ISSUE 57 ... AUTUMN 2026
FREE ... PASS ME ON WHEN YOU HAVE READ ME!
SUFFOLK Game on ... pheasants and more
Happy talk ... Aldeburgh's last laugh Ruthie Henshall ... Edward and I
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7 ON THE COVER: We love this beautiful autumnal scene by professional artist Gillian Crossley-Holland entitled Stream on the Border of Norfolk and Suffolk (mixed media 28cm x 36cm), which actually runs behind Gillian’s house. Gillian is taking part in the Artworks exhibition, alongside many other artists’ work, including printmaker and papermaker, Janet French, whose work, Gilded Landscape, is featured on the right. l Find more details on our Culture Vulture column on page 22 or visit, artworkseast.com
If you’ve got a topical story, an inspiring event 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 Winter edition (issue 58) is November 1st. l For advertising information or if you’d like to submit any collaboration ideas, email us at info@livinginsuffolk.com ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016
LIVING IN Founding Editor: Angela Hagan 07930 184773, info@livinginsuffolk.com West Suffolk Editor: Pia Howe 07748 020141, pia@livinginsuffolk.com Designer: Lewis Webb Writer: Charity Crewe charity@livinginsuffolk.com Media Sales: advertising@livinginsuffolk.com livinginsuffolk.com Due East Media Ltd: Soane House, 4 Soane Street, Ipswich, IP4 2BG. Registered in England number 10242873
Local home owners… throw open their doors Child free zones?… meet the couple with the Parent Pod! Is grey just so last year?… Jojo Humes Brown on colours
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Disclaimer: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor the editor, nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party for omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given for use in this publication. Living In … Suffolk does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of Due East Media Ltd.
NEWS All the latest news from around Suffolk ...
HAPPY 80TH GLASSWELLS!
It all started 80 years ago, one year after the Second World War ended, in a modest shop on Brentgovel Street in Bury St Edmunds. Jerry Glasswell and his son Leslie began selling secondhand furniture with a simple promise; quality, care and an unwavering commitment to their customers. Today, that small family venture has grown into East Anglia’s largest home department store with its flagship branch in Bury St Edmunds and a further store in Ipswich. Led by Jerry’s grandson managing director, Paul Glasswell, it remains rooted in that same promise made back in 1946. As Paul says, "We're enormously proud of our heritage. When we started, we were the newcomers among well-established stores, but we worked hard to earn our customers’ trust. We’re still a local, family-run business, and it’s thanks to our loyal staff and customers that we’ve reached this incredible milestone.” l Visit Glasswells: Newmarket Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3TU or Ranelagh Road, Jerry and Leslie Ipswich, IP2 0AQ. Glasswell Find them online at, glasswells.co.uk
Paul Glasswell
WALK THE WALK!
There’s a double helping of good news for Suffolk walkers this autumn! They can once again enjoy the full length of the Gipping Valley River Path after major improvements and repairs were completed at two key locations. Suffolk County Council has completed improvement works by the River Gipping at Creeting St Peter (pictured right) and Sproughton, making the route, “safer, more accessible and more resilient to flooding while reopening the full 17-mile Gipping Valley River Path.” The route connects Stowmarket and Ipswich railway stations and passes Needham Market station, while linking to a wider network of walking routes across Suffolk. This comes off the back of the news that the new stretch of a coastal walking route, which opens up miles of previously inaccessible land, has also been officially launched (pictured below). Known as the King Charles III England Coast Path, it covers 13 miles of the Suffolk side of the River Stour, between Cattawade and Shotley Gate, to connect to an existing route which leads to Southwold. It takes in wildlife havens and historical sights along the way, including the Royal Hospital School. Natural England’s Hannah Thacker says it now enables, "people to walk along one of the KING CHARLES III county's most England Coast Path beautiful estuaries.”
THE TEAM GROWS …
As Living In Suffolk magazine continues to soar, with an extended print run and new advertisers with every issue, we are delighted to welcome on board our new West Suffolk editor, Pia Howe. Pia brings bags of energy and experience to her role, having set up and run her own successful magazine for ten years, and is looking forward to getting out and about in the west of the region finding new stories, reviewing events and introducing new advertisers onto the magazine. “I’m really excited to be joining Living In Suffolk as West Suffolk editor,” says Pia. “I’m passionate about the area and the wonderful people who make it what it is, so I can’t wait to discover some great local stories and shine a spotlight on everything West Suffolk has to offer!” l You can call Pia on, 07748 020141 or email her on, pia@livinginsuffolk.com ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016
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ON THE
MARKET ‘garden compartments’ through which hidden pathways meander, linking through to grassland meadows and sheltering woodland, making the property a haven for wildlife. Almost hidden from view is a 1950's Reades of Aldeburgh bungalow with three bedrooms and two bathrooms (one en-suite), alongside integral garaging with potential to convert into accommodation space. What really got our pulses racing is the delightful pair of Victorian railway carriages which have been converted to provide annexe accommodation, tucked away in their own little garden, whilst beyond the grassland meadow is a wooden studio hideaway, offering further annexe potential. This really has to be viewed to be truly appreciated. But hurry; something tells us this won’t be on the market for long!
INTERIOR OF THE MONTH! If it’s wow factor you are looking for then 22 Theatre Street in Woodbridge is a showstopper! This elegantly refurbished Grade II listed home opens into a jaw-dropping hall, where inky navy panelling meets striking chequerboard tiling. We love the décor which oozes style and elegance. Arranged over four floors, it offers two doubles and a versatile single bedroom – each with its own personality; from sagegreen serenity to a jewel-box bathroom wrapped in gold-veined botanical wallpaper. The sitting room boasts high ceilings and a real-effect gas fire, while a vaulted, skylit kitchen dazzles with bespoke cabinetry and a Quooker tap. Crittall-style doors lead onto a tiered garden with sun terrace, outdoor bar and a garden office. With sensor lighting, integrated speakers and a coveted, historic address, this is sure to be snapped up soon!
GUIDE: £795,000
GUIDE: £675,000
l Check it out at, Jackson-stops.co.uk
l Visit, fennwright.co.uk
The latest homes and property news from around Suffolk ...
GARDEN OF THE MONTH! A secret garden paradise with an enchanting 4.5 acres of magical wildlife garden has come to market and we have fallen in love! Priors Oak is hidden away on the edge of Aldeburgh, amidst amazingly colourful, sheltered and secluded professionallymaintained gardens. This is an individual lifestyle property with the opportunity to remodel. Offering seclusion and tranquility in abundance, with plenty of shade and shelter, the numerous herbaceous and shrub beds and borders boast a festival of colour throughout the year. There is a variety of
another? We got round that by not calling it a Festival. There’s something appealing about that word ‘Weekend’. It sounds fun, it sounds short, it sounds manageable, and it doesn’t have those ‘Festival’ connotations. You know the ones. Mud. Snow Patrol. A half-hour walk from the car. Scary toilets that seem to have landed from another planet. The planet where all the aliens go to the toilet together.”
MOVERS &SHAKERS!
It returns this autumn with an expanded programme and some of the biggest names in British comedy descending on the Suffolk coast! Jon: “We’re delighted we’ve attracted names as big as Jack Dee, Joanna Lumley and Jo Brand. But it’s important to us to introduce lesser-known names. That’s why we’ve created a slot called, Have I Got New For You. This year, we’re featuring Sofie Hagen, who sells out at the Edinburgh Fringe. We hope you’ll get to see Sofie, not just for the pleasure of seeing an excellent comedian at work, but for the bonus pleasure of seeing her for the first time, in a Suffolk coastal venue far from the comedy metropolis that is Edinburgh. Think of it as the Aldeburgh Fringe… Paul: “Jon and I have worked in Radio and TV comedy for a combined span of 573 years - so we have been able to explore a few of our contacts but we never dreamed of getting a line-up like this across one weekend. I think performers like the idea of coming to Aldeburgh and having a seaside break in a beautiful place.”
