Ipswich Has Talent
The community competition is now in its second year and aims to promote talented performers in the town from all areas of the community.
Ipswich Has Got Talent 2010 is being run by the Borough Council and is open to anyone 10 years and over.
Taking on the formidable role of Simon Cowell and his Britain’s Got Talent judges will be Nadia Cenci (the Council’s Communities portfolio-holder), Jim Manning (Community Safety Manager), Superintendent David Skevington (Suffolk Police), Russell Cook (Evening Star News Editor) and Sharon Coney (Heart fm).
This year’s heats will be held in a number of family-friendly venues and the grand final will be at the Regent Theatre on 19th November.
The competition is supporting the official charities of the Mayor of Ipswich, Councillor Jane Chambers.
Show orgainiser Kevin Smith said: “After last year’s success, Ipswich Has Got Talent 2010 will be bigger and better. We are looking for a wide range of acts who will show the rest of the region that we really have got talent.
“The winning act will get £500 and will be able to use the title of Ipswich Has Got Talent 2010 winner. Application forms and heat details are available from ihgt2010@yahoo.co.uk or by calling 0779 8888 900.
The Borough Council’s Communities portfolio-holder, Councillor Nadia Cenci, said: “After the success last year of Ipswich Has Got Talent, I am delighted that we will be repeating the event in 2010 and giving more venues the chance to participate. As well as being an entertaining evening with first-class talent on show, it will continue to increase awareness of Ipswich as a thriving arts and culture centre and bring all different ages and backgrounds together. The Mayor's charities will benefit from the proceeds so we need to spread the word for even bigger support than that enjoyed in 2009.”
SUFFOLK PRIDE - BACK FOR 2010
Following the success of Suffolk’s first LGBT Pride in 2009, which attracted an estimated 3000 people, Suffolk Pride 2010 will take place on Sunday, 20 June, from 2pm until late, in Christchurch Park Ipswich.
“Suffolk Pride 2010 will celebrate and promote equality and diversity through engagement, fun and entertainment,” commented Media and Engagement spokesman Paul Couch. “Suffolk Pride has something for everyone, Suffolk Pride will be a celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgendered people in Suffolk and will provide an opportunity for everyone to gather together, in a celebration, bringing all communities closer together,” he continued.
This year BBC Radio Suffolk is Suffolk Pride’s media partner and early morning radio presenter Rob Dunger will be on stage on the day compering an eclectic range of acts.
International lesbian comedienne and writer Clair Summerskill will be opening the event. Live stage performances will include rock band Kenelis, local singer Lucy Atkins, local band Frisky, dance group Xtreme, the cast of Rent, Killer Queens and more. It’s also ‘Father’s Day’ so bring dad along!
Lots to do and see - the community tent, stalls, food and drink, young people’s space, and funfair. This year Suffolk Pride 2010 will be bigger and better!
This year there will be a ‘bucket collection’ for East Anglian Children Hospice’s (EACH) Treehouse Appeal.
Visit the website for more information: www.suffolkpride.co.uk. The event can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.
Crown Pools Open Day
Ipswich Borough Council's Crown Pools are holding a free open day this Sunday (13th June) and everyone is welcome.
As well as free admission, there will be an opportunity to try free taster sessions in aqua aerobics and one-to-one swimming lessons. There is a brand new inflatable slide to try out and a competition to name it could win a lucky family a one-year I-card membership with free swimming, gym, fitness classes and racket sports.
If you haven't been to the pool for a while, you will also have an opportunity to see the newly refurbished changing rooms and reception area.
Anyone attending on the day can receive a free registration I-card that can be used for booking fitness classes and racket sports and also allows you access to two-for-one ticket prices at Cineworld on Mondays (conditions apply).
Ipswich Borough Council is investing £4 million into swimming in Ipswich with phase one at Fore Street and Crown Pools now complete and phase two to begin early in 2011, which will see refurbishment to the pool halls, further air handling improvements and a review of the roof.
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Treehouse reaches Half a Million!
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) Treehouse Appeal has reached its first half-million pounds landmark today, as the Appeal has reached £528,099.
The appeal needs to raise £3 million to build and equip a new children’s hospice to provide care and support to life-threatened children and their families.
Here are the many ways in which this figure has been reached:
• Treehouse Appeal launch on March 16 at Trinity Park. Attended by local dignitaries, charity supporters and families who use the existing hospice to launch the £3 million appeal. BBC Radio Suffolk also launched the appeal live on air on March 16. TV, print and radio coverage was achieved to ensure the message reached the whole of East Anglia.
