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Next update: 9th July
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Scroll down to read: A summer full of entertainment | Thurston Festival will be a Bohemiam Rhapsody | A telephone exchange ‘between the worlds’ | We all love messing about on the water
Excitement, drama and fabulous hats
Charlotte Webber – winner of the Best Dressed Lady award at last year’s Ladies’ Day.
This year’s Newmarket July Festival combines a community celebration with some of the best horseracing in the world.
The event gets under way on Saturday with Newmarket Carnival, a great town event for all the family while racing fans will be looking forward to Wednesday which sees the start of three days of top class racing at the July Racecourse culminating in the Darley July Cup on Friday.
On Wednesday, the opening day, the star prize for the lady wearing the most stylish accessories (hat, shoes, jewellery, handbag, etc.)is an unforgettable week on a cocoa plantation on the Caribbean paradise island of St Lucia, courtesy of Hotel Chocolat.
Thursday is Lanson Ladies’ Day when a year’s supply of Champagne Lanson is the star prize for Best Dressed Lady and on Friday a 20-night luxury cruise to Dubai and Muscat, courtesy of Premier Travel, is the star prize for the Best Dressed Couple.
With a midweek break at Champneys’ luxury Henlow Grange Spa, a Sporting Weekend at Stapleford Park Country House Hotel and lots of other prizes also on offer, there could be no greater incentive to dress to impress and head to Newmarket for its big summer event.
Australian equine star Scenic Blast, fresh from his Royal Ascot success last week, has remained in Newmarket for a crack at Europe’s premier sprint, the Darley July Cup before he returns ‘down under’.
For more information or to book tickets, visit www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk or call 0844 579 3010.
A summer full of entertainment
Room on the Broom, a spooky drama, will be performed at Haverhill Arts Centre.
It's July and it won’t be long before school’s out for summer – and there’s plenty to keep everyone occupied around and about.
Theatre lovers should head to Haverhill Arts Centre for a spooky tale called Room on the Broom.
A witch and her cat are flying happily on their broomstick when a storm blows away the witch’s hat and wand.
A helpful dog, bird and frog help her find them but what will become of them all when a hungry dragon appears?
The show is suitable for ages 3 and over and is at the arts centre on July 21 at noon and 2.30pm.
Tickets are £4.50 for adults, £2 concessions and £16 for a family from the box office on 01440 714140.
At Lavenham Guildhall (www.nationatrust.org/lavenhamguildhall) on July 24, from 11am, visitors can discover how the Tudors lived in Lavenham and what they did for a living while over at Kentwell Hall (www.kentwell.co.uk), the Tudor re-creations are on July 11 and 12 where the year 1535 is brought to life.
Lovers of the tales of Beatrix Potter can enjoy an afternoon dedicated to her at Melford Hall, in Long Melford (www.nationaltrust.org/melfordhall), on July 31, from 1.30pm.
Beatrix Potter was a regular visitor to the hall, being a cousin of the Hyde Parkers, and visitors will have the chance to see the original Jemima Puddleduck toy and other memorabilia.
Her stories will be read in the banqueting hall and there will be children’s activities.
Animal lovers can enjoy a hedgehog day at Ickworth House (www.nationaltrust.org/ickworth) on July 28 (11am-1pm and 2-4pm). A fun day out for the whole family.
Meet a hedgehog and go on a hedgehog trail – and keep an eye out for Trusty, the National Trust’s hedgehog mascot.
Staying in the great outdoors, there is a family pond dipping at Thornham Walks on July 12. Dipping starts at 2pm and costs £7 per family. Booking is essential on 01379 788345.
At Sutton Hoo on July 20, 22, 24, 27, 29 and 31, children are invited to a special Gruesome Garves tour of the burial mounds. This is a child-friendly tour explaining the Sutton Hoo story and costs £6.50 per family.
