Markets Harkstead, VillageHall, 9am – 12 noon Aldeburgh, Church Hall, 9am – 12.30pm Beccles, Beccles Heliport, 9am – 1pm Debenham, Community Centre, 9am – 1pm Woodbridge, Community Hall, 9am –12.30pm Snape Maltings, 11am – 2.30pm

DECEMBER 21

Farmers Market Lavenham, Village Hall, 10am – 1.30pm Father Christmas sails into Snape Snape Maltings, 12 noon See this wonderful Suffolk tradition as Father Christmas arrives by historic Thames sailing barge.

DECEMBER 28

The Magic of Minsmere weekend walks RSPB Minsmere, near Dunwich If you've never been to Minsmere, then this is the walk for you. www.rspb.org.uk

To see more event listings and tell us about your event visit

essentialsuffolk.com We cannot guarantee inclusion in print but all suitable listings will be included online

“Python meets Blyton…it's really quite humerus” Sir John Mills Theatre, Ipswich, IP1 2LQ Dec 3rd - Jan 10th Seckford Theatre, Woodbridge, IP12 4JH Jan 13th - 24th

BOX OFFICE: 01473 211498 www.easternangles.co.uk

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What’s On

CHRISTMAS CAROLS, CONCERTS AND TREES DECEMBER 1 – 31

Christmas Tree Festival St Peter’s and St Mary’s Church Stowmarket With trees in the church and The Abbotts Hall at the Museum of East Anglian Life For opening times: www.stowmarketparishchurch.co.uk

Handel’s Messiah St Edmundsbury Cathedral, 7pm St Edmundsbury Cathedral’s annual performance of Handel’s Messiah takes place in the fabulous setting of the Cathedral Nave.

The Cathedral Choir is joined by the St Edmundsbury Singers and the Suffolk Handel Players.

Tickets: £20 www.theatreroyal.org

DECEMBER 3 –10

Christmas Tree Festival St Mary Le Tower Church, Ipswich Entrance is free but proceeds of donations will be shared between the Alzheimers Society, Ipswich Winter Night Shelter and church funds. www.ipswichtreefestival.org.uk

DECEMBER 3

Carols For All United Reformed Church, Stowmarket, 7pm Great Carol Concert, with Stowmarket Salvation Army Band and Songsters, Gt Finborough Primary School Choir and Guests. All proceeds to local charity.

Tickets: Adult £5, under 12s £2 from Expert Stationers, Ipswich Street, Stowmarket or 01449 613378

Southwold Concert Series, Christmas Concert St Edmund’s Church, Southwold, 7.30pm This year the concert will be given by the choral ensemble Seraphim, directed by distinguished choral conductor and singing teacher Vetta Wise, with the Spring Baroque Ensemble, led by violinist James O'Toole.

Tickets: £12, refreshments served after the concert. www.southwoldconcertseries.co.uk

DECEMBER 9

Chapel Choir of Selwyn College Cambridge St Mary’s Church, Bury St Edmunds A Christmas concert conducted by Sarah Macdonald www.theatreroyal.org

DECEMBER 6

DECEMBER 12

Christmas Jubilation St John the Baptist Church, Ipswich, 7.30pm

Christmas Concert Aldeburgh Parish Church, 7pm

Ipswich Bach Choir and Ipswich Chamber Orchestra. JS Bach – Selection from the Christmas Oratorio, J Rutter – Nativity Carol and Shepherd’s Pipe Carol. A selection of carols for audience participation.

Tickets: £12 (£5 for students) available from Music World Ipswich, Card Centre Felixstowe and at the door. www.ipswichbachchoir.org.uk

Aldeburgh Music’s chamber choir presents an hour-long sequence of seasonal music and readings to herald the festive season and bring their year to a close. The children’s choir formed from cast and chorus of the Britten centenary performances of Noye’s Fludde are the guest choir.

Box office: 01728 687110 www.aldeurgh.co.uk

BBC Radio Suffolk Carol Concert The Apex, Bury St Edmunds 7.30pm

DECEMBER 13

Festive music and readings featuring presenters and Suffolk musicians.

Tickets: £12.50 Information: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk St Peter’s Band Christmas Concert St Peter’s by the Waterfront, Ipswich, 7pm Annual seasonal concert Information: manager@stpetersbythewaterfront.com or 01473 225269

DECEMBER 14

Hark! Shepherd Swains The Grand Hall, Hadleigh Town Hall, 6pm Christmas Music from Shakespeare's Time.

Festive anthems, carols and other sacred music with seasonal secular music bringing Shakespeare’s England vividly to life, including arrangements of popular songs by Thomas Ravenscroft and Richard Dering’s extraordinary ‘Cries of London’, evoking the bustling street life of the capital around 1600.

Ticket Prices: £18, £12 (half-price for full-time students) Box office: 01904 651485 www.ncem.co.uk

DECEMBER 16

Carols by Candlelight The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm The Locrian Ensemble presents a truly magical Christmas concert of carols, Christmas tunes & seasonal surprises performed in lavish period costume.

Tickets: £19.50 (£10 U25s) £49 family www.theapex.co.uk

DECEMBER 18

Christmas by Candlelight Haughley Park Barn, 7.30pm Candlelit Christmas concert in the glorious setting of the barn at historic Haughley Park.

There will be music. There will be candles.

There will be festive food. There will be mulled wine. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost etc. How can you resist?

Tickets: £22 including festive dining www.theatreroyal.org

DECEMBER 21

Orchestra Carols by West Road Church The Apex, Bury St Edmunds 6pm Free concert with donations to St Nicholas Hospice Care www.theapex.co.uk

Ipswich Sings Christmas Grand Hall, Corn Exchange, Ipswich, 7.30pm Once again Ipswich Choral Society steps into the festive limelight to host it’s annual Christmas Community Concert extravaganza.

This year, the choir will be raising money in support of the Mayor’s chosen charities: East Anglia’s Children's Hospices (EACH), Fresh Start – New Beginnings and The Dame Vera Lynn Trust.

Box office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

DECEMBER 22

Open Air Carol Service Market Hill, Woodbridge Woodbridge Rotary Club will be holding their annual Market Hill Carol Service on Shire Hall Steps, Santa will be there handing out sweets and goodies to the children. www.woodbridgerotary.org.uk

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Mini Previews

CHRISTMAS FAYRE

CHRISTMAS SHOW

Jimmy’s Farm, Wherstead nr Ipswich December 6 and 7

The ArtHouse, Aldeburgh Beach December 6 – January 3 Caroline Wiseman Modern and Contemporary has something extra special to celebrate this December – its 25th Christmas Show. For art lovers this is an ideal opportunity to see works by some of the very best contemporary painters and artists including Tracey Emin and Peter Blake, Matisse and Picasso and Suffolk artists Bill Jackson, Tessa Newcomb, Kate Giles and Roger Hardy. There are many brand new works too created by Caroline’s innovative artists in residence scheme at the Lookout tower – a tiny art temple on Aldeburgh beach.

Many of these works are inspired by Aldeburgh and Benjamin Britten, and for those looking for the perfect Christmas present pieces start at around the £75 mark.

Photograph by Nick Ilott

Food and feasting is very much part of the season of goodwill and, for those wanting to impress, Jimmy’s Christmas Fayre is a must. For the grown-ups the event includes cookery demonstrations from celebrity chefs including Masterchef 2014 champion Ping Coombes, the talented pastry chef Will Torrent, turkey expert Paul Kelly and the leading light on East Anglian food, Emma Crowhurst. Meanwhile there’s much for the younger members of the family including a visit to Santa’s grotto, Jimmy’s Farm Nature Trail, the Hobbit House, playgrounds and zip wire. Parents can follow the call of the wild by helping their children build a den in the woods. In addition there will be plenty of opportunity to stock up the kitchen from artisan food producers, crafters and retailers. Visitors to the farm can also see Jimmy’s award-winning turkeys being reared in the great outdoors.

Meanwhile there may also be an opportunity to meet December’s artist in the tower – Suffolk’s Jevan Watkins Jones. “My aim is to do drawings as they evolve in the main room and to use the observatory floor for an object work that brings the house plants of Aldeburgh residents to this space between the land and the sea.” His work deals with people, animals and plants, Jevan studied at The Prince’s Drawing School, London and has worked for two years in Southern France pruning grape vines and while he continues to work as a gardener other projects include Facing Recovery – a dialogistic drawing project with wounded and injured soldiers.

INFORMATION www.carolinewiseman.com

Jimmy Doherty said: “I’m delighted that the event has attracted so many well-known chefs and I can’t wait to get on stage with them to find out what ideas they have for Christmas cooking. I know that preparing for Christmas can be stressful so we have planned a weekend that ticks all the ‘must do’ boxes and, at the same time, is fun for everyone.

Access to all the activities related to the Fayre, the farm shop and parking are free of charge. Tickets for the Nature Trail, which includes the rare breed animals, the playgrounds and the Hobbit House, are £2.50 children, £3.50 adults or a family ticket is £11.50 over the winter months.

INFORMATION www.jimmysfarm.com

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DECEMBER 2014

Oh yes it is!

It’s that time of year when theatre drifts off in the direction of fantasy, fairytale land and family entertainment. Anne Gould checks out your options in Suffolk this Christmas

P

art of the joy of festive theatre is that, even before you’ve chosen the show and booked your tickets, most people and even the children will be familiar with the story you are going to see. There will be some goodies, some baddies, a beautiful wronged young woman, a young man looking for love, comedy characters dressed up in women's clothing and probably some royalty thrown in for good measure. Along the way there will be adversity and misunderstanding but eventually the girl will fall in love with boy and they’ll all live happily ever after. Of course pantomime offers much more – jokes, laughter, live entertainment, songs and the joy of seeing wonder in your little one’s eyes. With familiarity the key there will be not one, not two but three Cinderella’s going to various balls in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Colchester this year with every production offering an experience that’s totally different. Not least living in Suffolk means that we’ve some other amazing choices too – as alongside the traditional pantomimes there are Christmas shows and dance on the bill as well, so get booking and enjoy some Christmas theatre.

Cinderella Ipswich Regent December 20 – January 3 Polish those glass slippers, dust off that pumpkin and get ready to have a ball! Starring singing and acting legend Maureen Nolan as Fairy Godmother, Lee Latchford-Evans from pop group Steps as Prince Charming, Gabrielle Green ‘Katrina’ from CBBC's Wolfblood as Cinderella and Nick Wymer ‘Mr Tubb’ from CITV's My Phone Genie as Baron Hardup the Regent’s Cinderella promises a celebrity filled Christmas outing. There are also some special effects in store – watch with amazement for example as Cinderella’s pumpkin and white mice are transformed into a beautiful coach and horses but will Cinderella remember to leave the ball before midnight? Packed with great songs, amazing dance routines and plenty of laughter, The Ipswich Regent and Enchanted Entertainment promise to bring this best loved pantomime really to life.

Box office: 01473 433100 | www.ipswichregent.com

Cinderella Mercury Theatre, Colchester December 5 – January 11 At the Mercury Theatre they’re ready with the evil laughter, thunder and lightning as the ugly sisters are planning to ruin Cinder’s plans to attend the Prince of Colchester Castle’s ‘posho party’. Cinderella’s home is Stoneybroke Hall where the wicked Baroness Evilla is forcing her to live an awful life as a cleaner, cook, maid and all-round slave. Cinderella’s happiness depends on her best friend Buttons. Can Baroness Evilla be defeated? Does Cinderella’s slipper size up?

Box office 01206 573948 | www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

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Christmas Shows & Pantos

Cinderella Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds November 28 – January 11 Full of fun and sparkle, Cinderella at the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds has been written by former Blue Peter presenter, Peter Duncan. It’s also the first Theatre Royal panto directed by Karen Simpson, Director of the Theatre who has been in post for just over a year. They have filled this traditional story with catchy songs, silly jokes, dastardly villains, swirling dresses and a huge dose of slapstick. Cinders will be played by Aimee Barret with her Prince Charming being played by Julia Cave. The Ugly Sisters, loud in both dress sense and voice, are played by Jon De Ville and James Parkes while the parts of Dandini and Buttons go to Danielle Delys and Matthew Russell-Jones. Cinders’ enchanting Fairy Godmother is played by Sarah-Louise Young who sprinkles her own type of magic throughout the show.

Box Office: 01284 769505 | www.theatreroyal.org

Ground's Christmas shows tend to be adaptations of wellknown folk tales – but with a large dose of musical mayhem, daftness and downright lunacy. They are aimed very much at the family audience. The writing team Pat Whymark and Julian Harries are best known for their hugely successful Christmas shows for Eastern Angles Theatre Company.

Box Office: 07928 765153 | www.commongroundtc.co.uk

Beauty and the Beast New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich November 27 – January 31 There are pantomimes and pantomimes but as ever The New Wolsey is doing a Christmas show in its own special way. The theatre has been wowing audiences with its Rock’n’Roll pantos for some years now and 2014 is no exception, with a production of Beauty And The Beast. This year’s cast of talented actor-musicians feature some familiar faces from previous New Wolsey Theatre shows, tours and pantomimes including Esther Biddle, Daniel Carter Hope, Nicola Bryan, Ben Goffe and Adam Langstaff. The Dame will be played by Eamonn Fleming who has recently played Reg and Brian in The Full Monty, a show that has been nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy.

Originally written by Artistic Director Peter Rowe, and directed this year by Associate Director Rob Salmon, Beauty and The Beast will take you on a foot stomping musical tour with hits like Keep On Runnin’, Somebody To Love, You Can’t Hurry Love and Dancing In The Moonlight.

Box office: 01473 295900 | www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

The Mystery of St Finnigan’s Elbow Sir John Mills Theatre, Ipswich, December 3 – January 10 Seckford Theatre, Woodbridge, January 13 – 24

The Tinder Box Seckford Theatre, Woodbridge, December 17 – 20 St Mary’s Hall, Walton, December 27 – 30 The Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh, January 1 – 3 New Wolsey Studio, January 6 – 10 Adapted by Pat Whymark and Julian Harries from a Hans Christian Andersen story, The Common Ground Theatre Company presents a show that looks to be something quite special. A soldier returning from war along a dusty road meets a witch who promises him gold if he helps her retrieve an old tinder box from a huge hollow tree. Inside the tree he meets the guardians of the gold (and of the tinder box) – three enormous dogs, with eyes as big as saucers! But of course that’s not the whole story. Common

Eastern Angles are renowned for doing Christmas a little bit differently and this year the nationally-acclaimed theatre company is back this with one of its classic off-the-wall comedies. Written by Pat Whymark and Julian Harries the pair have taken Enid Blyton as their inspiration with a Malory Towers influenced mystery. It’s set in a traditional convent featuring school bullies, bossy Nuns, sinister strangers and missing valuables. Regular audiences will be pleased to see the return of the familiar format using a cast of energetic actor musicians playing a whole host of mad-cap characters.

“The year is 1936 and a crisis is looming at a remote convent school in sleepy Suffolk. St Finnigan’s famous ‘funny bone’ has mysteriously vanished. Can Alicia and Lulu, the Trumpington twins, solve the mystery before Cardinal Pecorino arrives on a special visit from Rome? Will Lydia and the Rufty Tufty gang get their comeuppance and…what is Mr Facsimile the Latin Master up to in the bushes?”

Box office: 01473 211498 | www.easternangles.co.uk

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Festive indulgence…

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Christmas Shows & Pantos

Christmas Spectacular – Neverland Snape Maltings December 12 – 21 Peter Pan flies off to Neverland at Snape Maltings Concert Hall this December when the award-winning Co-op Juniors Theatre Company stages its magical Christmas Spectacular!

