SUFFOLK
GET INVOLVED:
If you've got a topical story, an inspiring event, craft or talent to show off, do get in touch. Perhaps you've achieved something against all the odds - don't be shy, let us know! The deadline for our next issue - our July/August edition - is 12th June.
l For advertising information or if you’d like to submit any collaboration ideas, email us at, info@livinginsuffolk.com
ON THE COVER:
We love this watercolour and pencil sketch by Mary-Anne Bartlett, founder of Suffolk SketchFest, Art Safari’s annual three-day sketching festival along the beautiful River Deben in Woodbridge. Read all about SketchFest and many other festivals happening around Suffolk, on pages 16 and 17. l Or visit, artsafari.com
LIVING IN
Editor: Angela Hagan
07930 184773, info@livinginsuffolk.com
Designer: Lewis Webb
Writer: Charity Crewe charity@livinginsuffolk.com
Media Sales: advertising@livinginsuffolk.com livinginsuffolk.com
COMPETITION TIME!
May and June have got to be one of the best times of the year in Suffolk's social calendar – the sun is out and the whole county is buzzing with creativity and activity. There’s so much going on – just check out our Festival Extravaganza running across pages 16 and 17 of this issue. To add to the merriment, we have not one, but TWO competitions for our readers.
For starters, those lovely people at Maverick Festival have given us two weekend tickets - have they got your name on them?
The UK’s first and finest Americana Festival is back in Suffolk this year running from the 3rd-5th July.
This legendary festival showcases international artists, including a return visit from festival favourites, Electric Blue Yonder (pictured), with many acts coming from both sides of the Atlantic and beyond. The barns and fields of Easton Farm Park in rural Suffolk will once more be transformed into a festival site offering five stages indoors and out, presenting an array of music, dance and masterclasses that have been attracting festivalgoers since 2008.
Maverick have partnered with their friends in Lafayette, Louisiana, to bring the spicy flavours, fancy footwork and fabulous sounds of the Bayou to the farm, with music from Paul McCartney favourites, The Cajun Roosters and accordion maestro, Lil Jim, with his new band, Cajun Royale
This year Maverick will also be partnering with Music For All; a charity dedicated to changing lives across the UK by improving access to music making.
l For more information on the event visit, maverickfestiival.com
TOTE LOVE
On page 11 we have featured new kids on the block, Suffolk Buh. This cute company is putting the unique Suffolk dialect on their super cool tote bags and other merchandise and have gone stratospheric! And now they have given us TWO free tote bags – one Suffolk Buh and one Alright Buh - to give away to one lucky reader in our second competition. All we can say is, good luck buh!
l More details on the company visit, suffolkbuh.com
l To find out how to enter one or both of these competitions, head on over to our website, livinginsuffolk.com
NEWS
All the latest news from around Suffolk ...
GOODBYE AND HELLO!
The new Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk, Mark Pendlington DL, recently attended a special retirement service in honour of Lady Euston who, before him, held the position since 2014. Mark has held numerous roles in the county including, senior non-executive Member of Chapter at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, chair of the Suffolk Business Board and trustee at Gainsborough’s House. He says, "I am deeply honoured to be appointed to serve His Majesty The King, and the opportunity it offers to recognise and support the work of so many communities, individuals and organisations that make Suffolk such a wonderful county.”
ON THE MARKET
The latest homes and property news from around Suffolk ...
MIGHTY HERMANUS!
Designed and constructed in 2018 by well-reputed firms Patrick Allen Architects and Lewis Culf Group, ‘Hermanus’ is a modern and versatile home extending to over 2,800sq ft.
Positioned within the centre of the popular riverside village of Waldringfield, and affording fine views towards the River Deben, this detached property is arranged over two storeys, presenting red brick and weatherboard elevations beneath pitched pantile roofs.
Flooded with natural light, the well-arranged layout features a
handmade kitchen by Anglia Factors, complete with central island unit, dining and sitting area, open plan and spanning the full width of the property with bi-folding doors to the rear terrace.
Double doors connect to the formal living room complete with wood burning stove, and a further door linking to the impressive and vaulted entrance hall, off which is the snug/playroom along with cloak/shower room. Completing the ground floor is the utility room positioned directly off the kitchen and linking with the tandem garage.
Upstairs features a galleried and vaulted
landing and five bedrooms – we love the principal bedroom with a Juliet balcony offering sweeping views towards the River Deben. A detached annexe offers a kitchenette and shower room, whilst the studio/home office affords vistas towards the river; both finished to the same high standard as the main house offering additional and versatile accommodation.
Outside there is ample parking with a tandem garage affording roller shutter doors both front and rear. The back of the rear garden offers further views across the fields towards the River Deben.
OIRO: £1,350,000
Jackson-stops.co.uk
MEALS ON WHEELS!
As Father’s Day approaches, Charity Crewe reflects on her invincible father,
travel writer and restaurant critic Quentin Crewe, who crossed the Sahara Desert in a wheelchair ...
This year would have been my father, the journalist, restaurant critic and travel writer, Quentin Crewe’s 100th birthday. Sadly for me he died in 1998, aged 72, when I was 26. It was less sad for him as the muscular dystrophy he was born with was beginning to take an ever-greater toll. “Time for me to pop off,” he would occasionally say with a smile. It was only in his final years that the muscle wasting disease ever dented his optimistic outlook and sense of fun – and then rarely. His stoic attitude to the disease, that put him in a wheelchair at 29, might have owed something to his parents’ view of it. He was taken to a Harley Street doctor at six, when he started falling over a lot. The doctor told his mother that he had muscular dystrophy (MD) and would be dead at 16 - he told my father he’d be better at 16. As they emerged from the consulting room, his mother said, ‘Well that’s done. Now let’s go and have tea with Cousin Nellie.’ She didn’t refer to his MD again for over a decade – and he didn’t see a doctor again until he was 18.
Whether it was down to his personality or his parents’ refusal to treat him differently, he lived a life that was fuller than most ablebodied people. He wrote twelve books, many of which were travel books, invented modern restaurant criticism, married three times, had five children and made a varied and vast number of friends. In a Daily Mail interview, when asked about his attitude to his disability, he said, “You can say, ‘Why me?’ But nobody who wins the Lottery says: ‘Why me?’ It’s one’s fate and there’s no good feeling angry about it. Anyhow, I’ve had a marvellous life.”
He wasn’t given a particularly nurturing childhood, not that he dwelled on this. I have gleaned most of what I know about it from his beautifully written memoir, Well, I Forget The Rest. He did tell me that his mother, Lady Annabel Crewe, loved babies, but lost interest in her children once they were walking about. She had seven babies and my father was her seventh, born when she was 45. He spent his early childhood in Sicily, where his father was the British Consul. He was looked after mainly by governesses but was sometimes allowed downstairs in the evening to entertain his parents’ visitors. One of his tricks was to recite, from memory, huge swathes of The Scarlet Pimpernel.
