Suffolk and the Sea - a formal report
Suffolk and the Sea Day
Two Sisters Arts Centre 25.6.2022
Comprised five sessions:
Session 1 The Sea and Suffolk:
Speakers Juliet Blaxland and Robert Simper – chaired by Peter Wain
Session 2 Suffolk Connected by the Sea:
Speakers Claudia Myatt and Jane Russell – chaired by Nick Cottam
Session 3: Healing Power of the sea – Glenys Newton CANCELLED
Session 4: Away from Suffolk by Sea
Speakers Claudia Myatt and Richard Woodman – chaired by Julia Jones
Session 5: You Too Can Go To Sea
Speakers Peter Willis (Chair) Leonie Back & Simon Daws
Session 6: Uncommon Courage
Speaker Julia Jones with James Skellorn (chair) and special guest Michael Gotelee
I thought these were an excellent series of talks and I’m looking forward to watching them again. There were some particular highlights – such as Simon Daws & his guide dog describing the joy of discovering that he could still go sailing even after he had lost his eyesight. Everyone will have their own best moments which they can revisit as all the sessions were recorded – courtesy of Jon Swallow of Swallow Productions.
An *action point is to ensure that people know these are available.
I’d also like to suggest that individual sessions would also make a basis for groups of friends or club members to watch together, perhaps with one of the participants to stimulate a discussion or perhaps just giving themselves time to discuss issues or read one of the books collectively.
A number of people visited Duet and Peter Duck at Suffolk Yacht Harbour and others were sad that Nancy Blackett wasn‘t able to be there. I would love to have gone on board Tinfish II but ill-health in Jane Russell’s family meant that she was too far away. Jon Swallow also filmed at the Yacht Harbour and will follow up with footage on board Nancy Blackett when she’s available. The plan is to produce a brief film which can be shared around schools and youth organisations promoting the message that ‘You Too Can Go To Sea’.
An * action point is to make sure this happens and that other local maritime organisations attempting outreach or promoting inclusivity are able to make use of this.
As with all festivals new insights were shared, new friendships and connections were made. I hope the footpath map will continue to link the marina and Trimley and the charming Harbourside Kitchen successfully establishes its new charity bookstall.
Many thanks to all speakers, chairpersons, sponsors and supporters: to Suzanne and her colleagues at Two Sisters and to Meg Reid’s awesome team of volunteers that make the Felixstowe Book Festival into an ever-varied annual success.
As our first session focussed on the changing Suffolk coastline it seems appropriate to include this 6th July image of the ever changing mouth of the River Deben. The buoyage established only three months ago at the start of the sailing season has already had to be changed as so many yachts were running aground on the shifting shingle.