This year, the group celebrates its tenth anniversary at the world-famous Suffolk venue near Aldeburgh, where audiences have been entranced by the show’s range of music and dance and ambitious staging. The show is inspired by the classic story of Peter Pan, given a new twist with an original production featuring the company’s large scale musical numbers, a talented 90-strong cast and a new stage set.

Captain Hook, Tinker Bell, Tiger Lily, Wendy, John, Michael and a crocodile will all be there, and the audience will see characters fly for the first time in the concert hall's history.

“The cast are as excited as our audiences to see what’s new this year!” says technical director Alan Ayres. “The creative challenges of staging such a huge musical production in a concert hall means that it’s a team effort.”

Box office: 01728 687110 | www.aldeburgh.co.uk/spectacular

Rapunzel Seckford Theatre, Woodbridge December 23 – January 3

Butterflies Jerwood Dance House, Ipswich December 13 – 22 As ever Dance East has a truly magical Christmas show in store, guaranteed to enchant all ages. Created by one of Italy’s leading children’s theatre companies Compagnia TPO, this shows takes you on a breathtaking visual tour and the transformation of caterpillars into beautiful butterflies with the use of creative technologies. Observe a butterfly move.

The fluttering of its wings looks as though a delicate paintbrush was painting the air, but it also looks like a dance.

Using motion capture technology, Compagnia TPO invites you to a festive, playful, theatrical experience. Dotted with moments of participation, children are invited to watch and join in with the company’s dancers. Paint with your arms, compose lullabies with your feet and chase caterpillars on all fours. Featuring a stunning performance space that is touchsensitive, Butterflies creates an imaginary environment for both performers and curious onlookers alike.

Celebrating their 50th anniversary this year The Deben Players are performing an unusual pantomime this Christmas – Rapunzel. Written by Simon Dodwell and directed by Jan Whittaker the pantomime takes its name from a Grimm Brothers story which tells the tale of a long-haired, young woman who is locked in a tower by a wicked witch.

But then a handsome prince is in the woods and hears her singing and is entranced – they fall in love and plan to escape. The Deben Players, now based at the Seckford Theatre, were formed in 1964 “to keep theatre alive and in the local community by providing a high standard of amateur productions each year”. This unusual pantomime should do the job nicely.

Box office: 01394 276770 | debenplayers.net

Box office: 01473 295230 | www.danceeast.co.uk

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DECEMBER 2014

The UK is renowned as being a nation of animal lovers and yet rescue charities are bursting at the seams. Anne Gould visits the Blue Cross in Felixstowe and finds out about its plans to move to a new home

NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS travel across the country for the right dog, especially if it’s something like a Labrador, but there are some breeds like Staffies and Huskies that increasingly end up in rescue centres and are notoriously difficult to place. One breed has a reputation problem and Huskies might look magnificent but really need the right sort of owner and management. “We get people ringing up saying they want any sort of dog apart from a Staffie, but that reputation is undeserved. My job is make them see the other side of this breed.”

T

here’s a tiny black Patterdale Terrier/Westie puppy lying on a warm bed of blankets in the Blue Cross staffroom, oozing cute baby animal appeal. He’s waiting patiently for his new owner to arrive but charges about and has a little woof every time someone comes to the door. According to centre manager, Andrew Gillon, this little one came to them from a home where he was much-wanted and muchloved. The problem, says Andrew, is that he triggered a severe allergic reaction with one member of the family and couldn’t stay. So the Blue Cross stepped in and found him a foster home until new owners could be found.

Of course puppies like this don’t hang around too long, says Andrew, especially as these days people are prepared to

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Many, he says make good pets being friendly and particularly affectionate with the right owner. “We are also seeing a lot of Husky types about because of film and TV programmes like Twilight and Game of Thrones tempting people to go and buy one. They’ll often go to somewhere like a puppy farm where they won’t get the support or advice they need and don’t realise the care these dogs require. What happens is they end up with a puppy that grows into a big, strong active dog which they can’t look after and then they are put off owning a pet for ever.”

He says the majority of dogs come to them because they are strays or pound dogs, but obviously there are also cases where a domestic situation occurs and they’ve no longer got a home. Then there are the cats – at times they can be literally bursting at the seams with unwanted kittens – they’ve had over 100 this year! People don’t realise that unneutered cats which are only months old

can have kittens. “That’s why we really push the idea of neutering.” However thanks to the internet, the possibility for rehoming animals is easier than it was and, says Andrew, more people seen to be responding too. Potential owners can view a video of animals that are available, see pictures and find out about its temperament, he explained and it’s for this reason that they’ve come from as far as London and Manchester to seek their new pet. The charity really encourages people thinking about a pet to rehome an unwanted animal from them – every cat and dog will have been fully inoculated, microchipped, wormed and neutered. In the case of dogs they’ll also have been given a training plan specially devised for their needs.

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Blue Cross

There’s never a time when the Felixstowe centre, in Trimley, is not busy – currently there’s capacity for 12 dogs and 35-40 cats but with animals coming in from all over Suffolk and into Essex it’s bursting at the seams. “There was a plan to close it down about four years ago but once the news got out there was a huge response of support from the public and as result the Felixstowe centre was kept open,” said Andrew. The charity then realised that it needed to find new premises but it took time to find the right location. However, then some land at Wherstead near the entrance to the ski slope became available and, as a result, plans for a £2.5 million purpose built centre are underway. All being well, says Andrew it should be open by the end of September next year – although construction is yet to start. He says it’s eight times bigger than their current premises and it allows them to have specialist units for puppies and sick animals. “We are not going to increase the numbers of animals that we have on site, but it will allow us to rehome more animals.”

He explained that currently if an animal is brought in and becomes ill with an contagious disease no more cats/dogs can be brought into the unit until it’s not only been cured but a quarantine period has passed to allow the premises to be cleaned and sterilised. However with a separate block for sick animals it means that healthy cats and dogs don’t have to be quarantined at the same time, which is the situation at present. This means they will be able to rehome double the number of animals than they are at present. The charity relies entirely on public donations, legacies and fund raising but also has a separate appeal entitled Bert’s Big Build for the new Suffolk centre.

INFORMATION www.bluecross.org.uk

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Finance

DECEMBER 2014

KEEPING UP WITH THE PENSION CHANGES Since George Osborne’s budget in March 2014 further details of the changes to pensions from April 2015 have been released.

Understanding how these changes may affect you at retirement is important and taking independent advice is key. Here’s a guide to the main changes which have already been announced.

Until April 2015, two forms of drawdown exist – Capped drawdown, income is restricted to a percentage of the current annuity rate.

– Flexible drawdown, there is no income limit but the investors must have ‘secure’ pension income of £12k per annum.

The Osborne changes: the first iteration 2014 Budget: Capped and Flexible drawdown to be replaced by Flexi-access drawdown (‘FAD’) from April 2015: – The whole of a defined contribution pension pot can be drawn as cash from age 55, with no need to purchase an annuity.

– 25% can be drawn tax-free and the excess will be subject to income tax at the investor’s marginal rate.

The second iteration: UFPLS July 2014: an alternative variant of drawdown, Uncrystallised Fund Pension Lump Sum (UFPLS) – each withdrawal must be taken as 25% tax-free cash (TFC) and the remaining 75% is subject to income tax.

– in theory there is no requirement for a new plan to be created to take benefits under UFPLS.

James Wright

Iteration 3: Taxation of Pensions Bill • Both FAD and UFPLS funds will pass free of tax on death before age 75 up to the value of the £1.25m lifetime allowance (or higher if protection is available).

Tax on death after age 75 For both FAD and UFPLS: • Beneficiaries can draw out the fund as an income subject to their marginal rates of income tax OR • Beneficiaries can draw out the entire remaining fund value subject to tax at a flat 45% until 2016/17 tax year when all withdrawals, even the entire fund, will be subject to the beneficiaries’ marginal rate of tax.

There is further detail to be announced and it must be remembered pensions are designed to provide an income for the whole of retirement and whilst these new rules are all around drawdown plans annuities still have a place to provide a secure income.

Obtaining independent financial advice when deciding upon retirement benefits is more important than ever. If you would like to review your retirement options and the best route for accessing an income in retirement please contact me at james.wright@scruttonbland.co.uk or on 01473 267000. Scrutton Bland Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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Health

DON’T BE EMBARRASSED – BE AWARE OF YOUR BOWELS We all experience aches, pains and niggles at some point in our lives, and women are especially good at putting down fatigue and feeling generally unwell to ‘being busy’ or ‘stressed’. The key is to pay attention so you notice when something is different. New symptoms can indicate changes in your body; changes that seem normal can be signs of something more serious and should not be ignored.

The recent high profile death of television presenter Linda Bellingham from bowel cancer has highlighted the fact that women as well as men should be aware of any bowel changes and associated symptoms. A topic that can cause embarrassment and, for many, be difficult to talk about is in fact the third highest form of cancer diagnosed in women (source NHS). Here we look at the symptoms and the positive outcome of early diagnosis and treatment.

Bowel cancer is also referred to as colorectal, colon or rectal cancer. Nearly all develop in the large bowel (colon and rectum) - two-thirds in the colon and onethird in the rectum. Cancer of the small bowel is rare. Most bowel cancers develop from polyps and, once detected, can be removed easily if caught early enough.

WHAT SYMPTOMS SHOULD I LOOK OUT FOR? Symptoms of bowel cancer can be: • Bleeding from the bottom and/or blood in faeces • A change in bowel habit lasting for three weeks or more, including bloating • Unexplained weight loss • Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason • A pain or lump in the tummy

People may experience one, some, all of the above or no symptoms at all.

Remember most symptoms will not be bowel cancer. If you are worried, make an appointment with your doctor.You will not be wasting anyone's time by getting checked out and if it isn't serious, you will put your mind at rest. If it is of concern, early detection can make all the difference.

Over 90% of people who are diagnosed at the earliest stage are successfully treated.

So a trip to the doctor could save your life.

The good news is bowel cancer is relatively rare in people under 50. Only around 2,000 people are diagnosed under the age of 50 every year in the UK, which is just 5% of the 40,000 people diagnosed annually (Source Bowel Cancer UK).

AM I MORE AT RISK THAN OTHERS? Bowel cancer affects both men and women. In the UK, around 95% of cases occur in people over the age of 50 (Source Bowel Cancer UK). Family history can also play a part. People with a first degree relative (such as mother, father, brother, sister, child) under 45 or with two or more first degree relatives with bowel cancer may be considered for further testing. A sedentary lifestyle and a poor diet low in fresh fruit and vegetables may increase the risk of bowel cancer, as can a high intake of red and processed meat, smoking and excess alcohol.

BOWEL CANCER SCREENING Everyone between the ages of 60 and 69 in England is now offered bowel cancer screening every two years, and the programme is currently being extended

to those aged 70 to 74. Screening is carried out by taking a small stool sample and testing for the presence of blood that isn’t visible, known as the faecal occult blood test. Screening plays an important part in the fight against bowel cancer because it can help detect it before symptoms are obvious.

TREATMENT AND OUTLOOK Bowel cancer can be treated using a combination of different options, depending on where the cancer is exactly and how far it has spread.

As with most types of cancer, the chance of a complete cure depends on how far the disease has advanced by the time it is diagnosed. If it is confined to the bowel then surgery will usually be able to completely remove it. Overall, between seven and eight in every 10 people with bowel cancer will live at least one year after diagnosis and more than half of those diagnosed will live at least another 10 years (Source Cancer Care UK).

Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Nuffield Health Ipswich Hospital, Mr Michael Crabtree reinforces the importance of bowel awareness: “This article is an important summary of a common problem. Never ignore bowel symptoms or attribute them to haemorrhoids until serious pathology, such as bowel cancer, has been excluded even if they seem trivial. Doctors aren’t embarrassed about talking about symptoms and would prefer patients to seek advice earlier.”

Nuffield Health Ipswich Hospital offers a comprehensive range of general surgery and colorectal services. To find out more, visit www.nuffieldhealth.com/ipswichhospital for details of consultant colorectal surgeons and the treatments available or get in touch on 01473 279 179 for information on how to book a private consultation with a colorectal consultant.

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DECEMBER 2014

Give your fashion conscious friends and family a gift with plenty of style from these local independent fashion retailers

gifts with style Joules Laverton leather bag £99.95, Fox's Marine & Country

Lebek sparkly jacket £75, Caramel

Part Two checked scarf £54.95, Laura Jane Boutique Falke Christmas edition socks £12, Darcey B

Joules Peonie Umbrella £19.95, Fox's Marine & Country Durval Miriam black handbag £165, Holly Blue Boutique

Becksondergaard penguin scarf £69, Marianna

Joules striped slipper boots £19.95, Fox's Marine & Country Jack Murphy Glendalough tweed jacket £175, Kings of Suffolk

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Fashion

Grey hat £27, Adams Apple

Pink double sided soft touch scarf £18, also available in black or blue, Ninni Noo Boutique

Lauren Vidal gilet £199, Laura Jane Boutique

Hand made in Suffolk charcoal jumper £45, SLC SLC

Liebeskind purse £45, Coes

Pantherella womens Cashmere socks £29.50, O&C Butcher

With gifts galore – online and instore we’ve got Christmas all wrapped up

Merry Christmas to all our customers

SALE STARTS DECEMBER 27 CARAMEL® 140 High Street, Aldeburgh Suffolk IP15 5AQ

CARAMEL® Snape Maltings, Snape Suffolk IP17 1SP

01728 452141

01728 687467

www.caramel-aldeburgh.co.uk

AIGLE • BARBOUR • BONART • CHATHAM • DUBARRY GILL • HENRI LLOYD • JACK MURPHY • JOULES LE CHAMEAU • MUSTO • ORCA BAY • WEIRD FISH • ZHIK

Fox’s Marina, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 8NJ +44 (0) 1473 688431 sales@foxsmarineandcountry.com

foxsmarineandcountry.com

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DECEMBER 2014

Markberg leather crossbody bag £109, Hannah Stowe

Hand made in Suffolk reindeer jumper £45, SLC SLC

Italian suede handbags £15, Kittys Jules

NEW STORE NOW OPEN HADLEIGH

HALL STREET long melford

hadleigh

01787 464828

01473 822554

hall street, long melford, suffolk co10 9jl

99 high street, hadleigh, suffolk ip7 5ej

Timberland Henri Lloyd Eden Park

@hall_street @ hall_street 34

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Duchamp Scotch & Sod Sodaa Sand

www.hall-street.co.uk

MON - FRI 7.30am - 5.15pm SATURDAY 8am - 4pm

01359 259 259 OF WALSHAM LIMITED

www.clarkesofwalsham.co.uk

The Street Walsham-le-Willows Bury St Edmunds IP31 3BA

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Fashion

Essential

FASHION FIND

We’re loving our latest Essential Fashion Find – this really versatile woolly hat from Bobbl. The hats and bobbles are completely interchangeable so colours can be mixed and matched to suit your style. The hats are all made in the UK from 100% Merino wool and the bobbles are hand-made too, in varying sizes each with its own individuality.

