LIVING IN
SUFFOLK
Laurence Edwards ... giant among men
Fatboy Slim ... “Rocking in Suffolk!”
Suffolk gold ... Juliet Gilkes Romero
GET INVOLVED:
If you’ve got a topical story, an inspiring home, business, event, craft or talent to show off, do get in touch. Perhaps you’ve achieved something against all the odds. We love a good yarn! The deadline for the next issue - our September / October edition - is August 10th
l For advertising information or if you’d like to submit any collaboration ideas, email us at, info@livinginsuffolk.com
ON OUR COVER:
We love this atmospheric shot of the famous Yoxman standing just off the A12 at Yoxford. Made by sculptor Laurence Edwards, this imposing bronze statue stands at 26ft tall. On pages 10 and 11, Laurence tells us all about his many new roles in the four years since he carved his name with Yoxman.
Editor: Angela Hagan 07930 184773, info@livinginsuffolk.com
Designer: Lewis Webb
Writer: Charity Crewe charity@livinginsuffolk.com
Media Sales: Ellie Rickard ellie@livinginsuffolk.com livinginsuffolk.com
© Christopher Doyle
NEWS FROM AROUND SUFFOLK ...
CONGRATULATIONS AND CELEBRATIONS ...
We are thrilled to announce that this issue of LivingInSuffolk is our 50th edition. Our award-winning bimonthly publication seems to go from strength to strength. After starting life at our kitchen table in Woodbridge back in 2016, it is now read all over our glorious county from Bungay to Lavenham and way beyond ... even the odd pop star has been known to enjoy it! We have a fabulous team working hard to bring it out and are lucky to have repeat advertisers - some of whom have been with us from the start. We thank you for your continuing support.
Others around Suffolk currently marking anniversaries include; the gorgeous homeware shop, Loveone in Ipswich, which soon celebrates its 18th year in the high street. Our favourite salon, Heavenly Hair in Saxmundham, turns ten this October. And Focus Organic in Halesworth is turning 40 this August with a Birthday Party on 29th August with lots of free samples, expert advice and 20% off between 5-8pm. The historic Shire Hall in Woodbridge soon marks its 450th anniversary. And the Crooked House in Lavenham - celebrates 630 years.
Warm sparkly wishes to you all!
l Read back copies of the magazine online at, livinginsuffolk.com
SUFFOLK’S
DIVERSE RURAL HERITAGE ...
A powerful heritage project is uncovering untold cultural stories of African American Airmen in East Anglia during the Cold War. Black USAF: Cultural Connections in Cold War East Anglia is funded by Arts Council England through its National Lottery Project Grants programme and the Essex Cultural Diversity Project.
Project manager Elma Glasgow, pictured above, tells us the idea came from her own experiences of mingling with USAF personnel on and off bases near where she grew up such as Alconbury, Mildenhall and Lakenheath.
“There are even stories of relatives bumping into famous black music artists who would jam in local venues, whilst visiting the nearby airbases,” she says. “Imagine that in rural East Anglia - it was so exciting. The USAF guys always brought a buzz to a place.”
This groundbreaking project uses black-led research and storytelling initiative to explore the culture influence of African American airmen based in the region from the 1950s to the 1980s.
Elma says that despite their indisputable lasting impact, this community’s narratives have largely been undocumented in regional and national history and were at risk of being entirely forgotten. Until now!
Along with a team of “exceptional arts, cultural and heritage professionals,” Elma says the project will gather personal stories, images and audio from black veterans, families and local communities over the coming year to form a digital archive.
They are now seeking stories from people of all generations across Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Norfolk.
One such airman was sixties soul legend, Geno Washington, pictured right.
Based at RAF Bentwaters as a training instructor in the early 1960s, Geno joined the USAF to avoid going to Vietnam. He discovered his singing talent while performing in busy Ipswich pubs. He talks about how African American airmen were surprised that they were able to freely socialise with local people, at a time when
racial segregation was in force in the USA and racist posters were up in London. He also remembers when he and the Ram Jam Band attracted a bigger festival audience than Jimi Hendrix. Now in his 80s, Geno still performs with the current day line-up of the Ram Jam Band.
Elma says, “At its heart, the project is a reminder of what connects us - how culture, community and everyday encounters have shaped our region.”
l Share your story at, blackusaf.org or email, projectblacksuffolk@gmail. com. Or scan the QR code below.
@ John Ferguson
@ John Ferguson
© Carl Stickley
ON THE MARKET
The latest homes and property news from around Suffolk ...
TOLL REST
This handsome property is situated in the heart of Melton village and just walking distance of the rail station. Toll Rest offers generous, airy accommodation arranged over two storeys extending to more than 2,000 sq. ft.
Listed Grade II and presenting painted brick and rendered elevations with sash windows beneath pitched slate and pan tile roofs, this deceptively spacious property offers light and bright rooms and is presented to a high standard throughout.
RESPLENDENT REDBRICK
The part vaulted principal reception room comes complete with wood burning stove and double doors to the garden, linking to the lovely Neptune kitchen/breakfast room,
fully fitted with integrated appliances and central island unit complete with breakfast bar. The ground floor also
and two bathrooms (including en suite shower room to the principal bedroom). With parking outside for two vehicles there is gated access direct to the garden, with lawned area and paved seating terrace. The attractive and southeasterly orientated garden is designed to be low maintenance and affords fantastic vistas towards St Andrew’s Church.
boasts an atmospheric central dining room along with south facing study along with an utility room and a WC.
The first floor offers four double bedrooms
Guide Price: £850,000
l On the market with JacksonStops, Ipswich. Call 01473 218218. Visit, jackson-stops.co.uk
We love this rarely available, beautifully presented Edwardian home, situated in a prime position within Woodbridge and a short walk from both town centre and River Deben. This three double bedroom, semidetached Suffolk redbrick home offers a wealth of character beautifully blended with the modern day.
The property has been extended and converted over the years and offers further opportunity to do so, subject to planning. It features three storey living, with stunning, far-reaching views towards Sutton Hoo and the River Deben from the top floor loft conversion, off road parking for two vehicles and an ample rear mature garden.
The current owners tell us: “One of the things we loved about living here is how easy it is to get to all the amenities Woodbridge
has to offer; the cinema, railway station, shops and pubs, Kingston playing field and our fabulous River Deben … all within a few easy minutes walking distance of the house.”
l On the market with Fenn Wright, Woodbridge. Call 01394 333346. Visit, fennwright.co.uk
POA
“ART IS THE SOUL OF SOCIETY”
Suffolk’s Juliet Gilkes Romero has worked hard to put the voices of the unheard centre stage ...
by Charity Crewe
Her plays tell extraordinary hidden stories from history. Juliet, who grew up near Felixstowe, has won multiple awards and rave reviews for her works that include The Whip, the story of the 1833 Slavery Abolition Act.
She puts much of her success down to her parents, who were “passionate about culture.”
