CTC (Children’s Theatre Company)

It’s been a real song and dance producing our latest podcast, which is all about the wonderful team at CTC (Children’s Theatre Company)! Kevin Burch went to see them rehearse for their upcoming production of Annie Jr and met CTC principal, Bridie Rowe and, some of the very talented cast. Bridie explains all about the quality of CTC’s work and how this has impacted the hundreds of young people who have been part of its journey, since she launched the company 16 years ago. Starting as a Summer School, CTC now runs professional, full-time musical theatre courses, which sees graduates performing in world-class shows. Both courses are hugely successful, but it’s CTC’s award-winning productions that they’ve become most famous for. Currently rehearsing for Annie Jr, the cast of 84 will perform at Seckford Theatre in February half term. Soon after, rehearsals will begin for their big annual summer production, which will be staged at one of Suffolk’s top theatres. Bridie has assembled a “Dream Team” who share her vision and passion, going above and beyond every single day. Their joy of teaching is clear and Bridie knows how much training to perform can mean to young people; helping them in terms of confidence, teamwork, professionalism and the opportunity to make lifelong friends. To find out more, please visit https://thectc.co.uk where you can find out about forthcoming productions and https://ctccollege.co.uk to discover more information about their courses.

Each one takes about a week to make and they truly are things of beauty. They’re the hand-made and hand-painted teapots, produced by the talented team at Carters of Suffolk. Based at Stonham Barns Park, the business is now in the hands of John and Val Baldry. For our latest podcast Kevin Burch went to meet them and to see their extraordinary range, which is highly sought after by collectors around the world. John, Val and the team are rightly very proud of what they do, as the only company in the country that produces handmade teapots. From the initial block of clay through to the final brushstrokes, everything is done completely in-house. Not only can they craft orders from their existing two and a half thousand moulds, but they also take on bespoke requests. Most of their handmade, hand painted creations are produced in numbers small enough to make them truly rare and highly collectable. A pottery business and also a tearoom, this is a delightfully friendly and welcoming place. People can walk in and talk to the team to find out all about what they do. Their paint your own service is also unique in that there are no time slots and customers can choose to be there half an hour, or stay and paint all day! To find out more and to see the wonderful designs visit https://www.cartersofsuffolk.com

As many an entrepreneur will tell you, the key to success is spotting an opportunity and taking a leap of faith. That’s what happened with Ian and Sarah Williams, who took on an unloved patch of land on the banks of the River Stour and have transformed it into a highly successful holiday and leisure park. In this episode, Kevin Burch meets this dynamic duo, to find out all about Constable Park. Set in the heart of Constable Country overlooking Dedham Vale and the RSPB nature reserve in Brantham, Constable Park is a new holiday & leisure park. Welcoming day visitors and holiday makers, this has become a real destination for locals and tourists alike. People can enjoy a top-quality brunch before kayaking or paddle-boarding on the beautiful River Stour and, those lucky enough to stay can snuggle up in the cosy luxuries of a glamping pod. Sarah explains how she likes meticulously planning, whilst Ian has the vision, and how their complimentary skills have enabled them to transform a field of brambles into a desirable location that people flock to – not least for their Paddle, Pizza & Prosecco! To find out more please visit https://www.constablepark.co.uk

Ipswich is about to stage its first ever Book Festival. Taking place over three days (from Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th October), this will involve an incredible 43 events across 11 of the town’s top venues. So for our latest podcast Kevin Burch sat down to chat with Tony Felgate, one of the team behind this event, as it gathers momentum and promises to be the start of something quite special. Tony is a big fan of Ipswich and its rich history and cultural heritage. He explains why Ipswich needs a book Festival and how this will build upon its already strong cultural base of music and arts. Not only will Ipswich’s first Book Festival celebrate the transformative power of books but also many of our iconic and historic buildings. The beautiful Ancient House sits proudly in their portfolio of locations, as well as St Stephen’s Church, The New Wolsey, Dance East, St Clements Art Centre and many more. A ‘Book Festival for all’, this an event where everybody and anybody and will be welcome. The team’s vision is to establish the Ipswich Book Festival as a vibrant, inclusive, and imaginative literary event that attracts authors, readers, and book lovers from near and far. The jam-packed programme includes many children and family events, as one of the key aims of the Festival is to leave a legacy and ignite a love of reading. For more information visit https://www.ipswichbookfestival.com where you can also sign up to their newsletter. You can also follow @IPSWICHBOOKFESTIVAL on Instagram and Facebook

It’s all aboard the Orwell Lady in our latest podcast, as Kevin Burch meets director Emma Lightfoot, and Skipper, Gareth, to find out all about this dedicated family business. For more than twenty years, this historic vessel has been chugging up and down the River Orwell, giving day-trippers the chance to savour the beauty of the water and its wildlife. Appealing to locals and tourists alike, the Orwell Lady’s river trips are enjoyed by people of all ages, and their dogs! Emma and her team are passionate about ‘showing the river to as many people as possible’, doing as many as 12 trips a week in peak season. They offer everything from private parties to afternoon teas and corporate experiences, making good use of the dancefloor for disco nights! The Orwell Lady is very much part of our local scenery and a vital part of Ipswich’s business community too. Emma talks about how they like to collaborate with other businesses in the town, encouraging tourists to discover the many gems Ipswich has to offer. So if you’ve not seen the peregrine falcons nesting box under the iconic Orwell Bridge, or enjoyed the scenes of the river bank at sunrise (or sunset for that matter!), why not visit https://orwelllady.co.uk