TV writer Jon Canter, and director Paul Schlesinger, co-founded the Aldeburgh Comedy Weekend, which brings some of the biggest names in British comedy to their home county … How did it all come about? Jon: “Homer Simpson calls it ‘embiggening’. Paul and I wanted to put on my comic play A Short Gentleman, at the Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall, not least because it’s the story of a crime committed in Aldeburgh. We thought we could embiggen its chances of getting an audience by making it part of something larger - a weekend of comedy shows. Then all we needed was the support of the Jubilee Hall, and donors prepared to invest in a new venture called the Aldeburgh Comedy Weekend. In both cases, we got lucky.” Paul: “Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall and our brilliant co-producer, Hettie Hope, were there from the start and continue to be very supportive of the Weekend. As does The Suffolk.”
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Last year’s debut weekend was a sellout! You must have been thrilled! Paul: “Of course we were! We set the bar really high with a brilliant evening from Rory Bremner and also the great Alison Steadman. What was really delightful was that the positive buzz around the weekend resonated throughout the town. It seemed to generate a genuine feelgood factor.” Jon: "It was very gratifying that the town took the Weekend to their hearts. I’ve lived in Aldeburgh for 33 years, so I was well aware that we already had the Literary Festival, the Documentary Festival, the Food & Drink Festival, the Poetry Festival, and the mother and father of them all – the Aldeburgh Festival. Would there be an appetite for
Jack Dee will perform Jack's Joke Show at the Aldeburgh Comedy Weekend
John Lloyd, who helped create Blackadder and Spitting Image, will be honoured with a Lunchtime Achievement Award! Tell us more? Jon: “Glam Rock? Waterbeds? Slade? Loons? If you don’t know what they are, Google them. John Lloyd and I don’t have to. We know them well, because we were both law students at Cambridge in the early 1970’s. And we studied hard. Not law, mind. Comedy. We studied at the Cambridge Footlights, breeding ground of many comedians, though we didn’t do any breeding, because no one wants to be a student and a dad. John went on to produce Not The Nine O’Clock News, Blackadder, Spitting Image and QI. For my money - which is my favourite money in the world - he’s the most brilliant TV comedy producer of his generation. That’s why we’re giving him our coveted Lunchtime Achievement Award, at 12 noon on Sunday 18th October. I’ll be onstage with him, asking him how he did it. And not feeling jealous. Really not. It’s great that one of my oldest friends has achieved much more than me. I’m happy for him. Truly. Good luck to him.” Paul: "John (Lloyd) is one of the most influential and creative people in the comedy landscape and we are thrilled to have him. Credit must also go to the brilliantly funny Clive Anderson, another comedy Royal, who is returning to interview Jo Brand." Have you both worked together before? If so, what on? Jon: “I saw Shaun Kitchener’s comic play, That’s Great, at the INK Festival. I was impressed by its crispness, clarity and pace and immediately wanted to work with its director … who turned out to be Paul Schlesinger. Together we took a play called Spoons to the Edinburgh Festival in 2022. After that, we worked together on A Short Gentleman. And lately we’ve re-worked and expanded the Edinburgh play. It’s now called Five Hundred Couples. (Not least because neither of us realised that ‘Spoons’ is what millions of people call Wetherspoons.)” Paul: “I think we are quite complementary I’m not sure who is the ‘Mover’ (probably Jon, as he’s great on the dance floor) and who the 'Shaker.' When we took Jon's play to Edinburgh in 2022, for various reasons, it was an incredibly bonding experience! Since then, I directed Jon's brilliant play, A Short Gentleman, starring Michael Fenton Stevens, which we filmed and are hoping to tour around East Anglia (we are looking for suggestions for venues!)" Is this going to be a firm fixture in Aldeburgh’s cultural calendar; will it grow and grow, like Latitude? Paul: “We’d love it to become a firm fixture. As far as growing it, the short answer is yes – but not too big! In future years we’d like to
find a platform for less well-known acts alongside the marquee names and perhaps include a scripted comedy element. Interestingly, when we were trying to think what to call it, one of Jon’s early suggestions was Laffitude (he does like a pun).” Jon: “This year Joanna Lumley’s appearing at the Aldeburgh Cinema. What next? I’d love to invite a stand-up comedian to entertain the Saturday morning queue outside Two Magpies. People are stuck there for 20 minutes. What are they hungry for? It can’t just be croissants. They’re hungry for entertainment.” What projects are you both working on now? Paul: “I’m a freelance director so I’m developing a couple of new stage plays. I directed Gold Bars, a crime Jo Brand features in Good caper based on a true story Evening, Jo Brand hosted by Clive Anderson written by Andy Powrie and it looks like that has found a away, and neither you nor he knew what he home. It started at Ink (another brilliant was about to say. I’m sad they’re all men. And Suffolk-based creative hub) of which I’m a I’m sad that none of them’s available for our Trustee. This is also the centenary year of my Comedy Weekend. One of the things I love uncle, film director, John Schlesinger, and so about this year’s roster of talent - Jack Dee, Ed I’ve been travelling around the country Byrne, Kiri Pritchard McLean, Jo Brand, John introducing some of his best-known films Lloyd, Sofie Hagen and Joanna Lumley - is the - last stop was the phenomenal Aldeburgh fact that they’re all alive. Timing, hard work, Cinema. I’ve just directed a two-part and being alive. They’ve got it all!” dramatisation for Radio 4 of James Leo Paul: “Most of the comedy I’m drawn to is Herlihy’s cult novel, Midnight Cowboy, on script and character-based but in Fawlty which the Oscar-winning film is based. Currently available to listen to on BBC Sounds.” Towers, both Prunella Scales and John Cleese had the brilliant comic talent and timing to Jon: “Paul and I have two projects - Five make me laugh with just a look.” Hundred Couples and A Short Gentleman - both of which we’re aiming to tour. I’ve also l Aldeburgh Comedy Weekend runs just co-written a play called Double Fantasy, from 16th – 18th October. Visit, about an imaginary meeting between John Lennon and Paul McCartney, days before aldeburghjubileehall.co.uk Lennon was assassinated.” Who makes you cry with laughter before they even open their mouth and why? Jon: “What a great question. My first comic heroes were the Marx Brothers, so I’m bound to say Harpo, who famously never opened his mouth. There was so much joy and mischief in that face. Even his hair was funny. Then Dame Edna, because you knew that behind her eyes lurked the fearless comic brain of Barry Humphries. Tommy Cooper, because he looked like a six-foot four inch baby. Rik Mayall, because he looked both calm and bonkers. And Peter Cook, because he looked like he’d been beamed in from a long way
Dame Joanna Lumley will appear at Aldeburgh Cinema ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016
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ONCE UPON A PRINCE ...
Suffolk’s Ruthie Henshall, a star of the West End, reflects on her romance with Prince Edward …
Did any hidden memories come flooding back? Wonderful memories of an art form that I’m passionate about. We had the huge juggernauts coming in like Miss Saigon, Les Misérables, Phantom and Cats and they were all originals, not based on films with juke box songs - they were epic and are still going strong. It's 40 years that Les Mis has been going and it’s still full today. Are you still friends with Prince Edward; did he agree to you writing the book? I am still firm friends with Edward and out of respect and loyalty to him, I gave him a heads-up about the book. He thanked me for doing that and said I had every right as a person of profile to tell my story. Which I think reflects not only is he a generous person but that he trusted me to be respectful about him
and his family - I believe I have been. What was your most memorable moment? It was working with Edward on an Andrew Lloyd Webber project called A Star Is Born which didn’t end up happening in the end but while I was rehearsing Edward invited me round to Buckingham Palace to watch the film starring Judy Garland. There I was sitting in the Palace watching a Judy Garland film with a prince. It doesn’t get more camp than that! That was the start of our real friendship. © Yellowbelly
Congratulations! What inspired you to write the book? I was clearing out my garage to put everything in some kind of order and I came across my old diaries, my letters from Edward and all my memorabilia. I realised what an amazing life I had lived and an amazing era the 80s and 90s were, not just for the royals but it was a golden era for the theatre. I had all this material to mine.
