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SUFFOLK
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l For advertising information or if you’d like to submit any collaboration ideas, or maybe you’d just like to give us a million pounds, don’t be shy ... Email us at, info@livinginsuffolk.com
ON OUR COVER ...
To mark International Women’s Day, this issue is dedicated to the power of women - past and presenttrailing a glorious blaze in Suffolk. We love this poster image, also available as a tea towel from the fabulous Radical Tea Towel company - radicalteatowel.co.uk - depicting the votes for women suffrage campaign 1903-26. On pages 12-13, you can read all about Ipswich suffragette, Hortense Lane, thanks to research by great granddaughter Jenny Holmes.
LIVING IN
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NEWS
All your latest news from around Suffolk ...
STRUT YOUR STUFF!
Fancy joining Suffolk’s most colourful samba band for a burst of joyful AfroBrazilian grooves?
Samboomba is a fabulous community samba band, based in Ipswich, who perform all over the county.
One of the founder members, Wilf O’Connor, says, “We will have been going 20 years in September. We started in 2005 with eight friends and it took off because of the fun and colours. Our greatest achievement is playing in the streets at carnivals and getting crowds involved. We have also played in Christchurch Park to a huge audience.”
Fellow founder member, Norman Atkins, says: “It took off in 2005 with a few members with second-hand instruments and as the fledgling group grew in confidence, the band quickly attracted new members, growing from around a dozen to our current membership of 36.
“We pride ourselves in creating a diverse, friendly and welcoming community band and our success is based on our ethos of fun and friendship.”
Samboomba play at large festivals and carnivals, small fêtes, events and weddings and support local charities by playing at their events.
They are currently booking their 2025 gig calendar with a number of private and public events already in the diary, including Felixstowe’s Disability Pride event on Friday 11th July.
The band are keen to welcome new members aged 16 and over and say no musical experience is necessary.
l Find them at, samboomba.co.uk or on Facebook and Instagram @samboombasamba
GREAT GARDEN TRAIL RETURNS
From Woodbridge to Diss through to Felixstowe and Halesworth, St Elizabeth Hospice’s much-loved Great Garden Trail is back.
Held in aid of the hospice (see interview with its CEO Judi Newman on page 11), it will be held from March to September, featuring a great variety of gardens supported by whole villages as well as beautiful hidden gems for the public to explore in return for a donation.
Community Fundraiser at St Elizabeth Hospice, Kelly Nekrews, says, “Over the years, so many incredible gardeners have generously opened their gardens, creating a wonderful experience for supporters and gardening enthusiasts across the region.
“Each year, it’s a real privilege to witness the fantastic, green-fingered talents of gardeners throughout the county and we are so grateful for their support.”
Now in its 11th year, the trail features over 50 gardens from individual gardens to communities opening together for the
For tickets and details of all the locations, visit the website below.
A season pass, which allows you to visit all the open gardens for just £30 this summer, may also be purchased.
l Call 01473 723600 or visit, stelizabethhospice.org.uk.
public to explore this summer, including Rydal Mount (near Halesworth), Diss, Parham, Wingfield and Columbine Hall.
Stour House in East Bergholt will be opening their gardens
Gardens at Otley Hall can be explored this year
Columbine Hall will once again be taking part in the Great Garden Trail
ON THE MARKET
The latest homes and property news from around Suffolk ...
MOUNT PLEASANCE
Located on the outskirts of the popular village of Offton, within easy reach of Ipswich and Needham Market, lies the magnificent Mount Pleasance Farmhouse. It offers scope for a wide range of uses and is approached by its own sweeping 0.25m driveway. The
ON THE HOUSE!
Time please ladies and gents! We just love this former pub which is believed to have been built in the 17th century and enjoys panoramic countryside views across the River Stour.
Timber framed with painted elevations under a plain tiled roof, The Queen’s Head offers spacious accommodation set over three floors and has bags of potential.
This former Grade II listed pub occupies a wonderful position in Erwarton on the Shotley Peninsula, with the nearby villages of Holbrook and Chelmondiston providing a variety of local amenities. Ipswich is just seven miles away.
The extensive ground floor accommodation (unrenovated) currently comprises entrance lobby, three lounge areas, WCs, vaulted dining room, rear lobby, kitchen, utility room and cellar. With
main house offers accommodation of around 2,900sq.ft. Dating from the 15th century, this Grade II Listed property offers an abundance of original features as well as an
outbuildings and parking, it stands in approximately 0.33 of an acre.
Further remodelling of the property is possible subject to necessary planning permissions and listed building consent. See the existing planning consent by Babergh District Council - planning reference number: DC/23/01002.
GUIDE PRICE £795,000
l On the market with Jackson-Stops Ipswich. Call, 01473 218218. Visit, jackson-stops.co.uk
additional detached former Victorian granary offering 900sq.ft – perfect as guest annexe or Airbnb potential – plus an outdoor heated pool.
GUIDE PRICE £1,250, 000
l On the market with Fenn Wright, Ipswich. Call 01473 232700. Visit, fennwright.co.uk
YOU INSPIRED ME!
March brings us International Women’s Day AND Mother’s Day – here these Suffolk trailblazers celebrate their mums ...
“MUM IS PROUD AS PUNCH!”
Eilish Tierney is Suffolk’s first female professional boxer and is paving the way in the ring.
“It’s a flag I fly high and will continue to do so,” says featherweight Eilish. It was during lockdown she decided to join Grange Fitness Performance in Martlesham to lose some of her 15st weight. After a 12-week boot camp she’d lost five stone and had found her true calling! Now she’s being trained by Ipswich heavyweight star Fabio Wardley’s coaching team and is making waves in the world of female boxing.
“It’s a privilege,” she says. “As a female in a male-dominated sport it actually comes with some benefits. There are a lot less females in the boxing world so a little less competition. One of the downsides are that big fights have to be taken early in your career. I found this out as I went into a 50/50 fight on my fourth professional fight, fighting for the silver commonwealth title and came up short, but I learnt a lot while gaining experience.”
Eilish says she was inspired by “pioneering female boxers who have opened doors and set high standards in the sport.
“Their resilience and dedication motivates
me to push through challenges and strive for excellence. I’m committed to supporting and mentoring the next generation of women in boxing, helping them overcome obstacles and achieve their own success.”
Eilish’s mum, Elizabeth, has always been by her side, cheering her on to follow her dreams.
“One of my many goals is to buy my mother a house,” she says. “She is always the loudest in the room while I’m boxing and forever proud of me, regardless of the result.”
Eilish might look tough but says her mum is the strongest person she knows.
