Suffolk Money: Recent Episodes
Colin Low
This podcast looks at how these activities are carried out within Suffolk and the people behind it. From exciting entrepreneurs to large employers and from neighbourhood projects to charities dealing with massive issues. We’ll also explore money saving tips and the world of investments too.
Resurrecting the Anglo-Saxon Ship in the 21st century
1,400 years ago, a great King of East Anglia was laid to rest in a 90ft ship, surrounded by his extraordinary treasures. The discovery at Sutton Hoo in 1939 remains one of the greatest archaeological finds in British history and, 77 years later, a team of boat builders and volunteers began taking on the ambitious project to build a replica of the Anglo Saxon burial ship.
In this week’s episode of Suffolk Money, Kevin Burch takes a trip to The Longshed in Woodbridge, to check on the ship’s progress and meet Master Shipwright, Tim Kirk and his dedicated and passionate team of volunteers.
Construction work started in 2016 to resurrect the King’s ship to its full, awe-inspiring glory. Tim tells Kevin about the many challenges the charity faces; from sourcing high-quality oak to generating the income needed. As a registered charity, the Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company is crowd-funded and volunteer-led, and the passion and enthusiasm for the project is clear from the plethora of people involved.
The ambition is to end up with a sea-worthy and operational ship, with a launch date scheduled for Spring 2025. For more information about The Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company, please visit https://saxonship.org where you’ll find plenty of pictures and information about the charity’s work.
Talking about the benefits of an ethical approach to trading
Don’t underestimate how doing good is good for business…. This is the key message from serial entrepreneur, business coach and mentor, Scott Russell, as he talks with Colin Low in this week’s episode of Suffolk Money. Scott speaks candidly about his fascinating experiences in business; from his first entrepreneurial steps – selling roasted chestnuts at his local market at the tender age of twelve – through his role in creating a string of highly-successful companies.
One of his most well-known businesses is, of course, Paddy & Scott’s, which soon gained the reputation for the best tasting coffee. Success quickly followed and sales progressed from stalls at local shows and events, to the shelves of national supermarkets. The really exciting part of this story, however, came in 2016, when Scott and his team went to Kenya to create their own farm, which ultimately changed the way coffee is traded. By cutting the supply chain down and sharing the retail margin with the farmers, they changed the ethos of the business and created a truly ethical coffee brand.
Nowadays, Scott mentors and coaches CEOs and entrepreneurs, and is also a shareholder and director of digital media company called Quench, where he proudly reports to his son! Oh and not to forget Scott’s most recent venture, which has been to join the board of our County’s newest digital radio station, the brilliant Suffolk Sound, as an investor and non-executive director. This really is a jam-packed listen!
Suffolk’s only standard gauge heritage railway
Did you know that there’s only one standard gauge heritage railway in Suffolk? On this week’s episode we’re “All Aboard!” as we meet the team at the wonderfully nostalgic Mid Suffolk Light Railway, or ‘The Middy’ as it’s affectionately known.
Kevin Burch took at trip up the A140, to meet some of the army of volunteers who run the railway. The Middy attracts in the region of six thousand visitors each year, and Ian (Chairman of the Trust), John (Marketing Manager), Don (retired US airforce pilot) and David (who wears many hats!) tell Kevin all about the fantastic events they have planned for the coming months, as two major projects draw tantalisingly close to fruition.
If you’d like to know more about The Middy, please visit www.mslr.org.uk
Local support for local people
Our latest Suffolk Money podcast is a really uplifting story about a local charity, which helps young people who could otherwise slip through the net when it comes to education, training and employment.
The charity is called Fresh Start and Colin Low went to their new second-hand furniture shop and café in Carr Street (Ipswich) to find out all about the secret of its success and meet the ever-smiling Café Manager, Tina Sinderby.
Tina talks about how she came to join the charity and how her life has changed since. An inspirational figure within the group, her positivity is infectious, as is her passion for giving young people new opportunities in a friendly, family environment. From barista training to building flat pack furniture, young people are offered work that will give them a real sense of purpose, pride and confidence in themselves.
You can find out more about Fresh Start by visiting https://www.freshstartcharity.org
Preventing loneliness and isolation
Traditional garden sheds can often be quite solitary in nature, but Men’s Sheds is quite the opposite. A UK wide network, this is all about social connections and friendship, whilst sharing skills and knowledge. There are several Men’s Sheds in Suffolk (including Stowmarket, Debenham and Bury St Edmunds) and for this week’s podcast, Kevin Burch took a trip to visit Stour Valley Men’s Shed in Long Melford.
Here he meets Colin Muddimer, as well as Dave, Graham and many other members, who tell him all about their non-profit organisation; how it came to be and the vital sense of purpose it gives to men in the local community. Everyone is made to feel welcome and it is the perfect place to socialise, make friends and learn new skills. Giving many a renewed sense of purpose and belonging,
it also provides a safe space to allow men to deal with mental health challenges and share any problems or health concerns.
