Simply Colchester Issue 58

Issue 58

Cover photo by Jon Sturdy Photography

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Colchester Labour Party News It was a huge boost for Colchester Labour Party and our Parliamentary Candidate, Tina McKay, to have Shadow Chancellor, Cllr Tim Young John McDonnell MP, and other members of the Shadow Treasury Team visit Colchester on 5 October.

It was a seminar and workshop session held at Firstsite which was brimming with both people and ideas.

Colchester was on the list as one of the constituencies John and the Shadow Treasury Team are visiting as one of Labour’s target seats at the next General Election. At the 2017 election, when I was honoured to be Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate, we achieved a great result coming in a strong second place less than 6000 votes behind Conservative, Will Quince. We breezed past the Liberal Democrats who obtained less than half of the Labour vote. Here are some statistics about that remarkable election: Colchester achieved the 15th largest Labour vote share increase out of all 650 constituencies; Colchester was in the top 3% of all Labour vote share gains in the country; Colchester was the 2nd top gaining seat in the East of England; It was the best result for Labour in Colchester since the October 1974 General Election (some 43 years ago at the time);

Colchester experienced the 14th largest Liberal Democrat collapse in the vote out of all 650 constituencies.

There were a number of factors behind the result including a vibrant, strong and united election campaign coordinated by my superb Election Agent, Cllr Lee Scordis, Labour’s popular and radical election manifesto, the popularity of Jeremy Corbyn which grew over the campaign, my local profile honed over 25 years as a local councillor, the incompetence and complacency of the Tories and the irrelevance of the LibDems who still suffer from being in coalition with the Tories and their cruel austerity policies and programme from 2010-15. It all came together which leaves Tina McKay in a strong position to become the first Labour MP for Colchester in nearly 70 years.

McDonnell agreed and promised the investment to make Colchester prosper with great opportunities and careers in all these areas.

To prove the point I have been to a number of excellent productions in Colchester over the last few weeks.

The Beauty Queen of Leenane (directed by the wonderful Paul T Davies) and Radiant Vermin, produced by local business Protocol Theatre, at The Headgate Theatre, Oliver! - the first production at the Mercury’s Big Top temporary home on Abbey Fields, ‘Do you think that’s wise?’ A tribute to the late, great John Le Mesurier portrayed with uncanny accuracy

by Julian Dutton at Colchester Arts Centre plus the new exhibitions at

Firstsite and all the latest films at the Curzon and Odeon cinemas including NT Live at The Curzon including packed out performances of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s extraordinarily brilliant ‘Fleabag’ and Red Lion Books being one of only two independent bookshops in the country to be chosen to host the UK launch of ‘The Testaments’, Margaret Atwood’s sequel to ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’.

Colchester is on the up. It would do even better under a Labour Government. Here’s hoping and soon...

Cllr Tim Young Labour Councillor for Greenstead

John McDonnell and his team, including fellow MPs, Anneliese Dodds and Lyn Brown, recognised this and their knowledge of local issues was very good and was enhanced by the hours they spent in Colchester. The workshop sessions came up with a number of ideas on how Labour’s developing policies and manifesto will assist and improve the local economy and the prospects of residents, communities and businesses in Colchester. There were great ideas around Transport, the Environment, Housing, Health, Education, Social Care and Co-operatives too. I brought up the importance of Arts & Culture and tourism and the fact that Colchester is leading the way as a hub for the Creative and Digital industries and small businesses. We will need investment from central government under Labour to help Colchester realise its potential in these fields. I am glad to say John

For any information or to submit an article or advert contact David Cook:

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01206 233717 07734 171985 SimplyColchester@gmail.com Simply Magazine, 1 George Williams Way, Colchester, Essex CO1 2JS

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Issue 59: 14/11/19 Issue 60: 14/12/19

Simply Magazine assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, t ddelayed l d or iincomplete l t iinformation, f ti nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The information contained about each individual, event or organization has been provided by such individual, event organizers or organization without verification by us. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Simply Magazine. Therefore, Simply Magazine carries no responsibility for the opinion expressed thereon. Any form of reproduction of any content without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. For information on advertising or submitting a article please email David Cook at: Simplycolchester@gmail.com or call 01206 233717 / 07734 171985

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Colchester Amphora Homes Ltd receives Planning Committee approval for Military Road site Colchester Amphora Homes Ltd (CAHL) - Colchester Borough Council’s Housing Development Company - has achieved another exciting milestone securing consent for eight new 100% affordable homes on Military Road.

