Episodes

How do you breathe new life into neglected buildings? One man who knows is property developer and investor John Howard, who’s our guest in the latest podcast from Suffolk Money, supported by Kingsfleet. Having worked on more than 4000 schemes in 88 different towns and cities across the UK, John’s career spans more than 40 years. In this episode, he tells Kevin Burch all about how it all began, lessons he’s learnt and advice he’d give to others, in what has become a highly competitive industry. M...

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...

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, Dea...

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 wel...

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 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 ...

What are the options for people with special needs, once they’ve left school? Having worked in a range of educational settings, Georgina Hanson 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 ...

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 hi...

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 desperat...

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 (11th - 15th September 2023), 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 av...

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 ...

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 an...

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. Formerly the Museum of East Anglian Life, the Museum changed its name in 2022 to reflect the way the museum had been evolving in recent years. Jenny explains to Colin how the museum had become motivated by a mission to connect people with where our food comes from and the impact of our choices; past, present and future. Our local heritage is pre...

Plastic Free July is a global movement, urging us all to do our bit for cleaner streets, oceans and communities. So, who better to talk to about the scourge of plastic in our environment, than Jason Alexander, founder of award-winning social enterprise, Rubbish Walks. In this episode, Lesley Dolphin heads over to the banks of the River Orwell to chat to Jason about the impact rubbish is having on the environment; from drinks bottles and cigarette butts to lesser-known nurdles and bio beads. Know...

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. From very humble beginnings in 2004, Rosedale has gone from strength to strength and now has four funeral homes in Norfolk and three in S...

Motivated by positive ageing and the benefits of slowing down to enjoy the journey, Siobhan Daniels is leading her own retirement rebellion. 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. She then hit the road in her new motorhome to begin travelling the country, defying stereotypes and spreading a positive-ageing message. As mistress of her own destiny, Siobha...

In this week’s episode of Suffolk Money podcast, Lesley Dolphin speaks to Patsy Johnson-Cisse, Managing Director of the charity Brave Futures, about the phenomenal work they do and the support they offer to young people who have had the worst start in life. Brave Futures is a support service for children and young people up to the age of 18 years who have experienced sexual abuse. They work throughout Suffolk and Norfolk, providing a safe place for children and young people to make sense of the ...

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 passionat...

In celebration of this year’s Suffolk Walking Festival (which launches on Saturday 13th May) for this week’s episode, 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 m...

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...

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 cha...

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 Mando...

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 ...

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...