There’s an almost majestic feel about this special place that I love to walk, especially on a fresh spring or summer morning when the water is glistening below the rays of the new sun.

Dog walkers always say Hello, Bird song fills the air, competing with the soft sound of the waves. The trees reach over the edge of the cliff and there’s calmness, even though I’m only footsteps from the main road into Lowestoft. This place is Corton and Gunton Warren, a suburb of Lowestoft.

I haven’t always been based in Lowestoft, in fact, I was born in Lincolnshire and moved to a small village just outside of Beccles when I was 5 years old. There was only a few houses dotted around, a pub, a Bus stop with just 2 busses a week, and lots of fields, trees and country roads to have plenty of childhood adventures. Of course, this was perfect at a young age, but as I became a teenager, there really wasn’t much to do, so the biggest thing that I had to look forward to, was hopping on the Tuesday bus to Lowestoft, with a new found independence and bundles of excitement. To me, Lowestoft was like a big city, in the sense that it was so much bigger than the tiny village I grew up in, there was life, movement and shops open till late.

The Ness Point – the most easterly point of the UKI studied Art & Design at Lowestoft College, dipping in and out of various, boring jobs as a Teenager, not entirely knowing what I wanted to do with my life.

When I was about 23, I moved to Norwich for better job prospects, a decent night life and to feel the city ‘buzz’. But after 7 years, I felt claustrophobic, the tall buildings, constant traffic and the queues that came with it began to take it’s toll, and so, after meeting my now husband, we moved back, just outside of Lowestoft where life became a much more manageable, slower pace.

We brought up two beautiful children within footsteps of the beach, they played endlessly in the sand and the local woods that surrounded it. Being a Mummy was fantastic, and we had so many adventures, but I started to feel as though I had lost my identity. I have always been incredibly creative, but there was never a job available to allow me to use it. So, in 2018, I started my own business called Magnus PR. The idea was to promote local businesses and the area with PR, Marketing and events. I enjoyed writing press releases and running socials media for businesses but my real passion was events, so, in 2019 I really ramped up that side of my business with numerous themed events, but one that is the most popular and famous locally, is my River Party Cruises in Oulton Broad. These are themed events on a double decker touring boat, we sail out on the Broad for 3 hours, witnessing stunning sunsets whilst dancing along to either 80’s music, Soul, Ibiza, or RnB.

From Ann-Marie’s sold-out Havana Nights event at Well Well Well the Bath House. Photo: Ryan GriceLowestoft doesn’t receive as much positive press as it should. There is so much going on at the moment, with money being spent on reviving Historic buildings, a new, highly anticipated bridge, new homes, jobs and schools, yet, it feels, we are still lost, pacing behind in the shadows of larger Seaside names.

You see, for myself, I truly believe there is opportunity everywhere, as long as you use the skills and passion that you were born with. I create very different events that have never been done before, to bring people into our area and realise how beautiful it really is, and it’s a place I’m proud to call my home.