For You, the musical … to be the lead in a new show and not taking over from someone else was so wonderful. It was the moment my career changed and I was in the public eye which has brought so many wonderful opportunities.
“My family were all knocked out by how down What made you move back to Suffolk? to earth Edward was” What was your family’s reaction back in Suffolk to you dating a Prince? My father was a journalist and he said that he was sitting on one of the hottest stories of his career and couldn’t do anything about it. We would laugh about that and my mother was suitably impressed as she was from a poor working-class family originally. My family were all knocked out by how down to earth he (Edward) was. They all had to keep it a secret so they did well really. When it all came out in the press, how did it affect your life and your career? I kept saying we were just friends and tried to keep it on the down low but part of me wanted it to be out in the open so we could be seen out together. But I also knew what a private person Edward was and wanted to protect him. I always wanted to be a star in my own right and didn’t want to be just known as his girlfriend so it suited me as well to just say we were friends. We got to be in a lovely bubble for a bit. What is the proudest moment of your career? I think creating the role of Polly Baker in Crazy
I moved back when I was pregnant with my first child, Lily, because I wanted to be nearer to my family as I am in a career where it is eight shows a week. I knew I would need some help and thank goodness I did because I became a single mum and could not have survived without my family. I love Suffolk and each night when I get off the train the smell of the country air hits me and I remember why I live where I do, despite the long commute each way, each day. What do you love most about our lovely county? Suffolk is stunning. From the beaches to the countryside, it has a personality of its own. I loved bringing up my children in the countryside as there is so much to do and see here. It is a county that is good for the soul and you couldn’t pay me to go back and live in London. Tell us a secret about yourself. Now I’ve written my book there are no more left. They are all there in black and white! l The Showgirl and the Prince by Ruthie Henshall, £22, is out now and published by Macmillan. ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016
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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
AUTUMN WITH CAROLINE FOOKS
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s autumn dawns it unfurls its dreamy golden light across Suffolk, the autumnal colours provide a constant source of inspiration for Caroline. Living and working near the River Deben brings extra inspiration for colour and light. Often during a refurbishment Caroline will spot an existing favourite piece of furniture or lighting that needs restoration; her team can carry that out in-house and return it with a new lease of life. They have added a selection of bench seats and ottomans with fabrics that can be chosen from the studio, which is situated behind the Old Brewery Antiques who they collaborate with. Caroline is happy to travel; a local client who has recently moved to the Home Counties called with, ‘Help, I can’t do this without you.’ Luckily, she knew what they had in terms of existing furniture and
upholstery, so were able to help them. “She was very relieved to see me and my trusted contractors,” says Caroline. Likewise, she might be called to work alongside an existing build to help get a house ready for the owners to move in. “We always aim to get projects completed according to a client’s remit, budget and timelines,” she says. “No job is too small. Sometimes a client might want me just to cast an eye on a blind they plan to replace, another might want a room painted.” Caroline likes to transform spaces into elegant, comfortable and timeless interiors, tailored to her client’s taste. “Life is always so busy and I never really stop working,” she adds, “but I am doing what I love - I feel very lucky indeed.” l Providing curtains, upholstery, fabrics, wallpaper and paints. Caroline Fooks Design, The Barn, Dock Lane, Melton, Woodbridge IP12 1PE. By appointment. Call 07710 037591 / 01394 303826.
EAST INDIES! A celebration of all our fabulous independent shops and businesses – here’s a roundup of their latest news ...
DARCY B COMES HOME! Loved by customers for serving a consistently cool collection of designer clothing, Darcy B has recently moved back to its hometown of Woodbridge. Owner Denise Potter first took over this popular boutique, named after the founder (Darcy Bloxham), back in 2001 when it was based on Market Hill in the town. After moving to Framlingham for several years, Darcy B has returned to where it first started life. Denise says, “Coming back to Woodbridge has been gratefully received; we are so delighted to be back amongst 80 independent shops, showing that the town is THE vibrant place to be. After opening here in Woodbridge 25 years ago it is a pleasure to be in a chocolate box property next door to where we started out, it shows the test of time. We hear the stories of outfits that people say they purchased and still wear from all those years ago. Our ethos on returning is; sustainability, quality and supplying only clothes made in Europe and ethical countries including handmade knits made in Ireland, belts and boots made by tribal groups in Kenya, knitwear made in Ireland, socks made in Essex, hosiery from Austria, clothing from Italy, Spain and Holland, shoes and boots from Spain. “ l Check it out at Darcy B, 26 Market Hill, Woodbridge IP12 4LU. Call, 01394 383296 Or visit, darcy-b.co.uk
FOR ALL FOLK WHO LOVE FOLK! If you haven’t yet discovered FuzzypegFolk in Bungay, you’re in for a real treat! Run by Katharine Ricks, whose past form is as colourful as this magical emporium based in the town’s Market Place. Inspired by circus and fairground memories, the shop is painted inside and out in vibrant red, blue and yellow and festooned with gorgeous folk garlands. Specialising in Eastern European folk art, it sells everything from vintage toys, hand embroidered cushions, traditional German toys, Swedish Dala horses, Maltese handmade rugs and bags, Polish peg dolls, vintage enamelware and textiles and so much more! Katharine, who took the shop’s name from the children's clothes shop her “extraordinary mother" used to run (called Fuzzypeg) back in her childhood, says she has also drawn on her British Maltese heritage and her “vivid imagination and love of nostalgia.” It’s no surprise she runs such an eye-catching shop, having enjoyed an extraordinary career in buying and merchandising for several prestigious brands including Jaeger, Giorgio Armani, Donna Karan and Prada. “I chose Bungay because it is a place close to my heart where I often stayed with my 'fairy grandparents' as a child,” she says. “Customers often call my shop unique and perhaps this is because it evokes a feeling of nostalgia and gasps of childhood wonder in people of all ages.” Katharine takes pride in forging contacts with talented local makers as well as UK artists who supply much of the stationery she sells. “Everything I buy has a history of making and much of it is handmade in some way. But, most importantly, I have to love it all,” she adds. l FuzzypegFolk, 11a Market Place, Bungay, NR35 1AP Tuesday - Saturday 10am – 4pm. Visit, fuzzypegfolk.co.uk or find it on social media @fuzzypegfolk
RAISE A GLASS FOR HONEST JOHN One of the oldest recorded coaching inns, The Bull Inn, Woodbridge, has this month received a blue plaque commemorating one of the town’s most notable historic figures. Landlord of the Bull Inn from 1861 to 1886, John Grout, best known as ‘Honest John,’ earned himself a reputation across the UK and Europe for his integrity when it came to dealing in horses. The plaque unveiling earlier this month (September) was a special opportunity to celebrate Grout’s remarkable journey, his connection to The Bull Inn and his contribution to the town’s history. The present-day landlord of the Bull Inn, David Clarke, says; “We are delighted that John Grout’s remarkable achievements have been formally recognised with a blue plaque. As landlord of The Bull, he played an important role in the life of Woodbridge and made a lasting contribution to the town.” l Visit The Bull Inn, the historic 16th century coaching inn and boutique hotel, at Market Hill, Woodbridge or online at, bullinnwoodbridge.co.uk
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GALLERY What’s on in Suffolk’s thriving arts scene this summer …
GALLERY EAST DAZZLES!