Hat with detachable large natural bobble by Bobbl. Hat £49, large bobble £21, Chattertons

STOCKISTS Adams Apple 70 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 384685 Caramel 140 High Street, Aldeburgh and Snape Maltings. T: 01728 452141 www.caramel-aldeburgh.co.uk Chattertons 80 High Street, Southwold & 18 Market Hill, Woodbridge. T: 01394 385757 www.chattertonshop.co.uk Coes 20 – 28 Norwich Road, Ipswich. T: 01473 256061 www.coes.co.uk Darcy B Market Hill Framlingham & Woodbridge. T: 01728 720052 www.darcy-b.co.uk Fox’s Marine & Country Fox’s Marina, Ipswich. T: 01473 688431 www.foxsmarineandcountry.com Hannah Stowe 20a Market Hill, Woodbridge. T: 01394 382691 www.hannahstowe.co.uk Holly Blue Boutique 72 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 382300 Kings of Suffolk Grange Farm Barn, Hasketon, Woodbridge. T: 01473 738237 www.kingsofsuffolk.co.uk Kittys Jules Stonham Barns, Market Place, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal. T: 07969 570255 Laura Jane Boutique 89 – 91 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 386686 Marianna 33a St Peter’s Street, Ipswich. T: 01473 225666 www.mariannaboutique.co.uk Ninni Noo Boutique 12 Quay Street, Woodbridge. T: 01394 388655 O&C Butcher 129 – 131 High Street, Aldeburgh. T: 01728 452229 www.ocbutcher.co.uk SLC-SLC Brightspace Studio 160 Hadleigh Road, Ipswich. T: 07890 280052 www.slc-slc.co.uk

ADINI ARIA EMRECO SIGNATURE MARBLE GARDEUR IN TOWN POMODORO TINA TAYLOR MICHELE YEST

VISIT AND CLAIM A 15% PRE-CHRISTMAS DISCOUNT* 70 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge 01394 384685

Under New Ownership

*Offer ends 25th December 2014

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CHRISTMAS WE’VE WE VE E GOT IT

ALL WRAPPED UP in-store browse Come in-stor e to br owse our perfect gorgeous per fect partywear and gor geous g gifts.

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Christmas Gift Guide

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The Essential guide to

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GIFTS d 18 pages of inspiring Christmas shopping ideas from leading independent Suffolk retailers

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DECEMBER 2014

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d Panache Envy body in black D-G cup £53, Sweet Dreams

Powder gloves with dogtooth cuff £16.50, Cake & Catwalk

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Olivia Burton watch £65, Coes

gifts for her

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Joules scarf £14.95, Coes

Powder two tone gloves £16.50, Cake & Catwalk

David Jones handbag (cognac) £48, Cake & Catwalk

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Mascara available in black or dark brown by Blinc £21.50, Chattertons

STOCKISTS Adams Apple 70 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 384685 Bathsheba 24 Church Street, Woodbridge. T: 01394 388813 www.bathshebaspa.co.uk Cake & Catwalk The Jerwood Dance House, Foundry Lane, The Waterfront, Ipswich. T: 01473 235573 www.cakeandcatwalk.co.uk Chattertons 80 High Street, Southwold & 18 Market Hill, Woodbridge. T: 01394 385757 www.chattertonshop.co.uk

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Christmas Gift Guide | Gifts for Her

Wild and Wolf stylus and ball point pen £14.95, Coes

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Ortigia Fico D'India eau de parfum £65, Marianna

Ted Baker wash bag £27, Coes DKNY robe £66, Sweet Dreams

Joules gloves £18.95, Coes

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Anaii watch with pink dial detail £26, Cake & Catwalk

Red robin scarf £15, Adams Apple

d Miss Shorthair snood £14, Cake & Catwalk

Luxury Ren gift boxes, in a variety of styles with a wonderful selections of Ren products from £16, Bathsheba

STOCKISTS Coes 20 – 28 Norwich Road, Ipswich. T: 01473 256061 www.coes.co.uk Laura Jane Boutique 89 – 91 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 386686 Marianna 33a St Peter’s Street, Ipswich. T: 01473 225666 www.mariannaboutique.co.uk Sweet Dreams 451 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 380306 www.sweetdreams-lingerie.co.uk

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Christmas Gift Guide | Gifts that Sparkle

DECEMBER 2014

gifts that sparkle Blue topaz knot drop earrings, 8ct gold vermeil (gold plated silver) earrings with facetted blue topaz £130, Chenevix Jewellery

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Madame Réve rings £50 each, Collen & Clare

Sence aquamarina worn silver earrings £26, Hannah Stowe

Blue topaz knot ring set in 18 carat gold vermeil £90 (matching earrings, bracelet & stunning long chain link necklace available), Chenevix Jewellery

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Nouvelle wings and charms necklace £24, Cake & Catwalk

Selected necklace £30, Coes

Cluster beaded necklace £15, Adams Apple Estella Bartlett dog necklace £16.50, Coes

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Black and cream necklace £40, Holly Blue Boutique

Danon double heart long line necklace £66, Cake & Catwalk

Gold plated earrings with semiprecious stones, part of a handcrafted range starting from £29, Samphire at Snape Maltings

Blue Sapphire & Diamond deco emerald cut 2.54 carats ring, set in 18 carat white gold £5,685, Chenevix Jewellery

STOCKISTS Adams Apple 70 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 384685 Chenevix Jewellery 40 Market Hill, Woodbridge. T: 01394 384053 www.chenevixjewellery.co.uk Cake & Catwalk The Jerwood Dance House, Foundry Lane, The Waterfront, Ipswich. T: 01473 235573 www.cakeandcatwalk.co.uk Coes 20 – 28 Norwich Road, Ipswich. T: 01473 256061 www.coes.co.uk Collen & Clare 25 Market Place, Southwold & 164 High Street, Aldeburgh. T: 01502 724823 www.collenandclare.com Hannah Stowe 20a Market Hill, Woodbridge. T: 01394 382691 www.hannahstowe.co.uk Holly Blue Boutique 72 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 382300 Samphire Clothes & Accessories Snape Maltings. T: 01728 688303 www.snapemaltings.co.uk

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Christmas Gift Guide | Gifts for Him

Artamis shaving set £49.95, Coes

Ted Baker messenger bag £209, Coes

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VW Campervan desk organiser £14.95, Happiness Store

Men’s Society moustache kit £15, Coes

gifts for him Gant lambswool crew neck jumpers £135, O&C Butcher

HJ Hall set of 3 socks £20.80, Coes

Subbuteo trophy bottle opener £14.95, Happiness Store

Denison Boston cufflinks £49.95, Coes

Barbour wax bushman hat £54.95, Fox's Marine & Country

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A rather handsome canvas wash bag from Alphabet bags. Perfect for any discerning gent £22, Love One

STOCKISTS Coes 20 – 28 Norwich Road, Ipswich. T: 01473 256061 www.coes.co.uk Fox’s Marine & Country Fox’s Marina, Ipswich. T: 01473 688431 www.foxsmarineandcountry.com Hall Street 99 High Street, Hadleigh and Hall Street, Long Melford. T: 01473 822544 www.hall-street.co.uk Happiness Store Ltd 6a Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 548009 Love One 21 St Peter’s Street, Ipswich. T: 07711 517787 www.loveone.co.uk O&C Butcher 129 – 131 High Street, Aldeburgh. T: 01728 452229 www.ocbutcher.co.uk

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Christmas Gift Guide | Gifts for the Home

DECEMBER 2014

Buck Stag Trophy Head £26.95, Happiness Store

Hillfarm revitalising hand wash and hand lotion gift set with stand £18.50, available from East of England Co-op and various farm shops

Parkminster fresh fig (100ml) reed diffuser £18, Love One

gifts for the home

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d Capstan large pepper mill £19.99, Glasswells

Wrap contemporary Christmas cards with illustrations

by Karolin Schnoor £2.45 each, Love One

Moroccan rose candle

by Neom £30, Chattertons

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Cottage Delight Gift Foods £4.95 each. Beautifully packaged range of tasty gift items from Bucks Fizz Marmalade to Festive Chutney Southwold Pier

Winter Flora tall birch lantern £10, Love One

STOCKISTS Chattertons 80 High Street, Southwold & 18 Market Hill, Woodbridge. T: 01394 385757 www.chattertonshop.co.uk Glasswells Ranelagh Road, Ipswich or Newmarket Road Bury St Edmunds. T: 01473 253164 www.glasswells.co.uk Happiness Store Ltd 6a Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 548009 Love One 21 St Peter’s Street, Ipswich. T: 07711 517787 www.loveone.co.uk Southwold Pier North Parade, Southwold. T: 01502 722105 www.southwoldpier.co.uk

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Christmas Gift Guide | Caramel

d Arm Candy muffs – red & grey £24.75 each

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Dante bracelet £16.50, earings £9.50

Dante necklace £28

Suzanne Bettley hat £38

Betty Barclay handbag £47

Mycra Pac raindrop-textured raincoat with removable hood and bag £210

Rabe sparkly hat £35, scarf £45

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Solmate Poinsettia socks £15.99

Dante necklace £19.50, bracelet £14

Masai 'Along' scarf £22.50

140 High Street, Aldeburgh Suffolk IP15 5AQ T: 01728 452141

Rabe sparkly jumper £89

www.caramel-aldeburgh.co.uk

Brax scarf £49.95

Snape Maltings, Snape Suffolk IP17 1SP T: 01728 687467

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DECEMBER 2014

Silvian Heach tiger jumper £65, Holly Blue Boutique

Black and cream Zigzag graphic top £30, Ninni Noo Boutique

Mariejo Avero bustier in crystal black A-D cup from £99.95, Sweet Dreams

Mariejo Avero in crystal black A-E cup from £63.95 briefs from £30.95, Sweet Dreams

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Black sequin blouse £24, also available in cream, Ninni Noo Boutique

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DKNY heart print pyjamas in a presentation gift box £55, Sweet Dreams

Durval Frida zebra print handbag £150, Holly Blue Boutique

Suzy D checked blanket scarf also available in black/camel and blue/grey £35, Laura Jane Boutique

Durval zebra print ankle boot £160, Holly Blue Boutique

Peach coral and black handbag £55, Holly Blue Boutique

THE HEART OF

72 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge T: 01394 382300

89/91 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge T: 01394 386686

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Christmas Gift Guide | Heart of Woodbridge Waterfall jacket £38, Ninni Noo Boutique

Arggido black and silver edged jacket £130, Holly Blue Boutique

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Aubade Fleur de Pommier Bra A-E cup £57 briefs S-L from £30, Sweet Dreams

Moda in Pelle tan boots with faux fur lining £159 (also available in black), Laura Jane Boutique

d Suzy D fargo hat £29.99, available in a variety of colours, Laura Jane Boutique

Black and cream geometric top £30, Ninni Noo Boutique

Mariejo Jane in topaz blue bra A-E cup £69.95 briefs from £49.95, Sweet Deams

3 in 1 handbags available in a variety of styles & colours £49, Laura Jane Boutique Soaked in Luxury poncho £69, Laura Jane Boutique

Black and white dogtooth coat £55, Ninni Noo Boutique

THE HEART OF

12 Quay Street, Woodbridge T: 01394 388655

45a Thoroughfare, Woodbridge T: 01394 380306 www.sweetdreams-lingerie.co.uk

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Christmas Gift Guide | Collen & Clare

DECEMBER 2014

d Julie Bell notelet pack £18 each

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Philippa Kunisch XL earrings £135

Kathryn Green wool and silk scarf £179 Madame Réve bangles £65 each Terre d’Hermès parfum 75ml £81

Mulberry Tree zip around wallet £275

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Caudalie Divine oil gift set £17.50

Sommerville cashmere knit hat £75

Annick Goutal Nuit Etoilée eau de toilette 50ml £64

Sorel Tivoli 11 short boot £110

Maa leopard print ankle boot £175

25 Market Place, Southwold Suffolk IP18 6ED T: 01502 724823

164 High Street, Aldeburgh Suffolk IP15 5AQ T: 01728 454976 www.collenandclare.com

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Christmas Gift Guide | O&C Butcher

Mens Simon Carter antler cufflinks £50

Barbour Liddesdale dog coat £39.95

Ladies Ilse Jacobson boots £100 / £110

Mens Barbour Monty slippers £54.95

Ladies Olivia Burton hummingbird watch £72

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129-131 High Street Aldeburgh Suffolk IP15 5AS

Mens Pampeano polo belt £55

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Ladies Oui penguin jumper £139

Mens Falke Cashmere blend socks £16 / £18

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Ladies Dubarry Straffan shoulder bag £199

Mens Schoffel Oakham gilet £124.95

T: 01728 452229 info@ocbutcher.co.uk www.ocbutcher.co.uk

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Christmas Gift Guide | Hannah Stowe

DECEMBER 2014

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Markberg Helly glove £59

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Hudson slate suede ankle boot £150

Sence worn gold heart necklace £69

Markberg Billie arm warmer £59

Nicola Sexton biker boot in fossil £199

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Hudson black suede wedge boot £160

Zebra print shoe £96

Leopard print bag £56

Nicola Sexton green shoe £149

20a Market Hill, Woodbridge IP12 4LU

Sense black leather & gold bracelet £43

Elia B animal print pumps £65

T: 01394 382691 www.hannahstowe.co.uk

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Christmas Gift Guide | Darcy B

Culinary Concepts open loop heart keyring £19.99

Steiff festive snowman keyring £19

d Pilgrim watch £109

Diamante tights £125

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Walford Samantha top £195

Fox fur band £350 Steiff bear £29.99

d Sarah Crozier poppy fascinator £225

Marilyn Moore charcoal coat £499

23 Market Hill Woodbridge IP12 4LX T: 01394 388880

Sean the Sheep Tangle Teaser £12.50

Hill House, Market Hill Framlingham IP13 9AN T: 01728 720052 www.darcy-b.co.uk

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Christmas Gift Guide | Snape Maltings

DECEMBER 2014

d Floral blue royal teapot £50

Floral blue dinner plate £15

Large floral blue jug £25

Patterned pink bowl £10

Pink and blue cake plate £9.50

Pink patterned espresso cup £10

Large yellow royal mug £10

Yellow, pink and blue breakfast plate £11

Yellow and pink storage jar £30

d This collection is available both in store and on-line www.snapemaltings.co.uk

Snape Maltings, near Aldeburgh Suffolk IP17 1SR T: 01728 688303 www.snapemaltings.co.uk

Snape Maltings is a unique collection of shops & galleries.

Open daily from 10am with free parking

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Christmas Gift Guide | Southwold Pier

d Caithness Glass Seascape Sandcasts.

Collectable glass art. From £65 to £105*

Stoneglow cinnamon & orange gel fish bowl Scented Candle £22.50 from our extensive range of Stoneglow candles and reed diffusers*

d

TX Juice RC Radar Copter! £24.50 currently taking Hamley’s by storm, the ultimate boys (dad’s!) toy. A flying orb with sensors to prevent it crashing. Quickly rechargeable**

Medley Jewellery watch £14.95.

Fantastic value, an Australian supplier taking inspiration from the sea, using semi-precious stones*

Suki Silvertag 3 collectible bears – ‘Jacob’ £64.99. We are an official stockist of the Silvertag Bear Collection. A range of limited edition (just 1500 of every bear worldwide)*

d Pachamama kids animal accessories.

Hat £11.99, mitts £12.99.

A Fair Trade supplier using knitwear from Ecuador & Nepal**

Earth Squared Ava dog tooth handbag & scarf £39.95 & £27.50.

A fantastic range of fashion accessories from this excellent Fair Trade supplier*

d Bedroom clocks from Giftworks £12.50.