“She pretty much raised me and my three siblings alone. Her dedication to her job and drive to want to do better is second to none. If I am 10% the person my mother is, I’ll be happy. She doesn’t get the recognition she deserves. Thank you for everything Mum.”
“MUM’S SCONES ARE A HIT!”
Amanda Mortimer set up a delightful tearoom in her own front room following a near death experience.
“Having suffered with ulcerative colitis,” she says, “I became very poorly with sepsis and emergency surgery resulting in a permanent stoma - this literally saved my life and I am thankful every day.”
Determined not to go back to her role as a general manager in hotels, she knew she had to make a major life change.
“Being situated overlooking The Guildhall on The Market Square in the heart of Lavenham, people often stopped at the then lounge window of my 15th century timber-framed cottage to admire the view,” she smiles. “I used to think, ‘I’m sure they would pop in for a cup of tea if my front door was open!’ It was always a dream to run a tearoom.
“Nearly dying and being in hospital for a long period of time, made me reassess and change my values. I might not have taken the risk otherwise.”
Ten years ago Amanda took the plunge and converted her home downstairs into the Lavenham Blue Vintage Tea Rooms.
“When others thought I was mad to give up a career and convert my house, Mum was always there for me, sharing her life experiences and offering me great guidance.”
Her mum Margaret, is now an important part of the business - cooking delicious scones and bread puddings, chatting to customers and holding the fort.
“She put up her family photos on the walls, showing five generations of good strong females!” adds Amanda. “She is nice to everybody she meets and is always happy to chat and share the history of the family photos on the walls of Lavenham Blue.“
l To book a table at Lavenham Blue Vintage Tea Rooms, call 01787 248295 Visit, lavenhambluetearooms.com
© Brett King
Boxer Eilish in action
Boxer Eilish and mum
Amanda at Lavenham Blue Tearooms Amanda Mortimer and mum Margaret
TWELVE MONTHS OF A MIDLIFE CRISIS!
Many women who reach their 50s and welcome their first grandchild, might consider a slower pace of life. Not Cheryl Harbut from Ipswich! She’s been busy amassing followers who are watching in awe as she ticks off a daring online bucket list. From flying a glider, abseiling down a 140ft crane, snowboarding on a dry slope, to playing drums at a live gig, talking on live radio and completing the ‘Dare Skywalk’ to reach the famous cockerel summit at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, she’s really going for it!
It all started in lockdown when she decided to publish her own book, Twelve Months Of A Midlife Crisis. “It’s about me and dating and ticking off my bucket list,” says Cheryl.
“I was approaching 50, divorced with two grown-up children and I thought ‘why not?’ It was time to re-evaluate my life. Writing was so cathartic.”
Cheryl says she could never have achieved so much without the unswerving support from her beloved mum, Margaret.
“She’s a very strong person considering what she’s going through - she’s battling illness at the moment and goes into the hospice every week. But she would do anything for anybody. She is an amazing mother and grandmother and we are very lucky to have her.” So what does her mum think about her daughter’s bucket list? “Well she thinks I’m mad, so do my children!”
l Find Cheryl on Instagram @twelvemonthsofamidlifecrisis and her book is on Amazon.
“NEARLY 99 AND STILL UNDIMINISHED”
The co-founder of Suffolk’s acclaimed INK festival, Julia Sowerbutts, says she owes a lot to her distinguished mother, Julia Josephs.
“She inspired my love of theatre. She is a concert pianist but also played for musicals. I sat with her for hours watching shows. She was also a brilliant tennis player, who played into her 90s. We were a fearsome doubles pair! She is brave, takes risks and never stops. She is nearly 99 and is still undaunted and undiminished.”
When asked about her mother’s strengths, the list is impressive. “Resilience in shed loads. Determination. Never regrets. Never feels guilt. Always curious and interested. Everything in moderation, except whiskey. A force to be reckoned with. But a force one has to admire.”
Julia cites one of her own greatest achievements as having four children, “who still want to come home and see me.” And then, of course, there’s her other baby - INK - because it “promotes new plays and has helped launch hundreds of up-and-coming creatives.”
Of course, it hasn’t always been plain sailing.
“MY
MOTHER FLEW LOOP THE LOOPS IN A PLANE!”
Veronica Levett-Scrivener’s mother Juliet, was born at a time when very little was expected of young women.
“Other than to marry,” says Veronica, who runs the fabulous AggieV fashion boutique in Bungay.
Her mother had six children over seven years and, as a hard-working farmer’s wife, always put her family first.
“But she was, and is, far more than a dutiful wife and loving mother,” says Veronica.
After completing at finishing school in France, there was no expectation for Juliet to pursue academia, though she was allowed to become a nurse in London and later a midwife in York and Harrogate. “It was the 1950s and just like in Call the Midwife, she delivered babies in their homes and her mode of transport was a bicycle!”
It wasn’t until her 50s that Juliet finally found her own interests, first learning to carriage drive to a proficient standard, “she was frequently seen in her carriage.” And then she took up flying ...
“She learnt to fly two and four-seater Cessna planes from Ipswich airfield. She could fly loop the loops! Her husband liked to fly with her so that he could look at his crops from the air, and also be able to look at neighbouring farms to see what they were up to!”
Having gained her flying licence and night licence, Juliet would even fly relatives to France to visit her fourth son who was living near Paris.
Her accomplishments are amazing. A keen needlewoman, Juliet took up tapestry and knitting creating amazing Aran and Fairlisle jumpers for the family, and she also served as governor of a primary school. Well-read and adept in languages, Juliet, who can play Scrabble in French, taught herself Ancient Greek so she could read “the New Testament in the original script.”
Veronica adds “As she approaches her 90th birthday, limited by loss of hearing and arthritis, her independent spirit is not dimmed, she just alters her course to fit in with her limitations. “If I could emulate a fraction of the life she has led, then that would be my achievement.”
l AggieV, 10 Market Place, Bungay, NR35 1BL. Instagram, @aggiev_bungay
“When I was younger, a few times, men attempted to belittle / take advantage because I was female,” she says. “This led me to lose confidence which may have affected my youthful goal of wanting to be a film star! Lack of talent and looks were probably in the mix too! If I was looking for work now, I reckon background and ageism would be greater issues. At INK, we are a team where the majority are female - so we won’t be intimidated!”
l To find out more about the 9th INK Festival taking place in Halesworth, see page 30. Visit, inkfestival.org
Cheryl Harbut and her mum
Cheryl loves an adventure
Julia Sowerbutts and her mum
Veronica (left) with her family - (L-R) her mother Juliet, Veronica’s granddaughter, Lucia, and daughter, Flo
Newly engaged Juliet
&MOVERS SHAKERS
Judi
Newman is chief executive officer at St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich ...
