The Forum, Norwich: a folly of vast grandeur
Once upon a time in Norwich, round about Theatre Street, there was a very nice Central Library that I visited first as a student, then for a quiet place to study when I was training to be a journalist. It was an unremarkable, 1970s sort of a building, but very pleasant to visit.
Unfortunately, not long after I left Norwich, it burned down in a horrendous freak accident involving a light switch and a gas leak – ten years ago as I write, in fact. In its place, and with overtones of Millennium projects about it, a folly of vast grandeur was built – a veritable Crystal Palace de nos jours. It is called The Forum.
Actually, it's rather nice, for something that failed to co-exist in Norwich with me. As well as a phoenix-like incarnation of the Norwich Central library there's an outpost of the BBC, cafés, a pizza restaurant, much Bookcrossing activity, an area frequently given over to arts and crafts exhibitions and many enjoyable ways of wasting money.
Chief among these is The BBC Shop just across the way. In here you can find videos, DVDs or cassettes of any radio or TV programme produced by the BBC that you care to name. It is an absolute money-pit.
But here are three things I bought in there on Friday which I am very happy to recommend:
Alan Bennett: The complete Talking Heads – “I didn't say anything…”
Round the Horne – “Hello, I'm Julian and this is my friend Sandy…”
I'm Sorry, I Haven't a Clue… – “I'm afraid I'm going to have to invoke the street-level rules…”