The Joy Of Receiving

Lindsay Want discovers an unlikely music hall with more gifts on display than Santa’s grotto at the Sounds of the Past collection near Lavenham.

SO what’s it to be for Christmas then? A flashy new phone or wireless device to send music streaming in to your world? A bigger flat screen to beam in Big Ben’s New Year chimes and make those happy Hogmanay parties really happen right in your living room? Or maybe you’re minded to ‘go retro’ with a record player? Vintage vinyl may be back in fashion, but when things go round in circles, the whole nostalgia thing can seem a bit warped. One minute we’re rushing impatiently to update our tiny high-tech gismos before they become ‘unsupported’ and ancient history, the next we’re simply hankering after the original quality of ‘the good old days’, crackles and all. But if you’re longing for the true sounds of the past to entertain you once more, head to Monks Eleigh, where Paul Goodchild and his collection of technology tinkerers have more than just old records up their sleeves.

HERO WORSHIP