Tell us about your role at St Elizabeth Hospice (SEH).
I lead a fantastic team of staff and volunteers who work together to deliver compassionate care to over 4,000 patients and their families across East and Mid-Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney every year.
From our clinical teams providing outstanding care and our fundraising teams inspiring the local community to support our services, to the 1,600 volunteers who generously give their time to the hospiceeach member of our team plays a vital and invaluable role. I am in awe of their passion and dedicated contributions, which make such a difference to our local community every day.
What has been your greatest career lesson?
Over a decade ago, a love of Suffolk brought my family and I to the region, leading me to join Suffolk Community Foundation as development director before moving to the hospice in 2019. The greatest lesson has been in the value of building long-term relationships and the importance of holding true to your values and principles. Relationships and values together can unlock meaningful change, and it is very rewarding to take donors on that journey together.
personalised care that the hospice staff provide. So many of us have experienced this first-hand and that drives the motivation of us all to safeguard this service for future generations.
“It’s hard to find a family who hasn’t been touched by St Elizabeth Hospice”
Tell us about the hardest part of your job. Being a hospice CEO is a privilege but of course there are challenging days when you have to make really difficult decisions to protect the service. You will have seen in the national press that many hospices are facing very sad cuts due to funding restrictions and although we are fortunate to be in a stronger position than many, we are not immune to the pressures facing the wider hospice sector. So we have to be careful stewards of the funds that people entrust to us. The latest budget alone added almost £500,000 to the amount we have to raise each year just to stand still. I can’t pretend there are not some sleepless nights for most charity chief executives at the moment.
can support them, from caregivers’ support groups to bereavement counselling.
What are your dreams for the future?
We have plans to further expand our services in Great Yarmouth and Waveney, so local communities have greater access to high-quality end-of-life care, and this is a project I am very passionate about. It doesn’t seem right that your postcode should influence your availability to access care and we are very motivated to put that inequality right.
SEH is so well loved locally, why is that? Its roots lie in the community that built the original hospice 35 years ago and that is very important. In Suffolk it’s hard to find a family who hasn’t been touched by St Elizabeth Hospice, whether through a loved one, a friend, or someone they know.
I myself have known friends who have received its care and I have seen the importance of the dedication and
And the best part?
The hospice is such an incredible organisation and it’s an honour to play my part, working alongside the team and the local community to continue developing and expanding our services to help more people. We are here for our whole community and yet many people are still not aware of the breadth of our service. It is wonderful when families discover the different ways that we
More broadly, we also have a vision for a compassionate community where we all have the confidence to support one another through the experiences of dying, death and grief. And the hospice has a role to play in helping us find the words to support our friends, families, colleagues and neighbours.
l To find out more about St Elizabeth Hospice, call 01473 727776 or visit, stelizabethhospice.org.uk
MY GREAT GRAN THE SUFFRAGETTE!
Jenny Holmes talks about Ipswich activist Hortense Lane and her battle to give women a voice ...
In April 1911 Hortense Lane and fellow activist Constance E. Andrews appeared in a police court in Woodbridge for refusing to pay their dog licenses.
When asked how she pleaded, Hortense replied, “I do not acknowledge it was unlawful ... I am not a person in the eye of the law.”
By then, Hortense was no stranger to the courts, refusing to pay taxes “as a protest against women’s political disability.” All this before the well-publicised No Vote, No Tax campaign really took off.
Between 1903 and 1914, the suffragette movement used radical protest and publicity tactics to demand women’s right to vote in the UK. ‘Deeds not words’ was their motto, and over 1,300 women went to prison for the cause. Many were prepared to put their safety and reputation on the line for the cause.
One such activist was Hortense Lane who was living in Whitton, in Ipswich. Little has been shared about Hortense locally but recently her great granddaughter – Jenny Holmes – has dug deep into the family archives to find out more.
At the turn of the century, Hortense and her sister Lottie, were friends with some leading lights in the suffragette movement.
One was Lottie’s great friend, wealthy Londoner, Dr Elizabeth Knight (of the Knight’s Soap empire) – the two women had studied medicine at the London School for Medicine for Women at the same time as medical pioneer and fellow suffragette, Dr. Louisa Garrett Anderson.
Dr Knight was a formidable presence in the women’s movement, having helped to set up the national Women’s Freedom League (WFL) and using her inheritance to fund the WFL’s very own newspaper, The Vote.
She and Hortense helped to fund the Ipswich branch of the WFL formed by another well-known suffragette, Constance E. Andrews. Their names would often appear in local and national newspapers for their civil disobedience.
Jenny has spent the last two decades learning about Hortense whose fortunes changed during a tumultuous life.
“I’ve been going down lots of rabbit holes researching this,” says Jenny, whose sister Katie Coe, also shares a great interest in the family history.
Every year until World War One, it seems Hortense was tireless in her protests, mostly by refusing to pay the money for dog licences. Her farm wagon was frequently offered up to the bailiffs for the fine.
“Then they’d just buy it back again at the auction, using it
as a stage to shout their protests in Woodbridge,” smiles Jenny. “I am immensely proud that she could stand up in front of all these men booing them, calling them all sorts of names, the worst kind of Victorian trolling really. To do that willingly for years and years, to just stand on your wagon and still shout your beliefs ... Incredible really.”
Hortense and Lottie were the daughters of Mary Talmarsh Weetman and John Weetman. Mary became very wealthy after John died when her daughters were young. She brought the girls up on her own, sending them to Ipswich High School for Girls. “They were some of the very first pupils at the school, then based in Northgate Street, Ipswich,” says Jenny, herself a former pupil. “They were both academically very bright and Lottie even went on to qualify as a doctor – which is where she met fellow student, Elizabeth Knight. After qualifying, Lottie apparently took a ferry to the Channel Islands which hit some rocks and sank and she spent a while lost in the foggy waters. She never recovered mentally from the trauma of it. She had to be cared for by her family. It seems her friend Dr Knight was a constant support throughout.”
Much to her mother’s disapproval Hortense fell in love with a stables’ groom, Frank Lane, some eight years her junior and said to be very handsome! Mother Mary cut them off from any financial support.
“It was a real scandal at the time,” says Jenny.
Dr Knight bought Cowslip Farm in Witnesham on the understanding that Frank and Hortense live there with Lottie and look after her.