A range of coloured clocks with working pendulums in round, square, house and apple shapes**

Spring mobiles £12.50. A range of brilliant traditional nursery room mobiles**

* items available from our Seaweed & Salt store at the end of the pier. ** items available in our Treasure Chest shop in the middle of the pier

North Parade, Southwold Suffolk IP18 6BN

T: 01502 722105 www.southwoldpier.co.uk

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Christmas Gift Guide | Stuart Clay Traps

DECEMBER 2014

Gamo Precision air rifle £69

Premier Hawk Sport Optics binoculars £69.95

Laksen sweater in wine £79 Laksen sweater in cognac £75

d Laksen Chelsea boot £179

d Tracer sport light £49.95

3a & 3b Wilford Bridge Road Melton, Woodbridge Suffolk IP12 1RB

Laksen Harlequin stockings in loden and plum and plum and cognac £45

STUART CLAY TRAPS

Laksen shirt £69

T: 01394 385567 sales@stuartsgunandtackle.com www.stuartsgunandtackle.com

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Christmas Gift Guide | Elmers

d Marples 8 piece chisel set SSP £169.99 now less than half price £69.99

d

Lighthouse zoom LED headlight torch SSP £19.99 now half price £9.99

Tom Chambers slate roof bird table SSP £124.99 Elmers price £99

d Makita LCT204 twin pack (10.8v drill driver + impact driver + 2 batteries + charger + aluminium case) List price £318.00 Elmers price £139.99 Bosch PSR 18Li-2 drill driver SSP £119.99 Elmers price £69.99

d Gourmet cheese plates (set of 4) SSP £18.99 Elmers price £14.99

Cole & Mason Roma Diamond salt & pepper gift set SSP £39.99 now half price £19.99

Chaplewood antique peanut bird feeder SSP £29.99 Elmers price £19.99

Tower T18001 professional food processor SSP £199.99 now half price £99.99

LARGE RANGE OF GIFT IDEAS FOR THE GARDENER, CHEF AND HOBBY/DIY ENTHUSIAST

E L M ERS HARDWARE 59 – 61 Edmonton Road, Kesgrave, Suffolk • 01473 623381 • www.elmershardware.co.uk

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Christmas Gift Guide | Blackthorpe Barns

DECEMBER 2014

d Festive corkscrew £7.25

d House tealight lantern £5.70

Tealight tongs £6.25

Turkey Lurkey tea-towel 50x70cm £4.85

d Colour in your own doodle Christmas placemat – draw on, wash out and design again next year £19.95

Nutcracker Advent jewellery box to make your own lucky charm bracelet £15.99

Wooden reindeer £4.60

Refillable crackers you can pull again and again from £3.75

Dressing the Tree apron with black adjustable strap and ties £11.99

Dressing the Tree stocking with a festive picture on the front and the jolly rhyme on the back £20.50

Junction 45 off the A14, Rougham, Bury St Edmunds IP30 9HZ

Gingerbread reed defuser £14.99

30s style Grand Prix racing game £6.75

T: 01359 270880 E: events@blackthorpebarn.com www.blackthorpebarn.com

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Christmas Gift Guide | Kings of Suffolk

Cavollo Donatella jacket £225

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Millie Green wash bags £17 each

Jack Murphy quilted jacket £90

Eurostar cream hat £32.50

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d

Feet 1st alpaca socks available in a selection of colours £14

Pikeur reversible waterproof jacket £120

Beaver of Boulton coat £395

Suma fox soft toy £9.50

Jack Murphy tweed hat £40

Grange Farm, Grundisburgh Road Hasketon, Woodbridge Suffolk IP13 6HN

Cavallo dash violet scarf £35

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Full browband for bridal with Swarovski elements £77.50 and £90

T: 01473 738237 www.kingsofsuffolk.co.uk

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DECEMBER 2014

WALBERSWICK WORDSMITH For writer Esther Freud visiting Walberswick for the first time was very clearly love at first sight – she talks to Anne Gould about Suffolk, writing and the thrill of seeing her new book on sale in Southwold

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Celebrity Interview | Esther Freud

N

ormally when a journalist wants to set up an interview with someone famous, a writer, an actor, an artist, there’s a sort of ritual email dance between you and various intermediaries. Eventually, providing said celebrity has something to promote, the agent/PR will then try to manage the conversation, you are given a set time to talk, an anonymous mobile number to ring and never mind building a conversation – you’re often even asked to submit your questions in advance. So the whole business of setting up the interview and talking to Esther about her new book, Mr Mac and Me based in Walberswick, was both refreshing and surprising – because I woke up one morning to find an email from Esther herself in my inbox.

Not only that, it was positively bursting with joy at the response to her latest novel, “Have you seen the window of Southwold Bookshop. It is a very beautiful sight.” But then maybe you wouldn’t expect the conventional from a woman whose life has been something less than ordinary. She’s one of 14 (or so) children fathered by the acclaimed painter Lucian Freud and her early childhood, travelling through Morocco with her mother and sister, is the sort of Bohemian past that many might dream of. On top of that she’s an awardwinning novelist, her first book Hideous Kinky (an autobiographical novel about those early years) was turned into a film starring Kate Winslet. Since then she’s written seven more novels, oh and she’s married to film star and actor David Morrisey. Although one of the phenomenally talented and successful Freud dynasty – she’s a great granddaughter of Sigmund – Esther seems almost surprised about her success.

“I wasn’t very academic at school, but I loved stories and storytelling.” She went on to drama school and started writing in her 20s – and then, she says, it just took over. “I enjoy the control I have over it, even if it’s never published.”

Another of her great loves is Suffolk, and more particularly Walberswick.

“I started coming here in my 20s. I grew up in Sussex, was living in London but had a longing for the countryside.” Her grandparents had a house in the village, Lucian had spent his childhood

summers there and it was he that suggested that first visit. “I came here with some friends and we arrived in November – we stayed in a little cottage owned by one of my cousins. It was small, damp and freezing cold. I thought it was the nicest place I had ever been.

You have the village and the sea is close by and it’s very protected. It’s like you have two landscapes in one. When it was time to go back to London I left some of my things here so I could be back really soon.” Since then Esther says that hardly a month or two goes by without a visit to her adopted Suffolk home, but these days of course she has her own property.

“We spent all the children’s holidays in Walberswick but sometimes I visit on my own – to write. I swim here every day of the summer, I meet a couple of friends by the beach in the early morning, it’s a lovely way to start the day.”

So with her passion for the village it’s hardly surprising that she’s based not one, but two of her books here. The first was The Sea House but her most recent publication, Mr Mac and Me, will show a side to the Suffolk seaside that many people, even those born and bred here, will probably not recognise. It is set in 1914 when life is quiet and shaped by the seasons, fishing, farming traditional crafts and the herring girls who used to travel along the east coast in the summer preparing fish. But then war breaks out and the village becomes deserted before an influx of troops waiting to go to war.

“At the time Suffolk was considered a dangerous place because if you sat on

the beach you could hear the guns in France.” Against this backdrop Esther weaves a story about Thomas Maggs, the son of a local publican and a mysterious man who arrives in a dark cape – the real life Glaswegian architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, famous for his post impressionist and Art Nouveau work. He’s seen on the beach staring out to sea and heading off at strange times and is seen examining the most humble of flowers.

It’s been described as Esther’s most serious and masterful work and for people who love Suffolk’s seaside a must read this Christmas. She says her novels take about three years to write including the research and sometimes she goes off on the wrong track. “I sit down at my desk in the morning and work until about 2pm. If I can do that for five days a week I can get a lot done. Then as you get towards the end of it you long and long to finish and then there’s a sense of loss.” But it seems this book has turned out to be a little bit extra special – Charles Mackintosh did a picture series of the local flowers in Suffolk, one of which has been used on the cover.

It’s this gorgeous cover which was used to fill the Southwold bookshop to create a, ‘most wonderful window display’.

I don’t think you can get over the sort of thrill of seeing your story out there like that,” she says.

Mr Mac and Me is published by Bloomsbury £16.99 estherfreud.co.uk

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Books for Christmas

DECEMBER 2014

Giving and receiving books at Christmas is always a pleasure, here are some suggestions to give you festive inspiration

GIFT IDEAS FOR BOOK LOVERS Joanna

Carrick Director of the Red Rose Chain

Book to give: Richard Scarry’s Best Lowly Worm Book Ever. I’d give it to Sarah Haskins in our office who is a designer and a brilliant artist. She has never had a Lowly Worm book, so I am really excited about it.

Book to receive: A first edition of The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins.

It’s my favourite book in the whole world and I think it would make a great stage play one day.

Gerard King Salter & King, Aldeburgh Book to give: For my son Malachy I would choose to give a Harry Potter book because he is totally obsessed with the series and for my daughter Bridgit, a Katie Morag book by Mairi Hedderwick – because we love the island at the front of the book.

Book to receive: Anything by Claudia Roden because she is such a great cook and I love the cultural background she includes as well. What I’m really hoping for is her Book of Jewish Food.

Adrian Rawlinson Essential Suffolk Book to give: The book I find myself recommending time and time again is the very clever Drawing On The Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards.

It has become very well known as an instruction book for drawing, regardless of ability and having used it myself I can vouch for how effective it is at improving confidence and deepening artistic perception. I’d give it to anyone who’d like to enjoy sketching as a hobby but feels trapped at a child-like level.

Book to receive: I’ve asked Santa for Stephen Fry’s More Fool Me. It’s the third volume of his biography and if the previous two are anything to go by it’s going to be a thoroughly entertaining and enlightening read. Mind you, I’d quite like a book about cycling in Northern France as I’ve signed up to cycle 300 miles from London to Paris in September 2016 in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice, so some background reading will be very helpful indeed.

Gabrielle Neal Eve Appeal East Anglia Book to give: I’d like to give Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach.

It’s a touching short story about finding ones’ inner self. This fable is heartwarming and at the same time heart rending. I defy anyone not to get something from this beautifully engaging tale of a seagull's struggle to learn to fly and his subsequent understanding of life.

Book to receive: I’d be very happy to receive Art – the Definitive Visual Guide

by Andrew Graham Dixon. Andrew Graham Dixon and Ian Chilvers, together with other consultants, have collaborated with Dorling Kindersley and created a wonderful overview of the History of Art. I would like to think that dipping in and out of this tome would improve my understating of art, ultimately to appreciate and enjoy all aspects of it in a more educated way.

If I had my time again I would study History of Art!

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DECEMBER 2014

putting the mmm in

CHRISTMAS For some cooking at Christmas is the highlight of the festive break, for others the round of visitors and extra meals to cook can be daunting. Whichever camp you’re in we’ve asked six Suffolk chefs for their ideas to give you inspiration with a mix of dishes that can be starters or light lunches, main courses and desserts. We hope you enjoy them

Asian Duck Tacos

By Sarah Norman and Ben Rush from milsoms in Dedham www.milsomhotels.com

Sarah and Ben share this delicious recipe that is perfect fayre for a starter, light lunch or Christmas drinks party.

INGREDIENTS Serves 4 2 duck legs 4 x tblsp of Maldon sea salt 1 tin of goose fat (melted) Vegetable oil 12 wonton skins 100g rice noodles (vermicelli), cooked and chopped 1 red pepper, deseeded and sliced thinly 50g spring onions, chopped roughly 1 lime 4tbsp hoisin sauce 1tbsp toasted sesame seeds

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METHOD 1. In a deep dish, cover the duck legs with the sea salt. Cover with clingfilm, refrigerate and leave for 24 hours.

2. After 24 hours, preheat the oven to 140°C, wash the duck legs and place in a roasting tin, skin side up. Pour over the tin of goose fat, place in the oven and cook for 4-5 hours.

3. Remove these from the oven carefully and leave to cool. Once cooled pick of the meat from the bones, discard the skin, bones and ligaments. With the remaining warm meat on a board, using 2 forks pull the meat apart to shred. This will not work if the meat is too cold.

4. Pour the sunflower oil into a deep pan and heat on the hob until the oil is really hot.

It needs to be hot enough so that when you put a piece of wonton it will sizzle and cook immediately. Add the wontons and fry until puffed crisp – in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. Once cooked remove from the pan immediately and drain on kitchen paper.

5. In a large bowl combine the duck meat, cooked vermicelli and red pepper.

6. To finish place 3 wontons on each plate in a line. Spoon the duck mixture on top and drizzle over the hoisin sauce, sprinkle the sesame seeds and a few spring onions.

Serve with a ¼ lime wedge.

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Christmas Recipes

Eggnog Panna Cotta with Almond & Orange Florentine

By Christian Hood of the Tuddenham Fountain | www.tuddenhamfountain.co.uk

Christian Hood, sous chef from The Fountain – just outside Ipswich in Tuddenham St Martin, has come up with a surprisingly simple dessert that can be made well in advance and will still wow your guests with its completely festive charm.

INGREDIENTS Serves six For the pana cotta: 6 serving glasses 500ml double cream 250ml full fat milk 25g golden caster sugar 50ml rum 3 gelatine leaves 1tsp nutmeg 1tsp cinnamon For the optional apple jelly: 300ml local apple juice 2 gelatine leaves A little squeeze of lemon juice For the almond and orange Florentine: 130g flaked almonds 1 egg white 50g icing sugar ½ orange (zest only)

METHOD 1. Start with the apple jelly; take the gelatine leafs and place in cold water until soft, while this is happening pour the apple juice in a pan and bring to a simmer 2. Take off the heat and add the softened gelatine. Stir ensuring the gelatine is melted.

3. Pass the apple mixture through a fine sieve into a jug, ready to pour into some pretty glasses. Pour the slightly cooled apple jelly in to six glasses. Place in the fridge and allow to set (about 4 hours).

4. For the pana cotta; place the gelatine in cold water and allow to soften.

5. Place all the remaining ingredients in to a pan and bring to a simmer.

6. Add the softened gelatine to the mixture in the pan and stir until melted. Pour into a jug and allow to cool, then pour into glasses (with or without the apple jelly) and allow to set for 5 hours or overnight.

7. For the Florentine; preheat the oven to 180°C (gas mark 3.5), place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Line a baking tray with baking paper and arrange the Florentine mix in 14cm long biscuits or rounds – whatever takes your fancy.

8. Bake in the oven for seven minutes until golden brown, remove and allow to cool before removing from the tray. These Florentines keep for four to five days so you can make them well in advance.

CHEF’S TIP Use different nuts in your Floretine depending on your taste or to adapt the recipe to accompany other flavours of pana cotta.

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DECEMBER 2014

Partridge Breast with Pearl Barley, Pickled Chestnuts, Sprouts & Pancetta

By Chris McQuitty of the Salthouse Harbour Hotel | www.salthouseharbour.co.uk

This recipe takes hold of some of my personal favourite Christmas ingredients, and uses them in an unusual way to what some might consider traditional. Chestnuts – usually roasted are pickled, and sprouts, which can be grey and a chore to eat (because, let’s face it, you only eat them out of politeness), served raw.

INGREDIENTS Serves 2 For the chestnuts: 75g of ‘blanched’ chestnuts 100ml water 50g sugar 50g white wine vinegar For the pearl barley: 100g pearl barley 1 shallot, finely diced 1 stick of celery, finely diced 300ml of good quality chicken boullion or stock For the Brussel sprouts: 6 sprouts 75g good quality pancetta ½ a lemon, juiced 50ml extra virgin olive oil Optional – onion jam

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METHOD 1. For the chestnuts: (The chestnuts are best to pickle 24hours in advance.) Boil the pickling mixture and allow to cool, then add the chestnuts to it and store overnight.

2. For the pearl barley: Sweat the shallots and celery with a pinch of salt and a little vegetable oil on a medium heat until translucent. Then add the pearl barley and continue to sweat for 2 mins. Then gradually add the stock, 50mls at a time until completely absorbed, at which time it should be cooked with a slight bite but a smooth texture.

3. For the Brussel sprouts: Thinly slice the sprouts on a mandolin and pop them in a mixing bowl.

4. Caramelise the pancetta in a frying pan on a high heat with a touch of olive oil. Once these are caramelised and golden pop them in the bowl with the sprouts, then dress with the lemon juice and olive oil. You won’t need to add any salt – the natural saltiness of the pancetta will more than suffice! Add the olive oil should you need it and mix well.

5. Once these elements are all ready and prepared it’s time to cook the partridge. You will need a frying pan on a high heat. Contrary to popular belief as the meat is white, partridge is best served with a slightly pink tinge to it.