Last night (Thursday), the council’s planning committee backed plans for six flats and 2 mews houses on the site all of which will be available for people on the council’s housing register.

This site will provide the eight new homes, with an environmentally friendly design for residents, in a highly desirable location close to the centre of town, giving excellent access to local amenities.

Paul Smith, Board Member of Colchester Amphora Homes said: “I am delighted with CAHL’s hard work in obtaining this planning permission for this scheme on behalf of our client Colchester Borough Council. This is another excellent achievement for Amphora Homes following our recent

Quick Crossword Puzzle

successful planning application for Creffield Road.”

These eight new 100% affordable homes form part of Colchester Borough Council’s ambitious plans to deliver up to 350 new affordable homes over the next five years.

Councillor Adam Fox, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “With more than 3,000 people on our housing needs register it is no secret that there is a real and pressing need for more affordable housing in the borough.

“This scheme, brought forward

by CAHL, is a fantastic example of where we are working to deliver on our ambitious plans for delivering 350 affordable homes in Colchester over the next five years. I hope our partnerships with CAHL and others like Colchester Borough Homes, can continue to help us provide the homes our residents need and want.”

ACROSS 3 1 Unexplored, like a house with no water pipes? (9) 6 Little woman involved in racket in French city 9 There’s profiting possibly made from ballet (3,4,2,6) 10 Some require a system that’s simple (4) 11 Growth’s rejected as fodder (5) 12 Money is posted we hear (4) 15 Foul-mouthed professional meets supporter at end of game (7) 16 Count who was fond of claret (7) 17 Punished again and purified? (7) 19 Son advances slowly and writes badly (7) 20 Business is steady (4) 21 She’s first to laugh at garment (5) 22 I’m backing set of books to make money (4) 26 Fifty million more can rebuild Washington 27 Trevor endlessly misbehaves in public (5) 28 Elderly theatre director? He’s an experienced performer (3,6) DOWN 1 3 Down possibly accepts one for free (5) 2 Squash served with pear for media event (5,10) 3 One piece of equipment (4) 4 Inspire gutless brute to take heart perhaps (7) 5 First to declare Freud a terrible cheat (7) 6 Hoax victim is awaited outside front of palace (4) 7 Script in which characters are not seen individually (6-2,7) 8 Late drinks for the birds? (9) 13 Jack takes family member on trip (5) 14 Arabs fighting in Iraq (5) 15 Responsibility of minister or of pilot possibly (9) 18 One that’s spotted entertaining grand opera singer (7) 19 Take the place of another and prosper (7) 23 Workman needs hat, right? (5) 24 Show of disapproval hurt ultimately, but you put your foot in it! (4) 25 Fit for boxing match (4) SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1 unplumbed. 6 Dijon. 9 THERITEOFSPRING. 10 easy. 11 straw.

12 cent. 15 profane. 16 Dracula. 17 refined. 19 scrawls. 20 firm. 21 smock. 22 mint. 26 Lincoln Memorial. 27 overt. 28 old stager. DOWN: 1 untie. 2 press conference. 3 unit. 4 breathe. 5 defraud. 6 dupe. 7 joined-up writing. 8 nightjars. 13 jaunt.

14 Basra. 15 portfolio. 18 Domingo. 19 succeed. 23 tiler. 24 boot. 25 bout.

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3D technology helping to record Colchester’s Roman Wall Cutting-edge technology is being used to help photograph and record the borough’s Roman Wall for the first time, as part of Colchester Borough Council’s Better Colchester campaign.