Gallery East has announced two further exciting exhibitions this year which continue to highlight the outstanding art talent we have in East Anglia. 'On the Edge' is a solo exhibition from Norfolk artist, Ruth Bunnewell. "For me the theme is about places that lie in-between, in the grey area where one thing becomes something else," says Ruth. "These liminal spaces hold a beauty, exuding ideas of possibility and of transition. Where nothing has a set definition, instead holding the as yet undecided future." With over 35 works all created this year, this will be an explosion of colour and vibrancy, showing off the Norfolk landscape in a familiar, yet unfamiliar way. Gallery East is also bringing back the ever-popular and highly collectable Suffolk artist, Jane Human, in a new Ruth Bunnewell / Track; Outskirts show with Norfolk’s talented artist of Sizewell Lara Cobden. The theme is one we can all enjoy; The Garden - Moments In Time. This exhibition will include more beautiful bronze sculpture from Stuart Anderson and opens on Friday 30th October, running through into the festive period. l Gallery East, 24 Church Street, Woodbridge. Opening hours Wednesday Friday, 11am-4pm. Visit, galleryeast.co.uk.
ARTEAST RETURNS TO FRAMSDEN HALL BARN ...
Now in its eighth year, artEast is back with an exciting and diverse exhibition of contemporary art held at Framsden Hall Barn. The 16th-century barn, belonging to Lord and Lady Tollemache, is the largest restored tithe barn in East Anglia. Organisers, Henny PalmerTomkinson and Georgina Barclay, bring together yet another dynamic mix of established names and fresh talent, with artwork to suit all tastes and budgets. New artists this year include Fred Clark, Henrietta Hoyer Millar, glass blower Emsie Sharp and ceramicist Karen Williams. Returning exhibitors include Josephine Trotter (her work, Anemones In A Green Jug, is pictured), Christabel Forbes, Jelly Green, Anna Cecil, Decima Campe and Marc Dalessio plus many more. l Entry is free, and all works are available to purchase. Framsden Hall Barn, Framsden, Stowmarket, IP14 6HL, 17-22 September, daily 10am-5pm. Visit, arteast.org.uk
THE FRIENDLY SKETCH CLUB
© Beckie Egan Photography www.beckieegan.co.uk
Artists Samantha Barnes and Hannah Huntly invite you to join them on their next Friendly Sketch Club outing 2-3.30pm on Sunday 18th October. This time at Rougham Pumpkins at Rougham Estate. Samantha and Hannah created the club to help people enjoy drawing outdoors, meet new friends and gain confidence drawing directly from real life. Each event takes place in a fresh location, offering a brand-new set of surroundings to capture. No drawing experience is needed, just a willingness to have a go! l Tickets £10 per person (suitable for adults and older children). To book visit, samanthabarnes.com or email info@samanthabarnes.co.uk
INTERIOR LIVES
Lifestyle and design ideas from around Suffolk ...
SINK INTO AUTUMN WITH SNAPE!
© Alastair Bartlett from Lost Path
THE MERCHANT’S TABLE
This sumptuous Rafi chair with its elegant scroll top back and gently curved arms is a refined take on classic comfort, pictured at Snape Maltings' gorgeous showroom with the Eucalyptus Embroidered cushion. They pair beautifully with the equally stylish Martha sofa, which offers a soft, boho twist; this is featured in the Enigma Olive fabric. l Visit Snape Maltings, Snape, IP17 1SP or online at, shop. snapemaltings.co.uk
The Double Oak Branch bas-relief by Rachel Dein is made exclusively for The Merchant’s Table and available with or without a clay wash. Rachel specialises in creating beautiful botanical art in both plaster and concrete. Her work has evolved from the old tradition of nature printing; the technique of using the surface of a natural object to make a print. You can find her stunning work at The Merchant's Table this autumn. l Visit The Merchant's Table, 10 Church Street, Woodbridge or online at, themerchantstable.co.uk
CA’ PIETRA
How gorgeous are these Sanderson Anthos pink lifestyle floor tiles by Ca' Pietra, the British-based team of designers and makers with decades of craft experience in natural stone and porcelain. These are just in at Clay Interiors in Beccles, which was chosen exclusively as one of 28 selected suppliers nationwide. l The Gallery, Hall Farm, London Road, Beccles, NR34 8TT. Call, 01502 470157. Visit, clayinteriors.co.uk
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE want at their own pace. “Some people come at the end of a long building project and they’re exhausted with it all,” says Emma, “so after a cup of tea or coffee we might lay out a floorplan using the tiles starting from the front door, then we do the second room laying that out, then the third until, tile by tile, a full house takes shape!” Customers photograph each mood board leaving with what Emma calls a complete “vision and a story” for their home and all within their budget. It’s a formula that’s earned remarkable loyalty. “I’ve never had a customer complain about our service in all my eleven years,” she smiles. Emma’s career began aged 18 working in tile showrooms across Beccles and Bury St Edmunds where she developed an enviable eye for colour and design, though she stresses she’s not an interior designer. Thanks to an innate skill at matching the best
IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR!
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s soon as Emma Rogers laid eyes on a derelict barn near Beccles - a former commercial flower site overlooking fields and horses - love blossomed. She swooped in, pleaded with the owner to not proceed with plans to tear it down, and has since helped to transform it into a mecca for all things tiles and stone in the county – indeed, in East Anglia. “People come from Norfolk and Suffolk, and further afield, and always comment how lovely it is,” says Emma (pictured middle), who is joined at Clay Interiors by her brother, Adam, and sister, Lizzy. Their customers know they will receive a warm welcome and someone who will listen to what they really
flooring to a project, it was actually her loyal customers who suggested she strike out alone. It wasn't an easy decision to make with two young children in tow but with a dream of owning her own tile showroom since she was 20, and with the encouragement from supportive friends and family, she took the leap. Despite the unstable economic situation over the years, Clay Interiors is successfully growing, which is testimony to the dedication and hard work of the team and reputation for excellent customer service. Emma would like to thank all her customers for their continued loyalty and support over the years. l Check them out at Clay Interiors, The Gallery, Hall Farm, London Road, Beccles, NR34 8TT. Call, 01502 470157. Visit, clayinteriors.co.uk
© Piotr Krzeslak / iStock
THE BEAUTIFUL GAME ...