“He lived a life fuller than most able-bodied people”
magazine – later Harper’s & Queen. It was while at Queen that he invented the modern style of restaurant criticism, somewhat by accident. The girl who usually did the restaurant column - which was little more than a list of restaurants and the food they served - was off sick. My dad, who was heading out to lunch at Wilton’s, the grand seafood restaurant in St James’s, offered to fill the blank page. As he had quite a lot of space to fill, instead of just writing about the food, he described the decoration, the atmosphere, his fellow diners and the staff – this had never been done before. Wilton’s was a gift. He wrote about how the aristocratic clientele felt at home eating nursery food, while being served by waitresses dressed like nannies. His column
Although he had a prodigious memory and boundless curiosity, he claims he was quite lazy. He was expelled from both Eton – for absconding to London for the day – and from Cambridge for doing too little work. Once out in the world, he did pick up the pace, despite now being in a wheelchair. He escaped the pain of a doomed love affair with Harold Macmillan’s daughter, Sarah, by going to read to a blind poet in Italy for a year –often for up ten hours a day.
It was while on a break, back in the UK, in 1953 that he was offered a job at the Evening Standard. This started a long career in journalism, that saw him working on papers including The Daily Mail, The Sunday Mirror, Vogue and the newly launched Queen
became very popular and his power to fill restaurants was extraordinary. Later, he became the restaurant columnist for the Evening Standard, earning himself the nickname “meals on wheels.”
His other joy, besides food, was travel. He was the fourth European to cross the Empty Quarter of Saudi Arabia, and spent two years travelling across the desert, researching his book, In Search of the Sahara. He wrote other books on his travels around Japan, South
Quentin never let his muscular dystrophy get in his way
Bamber Gascoigne and his wife Christina at Quentin's farm
Charity with Princess Margaret at Netherset Hey, Quentin's farm in Cheshire
American, the Caribbean and India, as well as his most celebrated work, The Great Chefs of France - all in his wheelchair.
As a father he was very encouraging; not particularly about the normal things like working hard at school, but how many lengths I could swim underwater or my backgammon technique. He was good at making interesting friends who would come and stay at our home in Cheshire. Princess Margaret once visited when I was a toddler and bounced me on her knee, ciggie in hand! Our swing broke while she was on it causing her to tumble to the ground. My father sent all his children brilliant letters, full of lyrical descriptions, dotty facts and mischievous observations. He was wonderfully even tempered and unshockable. He didn’t give his disability much thought, so nor did those around him. As his nephew, the University
Challenge presenter, Bamber Gascoigne, said at his memorial, “Quentin was the bravest person I have ever known. It would have been brave to go through life with his disability without ever grumbling. It would have been brave to do all the amazing things he did and to grumble all the time. But to go where he went, with never a hint of self-pity, not even letting his readers know until the last few years of his life that he had any particular difficulty - simply amazing.”
After my father died, his friend, Mark Reynolds - who also had MD - suggested that my siblings and I help him set up the Q Trust to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy UK. One of our big events is the Q Trust Quiz, which we’ve been holding every two years in London since 2001. Around 400 people come to the quiz, and the hosts have included cousin Bamber, Andrew Marr, Evan Davies, Fi
Glover and the actor, Dominic West. This year’s quiz is in the beautiful, Porchester Hall in Bayswater on Thursday 12th November. It is being held in the week that would have been my father’s 100th birthday. If you enjoy quizzes, come along!”
l Further details and booking for the Q Trust quiz visit, uk.emma-live.com/QTQuiz26
l As well as writing for The Week magazine, Charity reviews restaurants for Living In Suffolk. If you would like your eaterie reviewed, contact her at, charity@livinginsuffolk.com
Quentin's children, L-R, Sabrina, Charity, Sebastian, Nat, Candida and two of Quentin's three wives, Sue and Angie
Quentin in Jeddah before his trip to the Empty Quarter
Charity's parents Sue and Quentin
TALK THE TALK
Chris King, co-founder of Suffolk Buh, ponders our county’s unique dialect ...
Suffolk’s known for a few things; big skies, coastlines, market towns, and the classic pink timber-framed cottage. That’s the postcard version.
But spend a bit of time here and you realise there’s something else running through it all. Something a little less obvious. It’s the Suffolk twang that really makes it special.
It’s all around us. In passing conversations, down the local, shouted from one side of the street to the other. A reassuring and familiar twang that holds everything together. Like background music you don’t notice until it stops.
If you’ve been round these parts your whole life, you probably don’t think twice about it. An “alright buh” as you pass someone. Saying you’re “on the drag” without apology. Describing something as a bit “on the huh," and moving on without explanation.
If you’re new to Suffolk, it can take a minute. You’ll hear things and do a slight double take. Did I hear that right? Then, before you know it, you’re reeling it off without realising, like a true Suffolk buh.
And if you’re just visiting, you might only catch bits of it, enough to know you’re somewhere specific.
Suffolk dialect has been shaped over centuries. Its roots go back to Old English, with layers added through farming life, coastal communities, and the fact this part of
the world kept fairly to itself for a long time.
Take “on the huh”. It can describe a crooked picture frame, a wonky garden path, or how you’re feeling after a long night down the local.
Or “cuttla”, meaning a few, though never quite defined. A cuttla beers could be two. Could be five, depends who’s asking.
Then there’s “on the drag” (running late), “buh” (mate or friend), and the wildcard “waddledickie”, a donkey, apparently, though no-one’s fully confident on how that one came about.
It’s really all about how it’s delivered. The way you hang on a syllable can change everything. It’s more defining than a view or a stately home, it’s how a place sounds. The way people connect without needing to say too much. A nod of the head and a quick “buh”, and you know exactly where you are.
In recent years, the appreciation of the Suffolk dialect has made a huge leap with more young people using it (maybe without realising) and the consciousness of using it to show pride in one’s roots in Suffolk or even when visiting.
You see it popping up in small ways, and increasingly through brands like Suffolk Buh, taking those everyday sayings and putting them front and centre, without losing that same no-fuss tone. Letting people be proud of the place they call home or for visitors to
WASSAT ALL ABOUT THEN, BUH?
The innovative Suffolk Buh brand was started by Chris King and his partner, Evie Cave who respectively come from urban design and fashion design and marketing backgrounds. Chris, who grew up and lives in Sudbury, says it all started as a “side project to get creative and explore ways to celebrate Suffolk and its dialect.” Inspired by the classic Suffolk pink colour, they opted to use a more punchy, bolder version in their branding.
Having only launched on Etsy and Instagram just a few months ago and with a new website to boot (suffolkbuh.com), Chris says the response has been, well, hoo-age! “We’ve had messages from people all over the world – from those who grew up in Suffolk and still use the sayings abroad, to others who’ve heard the phrases but never knew what they meant until now.”