To find out more please visit https://menssheds.org.uk
Run by volunteers for the community
This week is a special landmark for Suffolk Money Podcast, as we release our 100th episode! We’ve met and spoken to some truly amazing guests since our launch back in 2021, and this week is no exception; as Lesley Dolphin took a trip to meet customers and volunteers at the Community Shop at Sproughton.
Opened in 2010, Sproughton Community Shop has become a vital resource for the village and the surrounding area. However, as shop manager, Stacey Palmer explains, it has faced plenty of challenges along the way and, especially after the pandemic, its future was very uncertain. But thankfully, due to the passion and perseverance of the team, the shop is still in business and continues to provide a wonderful service.
Not only does it sell a fantastic range of local, quality products that draw customers from far and wide – from Pinney’s fish to fresh, free range eggs, local honey and meat from Oak House Farm – but also seasonal produce and an array of store cupboard ingredients; including gluten and dairy free products.
Stacey and her team of directors and volunteers all work hard to offer the best service they can, which includes social events such as Meet-up-Mondays and Soup Shack (on the second Tuesday of every month). They are always looking for more volunteers, and those who already give up their time here say it’s one of the best ways to get to know people in the village.
If you’d like to find out more please visit Sproughton Community Shop and friends’ page on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/Sproughtoncommunityshop
Celebrating 140 years of representing business in Suffolk
2024 marks the 140 years since the launch of the Chamber of Commerce in Suffolk. This landmark anniversary is being celebrated with a special project called C140 and, in this week’s podcast, Colin Low talks to Molly Williams (Project Officer for C140) and Paul Simon (Head of Public Affairs) about the history of the Chamber, its work today and the importance of C140.
With an outstanding heritage of being relevant to the business community for 140 years, the Chamber has not only impacted business and commercial activity throughout this time, but also the wider community and the people of Suffolk too.
C140 celebrations will include an exhibition, plus activities that honour the history of the Chamber and the diverse array of business in Suffolk. If you would like to know more, please visit https://www.suffolkchamber.co.uk
The pull of the mighty board game
Many of us love board games – from Monopoly, to Scrabble to Trivial Pursuit. But for our guest this week on the Suffolk Money Podcast, they’re something of an obsession. John Mariani is a games developer and a highly successful entrepreneur from Ipswich, who spends his days thinking up new ideas and researching thousands upon thousands of fiendishly difficult quiz questions.
Kevin Burch went to meet him and find out more about his passion for board games and trivia. With his Italian heritage, John not only speaks Italian, but is also fluent in Spanish and speaks French and German too. His love of board games came in his early 20s, when he became involved in writing trivia questions in Italian for Trivial Pursuit.
Having now been in the board games industry for 35 years, John knows what makes a good game. He was quick off the mark to gain the world rights to Who Wants to Be A Millionaire and has also invented countless others, including family favourites such as The Logo Game.
John’s love for the traditional board game seems to be shared by us all and, despite the swift advances of modern technology, board games still have the power to draw a family round the table.
The friendliest place to eat, meet, shop and play
Welcome to the first episode of season five of our Podcast, Suffolk Money. Today, we’re visiting a hugely-popular venue in Ipswich, called Geek Retreat. Having opened just over two years ago, this is not only a shop and café, but a true community hub, where people go to find their niche and find their people.
In this episode, Lesley Dolphin meets Sharon Lockhart, one of the owners, who explains how Geek Retreat has become a real haven for people who love gaming. Here, people can eat, meet, shop and play – everything from board games and trading card games to roleplay games and crafting too.
Located in Upper Brook Street, the shop has achieved so much since they opened. Sharon’s infectious positivity about Ipswich comes from a place of community and she is passionate about wanting to support the town’s people and local businesses too. Recently, Geek Retreat teamed up with Hank’s Dirty Vegan to enable them to serve a wide array of delicious vegan food.
You can find out more by visiting their website at www.ipswichgeek.com plus of course they’re also on social media
Our 90th episode
For the first podcast of 2024 from Suffolk Money, we’re looking back at some of the most memorable moments from the last twelve months. Amongst the voices you’ll hear are a young taxidermist, a retirement rebel, a campaigner against plastic pollution, a young entrepreneur with global ambitions and fund-raisers planning a lasting memorial for the Suffolk-based comedian Roy Hudd. Extra points if you can guess who’s who!
Our sincere thanks to all the guests who joined us in 2023, and we’re thrilled to have now produced 90 podcasts since we launched the podcast nearly three years ago; all supported by Kingsfleet.
We’ll be back with a new series of guests later this month, but in the meantime do remember that you can find each and every episode under the “Podcasts” section of this website.
There’s confectionery, and then there’s chocolate!
For our final podcast of 2023 Colin Low took a trip to Middleton, to visit the family-run company, Tosier Chocolate, which makes a delicious range of niche products.
Having started in their business in 2016, Deanna and Jonathan Tilston have progressed from a basement to a converted dairy on the Suffolk coast, where they now run their small batch craft chocolate factory, chocolate shop, café and tasting rooms.