Colchester’s Roman Wall is the oldest and longest-surviving town wall in Britain. Using state-of-the-art 3D imaging the first ever accurate, high resolution, digital record of the wall is being produced. This technology provides a fast, compact and highly accurate method to survey, scan and record almost any asset or object large or small.

Leading specialist Professor Dominic Powlesland, who recently received the British Academy Landscape Archaeology Medal, is working with the council on the project together with photography students from Colchester Institute.

Work to record the Balkerne Gate, the largest surviving gateway in Britain, took place on Monday 4 November.

Once complete, the record will contribute to the long-term management, analysis, interpretation and presentation of the wall.

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Professor Dominic Powlesland, a digital recording specialist, said “Having lived in Colchester as a child, I am delighted to be involved in a project which will document the internationally important surviving Roman walls.

“I hope that by using the latest methods to create precise digital 3D models and the collaboration between Colchester institute and the council will lead to new insights and ideas about the cultural role of these magnificent structures.

“To many, they must just seem like ‘ruins’, rather than surviving elements of a thriving and magnificent Roman city re-establishing its presence after the Boudiccan revolt, 1959 years or 65 generations ago, had burnt it to the ground.”

Surveying was carried out by the Colchester Archaeological Trust (CAT). The Trust’s Philip Crummy added: “Walking around Colchester today you would be hard-pressed to appreciate how interesting and extensive the remains of Roman Colchester actually are under your feet. However, the town wall is one of

those rare pieces of the Roman town still above ground and visible for all to appreciate.

“Sadly, the permanent exposure to the British weather takes its inevitable toll on the wall and over the years some people have helped themselves to stone and Roman brick at the expense of the front of the poor old wall.”

Cllr Julie Young, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Performance and Deputy Leader of the Council, said: “The wall is a key part of Colchester’s rich heritage, and as part of the council’s Better Colchester campaign it’s important we do everything we can to protect, preserve, enhance and celebrate such a major source of local civic pride.

“It’s an honour to work with Professor Dominic Powlesland, the Colchester Archaeological Trust and students from Colchester Institute, on recording and future-proofing such a unique and irreplaceable monument.

This, along with other projects, really is making a Better Colchester for residents, visitors and businesses.”

A programme of specialised tree work has also begun on the wall as part of the council’s ongoing maintenance plan for the monument. This work will not only help protect and preserve the wall, it will also better reveal the wall along Balkerne Hill for when it is lit in the evenings.

Professor Dominic Powlesland will return to Colchester in January and meet with the Colchester Institute students to talk about the processing of the data and look at the results of the survey.

The Colchester Institute students will look to take the techniques they have learnt and continue the project to record more of the wall over the coming months, leading to an exhibition of their recordings next year.

The Better Colchester campaign underpins the council’s work to make Colchester an even more attractive place to live, work and visit.

A new Economic Strategy for North Essex prosperity and jobs Ensuring residents across North Essex can enjoy and take advantage of the benefits brought by economic growth brings is at the heart of a new strategy to be discussed by councillors over the next few weeks.

The North Essex Economic Strategy, covering Braintree, Colchester, Tendring and Uttlesford, aims to ensure the area can rise to the economic challenges and opportunities we face.

Spanning 2020 to 2040, the ambitious strategy produced by the North Essex Economic Board – a partnership of the four councils with Essex County Council – is the first bespoke economic strategy covering North Essex.

Stretching from Stansted Airport and the M11 in the west, via Braintree and Colchester to Clacton and Harwich International Port in the east, North Essex is a diverse and outward-facing economy.

The plan takes account of the predicted population growth across North Essex and the changes in industries and companies starting

up, growing and relocating across the area.

In the 20 years to 2018 the North Essex population grew by almost 20% to 580,000. Between 2018 and 2045 it is estimated this will have increased by around 139,000.

