2020 vision

With the New Year upon us, heralding opportunities for change and renewal, we asked some of Suffolk’s leading lights about their hopes for the county and their personal ambitions for the coming months.

Steven Parissien, CEO, Palace House: The National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art, Newmarket

I would like to ensure that more people visit Suffolk and discover just how rich, varied and astonishingly beautiful the county is. It’s high time more people were let into England’s best-kept secret.

I would like to put Palace House in Newmarket firmly on the map. We have so much to offer on this royal site (once Newmarket Palace, of course) and it’s a unique attraction, indeed three attractions in one – the art gallery in the remnant of Newmarket Palace, The National Horseracing Museum, and the Retraining of Racehorses yard. All we need are more visitors enjoying what we offer, and helping to revive the Newmarket economy.

Sarah Holmes, chief executive, New Wolsey Theatre

In 2020, the capital investment in and around the New Wolsey Theatre, major investment in a new building for participation, refurbishing the seats and loos in the theatre, are all destined to create an even better environment for the public to enjoy theatre, both watching and taking part in creating.

I also see the events programme on the newly refreshed Cornhill as a major opportunity for Ipswich. My personal ambition is to further cut down on my personal use of plastic!

Naomi Tarry, Best of Suffolk co-founder, and performance/life coach

My hope for Suffolk is for local businesses to grow and thrive, providing jobs for the local economy, investing in people and in the county. A sunny summer would be wonderful boost for Suffolk tourism and local people alike.

At Best of Suffolk I always enjoyed mentoring people, and in 2020 my ambition is to grow my own coaching practice, helping people in Suffolk to find clarity, purpose and happiness in their work life and home life.

Julian Roughton, CEO, Suffolk Wildlife Trust