In this episode, Jonathan explains the royal heritage of their intriguing name and, Deanna talks us through the fascinating alchemy of the chocolate production process, from bean to bar.
With a clear passion for chocolate, Deanna and Jonathan run an open factory, which is the perfect place to share their extensive knowledge and expertise with the public. They enjoy educating people and helping them to understand not only the process of making chocolate, but also the history and origin of coco beans. Tosier is part of a transparent supply chain and Deanna explains the importance of paying farmers properly for what they do, working with them and their knowledge and skill to get top grade chocolate.
To find out more please visit https://tosier.co.uk
Claire Staddon – CEO
The focus for this week’s podcast is the charity Emmaus Suffolk, who help people who’re vulnerable, isolated in society and at risk of being homeless.
Colin went to meet the charity’s chief executive, Claire Staddon, at their community hub in Ipswich, to find out more about the support they offer. As Claire explains, it is Emmaus’ ambition to introduce Suffolk to new ways of tackling entrenched homelessness, isolation and unemployment.
Their hubs, across Ipswich and Felixstowe are a safe and welcoming space, free to attend and open to all. Visitors to the hubs are encouraged to join Emmaus Suffolk as a volunteer, and so by helping others they help themselves. These hubs offer a supportive environment and it’s Emmaus’ aim to help stabilise people’s situations and, with early intervention, they can help them avoid hitting crisis point.
Emmaus Suffolk are all about looking after the community and are ‘unapologetically joyful’ in doing so. As a local independent charity, they generate the majority of their income through their own enterprises, all the while maintaining their values around ethical employment, sustainable living and improving both the environment and the community.
Not only do they have four retail shops in and around Ipswich and Felixstowe and a community café (at The Royal Oak on Felixstowe Road), but they also offer a house clearance service.
To find out more about the great work Emmaus Suffolk do, please visit their website:
www.emmaussuffolk.org.uk
Ipswich’s only independent bookshop
Just like the bookshop Lesley Dolphin had the pleasure of visiting, in this week’s podcast we’re offering you something a little different! As Ipswich’s only independent bookshop, Dial Lane Books is so much more than your average bookshop. It opened its doors in February 2020, fulfilling the lifelong dream of its owner, Andrew Marsh, who fostered a love of books from a very early age.
Of course, the timing here unfortunately meant that Andrew’s beloved bookshop was open for just 21 days, before the first lockdown came into effect. However, he received amazing support upon opening and, ever the entrepreneur, whilst the shop itself was closed, Andrew provided a friendly book delivery service and door to door sales throughout Suffolk.
Andrew tells us how after the pandemic ended, it then took a long time for people to come back into town. Sadly, the challenges of retail in Ipswich remain difficult and Andrew is on a mission to get people to focus on the many amazing independent shops and businesses (in retail and hospitality) and to support those we have left.
Dial Lane Books really is worth a visit as Andrew’s passion for books for people of all ages (not to mention his obsession with bookmarks) means he is able to give people something they won’t find in a high street chain.
For more information please do visit www.diallanebooks.co.uk
Visiting the Great War Huts site at Hawstead
The First World War is one of the great turning points in our history, with Remembrance Sunday being a national opportunity to remember the sacrifice and service of all those that defended (and of course continue to defend) our freedoms.
For this week’s podcast, ahead of Armistice Day, Lesley Dolphin meets Taff Gillingham, who has taken remembrance one stage further with the creation of the First World War heritage project and visitor centre.
With a vast knowledge about the Great War, Taff is a Military Historian, as well as an Historical Adviser for film and television work. Both he and his dedicated team have rescued over ten First World War structures, which they are gradually re-erecting at their purpose build site at Hawstead, in Suffolk. He takes Lesley on a mini tour of the Great War Huts and also the remarkable trenches and sentry boxes, which have been built to mirror those on the western front.
This unique Great War project draws visitors and schools from far and wide. If you would like to find out more about what there is to see and do there, please visit www.greatwarhuts.org
Post-educational provision for people with disabilities or difficulties
What are the options for people with special needs, once they’ve left school? Having worked in a range of educational settings, Georgina Hanser saw first-hand a lack of provision for young people with disabilities in Suffolk. So, she used her experience to set up Fairview Farm, providing activities and programmes for people who find themselves marginalised.
In this week’s podcast, we discover more about this wonderful place, as Colin Low takes a trip to visit the Farm. Georgina explains how her small-holding (near Akenham in Ipswich) operates on a simple belief; that people with disabilities deserve more. For lots of reasons, they may be unable to work and need meaningful, aspirational days, to not only help increase their confidence and broaden their opportunities, but also to give them a sense of belonging.
Georgina takes Colin on a tour around the farm and he gets to meet the young people who have become part of the ‘Fairview family’, as well as a few of the animals as well! Whether they come two days a week or five days a week, the young people are all regulars and partake in a wide range of activities in a safe, supportive and friendly environment.