With the growing importance and need to build a greener more sustainable economy, the strategy looks to address the change in the skills, infrastructure and technologies needed to support them.

The strategy looks to build on North Essex’s location and its connections locally, regionally and internationally, but also the current skill base and community networks across the area.

By 2040 the strategy aims to have delivered its vision of “North Essex as a high-value, productive and sustainable economy. People choose to live and work locally, in new established communities that are well connected and inspire innovation and creativity.”

Over the next few weeks the strategy will be discussed at cabinet and full

council meetings at the five councils.

If agreed, an action plan will be developed to help deliver the vision.

The strategy will also be fed into the Local Industrial Strategy being developed by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership.

Councillor David King, Colchester Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Business and Resources, said: “Colchester and the rest of North Essex is a key area for economic growth, but to realise the benefits we must all work together to ensure we are fully able to rise to the challenges and opportunities, to bring prosperity and good jobs to our residents.

“We all have a shared ambition to promote, plan and deliver sustainable strategic growth at scale over the long-term while providing the housing, jobs and infrastructure needed to ensure the best outcomes for North Essex now and for future generations.

“The Board have developed a strong and bold vision for North Essex for the next 20 years and beyond. If agreed, this strategy is designed to

drive innovation and technology adoption, up-skill our local workforce, create a network of distinctive, cohesive communities and make our economy greener and more sustainable.”

The North Essex Economic Strategy will be discussed at Colchester Borough Council’s Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 20 November. It will also be discussed at the other councils’ cabinet or Full Council meetings in the coming weeks.

A copy of the draft strategy can be found here

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Colchester Castle & Tiptree Tearooms team up over Gems & Gin!

Turner masterpiece comes to Colchester Castle

Colchester Castle and Tiptree tearooms are teaming up to host a rather special evening of Georgian Gems and Gin. Taking place on the 16 November from 6.30-9pm, the evening ties into Colchester Castle’s resident exhibition, Adorn: Jewellery, The Human Story, which runs until 16 February 2020.

A landscape painting by one of Britain’s greatest painters, J M W Turner, will go on display at Colchester Castle in September 2020.

The masterpiece, entitled Walton Bridges, was painted by Turner in 1806, close to his house on the River Thames.

On the evening, renowned historical jewellery maker and expert Nicky Wade will be on hand to enlighten everyone about Georgian jewellery and the rise of ‘mother’s ruin’!

As we know, the Georgian period was a time of great change in Britain’s history and alongside our towns and cities expanding, the idea of consumerism and luxury within certain parts of society was flourishing. The Georgian era saw the most intricate and exquisite jewellery produced, often enhanced with precious gems.

Find out more about this time of great change and the impact it had on jewellery, during this remarkable evening. Learn more about the introduction of what we affectionately call ‘mother’s ruin’ and

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sample some of your own, courtesy of Tiptree tearooms (included in the admission cost of £20). Cocktails will also be on offer during the evening, so come along and join us for an evening of jewellery, gin and fun!

Councillor Julie Young, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Performance and Deputy Leader of the Council, said: “This is an incredible opportunity to come along to Colchester Castle after hours, view the new Adorn exhibition and find out more about jewellery making during a key historical time for our country. Immerse yourself in the Georgian era with some wonderful modern-day flavoured gins courtesy of our partners for the evening Tiptree Tearooms.”

Aimee Smith, Marketing Manager for Tiptree Tearooms, added: “We are thrilled to be supporting Colchester Castle’s Georgian Gems and Gins evening.”Cost £20 per person. Places must be pre-booked by calling 01206 282939.

Keep up to date with news and information by following @ ColMuseums on social media.

The painting was in danger of leaving the country, following its sale to a foreign buyer, but a rescue bid involving Norfolk Museums Service and Colchester and Ipswich Museums has led to this nationally-important work being saved for the East of England.

The painting is currently on display in Norwich Castle Museum but will move onto Colchester next September. Curators and designers at Colchester and Ipswich Museums are currently working on its display in Colchester.