With their popular tote bags now being stocked in Honey & Harvey outlets, there are more product lines, including T shirts and hats, on the way. “Maybe one day we’ll see it on an Ipswich Town FC shirt,” adds Chris, “or even Ed Sheeran with an Alright Buh tote!”
take some of the Suffolk pride back home with them.
Sometimes it’s the simplest things that says the most about a place.
Cheers buh, got to go now, I’m on the drag!”
l For more information on Suffolk Buh visit, suffolkbuh.com
l Fancy a tote? Suffolk Buh have two to give away for free (“one for you, one for your best buh,”) in our online competition. Find full details at, livinginsuffolk.com
Father’s Day always makes me think about the rooms in a home that quietly become someone’s favourite place. For many men, it’s the study. Not showy, not formal, but deeply comforting. A room where they can hide away and also be hidden away. The starting point is always the chair. It has
to be right. Not just any chair, but one that feels right the moment you sit down, it could be a worn leather armchair or something softer and upholstered.
Studies often become a sanctuary, and I think that’s part of their charm. Some people want music gently, or loudly, playing in the background. Others like a TV, but it’s always about creating a space that feels personal and unbothered by the outside world. We have to consider the study also as a place of work, and so the room has to offer up both a work place, but also somewhere to switch off at the end of the day .
From there, a small table nearby for a cup of coffee in the morning, or a nightcap in the evening, and good lighting to read by. If the room has a fireplace, then a fire burning in the grate makes it warm and welcoming. If there is room then an addition of a club fender, is a useful piece of furniture, if others are invited into the private domain there is somewhere they can perch.
One of the nicest parts of designing these rooms is working with pieces that already carry meaning. So many clients have furniture, a desk, a chair, a table belonging to a family member, and rather than replacing them, we often restore them. With the antique shop next to our offices, we can bring these pieces back to life so they sit comfortably in a new setting, without losing their story.
A good study should feel like it’s always been there, calm, and completely yours and this of course applies to the lady of the house and her study. But this is celebrating the men in our lives for Father’s Day."
l Caroline Fooks Design, The Barn, Dock Lane, Melton Road, Melton, Woodbridge, IP12 1PE. Call, 07710 037591 / 01394 303826. Or visit, www.carolinefooksdesign.com
EAST INDIES!
What makes Suffolk so special? All our fabulous independent shops and businesses – here’s a roundup of their latest news ...
Happy 10th birthday to Woodbridge Glamping and Wellness at Spring Farm Barn which reopens this month (May) with a full site refurbishment.
Set in an old apple orchard on the edge of the reedbeds within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this tranquil ecofriendly site has expanded its offering with a brand new tree tent - a unique way to sleep among the branches! It joins two spacious bell tents and one shepherd’s hut, each sleeping four and offering a peaceful, uncrowded base for families, couples and groups seeking a premium countryside break. On 1st June, the site will also launch its new wellness area, featuring a bookable hot tub. Sessions will be available both to glamping guests and to local visitors looking to enjoy a few hours of calm and relaxation in a beautiful rural setting.
“We’ve had great fun developing our eco glamping site over the past decade,” says owner, Tuuli Litchfield, "Our aim has always been to share this beautiful and unique environment with others, a place where wildlife, farm animals and comfortable outdoor accommodation sit side by side, just ten minutes’ walk from the heart of Woodbridge.”
l Check it out at, woodbridgeglamping.co.uk
FINE & COUNTRY OFFER BESPOKE NEW SERVICE
“Local knowledge with international reach.” That’s what the new managing director of Fine & Country, Michael Warren, says customers can expect of this rebranded estate agency. “Our bespoke service is designed around the property, not a template,” he explains. “We use tools such as professional photography, videography, detailed brochures, lifestyle interviews, premium portal exposure and careful buyer qualification, all shaped into a strategy that presents the home at its very best and keeps the sale moving smoothly.”
Congratulations to New Street Market, the multidisciplinary venue which has redefined Woodbridge’s cultural landscape since opening a year ago. In that time, it’s garnered significant national acclaim, recently named one of the ‘Best Coffee Shops in the UK’ by The Telegraph and highlighted in The Sunday Times as a key reason for the town’s ranking among the ‘Happiest Places to Live.’
The venue’s culinary reputation, led by Head Chef Lawrence Fuller, now rivals the region’s most established institutions.
“A community venue should be a catalyst for change,” says Tim Wilson, co-founder and also a Green Party councillor.
Michael says that they’re often closing deals up until 9pm in the evening, “and completions taking place before 9am!”
Michael says the market may have softened but he believes it to be “resilient, quality-driven, and price-sensitive. Buyers are there,” he adds, “especially for standout family homes and properties with character, but presentation, pricing and first impressions matter more than ever.” l Call 01394 446007 or email, woodbridge@fineandcountry.com
“By integrating environmental ethics into our music, food, and art, we are inviting Woodbridge to experience a greener future first-hand.”
Adding to its retail portfolio, the Market now welcomes The Studio. Curated by Gabriel Marshall (above), this cosy new boutique focuses on “slow fashion,” championing independent brands that prioritise fair wages and highquality natural materials. Brands will include Nona Wear, Studio Ren, Kaely Russel and The Knotty Ones.
And in a move that unites two Woodbridge landmarks, New Street Projects has officially acquired The Woodbridge Deli, located just a minute’s walk away on New Street. A cornerstone of the high street for over 20 years, the Deli is famous for its artisanal cheeses and “the best sausage roll in the county.” Tim, pictured above with Deli manager Jo Williams, describes it as a “natural evolution,” promising to weave the Market’s curated aesthetic into the Deli’s traditional heritage. l Visit, newstreetmarket.com
NEW STREET MARKET EXPANDS ITS OFFERING!
GLAMP IT UP!
© Cati
Heygate
GALLERY
What’s happening in Suffolk’s thriving art scene this spring and summer ...
SEASCAPES AND WOODLANDS
Dreaming about your next holiday? Then head over to Artspace in Woodbridge where Suffolk-based painter Christine Hofmann this month (May) exhibits her stunning, life-like paintings of coast and beach scenes, as well as a first selection of her new woodland series. Her large, true to life paintings, showcasing clear coastal waters and intriguing woodlands, are very popular. Christine, who has exhibited her work in the past in Munich, Sydney and London, says, “I simply try to capture the essence of what makes nature fascinating for us to look at.”
l Seascapes & Woodlands Paintings by Christine Hofmann, 14th -20 th May, Artspace, 64 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge IP12 1AL
SCULPTURE & ART
Art For Cure welcomes back the wonderful work of Sara Johnson in their current exhibition which runs until 28th June.
In Sculpture & Art, featuring 30 national sculptors in the glorious gardens of Wyken Hall Vineyards, Sara’s work will be part of the small collection of art in the Leaping Hare restaurant. A Suffolk based contemporary landscape artist who is drawn to the estuaries, woodlands and coastline of East Anglia, Sara is a captivated observer of the tidal ebb and flow creating constantly changing light over the mudflats.
l Sculpture & Art, Wyken Hall Vineyards. Free entry to Sculpture Garden if booking dinner on Thursday or Friday evenings. Visit, artforcure.org
RENESTING
Artist Samantha Barnes is opening her Woodbridge studio to share her latest collection of paintings and art prints, called Renesting.