If you’d like to find out more about Fairview Farm and what they offer, please visit their website: https://www.fairviewfarm.org/
Jenna Ackerley, Managing Director / Founder
The one thing we love is a success story involving a talented entrepreneur. And in the spotlight this time is Jenna Ackerley, who started her business, Events Under Canvas, ten years ago. It’s proved a huge hit, having recently picked up an award for its impressive growth, so for this week’s episode, Colin Low went to meet Jenna and find out more about her fantastic Suffolk Business.
Events Under Canvas create magnificent outside events under beautiful giant tipis. Jenna tells Colin about the history of the business and how, with the support of her family, she founded the company whilst on maternity leave. With the target of covering 12 events in the first year, Jenna ended up taking no less that 56 bookings! She puts much of the business’s success down to having a serious can-do approach, her attitude to risk and of course, a fantastic, resourceful team of people around her.
From their humble beginnings, operating from an empty barn rented from a local mushroom company, Events Under Canvas now covers the whole of South and East of England. Around 70% of the business is high-end weddings and events, with the team doing 20 per weekend in the busy summer months. Having earned an outstanding reputation for their quality of service, they specialise in high-society events and the client list includes some very high-profile names.
Plus, if customers don’t have the space themselves for the tipis, they can even sort this, working with beautiful venues, such as Shotley Vineyard; do listen to our podcast from 2022 for more information on this: https://suffolkmoney.co.uk/2022/09/07/a-vineyard-with-a-view/)
To find out more about Jenna and her team, please visit: https://www.eventsundercanvas.co.uk/
Suffolk’s Only Railway Pier
This weeks’ podcast comes to you from the edge of the River Stour, where Colin Low is talking to Sally Chicken, Vice Chair of the Shotley Heritage Charitable Community Benefit Society Ltd.
Sally tells Colin all about Shotley’s unique 122-year-old railway pier and its fascinating history; which includes carrying mail, coal, munitions and many a sailor serving or training on the world-renowned HMS Ganges.
Having fallen into disrepair around the turn of the 21st century, the pier is now in desperate need of restoration. Fortunately, Shotley Heritage Charitable Community Benefit Society Ltd managed to purchase the pier, following a successful fund-raising campaign, to save the superstructure for future generations. So far just one fifth of it has been revamped, but the Shotley community are determined to see their pier stand proudly once again, with hopes to open it to the public in the near future.
To find out more about the 600-foot Shotley Railway Pier, please visit: https://www.shotleypier.co.uk/
All the research suggests that, when it comes to pensions, for most people, it can all be incredibly confusing. And with next week being Pension Awareness Week, we thought it timely to try to answer a few key questions.
So in this week’s Podcast Colin Low is joined by two of his colleagues from Kingsfleet – Lou Gladwell and Jack Warnock – to delve into the detail. They talk about everything from Income Tax relief and annual limits, to the security of pensions and avoiding scams. Above all, they highlight the importance of independent financial advice and how this can affect the value of your pension fund, which ultimately will sustain the type of life you want to have when you finish work.
For more information on how Kingsfleet may be able to assist you please visit: https://kingsfleetwealth.co.uk/contact-us/
Debbie Hudd and Sean Hedges-Quinn
Everyone had a soft spot for the entertainer Roy Hudd, who lived here in Suffolk and who sadly died three years ago. To help make sure that his memory lives on, a statue of Roy is being lovingly crafted. Rather than being put on a plinth, as a man of the people, Roy’s sculpture will be sat on a bench outside the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds, so that people can sit with him and enjoy the memories this evokes.
To find out more about the project and the fund-raising campaign behind it, on this week’s podcast Lesley Dolphin meets Roy’s widow, Debbie Hudd, and talented Suffolk sculptor, Sean Hedges-Quinn.
Debbie explains how she wanted a memorial to Roy that everyone could enjoy. Roy loved Suffolk and the Theatre Royal in particular meant a great deal to him. However, at a cost of around £100,000 lasting monuments don’t come cheap. Debbie tells Lesley how they are now over half way in raising the funds needed and, how she has been touched by people’s generosity, which in turn shows their love of Roy.
Sean Hedges-Quinn is well-known for creating the wonderful statues of Sir Bobby Robson, Sir Alf Ramsey and Captain Mainwaring amongst many others. He tells Lesley how thrilled he is to be commissioned for such an exciting project and is looking forward to portraying someone with such a larger-than-life character.
Roy was appointed OBE for services to entertainment in 2004. He was a great believer in charity and philanthropy and, as Debbie says, this statue will be a way of saying “Thank you Roy, for your talent, generosity and love”.
To find out more about the Roy Hudd Statue Appeal, please visit: https://www.theroyhuddstatueappeal.co.uk
Peter Willis, President of the Nancy Blackett Trust
The picturesque sailing village of Pin Mill is famous for being the setting of one of Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazon’s books. Thanks to Peter Willis, it is also now home to Nancy Blackett, Arthur’s cherished sailboat, which featured as ‘The Goblin’in his book ‘We Didn’t Mean To Go To Sea’.