English mustard). I made a stock with the carcass which was the base of a fantastic tomato and basil soup. All for £5.95. While meat consumption has fallen in the UK over recent years, game meat has increased in popularity. Wild game retail spending rose 15.2% in the year to April 2024 (Kantar data, reported by Eat Wild). So, we are now approaching the part of the article where we discuss the actual cooking of game. Besides Keith Floyd, another considerable influence is Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall living out his bucolic paradise. We turned to Hugh’s River Cottage Cookbook when my eldest returned from a shoot with a couple of rabbit in fur. We could follow the careful instructions on
Jeremy Sare on the culinary revolution which has overtaken his household …
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efore moving to Suffolk, we lived in the shadow of the old Arsenal stadium. The significance of ‘game’ then meant simply the three o’clock kick-off on a Saturday. I was often drawn to selecting pheasant, venison and rabbit dishes from restaurant menus but these adventures were limited to a pretty short season either side of Christmas. And as for cooking it myself, urban supply was a testing problem. When asking cheerfully if there were “any pheasant?” North London butchers would invariably purse their lips and shake their heads. I managed to get hold of a couple of partridge once and I made a fair stab at a Keith Floyd recipe from Spain (Perdiz con Chocolate a la Toledana). Essentially it was partridge pot-roasted in wine with a little chocolate. I have a vague memory of Keith completing the programme standing in a town fountain gulping a large glass of Rioja ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016
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but the great man did rather a lot of that sort of thing. Family ties drew us to move to the perfect village of Grundisburgh which presented a wholly different pace of life and a magnificent new choice of natural ingredients. We soon eschewed beef for venison and chicken for pheasant. We shopped in Woodbridge on Saturdays and discovered the Farmers’ Market at the Community Hall. The Wild Meat Company’s stall was heaving with almost every type of game imaginable. Manning the stall was the most affable chap Ray Kent, who always gave the impression he was giving me a special deal. I’m not sure he was but the prices were incredible value anyway. Two pheasant for six quid and four partridge for a tenner, back then. I still think game is terrific value. My final pheasant of the season allowed me to make a roast dinner for two, a risotto and a delicious sandwich (French bread, rocket,
Paul Denny and Robert Gooch founded the The Wild Meat Company in 1999
skinning (firmly but gently) before my lad cooked the family a marvellous stew. SUPPLIERS I have bought some excellent pheasant from Peasenhall Butchers. Salter and King in Aldeburgh is a very fine butcher. If I need highquality venison, I can go to Revett and Sons in Wickham Market. Another superb butcher for game is Lavenham Butchers. However, it is the Wild Meat Company which has been the inspiration for scores of dishes and
METHODS Certain principles emerge when cooking game birds. Always cook the bird upside down (your Christmas turkey too). With game you must be totally alive to the risks of the meat drying out; this is because of its low-fat content. You cannot be blasé or vague about timing. For a roast, truss a pheasant with streaky bacon and pop some butter and seasoning inside, cook at 220ºC for 30-40 mins. For any game sauce, you can use the triumvirate of wine (a glass), stock (half a mug) and a large teaspoon of redcurrant jelly, then reduce. The herbs I most regularly use with game are parsley, thyme, rosemary and bay. Rabbit and hare benefit greatly from marinating. A marinade (12-36 hours) could include chopped onion, celery, 2-3 glasses of red wine, thyme and plenty of seasoning. Dry then brown your pieces of meat in a hottish casserole and add all the marinade with stock and redcurrant jelly, cooking for 30-40 mins at 200ºC. Pot-roasting or en cocotte is the best way of preserving moistness. You can use the same casserole dish to make a stock with the carcass. Add a pint and a half of water, a couple of carrots, onion and some leek or celery all chopped roughly. Cook on a low heat (gas mark 1 or 120ºC) in the oven for 12-24 hours, then sieve. You should use the pheasant stock when you cook your next pheasant so it’s a virtuous circle of wonderful flavours. I often cook extra game for the leftovers. Cold venison loin, thinly sliced and served
Jeremy's Paprika Pheasant, as supplied by The Wild Meat Company
RECIPE: PAPRIKA PHEASANT I found a long-forgotten cookbook last year, '97 Ways To Cook A Pheasant,' and Paprika Pheasant became an instant favourite: l Heat your casserole dish to medium-high and add a little oil and butter. Brown the bird for four to five minutes turning several times. Chop a large onion and fry that off until soft. l Measure a tablespoon of plain flour into a large mug, add a generous squirt of tomato puree, a pinch of sugar and a tablespoon of paprika (sweet or smoked, not hot) and mix it round. Then add four to five tablespoons of stock and once stirred it should resemble a smooth dark red sludge. Add all that to the pan and cook it for a minute, stirring. Add a glass and a half of red wine and a mug of stock (chicken stock is fine). l Cook with lid on for 40 minutes in a medium oven of 200ºC. Warm the sauce, add parsley and joint the bird and present on a large serving dish. Serve with a mustard mash and green beans. with Russian salad is a perfect Sunday evening supper. THE WILD MEAT COMPANY I spoke to one of the partners of the wonderful Wild Meat Company, Robert Gooch (pictured left), and we talked about recent changes in the game market, “We began in 2000, predominantly through sales at Farmers’ Markets," he said. "But the market has moved more to farm shops and online. The big change was when Covid hit. Once everyone was in lockdown, our website went berserk. For sales, it was like Christmas every day. So now we are solely an online retailer. “We have supplied to some high-end London restaurants such as One Aldwych,
the Cinnamon Club and Club Gascon. By weight, 70% of our game sales are venison. The wild deer population of Great Britain has grown exponentially in recent years. More people are seeking meats with low fat content. Also, there are some vegans or vegetarians who wish to try meat again or are medically advised to because of B12 deficiency – they often turn to game. They may also desire a product where no greenhouse gases are produced.” l Find more information on game nutrition at, eatgame.co.uk l Suffolk stockists: wildmeat.co.uk / salterandking.co.uk / revett.co.uk / lavenhambutchers.com
WHAT IS GAME?
The main game meats are venison, rabbit, pheasant, partridge, grouse, mallard, pigeon and hare. They are not farmed but live wild so their diet couldn't be more organic; berries, nuts, seeds, roots and insects. Their meats are all very low in fat and cholesterol compared to farmed meat. They have high density protein and are rich in minerals and vitamins.
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© Jeremy Sare
has been the basis of the ‘game revolution’ which has overtaken our household.
OUT AND ABOUT! Top things to do around Suffolk by Charity Crewe AN EVENING WITH LUKE HARDING 6pm, Thursday 8th October, Tattingstone Place, Tattingstone, near Ipswich For more than 20 years, Guardian journalist and author Luke Harding has reported on Russia under Vladimir Putin and he’s coming to Suffolk to tell all. He will also be discussing his new book (pictured), Betrayal: Trump, Putin and the New Age of Conquest, which examines the collapse of the post-Second World War order. Harding has a pretty good handle on what’s going on in the world - he’s written books on Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, the fall of Gaddafi, the Litvinenko poisoning and the invasion of Ukraine, among others. After his talk, guests will be treated to wines from Ukraine and Lucas Rodd, an expert on Ukraine’s wine industry, will give a brief overview of the country’s viticultural history. l Tickets are £35 and include two glasses of wine. Doors open at 6pm; talk starts at 7pm, followed by wine presentation at 7.50pm. To book go to, eafestival.com/betrayal
SPELLBOUND BY BOOKS 9.30am-4pm, Saturday 10th October, East Point Pavilion, Royal Plain, Lowestoft Acclaimed actor Hugh Bonneville headlines at this free family day celebrating children's books and stories. Part of the First Light Festival, it features storytelling, live readings and hands-on activities with something for children of all ages throughout Hugh will read the day. from his new book Hugh, the star of Paddington and Downton Abbey and much more, will read from his new children's book, Rory Sparkes and the Spy Who Loved Tea, alongside storyteller, Kate Rolfe of Wiggling Words, who will open the day with a trio of stories for younger children. Illustrator and author Matt Robertson will be chatting about his book Bodytopia, followed by a fun comic-style drawing workshop aimed at children aged 6+. More authors to be announced. l Visit, firstlightlowestoft.com/spellbound-by-books FLIPSIDE 9.30am - 6pm, Saturday 3rd October, The Old Theatre, Framlingham Travels In Time And Space is the theme of this year’s FlipSide Sara Wheeler festival, the one-day literature festival which is returning to Framlingham’s Old Theatre. The stellar lineup of authors who will be discussing this knotty topic include travel writers Colin Thubron and Sara Wheeler, the Booker Prize-winning author of Orbital, Samantha Harvey, memoirists Colin Grant and Blake Morrison, the poet Ian Patterson and journalist and author Laura Spinney. Among the many highlights will be Sara Wheeler (pictured) talking about her acclaimed new biography of the late Jan Morris. l Whole-day tickets, £70; half-day, £40; half-day concessions, £20. Details, flipsideuk.org WILKO – LOVE AND DEATH AND ROCK ‘N’ ROLL Tuesday 29th September - Saturday 3rd October, New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich Wilko – Love and Death and Rock ‘n’ Roll, Jonathan Maitland’s play about the life of the founder of legendary Essex band Dr Feelgood - and star of Game of Thrones - Wilko Johnson, is touring the country to great acclaim. The cast of Wilko In 2012, Wilko Johnson was told he had just twelve months to live. Fuelled by a renewed thirst for life, Johnson embarked upon a farewell tour which, in a strange twist, turned out not to be his last. Told through live music and anecdote, the play is a masterclass in living life to the fullest. Johnson Willis puts on “a stonking star turn” as Wilko, according to The Guardian. l Tickets from £15-£31 Suitable for ages 11+ Book at, wolseytheatre.co.uk; 01473-295900 wilkotheplay.co.uk
BRITTEN PEARS ARTS HERITAGE OPEN DAYS Tuesday 15th – Wednesday 16th September, 11am – 3pm, Church Walk, Aldeburgh Thursday 17th – Sunday 20th September, 10am – 4pm, Snape Maltings & 10.30am – 4.30pm, The Red House, Aldeburgh This September, as part of the National Heritage Open Days scheme, Britten Pears Arts is putting on several heritage events at its properties free of charge. At Snape Maltings, there will be the exhibition and trail, Echoes of the Maltings: A 19th-century Industrial Adventure, which will explore what it was like when the Maltings was a busy inland port and the largest malting operation in Suffolk. Meanwhile, at The Red House, Benjamin Britten’s former home, the exhibition, 300 Years of Everyday Life, will look back to when it was a 1000-acre coastal farm and a Dairy School. There will be talks, photo displays and a hands-on milking challenge. You can also visit Church Walk, the modernist home of famous conductor and Snape Festival organiser, Imogen Holst.