Her mother, Joyce, the first black teacher in Suffolk, wouldn’t think twice about driving across country to take her children the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon, while her father, John, a BT engineer and keen cricketer, “was always reciting poetry.”
It was not only her parent’s enthusiasm for culture that had an impact, it was also their fearlessness. Her mother Joyce, from Trinidad, met her father John, a Bajan, in London in the 1960s. They married, settled in Walthamstow and had two children - Juliet and her brother, John. The couple did not bat an eyelid, however, about moving to Suffolk when John Snr was offered a job as an engineer with BT in Martlesham in 1975. “My parents were not worried about moving from East London to rural Suffolk,” she says. “They weren’t bothered at all. I think my own lack of fear in my early years has much to do with this move.”
This adventurous spirit led her to applying for a job at the BBC after leaving university.
Juliet had always wanted to be a journalist. “I was fascinated by news and current affairs from a young age.” Her first degree, from Brighton University, was in French and linguistics and her dissertation was a Socio Linguistic Analysis of the Westland Affair. “I was fascinated by this fight over whether Thatcher should go with the American’s Sikorsky helicopter or Westland Aircraft, the last major British helicopter manufacturer, that was in financial difficulties.” When she applied to the BBC, she “walked in with this Afro and began to tell them about my dissertation. I could hear, ‘plonk, plonk, plonk’ as these jaws dropped to the floor. What I understood as a young woman is that you should take people by surprise, and when you know that lots of people are applying for something, you need to be different.” She got the job.
“I
walked into the BBC with this Afro and told them about my dissertation ... these jaws dropped to the floor”
Juliet was a journalist for next 23 years. She did a stint on Radio 4’s You and Yours, before working for the BBC World Service. This was thrilling for her parents who, “grew up listening to the World Service in the Caribbean. It was really respected.”
She then became a lead producer at BBC World TV, travelling all over for documentaries on everything from Haiti to Ethiopia.
One of her early plays, At the Gates of Gaza, which won the Writer’s Guild Award, was set
during WWI and was inspired by the ban on its BBC World presenters’ wearing poppies. “The reasoning was that the overseas audience, mainly the Caribbean and African audience, would not understand the significance of a poppy”, explains Juliet. She disagreed with her line manager about this. “I said, ‘Are you mad? There are cenotaphs all over the Caribbean, all over Africa.’” She took a year off to go to Goldsmith to do a MA in Writing for Performance and decided to write about the West Indian Regiments who fought in the Great War. “I went to the Imperial War Museum, and they were brilliant, and gave me a desk and brought me diaries of men who died in the trenches.” Juliet had some prior knowledge of West Indian veterans from her father who “remembered men who had fought in WWI.” The last Caribbean veteran was a Jamaican called Stanley Stair, who lived to be 107. Juliet explains that, “young black men were desperate to fight for King and country. The West Indian Regiments fought in Palestine against the Turks. A lot of them won medals of distinction, but they weren’t allowed to march in the Victory Parade. After the war they couldn’t get home and there was mass unemployment, which triggered race riots across the UK. The guys returned with a lot of confidence and were treated
@ John Ferguson
A scene from Juliet’s play, The Gift, a retelling of Medea
very shabbily.” Juliet loved writing about these men. “I was able to create these incredible young guys, some of them teenagers.”
Her next play, The Whip, was inspired by a tweet from the Treasury announcing that the £20 million loan (£20 billion today) taken out in 1833 to compensate British slave owners was only paid off in 2015. The tweet was quickly deleted when there was shock from the public that that their tax money had gone into paying off slave owners. The Whip, Juliet’s play about the Slavery Abolition Act and the renumeration for slave-owners, is brilliantly nuanced. “I don’t like the audience to be able to detect me in the work,” she explains. “One of the strongest characters in the play is Lord Hyde Villers, who’s fighting to keep his slave
estates. I had to understand where he was coming from, and it made for some of the most dramatic scenes.” The play was staged in 2020 at the main theatre at the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon and was loved by the critics.
Since then, Juliet has gone from to strength and is kept extraordinarily busy with her many projects, including the screenplay, Soon Gone; A Windrush Chronicle, shown on the BBC and produced by Lenny Henry. She was writer in residence at the National Theatre from 2022/3, is an Associate Lecturer at Goldsmiths, lectures at RADA and is on the
board of Suffolk’s High Tide Theatre. Her many projects that are percolating away will be bursting onto the scene over the next few years.
Although Juliet now lives in Sydenham in south-east London, she frequently comes home to Suffolk to visit her mother, who still lives in the house where she grew up in Trimley St Mary. Her father died in 2019. She will always be grateful to her parents for passing on their love of culture. “Art is the soul of society,” she says. “Without it we are sunk. That is something that I try to live by.” l Visit, julietgilkesromero.co.uk
@ Ellie Merridale / RSC 2018
@ Steve Tanner / RSC 2020
Production shots of The Whip
A scene from The Day of The Living; Juliet’s anarchic musical tribute to life in Mexico
A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
Laurence
Edwards has carved out an incredible career in his home county ...
This is turning into an extraordinary year for Suffolk sculptor Laurence Edwards. Best known for his evocative humanlike sculptures, often intertwined in nature, Laurence has never been busier.
He is now one of the ferrymen at Butley Creek - the historic crossing in the Suffolk marshes. This is a tradition which was revived around 20 years ago and dates back hundreds of years to when the monks at the local priory needed a crossing point.
“It’s a lovely community,” says Laurence, who once had a base at the nearby Butley Art Studios and knows many of those who worked hard to restore the jetty at the creek.
After completing his training in water safety, rowing and tidal awareness, he took his place at the oars, ferrying cyclists and tourists
- some of them Dutch and German - across this narrow, nuanced stretch of water.
The job, he notes, is full of surprises. “There’s a real skill in reading the river,” he says noting how the wind and current can interact in unpredictable ways. “And learning where the shallow banks lie, how the curve of the creek shifts the water flow and the way even a heavy-laden bike can tip the balance of the boat, it’s quite surprising.”
He’s even come across lost people and helped to reunite them.
It seems the tranquillity of this ferry work isn’t so much a break from his art as a continuation of it.
“It is a piece of art in itself,” he says, “to be rowing across this ancient waterway. It’s like dipping into and becoming part of this
fascinating mythology. It’s so relaxing.”
Water has long been a presence in Laurence’s work - from the Creekmen buried in the mudflats to Chthonic Head, the giant head placed in the sea. “I grew up in Snape and the marshes there,” he says.
“I was never going to be a leisure guy motoring up and down on the water, I wanted a job! And being a ferryman has been perfect. I love watching out for people on the horizon, ‘are they coming today’, ‘will there be anyone?’”
You will be hard pressed to find anyone in Suffolk who hasn’t driven past and marvelled at Yoxman, the famed giant bronze sculpture based close to the A12 in Yoxford. For Laurence though, who walks his dog near to this 26ft tall being, he says it just reminds him of all the work he has outstanding!
It’s fair to say his art has opened many doors for him. Not least in his latest venture which sees him joining the creative team for the new production of Akenfield, a tale of Suffolk village life.