On this week’s podcast, Lesley Dolphin takes a stroll along Arthur Ransome’s Walking Trail with Peter, who founded the Nancy Blackett Trust back in 1996, to buy this very special 1931 Hillyard cutter and maintain her for future generations. As they follow the route of The Goblin along the glorious Shotley Peninsula, Peter tells Lesley about his lifelong passion for this very special children’s author, and his favourite yacht.
Now owned by the Trust and sailed frequently by its members, Nancy Blackett ensures that Arthur’s tales of childhood adventure are kept very much alive.
If you are interested in joining the Nancy Blackett Trust or would like to find out more, please visit: https://nancyblackett.org
The UK’s Food Museum is located in the very heart of Suffolk and for this week’s podcast, we’ve gone behind the scenes with its director, Jenny Cousins.
In this episode, Lesley Dolphin heads over to the banks of the River Orwell to chat to Jason Alexander, founder of Rubbish Walks, about the impact rubbish is having on the environment; from drinks bottles and cigarette butts to lesser-known nurdles and bio beads.
This week on the Suffolk Money podcast, we’re talking about funerals. Our guest, Anne Beckett-Allen, is someone who knows the industry inside out, having started out in the family-run business when she was just 16. She is now one of the top funeral directors in the country and talks to Colin Low about her role in the family-run business, Rosedale Funeral Home.
In this week’s episode of Suffolk Money, Colin chats to Siobhan, a retired television and radio journalist who, in 2019 sold most of her possessions and put her old life into storage.
In this week’s episode of Suffolk Money podcast, Lesley Dolphin speaks to Patsy Johnson-Cisse, Managing Director of the charity Brave Futures.
John Taylor and Nick Watts
There’s just over a week to go until the Suffolk Show takes place, on Wednesday 31st May and Thursday 1st June, at Trinity Park near Ipswich. So, in this week’s episode of Suffolk Money, Colin Low is delighted to be joined by organisers John Taylor (Honorary Director) and Nick Watts (Deputy Show Director) who explain how the Show remains hugely important in bringing the community together; sharing their love of farming, the countryside and, of course, our county.
John and Nick are both passionate farmers and talk to Colin about their backgrounds, their personal experiences in farming and of course about the show itself, which is something uniquely Suffolk. They explain how their job is to maintain the excellent reputation of the show and its high agricultural bias, with livestock still being very much paramount to the success of the show.
With last year’s event drawing record crowds, the 2023 Show is on track to be equally as successful. Showcasing all that is great about the county, there will be an exciting range of food & drink and trade stands, plus visitors can enjoy a vast array of live events too. From show jumping to motocross, the Ring Programme features a long list of amazing attractions, including the Grand Parade which is always a spectacle to behold.
Guaranteed to be a fun day out for the whole family, the Suffolk Shows offers something for everyone.
To get your tickets or for more information about the show, visit: https://suffolkshow.co.uk
David Falk, Festival Director
In celebration of this year’s Suffolk Walking Festival (which launches on Saturday 13th May) for this week’s episode of Suffolk Money, Lesley Dolphin laces up her walking boots and takes her dog for a stroll with Festival Director, David Falk.
As they walk along the banks of the River Deben, Lesley and David take in the sights and sounds of the estuary and its wildlife, whilst chatting about what makes Suffolk such a special place to walk.
David explains how the Suffolk Walking Festival began back in 2008 as a much smaller event that has quickly grown into one of the largest walking festivals in the country. With 71 walks included in the two-week festival programme, you’ll find walks in every corner of Suffolk. Whether you’re a stroller or a stomper, a long or short distance walker, there really is something for everyone. There are even night-time walks that offer nocturnal wildlife experiences and, of course there are fully accessible routes for wheelchair users.
Having grown up in urban North London, David’s love of the outdoors was evident from an early age, as he always managed to find greenspaces to play in. His walking adventures as an adult have taken him all over the world – including hiking in the Rockies – but now, he finds his pleasure in slow walking and just being out in nature.
David is also Green Access Manager for Discover Suffolk; the County Council’s guide to getting outdoors. He tells Lesley how walking, cycling and riding in Suffolk can now be an interactive experience, with QR code trails and an app that offers a plethora of routes and locations, all over Suffolk. To find out more simply visit https://www.discoversuffolk.org.uk
For more information about the Suffolk Walking Festival please visit https://suffolkwalkingfestival.co.uk
Christine Luxton, CEO of Suffolk Wildlife Trust
With a lifelong passion for everyday nature and a champion of the joy to be found from the wildlife on your doorstep, Christine Luxton (chief executive of Suffolk Wildlife Trust) is a true inspiration when it comes to the protection and future of Suffolk’s wildlife and countryside.