6. Sprinkle a little salt on the breast, then lay skin side down in the pan with a little vegetable oil. The skin will go a lovely golden brown colour once it begins to caramelise, at which point it’s time to turn it over. Once the flesh is golden too you will need to check that it is cooked through, a chef ’s tip is to pop a pairing knife inside for a couple of seconds and touch it either on the back of your hand or your bottom lip. Ideally it should be ‘warm’ but not ‘piping hot’. The breast will need to rest for 2-3 minutes prior to serving.

7. To finish gather the rest of your elements and dress the plate with them, I’ve added a bit of onion jam for extra sweetness to mine.

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Christmas Recipes

Venison Loin with Gratin, Cranberry Puree and Port & Orange Jus

By James French of The Sibton White Horse | www.sibtonwhitehorseinn.co.uk

This seasonal venison recipe from Sibton White Horse head chef James Finch will be sure to delight family and friends. It is also one where much of the cooking can be done in advance

INGREDIENTS Serves 4 4 6oz venison fillet steaks For the gratin: 4 large Maris piper potatoes 1 small celeriac 4 cloves garlic Pinch chopped thyme Salt pepper 200g cheddar cheese For the cranberry puree: 250g frozen cranberries (fresh is fine too, you may need to add a splash of water with the fresh) 2 table spoons caster sugar more or less depending on sharpness of the berries For the port and orange jus: 1lt beef or game stock 200ml port 1 orange juice and zest 2 tbsp redcurrant jelly 100g cooked sweet chestnuts Kales

METHOD 1. For the gratin: Bring cream to the boil, add crushed garlic, salt, pepper and thyme, leave to infuse.

2. Peel and finely slice potatoes and celeriac. Layer cream mixture, potatoes and celeriac in a square Pyrex dish lined with tin foil and baking parchment to make it easier to remove from the dish. Finish with grated cheese. Bake in oven at 200째C until golden and potatoes are cooked (approximately 1 hour).

3. Chill and cut into square to be warmed back in the oven when needed (there might be some left over for a sneaky supper treat the next day.)

4. For the cranberry puree: Gently warm the cranberrys and sugar together till all burst, blitz in food processer till a smooth puree, pass through fine sieve. (This also can be made ahead and warmed up when needed).

5. For the cranberry puree: Reduce port by half in a large pan, add stock and reduce by half again add orange zest and jus and reduce to a thick jus. (This sauce is best made the day before).

6. For the port and orange jus: Reduce port by half in a large pan, add stock and reduce by half again add orange zest and jus and reduce to a thick jus. (This sauce is best made the day before).

7. To cook the venison loin season your steaks with salt and pepper. I pan fry mine in rape seed oil browning the steaks all over, then finish the cooking in the oven at 200째c. I serve mine pink so about 2-3 mins and 5 mins resting time.

8. For the chestnuts I use cooked sweet chestnuts witch I roast in the oven for approximately 5 minutes to give a slight crisp but soft in the middle texture.

9. Prep you kale removing any tough stems and blanch in boiling water until tender.

Drain well and pat dry with a cloth before plating.

10. To assemble the dish spoon and drag the cranberry puree on the plate, next the gratin, then the kale, carve the venison and lay it on to the kale, scatter the chestnuts and drizzle the sauce.

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DECEMBER 2014

Essential note

Noah’s Pudding

By Ugur Vata of The Galley | www.galley.uk.com

INGREDIENTS Serves 20 – 25 1 cup barley or roasted wheat 1/4 cup white beans 1/4 cup chickpeas 1tbsp bulgur wheat 1tbsp risotto rice 2 cups sugar 8 cups water 1/2 cup hazelnuts (chopped) 1/2 cup walnuts (chopped) 1/2 cup almond (chopped) 1 cup dry apricots (diced) 1 cup prunes (chopped) 1 cup raisins (washed and drained) 1 cup mixed dried berries (blueberries, goji, cranberries, Cape gooseberries, currants) 1/2 apple (diced) 1/2 orange (diced) 1tbsp sesame seeds 1tbsp honey 1tbsp pistachio kernels 1tbsp chopped dates 1tbsp dried broad beans Pomegranate seeds, powdered cinnamon, roasted pinenuts and desiccated coconut for topping

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We specifically asked Ugur to share this recipe having eaten it a The Galley last year. Although it requires an organised shopping list to put together and the investment of some time to prepare the result is, in our opinion, divine.

METHOD 1. Wash and drain barley, white beans, broad beans and chickpeas and soak overnight.

Cook them with 4 cups of water in a pressure cooker until the grains dissolve and starch comes out.

2. Open the cooker and transfer the mixture in to a large skillet. Add 4 cups of hot water, rice, bulgur, hazelnuts, almonds, apricots, prunes, raisins, mixed dried berries, apple, orange, sesame seeds, pistachio kernels, chopped dates and honey. Cook until rice and bulgur are dissolved and the liquid has set to a loose jelly consistency.

3. Add sugar and walnuts and cook for a further 5 minutes 4. Serve cold with pomegranate seeds, desiccated coconut, pine nuts and powdered cinnamon on top.

Bon appetit…

This classic Turkish dessert recipe from Ugur Vata of The Galley in Woodbridge is made using all kinds of fruits, grains, nuts and spices. The key is for these ingredients to be added in very, very small quantities – it’s the variety that’s important. Traditionally the pudding is cooked in large batches and serves relatives and neighbours during Asure month, therefore the amounts shown will make between 20 and 25 servings, but you can decrease by half and cook for fewer guests.

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Christmas Recipes

Roast local pheasant breast, pheasant leg hash, buttered sprout tops, roast parsnips & red wine poached quince

By Luke Bailey of The Crown in Woodbridge

While turkey, goose and duck are often Christmas favourites this pheasant dish from Luke Bailey will be a welcome addition to any festive gathering.

INGREDIENTS Serves 4 2 local pheasants (oven ready), ask your butcher to remove and joint the legs 2 large Maris piper potatoes, peeled and diced 1 tablespoon of chopped parsley 1 stick of celery, finely diced 1 carrot finely diced 2 onions (1 sliced and 1 finely diced 4 cloves garlic Small bunch of thyme Bottle of red wine (preferably pinot noir goes well with pheasant) 1 pint of good quality chicken stock 1 quince 2 large parsnips 4-6 sprout top leaves 4 thinly sliced pancetta or streaky bacon 4 fresh chestnuts, sliced or finely grated Small jar of local honey Unsalted butter Hillfarm rapeseed oil Maldon sea salt Black pepper

METHOD 1. Heat a little oil in a large pan, season the legs and brown them all over, add chopped onion ,carrot, garlic, and thyme, pour in a glass of red wine and reduce by 2 thirds and cover with stock, simmer for an hour until legs are tender, strain stock and reserve liquor 2. Peel quince and cut into small wedges and poach in the remaining red wine and a tablespoon of honey and a few sprigs of thyme until tender set aside 3. Add quince poaching liquor to pheasant stock and reduce until sauce consistency, set aside 4. Shred pheasant leg meat, (be careful of small shards of bone and tendons) and place them in a bowl, caramelize the sliced onions until soft and add to leg meat.

5. Cook diced potato in lightly salted water until just cooked all way through, drain them and dry out, lightly fry potatoes in butter until golden and add to pheasant and onions with the chopped parsley. Mix together well and season with a little salt and pepper.

Push into 4 ring moulds and set aside.

6. Heat a tablespoon of rapeseed oil with 50g of butter in a large ovenproof pan, season the crown and cook on either side until it is golden brown, roast in a pre-heated oven at 220 for about 12-15 minutes basting every 5 minutes, remove pheasant, cover and rest in warm place before carving WHILE THE BIRD IS ROASTING 7. Prepare parsnips into batons and blanch until tender then finish by roasting in a 50g butter a little oil, a drizzle of honey and a couple of thyme sprigs, roast until golden and nicely glazed 8. Shred sprout tops and blanch in boiling water until tender and refresh in iced water, to finish wilt in butter and season 9. Grill pancetta slices until crisp 10. Pan fry pheasant hash on both sides and warm in moderate oven for a 5-7 minutes 11. Start assembling dish by making sure all components are hot, 12. Carve the pheasant breasts off the crown and flash them under grill if required 13. Place hash in centre of plate, place parsnips, quince and sprout tops around hash 14. Place pheasant breast and pancetta on top of hash and dress the dish with the jus 15. Place shaved or grated chestnuts over the dish and serve

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DECEMBER 2014

The Swan Inn

The Bildeston Crown

The Froize

The Swan is a beautiful thatched pub serving quality food always offering a great selection of regional cask ales coupled with quality ‘new world’ wines. Acquired by family-owned pub group Exclusive Inns in March 2014, it has undergone a sympathetic refurbishment, transforming it into a modern village pub with a relaxing bar area and a warm and welcoming restaurant overlooking the village green. On the menu you’ll find classic dishes served with a modern edge.

The Bildeston Crown is a 15th Century coaching inn steeped in history and located in the glorious Suffolk countryside.

The brasserie style menu offers a wonderful selection of classic French and English food

by Head Chef Delphine Barrais. The service is warm and friendly with the emphasis on relaxed dinning. Please view our website to browse the menu. This year the hotel and restaurant is open for Christmas and New Year, offering the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing break.

David Grimwood’s lovely Freehouse Restaurant The Froize, is all about the food and the people who eat it! Top quality, seasonal fresh food, sourced locally, cooked with love and passion and served with a smile! Christmas is approaching and at this special time of year the Froize welcomes you to celebrate with them and taste the magical yuletide food from their party menu! Decked with an enormous Christmas tree, flickering fires, mistletoe and holly, you can enjoy the festive frivolities and the warm hospitality for just £25 pp!

Open: Food service is from 12 noon to 2.45pm and 7pm to 9.45pm daily (9pm Sundays)

Open: Lunch every day except Monday and for supper on Friday and Saturday.

Booking advised

High Street, Bildeston, Suffolk, IP7 7EB

Chillesford, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 3PU

01449 740510 reception@thebildestoncrown.co.uk www.thebildestoncrown.com

01394 450282 dine@thefrozie.co.uk www.froize.co.uk

Seckford Hall

Butt & Oyster

Shepherd & Dog

1530 at Seckford Hall Hotel is Suffolk’s newest fine dining destination. Ideal for business and pleasure the talented team of chefs turn local produce into mouth-watering dishes, with seasonally changing menus.

Relaxed, stylish and comfortable, full of character but unpretentious the new classical design has stunning statement lighting and an eclectic mix of colours, mirroring the Tudor charm of the hotel. See what everyone is talking about and experience the tradition, history and good taste at 1530.

The Butt & Oyster is one of the best known public houses in Suffolk renowned for its good beer, good food and great views.

As you eat watch the changing tides on traditional timeless shores. Understand an artist’s inspiration with Thames barges, swans and the river, enjoying the finest Suffolk ales whilst being tempted by the wonderful aromas which welcome you. Food offers are available throughout the week.

See our website for details.

Just along the A1120 the Shepherd & Dog looks like a typical English Pub. Once inside you will discover a place that boasts incredible food and attentive service married with stylish interior. Food is served all day from the Grazing menu, a small plates relaxed style of dining. The a la carte menu showcases the best seasonal ingredients and is served both at lunch and at dinner. This is a special place and worth finding out about!

Open: Lunch and dinner 7 days a week Light snacks served all day

Open: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 11pm.

Sunday, 12pm to 10.30pm Food served 7 days a week

Open: Tuesday – Sunday all day for food.

Closed Mondays

Open: Every day for lunch and dinner including Christmas Day and Boxing Day and may also be hired exclusively for your private occasion.

The Street, Monks Eleigh, Suffolk, IP7 7AU. 01449 763163 info@swaninnmonkseleigh.co.uk www.swaninnmonkseleigh.co.uk

Seckford Hall Hotel, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 6NU 01394 385678 reception@seckford.co.uk www.seckford.co.uk

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Pin Mill, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 1JW

Forward Green, Earl Stonham, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 5HN

01473 780764 buttandoyster@debeninns.co.uk www.debeninns.co.uk

01449 711685 info@theshepherdanddog.com www.theshepherdanddog.com

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Food Gallery

The Middleton Bell

Ufford Park

The Dog

Set in the beautiful village of Middleton the award winning Value Pub of the Year 2012 Bell Inn offers top quality food using the best local produce at prices that ensure you will want to return again and again. Dine in the garden, traditional bar area or the beamed restaurant and enjoy home cooked food and ales directly from the cask. The Bell is the perfect venue to meet friends and family.

With the cold weather looming, what better way to warm up than to join us in The Park Restaurant, situated at Ufford Park Woodbridge. Set in the Deben Valley in 120 acres, we offer a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, perfect to catch up with friends and family or celebrate a special occasion.

Our seasonally changing menu offers lots of locally produced food and vegetables. We are now taking bookings for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, so please get in touch to book your table. A bar snack menu is also served all day. Open to all, non-members welcome.

Award Winning Public House, Restaurant & Bar. Our menu constantly evolves to reflect the changing seasons and celebrates the very best of locally sourced produce. Our ‘Specials Board’ is inspired by the prime seasonal ingredients available each day and the entire menu is complemented by a carefully selected wine list. New guest beer every week. Real ales and rustic ciders. Save 20% off food orders everyday between 5.30 and 6.30pm. Set price menu one course £7.50, two courses £10 or three courses £13.

Open: Monday – Closed. Tuesday to Thursday 12 noon to 2.30pm and 5.30 to 11pm. Friday, Saturday and Sunday – open all day. Food Served 12 noon to 2pm (2.30 Sunday) and 5.30pm to 9pm daily The Green, Grundisburgh, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 6TA

Open: Bar: Monday 6pm to 11pm, Tuesday to Friday – Lunch, 12 noon to 3pm, Evening, 6pm to 11pm, Saturday: 12 noon – midnight. Sunday: 12 noon to 10.30pm Food served Tuesday – Sunday Booking advisable please call for details The Street, Middleton, Suffolk, IP17 3NN

Open: Monday to Sunday 6.30pm to 9.30pm Sunday Lunch served 12 noon to 2pm Yarmouth Road, Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1QW

01728 648286

0844 847 9467 enquiries@uffordpark.co.uk www.uffordpark.co.uk

The Galley

Fynn Valley

The Peacock Inn

The Galley in Woodbridge is a family run restaurant offering vibrant and exciting menus, using fresh local produce, in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. For those wishing to hold a celebration or business lunch, there re private dining rooms available.

New autumn menu – Light lunch, two course £11, three course £14. Fine festive dining at the Galley – Come and join in the festive celebrations and enjoy a delicious 3 course festive menu for your Christmas Party at just £30 per person.

Open to everyone, not just golfers, we are the place you bring your family and friends for a wide range of tempting meals prepared by our talented chefs. Meals can be eaten in our cosy Courtyard Bar, The Terrace overlooking the golf course or utilising the entire spacious Valley Room on busier occasions. Full details of our menus and offers can be found on our website.

Situated opposite the picturesque bridge in the village of Chelsworth, The Peacock is a traditional half-timbered 14th century Inn, with cosy log fires and three rosette silver accommodation. Perfectly positioned for touring, walking and cycling in the beautiful surrounding countryside. Offering a selection of real ales and seasonal homemade food.

Try our Sunday roast in a relaxed atmosphere, bookings advisable, dogs welcome.

Open: 7 days a week, lunch 12 noon to 2.15pm, dinner 6pm to late (early bird diner 6 – 7pm) 21 Market Hill, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 4LX 01394 380055 www.thegalley.uk.com

Open: Open lunch and evening except closed all day Monday and Sunday evenings.

Fynn Valley Golf Club, Witnesham, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP6 9JA 01473 785202 restaurant@fynn-valley.co.uk www.fynn-valley.co.uk

01473 735267 www.grundisburghdog.co.uk

Open: Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm. Sunday, 12pm to 6pm (Food served 12pm to 2.30pm and 6pm to 9pm daily) 37 The Street, Chelsworth, Suffolk, IP7 7HU 01449 743952 wilcri@aol.com www.thepeacockchelsworth.com

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Food Gallery

DECEMBER 2014

Sibton White Horse

The Fountain

The Angel

A 16th century unspoilt destination inn set in the heart of the Suffolk countryside.