The farm, which today stands next to the Fynn Valley Golf Club played a leading role in the suffrage movement in Suffolk. “There is even a family rumour that Emmeline
Jenny Holmes with sister Katie Coe
L-R Hortense, mum Mary and sister Lottie at the back; with unknown men
Pankhurst herself came to stay at Cowslip Farm,” says Jenny, whose father, Tony TyrrellHortense’s grandson - still lives at the property.
“Dr Knight used Cowslip Farm as a kind of retreat. She wore haystack clothes and loved to commune with nature.”
Hortense meanwhile, was said to have worked as a midwife. “She was on the midwifery roll from 1906 to 1926. It was paid employment which was unusual in itself.”
The sales of The Vote newspaper went into decline after the passing of the liberating 1928 Equal Franchise Act. But Dr Knight believed it was crucial that those women advocating equal rights still needed their own publication and she used her fortune to keep it going.
to be reckoned with!”
Hortense died in her sixties in 1937. “And Lottie passed away five years later in 1942. Frank died in the 1950s,” says Jenny.
“My dad Tony, set up the Fynn Valley Golf Club from farmland then we turned it all into golf courses in 1991, building a brand new clubhouse before covid hit,” she says. “We sold the business almost three years ago though I work there two days a week still.”
“It was the worst kind of Victorian trolling, yet she’d still stand on her wagon and shout her beliefs”
In October 1933, Elizabeth Knight was killed following a car accident in Brighton. “She left the farm to Hortense, so she suddenly became a woman of means again,” says Jenny. “She, Frank and their four children remained there, with Lottie living in her own annexe. Frank and Hortense’s daughter Phyllis was my grandmother. Like her mother and grandmother before her, she was also a force
Nowadays the sisters and their father are proud of their roots.
“Allegedly if you take the covering off the Victorian sofa at my dad’s house. It says ‘Votes For Women’ on it!” she says. “I love the idea that Emmeline Pankhurst might have held meetings there.”
Other memorabilia they found includes diaries from the girls when they were younger during a tour of Baghdad with their mother Mary. “That in itself was a remarkable trip to make back then,” she says.
It’s no surprise that Jenny’s other work hat nowadays involves sourcing rustic treasures, restoring forgotten pieces, “and connecting with others who share my love for vintage charm.” She and husband Julian, run the popular Hatfield House Suffolk concessions
at Marlesford Mill and the Majestic Hare in Framlingham, including online and at fairs and brocantes.
She says the best part is that the couple from Worlingworth, who this year celebrate their 25th anniversary, get to spend time travelling around Europe sourcing an eclectic mix of vintage and antique treasures.
“It’s a blissful life together,” she adds. “One day I will find the time to write a book about everything!”
l To find out more about Hatfield House Suffolk, visit hatfieldhousesuffolk.co.uk
l For more information on Fynn Valley Golf Club visit, fynn-valley.co.uk
The WFL committee - Dr Elizabeth Knight is seated middle front row
Emmeline Pankhurst being arrested in London, 1914
SPRING WITH CAROLINE FOOKS
This season
Caroline Fooks will be helping her clients achieve a lovely spring makeover.
“I like to think I can offer a fresh new pair of eyes,” she says. “And it doesn’t have to be a huge overhaul, it might just need a quick freshen up. We are always happy to work around clients’ existing furniture or favourite pieces. Sometimes we might only need to revamp a much loved chair.”
Some clients engage Caroline, who comes with a huge array of fabulous paint, fabric and interiors’ samples, to help with making those all-important decisions whilst builders are in situ.
have been chosen and agreed.
“There is nothing worse than a builder or decorator on site waiting for paint colours, lighting ideas, bathroom or kitchen layouts along with any flooring,” she says. “We are there to assist with the process thus saving time and money!”
Caroline says it is always a delight working closely with contractors on site. “They learn to know that you are there to help them, along with keeping the client happy.
“Without you I’d never have sold my property” recent client of Caroline Fooks Design
Ideally though, she is involved before the builders start so that there is no delay when they arrive on site, and finishes and designs
“It is all about teamwork and helping to deliver the clients needs as efficiently as possible.”
Caroline launched her design practice in 2004 following a successful career working with distinguished specialists in the design world, including Nina Campbell, for whom she worked for eight years as senior decorator.
Over time, she has established a wealth of reliable contacts among crafts and trades people with whom she can collaborate to create definitive bespoke pieces. Her contacts book is bursting with talented local trades,
and she draws upon a workforce from her native Suffolk, where she has fulfilled many commissions.
“I have good working relationships with local builders,’ “ she says, “and starting to work with more architects, now that I am able to spend more time in Suffolk.”
Recently, she helped to dress a client’s investment property which was about to go on the market. “She called and said, ‘without you, I’d never have sold it!’“ smiles Caroline. There are clearly many strings to her bow and she enjoys all projects no matter the size.
“Spring is such a wonderful time to transform and freshen,” she adds.
l Caroline Fooks Design, The Barn, Dock Lane, Melton, IP12 1PE and Sulivan Enterprise Centre, Sulivan Road, Fulham, London, SW6 3DJ. By appointment. Call, 07710 037591. Visit, carolinefooksdesign.com
KATIE’S GARDEN PLANT CENTRE
BEE-ING A FRIEND IN THE GARDEN
By Catherine McMillan of Katie’s Garden
One of the privileges and pleasures of having a garden is being in a position to give nature a helping hand. Probably the simplest and most obvious way to do this is to provide flowers rich in pollen and nectar for the pollinators.
No sacrifice necessary; you get beds and borders packed with beautiful blooms and the bees, butterflies, moths, beetles and hoverflies get vital food.
Thinking of your garden as a food source can help you focus your mind on making sure there is something in flower every month of the year. If you are supporting those
bumblebees that don’t hunker down into hibernation, you of course will also always have something in the borders to enjoy!
March and April is when both gardens and pollinators really get going and the choice of suitable plants you can have is huge, from bulbs to bedding to perennials to shrubs to trees.
In fact every plant featured on these two pages is perfect for pollinators!
Katie’s Garden Plant Centre looks to make it easy for gardeners to find the plants they need and want, whether that is plants for
Bee-friendly spring colour. From Top: Euphorbia, Erysimum, Hellebore, Dicentra, Bergenia and Vinca
Clockwise from top left: Euphorbia, Wallflower, Fritillary, Osmanthus, Hellebore, Viola, Pulmonaria, Muscari
shade, for pots, for year-round interest, for height, for fragrance, for free-draining soils or, probably most popularly, for the pollinators.
l As well as themed displays at the Newbourne nursery, expertly curated collections of perennials and seasonal colour are available for local home delivery at www.katiesgarden.co.uk/ shopfront.