These new works are based around the subjects of our homes and gardens, celebrating hobbies and forgotten pastimes that she is rediscovering now that her children are older and “a new stage of life is settling in.”
Sam will also be showing her original drawings, printmaking and some sale pieces too.
All welcome, including well-behaved dogs on leads.
l A Weekend Open Studio by Samantha Barnes, Artist ‘Prints & Pieces,’ Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June, 10am - 5pm.
The Garden Studio Entrance, Cemetery Lane Woodbridge, IP12 4BJ. Visit, samanthabarnes.com
INTERIOR LIVES
All your lifestyle and design ideas from around Suffolk. Here, we lay the table for some spectacular summer fayre ...
CROCHET HEAVEN!
These lovely olive crochet placemats add texture and warmth to your table setting. Perfect for protecting surfaces while bringing a handcrafted aesthetic to your meal.
l Visit Snape Maltings, Snape, IP17 1SP. Shop online at, shop.snapemaltings.co.uk
FUNCTIONAL WARES
The Merchant’s Table in Woodbridge has a stunning range of porcelain serving and salad bowls. They are part of a wider collection of pieces of tableware and kitchenware in collaboration with Suffolk-based Danish potter, Lars Soendergaard. All natural white these pieces are perfect for gatherings and the glossy, white high-fired porcelain makes these serving bowls very durable and a pleasure to use.
Lars works on the wheel in finest English porcelain, producing pieces of the utmost simplicity yet with effortless grace. All pots are fired by the craftsman himself.
l Visit, themerchantstable.co.uk
A FISHY TALE
We love these fish-shaped candles from Scandi store, huus, which will add a splash of glamour to any table this season.
l Find them at huus - 47 Thoroughfare, Halesworth IP19 8AR and Market Place, Market Place, Southwold IP18 6EA.
FIT FOR A KING (AND QUEEN!)
How cool is this Bredfield zinc top dining table, made from reclaimed elm, along with these Blyford oak and Sutton weave chairs? House & Garden at Snape Maltings, alongside the Craft Shop, are bursting with inspiration this season and for every purchase made, you will be supporting the charitable work of Snape’s parent charity, Britten Pears Arts.
l Visit Snape Maltings, Snape, IP17 1SP. Shop online at, shop.snapemaltings.co.uk
© Alastair
Bartlett
LATITUDE FESTIVAL
Held in July at Henham Park, Latitude this year celebrates its 20th anniversary with headliners including David Byrne, Teddy Swims and Lewis Capaldi. Also top of the bill is Saint Etienne, English Teacher, Peter Hook and the Light, The Flaming Lips and The Last Dinner Party.
A cracking comedy line-up includes Jen Brister, Ross Noble, Lenny Henry, Jack Dee, Sara Pascoe and Sue Perkins. The Listening Post features Dr John Cooper Clarke and Martha Kearney and the Kids Area welcomes MC Grammar and Cillian’s Magic. Latitude is so much more than a festival with an emphasis on family, wellness, nature and activities as well as lakeside swimming, a diverse food offering and of course, its famous pink sheep!
l Latitude Festival, Henham ParkJuly 23rd -26th Visit, latitudefestival.com
FIRST LIGHT FESTIVAL
Transforming Lowestoft’s South Beach into a free, unticketed celebration of creativity, this unique festival boasts music, poetry and dance including yoga at dawn! Headliners include BBC6 radio host, DJ and podcaster Jamz Supernova; folk singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Seth Lakeman; sound artist, nature beatboxer, composer and DJ Jason Singh; and comedian and Fast Show writer Simon Day. Enjoy outdoor performances, intimate gigs in town venues,
and the chance to camp directly on the beach, experiencing a sunrise in the UK’s most easterly location.
l The festival runs across 20th - 21st June. Visit, firstlightlowestoft.com
IN THE WORKS
Ipswich is the setting for this new arts festival championing fresh creative talent from across Suffolk and the UK.
With more than 30 events across eight venues, it brings together some of the region’s most influential cultural organisations alongside independent artists and companies. From theatre-makers and filmmakers to musicians, comedians and writers, the programme offers a vibrant mix of premieres, worksinprogress, experiments and oneoff events.
l In The Works runs from 11th – 27th May. Visit, suffolkcommunitylibraries.co.uk
BUNGAY FOLK FESTIVAL
Bungay is now preparing for its second folk festival featuring a plethora of artists, concerts and free events. Running from 3rd –6th September in different venues, acts include the Dunwich Drifters, Americana folk duo Briggs & Stark, singer/songwriter Nathan Thomas, pianist Will Fergusson and many more.
A wealth of free music and dancing will be on offer throughout with a plethora of exciting workshops to tempt the musically minded.
l For more information visit, bungayfolkfestival.co.uk
IPSWICH BOOK FESTIVAL IS BACK!
The theme for 2026 is More Than Words - a celebration of books that move us, connect us and transform us. The Festival will explore how stories, information and ideas reach far
beyond the page, acting as catalysts for change, connection and challenging the status quo. This is not just a festival about reading, but about action, experience and emotion, the things words alone can’t fully capture.
Last year saw 46 events, over 14 venues (including a vintage Routemaster bus) with just under 1300 tickets sold and 37 local people working as volunteers. This year will have the same mix of paid and free events with creative writing, illustrations and crafts as well as school visits and l Ipswich Book Festival runs from 2nd – 4th October. Tickets go on sale in July. Visit, ipswichbookfestival.co.uk
FESTIVAL
Extravaganza!
Suffolk is about to burst with vibrant celebrations offering a diverse array of music, food, art and culture...
MAVERICK FESTIVAL
Set amongst the restored Victorian barns and outbuildings of Easton Farm Park deep in the Suffolk countryside, this festival embodies the spirit of Americana, roots and folk music. As well as musical performances from headliners such as Rose’s Pawn Shop, Waco Brothers and Leeroy Stagger (pictured), it features dance demonstrations and music masterclasses from over 50 different artists across five stages, indoors and out as well as a fine array of food stalls. To win two FREE
© Katie Willoughby
tickets to this year’s dazzling event, find details on our website, livinginsuffolk.com.
l Maverick runs on 3rd, 4th and 5th July. Visit, maverickfestival.co.uk
SUMMER SOUL VIBES FESTIVAL
Mid-July sees Ipswich come alive again with the infectious rhythms of this premier funky soul festival. Hosted at Venue16, it promises a day brimming with outstanding music, vibrant energy, and delicious food. The line-up includes Suffolk’s very own Nate James, MJ Soul and Uncle Fun’s Disco Inferno.
l The event takes place at Venue 16, Tuddenham Road, Ipswich on 11th July. Tickets, venue16.co.uk
This August FolkEast returns to Sotterly Estate complete with a free shuttle bus service running between Halesworth train station and the festival site.