Produced by Jenny Hall and Liz Cook via the Benhall-based theatre company SHAKE Festival and directed by Jenny Hall (the daughter of acclaimed theatre director Peter Hall), Laurence will turn his hand to stage design.
“I’m intrigued to work within a stage set, designing all the elements,” he says. “It’s a fascinating new challenge for a sculptor. Akenfield is part of my background, and close to the hearts of so many in Suffolk and wider East Anglia.”
The newly completed play, written by Suffolk’s Glenn Wilhide, has been adapted from Ronald Blythe’s iconic Akenfield; Portrait of an English Village.
Taking its lead from the 1975 film which was performed by non-professional local people and echoing the book itself with its 49 testimonies by local people, the stage play of Akenfield is being cast authentically from within the Suffolk community.
For Laurence, it’s a phenomenally busy time. He’s been working towards the countdown for Sculpture 2025, his exhibition at the acclaimed Messums West, starting on 26th July.
Having transformed historic locations including Blenheim Palace and Winchester Cathedral, his work returns to Wiltshire in this fabulous show which delves, as always, into the human psyche and our relationship with the natural world.
Works include the incredible ‘Up Sticks’ (pictured) - reimagined on a colossal scale, now not so much uprooting an environment, more like holding on to it.
Laurence says he’s also been working closely with East Suffolk Council to bring an artistic hub, Messums East, to Lowestoft. Opening in spring 2026, the former Post Office building in London Road North will be
Laurence’s two large leaf men bronzes are currently present on the South Beach in Lowestoft until the end of September
@ Tim Bowden
refurbished and transformed into a 21st century hub for creativity and, in so doing, will maintain the heritage of this historically important building in the heart of the town. “It’s a big project, he says.
Messums East will provide a working studio for a long-term revolving residency programme. This will kick off with Laurence creating a large-scale bronze landmark sculpture for Lowestoft, casting it at his foundry in Halesworth.
his studio at the Old Fire Station in Saxmundham and the foundry in Halesworth, where a lot of his casts are made. He is one of the few sculptors who casts his own work; his busy foundry boasts a staff of eight (he takes applications from all around the country) working full-time on commissions.
“It is unheard of to be casting this sort of work in your own studio foundry, especially in East Anglia,” he says. “It’s extraordinary that we’ve got this highly trained team who are keeping this old skill alive and delivering work to a very high standard.”
“The tide went out for me and all that was left in the mud was ... art”
It’s no surprise that Laurence’s work attracts an ever-growing audience. People are often visibly moved by his sculptures, they feel a deep, almost primal connection to it. He says he knows an idea is going to work well when people say, “‘yeah I can identify with that.’ It’s that kind of response which is the best,” he smiles.
He’s not sure where his extraordinary talent comes from.
mud was ... art.”
He said his talent emerged from the ensuing “thousands of hours I put into it.”
Luckily for us, he says the tide has never gone back out on his enthusiasm.
Long may it last!
l Butley Ferry operates until 12th October on Saturdays, Sunday and Bank Holidays between 11am and 4pm. Visit, aldeandore.org
l For tickets for the Shake Festival’s Akenfield in September and October visit, ticketsource.co.uk/shake
l For tickets to an Artist Talk & Lunch at Messums West in Wiltshire, featuring Laurence, on July 26th visit, messums.org
“It’s going to be bigger than the Yoxman,” he says. “It’s been such good fun, the journey towards this.”
Laurence currently splits his time between
“My dad was himself a frustrated artist - he turned lace bobbins on his lathe in the shed evenings and weekends all through my childhood. But he was very encouraging when I was a kid. When I left school the tide went out for me and all that was left in the
Ferryman Laurence
RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!
One of the founding pioneers of the 90s big beat genre FatBoy Slim will headline at Latitude this month ...
From the basslines of The Housemartins to the beats of Brighton Beach, Norman Cook has been the life and soul of Britain’s dance scene for decades.
But nowadays he’s much more likely to be found doing a spot of gardening in between playing to sellout crowds.
This July, he returns to Suffolk’s Henham Park to headline Latitude Festival, marking 30 years since he adopted the Fatboy Slim moniker.
“I’m honoured that Latitude has invited me back, this time to headline the main stage,” says Norman. “It’s a big tick on my bucket list. I
“It is quite weird when one day you see someone on the telly and go, ‘Oh look, it is Keir Starmer from 4B.”
can’t wait to be at the helm of the collective euphoria the great people of Suffolk and I can create.”
Born Quentin Leo Cook in Bromley in 1963, Norman (he changed his name to avoid bullying) was in the same class at school as Keir Starmer for five years. “It is quite weird when one day you see someone on the telly and go, ‘Oh look, it is Keir Starmer from 4B.’ We still talk.”
In the early music days Norman was used to alter egos performing under the names of Pizzaman and the Mighty Dub Katz. He was also in bands like Beats International and
Freak Power. But it was when he met Damien Harris, founder of Skint Records, that FatBoy Slim emerged onto the dance scene and rewrote the rules. The Chemical Brothers started playing his records and soon, he says, they became “friends and brothers and cohorts.”
It was his 1998 album, You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby, which propelled him to international fame, featuring hits like Praise You and Right Here, Right Now. The album peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart and earned him a Brit Award in 1999 –the same year he tied the knot with BBC presenter Zoe Ball.
Zoe and Norman were known for their hard-partying and have both spoken candidly about their battles with alcohol.
They went on to welcome a son Woody and a daughter Nelly, before sadly splitting up in 2016.
But Norman has nothing but good things to say about Zoe - the couple have clearly remained good friends.
“She brought me through the trickier bits,” he recalls. “It was nice to have a soulmate in there with you.”
Indeed, their son Woody, recently revealed how his down-to-earth parents have been ‘gardening’ and ‘doing puzzles’ and working in a local cafe since Zoe quit her six-figure radio job at Radio 2.
As Norman approaches his 62nd birthday (just days after his Latitude appearance), he continues to embrace the joy of live performance and will dazzle crowds at Henham Park in Suffolk this summer. “The more the crowd give me back, the more I wanna give them and it becomes a cycle of nonsense - sometimes to ludicrous extremes,” he adds.
l For tickets to Latitude, from 24-27th July visit, latitudefestival.com
@ Katie Willoughby
By Angela Hagan
STAND UP AND CHAT AT THE APEX
Comedy and spoken word events at The Apex nearly always sell out, so book soon if you’d like to see any of these artists!
Enjoy brilliant storytelling, big laughs and history with a twist, from the man with a cunning plan, Tony Robinson on 15th September.
Johnny Vegas stars as Moz in IDEAL, a live performance of the infamous BBC sitcom on 23rd September.
Neil from The Young Ones, and founding figure of 1980s alternative comedy, Nigel Planer shares his outrageous tales on 24th September.
Janet Street-Porter brings her crusade against growing old gracefully on 29th September.