In this week’s episode, Lesley Dolphin chats to Christine about our county’s nature charity – the only organisation dedicated to safeguarding Suffolk’s wildlife and countryside. From the cycling shed at the Trust’s HQ in Ashbocking, they talk not only about big news-worthy projects such as the transformation of the nature reserve at Martlesham Wilds, but also why Christine believes that nature should be more than a day out. Instead, she explains how nature can be part of our everyday and that if we make space for it, as a society we can achieve something rich and abundant. In return we’ll then benefit from the clean air and water we all desperately need.
Although Christine’s role as COE began in 2020, she has been part of the Trust for 25 years. The Trust celebrated 60 years in 2021, with staff and volunteers having saved some of the county’s most important wildlife sites as nature reserves over the last six decades. A membership organisation, the Trust has 1400 volunteers around the county, but looking to the future they need more members and businesses to come on board. With a shared ambition and a will to make a change, extraordinary things are possible and Christine’s message is one of hope: by thinking global and acting local, little by little we can bring nature back.
For more information about Suffolk Wildlife Trust please visit https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org
Bruce Leeke, CEO of Suffolk Libraries
On this week’s Suffolk Money podcast, we talk about libraries and, if you haven’t been in one lately, you’ll be amazed what’s changed. Colin Low’s guest is Bruce Leeke, chief executive of Suffolk Libraries and he explains about what has happened since Suffolk Libraries became the first council library service in the country to become an independent charity.
Although the main driver behind the change in 2012 was financial – with the spectre of library closures looming – Suffolk Libraries, the charity, has not only saved millions of pounds since its launch, but also made a huge impact on people’s lives across the county.
Bruce explains how there is so much more to libraries than just millions of books, now that they are run by the community for the community. Dynamic, flexible and focused on delivering things that local people need, each library has moveable shelves, so can easily accommodate groups and activities. Offering over 10,000 activities, events and experiences across the 45 sites in Suffolk – from baby bounce to wellbeing clubs and even live gigs – libraries really have become the heart of the community.
Providing a service that exists purely for the benefit of its residents, Suffolk Libraries is a truly remarkable charity. Having stepped up to offer a crucial source of support, comfort and advice during the pandemic, they continue to meet the needs of local people as the current cost of living crisis develops, offering a place where people can connect and feel less isolated. Their work with local communities to develop ever more services to meet their needs is astonishing and, almost everything they do is free and accessible to all – you don’t even need a library card!
To find out more please visit: https://www.suffolklibraries.co.uk
Novelist, musician, poet
Best-selling author Louis de Bernières knew from the age of 12 that he was going to be a writer. But success didn’t come overnight and, in this fascinating chat with Colin Low, Louis talks about how he got to where he is now. From his early education through to university and the many varied jobs he’s taken to support his writing (including landscape gardening, carpentry and teaching) Louis has had a remarkable life.
His big success came in the 90s with the publication of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, which quickly became one of the most talked about books of the decade and won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. However, when asked to write the film script, Louis turned this down as he was busy working on his next novel, Birds Without Wings; which is considered by many, and by the author himself, as his real masterpiece. As well as writing, Louis’s other love is music, where his song-writing and gift for words and rhythm tie in of course with his poetry.
Louis will be talking about his latest book Light Over Liskeard onboard the popular Orwell Lady on 14th May, as part of a picturesque river cruise to launch the Felixstowe Book Festival, which is being held 16-25 June.
For full details about this special event and to find out more about the other authors taking part in the Felixstowe Book Festival please visit: https://felixstowebookfestival.co.uk
Tickets for A Trip with Louis de Bernières can be purchased at the following links:
https://orwelllady.co.uk/louis-de-bernieres-2023/
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/felixstowebookfestival
JS Global Group
The words abandonment and destruction may seem negative to most, but not to Jake Slinn; a young Suffolk entrepreneur who has built a very successful business, disposing of unwanted or illicit cargo. Jake’s story is one of drive and resilience, and in this week’s episode of Suffolk Money he chats to Lesley Dolphin about how he saw a gap in the market for the salvage and safe disposal of abandoned products that come into our ports.
Having always had a keen interest in waste and scrap, Jake took a local apprenticeship when he left school and gained the industry experience he needed, before starting his own business from his bedroom in 2018. At the age of just 19, Jake had discovered a business niche of disposing of the illegal, damaged, unsafe or unwanted products that arrive at our ports.
The business quickly grew and diversified and JS Global Group now operates throughout the UK’s national ports. Jake spends a lot of his time inspecting cargos and freight earmarked for disposal and is proud to have “never landfilled one piece of waste”. He clearly enjoys the daily challenges he faces in dealing with unwanted or sub-standard shipments (which can be anything from toothbrushes to rotten cabbages and even breast implants!) and finding the best solution every time.