FolkEast offers a vibrant celebration of traditional and contemporary folk music with headliners including Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips, Eddi Reader, The Young’Uns, Elephant Sessions and Jiggy. As well as live music, it features art, crafts and wellbeing sessions and a dedicated children’s area.
l Running from 20th - 23rd August, visit, folkeast.co.uk
SUFFOLK SKETCHFEST
Calling all artists! Suffolk SketchFest is an outdoor sketching festival returning this summer for three inspiring days along the River Deben in Woodbridge (31st July – 2nd August). Open to all ages and abilities, it offers a relaxed chance to sketch outdoors through a packed programme of workshops, guided sketch walks and demonstrations. With over 90 sessions led by 12 expert tutors including Mary-Anne Bartlett, Claudia Myatt, Ian Sedge and Brigitte Girling, participants can shape their own creative experience while enjoying Suffolk’s riverside landscape and a welcoming community of fellow artists.
l SketchFest runs from 31st July – 2nd August. Visit, artsafari.com
BLACK SHUCK FESTIVAL
Honouring Suffolk’s legendary spectral hound, the Black Shuck Festival celebrates local folklore, imagination and storytelling. Held in various locations around Bungay, this unique festival features live music, arts and crafts and historical reenactments, inviting visitors to delve into the rich heritage and mysterious tales of the region.
l The event runs from 31st July - 2nd August. See, blackshuckfestival.com
BECCLES CARNIVAL AND WEEKEND
The Beccles Carnival and Weekend is a traditional family-friendly festival which brings the town to life with bags of community spirit. It features a grand parade with floats and marching bands, live music,
funfair rides and various stalls and activities held along the Quayside.
l The event takes place 15th and 16th August. Visit, becclescarnival.co.uk
FOMO FEST
Following on the from the success of last year’s Fomo Fest, the event returns bringing more big names in an unforgettable day of music and family fun.
Set in the picturesque grounds of Stowmarket’s Food Museum, this year’s line-up includes Devlin, The Ordinary Boys and Republica and more.
With two music stages, a funfair and other children’s attractions, licensed bars and top-quality street food, this is one for the diary.
l FomoFest, 5th September. See, fomofest.co.uk
BURY ST EDMUNDS FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL
This two-day free event held on the August bank holiday weekend – 30th and 31st August – transforms the town centre. Visitors can enjoy live food and drink demonstrations from their favourite local eateries and cocktail specialists, plus free entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. You can browse a variety of food and drink stalls and explore the farmers’ market on Angel Hill, packed with delicious local produce and artisan treats.
l Visit, ourburystedmunds.com
ALDEBURGH FESTIVAL
This two-week music and arts festival marks 50 years since Benjamin Britten’s death and reflects the legacy he and Peter Pears built, especially their commitment to supporting and celebrating young artists. Featured artist Ryan Wigglesworth will collaborate with fellow artists such as James Baillieu, Nicolas Altstaedt, Vilde Frang, Steven Osborne and Lise Davidsen, alongside the next generation of emerging talent, in the spirit that has shaped the Festival since 1948.
l Aldeburgh Festival runs from 12th-28th June. Visit, brittenpearsarts.org
@ John Heald
FOLKEAST
The new season has arrived at Caroline Gladwell Womenswear ...
breeze Summer
RIALTO 48 - BALLERINA
TUNIC & BAMBU CULOTTES
87% cotton / 13% nylon - washes at 30˚C GERBERA jacket also available.
RIALTO 48 - RACHELE JACKET
Lightly quilted, shower proof and reversible. 58% polyamide / 42% polyester - washes at 30˚C.
RIALTO 48 - OLEANDRO T-SHIRT
94% cotton / 6% elastane - washes at 30˚C
MAT DE MISAINE - RECIF DRESS
100% cotton - washes at 30˚C. RECIF dress also available in a Riviera-style print (opposite page).
NEIRAMI - BOXY PRINT SHIRT
100% cotton - washes at 30˚C. Co-ordinating trousers also available.
MERRY PEOPLE - LOCHIE SANDALS
Natural rubber / arch support / neoprene lined. Also available in SAND & CHOCOLATE.
FROM OUR GARDEN TO YOURS!
As Suffolk bathes in glorious sunshine, now is the perfect time to enhance your outdoor space with a stunning pergola ...
With decades of experience in the garden market, Ernie’s Outdoor Living can redefine your exterior living area with these transformative fully weatherresistant pergolas.
They create an elegant new space so you can get on with the business of relaxing and entertaining this summer.
From their Royce Cube range, the bioclimatic pergola comes in a choice of colours and sizes, combining luxury and functionality. It is constructed with a powder-coated aluminium frame that mimics wood, blending style and durability while serving as a cost-effective alternative to a home extension.
The manually operated double-skinned louvre roof allows control over sunlight and airflow plus a deep gutter system which efficiently disperses rainwater. It is UV ray protected and resistant against rain and snow. Combined with its solid construction, it
ensures long-lasting enjoyment of your outdoor space.
Adjustable LED lighting and protective Textilene pull-down side screens can also be added, creating an atmospheric space and structural charm enabling happy days and cosy evenings ... in all weathers!
You can choose from Anthracite, Wood Look and Beige Aluminium to compliment your outdoor aesthetic.
If you’d like to see the range of pergolas in real-life setups to help you visualise your perfect garden space, pop into Ernies in Bury St Edmunds. Sit, relax and explore the details of each piece at the Ernies showroom. You can get a feel for the materials, durability and craftsmanship. Their team will be available to provide advice and support during your visit. Showcasing an impressive selection of garden furniture and accessories including loungers, dining sets, sofas, sunbeds, benches, parasols, pizza ovens and storage solutions. Everything you need to enjoy your garden this summer!
l Opening times: Monday - Tuesday 10am – 5pm, closed Wednesday, Thursday-Saturday, 10am – 5pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm
MOVERS
&SHAKERS!
The
dynamic new CEO and creative director of DanceEast, Anthony Missen, talks to Angela Hagan about movement, momentum and making space ...
YOU’VE RECENTLY STEPPED INTO YOUR NEW ROLE. WHAT DREW YOU TO IT?
I’ve admired the work that DanceEast does for a very long time. I’d previously brought some of my own shows here, worked with the Centre for Advanced Training (DanceEast’s weekly programme for 10–18-year-olds in contemporary, ballet, hip hop dance, creative and health) and on some strategic work with the senior team. I’d thought ten years ago that I’d love to lead DanceEast one day, so it’s amazing it’s now happening!
Ipswich has always punched above its weight culturally, and there's more to come.
WHAT’S YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE FOR DANCEEAST?
“I didn’t go out looking for dance – it found me!”
WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT THE ROLE?