BBC Radio 4’s topical satire show, Dead Ringers has added a matinee show on 7th October at 3pm, as their evening show has sold out.
The vocalist that inspired a generation, John Lydon (AKA Johnny Rotten) Could Be Wrong or Could Be Right, on 24th October.
While Suffolk’s very own Griff Rhys Jones has added an extra date on 3rd November, to share funny observations and comic stories in his new stand-up show.
l Visit, theapex.co.uk Or call, 01284 758000. The Apex, 1 Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD.
DRUM ROLL, PLEASE!
Ipswich teen drumming prodigy Nandi Bushell is back in the headlines.
She’s part of a global girls’ crew of talented musicians and LEGO in a new campaign, She Built That, to inspire “girls everywhere to reclaim the word builder’ and redefine what it means today.”
A new music video, featuring her extraordinary drumming, is a remake of Run DMC’s 1983 hip hop hit, It’s Like That, has been released.
Nandi, 15, is no stranger to fame – drumming since the age of five, she’s amassed over 75 million views on YouTube, has played alongside Lenny Kravitz and battled Foo Fighter’s Dave Grohl in a viral drum-off.
“It’s crazy to think I found my passion and purpose before I even left primary school,” she says. “I built my dream from nothing but a drum kit, a love for music and a belief that anything is possible.”
SUMMER CONTEMPORARY
Britten Pears Arts’ most ambitious summer exhibition returns with work by contemporary artists across the country. This six-week exhibition showcases work by more than 150 emerging and established artists with a strong Suffolk connection.
WHAT’S NEW PUSSYCAT?
Tom Jones is planning a triumphant return to Newmarket Racecourses for a full headline set on Friday 1st August. He last visited the racecourse in 2021 in a sellout show which coincided with his 80th birthday celebrations.
Tom tells us, “I can’t wait to spend a Summer’s evening with everyone this August.”
l For tickets visit, thejockeyclublive.co.uk
Actor Jim Broadbent and Curtis Holder join the likes of Ania Hobson, Emily Hana, Daniel Halsall, Laurence Edwards, Jelly Green, Maggi Hambling, Roger Hardy and many more artists exhibiting in several galleries and spaces across the Snape Maltings destination.
Artwork will be installed in Gallery 21, Dovecote Studio, Hoffmann Building Foyer, Winch Gallery, on the lawn and in the Snape Maltings Concert Hall Foyer.
Every summer Britten Pears Arts welcomes thousands of visitors to Snape Maltings to enjoy visual art alongside music, shopping, eating and the unrivalled natural landscape.
One of Britten Pears Arts’ founders, Peter Pears, was a major collector of contemporary art, and the organisation has a long history of presenting exhibitions, but this will be the largest show yet. All works are for sale, and with arts funding more challenging than ever, Britten Pears Arts’ commission will help to fund the charity’s cultural activities.
l Summer Contemporary runs from 26th July - 31st August. There will be an Open Day from 11am - 2pm on Saturday 26th July in the Hoffmann Building Foyer. Visit, brittenpearsarts.org
PSST!! WOODBRIDGE FESTIVAL IS BACK!
Sixties soul legend Geno Washington and Seventies funk DJ Les Spaine are headlining at Woodbridge Festival’s Super Fly theme in Elmhurst Park 28th - 31st August. The annual festival in Elmhurst Park and venues around Woodbridge features workshops, street food and bar vendors. l Visit, woodbridgefestival.com
Jim Broadbent exhibits wooden and clay sculptures
WILD AT HEART!
Planting expert Nick Nicholson marvels at nature’s design skills ...
Now that summer has arrived and the evenings are long and warm, we revel in its heady abundance and all those triggers. The scent of roses and lavender, the gentle hum of bees and hoverflies and the lazy “wheeze” of greenfinches - those archetypes of an English summer, arise in our collective consciousness.
But summer is ephemeral and just as we get used to it, autumn is suddenly around the corner. As a busy plantsman, I’m constantly on the lookout for new ideas and it’s important to make note when I see these, otherwise, despite best intentions, they are forgotten by next year.
Ambling through the lovely east Suffolk village of Ufford recently, I was struck by the colourful tapestry of wildflowers on a particular roadside verge - mallow, poppies, buttercups, St. John’s wort plus whites and blues, all refreshed from the recent storms. It would be challenging indeed to design a more delightful planting scheme, I thought.
Some time ago, I developed an enthusiasm for combining wildflowers with ornamental plants to produce planting schemes which are more naturalistic in appearance and sit particularly well in larger, informal borders and countryside settings where the idea of a developing plant community works better than a neatly manicured border with its high maintenance requirements.
Where a garden overlooks countryside, it will blend in more effectively and visually merge with it, if big drifts of native plants are
combined with other, perhaps more striking garden plants.
There are caveats, however, with this approach:
l Choose plants that are equally matched in terms of vigour and can compete with each other.
l In some cases, the wild plants can be invasive and require periodic control/ management.
l Be aware that in periods of drought, the wild plants are likely to fare better than the ornamental plants, which may require selective irrigation.
There are certain key plant combinations which work particularly well with this kind of approach: one of my favourites is using rosebay willow-herb with catmint and/or verbena bonariensis, this offers a great juxtaposition of deep pink with mauve/blue.
An alternative to the rosebay would be pink campion, which commonly grows wild in hedgerows and positively sings against catmint and lavender flowers.
The yellow flowers of wild hypericum (St. John’s wort) also work effectively with blues and purples and self-seeds happily in dry, poor soil.
Scarlet field poppies are too often discarded as weeds, but brighten up borders most effectively in an informal setting. Also, opium poppies self-seed profusely and produce gorgeous flowers in a range of pink, mauve, red and dark burgundy, above handsome bluish grey-green foliage and the
seedheads resemble mosque-like architectural globes, some of which are worth leaving into autumn.
One more useful planting design tip concerns observing what is growing in nearby meadows/verges. For example, if wild cow-parsley thrives, why not try establishing the ornamental variety Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’, which has dusky, burgundytinted foliage. Another example is, where the wild, but unspectacular, wood avens (Geum) is growing happily - usually in water-retentive clay soils - very likely, so will the more ornamental varieties such as Geum ‘Mrs J. Bradshaw’ with its showy, scarlet flowers. Enjoy the summer - it’ll soon be gone!
l Nick is a Chelsea-trained planting designer with more than 30 years’ experience in building unique gardens. Email him on, nick@nnplanting.co.uk
A honey bee on Verbena bonariensis
Rosebay willow-herb with catmint and verbena
Rosebay willow-herb
SUPERCHARGED!
Three months in, New Street Market finds Its rhythm in Woodbridge ...
It’s been just over three months since New Street Market opened its doors in the heart of Woodbridge and we’re still pinching ourselves. What started as a bold idea tocreate a cultural and culinary hub for the Suffolk coast - has quickly become a beloved local destination for everything from yoga to wine, acoustic music to seriously good coffee.
And we’re only just getting started.