Over the last 100 years there has been a dramatic decline in the number of bees and other pollinators in the UK caused by the loss of over 97% of flower-rich grasslands.
With feeding grounds scarce our own gardens are more important than
And in areas lacking in green space, creative solutions come in to play.
Volunteer group ‘Bee Café CIC’ has located bespoke bee-friendly planters in the Woodbridge and Melton areas, supported by Katie’s Garden Plant Centre. These floral feeding stations connect built-up areas with the national B-Lines wildlife corridors, allowing pollinators to travel.
This spring, featured plants include Vinca, Viola, Wallflower, Primrose, Muscari and Forget-Me-Not.
Pollen-rich blooms for March and April Clockwise from top left: Viburnum tinus, Hebe, Ceanothus, Senetti, Polyanthus and bottom left of opposite page, Wallflower
EXPLORING SUFFOLK ON AN E-BIKE!
Tom Ward of Virtue Bikes on the best way to tour our stunning county ...
Suffolk’s picturesque landscapes featuring rolling hills, charming villages and serene coastlines, have long been a haven for cyclists. The advent of electric bikes (e-bikes) has made these scenic routes even more accessible, allowing riders of all abilities to experience the county’s beauty with ease.
THE APPEAL OF E-BIKES
E-bikes provide a gentle electric assist, making it easier to tackle inclines and extend journey distances without excessive exertion. However, one of the great benefits of e-bikes is their versatility. You can choose to ride with no assistance at all, using the e-bike just like a regular bicycle, or select from multiple modes of support all the way up to turbo mode. Ecomode allows you to do 80% of the work while the bike provides the remaining 20%, making it a great option for those who want a workout with a little extra help.
This assistance opens up Suffolk’s diverse terrains to a broader audience, including those who may find traditional cycling challenging. Moreover, e-bikes offer an eco-friendly mode of transportation, aligning with sustainable travel practices.
TOP E-BIKE-FRIENDLY ROUTES IN SUFFOLK
1Suffolk Coastal Cycle Route: Stretching from Felixstowe to Lowestoft, this route passes through picturesque towns such as Aldeburgh and Southwold. Cyclists can enjoy sea views, historic sites, and local delicacies along the way.
“The route passes by RSPB Minsmere making it ideal for nature enthusiasts”
THE EVOLUTION OF GEARING SYSTEMS IN SUFFOLK
One thing we have really noticed, especially around Suffolk, is that more and more people are opting for hub gears or the Enviolo continuous gearing systems with carbon belt drives. With Suffolk’s terrain being not so hilly, there is less need for the large range of gears that traditional derailleurs provide.
The major advantage of these systems is their durability and low maintenance. A derailleur system with a chain generally requires servicing every year, whereas an Enviolo or hub-based system with a carbon belt drive set up can last up to 4,500 miles before needing attention. Additionally, these systems offer one of the smoothest and quietest rides possible, making for an even more enjoyable cycling experience - perfect for Suffolk’s peaceful countryside routes.
ENHANCING YOUR RIDE WITH VIRTUE ELECTRIC BIKES OF WOODBRIDGE
At Virtue Electric Bikes of Woodbridge, we are passionate about helping you explore Suffolk’s scenic routes effortlessly. Our range
2Dunwich and Minsmere Loop: A 13-mile circular route starting from Dunwich Beach car park, this trail leads through Dunwich Forest and the village of Westleton, with an optional detour through Walberswick. The route also passes by the renowned RSPB Minsmere reserve, making it ideal for nature enthusiasts.
3Shotley Peninsula: Nestled between the rivers Stour and Orwell, this area offers tranquil paths with expansive views of the estuaries. The South Suffolk Cycle Route crosses the peninsula, providing a peaceful ride through rural landscapes.
of e-bikes cater to various preferences and needs, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable ride. Whether you’re embarking on a coastal journey or a countryside adventure, our e-bikes provide the perfect companion for your explorations.
Why not experience the freedom and joy of cycling through Suffolk’s landscapes with the added ease of electric assistance? Pop in to our store in Woodbridge and give one a try!
l Virtue Electric Bikes, 6A Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. Call: 01394 834485. Visit, virtueelectricbikes,com
AND BREATHE ...
A round-up of all your local health and wellbeing news in Suffolk ...
PILATES WITH JOANNA
After a decade of teaching in London, Joanna has returned to her beloved Suffolk roots, bringing her expertise in Pilates and movement therapy to the Woodbridge and Melton community. Specialising in rehabilitation, lower back pain, pre/post-natal fitness and functional movement, she offers a tailored approach to restoring strength, mobility, and balance in the body.
“Exercise therapy is a powerful tool for developing foundational movement patterns, enhancing musculoskeletal function, and improving mind-body awareness,” she says.
By creating a structured and personalised exercise routine, Joanna helps individuals regain mobility, reduce pain, and prepare for more demanding physical activities. If a long walk tends to aggravate your knee, or if you love tennis but struggle with mechanical function, 1:1 movement therapy could be the key to improving performance while preventing injury.
Sessions include core stability training, spinal and joint mobility work, and proprioception (spatial body awareness) exercises. This method can be used alongside osteopathy, massage and physiotherapy for a well-rounded approach to health. Sessions last 50 minutes and include a postural and musculoskeletal assessment, followed by a targeted exercise plan.
Joanna is consulting at Ned Wombwell Osteopathy, Albany Villa, Melton Road. “I’m thrilled to be working alongside other therapists in a setting which offers an integrated approach to improving health.” l Visit, jopropilates.co.uk
SUPPLEMENT YOUR LIFESTYLE WITH OXYGEN THERAPY
Suffolk Oxygen Therapy Centre sees many athletes looking to aid their sporting injuries. Recently, this vital charity based in Great Blakenham near Ipswich, welcomed international mixed martial artist, Arnold Allen (pictured above left), for a boost of oxygen to aid with a muscular injury.
Centre manager Mark Suddes (pictured in striped shirt) says, ”Oxygen therapy is being used more frequently to help quicker recovery from injury and improve performance.”
He says studies have shown that this therapy can speed up recovery by up to 50%. “It can reduce muscle fatigue and strain, pain and inflammation and also heals soft tissue, ligament damage and fractures faster.”
“Oxygen is the essence of all life. If we do not receive enough oxygen our bodies become depleted.”
Since the centre, based in Claydon Business Park, first opened over 40 years ago they have helped thousands of people with a whole range of conditions from MS, cancer, long covid, dementia to broken bones.