A memorable experience is waiting at The Good Pub Guide’s Suffolk Dining Pub of the Year 2015.’ Relax with a pint of local cask beer or a glass of wine beside the log burner and absorb the atmosphere and charm of such a wonderful building. Indulge in our delicious thoughtfully crafted menu.

Built upon local, seasonal ingredients we offer an easy and unpretentious service, grounded in the tradition of the English inn.

Located in the lovely old village of Tuddenham St Martin, three miles north of Ipswich, informal bistro style restaurant set in an oldie worldy 16th century country pub with great food, great service and great value.

Parties welcome from two to 45 people. Full A La Carte menu and a set two or three course menu. Current specials always included on the website. Covered heated patio and spacious beer garden.

Using the best local ingredients from the excellent producers on our doorstep, we prepare great tasty food here on the premises and aim sell it to you at a reasonable price. Mon-Fri we offer a choice of tasty home cooked lunches for £5, in addition to our full menu. Sunday roasts and our homemade burgers are a speciality. We are equally proud of our drinks offering with 6 real ales (listed in the 2013 CAMRA Good Beer Guide), draught Suffolk Cyder & lagers, and East Anglia’s widest range of spirits with over 220 gins.

Open: Monday to Friday, 12 noon to 3pm and 5pm to close. Open all day at weekends

Open: 12pm to 2.30pm Tuesday to Saturday, 6.30pm to 11pm. Monday to Saturday 12pm to 3pm, 6.45pm to 10.30pm Sunday Halesworth Road, Sibton, Nr. Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 2JJ

The Street, Tuddenham St. Martin, IP6 9BT

Theatre Street, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 4NE (Just off the Market Hill)

01728 660337 info@sibtonwhitehorseinn.co.uk www.sibtonwhitehorseinn.co.uk

01473 785377 fountainpub@btconnect.com www.tuddenhamfountain.co.uk

01394 383808 mail@theangelwoodbridge.co.uk www.theangelwoodbridge.co.uk

The White Horse

Arlingtons

The Plough & Sail

You’re always sure of a warm welcome at The White Horse. A fabulous little spot in Old Felixstowe, where you’ll find a range of fine guest ales and delicious personally selected wines. The menu is made up of fresh, locally sourced produce, including daily seasonal specials and a wonderful traditional Sunday roast – all prepared by a talented team of AA Rosette winning chefs. Please see our website for details of forthcoming events or contact us about private hire of our beautifully converted stables.

Buzzing brasserie style restaurant with café bar set within the building converted from the Arlingtons Ballroom. The perfect venue to catch up with friends, talk business, celebrate special occasions. French style menu served in typical informal Brasserie manner offering a large selection of freshly prepared Suffolk reared meat dishes and vegetarian choices as well as fish & shellfish from sustainable sources. Plus takeaway deli, breakfast from 8am, light meals and homemade cakes throughout the day.

After two years at the helm of the Plough & Sail located at Snape Maltings, local twins Alex and Oliver Burnside’s passion for creating a quality dining pub serving a seasonallychanging menu is ever stronger. Enjoy ‘traditional’ pub food for lunch and in the evenings a modern ‘restaurant style’ menu alongside an extensive selection of ales, spirits and quality wines. Pre and post concert dining is available and booking is advised.

“We look forward to welcoming you soon.”

Open: Monday to Friday, 12 noon to 2pm and 6pm to 9pm. Saturday, 12 noon to 2pm and 6pm to 9.30pm. Sunday, 12pm to 7pm

Open: All day every day. Food served 12 noon until 2.30pm and 6pm until 9.30pm on weekdays, all day at weekends

Open: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 11pm Sunday, 12 noon to 10.30pm Open: Monday to Sunday, 8am to 10pm

The White Horse, Church Road, Old Felixstowe, Suffolk, IP11 9NF

13 Museum Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1HE

Snape Maltings, Snape Bridge, Snape, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 1SR

01394 277496 bookings@thewhitehorse-felixstowe.co.uk www.thewhitehorse-felixstowe.co.uk

01473 230293 enquiries@arlingtonsbrasserie.co.uk www.arlingtonsbrasserie.co.uk

01728 688413 alexburnside@hotmail.com www.theploughandsailsnape.co.uk

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Wine

YOUR

seasonal CELLAR Thanks to Eurostar, dining in France has never been easier, so when we were invited by Californian friends, on the final leg of their annual ‘grand tour’ of Europe, to join them in Paris for supper, it seemed churlish to decline their generous offer. I say Californian but in fact only 50% of the couple is American – the other half is New Zealand: a happy combination with highly tuned palates and accustomed to innovative food, creatively cooked and presented. I am sure the ‘tasting menu’ at Le Châteaubriand (11ème arrondissement) would have been an eye-opener had there actually been a menu to read. And the sommelier’s accompanying wine selection might have made more sense if, as part of the tasting menu deal, we had seen sight of a wine list. There is absolutely no doubt that the ‘modern French’ cooking at Le Châteaubriand tickled all the correct taste buds, and from the soul of this kitchen poured forth a never-ending stream of wonderfully delicious courses. The downside of putting oneself entirely at the mercy of the staff in such a maelstrom of bistro hubbub is that without the help of a printed aide memoire, the content of each course or glass is soon forgotten. We listened attentively to every gabbled description whilst simultaneously tuning into West Coast, Kiwi and French accented conversations, and the whole process lasted a sensation-laden three and a half hours. I was keen to report on the experience in detail on our return, so my wife kindly agreed to make what at the time she believed to be comprehensive notes on my behalf.

Next morning, however – surprise, surprise – these proved to be at best sketchy and at worst, indecipherable. But – and here I cut to the chase – the wines served (apart from a fantastic glass of Blanc de Blancs Champagne with one of the courses) were all ‘natural’ wines, which meant they none of them contained sulphites, and all of them – apart from the Champagne – were oxidised. The sherry which was served with one course actually tasted rather good but then again, it was meant to be oxidised – so should have. Thankfully, natural wines have not caught on in this country but the French and Italians are quite keen to experiment, and serving wines which have much in common with scrumpy seems to be relatively de riguer. Sulphur is an antioxidant, which is used in very small quantities to prevent every wine we drink from turning brown or tasting like – sherry. We have all become so accustomed to drinking fresh, crisp, sappy white wines and clean, balanced, fruit-orientated reds that anything else, with or without food, would be rejected and returned, as were one or two examples that Adnams bought recently, when we dipped our toe into ‘natural’ waters. Never again. Microbiologist Louis Pasteur would have had something to say about this.

Now for the most exciting news, which is the addition of an Albariño to our list of Adnams Selection Wines. Twenty years ago, when barely anyone had heard of this Galician gem, let alone drunk it, we shipped our first consignment from these Atlanticfacing, terraced vineyards. Albariño is the new Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio/Viognier all rolled into one and has become the grape of the moment. The 2013 Adnams Selection Albariño has delicious

Rob Chase

peachy notes, a scintillating freshness and lovely texture on the palate – and if you haven’t already discovered it, I would encourage you to seek out your first bottles without delay. At £8.99 we think it’s a steal, and it will undoubtedly become the white wine to drink this Christmas.

While I’m on the subject, it’s always a temptation at this time of year to cut and paste my perennial advice when faced with the question of what to drink with turkey. My answer – invariably – is to trade up from whichever wine or style gives you the most pleasure. Christmas is a time for tradition and treats, so if you traditionally enjoy a modest claret, treat yourself by spending a bit more on a ‘petit château’ like the 2009 Château Cissac, at £17.99 – a great vintage from a highly reputable estate in the Haut-Médoc. If you prefer a Côtes-du-Rhône, buy a Gigondas or Châteauneuf-du-Pape. If you like a simple Rioja, trade up a notch and go for a Reserva. For those who hanker after Pinot Noir, Burgundy has become such an expensive treat that it’s worth considering its southern sibling, Beaujolais, instead. A really decent Beaujolais Cru, like a Chiroubles or Fleurie – is a third of the price and equally satisfying (particularly if you’ve saved yourself a small fortune by choosing it). Both are available from Adnams at £10.99 and £11.99 respectively. Great value, and perfect with chicken or turkey. Alternatively, there is some very impressive, inexpensive Pinot Noir from other necks of the wood. I recently drank a delicious bottle from the Pfalz in southern Germany, where plantings of this capricious variety are surpassed only by those in France and California. At £10.79, the Villa Wolf is a bargain.

Should you prefer white wine with your Christmas bird, then go from a simple Chardonnay up to Chablis 1er Cru from JeanMarc Brocard ‘Montmains’ at £19.99 a bottle, or my all-time favourite Domaine de la Bongran, Mâcon at £19.50. I should reiterate my mantra that it is a rare gathering of family or diners that confines or restricts itself to just one colour. From experience, I think it is very important to offer a choice of both red and white – as well as having a bottle of rosé on ice, for that impossibly indecisive guest! Because wines are so well-made these days, whites can be returned to the fridge for the morrow, without little obvious detriment, and I would put the reds somewhere marginally less chilly, but certainly somewhere cool.

Finally, if you are looking for a generous, wine-oriented Christmas present for someone in your household (not forgetting that you would be a beneficiary too), subscribe to the Adnams Seasonal Cellar wine club and we will deliver to your door, every quarter, a case of twelve wines, complete with extensive notes and food pairings. Amongst your specifically selected bottles, you will discover grape varieties and appellations you may never have heard of: the Seasonal Cellar cases are designed for corkscrew-wielding enthusiasts who are prepared to let Adnams do the footwork. What a present! Call us on 01502 727222 for details – or indeed for any seasonal vinous advice you may be seeking. Joyeux Nöel.

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TREE DECORATIONS, GERMAN MUSICAL SNOW GLOBES

WREATHS & GARLANDS, STOCKINGS, ADVENT CALENDARS

Barretts

of Woodbridge

CHRISTMAS TABLEWARE & KITCHENWARE, CANDLES & CARDS

We really do love Christmas at Barretts. Every year the shop gets transformed into a magical winter wonderland, with Christmas Trees and festive decorations everywhere you look. So much so, it’s the talk of the town! And don’t forget, if you can’t make it into the shop you can order from our on-line shop, Clicks & Bricks!

GIFTS, CHRISTMAS CUSHIONS, ROOM DECORATIONS

www.barretts.co.uk/shop

www.barretts.co.uk T: 01394 384300 E: shop@barretts.co.uk 40 The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge IP12 1AL Free customer car park

Jill Barrett

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Business Profile | Barretts of Woodbridge

CHRISTMAS AT BARRETTS Barretts of Woodbridge has been a landmark store in the heart of this thriving market town for 45 years. Specialising in beautiful and high quality home furnishings and linens, it epitomises what you’d expect from a family run, proudly independent, high street shop. Famous for its superb service, friendly staff, and vibrant atmosphere, it’s also known for its fresh and engaging displays, none more so than at Christmas.

many of the elements we naturally associate with this special time of year – toys, excited children, a Christmas tree, snow and a sprinkling of magic.

We have lots of Nutcracker Soldiers and Sugar Plum Fairies in the display, and they certainly add festive colour and cheer. Our other themes include the ever popular ‘White Christmas’, ‘Christmas Country House’, and the dazzling ‘Sparkle’.

According to Jill, it looks like all the hard work has paid off.

Barretts has become a part of Christmas for so many people, young and old.”

Jill also has good news for anyone who can’t make it to the store.

“Earlier this year we launched our online shop, Clicks & Bricks at www.barretts.co.uk/shop. This means you can shop online with us knowing you are still supporting a local, high street business. Plus you have ‘collect free from store’ option, with free postage on orders over £75.

At Barretts they really do love Christmas. Every year the shop is transformed into a magical winter wonderland, with Christmas trees and festive decorations everywhere you look.

So much so, it’s the talk of the town!

This year their main theme is the classic Christmas ballet ‘The Nutcracker’, and Jill Barrett explains why. “Being set on Christmas Eve, it brings together so

“The response has been amazing – so many customers have commented on how stunning the shop looks. When we decide on our themes and stock way back in February, we never really know how it’s going to turn out. Expectations are high and we always strive to make each year stand out. The real reward for me comes when I see the children’s faces peering through our windows, wide-eyed with wonder. I’m thrilled that

Barretts has even more Christmas cheer to offer, as for the first time they plan to have a Santa’s grotto for the Woodbridge Street Fair on Sunday 7th December.

Tickets will be £5 each, with £1 going to St Elizabeth’s Hospice. Available now via their on-line shop, tickets will also be on sale on the day.

So why not get into the Christmas spirit and make a trip to Barretts part of your Christmas tradition.

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Hand-crafted Christmas gifts Open Monday to Saturday 10am – 5.30pm Customer Parking The Old White Hart, Long Melford Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 9HX. T: 01787 882214

www.persiancarpetstudio.co.uk

THE

PERSIAN CARPET Follow us

STUDIO

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Homes & Interiors

it’s beginning to look a lot like

CHRISTMAS You may be one of the ‘get the tree up at the beginning of December’ brigade or a Christmas Eve traditionalist however, decorating your home for Christmas is one of the very many pleasures of the season. Whatever your approach you’ll be looking for new ornaments and trimmings to complement your favourites so here is your Essential guide to beautiful Christmas decorations from some of Suffolk’s finest independent retailers

Sparkly pear tree decoration £4.50, Barretts of Woodbridge

Rattan LED Charistmas tree £21.50, Glasswells

Metal hanging reindeer £4.25, Blackthorpe Barn

Set of 12 'ruby' fabric decorations £20, Neptune Design Centre

Prancer standing reindeer £24, Neptune Design Centre

Nordic Christmas tree ornaments, set of 2 £46, Neptune Design Centre Snowflake cushion £18.99, Glasswells

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Homes & Interiors

Felt Santa tree topper £3.99, Barretts of Woodbridge

Jack frost baubles £3, House & Garden

3 Plaristo ‘Light Glass Painted Tea-Light Holders’ £7.95. Beautiful decorative tea-light holders from Germany, Southwold Pier

3 wire reindeer 31, 25 and 17cm from £9.60, Blackthorpe Barn

Handmade felt pheasant £7, House & Garden

Toy soldier £10, Barretts of Woodbridge

Nutcracker characters £14.99, Blackthorpe Barn

Kitsch Owl £3.50, House & Garden

Flying Santa table decoration £24, Barretts of Woodbridge

Christmas baubles £7.96, House & Garden

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Homes & Interiors

DECEMBER 2014 Gabriel twig star £6, Neptune Design Centre

Matilda hanging decorations, set of 3 £14, Neptune Design Centre

House Lantern from £5.70, Blackthorpe Barn

Noel filled cushion £23, Barretts of Woodbridge

Reindeer cushion £22.99, Glasswells

Betty glass baubles, set of 6 £20, Neptune Design Centre

Stockings from £25, House & Garden

Set of 12 'frost' fabric decorations £20, Neptune Design Centre

T-Lights £2.99 Blackthorpe Barn

Reindeer Door Stop£23.99, Blackthorpe Barn

STOCKISTS Barretts of Woodbridge 40-42 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 384300 www.barretts.co.uk Blackthorpe Barn Junction 45 off the A14, Rougham, Bury St Edmunds. T: 01359 270880 www.blackthorpebarn.com Glasswells Ranelagh Road, Ipswich or Newmarket Road, Bury St Edmunds. T: 01473 253164 www.glasswells.co.uk House & Garden Snape Maltings, Snape, Nr Aldeburgh. T: 01728 688303 www.snapemaltings.co.uk Neptune Design Centre Ltd Barton Road, Bury St Edmunds. T: 01284 731025 www.neptuneburystedmunds.com Southwold Pier North Parade, Southwold. T: 01502 722105 www.southwoldpier.co.uk

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Antiques & Auctions

TAKING THE RUFF WITH THE SMOOTH While waiting for the light to go out (some would say it went out years ago!) I contemplated the choice of settings between linen and cotton as well as the option to use the steam function. My mind wandered away from the Tefal iron (for fairness other makes are available) in my right hand and I remember thinking the pile of ironing remained unmoved!