BIG THINGS ON THE MENU(S)
breath...) we’re finally ready to launch our evening menu; a knockout lineup of Mediterranean-inspired small plates, designed to pair with that second glass of wine you weren’t planning to have but definitely deserve. Speaking of wine ...
OUR WINE CAVE IS COMING
ALIVE!
Over the next month, our kitchen team is rolling out not one, not two, but three new menus to keep up with the pace of daily life - and your appetites. First up, a refreshed weekday menu. Think every day lunches made with joy, local ingredients and just enough indulgence to tempt you into an afternoon treat.
Then there’s our supercharged weekend brunch - our new take on your classic favourites that make the most of long, slow Saturdays and Sundays. And (deep
The finishing touches are going into our much-anticipated Wine Cave and Pantry - a beautifully designed deli-esque space that will house a lovingly selected collection of natural wines, local beers and store cupboard heroes for the discerning Suffolk home cook. Whether you’re popping in to grab a bottle on your way to dinner or staying for a glass (or flight) with friends, this is the kind of corner we’ve always dreamed of having - and we can’t wait to share it with you.
MUSIC, MAGIC ... AND SUNDOWNERS
Our programming has been equally buzzing. From the gloriously chaotic Sundowners DJ sets that have turned Saturday nights into something special, to the return of Daniel Metz’s Golden Hour - a curated evening of acoustic music featuring standout local talent - our ears and hearts are full.
There’s more on the way, but let it be said; Woodbridge has taste. And rhythm.
WELCOMING SOPHIE ANGELA...
We’re thrilled - honestly, thrilled - to welcome the extraordinary Sophie Angela to our Cottage space. Sophie is a leading bio-resonance practitioner, working with frequencies to help the body restore balance and heal itself. Her beautifully designed private room is now open for sessions - new and returning clients can find her at sophieangela.co.uk. It’s a magical addition to our wellness offering and just the beginning of what’s to come in the Cottage.
GRATITUDE, COFFEE MACHINES AND BONSOY
We’ve learned a lot in these first few months. Like how to rearrange tables to catch the best light. How to speed up the bar queue. How to tweak a cocktail recipe to find just the right balance. How to pray to the coffee machine gods for a smooth service. (They don’t always listen. But we try).
We’ve had so many kind, curious and loyal customers already - people who come for the yoga, the language groups, the infamous salads, the hard-to-find Bonsoy (who knew it had a cult following?) We’re beyond grateful.
STAY IN THE LOOP
There’s so much more to come - new classes, more live music, art, collaborations and community happenings. The best way to stay in the know?
Sign up to our mailing list at newstreetmarket.com. It’s where we send out our weekly updates, early access to tickets, and the occasional treat or discount.
Come by soon. Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, you’re always welcome.
l New Street Market, 70 New Street, Woodbridge, IP12 1DX. Email, info@newstreetprojects.com
TOP 10
CAMPSITES IN SUFFOLK!
Dust down those tent poles, shake out your sleeping bags and pack your wellies! It’s time to forget all your troubles and connect with the great outdoors ...
FIELD FARM FISHERIES AND CAMPSITE WRENTHAM, BECCLES
This family-run business which offers fishing, camping and a caravan site. Open all year round, it offers six well-stocked fishponds and caters for all levels of angler. The campsite overlooks the stunning fisheries with several pitches and electric hook-up points. A pod and a log cabin are also available to hire. l Visit, fieldfarmfisheries.com
THE FOUR BELLS GLAMPING BURY ST EDMUNDS
For those looking to toast marshmallows by the campfire, watch the sunset from a woodfired hot tub or relax in a tropical shower, this award-winning site boasts luxurious and relaxing breaks in the countryside whilst being close enough to all the facilities of Bury St Edmunds. l Visit, thefourbellsglamping.co.uk
LITTLE WREN GLAMPING SOUTH COVE, BECCLES
Nestled near the coastal town of Southwold, Little Wren offers three luxurious bell tents perfect for couples and families set in a meadow within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, guests can also enjoy collecting eggs for breakfast.
l Find them on campsites.co.uk
ALDE GARDEN
SAXMUNDHAM
Tucked away in a tiny secret garden Alde Garden hides an interesting array of quirky accommodation plus a range of communal facilities including a campfire, covered field kitchen, compost loo and a jungle shower.
Friendly ducks and chickens roam the garden and at night solar fairy lights add a touch of magic!
l Find them at aldegarden.co.uk
PIGS IN BLANKETS
SOUTHWOLD
Offering a stunning selection of luxury glamping pods and camping pitches scattered across a secluded six-acre meadow which lies within the grounds of a working livestock farm.
A recently refurbished ‘straw shed’ or Dutch barn, has been brought back to life, offering ping pong and a washing up area. High welfare produce from the farm is available to campers through a self-service farm pantry vending machine.
l Visit, pigsinblanketssouthwold.co.uk
THE ORCHARD CAMPSITE WICKHAM MARKET
Set over 11 acres, this family-run Orchard Campsite offers something for everyone. With 20 electric hook ups, ten of which offer Freesat TV, they cater for both the comfortloving caravanner and the most adventurous outdoor explorer!
l Check them out at, orchardcampsite.co.uk
SUNNYSIDE CAMPSITE
WESTHALL, HALESWORTH
A perfect no-fuss retreat for walkers, cyclists, families and the more robust camper! Guests can expect a beautifully traditional camping experience, with a few conveniences and optional extras thrown in.
l Visit, sunnysidecampsite.co.uk
CLIFF HOUSE HOLIDAY PARK DUNWICH
This offers 120 high quality camping and touring caravan pitches available by the night, with seasonal pitches available from March to October. Features include a bar and restaurant with freshly cooked food and local real ales, a shop, a playground, family game room and cycle hire.
l Go to, cliffhouseholidays.co.uk
NEWBOURNE WOODLAND CAMPSITE NEWBOURNE
A peaceful and relaxing sevenacre campsite on the edge of this lovely Suffolk village.
Offering just 20 pitches, it’s the perfect place for a digital detox, with woodland and meadow pitches and five-star toilet and shower facilities.
l Check them out at, newbourne-campsite.co.uk
WILLOWMERE CARAVAN PARK LITTLE CORNARD, SUDBURY
Situated near some of Suffolk’s most beautiful villages including Long Melford, Cavendish, Clare and Lavenham, this picturesque site offers a level grass area suitable for tents, caravans and motorhomes. Features include a small fishing lake on site and the local pub, serving food, is just 400 yards away.
l Find them online at, willowmerecaravanpark.wordpress.com
Field Farm Fisheries and Campsite
Sunnyside Campsite
INSIDE STORY!
Photographer John Ferguson has mastered capturing the essence of his subjects leaving them with a gold standard in personal branding ....
It was Mark Twain who once said, “I like a good story, well told.”
Everyone, it seems, loves a great yarn nowadays and, according to photographer John Ferguson, who has pictured everyone from David Bowie, Beyonce to Madonna, he has a few to tell himself!
In what feels like an ever-crowded marketplace, it seems businesses who have mastered the art of visual storytelling are cornering the market.