Councillor Julie Young, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Performance and Deputy Leader of the Council, said: “This is a beautiful landscape painting by one of this country’s favourite painters and I am delighted

it will be on show at Colchester Castle next year. This is the first time that a major painting by Turner has gone on display in Colchester and it is wonderful news for the local community.”

Philip Wise, Heritage Manager for Colchester Museums and who is leading on bringing the Turner to Colchester, added: “Turner, like his contemporary John Constable, preferred to work outside rather than in a studio. In the case of ‘Walton Bridges’ we have to imagine Turner in a small boat sketching the river scene in front of him. It’s a truly remarkable piece of work and I’m thrilled to be involved in bringing it to Colchester.”

The painting was saved thanks to successful applications to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Art Fund and a private donor following its sale at Sotheby’s for £3.37m in 2018. As the painting was at risk of leaving the country, the Government placed an export bar allowing time for a UK museum to raise the necessary funds.

Quick Crossword Puzzle Essex treasures including rare Viking ring on display at Colchester Castle Treasures from across Essex are the focus of a new temporary display at Colchester Castle. Linked to its current exhibition, Adorn: Jewellery, The Human Story, the display will showcase some of Colchester Museums most recent acquisitions made under the Treasure Act 1996.

Items on display include two silver lockets, each heart shaped, which date to the 1600s, and an AngloSaxon silver belt decoration that has an animal’s head design. One of the most striking objects is a medieval gold brooch with OMNIA VINCIT AMOR (Love conquers all) engraved onto it. This would have been given as a gift over 500 years ago – the owner having lost it in a field near Wix, in Essex.

ACROSS 7 See, Carl’s terribly negligent (8) 9 Rope provides a trail possibly (6) 10 Exercise involving old writer (3) 11 After collapse of trial be exonerated initially and set free (8) 12 Man meets English student in church (6) 13 See hate, seething hate (6) 15 Joint in one capital or another (8) 16 Sky’s position is beyond comprehension (5,4,4) 20 Is Tory leader wearing female clothing in discomfort? (8) 22 Long to be in a north German city (6) 25 Body decoration is rubbish also (6) 26 Bury woman in space (8) 27 Partly expandable container (3) 28 Italian city is very pleasant around end of June (6) 29 Make known opening of deli is near (8)

Also on display is a gold finger ring that dates to the Viking period over 1000 years ago. Found in Weeley, in Essex, this significant find is

extremely exciting as very few Viking objects have been found in this part of the country. The Vikings were only briefly in Essex after being paid to leave the country following the Battle of Maldon in 991 AD. Not only is this ring very rare for the region, it’s also one of only a handful of examples of that style known in Britain.

The design of the ring is very similar to one found near Saffron Walden, which is currently on display in the Castle’s Adorn exhibition. It adds to the story of Viking goldsmiths in the region and their ability to create beautiful pieces of jewellery over 1000 years ago.

Essex Treasures, which is a single temporary display, is now open and will be at Colchester Castle until March 2020.

Adorn: Jewellery, The Human Story is open until 16 February 2020.

DOWN 1 Left a container with old South American (6) 2 To beat Germany, Spain needs show of great skill (6) 3 Lawyer-speak is absurd, alleges judge finally (8) 4 Votes and chooses to oust leader (6) 5 I restate problem in dissertation (8) 6 Kate somehow gets male editor to pay attention (4,4) 8 Daughter keeps mansion in a mess, to give an honest opinion (5,4,4) 14 Priest’s vestment for a pound (3) 16 Like cartoon that’s lively (8) 17 Leave behind unfashionable football shirt (8) 18 Mattress could be most elegant (8) 19 Tree, or remains of it after fire (3) 21 Runs away from antelope, startled to some extent (6) 23 Girl’s producing seasonal songs (6) 24 Broken down, please pass (6) SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 7 careless. 9 lariat. 10 Poe. 11 liberate. 12 chapel. 13 loathe. 15 Kishinev. 16 above one’s head. 20 distress. 22 Aachen. 25 tattoo. 26 interval. 27 pan. 28 Venice. 29 disclose. DOWN: 1 latino. 2 defeat. 3 legalese. 4 elects. 5 treatise. 6 take heed.