Oxygen therapy has also been clinically proven to improve mental function, helping with depression, anxiety stress and concentration. It can be helpful for jetlag and hangovers with its restorative, relaxing and rejuvenating effect.
“It’s not a cure,” Mark stresses, “it supports the body’s natural healing process and is complementary to prescribed treatment plans.”
The centre, one of the largest and longest running in the country, carries out more than 5,000 therapy sessions per year.
l Call, 01473 830359 or visit, suffolkoxygentherapy.co.uk
CHILL OUT MUM!
With Mother’s Day on the horizon, why not treat your mum to a relaxing spa day? Bedford Lodge Hotel and Spa offers a gift package which includes five-hour spa access, a glass of bubbly, two treatments including a dry flotation experience and a complimentary ESPA gift bag to take home. This luxury spa is set in the tranquil grounds of the Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket.
l To book visit, bedfordlodgehotelspa.co.uk
What’s new in your lively local arts scene? Angela Hagan has the lowdown ...
14X14
One of the highlights of the arts calendar in Suffolk, 14X14’s group art exhibition returns to The Old Theatre in Framlingham from Friday 2nd May. Co-curated by Aaron Farris and Jessica Bradley (pictured right), this much anticipated and ever evolving event features works from a wealth of East Anglian creative talent.
This third annual exhibition showcases a range of disciplines including sculpture, ceramics, painting, photography, collage and printmaking. To keep the show fresh and engaging, a new combination of artists have been chosen specifically for their exploration of form, instinctive use of colour and bold approach to mark making, both within figurative and abstract works.
The unique and industrial beauty of The Old Theatre space affords the pair freedom to deliver their cohesive vision for the show.
Venue co-ordinator, Andrea Wright, says, “14X14 is the perfect start to our exhibition season, we feel very fortunate that Jess and Aaron have chosen to return. Their exhibitions always attract a considerable and varied crowd and are looked forward to by contemporary art lovers and collectors alike. They put a huge amount of thought, planning, time and love into creating their group shows, always an engaging and wonderful experience.”
The stunning works above come from Telfer Stokes, Jonathan Keep and John Christie. l 14X14 is open 10am-5pm daily from 2nd May, until midday on 13th, at The Old Theatre, Church Street, Framingham, IP13 9BH. Find them on Instagram: @weare14x14
KENWOOD MASTERPIECES AT GAINSBOROUGH’S HOUSE
A once in a generation opportunity to see artistic treasures from one of London’s most famous houses comes to Suffolk in early May and runs until October 2025.
In an unprecedented collaboration with English Heritage, Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury will display a selection of works on loan from the world class Iveagh Bequest at Kenwood, London.
The exhibition will showcase nearly 30 eighteenth century masterpieces by British and French artists such as Thomas Gainsborough (1727–88), Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723–92), George Romney (1734–1802), Angelica Kauffman (1741–1807), Jean-Baptiste Pater (1695–1736) and François Boucher (1703–70).
Masterpieces from Kenwood aims to promote a greater understanding and engagement with historic British art and to place Thomas Gainsborough in the context of his contemporaries, both in Britain and France.
Six of Kenwood’s Gainsboroughs will be on display in Sudbury, including two of his most iconic paintings, Mary, Countess Howe (pictured above) and Lady Brisco
An extensive programme of events and activities will accompany the exhibition.
Gainsborough’s House is the National Centre for Thomas Gainsborough, an icon of British art. It combines his birthplace, a Grade I-listed house and garden, with award-winning exhibition galleries and visitor facilities.
l Visit, gainsborough.org
TRANSMISSION: THE SOUND OF JOY DIVISION
Fans of the legendary Salford band are in store for a treat. Billed as Joy Division’s number one tribute act, Transmission emulate the sound of one of the most inventive, evocative and influential groups of their era.
Joy Division were formed in the late 1970s and dissolved in May 1980 after the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis. The remaining members went on to form New Order and have achieved much critical and commercial success. The influence of Joy Division, however, was far reaching. They were considered the pioneering band of the post-punk movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Now 40 years on you can relive the dark, cavernous sound of Joy Division at The Baths, Ipswich on Civic Drive on Saturday 3rd May, starting at 7.30pm. l Visit, brightenthecorners.co.uk
NIGHT AND DAY
Suffolk Singers have been busy rehearsing in preparation for their forthcoming spring concert, Night and Day.
Held in the Chapel of St. Joseph’s College, Ipswich, they will once again feature the West Tones, an ensemble of talented young singers from Woodbridge School. The performance takes place on Saturday 5th April at 7pm.
Suffolk Singers are a friendly community choir of 34 members drawn from around the county.
Founded in 1991 by Andrew Piersenne with a handful of singers, Suffolk Singers has evolved into a choir much appreciated for its beautiful, blended singing, under the expert guidance of music director, Claire Weston. They perform a wide variety of music, both sacred and secular, mostly a cappella. l Visit, suffolksingers.co.uk
SKULDUGGERY IN STOWMARKET!
Some of the country’s brightest crime fiction writers will be heading to Suffolk for the annual Skulduggery in Stowmarket Crime Fiction Festival in April.
It takes place at Stowmarket Library and featured authors include Tom Mead (Death and the Conjuror, The Murder Wheel), Sophie Morton-Thomas (Travel by Night), Kate Rhodes (Isles of Scilly mysteries, Alice Quentin series) to name but a few.
From cosy crime to psychological thrillers, authors cover the wide range of excellent crime fiction published in the UK. These talks will have something for everyone.
l Skulduggery in Stowmarket Crime Fiction Festival at Stowmarket Library takes place on Saturday 26th April between 9am and 5pm. For tickets visit, suffolklibraries.co.uk
IPSWICH BY FOOT
Ipswich Tourist Guides tell us they had a busy year in 2024. This small, enthusiastic team of volunteers enabled around 600 adults and 130 children to discover some fascinating facts about Ipswich and its past. Visitors from near and far were bowled over by the town’s impressive buildings, beautiful parks and long history of trade along the waterfront. Locals and tourists alike were inspired by tales of former inhabitants from Anglo Saxon settlers and Tudor merchants to Victorian engineers. With hidden gems around every corner, why not chase away the chilly days with a themed, guided walk followed by tea and cake in a cosy cafe? Costing just £10 per person (including refreshments) the walks start at the Ipswich Institute in Tower Street at 1.30 pm. Booking is essential to secure a place. l For dates visit, ipswichinstitute.org.uk For more information visit, ipswichtourguides.onesuffolk.net
FROM ROCK’N’ROLL TO RURAL BLISS!