Proprietor Vernon Blakemore
@the_anchor_woodbridge
@the_duck_campseaashe
@the_easton_white_horse
John says for many small to medium-sized businesses, telling a great visual story is vital in raising their unique brand’s profile.
“Strong images enable entrepreneurs to really uplevel their brand and connect with their audience on a much more personal level,” he says. “We’ve all come across websites which offer a service or product that you’re looking for, but the images are out of date and the overall impression is not great. No matter how excellent you think your business is, you could be losing clients left, right and centre if you’re relying on self-taken, blurry shots as an afterthought.”
all styled with his favourite cinematic aesthetic. This fusion of techniques results in images that are not only visually stunning but also rich in storytelling, ensuring the
“It’s the difference between blending in and standing out” John Ferguson
brand’s message resonates deeply with its audience.
He can now offer a touch of this glamour and magic to Suffolk businesses and entrepreneurs.
“Top-class photography becomes a catalyst for growth,” he says, “offering increased exposure and an edge that makes the difference between blending in and standing out.”
Working between London and Suffolk, John is currently channelling his passion into exciting collaborations with business owners.
“I was thrilled when one client told me that I have a way of making people feel relaxed in front of the camera even when they feel a bit awkward and out of their comfort zone,” says John. “Another, an artist, said the images really helped take her business to the next level. It’s a privilege and an honour to be able to help people achieve their goals.”
This September, John is planning a talk at Woodbridge Library about his work to date with some fun tips on how to achieve a great shot of a perfect stranger! Check out his websites for further information.
l Visit, johnfergusonphotography.uk or johnfergusonphoto.com to explore his portfolio and discover how he can help bring your brand’s story to life.
“I’ve met companies and entrepreneurs who wonder why they’re not attracting their ideal clients when they’re using poor images which can actively work against them.”
John, who also offers mentoring services, believes “businesses deserve to be seen in their best light.”
His unique approach combines lifestyle, portraiture, documentary and editorial styles,
John’s own journey began amid the glitz and glamour of photographing icons such as Prince, Mohammad Ali, Lady Gaga and many more, where every shot had to be nothing short of perfection. His work graced the pages of national and international publications and high profile photographic exhibitions, ensuring each image was both a visual masterpiece and a powerful narrative companion.
Illustrator, Lily Hammond @uwu_studio_
Artists Edwina Longe and Sahara Longe (seated). Find them
As summer unfurls its dreamy golden light across Suffolk, it offers an endless supply of inspiration to interior designer Caroline Fooks.
SUMMER WITH CAROLINE FOOKS
“I love this time of year with its vivid palette of colours,” she smiles. “Just painting a room in a gorgeous new colour in your home can feel
utterly transformative. Past clients contact me to ask what paint I might recommend - I have my trusted Mary Poppins cabinet here of paint colours which I can refer to! I have an encyclopaedic memory of clients’ homes so I can offer all sorts of advice,” she says. “I’m just happy to help.”
One Suffolk client said of Caroline’s work, “She has impeccable taste and I quickly learned to trust her judgement ... she made the project feel like a collaboration and I was extremely impressed by her responsiveness, professionalism and reliability.”
Now that summer is truly underway, Caroline says she loves using the season’s natural vibrancy to enhance her clients’ homes.
Whether refreshing a family home in Framlingham or transforming a seaside cottage near Aldeburgh, she thoughtfully selects bold shades that echo summertime’s warmth – albeit sun-washed yellows, soft corals and energising teal greens.
Her projects often begin outdoors, with Caroline walking through the client’s gardens allowing those landscapes to shape the interior aesthetic.
“I like to transform spaces into elegant, comfortable and timeless interiors, tailored to my client’s tastes,” she says. “I like to combine the traditional with the contemporary and practicality with beauty. I use a team of trusted suppliers and local craftsmen who I have built up over the years.”
“Life is always so busy and I never really stop working,” adds Caroline, “but I’m doing what I love – I feel very lucky indeed.”
l Caroline Fooks Design London & Suffolk
The Barn, Dock Lane, Melton, Woodbridge. IP12 1PE
Sulivan Enterprise Centre, Fulham, London SW6 3DJ. By appointment. Call, 07710 037591 or 01394 303826
DOG ABOUT
My name is Kiki and I’m a two-year-old Morkie from Snape - for those who don’t know, that’s a cross between a Maltese and a Yorkshire Terrier. In public, I’m quiet and can be quite submissive around other dogs - you would too, if you were as little as me! But once I’m home behind closed doors, it’s a very different story. Mum and Dad, Mark and Jackie, say I can be quite loud. I’m the boss then and there’s no messing with me, particularly if you’re a pigeon or a postie. They are my sworn enemies.
I’m not a fan of walking along the street so Mum and Dad always bring my bag as I like to be carried. That way I can see what’s happening at human level! I’m aware I’m a bit sweet - I get a lot of attention when we’re out. I even have my own Instagram account; check me out @kiki.whitfield.
l If you’d like to give your dog their 15 minutes of fame, send in a hi res photo(s) and description to, info@livinginsuffolk.com
ATTWELLS SOLICITORS OPEN IN WOODBRIDGE
Attwells Solicitors is delighted to announce the opening of its new office in Woodbridge - a move that promises to bring top-quality legal services even closer to the local community. This expansion is a significant milestone for the acclaimed law firm, already celebrated for its award-winning client care and consistently
high ratings. The new Woodbridge office (based in The Thoroughfare) is designed with the community in mind, offering a comprehensive range of services including a dedicated Private Client department which provides tailored legal advice and support to individuals. For those involved in property transactions, the office also boasts strong
expertise in conveyancing and conveyance, with Stuart Milbourne ensuring that every property deal is handled with efficiency and meticulous care.
Key figures at the new office include Paralegal Josh Barber, whose practical approach and attention to detail have quickly earned him a reputation for outstanding client support, and former Woodbridge mayor Stephen Attwell, who continues to work part-time with Attwells Solicitors.
Stephen’s local insight and enduring commitment to the community bring a unique perspective that resonates with the area’s longstanding residents. Attwells Solicitors’ dedication to providing exceptional service is well documented through numerous awards and high ratings, and this new office is a further testament to the firm’s ongoing expansion strategy, aimed at delivering expert legal advice and support right at the doorstep of those who need it.
The opening of the Woodbridge office is not just about expanding services - it’s about strengthening community ties. Attwells Solicitors invites local residents and businesses to visit the new office and experience first-hand the professionalism and personal care that have become synonymous with the firm.
l For more information on the services provided please visit, attwells.com
© Sophie Debenham, Sophs in Focus.
Nick Attwell and Stuart Milbourne
THE CYDER HOUSE RULES!
A gentle hobby to deflect the stresses of life has blossomed into a cottage industry for Andy Frost and Carl Friar ...
It’s the busiest time of year for craft cyder and perry makers, Cydefx, which has come a long way in such a short time.
