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

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Your last chance to attend a Brighten the Corners gig in Ipswich this year

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Ipswich.co.uk Logomark in a circle

Ipswich's only independent news website

We publish the stories that matter and champion everything that's good about our town – without the ads, popups or tracking

Brighten the Corners' Sadie Rycraft reviews last week's best live music performances in Ipswich and gives you the low-down on this week's must-see gigs.

Coming up this week

It's the final week of Brighten the Corners' schedule before Christmas and they've got three crackers lined up for you.

Tuesday, 17th December

Saturday, 21st December

Dolce Fire at The Smokehouse

Dolce Fire headline The Smokehouse for the venue's final gig of 2024!

  • Music, Gigs & Concerts
  • 21 December
  • 19:30-23:00
Dolce Fire at The Smokehouse

Reno & Rome at St Stephen's Church

Defined by smooth vocals layered over synth-heavy arrangements, tight guitar lines and rhythmic, driving beats; Suffolk band Reno & Rome headline St Stephen's Church.

  • Music, Gigs & Concerts
  • 21 December
  • 19:30-23:00
Reno & Rome at St Stephen's Church

Mark your calendars and grab your tickets while you still can and don't forget to head over to St Stephen's Church on Friday to celebrate a brilliant year of live music with the BTC team this Friday.

Festive Drinks at St Stephen's Church

Head down to St Stephen's Church this Friday for festive drinks and music to celebrate the brilliant year of live music with the BTC team. Entry is free.

  • Christmas
  • 20 December
  • 19:30-23:00
Festive Drinks at St Stephen's Church

Last week's highlights

Friday, 13th December

Connor Adams at The Smokehouse

Connor Adams hosted an acoustic Christmas gig at The Smokehouse, filled with cozy renditions of fan favourites and classic holiday tunes. Support came from local singer songwriters Leon O'Leary and Grace Calver. A portion of ticket sales is going towards supporting Ipswich's local food bank.

Huey Morgan at The Baths

This sold-out gig with Huey Morgan had the crowd dancing all night to his NYC Block Party - a funk-loving night of hip-hop and disco - tribute to New York in the 70s. A gig-goer on Instagram said "Such a great night! Lovely people, brilliant party."

Huey Morgan on the decks at The Baths in Ipswich
Huey Morgan on the decks at The Baths in IpswichEd BarnesEd Barnes

Saturday, 14th December

Out On The Floor at St Stephen's Church

Nonsuchdjs and John Skelt presented a night of Northern Soul, Tamla Motown and Crossover at St Stephen's Church on Saturday. Fans danced the night away to eclectic beats and soulful grooves, and are already asking when the next will be.

Indifferent Engine at The Smokehouse

Indifferent Engine headlined The Smokehouse, drawing inspiration from early hardcore, art punk, post-rock, ambient music, pulp science fiction and obsolete electronics. Support came from OI NAH and Mountain Peaks.

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

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

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Ipswich.co.uk Logomark in a circle

Ipswich's only independent news website

We publish the stories that matter and champion everything that's good about our town – without the ads, popups or tracking

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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