Lifestyle photographer Janice Issitt’s high flying career led her to the wilds of Suffolk...
The 80s and 90s were flamboyantly fun decades in the music industry and Janice Issitt worked at the very heart of it all.
“During that time, there wasn’t a band I hadn’t worked with - pop bands, rock bands, I worked with them all doing their international promotions,” recalls Janice.
“I spent my time flying off, arranging interviews and promotional tours.” Her work took her around the world accompanying artists such as Elton John, Moby, Bon Jovi, Wet Wet Wet, Erasure and Metallica to name but a few. “I’d
approve and schedule promotional tours with them for TV shows and radio, working to a schedule when an album was about to be released. It was literally just flying from one country to another...”
Growing up in Herftordshire an only child, Janice’s first job after leaving college was in the music press. “I was fortunate enough to be present at the birth of a new music magazine called Kerrang! and became one of the very first employees of this mag which specialised in ROCK of the heavy kind!” she says. “During this time, I was the magazine secretary and also had my own little column. I took photos on the quiet under a false name, as it was frowned upon by those in charge for a mere secretary to do more than type! It was back in the days of manual cameras and manual typewriters. One learns one’s skill very well this way I believe.”
It was at the record company that Janice’s star ascended. After starting out as a PA she worked her way up to become head of international promotions.
She has so many stories of wild times and near misses. She recalls one such time when Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue were due to perform live in Paris on TV and Kylie was running late. Very late ...
“I nearly ended up standing in for Kylie on TV,” she laughs. “I had blonde hair at the time. Nick’s band were all taking the p*** out of me as I couldn’t sing! Kylie had missed her
© Janice Issit
© Janice Issit
10 Harleston with James & Joanna Designs
© Janice Issit
Albion Nights glamping retreat
Janice
Eurostar and she literally arrived with seconds to spare. I have to say she is the nicest person.”
Over the years she made lifelong friends in the press and record companies. One of her closest friends is Katharine Blake, the talented founder of the Medieval Baebes who she describes as, “the most professional person I have ever worked with.”
It was her love of travel and photography which defines much of Janice’s work nowadays.
After many years of living a high-octane rock’n’roll lifestyle the record company had to make redundancies. “I wasn’t too unhappy as the only place for me to go after that was into a pen pushing role, which was too much on the corporate side for me. I wanted to create something for myself.”
After that, she teamed up with a friend, a musician, to run a market stall in Camden selling “things we’d made out of stained glass and jewellery.”
“I’ve always made things, my whole life,” she says. “I would go on summer schools, like in silversmithing, or evening classes and watch YouTube tutorials.”
It’s no wonder she caught the expert eye of one of the country’s leading designers, Annie Sloan.
“I have found more creatives in Suffolk to collaborate with than anywhere else”
“Annie said,’ I like your photos and I like what you’re doing,’” recalls Janice, whose love of bright, clashing colours and patterns soon landed her a coveted role as one of the Painters in Residence in the Sloan empire.
She says her move east came after house hunting in places where pockets of friends lived, “and I just ended up here in Suffolk. It was the best thing I’ve ever done; I love it so much. I have found more creatives to collaborate with here than anywhere else, more than London or Buckinghamshire.”
Janice, who lives just outside of Halesworth, says her cottage has been the perfect backdrop for much of her photography. She likens the downstairs of her home to a giant prop. “I use my house as my studio in which I photograph other people’s products - people need mood shots and that’s what I do well - I show people how to incorporate that piece into their life (not just a product shot on a white background).” She’s always on the lookout for like-minded clients who want her to work her magic on their products. She is an ambassador for other companies too and also provides stunning imagery for a friend’s publication, the gorgeously produced, Preloved magazine.
It seems creatives have always gravitated toward Janice.
“I still end up making friends with musicians who are starting out,” she smiles. “I take photos for them, and they appreciate what I do.”
This spirit of collaboration has led to many more fruitful partnerships, such as her ongoing work with her friend’s stunning antique shop, 10 Harleston on the Suffolk/ Norfolk border, which is well worth a trip for unique handmade and vintage items.
“I love to showcase local artisans and their
crafts through my lens,” she says.
Her journey however, hasn’t been without its challenges. Shortly after relocating to Suffolk, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I spent two-and-a-half years undergoing treatment at the James Pagent Hospital,” she recalls. Despite the hurdles, she found solace and support in her new community. “I received so much kindness from people I barely knew.”
“Then covid hit just towards the end of that. Being a vulnerable person, I wasn’t allowed to leave the house, let alone travel. So, I’ve not been abroad for quite a few years. Now I’m more of a homebody.”
But Janice, who also volunteers for a wildlife rescue charity, says she’s now enjoying her happiest phase in life. In between her love of textiles and crafts, photography, interiors, restoration and antiques, she’s looking at new ventures.
“I like to see opportunities where I can put people together.” She’s even considering opening a big outdoor studio for musicians and artists “where they can make as much noise as they like. It’s all about community,” she adds.
l Visit, janiceissittlifestyle.blogspot.com or find her on Instagram @janiceissitt_life_style
High flyer Janice back in the day
© Janice
Issit
10 Harleston with James & Joanna Designs
DOG ABOUT
My name is Bolt and I live with my best friend Grace at THE best place in the world. I’m pictured here (right) giving a big cuddle to our foster mum Jane who, alongside husband Steve, runs a rehoming centre adjacent to luxury boarding kennels, the Pampered Pets Hotel in Hacheston. Grace and I hit the jackpot coming here! We are four-year-old rescue dogs from Spain and both looking for a forever home. We are pedencos, otherwise known as “the invisible dogs of Spain.” This is because we are the most abused breed in our native country. Bred to hunt, for some reason humans don’t want us once we have finished working for them. It would make you cry if we told you what happens to us over there. But we still have loads of room left in our hearts to love humans.
Anyone who knows Jane will tell you she’s the most wonderful fairy dogmother to us all. She even took in Matilda, the German Shepherd (right), when no-one wanted her. Matilda, aged three, had been accused in the past of biting and was due to be put down, but Jane swooped in and saved
her in more ways than one. Matilda is now a loving, bouncy girl looking for a forever home too.
We all think Jane should be recognised during International Women’s Day for all she does. She was too shy to have her photo put in here, but we want her to know how much she is loved and treasured.
l Pampered Pets Hotel, Hacheston. Visit, pamperedpets.co.uk Call, 01728 747760
l Have you got a dog who would like his or her 15 minutes of fame?