DanceEast is a critical part of the UK dance infrastructure. The amount of work that gets made here, and goes on to tour the UK and internationally, is phenomenal. It’s not just about performance – it’s seeing the work happening with people, young and old, that have come in to train, learn and explore - it’s a joy to be around!
EXCITING TIMES!
There’s big momentum and change happening in Ipswich and Suffolk right now, not least with local government reorganisation and a mayor coming soon. DanceEast wrote the expression of interest for the City of Culture Bid. We also have a huge partnership coming, which seeks to establish Suffolk and Norfolk as the region of creative health, embedding creativity into health settings and services... there's a lot going on!
My big ambition is to establish the Jerwood DanceHouse, our home, as a National Centre for Dance Creation. Right now, there isn’t one in the UK and it's what I'd really like to move us towards. I’m interested in social dance and music-led events which we'll start this summer. I also think Ipswich needs an outdoor festival of dance! I'd like DanceEast to feel like a movement rather than a building … a vibrant cultural hub and an anchor for dance in the county.
WHAT HAS DANCE PERSONALLY MEANT TO YOU?
It’s been a gateway to discovery, but I didn’t go out looking for dance – it kind of found me. Aged 14, I was forced to do a dance class at school instead of a PE lesson - which I had no interest in whatsoever and didn't want to do. To my surprise, I loved it. At the end of the class the guest teacher called me over, asked if I'd done any dance before, told me he thought I had a talent for it, and encouraged me to try out for a local youth-dance theatre. My PE teacher spent an entire year embarrassing me in the corridor telling me I should try it. In the end I went to stop the
ongoing question ... and loved every moment. Growing up where I did as a working class kid in inner city Manchester, I thought I'd get my head kicked in if anyone found out, so I kept it secret for five years!
HOW DID DANCE MAKE YOU FEEL?
It allowed me to experience feelings I hadn’t had before. It wasn’t all straightforward growing up, it’d had its challenges, and dance felt like magic and escape. It opened me up to a world of possibility, uncovering feelings and understanding of others that I hadn’t found elsewhere. It transformed my life.
Right from the outset in my career, in creating my own touring company, I always made sure we provided opportunities for people from all walks of life to engage with dance. It's said that talent is everywhere and opportunity isn’t, which I couldn’t agree with more. I’ve put a lot of time and energy into creating opportunities for people who might not be able to otherwise access it.
WHAT LESSONS HAVE STAYED WITH YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER?
One is seeing the positive impacts dance can have on people and on a place - and society. When young lads are bored, there's the option to create or destroy, and it's easy to get mixed up with the wrong crowd. Dance is transformative.
HOW DO YOU MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE?
First of all, by keeping aware of barriers to access, remembering that not everybody has opportunity, taking action and making it visible. Sometimes it's about the language used around it- in some contexts, I don’t actually call it dance, but introduce it in a way that people are dancing before they know it.
Alexander Ward
It's important to reflect on who’s at the front of the room, and whose stories are being told on our stage. It’s also about having a really broad offering of completely different ways for people to engage with movement. DanceEast offers classes for all ages and abilities, from babies to the over 50s and beyond.
YOU’VE ALSO WORKED ACROSS THEATRE AND TELEVISION?
I stopped dancing for a few years and became an actor before going back to dance again. That experience informed my approach to storytelling. Working with different performers really helped me refine my language choices. It added to my tool bag in so many ways which I've consistently shared with other artists. I've Movement Directed many plays and choreographed for BBC and Netflix series.
WHAT HAVE INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES TAUGHT YOU?
That dance is universal. I’ve been lucky enough and worked hard enough to tour the world… dance has a really unique capability to reach into you; we can feel and understand it – at a basic fundamental level we are all the same. If you’re watching something in front of you, your body recognizes the emotional states that people are in, you recognise things in them that are inside you – our mirror neurons fire in the same way. The act of watching dance is cathartic and good for you!
YOU RECENTLY MOVED WITH YOUR FAMILY HERE FROM MANCHESTER –THAT’S A BIG CHANGE!
We’ve moved from the wettest part of the country to the driest part! The landscapes here are beautiful; we can’t wait to start exploring more in the summer. There's so much to offer, beautiful beaches, parks and country walks, places to eat, rich heritage and a bubbling cultural sector.
TELL US A SECRET ABOUT YOURSELF?
It’s a daft secret but when I was young, I thought I’d quite like to be the Milk Tray man!
l Visit DanceEast, Jerwood DanceHouse, Foundry Lane, Ipswich IP4 1DW. Online, danceeast.co.uk. Call, 01473 295230.
ANTHONY MISSEN: A POTTED BIOGRAPHY
Anthony trained at The Northern School of Contemporary Dance before working with companies including Scottish Dance Theatre, Mad Dogs Dance Theatre, Cie. Willi Dorner (Vienna), and choreographers including Rui Horta, Didi Veldman and Liv Lorent. He co-founded Company Chameleon in 2007 and grew it into an internationally- renowned touring company (see him pictured on the left, mid dance, other page). Anthony has Movement Directed plays for HOME Manchester, The Royal Exchange and the National Theatre. He was series director for BBC One drama, Everything I Know About Love (2021/22), and Fool Me Once, Netflix 2024. His career saw him teach and choreograph throughout the UK as well as South Korea, South Africa, Ethiopia, Israel, Trinidad, Morocco and throughout Europe.
© Malachy
Luckie
Distraction
By Carl Stickley
SOMETHING IN THE AIR
The Tractor Boys (as of writing) might get promoted back into the Premiership. Ipswich is on the City of Culture 2029 list. This is good for the town and, by extension, all of sunny Suffolk. One of the groups helping with the bid is Brighten The Corners (BTC). A brilliant charity, BTC has been a leading light in the local music scene for a while, overseeing venues such as The Smokehouse, The Church and Ipswich Baths. Many events are fabulously FREE.
So follow the Town, up or down!
OH YAR!
Latitude is back in July for its 20th anniversary. And it’s gonna be a goodie. David Byrne is playing! Last year I saw a nine-piece band in the Trailer Park woods playing nothing but Talking Heads songs. The place was rammed with all ages, singing and dancing. Bagging Byrne for a slot is a coup worthy of this special anniversary – probably worth the price of admission alone. It would cost you at least £100 just to see him on his own. And their line-up is stunning this year - see our festival special on pages 23 and 24.
2015, has something for everyone, including edgier, underground thrills tucked away from the Kids Arena. Over the years I’ve seen a wide variety of acts ranging from Duran Duran to Fontaines DC, John ‘Velvet Underground’ Cale, Elbow, The Killers, Sting (well, one song…), Pulp, you name ‘em. Proper bands, that deliver.
I’ve done Glastonbury seven times and, basically, been there, done that. For me it’s too big, too ‘spense and too far to travel. Latitude is on our doorsteps, in a beautiful location, and about a fifth the size of Glasto, so there’s no plodding for hours to get anywhere. It’s not Reading either, fortunately. 100,000 teenagers running around on cider or worse? Shudder.