For more information about JS Global Group please visit www.js-global.co.uk
Sudbury’s national museum
Thomas Gainsborough was one of the greatest artists of his age and is renowned throughout the world for his portrait and landscape paintings. In this week’s episode, Lesley Dolphin visits the house in Sudbury where Gainsborough was born and lived as a child, and is now a national museum and gallery. Mark Bills, Director of Gainsborough House, takes Lesley on a fascinating tour of the new-look museum, which celebrates the life and art of this treasured Suffolk artist.
Lesley sees for herself the huge panoramic window on the top floor, which gives a spectacular view across rooftops to the landscape that so inspired Gainsborough. Mark explains how the building has been carefully renovated to celebrate great local heritage; with locally hand-made brick and Suffolk flint, a distinctive crinkle crankle wall in the garden and, the Gainsborough Gallery itself featuring walls lined in Suffolk silk.
With 42 Gainsboroughs currently on display, the newly restored galleries also show collections by Suffolk’s own Cedric Morris and John Constable. Visitors can see the 400 year-old mulberry tree, which was here when Gainsborough was a boy and still produces enough fruit for its jam-makers every year.
From a building at risk, Gainsborough House has now become a vibrant and exciting place, thanks to not only heritage lottery money, but also a tremendous amount of local support. You’ll find the museum right in the heart of Sudbury, open seven days a week and always with a warm welcome.
For more information please visit: https://gainsborough.org/
In this week’s Suffolk Money podcast, Colin has a lovely chat with his new co-presenter, Lesley Dolphin, finding out about how Lesley came to live in Suffolk and her love for this special county.
Having grown-up in rural Norfolk before studying at Bradford university, Lesley has now lived in Suffolk for most of her life. She joined BBC Radio Suffolk when the station launched in 1990 and has since become one of the best-known presenters in local radio.
Now enjoying retirement, Lesley is doing the things she’s always wanted to do; including spending more time with her family and friends, exploring beautiful Suffolk… and now a podcast!
Lesley’s fascination with people and her passion for listening to their stories makes her the perfect person to meet and interview the interesting people of Suffolk.
On this week’s Suffolk Money podcast, we’re delighted to welcome experienced interviewer and broadcaster, Lesley Dolphin to the team. Lesley talks to local historian Jean Macpherson all about her new book, The Felixstowe Floods of 1953 – Never to be forgotten.
Although these floods are by far the biggest disaster that has ever happened to Felixstowe, it’s amazing that not many people really know about the events of that treacherous night and the devastation it caused. Even Jean, who grew up knowing about the flood, didn’t fully appreciate the story, until she became inspired to write this book and collate final untold stories from those who were there, 70 years ago.
Remembering the story and passing it on not only pays tribute to the 41 people who lost their lives in the floods, but also celebrates those who jumped into action to help others escape and survive. The book is full of wonderful stories and fascinating local detail, including how boats from Butlin’s ‘Tunnel of Love’ took people to the rescue centre and, a touching recollection about Jennifer Ted’s survival and her presence at the annual memorial service.
In the words of David Attenborough, ‘Everyone likes birds. What wild creature is more accessible to our eyes and ears, as close to us and everyone in the world, as universal as a bird?’ Our guest this week couldn’t agree more and, in her chat with Colin, Hannah Debnam demystifies the unusual art of taxidermy.
Having always preferred the company of birds and animals, Hannah shares her life with what she describes as her ‘little zoo of live birds’. She talks to Colin about how her love for the beauty that she sees within nature first sparked her interest in taxidermy. She sees this as a way of preserving this beauty and ensuring that an animal or bird can continue to be loved and admired for years to come.
Hannah talks about her struggles since childhood with both her mental and physical health, and how she was left hospitalised with life-threatening complications after surgery in her mid-20s. Not long before this operation, Hannah had overcome a life-long fear of death, when she undertook her first taxidermy project; a roadkill wood pigeon. She knew she had a lot to learn, but Hannah never looked back and it was her love of taxidermy and her thirst for knowledge that got her through some very dark times.
Immortalising beautiful birds and animals is now Hannah’s full-time job and she is passionate about sharing how important taxidermy is for the future of British wildlife, in terms of education and research, enabling future generations to see what we see now.
For more information please visit: https://www.hannahscreatures.co.uk
Today, it’s something different, as we look back on some of the memorable moments from 2022.
Our thanks to all the guests who joined us last year. The one thing that they’ve all had in common is that they’ve been inspiring; our contributors invariably showing huge determination and spirit to overcome the hurdles placed in their path. We are indebted to each and every one of them.
Amazingly, we’ve now produced over 60 podcasts since we launched the podcast nearly two years ago now; all support by Kingsfleet. Remember that if you go to our website at www.suffolkmoney.co.uk you can find every single one of them under the “Podcasts” section.
We’ll be back with another series of guests in the coming weeks, but in the meantime here’s a little reminder of some of the fascinating talks we’ve had over the last year.
Doing good for others for personal benefit too
In our last Suffolk Money podcast of 2022, Colin Low is on location to meet the dedicated team at Ipswich-based UK charity Tools With A Mission. The warehouse is a hive of activity, as volunteers collect and refurbish a vast array of unwanted tools, before sorting them into trade kits and sending them to the developing world for livelihood creation.