© Nick Haeffner
by Angus Cooke © Britten Pears
Workers at Snape Maltings
l Free, but book in advance for The Red House and Church Walk events at, brittenpearsarts.org/heritage-open-days ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016
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aving previously lived in the nearby village of Elmswell, Baz and Bridget Goldstone were keen to move closer to the historic market town of Bury St Edmunds. “We have always loved Bury,” says Bridget. “We enjoy walking around the historic town, visiting the theatres and eating out, so being able to walk into the town centre in around 20 minutes from our new home is perfect. “We knew Denbury Homes was building here, so we visited the show home before Christmas. The sales team were so welcoming and knowledgeable, and as soon as I walked into the house, I fell in love with it. The quality was immediately obvious.” The couple chose The Swan house type due to its spacious layout and sociable design. “We loved the flow of it straight away,” Bridget explained. “The kitchen is perfect for entertaining and opens beautifully onto the garden. The whole house feels light, spacious and comfortable, and I have really enjoyed making it our own.” After seeing their property chain collapse twice, the couple were concerned they had missed their opportunity to move. However, Denbury Homes introduced them to its part-exchange scheme. “The sales team talked us through everything, and within 24 hours we had a decision,” says Baz. “The relief was incredible. We no longer had to worry about selling our house or paying estate agent fees, and we completed in around six weeks.” The part exchange scheme is designed to take away the stress of selling an existing property. The Denbury Homes team assess if your current home is eligible in line with criteria around property age, value and construction. If approved, they invite three independent estate agents to value the property and will make an offer to purchase, subject to survey. If you accept, the sales can progress side-by-side. You can live in your current house until your new home is ready and the two sales are complete. “It was wonderful moving into a brand new home that was a blank canvas,” says Baz. “We
has had very little impact. “The site is always clean and tidy, everyone is friendly, and if there is ever any disruption, we are told well in advance. We really cannot praise the team enough.” Bridget believes they have finally found somewhere they can call home. “Home is where I feel happiest,” she smiles. “We have moved several times over the years, but this is the first house where we truly feel we have put down roots. Without a doubt, moving to St Edmunds Gate by Denbury Homes was the best decision we have made.” Head of Sales and Marketing at Denbury Homes, Monty Beaton, says: “It has been a pleasure helping Baz and Bridget settle into their new home at St Edmunds Gate. It is wonderful to hear how quickly they have become part of the growing community and how much they are enjoying both their new home and everything Bury St Edmunds has to offer.”
THE BEST DECISION WE HAVE MADE! Part-exchange gave Baz and Bridget the chance to find somewhere to truly settle and enjoy life ... could start planning colours and furniture before we had even moved in. I would recommend part exchange to anybody.” Choosing a new build was equally important. “As we get older, we wanted a home where there was nothing to renovate or repair. The NHBC warranty gave us real peace of mind, and the house is incredibly economical to run. It is warm, well insulated and very comfortable.” Since moving in four months ago, the couple have been equally impressed by the support they have received. “The aftersales care has been brilliant,” says Baz. “We were introduced to the site manager straight away, and any small finishing items have been dealt with quickly and efficiently. Everyone has treated us as individuals, rather than just house buyers.” The St Edmunds Gate community has also made a lasting impression. “The community is really starting to take shape,” he says. “We have met so many neighbours already, and everyone is so friendly. Denbury Homes recently opened the new play area and invited residents along, which was a lovely opportunity to meet people. “There are beautiful walks around the development and our cockerpoo, Moët, absolutely loves them. We regularly see deer, pheasants and partridge, and the new footpaths make it easy to walk into Bury.” Although construction continues across parts of the development, the couple say it
INTERESTED IN PART EXCHANGE?
Through its part exchange scheme, Denbury Homes agrees to purchase an existing property, with the proceeds being put towards the purchase of a new Denbury Homes home. This helps make moving into a new home quicker and less stressful, saves on estate agent fees, and means buyers can remain in their home until their new one is finished. l To visit development, find out more about open house events or available incentives, visit www.denburyhomes.co.uk
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AN EVENING WITH SATISH KUMAR
By Angela Hagan
Leiston Book Festival will host an evening with globally respected peace pilgrim, life-long activist and former monk, Satish Kumar, in October. Best known for his 8,000-mile walk for peace, Kumar has been inspiring global change for over 50 years. He undertook a pilgrimage for peace, walking for two years without money from India to America for the cause of nuclear disarmament. Now in his 80s, he has devoted his life to campaigning for ecological regeneration and social justice. Kumar is a world-renowned author and international speaker, founder of The Resurgence Trust and Editor Emeritus of Resurgence and Ecologist, a change-making magazine he edited for over 40 years. The event will be in two parts. The first includes a screening of Radical Love, an intimate documentary that reveals Kumar’s journey and testimony to sow deeper and more purposeful ways of being on earth. After an interval, Kumar is joined by philosopher and Climate Majority convener Rupert Read for a conversation, followed by an audience Q&A.
FOODIES' DELIGHT
The Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival is back celebrating all that is great about Suffolk’s vibrant food and drink scene. Headlining chefs this year include: Thomasina Miers, who won the first series of MasterChef back in 2005 and went on to co-found the Wahaca restaurant chain; Paul A Young, one of the country’s best-known artisan chocolatiers and Richard Bainbridge, owner of acclaimed restaurant Benedicts in Norwich. The event showcases more than 130 local food and drink producers with live demo stages, masterclasses, free children’s cookery classes every 30 minutes and live music. Book your tickets now for guaranteed entry and faster check-in on the day. l Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival 2026 will be held on 26th and 27th September at Snape Maltings, Snape, IP17 1SP. Visit, aldeburghfoodanddrink.co.uk
WOODBRIDGE AMBIENT MUSIC FESTIVAL
The annual three-day community arts festival takes place on the autumn equinox weekend, returning in its fifth year. As vibrant as ever with its striking new Suffolk Pink theme, this year there will be a Festival Hub (opening from Tuesday 22nd September) in the Art Haven on Tidemill Way in the town. This will sell tickets and merchandise in the lead up, then roll out workshops, installations, exhibitions, information and more across the festival weekend. Highlights include a special audio-visual performance from Digitonal and VJ Myogenic, an Ambient Voices Workshop as well as a Painting Sound Workshop with artist Claudia Myatt. The weekend culminates in a special evening at St Mary’s Church with Tom Rogerson (pictured above) and Friends. l Visit, woodbridgeambientmusicfestival.com
ARTWORKS RETURNS TO BLACKTHORPE BARN
Artworks 26th annual exhibition features work by 28 talented exhibiting artists who live and work across East Anglia. All work in the show is new to Artworks and not previously exhibited, with daily opportunities to meet the artists. One of them is talented Bury St Edmunds abstract artist and printmaker, Evelyn Polk, whose work is pictured, right. There will be a Mini Artworks Prize Draw where visitors have the chance to choose their favourite mini original artwork out of 28 and buy a ticket for it. l Artworks, Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham, Bury St Edmunds, IP30 9HZ, runs until 27th September. Visit, artworkseast.com or follow @artworkseast on Instagram ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016
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© Jan Pulsford
l Saturday 10th October, 5pm-9.15pm, Leiston Film Theatre, Leiston IP16 4BZ. Tickets from £13 via tickettailor.com
Evelyn Polk's 'Landscape'
BURY ST EDMUNDS LITERATURE FESTIVAL
Now in its ninth year, the Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival returns for four days of author talks, panel discussions, workshops, guided walks and live performances across the town, from Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th October. This year’s line-up includes Louis de Bernières (pictured), Rachel Joyce, Sarah Winman, Abi Daré and Monique Roffey. A new food programme, curated by food writer Nic Miller, pairs the town’s literary scene with its reputation as the ‘food capital of East Anglia,’ while a new partnership with Suffolk Wildlife Trust brings nature and environmental storytelling to the event for the first time. The festival also partners with the independent Abbeygate Cinema for themed screenings, including adaptations of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.
