Memory

Staying with my grandparents in Edwardstone as a boy. I spent most of my young childhood with them at the Edwardstone White Horse. I remember helping my grandfather on the allotment where I also had my own vegetable patch, and watching the menu one harvest time cutting the wheat with scythes because the field had been storm baffled, and too flat for the combine harvester.

Place to eat

The Red Lion in Chelmondiston is a very friendly gastro pub with an exceptionally good menu, but doesn’t make the mistake of having pages of different dishes to choose from.

Pub

Obviously the Edwardstone White Horse, but also The Low House, Laxfield. It’s where I started performing publicly when they used to have their Tuesday buskers’ afternoon. Today you’re still served from a tap room where the barrels are kept, and the settles are still enclosed around a fireplace. The pub has atmosphere and takes you back in time.

Town

Inland Bury St Edmunds is the best town in Suffolk, with its blend of various styles of architecture throughout the ages. It still has a good number of independent shops and lots of historical places to visit, including the Abbey Gardens.

By the sea it’s Southwold, not only for the pier and its attractions, but also for the sailors’ reading rooms, buying locally-caught fish from one of the black sheds down at the harbour, and the rowing boat ferry to Walberswick.

Beach

I’ve walked the length of Suffolk’s coastline and the beach from Corton to Felixstowe is best – apart from where they built Sizewell nuclear power station.

Export

Suffolk black back bacon – my absolute favourite. Not just in rashers for breakfast, but also as steaks grilled for an evening meal or a 4lb joint roasted for Sunday lunch. Full of flavour and uniquely Suffolk.

Landmark

Temple Bar in Edwardstone. It's an ancient archway you pass under to get to the church where most of my family are buried. My other favourite is the Tudor gatehouse to Erwarton Hall on the Shotley peninsular.

Attraction

The royal burial site of the kings of the East Angles at Sutton Hoo. The treasure found there is the number one treasure at the British Museum.

Shop

Leeders in Boxford. A high-quality butcher where I get my joints of Suffolk black bacon and other locally-sourced meat including their tasty Suffolk sausages, made with a recipe from over 100 years ago.