The detour taken by this meandering thought process took me to an image of a splendid contraption, or should I say beautifully engineered object, which was included in one of our recent Auctions.

So that you are better connected with the piece a photograph is shown below It struck me that the ribbed rollers, so lovingly created in brass, would create the same sort of effect that my more modern technique often produced; but in the case of the Victorian model the results were produced in the manner originally intended!

James Neal

The example pictured is a Victorian fluting or crimping iron designed to create neat little rows of frilled material so wonderfully useful for ruffs and the like. Operated by a handle which is attached to the central crank, the material would be passed between the shaped rollers to achieve the desired effect.

You may well be aware that irons of yesteryear often attracted some wonderful names, these included the goffering iron, named no doubt after the goffer who undertook the laundering.

Simple models had a metal stand linked to a hollow metal tube shaped somewhat like a cigar and into which a poker like object was inserted, having been heated in the fire. Material was then passed over the warm tube to achieve a smoothed effect.

Other types of iron included box irons, goose irons, flat irons, as well as the inappropriately named sad irons.You might think this name was given to accurately reflect the mood of the person about to undertake the weekly or daily chore but I am reliably informed the word sad was an alternative word for solid.

Having come out of my trance and adjusted the knobs and dials to steam and cotton I am purely faced with a choice of ironing the plain or the striped shirt first!

• Large kitchen and bathroom showroom

WOODBRIDGE INTERIORS

• Villeroy & Boch, Matki Aqata & Hans Grohe

KITCHEN & BATHROOM SPECIALISTS

• German kitchen furniture, Corian & Neff • Full installation service • Free design

01394 386390 www.woodbridgeinteriors.co.uk

Kitchen and Bathroom showroom Smithfield, Melton Road Melton, nr. Woodbridge IP12 1NG

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Gardening

DECEMBER 2014

You might think there’s not much to see out in the garden in winter but, says Catharine Howard, if you are travelling abroad it’s a different matter

BUON NATALE F

or my December column I am going to write about a garden I visited last Christmas. But before I tell you about it, first a little bit about its owner and his museum. Stefano Bardino (1836-1922) was an art dealer.

He lived and worked in Florence at a time when the town was in the throes of redevelopment. Acquainted with many of the old Florentine families, he helped them sell off their out-of-date Renaissance furnishings to Americans on the grand tour. Money flowed in and he bought a deconsecrated church by the river Arno and turned it into a luxurious showroom.

Here were to be seen pulpits, crucifixes, stone and wood carvings, paintings, carpets and a fancy arrangement of armour. Every single room was painted the same eye-catching blue, chosen by Bardino to show off the masterpieces.

And so it was on Christmas Eve, last year in Florence that I found myself in the cool blue and empty-of-people interior of the Museum Stefano Bardini.

The perfect refuge from the flocks of tourists and the scurrying of last minute shoppers. Above the museum, the river valley rises steeply up to Fiesole and San Miniato al Monte. There is a large garden, linking Bardini’s house, an eyrie balanced on a high ledge, with his showroom below. Giardino Stefano Bardini conquers the steep slope and is a perfect garden for a winter visit. The 78

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bones are laid bare and it makes an interesting study in proportion, perspective and use of hard-landscaping materials. The gardens have recently been restored and are linked up with the Boboli Gardens for a walk with views out over Florence.

The top of the garden is a terrace and looking away down and out beyond to Florence’s medieval sky-line. Bardini, being a dealer, has left a horde of elegant statuary, ancient and modern, decorating the garden. The pots on pedestals look fabulous and a grotto half way down on the left with life size granite figure made me envious of Bardini’s opportunities for embellishment.

Dealing with extreme changes in levels is just about the most difficult challenge that you can present to a garden designer. There are plenty of steep brick staircases but it is pinned together by ironmongery. The walkway goes beneath a substantial pergola that runs across the width of the garden. In December it has only ghost tendrils and seedpods as ornament. Just below it an orchard on a steep slope gives a demonstration of how good trained fruit trees look in the middle of winter. No leaves to distract, all pared down to the architectural.

The metal counter-espalliers have been planted with alternating Reine des Renettes apples and Buerre Hardy pear

trees in candelabra form. Below this there is a dwarf orchard on the lower part of the slope. When pruned the dwarf trees were considered more productive and quite often such trees would be planted in front of a villa.

It would leave more of a view and give the opportunity to grow a greater variety of fruit.

The flower garden is in the lowest tier of the garden. Well sign-posted, neat, tidy beds – and I particularly enjoyed the description of the design; ‘predominance of the narrow gramineous leaves of luzula, seselaria and festuca, colour green, dominant hosta plant’. When I think back and have a look at photos of the garden I am firmly of the opinion that these flower beds are not needed at all – between the borrowed view, the vertiginous drop down to street level below and the wonderful hoary old stoneware, mere flowers have no place. Pared down winter gardens are lovely – Giardino Bardini especially.

INFORMATION Catharine Howard is a designer and gardening coach with many years of practical experience in creating and renovating gardens. For a consultation or garden design contact her at www.thegardeningcoach.co.uk

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Property

Essential

PROPERTY 80 81 83 85 87 88 89

Neals Fenn Wright Jackson-Stops & Staff Clarke & Simpson Castle Estates Fine & Country Savills 82 Chillesford

84 Woodbridge

86 Barham Green EssentialSUFFOLK

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01394 382263 enquiries@nsf.co.uk www.nsf.co.uk 26 CHURCH STREET WOODBRIDGE SUFFOLK IP12 1DP

Woodbridge - A fine, energy efficient, contemporary family house

With ample space to park and a garden of a good size The accommodation comprises Hall, Cloakroom-Shower Room, Sitting Room, Kitchen-Dining Room, Study or Fifth Bedroom, Utility Room, Main Bedroom Suite with Dressing Room and Bathroom, Three further Bedrooms, One En-Suite and a Family Bathroom. EPC Band B.

Offers around £610,000

Woodbridge - Offers around £495,000

Grundisburgh - Offers around £275,000

Facing South at the rear and with a Hall, Cloakroom, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Kitchen-Breakfast Room, 3 Bedrooms, Bathroom, first floor balcony.

Pretty part walled garden. EPC Band D

A delightful period cottage of real character Cloakroom, Sitting Room, Kitchen-family Room, 3 Bedrooms and a Bathroom Garage and Parking Area. Cottage garden. Workshop and Workroom. EPC Band E

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Suffolk, based in Ipswich

01473 358 400 Specialists in the sale of town, village and country houses.

Experts in equestrian property.

Westhall, Halesworth

Hintlesham • • • • • •

Being built to a high specification 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms 3 reception rooms Kitchen/breakfast room Generous garden Double garage & parking

Guide Price £675,000 Debenham • • • • •

5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms 3 reception rooms Kitchen & utility room Double garage & car-port Original features including oak beams • EPC Rating D Offers in excess of £525,000

An attractive period farmhouse with adjoining annexe and excellent equestrian facilities, including stables and manege.

Benefits from a network of Bridleways within close proximity.

• • • • • • • • • • •

Purdis Farm Lane, Ipswich

4 bedrooms 3 reception rooms 3 bathrooms Annexe accommodation Excellent equestrian facilities 8 stables 4 paddocks Range of outbuildings Suffolk Timber Barn 6.3 acres EPC Rating F

Guide Price £750,000 Brantham

A well-presented, spacious, detached, four bedroom, family home with potential for extension (stpp) situated in secluded gardens extending to 0.4 of an acre in a non-estate position.

• • • • • • • •

4 bedrooms 4 reception rooms 3 bathrooms Kitchen/breakfast room Conservatory Double garage Ample off road parking EPC Rating D

Guide Price £600,000

suffolk@fennwright.co.uk Associated London office: Park Lane, Mayfair: 020 7409 8438

A stylish and contemporary designed family home set in two acres of mature grounds close to Ipswich Golf Club with swimming pool and tennis courts.

A unique opportunity.

Guide Price £1,350,000

• • • • • •

5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms 3 reception rooms Kitchen/breakfast/family room Swimming pool, tennis court 2 acres of mature grounds A unique opportunity to tailor the design prior to the final specification sign off • A Hills Residential development

fennwright.co.uk

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DECEMBER 2014

CHILLESFORD LODGE MODEL FARM FACTS LOCATION: CHILLESFORD GUIDE PRICE: FROM £395,000 AGENT: CASTLE ESTATES

A PERFECT PLACE TO LIVE Adrian Rawlinson visits the Chillesford Lodge Model Farm The road to Orford is undoubtedly one of Suffolk’s treasures. The beauty of the countryside as you drive through Rendlesham Forest is often simply breath taking and whatever time of year you visit there is an air of splendid isolation and tranquillity.

Within this rural idyll sits the 1200 acre Chillesford Lodge Estate that has been farmed by the current owners, the Watson family, since 1918 and now, thanks to the vision of George and Ali Watson, the opportunity has arisen for some to make part of this supremely private estate their home.

The Chillesford Lodge Model Farm is a development converting a cluster of listed farm buildings into 19 private homes ranging from one to four bedrooms. The word development should be viewed cautiously though.

Six years in the planning, with detailed consultation with award winning architects and negotiation with Suffolk

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Coastal planners, you can banish any thought of a modular and sterile conversion as each home will be unique using many original and reclaimed materials.

George told me “Nothing gets thrown away here. In 2012 a big storm brought down an ancient barn and we were able to harvest timbers and original bricks.”

It is in part the colour of the mellow red brick that leaves a lasting impression of these homes as they glow in the sunshine and add to the already stunning setting.

Another aspect that sets the conversion apart is that Chillesford Lodge remains George and Ali’s home along with their twin daughters Lucy and Sally. The twins are the fifth generation of the family here and as Ali explained they see the development as a legacy project. “It is our home too so we want everything to be right for us and for our children’s future.”

The homes are being designed to be totally sympathetic with their surroundings but also with all the advantages of high spec modern comfort and state of the art communications. It is a development which respects the listed buildings’

integrity but uses the internal space to deliver stylish open plan living. The old sitting perfectly beside the new.

Equal thought has been given to the outside space. Each home has its own private garden and access to large communal areas, allowing residents to engage or withdraw at their leisure.

Plans also include the restoration of a managed vegetable and fruit garden where residents can buy the freshest seasonal ingredients and everything is home grown, the creation of private sheltered picnic sites in sublime locations, as well as a livery yard, golf driving range, an indoor swimming pool, outdoor wild water swimming and a fishing lake.

Marketed as ‘A perfect place to live’ the Model Farm is a rare opportunity to purchase a home in one of the most beautiful parts of our county while still only being approximately ten miles from Woodbridge and the A12.

INFORMATION Viewings of the site can be arranged through Castle Estates on 01394 450527

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jackson-stops.co.uk Successfully selling in 2014 LD SO

LD SO

East Bergholt

Nr Aldeburgh Guide Price £2,500,000 LD SO

LD SO

Woodbridge Guide Price Excess £1,750,000

Campsea Ash Guide Price £1,750,000 LD SO

LD SO

Woodbridge Guide Price £1,500,000

Nr Ipswich Guide Price £1,800,000

Thinking of selling in 2015? ipswich@jackson-stops.co.uk

LD SO

LD SO

Barham Green Guide Price £635,000

Kettleburgh Guide Price £865,000

Contact Tim Dansie, Jonathan Penn or James Squirrell 01473 218218

Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

People Property Places

Essential December 2014 100pp_Layout 1 18/11/2014 13:14 Page 84

DECEMBER 2014

MALT YARD FACTS LOCATION: WOODBRIDGE GUIDE PRICE: FROM ÂŁ249,950 AGENT: SAVILLS

RETIRE IN STYLE Woodbridge is one of Suffolk’s prime residential destinations and currently under construction, and ready early 2015, Malt Yard is a new development for the over 55s consisting of 29 one and two bedroom apartments. Taking shape on the site of an old Suffolk malt house, it gathers inspiration from the history and character of its beautiful riverside setting.

Designed to blend in with the rich heritage of its surroundings, Malt Yard is in a perfect spot from which to explore everything the charming town of Woodbridge has to offer.

The apartments are being built by PegasusLife, a specialist developer on a mission to re-invent retirement housing.

The company is developing exemplar communities in desirable locations throughout Britain and Ireland.

Malt Yard draws on the architectural traditions of picturesque Woodbridge to create beautiful, spacious apartments in a development brimming with detail.

The design and materials used give the building a character in keeping with the

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This thriving market town is big enough to provide plenty of opportunities to shop and eat out, but small enough to bring a real sense of belonging.

town, while the large windows and thoughtful layout are suggestive of elegant loft-style living.

Malt Yard offers opportunities both for peaceful seclusion and for socialising, with a variety of spaces where the focus is on spending time with friends and neighbours. There is a Club Lounge and large terrace that overlook the landscaped gardens which pay homage to the surrounding Suffolk countryside.

INFORMATION Savills 01473 234 800 To see more pictures of this property visit www.essentialsuffolk.com/property

essential December 2014 100pp_layout 1 18/11/2014 13:00 page 85

Hacheston Guide Price £975,000

Middleton Guide Price £635,000

An attractive Grade II Listed former mill house with 4 bedrooms and adjoining 2 bedroom annexe, set in a delightful position with a river running though its 9 acres of attractive grounds. Private 6 green golf course, Suffolk Ref: 5216 barn, studio and double cart lodge.

An immaculately maintained and beautifully presented 6 bedroom home with views over the paddocks and meadow to the rear. Double garage and ample parking. Landscaped garden with summerhouse and garden store.

Ref: 5219 EPC = D

Hacheston Guide Price £475,000

Campsea Ashe Guide Price £430,000

An extensive 5/6 bedroom detached Edwardian house with an abundance of original features, located within the convenient village of Hacheston.

Large double garage with storage area above. Off-road parking for at least Ref: 5194 4 vehicles. Low maintenance garden. EPC = E

A beautifully presented and well maintained 5 bedroom semi-detached refurbished cottage with views over adjoining farmland to the side and rear. Large attractive garden and ample parking for several vehicles.

Ref: 5205 Planning permission for a double garage. EPC = D

Stradbroke Guide Price £400,000

Bredfield Guide Price £287,500

A highly attractive thatched Grade II Listed 3/4 bedroom village house offering spacious accommodation, ample parking to the front of the property and a pretty west facing garden totalling approximately Ref: 5217 ¼ of an acre with an extensive area of decking.

A delightful 2 bedroom extended cottage with large south-easterly facing garden, summerhouse and storage sheds, and backing onto playing fields in the centre of this popular village. EPC = D

Wickham Market Guide Price £275,000

Wickham Market – Last 3 Remaining From £219,995

A 3 bedroom end-of-terrace Victorian cottage requiring total refurbishment and updating, tucked away close to the church in Wickham Market.

Good-sized gardens to the side and rear. Garage and ample parking for several vehicles. EPC = D Ref: 5193

Deben Mews is a stunning development by Hopkins & Moore of only eleven homes in the picturesque Suffolk village of Wickham Market.

Only 3 properties remain, including two 4 bedroom detached houses and a 3 bedroom semi-detached house.