8 speak one’s mind. 14 alb. 16 animated. 17 outstrip. 18 smartest. 19 ash. 21 elopes. 23 carols. 24 elapse.

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See in the New Year Meet the new faces of in style at Colchester’s Adorn: Jewellery, The Human Story historic Town Hall Colchester Castle’s current exhibition Adorn: Jewellery, The Human Story has added six new participants to its ‘Our Stories’ display.

Join Colchester Events Company for their final event of 2019, the “New Year’s Eve Gala Ball”, at Colchester’s historic Town Hall on 31 December 2019.

This one-of-a-kind, adults only, Gala Ball celebration will be held in the Moot Hall, one of Colchester’s largest and most opulent spaces. Combining tradition, a truly sumptuous feast and music and entertainment that’s worth getting dressed up for. Enjoy a prosecco cocktail on arrival, live 5-piece party band ‘Not Til’ 4’ to get you and your party on the dance floor, accompanied by a fully stocked bar, a delicious 5 course meal and a sparkling toast at midnight, creating a truly fantastic way to ring in 2020.

Councillor Theresa Higgins, Portfolio Holder for Commercial Services, said: “Creating an exciting and memorable experience for guests is the main aim

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Adorn enables visitors to journey through time from Bronze age beginnings to today’s modern makers, by viewing the most incredible items of jewellery and personal adornment.

Many items have never been on public display before and the exhibition features loans from many local museums, as well as items from the British Museum, including treasures from Pompeii. of our New Year’s Eve celebrations at the historic and spectacular venue of the Moot Hall. We hope guests will come along and enjoy a fantastic evening of food and entertainment to welcome in 2020.”

Tickets are £85pp and are available from https://www.colchester-events. co.uk/nye

The Our Stories display attempts to contextualise the stories that the curators of the exhibition cannot possibly tell about the objects in the rest of the exhibition. With many of the objects, they can only speculate as to why and how people in the past would have owned and made such jewellery.

The six new faces all have unique and

individual stories behind how and why personal adornment is of great importance to them. From vegetablepeople tattoos, to hair adornments – come and meet the new participants in the exhibition.

Councillor Julie Young, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Performance and Deputy Leader of the Council, said: “I am thrilled that Janita, Jim, Melinda, Alice, Juki and Beverly have chosen to be part of this incredible exhibition. They can help us explain why people continue to adorn themselves today just like they did 3,000 years ago. These new faces will be on display until January, so make sure you head down to find out more about their stories and view the tremendous exhibition for yourselves – before it’s too late!”

Entry to Adorn: Jewellery, The Human Story is included in Castle admission.

Find out more at https://colchester. cimuseums.org.uk/adorn/

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Colchester to be merry and bright with two Christmas trees!

The two trees will be located on the balcony of the Town Hall and in front of the War Memorial near the main entrance to Castle Park.

The trees are due to be installed on Sunday 24 November and will be lit on Sunday 1 December as part of the town’s wider switch-on activity.

The tree on the Town Hall balcony will measure 15ft and the tree at the front of the war memorial will measure 25ft. There will also be a decorated garland on the front of the Town Hall balcony. The Christmas trees will feature as part of the council’s Better Colchester campaign.

Cllr Julie Young, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Performance and Deputy Leader of the Council said: “We’re delighted to add some festive cheer

to Colchester again this year, by investing in two beautiful Christmas trees. We hope they are enjoyed by all the residents and visitors to Colchester. They’ll add even more to Colchester’s excellent Christmas offering. The trees will be recycled after they are taken down in the New Year.”