Children are invited to Ipswich Museum until July 11 to photograph their favourite object with winners having their photos on display at the museum. Details at www.ipswich.gov.uk/museums
West Stow Anglo-Saxon village has a packed July schedule starting with a look at Anglo-Saxon industries on July 4 to 5. Costumed re-enactors will show how cloth was produced and the following weekend (July 11/12) visitors can discover the uses and fascinating past of flint in Suffolk when flint knapper Karl Lee presents demonstrations and workshops. Full details at www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/weststow
Throughout the month there are village fetes and fairs – check the weekly listings for details.
Thurston Festival will be a Bohemiam Rhapsody
Don't miss the Thurston Prom concert.
This year’s Thurston Festival kicks off with a tribute to Queen by The Bohemians, who are regarded as one of the leading tribute acts to the rock band.
They will be performing on July 3 at Thurston Community College and promise an evening of Queen’s greatest hits.
The Festival, formerly Thurston Prom and Air Fair, is welcoming children free to all events over the weekend.
The Thurston Prom concert on July 4 will feature the Haverhill Silver Band, soprano Birgitta Kenyon and Frank Sinatra tribute singer Andrew Beasley, finishing with the ever popular Last Night of the Proms favourites and firework display.
At Thurston Air Fair on July 5, there will be a full programme of flying displays including the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Sea King air rescue helicopter, P51 Mustang and aerobatic displays.
The Marrakesh Swing Band will be playing in the afternoon and there will be main arena events, sideshows and entertainment.
For more information and ticket details, go to www.thurfest.com
A telephone exchange ‘between the worlds’
Clairaudient Steve Holbrook is in Bury on July 13.
Steve Holbrook, regarded by many as Britain’s most gifted clairaudient, brings his show to Bury St Edmunds this month.
Steve has described himself as a telephone exchange between this world and the next, and while many mediums see the spirits they connect with, Steve hears them, hence the word clairaudient rather than clairvoyant.
Last year’s national tour took him from places as far apart as Dumfries and Falmouth and his show has been described as an emotional rollercoaster, bringing reassurance to thousands and causing many entrenched sceptics to change their views.
Steve is also proud of his long and continued friendship with TV presenter Jane McDonald, whose rise to stardom was predicted by Steve years before the nation took her to their hearts on the BBC show The Cruise.
Now a regular on ITV’s lunchtime show, Loose Women, Jane wrote in her official biography: “To Steve Holbrook, my best friend and spiritual adviser for the last 13 years. Thank you for making me feel wonderful, how do you do it?”
Over the last few years, Steve has raised tens of thousands of pounds for local charities, notably the hospice movement and Macmillan Cancer Support.
He now raises money for PACT, a Sheffield-based charity which helps terminally ill children who have cancer.
Steve Holbrook is at the Corn Exchange, Bury St Edmunds, on July 13. Doors open at 7pm with the show starting at 7.30pm.
Tickets (£15 in advance, £16 on the night) are available from the Bury Free Press, King’s Road, Bury St Edmunds, or telephone 01284 768911.
We all love messing about on the water
Messing about on the Stour.
The River Stour Trust is gearing up for a busy weekend on the water and dry land.
On July 11, boat owners and residents are invited to Great Cornard Lock to use the three miles of restored waterway.
There will be boat trips on the trust’s boats and demonstrations of the lock in operation.
Boats can be registered by calling 01787 313199.
On July 12, the trust’s popular annual steam and electric boating event kicks off at 11am at The Granary, in Quay Lane.
As well as a variety of steam exhibits and models, there will be craft stalls, historical exhibits and boat trips. Admission is £1 for adults and 50p for children. For details go to www.riverstourtrust.org
Walk in Constable Country
What better place to spend a few hours than the place which inspired one of our greatest artists?
Two guided walks in the Dedham Vale – where John Constable grew up and painted – have been arranged by the National Trust, which owns Bridge Cottage at Flatford where the walks start from.
The first walk, on July 4 at 10am, is a four-mile guided ramble to some of the places and views which inspired Constable.
It takes in the village of East Bergholt and the lane along which the young John walked to school.
The second walk on July 18, again at 10am, is a six-mile guided ramble heading across Dedham Vale to reach Lawford Church before heading to Dedham village and then back to Flatford.
Both walks are £5 per person and booking is essential on 01206 298260.