Despite its slightly posh, genteel reputation, 'Latte-tude,' as Noel Gallagher sneered back in
So, with the world a bit, er, ‘wonky’ at the moment, and fuel prices going mad, maybe stay closer to home? Enjoy the county and spend your precious pocket money on a ticket? And check out the Trailer Park for guaranteed fun. Visit, latitudefestival.com
EARTH MOTHER F*CKER
Ever wondered where us silvery types can go to dance to music from our yoof, alongside all ages? Look no further than The Church in Ipswich (opposite the Buttermarket / Wagamama). This laid-back venue is perfect for DJs, workshops, quizzes, clubnights or just a pre- or post-match pint. They make a great coffee, have Adnams beer on tap as well as a Hex Record Shop. What’s not to love? Loads going on – too much to mention here – but recently I spent the night dancing alongside all ages at their ‘Factory Floor’ event (6-10pm on the last Friday of every month) – it was an evening of post punk, new wave and leftfield groove from a collective of DJ’s, this time DJ’s Smoothgroove (pictured), Dee Fuller and Yebsie. Come! You’ll love it. Nothing to get in and if you get there after 6pm you can park for free along nearby St Nicholas Street.
Whilst there, I was introduced to Rick Baylor, pictured furthest left, from Anglo-American noise rock malcontents, Earth Mother F*cker. Rick, who joined the band four decades ago whilst posted here in Suffolk by the US military, told me about their debut album and launch gig this month - Saturday May 23rd - at Ipswich Baths. The event doubles up as a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Ipswich label, Antigen Records, set up by local legend Jason Whittaker, and will feature two other bands from the Antigen stable; Pound Land and Rev Simpkins of Pissabed Prophet. Yup, he’s a real rev. By day, the Reverend Matthew Simpkins is the vicar of St James in Clacton-On-Sea. By night, he’s been likened to an imagined collaboration between Tom Waits and early Captain Beefheart. Wild horses and all that.
l Tickets, QR code to Earth Mother F*cker's album launch gig at, seetickets.com
DJ Smoothgrove AKA Thomas Latimer has the magic touch
Earth Mother F*cker launch their new album this month
This Must Be The Place - David Byrne’s coming to Latitude
SNAKES AND ADDERS!
Now that we are well into spring and enjoying the warmer weather, snakes are becoming increasingly active, making encounters while walking your dog more likely. This time of year marks peak season for adder activity, and Woodbridge Vets have already seen confirmed cases recently - including Maddie, a one-year-old Cocker Spaniel who was bitten.
In the UK, there is only one venomous snake; the European adder (Vipera berus). Adders can sometimes be mistaken for grass snakes, slow worms, or lizards, but they are typically identifiable by the distinctive dark zigzag pattern running along their back.
Although adder bites are rarely fatal, they can be extremely painful and distressing for dogs. Prompt veterinary attention is essential and treatment usually includes pain relief, careful monitoring, and management of swelling. In some cases, antivenom may be required. With timely care, the vast majority of dogs make a full recovery. Maddie responded very well to treatment and is now doing well. Her care was overseen by practice owner of The Woodbridget Vets, Kyle Eadie, who says, “we extend our thanks to the nursing team for their dedication and support throughout her treatment.”
Kyle advises if your dog is bitten, seek veterinary care immediately and call ahead so the practice can prepare for your arrival. The Woodbridge Vets stock antivenom on site. In the meantime, keep your dog as calm and still as possible, and carry them if you can to help slow the spread of venom. Avoid handling the bite area, and do not attempt to suck out the venom or apply a tourniquet.
With awareness and prompt action, the risks associated with adder bites can be managed effectively. Stay safe and enjoy your spring walks with your dogs!
STAYCATION SUFFOLK!
As the fuel crisis sees flight prices soar, we asked Suffolk Hideaways to pick some fabulous holiday homes right here in our beautiful county ...
HEATH HOUSE, THORPENESS
Heath House, on the northern edge of Thorpeness, is an architect-designed coastal retreat with uninterrupted sea views and light-filled, indoor-outdoor living. Sleeping ten across five bedrooms, it balances shared and private spaces, ideal for multigenerational stays. Open-plan living, sea-facing balconies, enclosed gardens, and steps to the beach create a serene setting for families, friends, and dogs alike.
THE ARK, SOUTHWOLD
Located in Southwold, The Ark is a stunning newly built retreat blending modern design with a beautiful coastal setting. Sea-view balconies, marshland vistas, and an eastfacing garden with barbecue set the scene.
Three luxurious bedrooms sleeping six, all with garden access, plus high-speed WiFi and parking, ensure a refined, relaxing escape. The Ark is also offered as a sleeps four option.
17 MARKETPLACE, SOUTHWOLD
In the heart of Southwold, 17 Market Place is a beautifully restored four-bedroom cottage dating from 1716, blending period charm with modern luxury and views over the square. Rich in history yet effortlessly contemporary, once a merchant’s house, academy, and bank, it now offers elegant living spaces, a characterful sitting room, well-appointed kitchen, and stylish bedrooms across three floors.
2 TRUMAN LODGE, THORPENESS
A stylish two-bedroom, two-bathroom maisonette with sea views from its light-filled open-plan living space. Sleeping four, its thoughtfully designed interiors, wellequipped kitchen, and bright, airy atmosphere create a welcoming retreat, perfect for unwinding after coastal walks or days spent exploring Thorpeness and nearby Aldeburgh. Just steps from the beach and local landmarks, it’s an ideal Suffolk coast escape for couples, families, or friends.
l To find out more visit, suffolkhideaways.co.uk or call, 01728 666 300
The Ark, Southwold
17 Market Place, Southwold
2 Truman Lodge, Thorpeness
Heath House, Thorpenes
AND BREATHE ...
All your wellbeing news from around Suffolk ...
WE KID YE NOT!
Happy 10th anniversary to Yoga With Goats in Suffolk which started out as a simple idea “to bring people together through movement, nature, and a little bit of joy.”
Yoga teacher Diana Malone, also a Quantum Living Advocate, Reiki Master and Thought Field Therapy Practitioner, says she didn’t expect it to take off in the way it did.
“Over the years,” she says, “we’ve welcomed people from all walks of life; some coming for the novelty, others seeking calm, connection, or a moment to breathe, and often leaving with much more than they expected.”
Diana admits there’s something disarming about practicing yoga alongside goats. “They don’t judge, they don’t rush, and they have a wonderful way of reminding us not to take life too seriously,” she smiles. “Whether it’s a goat curling up beside someone in relaxation or gently interrupting a pose, those moments create laughter, ease, and genuine connection.”
Diana is delighted to celebrate a decade of classes.