• East Anglian Daily Times readers have been sending in vouchers printed in the newspaper with their donations. A total of 383 vouchers have been returned and about £18,000 has been raised.
• The Treehouse Appeal has been chosen as charity of the year by George Paul, who is President of the Suffolk Agricultural Association (SAA). The Treehouse Appeal team were represented at this year’s Suffolk show, raising over £7300 as well as awareness, collecting donations and selling merchandise - including more than 300 Cath Kidston bags.
• The EACH Treehouse Appeal Facebook page is allowing us to advertise fundraising events and encourage people to raise funds themselves. There are more than 2,000 fans, meaning we are reaching a wide audience.
• A number of donations have been received including an anonymous £10,000 donation.
• There have been a number of Treehouse Appeal fundraising events taking place including Brandeston Hall Ball and Star For a Night which raised more than £6,000.
• Funds have also been raised by a number of charitable trusts, including the Belstead Settlement which has given £50,000 and the Fonnereau Road Health trust which has given £10,000, as well as others who wish to remain anonymous.
IPSWICH TO PAY TRIBUTE
TO ARMED SERVICES
Ipswich will be flying the flag for the Armed Forces at two ceremonies in the town later this month.
The events will take place on British Armed Forces Day - Monday 21st June, at 10.30am – and will be attended by service and ex-service organisations, veterans, cadets and civic leaders.
The Mayor, Councillor Jane Chambers, will lead one ceremony outside the Town Hall, while the Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, Councillor Liz Harsant, will preside outside the Council’s Grafton House offices in Russell Road.
The Mayor said: “Ipswich is proud to play its part in ceremonies that will be taking place across the country and I hope many people will turn up on the day.”
Orwell Wildlife Cruise
Grab a ticket for a special wildlife cruise on the River Orwell and you might have a chance to see peregrine falcons and even basking seals.
Ipswich Borough Council’s Orwell Country Park Ranger and local enthusiasts will be on board the Orwell Lady to guide you through this internationally important estuary which forms part of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths area of outstanding natural beauty.
The evening cruise (7pm to 9.30pm) takes place on Thursday 17th June and costs £12 for adults (£10 concessions) and £6 for children. Book now on 01473 433994. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars.
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Tranmer House to Open to Public
The home of Edith Pretty, instigator of the 1939 excavations at Sutton Hoo, is set to open to visitors for the first time. Tour the downstairs rooms of this Edwardian country house and enjoy the elegant interiors as Edith once would have.
Tranmer House as it’s now known was built in 1910 as a statement of wealth and influence, with far reaching views out over the River Deben. Left to the National Trust unfurnished in 19981, until now access has only been via pre-booked tours.
Following a public appeal for furniture from the Edwardian era up to the 1930s, the team at Sutton Hoo are now ready to open the partly furnished house in a style that Mrs Pretty herself would be proud of. There’s even an Edwardian sideboard that once belonged to WWI fighter pilot Albert Ball. A significant number of items have been loaned from National Trust sites across the country, where the furniture was otherwise in storage.
So be one of the first visitors to step inside Tranmer House, which celebrates its centenary this year. Relax in a comfy chair by the fireplace and look through some of the photo albums and newspapers of the 1930s to find out more about the discovery that changed the way we view our ancestors.
Tranmer House will be open at weekends from Saturday 12 June to Sunday 11 July, then daily until the end of August, from 11am to 4pm.
Council "MoT" Reveals Savings
Careful financial management and new ways of working have enabled Ipswich Borough Council to slash more than £2 million from what it had budgeted to spend, figures revealed today.
The Council had planned to spend £24.7 million in 2009/10 but oversaw efficiency savings and increased income over the past 12 months.
For example, income from the Borough-owned Regent Theatre has jumped by almost £150,000; housing management costs have been cut and refuse and recycling collection costs have fallen – now representing just 64p per week for each household. In addition, the new operating regime at the Corn Exchange and a management restructure in the Council’s cultural services operation has saved another £158,000.
The Council’s Deputy Leader, Councillor John Carnall, highlighted the news as “an example of what can be achieved”.
He said: “The financial out-turn at the end of the financial year is an annual exercise and represents a ‘council MoT’ for tax-payers. In the past year we have put in place new monthly monitoring systems, moving budgets to meet priorities without spending more and achieving savings by cutting bureaucracy and making other efficiencies. This Council is a responsible, value for money authority and in this time of recession it is even more imperative that we show even better value for council tax-payers. The savings made in 2009/10 will put us in a stronger position to manage effectively the inevitable budget challenges that will follow spending cuts announcements by the Government in the months ahead.”
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