Was this is Swan Song?

Posted on 26th April 2025

A full house at the Corn Hall welcomed Charlie Haycock’s return for what could be the very last time. Not, I hasten to add, due to his diminishing popularity – this was his third visit in a year – but because he has decided to retire from public speaking. Undeterred by the murmurs of protest, he explained that with his eightieth birthday fast approaching it was time to slow down. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one to view the announcement with scepticism, given the energy and good humour he brings to the stage.

On this occasion we got less of a lecture, and more of straightforward silliness, as he took us through the oddities of East Anglian life. To be clear, Haycock’s East Anglia is just Norfolk and Suffolk, and he was quick to acknowledge that the town of Diss is uniquely positioned to enjoy the banter between citizen’s each side of the border. Peppered with anecdotes – he hinted that his skill with regional accents is rooted in being bullied at an Essex Grammar School – poems and audience participation, this was an evening of celebration rather than education, although he couldn’t resist sneaking the odd fascinating fact in when our guard was down. Who knew that “mind how you go” has more to do with Dutch farmers than boys, or that “on the drag” is all about shifting tides?

With the help of his assistant Jacqui, we even got a mind reading trick of sorts, though Derren Brown need not worry about the competition. Neither need EL James fret over his unauthorised rewrite of Fifty Shades of Grey. And I doubt the Norfolk Shipping Forecast is likely to oust the Radio 4 version. What, however, we can say is this. If Charlie Haycock delivers on his promise to retire, his talks will be very much missed.