Maritime Heritage Weekend 2007 at Woodbridge

Fun for the children at Woodbridge Martitime Heritage event.

While some enjoyed testing the craft of the coracle maker, others did what kids do best, 'mucking about' in the mud at low tide. Woodbridge, once a thriving port at the tidal head of the River Deben in Suffolk, now heavily silted and unsuitable for commercial navigation, has become a popular leisure resort but the locals still take their maritime heritage seriously. The old tide mill (top picture) which used the power of the rising and falling tide to grind corn, has been restored as a heritage centre.

This article also appears on the nostalgia & heritage blog

A 'Chocolate Box' Village

Kersey, Suffolk, an unspoilt 'Chocolate Box' village

An Autumn visit to the seaside at Aldeburgh, Suffolk

I find it difficult to believe that these pictures were taken just two weeks ago. I wouldn't want to be outdoors today without a jacket!

Aldeburgh is a quaint old seaside town with no amusement arcades, bandstand or any of the razzamatazz typical of many English resorts, but had a strong connection with the Arts, as the home of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, and the Snape Maltings concert hall, and more recently the controversial scallop shell metal sculpture on the beach by local artist Maggi Hamblin.

The town was formerly better known for its fishing fleet but that is facing hard times now due to diminishing catches and the remaining fishermen are currently negotiating new licensing terms which would allow them to subsidise their income from the sale of locally caught fish with 25% of bought-in supplies.

Seals on The Naze , Essex

Trying to get this blog up and running I have been
looking through recent files and came up with this
picture taken last month on a boat trip - a birthday
treat for me from my brother. It was late in the
season and there were not many seals about, but
I was fortunate to get a couple of pictures.

Felixstowe Museum preparing for RAF's 90th anniversary

The museum closes for the winter at the end of
October, so most of my Sundays will be free until
Easter, but I'll continue to update the website
from home and other volunteers will continue
with preparations for our major exhibition next
year to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the
formation of the RAF on April 1, 1918.

Felixstowe played an important role in the early
years of military air power with its experimental
aircraft establishment and seaplane base.

http://www.felixstowe-museum.co.uk/

Art and folk

Country dancing at Flatford, Suffolk, where John
Constable painted his famous English landscapes.
I feel privileged to live in this peaceful rural area:
a great place to spend one's retirement after a
working life in the noise and pollution of London.

http://groups.msn.com/wordswebforum

First attempt at blogging

I have only just set up this blog and as I am new to blogging it will be a learning experience.

I may be just a grumpy old man, with no interest in sport or pop culture, but I enjoy the countryside and good conversation.

My intention here is to post photographs taken on my travels around East Anglia and occasional trips further afield, and look forward to sharing views with others of a like mind.