TV star to return to coastal resort

ENTREPRENEUR Duncan Bannatyne is to make another flying visit to Felixstowe - to take part in a celebration of the resort's Edwardian seaside heritage.

The Dragon's Den star has been commuting between his French villa and Felixstowe this summer to make a television programme promoting The Great British Holiday and help the town attract more visitors.

On Bank Holiday Monday he will be back again to join in an Edwardian Extravaganza.

The free event will run from 11am to 6pm next to the prom between Manwick Road and Arwela Road.

Among the attractions will be a brass band, fancy dress, Punch and Judy, storytelling, and Edwardian-style food and drink.

It is hoped visitors will enter into the spirit and dress in Edwardian style - harking back to the times when the resort attracted 20,000 visitors a day.

Suffolk Coastal and Felixstowe Town Council have both agreed grants of �1,000 to support the event.

Mr Bannatyne said Felixstowe has suffered from a lack of investment and his show is being filmed at a time when plans have been drawn up to regenerate the resort.

Mayor Angel Goodwin said �10m has been spent last year on coastal defences, and a lottery grant had been received to help develop a �2m project to rejuvenate the Spa Gardens.

“These are exciting times for Felixstowe,” she added.

“There are also a whole host of projects under way through the Felixstowe Futures project that will help breathe fresh life into both the resort and the town centre, so it is a highly appropriate time for the national spotlight to be put on our town and I hope Mr Bannatyne's input will result in a further boost for our future.”

To run alongside the Edwardian event, there will also be a 50s style Bathing Beauty Contest - anyone interested in taking part can contact Sharon Tucker at Twofour on 0207 438 1897.

What can help give Felixstowe a boost this summer? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.