Email your best photos to: info@livinginsuffolk.com
All your latest news from Suffolk’s lively art scene...
SPRING SOLO
Suffolk artist Maria Fletcher is holding her first solo show in May in Ham Yard, Soho.
Maria, one half of Instagram account @motherdaughtercreate says the combination of colour and botanicals is fundamental to her exhibition which runs from 21st May until 7th June. “A range of vibrant colour palettes will hopefully communicate uplifting emotions that will match the energy of the surrounding Soho theatreland and the buzz of the Chelsea flower show, which will be in full swing,” she says. l Visit, motherdaughtercreate.com
CONTOURS
There’s a lot to look forward to at Gallery East in 2025, including great art from our region. From 28th March, the gallery will hold a solo exhibition by Suffolk artist, Caroline Mackintosh, called Contours. She tells us, “As a landscape artist living in the flat lands of East Anglia, my inspiration comes largely from the Norfolk and Suffolk marshes and coastal estuaries that surround me. I am drawn to the strong shapes, lines and patterns formed by the complex interplay of water and land in the landscape.
“My work attempts to portray the vast horizons of this landscape; I use diagonal lines and carefully positioned verticals to guide the viewer’s eye through the landscape and into the distance.”
Caroline is largely a self-taught artist, having studied at Norwich Art School (now Norwich University of the Arts) and University of East Anglia (BA Development Studies). She has painted full time since 2021 and since then has been shortlisted for The Sir John Hurt Art Prize 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. She exhibited last year at the Society of Women Artists and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters annual exhibitions at the Mall Galleries in London. Caroline is gaining popularity fast amongst collectors looking to build a collection of the best East Anglian art.
Gallery East has been open since 2019 and has gained a strong reputation for showing “happening” art from around the region and across the UK. The gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday 11-4pm. l Visit, galleryeast.co.uk or call 07836 325497
Ceramics Collection print by Brie Harrison, V&A vam.ac.uk
One Hundred Stars linen jacket, Moose
Purple Flower Box Dobbie Garden Centre dobbies.com
INTERIOR LIVES ...
EASTER YUMMIES
We love this gorgeous pottery from Jane Hogben which will add a touch of warmth and cosiness to any home. The mugs cost from £18.75 and the jug is £32.50, available from the Craft Shop at Snape Maltings. l Visit Snape Maltings. Or online at, shop.snapemaltings.co.uk
STYLED TO PERFECTION
How gorgeous are these elegant deco style doors installed into the kitchen and hall of an Ipswich property by those clever people at The Burgess Group.
Their customer says, “We wanted the dining room to feel more included in the everyday living space. When you can see into a room it becomes part of the house, even if it’s not used very often.”
The Burgess Group created a wider aperture, replacing a panelled door with iconic ‘steel effect’ French doors, akin to their 1950’s style home. The new design doors transformed both the dining room and the hallway, allowing daylight to flood into the entrance hall and for the clients’ beloved art to be enjoyed without even entering the room. They also replaced a drafty rear door with this attractive Deco door, complementing the internal doors in style, the design allowing the
light to pour in while providing separation between the kitchen and car port beyond.
“It’s made a massive difference to the whole area, which used to be quite cold, the insulated glass has made this whole part of the house much warmer,” adds the customer. l Visit, burgess-group.com
OUT
Top things to do around Suffolk this spring … AND ABOUT!
Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th April, The Red House, Aldeburgh
Explore The Red House and its garden this Easter with something for all the family. In the Easter Egg Hunt, hidden sounds will lead you to collect your prize. There will be storytelling sessions with interactive sound effects, craft activities in which children can make their own musical instrument and a fun selection of outdoor games.
The timed session you book lasts for 60 minutes, and you can freely explore The Red House and garden before and after this.
l Visit, brittenpearsarts.org
EDDI READER
Sunday 27th April, 7.30pm, The Apex, Bury St Edmunds Described by Jools Holland as “one of my favourite singers of all time,” award-winning Eddi Reader will dazzle Suffolk audiences at the end of April.
First brought into the limelight as front woman for Fairground Attraction, whose number one single, ‘Perfect’ and parent album, ‘First of a Million Kisses’, both topped the British charts, Eddi has effortlessly developed into a thrilling performer.
With ten critically acclaimed solo albums, three BRIT awards, a number one single and an MBE under her belt, Eddi now plays to sell out shows as part of her ‘40 Years Live Tour’ in addition to appearing as special guest with the Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra in an extensive UK tour.
l Tickets, theapex.co.uk
INK
Thursday 24th April to Sunday 27th April
INK Youth Festival - Monday 28th April
Locations around Halesworth including The Cut
Hailed by The Times as the “biggest short play festival in the world,” INK is back promising its most ambitious program to date. Featuring over 70 original short plays, a selection of performance poetry, radio plays, stand-up comedy, short film screenings, industry Q&As, writers’ workshops and a host of activities for kids.
After taking over 1000 submissions this year, the plays will be performed two or three times per day in rep over ten different venues from the conventional main house at the Cut Theatre to a campervan for Poetry on Wheels. The atmosphere has been likened to a mini-Edinburgh Fringe festival.
This year sees contributions from Mark Ravenhill, Simon Evans, Simon Nye and Benedict Nightingale. Patrons include Helen
ARGOS ARCHIVES
Eastern Angles, Sir John Mills Theatre, Gatacre Road, Ipswich 7.30pm, Friday 28th March and Saturday 29th March
Futures Theatre presents this world premiere which follows “a lovable misfit just trying to get life right.” A nostalgic celebration of neurodivergent self-discovery written by British Egyptian poet and playwright, Sabrina Mahfouz (pictured). It is directed by former Suffolk resident and Futures Theatre founder, Caroline Bryant. The production transfers from London to Ipswich at the end of March. Argos Archive reminisces a life archived from the 1996 stripy-sofa edition until the store’s famed catalogue’s extinction. The production is neurodivergent friendly offering an inclusive experience for both neurodivergent and neurotypical audiences.
l Tickets from, easternangles.co.uk
Atkinson Wood, Esther Freud and Luke Wright who is also performing.
Highlights include - film director Paul Greengrass in conversation with Tom Shone; an evening of Suffolk Short films; a performance by The Comedy Store Players; an evening with Paul Sinha from The Chase; a special INK Quiz Night with Sam West and Q&As with playwrights Josie Rourke (pictured left), Lucy Kirkwood and legendary theatre critic Benedict Nightingale.
l Tickets from inkfestival.org
EASTER FAMILY FUN AT THE RED HOUSE
© Greg Morrison