‘’It is wonderful to witness the sense of connection - watching people soften, laugh and reconnect with themselves in such a natural, light-hearted way, and being surprised at how much they actually enjoyed the yoga. What always stays with me is how many people say they feel ‘different’ afterwards - more grounded, more open, more themselves. Even going home to join a local yoga class. That’s the real magic of it.’’
l To book tickets for Yoga With Goats, visit simpletix.com/e/yoga-with-goats-tickets-192738
SUFFOLK SEEDLINGS
WALKING THE LANDSCAPE: FROM CONSTABLE TO GAINSBOROUGH
There is something quietly restorative about walking through the Suffolk landscape. The open skies, gentle waterways and shifting light invite us to slow down and notice what is often overlooked.
This way of seeing sits at the heart of the works of local artists, John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough. Constable, born just a few miles from Sudbury, returned again and again to the Stour Valley, once reflecting that he could see Gainsborough “in every hedge and hollow tree,” a reminder of how deeply this shared landscape shaped both artists.
Today, that same landscape can still be experienced on foot. The Gainsborough Trail, a network of walks around Sudbury, offers a simple way to reconnect with the places that inspired them. The Meadow Walk winds through ancient water meadows, following the river and revealing the changing character of the countryside across the seasons.
Walking in this way offers more than fresh air. It creates space to look closely, to notice light, movement and atmosphere, much as these artists once did. Their work reminds us that landscape is not static, but something living, shaped by time and attention.
You might also like to catch the latest exhibition Gainsborough, Turner and Constable: Inventing Landscape (running until 11th October) at Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury. It includes works by all three artists, many rarely seen, to experience these glorious landscapes through their eyes
l Visit Gainsborough’s House, 46 Gainsborough Street, Sudbury, CO10 2EU. Visit, 01787 372 958. Or online at, gainsborough.org
We keep hearing great things about Alicia Fagan-Durbin who runs the fabulous Suffolk Seedlings offering acupuncture and ear seeding. Alicia tells us that acupuncture had such an amazing effect on her own life, she was keen to purse a career in it to provide treatment to others.
“Its effects have quite literally changed the trajectory of my life,” she smiles. “And although I initially went into acupuncture to support people with emotional regulation, I’ve also been absolutely blown away by how effective it’s been for people with chronic pain. It’s been an absolute joy to see the huge impact treatments can have on client’s quality of life.”
She says acupuncture sessions can treat everything from rheumatoid arthritis, anxiety and depression to digestive issues. She also offers ear seeding which is a needle-free form of auricular therapy. “I use high-quality, gold-plated and silver-plated ear seeds, applying them to specific pressure points on the external ear,” she says. “These seeds send direct signals to the brain to help regulate the nervous system, naturally encouraging your body’s own pain-management and mood-stabilising chemicals. It’s completely non-invasive and safe for all ages,” adds Alicia, who will be offering treatments at Latitude festival this year. l Find Suffolk Seedlings at The Biomechanix Ipswich, Unit 12, 26 White House Road, Ipswich, IP1 5LT. Email, aliciakateacupuncture@gmail.com or call/message on, 07572 122956
John Constable (1776-1837).
The Leaping Horse, 1825. Oil on canvas, 142 x 187.3 cm Royal Academy of Arts, London. © Prudence
Cuming Associates Limited
Top things to do around Suffolk by Charity Crewe AND ABOUT! OUT
POETRY IN ALDEBURGH AT SOCIALBAR
Doors open at 7pm; 7.30pm start, Tuesday 19 th May socialbar, 15 High Street, Saxmundham
The socialbar opened a year ago in Saxmundham with the aim of bringing the community together over fine coffee, good food, carefully selected wines and craft beers. As well as live music evenings and games nights, the socialbar hosts a Monthly Poetry Night curated by Tamar Yoseloff, poet and chair of Poetry in Aldeburgh. The event always features a reading from an established poet – this month (May) it is award-winning Esther Morgan. There are also a small number of curated open mic slots which can be reserved in advance.
l Entry costs £5
l For details go to, visitsocialbar.com
l To reserve an open-mic slot email, chair@poetryinaldeburgh.org
HONEY & THE BEAR
7.30pm-10pm, Saturday 20 th June, Thorington Theatre, Thorington, IP17 3RB
The increasingly successful husband and wife folk duo, Honey & The Bear, who have recently released their fourth album, are performing at the open-air theatre with three of their regular band guests. Jon and Lucy Hart’s beautiful songs, often inspired by the Suffolk landscape or tales of heroic characters who have lived in this county, are a balm to the soul.
l Tickets cost £28; Concessions (students and 65+) £25
l To book go to, thoringtontheatre.co.uk
EIMEAR MCBRIDE
7:30pm – 9pm, Thursday 11th June in The Atrium, University of Suffolk, Ipswich
The innovative Irish novelist Eimear McBride burst onto the literary scene in 2013 with her novel, A Girl is Half-formed Thing and has since amassed numerous prizes including the Women’s Prize for Fiction. She has been invited by the Suffolk Book League to talk about her latest novel, The City Changes Its Face, a sequel to her much-loved, The Lesser Bohemians.
l Tickets cost £10 or £5 for members
l For further details go to, suffolkbookleague.org
A DAY IN MAY
Saturday 4th July – Friday 1st August, Spirit Studios, Benhall
A Day in May is an open call exhibition marking the 250 th anniversary of the birth of Constable and Turner, opening this July at Spirit Studios in Benhall.
“Experienced and novice artists have been invited to produce a painting inspired by spending a day in nature”, says John Martin, who runs Spirit Studios as well as the John Martin Gallery in Mayfair. John has teamed up Auto Amor - who organise open-call artist events - and The Wildlife Trusts to create a show that celebrates the “enduring power of landscape art and its deep connections with the natural word.” At a time when “Suffolk faces significant habitat loss through coastal erosion” and huge infrastructure projects, it seemed a good time to demonstrate “the importance of nature for the nation’s creative soul,” adds John. Artists from all over the UK and abroad have ordered boards from Auto Amor and are getting to work. A panel of guest curators will make the final selection in June. A percentage of sales from tickets and artwork will go to The Wildlife Trusts.
l Tickets for the exhibition are £10
l Book online in advance only at, spiritstudios.co.uk
l For further information, @spiritstudios_suffolk
FFIONA LEWIS: SLUNG MUGS
Saturday 23rd May - Sunday 28th June, various galleries, Snape Maltings, Snape
As part of the Aldeburgh Festival Exhibition, the Suffolk-based artist, Ffiona Lewis, has been commissioned to create a show in response to The Red House in Aldeburgh, home to Benjamin Britten and his partner, Peter Pears. Ffiona, who is represented by The Redfern Gallery in London, has exhibited her vibrant still lifes and landscape paintings all over the UK and abroad. She was captivated by the house, which has inspired her to produce not only paintings, but also fabulous weavings, wool works and photographs. The title of the show, Slung Mugs is the name of a musical instrument created by Britten for his opera, Noye’s Fludde, and is on display at his former home.
l Free entry. Dovecote Studio, Winch Gallery and Concert Hall Foyer
l For further details go to, brittenpearsarts.org
Elisabeth Sennitt Clough reading her poetry back in March
