The Riviera is a Sunny Place, for Shady People! (W. Somerset Maugham)

May 1, 2025

On 1 May 2025 there was a very inviting spring vibe to the Blake Studio! We were delighted to welcome the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) for the latest in their impressive programme of talks hosted at Norwich School.

 

We had a real expert to take us on a journey to the French Riviera: Norfolk-based author and filmmaker Jim Ring, giving a talk entitled: The Rise and Rise of the Riviera.

 

Focusing on meticulous research undertaken for his 2004 book: Riviera: The Rise and Rise of the Côte d'Azur: The Rise and Rise of the Cote D'Azur, our speaker gave an energetic and entertaining exposition of the fascinating and dark history of the Cote d’Azur - this remarkable coast of southern France covering such jewels as Cannes, Nice, Monaco, St Tropez and Monte Carlo. Its unique, warm micro-climate enjoys an average of 300 days of sun per year and has been a magnet to wealthy British travellers for nearly 300 years; it was no surprise to learn it is currently the home to 50% of the world’s super yachts! There is little wonder that celebrated author and visitor W Somerset Maugham famously commented nearly 100 years ago that: The Riviera is a sunny place, for shady people!

 

From early days as unspoiled fishing villages, the area found fame on the Grand Tour. Clever marketing as a recuperative resort and later as a paradise for uber-wealthy playboys and gambling has ensured that this region is never far from the headlines. A favourite of glitterati as varied as Queen Victoria, Wallis Simpson, Brigitte Bardot, Grace Kelly, Dodi and Diana (and these days Ronaldo, Joan Collins and Jeff Bezos), the allure of this sun-kissed coastline remains strong, and this was captivatingly conveyed by our speaker through the reading excerpts from his book and in a visually stunning slide deck. His talk concluded with a pragmatic assessment of the double-edged sword of unbridled tourism and resort development contrasting with the €10bn value that its 14m annual visitors bring to the local economy.

 

RGS talks are open to all and are very approachable and friendly. Further details of RGS events are posted here: Upcoming events - RGS,. We greatly look forward to welcoming the RGS back on site for another mouth-watering talk over half term:

 

Thursday 29 May – Royal Geographical Society public lecture

A Life in Green: looking back, looking forward – Sir Jonathon Porritt CBE. 

Jonathon is a very eminent writer and high-profile environmental campaigner. He is perhaps best-known for his work and advocacy for the Green Party. He was a prominent member and Chair of the political party during the 1970s and 80s, and is credited with helping them gain more publicity and increased membership. Away from politics, Jonathon has worked for a number of environmental charities and organisations including Friends of the Earth, Beyond Agenda 21 and Forum for the Future, and for many years was Chair of the UK Sustainable Development Commission.

Jonathon’s talk will address what we have learnt from the last 50 years of activism on climate and biodiversity issues, and what are now the priorities when the challenge has never been more pressing. The current focus of his work is on intergenerational justice, supporting young people in their activities addressing the twin crises of the Climate and Biodiversity Emergencies.

We are very fortunate to have attracted to site a speaker of his profile and calibre, and this promises to be a lively and though-provoking evening.

7.30pm - Blake Studio Norwich School, The Close - doors open 7.00pm

For booking: A life in green: looking back, looking forward - RGS. Tickets to be bought in advance please as space for tickets sold on the door is likely to be very restricted.

 

Details of Norwich School’s eclectic selection of cultural events round site feature in our termly publication, At Close Quarters, with the Trinity Term 2025 edition now out. See: Publications | Norwich School.

 

Do join us.


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By Eleanor Lewis June 13, 2025
On Friday 13 June, Rev Child addressed pupils on the importance of community. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. (Acts 4:32-37) Last Sunday was Pentecost, which is sometimes called “the birthday of the Church”. That reading we’ve just heard is about the earliest Christian community learning how to support each other by sharing what they had. Keep that theme in mind as I tell you an old folk tale called ‘The Story of the Magic Soup Stone’. There was once a traveller who arrived in a village, tired and hungry. He approached a house and knocked on the door. When a woman answered, he explained that he had been walking all day and asked if he could have some food. The woman apologised. “This is a very poor village. No-one has very much money or very much food. I’m sorry we can’t help you.” The traveller was undeterred. “If you’ll allow me,” he said, “I happen to be carrying a magic soup stone. Just put some water on to boil, and I’ll be able to make soup.” With that, he rummaged in his bag and pulled out an ordinary looking stone. The woman wondered if the man was a little mad, but all the same she lit a fire under a large pot filled with water. As it began to boil, the traveller dropped the stone in the pot. After a few minutes, he took a spoon and tasted the soup. “Mmm, that’s delicious,” he said. “That’s excellent soup. It just needs… a little bit of potato in it.” By this point a small crowd from the village had heard about the traveller and his magic soup stone, and were watching from the doorway. One of them cried, “I’ve got a couple of potatoes!” He dashed back home, returned with the potatoes, and dropped them in the pot. The traveller tasted the soup again. “Mmm, that’s great. It could just do with some vegetables as well.” “I’ve got some carrots!” said one villager. “And I’ve got some cabbage!” shouted another. They fetched the vegetables and threw them in the pot. “This is really coming together,” said the traveller as he tasted the soup. “The magic soup stone is definitely working. We just need some herbs and some bits of bread.” Sure enough, there were some villagers who had those things at home, and in fact there were some other villagers who thought of more things they had that could go in the soup. That evening a large group from the village shared an excellent meal of soup together with the traveller, their best meal for a long time. At the end of the meal the traveller thanked them for their company and rose to leave. The woman whose house it was stopped him. “Don’t forget your magic soup stone,” she said. The traveller smiled and replied that he would leave the stone with the villagers so they could use it whenever they needed it. My first thought on that tale is that you have admire the traveller for his ability to bring the village together. The real magic in the story, of course, is what can happen when people gather. The villagers sharing their food is not even enforced – it’s generous and spontaneous. Notice the similarity with the Bible reading we heard: All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. Some people have critiqued this part of the book of Acts as an endorsement of communism and a complete prohibition of ownership and property. I think that’s missing the point. I think Acts chapter 4 is much more about the magic that can happen when communities gather and develop instincts for sharing and living together. I have one or two old friends who have a real talent for bringing people together. It’s taken me years to recognise their talent, because it’s easy to miss. They aren’t always the loudest person at the party. Instead they are the person who organised the party. They are the person who first suggested meeting up; the person who sorted out a time and a date; the person who arranged the food; and so on. Do value this quality if you see it in other people; maybe even grow this talent yourself. Acts chapter 4 and the story of the soup stone show that it is a valuable quality, a community-building quality, we could even say a godly quality.
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