© John Ferguson
l For tickets and the full programme visit, burylitfest.co.uk
MOTHER MISSING
Suffolk-based, award-winning crime novelist, Ruth Dugdall, launches her latest thriller, Mother Missing, at Felixstowe Library this month (September). The book is the fifth title in her popular Cate Austin Casefiles series, published by HQ. Ruth will give a brief talk about the book and a short reading at this free event which is open to all. Ruth previously worked as a Youth Justice Social Worker and then a Probation Officer for ten years, experiences that shape her fiction. Famous crime writer, Sophie Hannah, has called Ruth “a huge talent,” while The Times praised the new book’s “twisting labyrinth of child-trafficking and police cover ups.” Ruth also appears at Ipswich Book Festival which runs across ten different Ipswich town centre venues in early October. Author Louis de Bernieres
l Her talk at Felixstowe Library takes place at Crescent Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7BY, 3-5pm, Saturday 26th September.
ULTIMATE CHILL: PIANO MUSIC BY EINAUDI
Internationally acclaimed pianist Leo Nicholson brings the music of Ludovico Einaudi to his hometown of Woodbridge as part of an autumn tour this year. Leo, who studied at the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance graduating with First Class Honours, performs in two concerts on the same day at St Mary the Virgin on the town’s Market Hill. David Guest, founder of L’Inviti Music Management, says whether you’re a longtime admirer of Einaudi or discovering his music for the first time, the concerts promise a “soothing and unforgettable experience for mind, body and soul.” Einaudi, known for works including Nuvole Bianche and Una Mattina, and for music featured in The Intouchables and Nomadland, has introduced millions of listeners to contemporary classical music through his lyrical melodies. The programme explores many of his best-loved piano works, with the historic church setting adding to the intimacy of the performance. Nicholson, among Britain’s leading concert pianists, brings his own interpretation of Einaudi’s music, combining technical brilliance with emotional sensitivity. l Saturday 14th November, 6pm and 8pm, St Mary the Virgin, Woodbridge. Tickets from, linviti.co.uk ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016
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A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY
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ituated on the banks of the River Deben next to Woodbridge’s iconic Tide Mill, Deben Vinyl is an independent record shop built around a love of music, nostalgia and culture. Founder Giles Todd says, “We wanted to create a space that celebrates the enjoyment of something physical and tangible, from flipping through record sleeves and uncovering forgotten classics to finally finding the album you’ve been searching for.” The collection spans a wide range of genres including rock, jazz, soul, reggae, indie, pop and more, featuring a carefully curated mix of new releases, pre-owned vinyl and collectible music memorabilia. “Whether you’re a seasoned collector or simply rediscovering the charm of physical music, we hope Deben Vinyl feels welcoming, inspiring and full of discovery,” says Giles, who also sells refurbished turntables in his spin-off business, Deben Decks. SO, WHAT IS THE LURE OF VINYL? Giles says it’s a ritual; the selecting of the record, reading it, pulling it from the sleeve, cleaning it then dropping the needle – it
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encourages a focused, full-album listening experience. He classes it as more of a visual art and of course, vinyl has unwavering collectability. It also offers a distinct quality of sound; music lovers prefer its organic audio profile and the subtle warmth of an analogue playback. Giles adds, “Going into a good record shop is a voyage of discovery; you are there thumbing away looking for something fantastic. It’s also a form of cultural exchange - you meet other people in there and they’ll say, ‘Oh, that’s a great album, have you heard this as well?’ And all of a sudden you find a different genre or artist you hadn’t heard before. It’s a cultural exchange.” Deben Vinyl also appeals to the seasoned collector – it stocks limited editions and rare pressings as well as coloured discs and special editions. “Currently we have one turntable playing music, which people can interrupt to try
something out,” he says, “but we’ve also got two listening stations with headphones, so people can take an album into the corner, or a single, and try it out.” DID YOU KNOW? lT he album Giles would never sell is his dad’s original copy of John Wesley Harding by Bob Dylan l His favourite band is Japan lD eben Vinyl will also host early doors guest musicians and DJs. l Deben Vinyl, Tide Mill Way, Woodbridge, IP12 1BY. Call: 07807 190569 / 01473 948266. Email, info@debenvinyl.co.uk Socials, @deben_vinyl
RELISH! The Suffolk foodies’ page ...
GREYHOUND INN
REVIEW BY CHARITY CREWE The Greyhound Inn is a gem found in the small village of Pettistree, about a mile from Wickham Market. It manages to be both a warm and welcoming country pub and a foodies’ delight. You could come in here dressed up for a special dinner or wearing wellies for a pint by the fire. It claims to be the oldest pub in Suffolk. Parts of the original building date from 1207, and it has been a free house since the 16th century. It comprises two inviting rooms, with a bar running between them and low beamed ceilings, leaded casement windows, stripped wooden floorboards and subtle lighting. In the main room - where we were - there’s a handsome green leather banquette running along the length of it, wooden tables paired with generous, leather upholstered armchairs - which encourage you to get stuck in for an afternoon of eating and drinking. We came for a mid-week lunch and both rooms were full of cheery diners - one being Ruth Watson of Watson & Walpole - the original presenter of the Hotel Inspector. This was a good sign; there’s no doubt that Ruth is discerning about where she eats. Luke Wright, the performance poet, was sat at the next table. We couldn’t move for Suffolk celebs! The 2025 Michelin Guide raves that the Greyhound has “the kind of menu where you could happily eat every dish.” And so it proved. The menu, which changes weekly
Gooseberry Fool and Cherry and Almond Tart
and is based around the best available local produce, was bursting with goodies. We had pre-starters of Lardo (herb, salt and spice infused pig fat) and Anchovy Brioche Soldiers (£8) - which were brimming with umami and Colchester Oysters and Pickled Gooseberries (£4 each) - an inspired combination. For our starter proper we shared the Cured Chalk Stream Trout with Burnt Orange Oil and Fennel and Dill (£14) - which was divinely delicate. For the mains, we were tempted by the Aged Longhorn Beef Rump with Roasted Bone Marrow for two (£69), but in the end my companion plumped for the Duroc Pork Chop, Pettistree Fig and sauce Charcutière (£26). He admitted he was slightly apprehensive, having been let down by so many dry chops in the past, but it surpassed expectations. It was, in his words, “moist and tender and exploding with flavour.” My Wild Suffolk Bass, Butley Mussels and Agretti (similar to samphire) and Warm Tartare Sauce (£29) couldn’t have been better - the fish and mussels were fantastically fresh and surrounded by a summery herb infused sauce. The exceptional food and the great atmosphere owe much to the Greyhound’s owners - Will Orrock, a food and wine loving, Suffolk-born former ad man and his wife, Cassidy Hughes, an interior decorator, who took on the pub four years ago. And
it’s also thanks to the brilliant head chef, Adam Spicer, who has worked at various East Anglian restaurants, including The Tack Room in Newmarket. He was a finalist on MasterChef The Professionals before joining the team three years ago. It is a family affair the warm and knowledgeable waiter who served our table is Will’s uncle. Much of the game - a big feature of the autumn and winter menus - is sourced by Will’s stepfather - a Suffolk gamekeeper. Anyone interested in discovering new wines should make a beeline here. Will is passionate about finding dedicated, small producers - and the wine list, which changes with the food and the seasons, is filled with excellent European wines. The Domaine Des Deux Roches Mâcon-Villages white Burgundy was beautifully smooth and fruity. If you’d rather something non-alcoholic they offer a changing selection of homemade soft drinks. Gooseberry Spritz, Greengage Iced Tea, Blackberry Shrub and House Ginger Beer were on the menu when we went. It is a pub you will want to return to. Only recently, a couple who had met in the Greyhound came back to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary! l Greyhound Inn, The Street, Pettistree Visit, greyhoundpettistree.co.uk; call, 01473 932168; Insta, @asuffolkpub Wednesday to Sunday - Open all day from midday. Lunch is served Wednesday to Saturday 12-2:30pm (last seating). Sunday Lunch is served from 12-4pm. Dinner is served Wednesday to Saturday 6-9:30pm (last seating). Closed Monday & Tuesday.