Ref: 4834

Clarke and Simpson, Well Close Square, Framlingham, Suffolk, IP13 9DU

Ref: 5211

T: 01728 724200

www.clarkeandsimpson.co.uk

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DECEMBER 2014

BARHAM HOUSE FACTS LOCATION: BARHAM GREEN GUIDE PRICE: £1,500,000 AGENT: JACKSON-STOPS & STAFF

IMPRESSIVE FAMILY HOME Located in a perfect position just five miles north of Ipswich, Barham House is an impressive, well- appointed and immaculate family house set in delightful grounds.

With five bedrooms, a barn, a separate home office and a tennis court, it’s perfect for someone with an active family and perhaps a home-based enterprise.

Downstairs Barham House has a reception hall, an elegant drawing room, an atmopsheric dining room and a snug sitting room.

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There is a stunning central open-plan kitchen/family room that opens into the breakfast room and a beautiful conservatory too.

On the first floor the impressive partvaulted master bedroom has a luxury ensuite bathroom and a spacious dressing room. There are also a further four bedrooms and two further bathrooms.

Outside, the property is accessed through double, electronically controlled gates and a sweeping driveway which leads to the house to and a brick paved parking courtyard, garaging with a large

equipment store/workshop attached and a custom built office upstairs.

Barham House is ideal for a family that loves sport and keeping fit as there’s a hard tennis court and a barn with snooker room, gymnasium and multi-purpose store with annexe conversion potential.

The grounds extend to three acres and also include formal gardens and a picturesque lake.

INFORMATION Jackson-Stops & Staff 01473 218218 To see more pictures of this property visit www.essentialsuffolk.com/property

essential December 2014 100pp_layout 1 18/11/2014 13:00 page 87

essential December 2014 100pp_layout 1 18/11/2014 13:00 page 88

NETWORK OF 300 INDEPENDENT OFFICES REPRESENTING PROPERTIES LOCALLY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY

NORTH EAST IPSWICH

Guide Price £650,000

WITNESHAM

Guide Price £540,000

A handsome late Tudor Grade II Listed six bedroom detached home with a one bedroom annexe offered with no chain, situated on the popular north eastern side of Ipswich with easy access to amenities.The property benefits from spacious character accommodation displaying fine period features including exposed timbers, inglenook, & leaded windows along with a luxury fitted kitchen & re-styled bathrooms including four en-suites.The gardens feature decorative boxed hedging, orchard, rose garden, detached double garage, attached store & off road parking. Contact Ipswich Office

An attractive wonderfully spacious 7 bedroom detached chalet home offered with no chain standing in grounds of approximately 0.6 of an acre (sts) abutting countryside.The property benefits from extended, superbly presented accommodation boasting loft conversion, large conservatory, two en-suites, enclosed neatly tended gardens, sheltered patio, detached double garage & off-road parking.The property benefits from a countryside setting yet is within easy access of Ipswich for commuting/shopping & Witnesham provides primary school, public house, church, bus service & country/river walks. EPC D. Contact Ipswich Office

MARTLESHAM

HACHESTON

Guide Price £925,000

Guide Price £650,000

This impressive six bedroom home offers extensive equestrian facilities, indoor swimming pool (45'x 22') and grounds of three and three quarter acres sts.The accommodation is flexible with four reception rooms, five ground floor bedrooms, a first floor bedroom and two en-suites. Convenient for Woodbridge and Ipswich.The property is ideal for entertaining and for those who love a large indoor swimming pool. Fynn Valley views, 3 acre sts equestrian grounds, stable block with three stables, barn style store and tack room with water, power and light. EPC E. Contact Woodbridge Office

Convenient for Framlingham, Wickham Market and Woodbridge. A unique 4/5 bedroom barn conversion set in three quarters of an acre sts with outbuildings and potential, subject to planning, for an annexe or holiday let. Mainly south facing with dining hall, sitting room, farmhouse style kitchen/breakfast room, utility/laundry room, study, cloakroom, ground floor bedroom, fifth bedroom/further study, shower room, three 1st floor bedrooms, master dressing room and en-suite. Cartlodge, garage, wood/machine stores. EPC D. Contact Woodbridge Office

NEEDHAM MARKET

BATTISFORD

Guide Price: £400,000

A stunning Grade II Listed property conveniently located within easy distance to the town centre and amenities including a branch line railway station.The accommodation comprises of: entrance hall, study, dining room, drawing room, kitchen/breakfast room, rear hall, utility room/workshop, guest bedroom with en suite shower room, three bedrooms and family bathroom on the first floor and further bedroom on the second floor. Private well-maintained wall gardens. Contact Needham Office.

87a High Street, Needham Market Suffolk IP6 8DQ T: 01449 723500 E: needham@fineandcountry.com

Guide Price: £775,000

An attractive Grade II Listed period property set in approaching four acres (sts) with paddocks and stables. Recently completely and sympathetically renovated the accommodation comprises: entrance hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, office with annexe potential, master bedroom suite, dressing room and en suite bathroom. On the first floor drawing room, two double bedrooms (one with en suite), family bathroom and further attic bedroom on the second floor.Well maintained mature gardens, triple garage and plenty of off-road parking. Contact Needham Office

28 Church Street, Woodbridge Suffolk IP12 1DH T: 01394 446007 E: woodbridge@fineandcountry.com

4 Great Colman Street, Ipswich Suffolk IP4 2AD T: 01473 289700 E: ipswich@fineandcountry.com

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essential December 2014 100pp_layout 1 18/11/2014 13:01 page 90

essential December 2014 100pp_layout 1 18/11/2014 13:01 page 91

essential December 2014 100pp_layout 1 18/11/2014 13:01 page 92

Essential Faces

SAA Agricultural Awards The cream of the region’s agricultural community gathered at Trinity Park for this year’s Suffolk Agricultural Association’s Agricultural Awards sponsored by Ashton KCJ. The winners of the BALE award were EE Ulph & Co of Whites Farm, Colchester, run by Angus and Sally Scobie, and the joint runners up Robert and Sally Bendall for Hollow Trees Farm and Nathan Nobbs for Potsford Care Farm.

The Best Newcomer Award was presented to The Catchpole Family for Stowlangtoft Healthcare LLP. Terry Hunt, Robert Rous, Richard Cook, Peter Over, Bill Baker

Bill & Jane Kemball, Bee & Zac Ludgrove

John Havers, Sophie Hale, Liz & Nigel Stimson

Robert & Sally Bendall, Jason Salisbury

Richard Vaughan, Bill & Kate Baker, Paul Moss

Ruth French, Cath Catchpole, Di Barker, Nick Light

0844 499 1630

(local rate)

www.uffordpark.co.uk

Angus & Sally Scobie, Sally & Loudon Greenlees

Christmas Party Nights from £25 per person

essential December 2014 100pp_layout 1 18/11/2014 13:01 page 93

To view more, or purchase, photographs from these events visit essentialsuffolk.com

Hannah Stowe Opening The fabulous new footwear boutique Hannah Stowe, on Market in Woodbridge, celebrated in style with an exclusive open evening launching the new selection of footwear, bags, cashmere, jewellery and accessories.

Guests enjoyed champagne cocktails whilst browsing the Autumn/Winter 2014 collection.

Gemma Watkin, Angie Willnott

Nicola Sexton & Hannah Stowe

June Berry, Sharon Jennings

Suzie Black, Nikki Walker

Simon & Georgie Dickins

Alison Bischoff, Clare Burgess, Luisa Townshend, Rachael Townshend

Lucy Ashby-Hoare, Angie Ashby-Hoare, Michelle Edwards

C Nicky Risby, Sue Risby, Andrea Gaskin

0844 499 1630

(local rate)

www.uffordpark.co.uk

Louise Halmshaw, Steph Simpkin

Christmas Day Lunch ÂŁ67.95 per adult

Hannah & Russell Stowe

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Essential Faces

East Anglian Air Ambulance Gift Fair Christmas shoppers made an early start on their seasonal buying by supporting the East Anglian Air Ambulance Christmas Fair at Ufford Park Woodbridge Hotel, Golf & Spa. The Air Ambulance is a 365 day-a-year lifesaving service working across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk and is reliant on charity donations for its very essential work.

Sharon Haste, Hilary Lightfoot, Tracey Maynes

Heidi Norman, Martha Nicholson

Cindy de la Rue, Sarah Zins

Catherine Haddon, Derrick & Diana Wells

Andrew & Karin Norman-Butler

Ingrid Franks, Jean Dunt

C Melanie Nightingale, Patrick Peale

0844 499 1630

(local rate)

www.uffordpark.co.uk

Edward Creasy, Sir Ian Collett

Boxing Day Lunch ÂŁ24.95 per adult

Charles & Pippa Williamson

essential December 2014 100pp_layout 1 18/11/2014 13:01 page 95

To view more, or purchase, photographs from these events visit essentialsuffolk.com

Red House Textiles Launch Invited guests celebrated with drinks and canapĂŠs at the launch of Red House Textiles in Ufford. Nick Crocker has created a collection that showcases boutique fabrics against the unique backdrop of the converted stable block. www.redhousetextiles.com

Nick Crocker, Polly Durrant, Matthew Hibbard

Gary Avis, Bryony Wells, Tim Holder

Francoise Dietrich, Craig Burroughs

Robert Whiting, Jo Williams, Nicholas Ferguson

Michael Grist, Jill Barrett

0844 499 1630

Nick & Jill Apperley, Gavin Johnston-Stewart

Richard & Cathy Arbon

(local rate)

www.uffordpark.co.uk

Finula Yardy, Josephine Lovell

Wayne & Sandie Francis, Rosalie Skinner

Take time out between Christmas and New Year with rooms from only ÂŁ34.50 per person (based on double occupancy)

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Essential Faces

Framlingham College Sixth Form Opening Guests were invited to the unveiling of the new £2.5million Sixth Form Centre at Framlingham College.

Incorporating four new classrooms on two floors, together with a whole-school café and social hub the new building supports the college’s increasing emphasis on ensuring that Framlinghamians are fully prepared for the adult world they will enter on leaving the college.

Richard Sayer, Paul Taylor

Ana De Luis, Helen Walker

John & Peggy Thurlow

Marcus Booth, Anne & Bob Skitch

Violet Taylor, Susan Wessels, Amanda Taylor

0844 499 1630

(local rate)

www.uffordpark.co.uk

Edward Creasy, Peter Howard-Dobson

Helen, Martin & Emma Myers-Allen

John Edwards, Simon Dougherty, Paul Taylor, Richard Sayer

New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner £89 per person New Year’s Eve Family Disco £49 per person

Directory

Essential

DIRECTORY MOTORING

HOMES AND GARDENS

3

Beautifully hand crafted, bespoke kitchens, cabinets and furniture

Sales, Service & Repair :TP[OĂ„ LSK 4LS[VU >VVKIYPKNL 07 5/ Telephone

www.orwellsfurniture.co.uk

www.angliafactors.co.uk

justtileswoodbridge.co.uk

CATERING

PRINTING

Kitchen & Bathroom specialists Designing rooms to relax and enjoy at the heart of your home Woodbridge interiors smithfield.melton.suffolk.ip12 1nG 01394 386390 www.woodbridgeinteriors.co.uk

Creating beautiful spaces for home and garden Whatever your project, call us for a free estimate T: 01394 766837 E: sdconstruction@ btinternet.com M: 07889 129746 samueldavidconstruction.co.uk

The Woodlands, Badley, Needham Market, Suffolk, IP6 8RS Tel: 01449 774222 service@derrickwells.com

Do you have a book to self-publish?

We can help you turn your idea into a reality

Gipping Gipping td Press Press LLtd www.gippingpress.co.uk Tel: 01449 721599 enquiries@gippingpress.co.uk

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CHRISTMAS

DO YOU HAVE CHICKENS?

PHILIP J TURNBULL & SON

Keep them safe with CLUCK ‘N’ SHUT from just ÂŁ115 A light activated chicken coop door opening and closing device Cluck ‘n’ Shut gives you peace of mind and keeps your chickens safe.

Battery operated – no mains power required Fully automated – just sit back and relax Aluminium door that will not rust Waterproof enclosure

DECKWORLD ARE ALSO YOUR LOCAL IPSWICH SUPPLIER OF HOT TUBS VISIT OUR SHOWROOM FOR LATE SEASON DEALS. HOT TUB CHEMICALS ALWAYS IN STOCK. Felixstowe Road, Ipswich, IP10 ODE (Opposite the Shepherd and Dog) Tel: (01473) 655777 www.deckworld.co.uk

Locally produced Prime Farm Fresh TURKEYS AND CHICKENS Free Range or Barn Reared Specialising in Christmas poultry for over 45 years We supply retail farm gate sales and local businesses, butchers and farm shops Please call for our brochure Gosbeck Hall, Gosbeck, Ipswich 01473 890210 turnbullturkeys@btinternet.com

To advertise call 01473 809932, we’ll be happy to help and advise you EssentialSUFFOLK

97

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My Suffolk

DECEMBER 2014

Where were you born and how did you come to live in Suffolk?

I was born in New Zealand, and was probably a descendant of some of those Suffolk folk who emigrated to New Zealand and Australia when things got tough in the 18th century. I left New Zealand in the late 1970s to see the world and once I started working in theatre in the UK I never found the money or the time to return. The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich lured me and my partner (Artistic Director Peter Rowe) to Suffolk in 2000.

Sarah Holmes is the Chief Executive of the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, home of the ever popular Rock ‘n’ Roll pantomime. She talks about her life in Suffolk

What makes the county special?

On account of the fact that no part of Suffolk is more than 450ft above sea level there is a vast amount of ever changing sky in every direction every day. It is also very close to London, one of the most exciting capital cities in the world, but despite the close proximity Suffolk has managed to retain a gloriously calm and somewhat laid back style.

Where do you like to walk?

My absolute favourite walk is to circle the Minsmere reserve - starting at Eastbridge across farmland and marshes to the coast, then up the coast to the Coastguard Cottages, across the heath and through woodland ending with a pint at the Eel’s Foot. A stunning walk because of the dramatic diversity of landscapes.

Where do you like to eat out?

A lot of local restaurants in Ipswich are great – not just for food, but for the service and atmosphere they bring.

The Townhouse was a favourite and I look forward to it reopening. Arlingtons and The Museum Street Café are both close to the theatre and a great place to take people from out of town. Taking people to The Salthouse and introducing them to The Waterfront is always a special treat. Further afield, I’d recommend the fantastic Suffolk Food Hall which has recently given us some excellent support for our Young Company’s show Four Knights In Knaresborough and are ready to look after you from breakfast, right throughout the day and into the evening.

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Adnams, Aspalls or Greene King?

How can one choose? What is remarkable is that I don’t think I have ever been in a pub in Suffolk that does not have one of our locally brewed beers on tap and maintained in mint condition. All especially satisfying after a good long walk.

Do you have any hobbies?

As well as enjoying all manner of theatre, I’m a big lover of holidays, although I can’t sit still when I get to my destination! I often take a fishing rod with the fantasy of catching and cooking local fish, but truthfully don’t have the patience and are more often in the water myself or undertaking some massive walk researched by my family.

Where do you like to shop?

Ipswich has everything I ever need, it is full of independent businesses, and enough of the big retailers too.

St Nicholas and St Peter’s Street is exciting to explore, especially if looking for a present but you don’t know what it is going to be!

Is there one picture you’d take to sum up our county?

I have one in my imagination which is a mix of a big Suffolk sky with moody clouds, grey stormy sea and big ships with stacks of shipping containers but I don’t think it exists.

What do you think of the arts in Suffolk?

The cultural offer in Suffolk is incredibly vibrant and all encompassing.

There is a wealth of different art forms to engage with and enjoy. The unique thing about arts in Suffolk is the diversity on offer and we need to shout it from the roof tops to remind all of us who live here and to attract more visitors from out of county.

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