In our latest podcast, we discover that, when it comes to brewing, small really is beautiful. Colin Low took a trip behind the scenes at Bruha Brewing to meet the team – Barry and Henry Chevalier Guild and Marc Medland – and learn about their three breweries, cask, keg and nitro stout. Based on the Suffolk border, right in the heart of barley growing country, Bruha Brewing was started by head brewer Marc, who is known for being one of the most skilled and adept brewers in the region. Marc and the team talk about the technical process of brewing and provide fascinating insights into everything from dry-hopping, through to why “nothing can beat a good cask ale, served in a pub that really knows what it’s doing”. For more information, visit https://bruhabrewing.co.uk

As a crime that affects both individuals and businesses alike, we all need to be vigilant when it comes to cybercrime. So in our latest episode, Colin Low chats to Gemma Theobald, Cyber Security Advisor for Norfolk & Suffolk Police, about her role in trying to prevent it from happening and the many ways we can all reduce the risk. With around 99% of crime involving some kind of digital element, Gemma explains the difference between cybercrime, cyber-enabled crime and cyber-dependent crime. Demystifying terms such as bulk-phishing, spear-phishing and spoofing, Gemma talks about the very real dangers they all pose and how to minimise the risks here. She has plenty of advice for individuals: from how to manage password security, to using sites such as https://haveibeenpwned.com to see if your email address has been in a data breach and of course, how to use social media more safely. For businesses, Gemma speaks about the need to improve the culture of cyber security and why this is so important. For more information, visit the National Cyber Security: www.ncsc.gov.uk The National Cyber Resilience Centre: www.nationalcrcgroup.co.uk Or you can contact directly Gemma by emailing: [email protected]

What inspires a rock star? In this week’s episode Kevin Burch speaks to author and 1960s icon, Jenny Boyd, who will be bringing her new book to Suffolk next month. Jenny is set to join a fabulous line-up of speakers at the annual Felixstowe Book Festival, and tells Kevin all about how she came to write “Icons Of Rock: In Their Own Words”, following her many interviews with the stars. Having been married to Mick Fleetwood (of Fleetwood Mac) and with George Harrison and Eric Clapton as brothers-in-law, Jenny rubbed shoulders with the biggest names in music in the sixties. A former model, Jenny went on to study psychology and developed a fascination with the creative process behind rock music. Her interviews with rock stars included everyone from Don Henley of the Eagles, to Joni Mitchell, to the Beatles. Jenny’s book delves into the world of rock ‘n’ roll, reflecting on her candid conversations with rock legends and exploring song writing, creativity and addiction. The Felixstowe Book Festival runs from 25th – 29th June and Jenny will be joining other esteemed authors, such as the Rev Richard Coles and Esther Freud. To find out more please visit the festival website: https://felixstowebookfestival.co.uk

Nestled along the shores of most British seaside towns, the traditional beach hut provides a time-honoured form of escapism. Though never much bigger than a garden shed, they are highly sought-after and often command high prices. So in this episode, Kevin Burch takes a trip to the coast to find out more about their enduring appeal, by talking to an owner, an expert on seaside culture and an estate agent. Barbara Grace and Alan Sarfas tell Kevin all about their beloved Felixstowe hut, “Idle Hours”, which they’ve owned for 24 years. As a retired couple, they visit their hut every day and adore everything about it; from the stunning sea view to the sense of community. Historian and author, Kathryn Ferry (who's written about beach huts, their history and seaside culture) has some fascinating insights about beach huts, including their significance to British heritage. And finally, Jason Lewis from Felixstowe estate agents, Scott Beckett knows all about why people buy for longevity and how the humble yet homely beach hut appeals to all generations.

So many charities are doing such brilliant work, but almost all, without exception, are struggling finding the money, to not just continue doing what they’re doing, but to grow. One example is the Shelley Centre for Therapeutic Riding, based near Hadleigh, which uses horses to help children and adults who have disabilities. Kevin Burch has been to meet the team for our latest podcast, including chairman Debs Bennett, Martha (a regular, long-term rider at the centre) and Jan Derbyshire (Hon President). As Debs explains, this proudly independent charity welcomes about 150 people of all ages through the doors every week. However, even whilst run by volunteers, the centre costs in excess of £80,000 a year to run and, covering these costs is a constant battle. Lessons are tailored to the ability and needs of each rider and the benefits they receive is nothing less than remarkable. As well as the therapy, they gain new levels of confidence, self-esteem, and independence, which can have profound effects on their physical health as well as mental wellbeing. If you’d like to find out more about this wonderful charity, please visit www.shelleyrda.com