The group’s chief executive Mike Griffin explains how by recycling unwanted tools, not only are they able to create sustainable livelihoods that transform communities across the continent of Africa, but also address the issue of stuff being needlessly dumped in landfill, here in the UK.
Volunteers across the country collect unwanted items – from DIY and gardening tools to sewing machines and computers – which are taken to their warehouse and carefully refurbished by the team at the Ipswich HQ. They then assemble kits for every kind of trades-person (including carpenters, mechanics, plumbers, builders and tailors), ensuring that the people who receive them will have everything they need to start their own business, affording them independence and sustainability.
Sending tools rather than money reduces the danger of corruption and provide vital support for communities where unemployment is very high; as many of the volunteers at Tools With A Mission have seen first-hand when they’ve visited some of the African countries that this charity has worked with.
However, as many of the volunteers explain, it’s not just communities in Africa that benefit from this charity. Although most volunteers join to help those in need, they quickly discover that the social interaction and sense of camaraderie they enjoy through volunteering, is as transformative to their own lives. This, together with the environmental benefits of re-using unwanted items makes for ‘a triple win’, as volunteer Jim says!
For more information or to find out how you can help, volunteer or donate to Tools With A Mission, please visit: https://www.twam.uk
You can follow and stay up-to-date with their activity on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toolswithamission
Members of the TWAM team in Ipswich
Making court the last resortThe delicate subject of divorce is the focus in the latest Suffolk Money podcast – supported by Kingsfleet – as two experts in family law talk to Colin Low about striving for resolution not confrontation.
Juliet Harvey is a Legal Director at Birketts and Melanie Pilmer is a Partner at Greene & Greene and both are very experienced in helping to resolve family disputes, in the most calm, amicable and effective way possible.
As members of Resolution (a community of family justice professionals who work with families and individuals to resolve issues in a constructive way) both Juliet and Melanie strongly advise people that come to them in times of distress to ‘make Court the last resort’. Instead, they guide them through the processes and find one that would be most suitable for them.
They debunk myths from the ‘quickie divorce’ to how lawyers are portrayed in popular tv dramas and also talk about Good Divorce Week 2022 (28 Nov – 2 Dec), which highlights the crisis in the family courts and raises awareness of all the different ways families can resolve their disputes away from Court.
If you’d like to find out more about Good Divorce Week, please visit https://resolution.org.uk
Plus, please see below for links to Birketts and Greene & Greene:
https://www.birketts.co.uk https://greene-greene.com
Colin discusses the ‘Permacrisis’ with financial experts
By any measure, it’s been a turbulent few weeks for the economy, so for the latest Suffolk Money podcast, supported by Kingsfleet, Colin Low is joined by two experts, Adrian Game of Resolute Mortgages and Daniel Zipfel of Kingsfleet. Together they talk through the issues that have arisen over the last few weeks and months and try to assess what it all means for mortgages, pensions and savings … ultimately stressing that it’s always good to talk, especially for the sake of your mental health.
For more information about Resolute Mortgages please visit https://resolutemortgages.com
For more information about Kingsfleet please visit https://www.kingsfleetwealth.co.uk
In this week’s Suffolk Money podcast, Colin talks to Amanda Bloomfield about her work at the wonderful Gatehouse in Bury St Edmunds.
For this week’s Suffolk Money podcast, Colin Low has been chatting to Olly Magnus, CEO of logistics company Magnus Group, who was recently awarded Director of the Year at the Suffolk Business Awards.
In this week’s episode of Suffolk Money Podcast, Colin is joined by Kate Higgs from Ormiston Families; the East of England’s leading family charity.
In this week’s episode of Suffolk Money, Colin talks to Carole Burman, founder and owner of one of our region’s leading HR consultancies, MAD-HR.
In this week’s episode of Suffolk Money, Colin talks to Charlotte Davitt-Mills, the General Manager and owner of Shotley Vineyard.
Deborah Watson joins Colin in this week’s episode of Suffolk Money, to tell him all about Wednesday’s Child; a not-for-profit organisation that helps support individuals and families affected by eating disorders.
In this week’s episode of Suffolk Money, Colin speaks to someone who really has really made a difference to her local community, having created a small business in memory of her first child. Zoe Hayman-Cox tells a truly heart-warming story, which lead to her opening a very popular tea-room in Chantry Park.
In this week’s episode of Suffolk Money Colin talks to inspirational duo, Tracey Clayden and her son Jake, who have built their wonderful Suffolk business selling luxury hand-poured beeswax melts and candles.
This week Colin talks to Chris Wiley, founder of Sow Successful Ltd, whose Harkstead horticultural business has gone from strength to strength since he launched it in 2020.
In this week’s episode of Suffolk Money, Colin talks to Bridie Iachetta at Larking Gowen, tapping into her knowledge on cryptocurrency and the, often little-known, tax implications around this.