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Your chance to attend town centre documentary spotlighting 'unheard male voices' in mental health

News
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Global performers and local talent are coming together at the Buttermarket to create a new documentary addressing men's mental health challenges in Suffolk – and you're invited to join them.

Why it matters: The collaboration between This Is Ipswich and Scripted Development aims to effect change in how men are "seen and understood" in society, focusing on creating safe spaces for open discussion about mental health.

Raph of Scripted Development and Ramon Bradshaw Logan of Ipswich Community Media
Raph of Scripted Development and Ramon Bradshaw Logan of Ipswich Community Media

The details:

  • Filming will take place on Thursday, 30 January in the former Superdry store at the Buttermarket.

  • The event will feature guest speakers answering questions and live performances, including poetry, spoken word and music.

  • International performers, including Jake Beautyman, who has performed DJ sets in Berlin and Brazil, and filmmaker Kashif O'Connor, known for his work at London and Prague film festivals, will participate.

  • Members of the public are invited to join the audience at 14:30, with filming to begin at 15:00.

  • The event will finish at 19:00.

What they're saying: "Our collaborative mental health doc will help tell the story of many all too often unheard male voices. It will be seen in the spaces, places and faces of the masses to help effect change for how we, men, are seen and understood," says Raph of Scripted Development.

For context: This Is Ipswich has established itself in the local community over the past six months, producing short reel videos featuring conversations with townspeople.

The bigger picture: This Is Ipswich CEO Sarah Tieck says the documentary is part of a longer-term solution to societal issues, aiming to "educate young men on how to communicate and express how they're feeling without fear of ridicule".

Raph of Scripted Development
Raph of Scripted Development

What to look out for: The documentary will focus on several key areas:

  • Encouraging positive physical health

  • Guidance on personal presentation

  • Identifying safe spaces for open discussion in the local community

Supporting the event: Local businesses are contributing, with Fresh Start Charity providing furniture and Harvest Moon Vegan Cafe supplying refreshments for audience members.

The bottom line: The project represents a collaborative effort to address men's mental health through creative expression and open dialogue, bringing together local organisations and international talent in the heart of Ipswich.

Head over to the former Superdry store at 14:30 to get involved.

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

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One man's mission to preserve Ipswich's transport heritage

Feature
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As our transport landscape continues its rapid evolution, one local enthusiast has embarked on a remarkable journey to preserve a piece of Ipswich's recent history.

Bus preservation in Britain has come a long way since 1956, when four pioneering enthusiasts purchased their first historic London bus for a mere £40. Today, more than 5,000 preserved buses grace our nation's roads, each telling its own story of public transport's evolution.

This story begins with fleet number 147, an Optare Versa bus that once ferried countless passengers between London Road and Martlesham park and ride sites.

Now, this former Ipswich Buses workhorse has found a new home, rescued from potential obscurity for £4,000, by Jake Gooding, a local bus enthusiast and now proud preservationist.

I have to say, £4,000 for a fully-operational bus feels like an absolute bargain when compared to the cost of a half-decent SUV nowadays.

After becoming sidetracked (a common occurance for me) and going down a potentially divorce-inducing rabbit hole, exploring the idea of a "News Bus" in Ipswich, I got back to the task in hand.

"Indeed, prices of single deck buses are usually around the £2,500 range for a second hand one, and double deckers are usually around £4,000-£5,000, Jake informed me.

"The reason why ours was a little expensive is because it has a range of mod cons like air-conditioning, next stop announcements capabilities etc."

Optare Versa fleet number 147
Optare Versa fleet number 147Jake Gooding

Jake's vision includes restoring the vehicle to its former Ipswich Buses glory, complete with period livery. It's a labour of love that will demand dedication and expense, with annual running costs of around £500 and regular maintenance to keep the bus roadworthy.

The Optare Versa itself has an interesting technical history. Originally fitted with a MAN engine, it later received a Cummins power unit during its service life with Ipswich Buses. These engineering changes reflect the practical realities of keeping a hardworking public service vehicle on the road.

If all goes according to plan, this piece of Ipswich's transport heritage will make its preserved debut at The Big Bus Show at Stonham Barns in August 2025. There, it will stand (park?) proud as a testament to our town's transport heritage and the dedication of those who work to preserve it.

Jake Gooding
Jake GoodingJake Gooding

Some might question why anyone would want to preserve such a relatively modern vehicle. Yet in an era of rapid technological change, where tomorrow's buses might be unrecognisable from today's, preserving examples of recent transport history becomes increasingly important.

Fleet number 147's story didn't end when it left Ipswich Buses' service in November 2020. Instead, it's beginning a new chapter – one that will help ensure that future generations can appreciate how their parents and grandparents travelled around our town.

You can follow the project via its dedicated Facebook page.

Oliver Rouane-Williams speaking with an elderly couple in the town centre

We can't do this without you!

If you value strong, free, independent local media that fights tirelessly for our town, please consider contributing just £24 per year

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