The idea to make cyder was planted a few years ago in Andy’s Ipswich back garden after he removed an old playhouse from his Bramley’s Seedling tree.
“After it was removed, the tree was allowed to flourish,” he says, “and for successive years the volume of fruit has increased considerably.”
After giving away most of the fruit to his neighbours, Andy made some cyder which was “quite sharp, very dry and lightly sparkling; despite this, it soon went with the help of some friends!”
He and friend Carl Friar worked hard on perfecting their craft in Andy’s purpose-built cydery. But it was after Andy was made redundant, they realised this was more than a hobby – a business was born!
They have made own label cyders for many local businesses including pubs and farm shops, such as Fields Farm Shop and Cafe near Brantham. The guys have an arrangement in which they maintain their orchard in return for apples to make cyder which the shop can label as their own.
“We also sold cyder to Sutherland House Hotel and Restaurant in Southwold, luckily Carl had met the owner at a school reunion the month before we started this venture and he wanted a local craft cyder for Sutherland House which we were able to oblige.” More recently, they have started to supply New Street Market in Woodbridge.
The following years has seen the Bramleys blended with Spartan and Discovery apples (also from Suffolk) to produce what they describe as a very palatable cyder. It’s clear, lightly sparkling and refreshing when chilled – a real treat for the tastebuds!
“Now, we collect apples and pears from donors helping them to clear up the mess in their gardens, within a small radius of Ipswich, then blending the apples to create a typical Eastern Counties-style cyder and using the pears to make perry.” says Carl. “We also make cyder for people with their own orchards who can sell it as a branded product to their customers.”
Craft cyder making, they say, is a slow operation for which “you need patience and it’s not stressful,” says Andy. “I’ve had over 30 years of a stressful corporate career that has taken me around the world; it’s nice to perfect a craft at my own pace in my own back yard. Carl is the same, only his stress has come from the front line as a paramedic, now semi-retired, his energy is split between caring for those in need and taking care to produce a quality craft product.”
And they have produced cyder for Otley Hall and Seckford Hall Hotel and Spa using their own apples.
So, are they planning on turning this into a huge cyder-making empire like others in Suffolk?
“We won’t be competing with any large commercial producers,” says Andy. “Our base of operations is limited in size and we have only so much energy we can put into this. Maybe we can gain notoriety for producing a fantastic cyder whilst reusing and reclaiming materials and minimising food miles and waste.”
“Our objective was always to have a low impact on the environment and, where possible, to actually improve lives through education of growing apples and pears, and what real cyder actually is (not the stuff you can buy in a supermarket). We use fruit that would otherwise have gone to waste, we give our pressed fruit (pomace) to a local community interest smallholding to feed their pigs (that aren’t in the human food chain), so our output is a byproduct and not waste. We take in used bottles from a few pubs and wash/clean/sanitise these for reuse and we also give our time and energy to restore and maintain orchards - in return for apples of course!”
We feel Andy and Carl have a sparkling future ahead of them!
l Check them out at, cydefx.co.uk or find them on Instagram @cydefx.cyder
SUFFOLK SNIPPETS
Soundbites from around our sunny region ....
MOVEMENT AND STILLNESS
Simply Fleeting, Cherry Beesley’s fabulous photographic exhibition, is now showing at Dance East at the Whistler Gallery in Ipswich until 31st July.
Cherry, from Simply C Photography, says the show, which recently ran in Woodbridge, “is a study in both movement and stillness, presence and impermanence” and was Inspired by the “fragility of time.”
l If you want to meet Cherry in person, she will be there on the following July dates: 8th, 16th, 21st and 28th.
l See her work at, simplycphotography.co.uk
FOX’S YACHT SALES –‘A FOCUS ON YOU’
This wonderful team of yacht brokers based near Ipswich offer a variety of boats and are the main dealers for Beneteau boats on the East Coast. A family business, run by Tim Long and his wife Sarah whose brother, James, is the mainstay of their broking side. They pride themselves on spending time finding the right boat for their owners.
Have you considered boating but are unsure what would be right for you? Do you enjoy the social aspects? Short trips with social sailing and a pub at the end of the day? The team suggest that perhaps you should consider a smaller, easy to run boat, like a stunning Oceanis yacht or Antares power boat? These can be new or used to suit your budget.
How about exploring shallow rivers and creeks? Lift or shallow keel options like the incredible Southerly 38 or Beneteau 331. Both yachts offer access to those shallows with room for a family to stay on board! ‘Trailer sailors’ are there too, including the beautiful Ethel Rose, a stunning wooden Cold Harbour 12 or Puffin, a beautiful, two-year-old Bay Cruiser 23 hugely discounted from new. How about the Beneteau First 211, ideal for local racing and weekending.
Talking of racing? Xstatic, a renowned X-99, winner of many races has updated sails and engine so offers great value. Enigma, as the name suggests, is the ‘Swiss army knife’ of sailboats, a competitive boat with all the creature comforts as well!
All these boats and more are on display. Why not drop in to Fox’s Yacht Sales for a coffee and chat about your boating needs!
l Fox’s Yacht Sales, Fox’s Marina, The Strand, Wherstead, IP2 8NJ. Call, 01473 971971. Visit, foxsyachts.co.uk
PICK OF THE CROP!
Woodbridge School Equestrian team were on top form at the recent Hickstead NSEA Championships. Riders from the school won both the 75cm and 85cm Eventers Challenge. In the 75cm Eventers Challenge, Year 9’s Grace (pictured) won the class individually, while Year 8’s Kirsty and Year 7’s Tati finished in second and third place overall, competing against 36 other schools!
In the 85cm Eventers Challenge, Year 10’s Zac won the class individually. The Dressage team took fourth place while the Show Jumping teams both placed fifth.
The school’s 95cm Eventers Challenge team came in at eighth place, meaning they placed in all classes they competed in! Well done to all including Equestrian Jump Coach, Jake Hall, who spurred riders on ... every canter of the way!
l Visit the School’s Open Day on Saturday 20th September. Book at, woodbridgeschool.org.uk Or call 01394 615041 Email: admissions@woodbridgeschool.org.uk
RELISH!
The Suffolk foodies’ page ...
FARM CAFE + SHOP, A REVIEW, BY CHARITY CREWE
“Farm Cafe + Shop, on the A12 in Marlesford, has always been a great spot for a fry up, lunch or afternoon tea – but it’s got even better. In February it was taken over by Beccles boys, Richard Harris-Godfrey - the man behind Harris & James chocolate, coffee and ice cream - and Alex Stevens - a veteran of the restaurant trade, who has turned around many an ailing pub and café. Among other places, they run the much-loved Twyfords Café in Beccles, and their expertise is evident in their new venture. We were welcomed by a team of smiley, helpful staff and, despite the café being packed on a Friday lunchtime, our food came quickly.
The interior and exterior have had a revamp. Outside, it has the feel of an old-fashioned American road-side pit stop, with its Western-style signage, woodenslatted shop (more of that later) and large,
cock-a-doodling rooster painted on the outside. A selection of flowers from Katie’s Garden are on sale at the entrance, giving the café an instant outdoor garden. Inside, you are greeted by an uplifting mural of farming life and a glass cabinet full of freshly baked cakes.