THE ULTRA TESLA SEAT
AND BREATHE ...
Suffolk Oxygen Therapy has unveiled its latest product which can help members looking to strengthen their pelvic floor. This revolutionary chair utilises HighIntensity Focused Electromagnetic (HI-EMT) technology to strengthen the pelvic floor effectively, improve core function and address the undesired symptoms of weak pelvic floor muscles. In 30-minute non-invasive sessions, patients can take back control and improve their quality of life. Pelvic floor dysfunction, the weakening of the muscles that support the bowel, bladder and reproductive organs, can affect men and women. Various factors can cause it including pregnancy and childbirth, surgery, menopause, ageing and chronic straining. This can lead to uncomfortable and disruptive symptoms. The Ultra Tesla Seat offers a painless solution in which patients remain clothed during treatment. The results can aid bladder and bowel control, improve sexual wellness and intimacy while strengthening core muscles and posture. l Just £50 for six 30-minute sessions at Suffolk Oxygen Therapy (there is an annual membership of £50 to use the centre) based at Unit 27 Claydon Business Park, Gipping Road, Great Blakenham, Ipswich, IP6 0NL. Call, 01473 830359 or email, mark@suffolkoxygentherapy.co.uk
The latest wellbeing news from around Suffolk …
WHY SCALP HEALTH MATTERS
According to Heavenly Hair, a healthy scalp is essential for healthy hair and for your comfort, confidence and everyday wellbeing. If you are experiencing any issues, from persistent itching and dandruff to thinning hair or excessive hair loss, finding confidential, personalised and expert support is key in helping you understand and improve your scalp health. With more than a decade of experience in hair and scalp care, the awardwinning team at Heavenly Hair based in Wickham Market and Saxmundham offers a bespoke service built around individual needs. Their specialist scalp clinic offers one-to-one consultations in a private, comfortable setting, using advanced diagnostic camera technology to assess your scalp, follicles and hair. Scalp specialist Millie explains, “Whether you’re experiencing psoriasis, sensitivity, dryness, oiliness, irritation, hair thinning or damage from chemical treatments, we’ll take time to understand your concerns before creating a personalised prescription and treatment plan. We work with trusted prescriptive products specifically chosen to support your scalp’s needs.” You can book a scalp consultation as a stand-alone appointment or added to a regular cut and finish – when combined, their recommended professional products can be applied during your salon visit. l Visit, heavenlyhair.co.uk or call, 01728 602941 (for Saxmundham) and 01728 746616 (for Wickham Market).
DIRECTORY ...
ISSUE ONE… SUMMER 2016
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COSY UP THIS AUTUMN IN SUFFOLK! Dons Barn, Grove Farm
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here’s something wonderfully atmospheric about Suffolk in autumn. As the leaves turn golden, the countryside takes on a softer glow, the coast feels Granary Cottage wonderfully peaceful, and country walks become all the more inviting. From woodland strolls and windswept beaches to cosy pubs and evenings by the fire, autumn is the perfect season for a Suffolk escape. For a romantic countryside retreat, Dons Barn, Grove Farm makes a beautiful base. Tucked away in Edwardstone, this characterful barn combines traditional Suffolk charm with cosy comforts, including a magnificent
inglenook fireplace where you can settle in for a relaxing evening beside the fire. Closer to the coast, Granary Cottage in Thorington offers a peaceful rural setting with beautiful views across rolling fields. It is just a short walk from Thorington Theatre and perfectly placed for discovering the Suffolk Coast and Heaths, Southwold and Aldeburgh. For a traditional village escape, Well Green Cottage in Wenhaston is a charming 17th-century beamed cottage, surrounded by heathland beside the village green. With countryside walks from the doorstep and Southwold and Walberswick within easy reach, it’s an ideal choice for an autumn adventure. In the heart of rural Suffolk, Wheelwright House in Bildeston offers another inviting base for enjoying the season, with the historic Wool Towns and beautiful countryside waiting to be explored. And for something a little different, The Cottage at Tuffon Hall provides a wonderfully
Well Green Cottage Wheelwright House
intimate retreat among the rolling countryside and vines of Sible Hedingham. After an autumn walk, cosy up beside the log burner or enjoy the peaceful courtyard. Suffolk Hideaways has an ever-growing portfolio of cottages. Whether you’re seeking crisp countryside walks, coastal adventures or simply somewhere cosy to switch off, Suffolk Hideaways is ready to welcome you no matter the season. Local home owners… throw open their doors
Child free zones?… meet the couple with the Parent Pod!
Is grey just so last year?… Jojo Humes Brown on colours
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The Cottage at Tuffon Hall
Caroline Gladwell Womenswear 3 Elmhurst Walk Woodbridge IP12 1DB. 01394 383030 Autu mn / Winter 2026 Dear Customer, I used to sell Raga some years ago during my ‘previous life’ at Upstairs Downstairs. I ca me across it again in February this year when I was looking to introduce some new brands. Jeremy, a fashion agent I have known for quite a while now, asked whether I had an opening for Raga in my current shop. I went to see the sa mples and swatches and started to realise the possibilities. I was impressed by the fact that many of the garments had a more European cut and also looked good on someone of a diminutive stature (which is always the test)! All of this coupled with the ability to apply virtually any print to any fabric and garment, with Raga, I could see a unique opportunity to formulate a very personal and one-off collection. When you start to immerse yourself in all that Raga has to offer you become acutely aware of how special it is. Raga is definitely an Indian clothing brand with a difference. By resurrecting traditional hand made methods and blending them with modern techniques, the result is a fashion that is innovative yet rooted in tradition. Each garment is treated as a work of art with a genuine care for detail, legacy and the hands that created it. Fabrics employed are mainly natural and all are sourced in India. Some will be dyed by hand following traditional artisanal processes, others will be digitally printed. Where embroidery is applied, it is done either by machine or by hand depending on which method is deemed more suitable for the finished garment. Machine embroidery is used when technique is desired - hand embroidery for depth and texture. Needless to say the designs can be inspired by anything at all, art, nature or a journey to a foreign land.... Whilst writing this letter, I discovered that Raga has found recognition at the Victoria and Albert Museu m and the Royal Academy of Art, which must be considered a significant achievement. I’m not surprised - its garments are unique, fitting halfway between art and fashion, showcasing the extraordinary work of true artisans. These unique garments are visually stunning but inherently wearable in daily life and this is the selling point for me. I a m so looking forward to seeing how you receive my Raga Autu mn/Winter collection - I think it’s going to be good! All the best,
Caroline
: AT M -S 4P N O TO M M A 10
CAROLINE GLADWELL WOMENSWEAR 3 Elmhurst Walk, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1DB