We sat outside in the sun, looking at rolling hills and the grassed-over mound that was once the railway line to Framlingham. The menu is impressively extensive and there’s food to suit every mood. If its hard-hitting carbs you are after, you can go for the Baron Brie Melt Toastie – Baron Bigod cheese with local bacon and cranberry sauce (£12.50) or if you’d like something lighter, have a Classic Abundance Bowl, a salad with avocado, beetroot, sweet potato and other health restoring veggies (£15). I was very happy with my choice, the All-Day Brunch (£18), which could have fed a small army. It came with two succulent local sausages, two runny fried eggs, bacon, grilled tomato, hash browns, mushrooms, baked beans and crispy, chunky chips. It was perfect! My companion was delighted with the Suffolk Pulled Ham and Baron Bigod Abundance Bowl (£16). The Harris & James coffee was delightfully smooth and the orange juice was freshly squeezed. I would have sampled one of their many cakes – which are all cooked on site or at their Beccles bakery – but I couldn’t eat another thing. Alex explains that, “the portions are designed to keep local farmers and passing truckers happy”.
The shop next to the café is stocked with
TOUR THE FOODIES’ CAPITAL
everything you didn’t know you wanted, including Cowella – Hazelnut and Vanilla Milk Stout by Ampersand Brew Co. There’s also much you definitely would want, including home-made food and coffee from their extensive takeaway menu, tasty frozen ready meals by Chef on Board, Sunday charcuterie, the award-winning Oulton Broad salami brand and essentials such as toilet paper. It was a joy to visit The Farm Café and Shop and I will be back, hopefully to sample the live music that Alex promises will be happening at some point in the future.”
l Farm Cafe + Shop, Main Road (A12), Marlesford. Visit, farmcafe.co.uk Open every day, 7.30am - 4pm. Breakfast served 7.30am - 12 noon. Lunch served 12 noon - 4pm. Coffee and cake served all day.
A new Food and Drink Tour of Bury St Edmund’s - known as the county’s foodie capital - has recently been launched. The two-hour tour stops at several food related spots, including the fabulous Procopio’s Pantry (pictured), Nethergate Wines and Marimba Cocoa House. Participants will be given food and drink samples, while hearing about the history of the business. The tour goes through the heart of Bury, offering visitors a chance to learn about its food and drink history, including the Abbot’s feasts and how a maltster almost destroyed the town. Adrian Tindall, Chairman of Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides, says, “We’re very excited about the first tasting tour of the town. We shall be sharing morsels of Bury’s fascinating gastronomic history, from its medieval marketplace to the fine dining of today.” Suitable for ages 18+, the tours start on Angel Hill, opposite Abbey Gate. l Tickets cost £25. To book visit, burystedmundstourguides.org
Charity tucks in
AND ABOUT! OUT
Top things to do around Suffolk by Charity Crewe
BRASS ON THE GRASS
Sunday 20th July - Sunday 7th September, at 2.30pm, The Arboretum, Henley Road entrance, Christchurch Park, Ipswich
Enjoy summer Sundays in Christchurch Park, listening to fabulous brass band concerts for free! Grab a chair, take a picnic and relax. The bands performing include, Martlesham Brass (20th July); The Colchester Band (27th July); Ipswich Hospital Band (3rd August); Castleton Brass (10th August); Suffolk Phoenix Band (17th August); Saints Community Band (31st August) and Woodbridge Excelsior (7th September) – see the latter’s incredible now and then photos!
l Visit, friendsofchristchurchpark.co.uk; facebook.com/ChristchurchParkIpswich
FELIXSTOWE LOVES WEEKENDS
IPSWICH GUIDED WALKS
Every Tuesday and Thursday in the summer months. Walks start at 2pm at Admiral’s House, 13 Tower Street, Ipswich
Explore one of England’s oldest towns with an enthusiastic, trained tour guide. Themes include a Revolution in Victorian Ipswich (2nd September) and stroll with a 100-year-old guide - book, not guide! –(31st July). Special walks are planned for Heritage Open Days (HOD) in September, when over 20 Ipswich buildings will be open to the public. The walks will look at buildings featured in the Charter Hangings (pictured) and explore architectural highlights of the town. All HOD events are free, but places must be booked in advance.
l Tickets for regular tours are £5, visit, ipswichinstitute.org.uk, or in person 10 minutes before the walk starts.
Friday 15th to Sunday 17th August and Saturday 6th to Sunday 7th September, various venues around Felixstowe
Jazzie B, legendary frontman of Soul II Soul, and Aswad, Britain’s biggest reggae act, are headlining two new Felixstowe Loves festival weekends this summer. The weekends, organised by the Felixstowe BID team, build on the town’s Love Felixstowe events and will see live music and DJs, family activities, art trails and stalls, workshops, street food and pop-up bars around the town and on the seafront, as well as a large community art project, The Wall of Hearts, involving hundreds of contributions from the local community.
l Most events are free, but ticketed events for Jazzie B DJ set and Aswad Live offer free, pay what you like and £5 supporter ticket options. Visit, visitfelixstowe.org. uk/felixstowe-loves-events
WOODBRIDGE MUSIC DAY
Saturday 19th July, 11am-11pm, Elmhurst Park, Woodbridge
This brand new, music and fun-filled celebration is heading to Elmhurst Park. Woodbridge Music Day will bring together live music, tasty street food and creative workshops. The headliners are Reno and Rome, the four piece Suffolk synth-pop band and Abba Inferno, the talented tribute band. The team from BBC Introducing will be curating their very own set. Other highlights include free taster music lessons from Planet Music, exhilarating drum workshops from Wooden Roots and bouncy, inflatable activities from School’s Out. The Anchor, Reuben’s and Baytree Pizza will be selling food. Money raised from the event will go to Mission to Music CIC, which funds therapeutic music projects for young people across East Suffolk.
l Adult tickets, £15; young person’s ticket (age 5-17), £10; a family ticket costs £40 and admits two adults and two young people.
Visit, woodbridgemusicday.co.uk
NATIONAL GARDEN SCHEME: THE RED HOUSE
Wednesday 6th August, 10:30am-3.30pm, The Red House, Golf Lane, Aldeburgh
The five-acre gardens that surround The Red House, the former home of composer Benjamin Britten and his partner, the tenor Peter Pears, are opening up to the public as part of the National Garden Scheme (NGT). The NGT raises money for nursing and health charities through admissions, teas and cake. There is much to see in the garden including beautifully stocked herbaceous borders, a kitchen garden, areas of contemporary planting and a new summer tropical border.
l Adult tickets, £5, children go free. Visit, brittenpearsarts.org/events/nationalgarden-scheme-2025-the-red-house
Woodbridge Excelsior Band in Easaton Park 1913!
© John Ferguson
Now
Then
Jazzie B at Woodbridge Festival