Colchester Borough Council will also have a great Christmas parking offer for late night shopping, with FREE parking after 3pm on Wednesday 4, 11 and 18 December at all its town centre car parks, and money-saving offers available at other times too, including parking on Sundays for £1 all day at Britannia Car Park colchester.gov.uk/parking The Colchester Christmas Market returns to the High Street too, on Sunday 8 December, 10am to 5pm, with free entry. The High Street will be pedestrianised and packed with over 80 stalls. Visitors can enjoy shopping along with festive food, drink and entertainment.

Help decorate Colchester Castle this festive season!

Help spread Christmas cheer this year! Colchester Castle are looking for different community groups across Colchester to help decorate the Castle this festive season.

Colchester Museums are looking for ten different groups to get involved, to each design and decorate one of ten Christmas trees that will be displayed across the Castle throughout the festive period.

The Christmas trees at the Castle project is back for a second year running following it’s huge success last year. The Castle are asking for all decorations to be made by the organisations in the theme of ‘Adorn’ to tie in with its current exhibition Adorn: Jewellery, The Human Story.

Adorn is housed in the Castle’s chapel which has been transformed into an incredible space filled with golden light, where dazzling objects fill irregular alcoves and impressive graphics pull visitors into the narrative of the human

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stories that lie behind the dazzling jewellery on display. The community groups are encouraged to use these amazing objects as inspiration to create some awe-inspiring festive cheer to the Castle this Christmas time.

Organisations are encouraged to dig deep and get as creative as possible!

Councillor Julie Young, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Performance and Deputy Leader of the Council said: “This is a great way for groups across the community to get together, get creative and spread some festive cheer!

Each organisation will need to have completed their decorations and be available to head to the Castle to dress their tree on the 23 November ready for them to go on display on the 1 December.

To get involved please contact Colchester Castle on 01206 282941 or email us at Collections@Colchester. gov.uk

ACROSS 1 Extreme enmity could result in death, right? (6) 5 Some card games for masseur (6) 9 Wise men, first to control wizardry (5) 10 Foolish conceit around university is to count for nothing (3,2,3) 12 To agree entirely (7) 13 Team not batting is in the field perhaps (7) 14 Love left to perish in formerly popular song (5) 16 To run down daughter is standard, given time (9) 18 I cut Elvis out of book (9) 21 Raise glasses to a good man (5) 22 Second entreaty for something to water plants with (7) 24 Rain too affected Canadian province (7) 26 Ring back twice to scoff (4-4) 27 Rex comes in to decorate? Rubbish! (5) 28 Crime only punished after fellow takes Ecstasy (6) 29 Sidle off around start of presentation and drive away (6) DOWN 2 A Romanian initially picked up slang (5) 3 Remember to assemble again (9) 4 A number of years said to be rotten (7) 5 Limits speeches when leader’s absent (7) 6 Promote footwear round the south (5) 7 A Chilean dish chiefly – wrong, a Mexican one (9) 8 End of scene still is lacking feeling (11) 11 Peer’s ordered Russian vehicle with Soviet reconstruction (11) 15 Fish and port only (5,4) 17 Heights situated haphazardly around lake (9) 19 Brief thus tucked into Indian meal (7) 20 She’s old, crazy and drunk (7) 23 Lout gives exclamation of joy (5) 25 Only some admire evergreen old magistrate (5)

SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1 hatred. 5 rubber. 9 magic. 10 cut no ice. 12 totally. 13 outside. 14 oldie. 16 disparage. 18 Leviticus. 21 toast. 22 sprayer. 24 Ontario. 26 poohpooh. 27 dreck. 28 felony. 29 dispel. DOWN: 2 argot. 3 recollect. 4 decayed. 5 rations. 6 boost. 7 enchilada. 8 emotionless. 11 perestroika. 15 Dover sole. 17 altitudes. 19 cursory.

20 sloshed. 23 yahoo. 25 reeve.

Colchester will have some added festive oomph this year, as Colchester Borough Council will decorate the Town Centre with two real Christmas trees as part of its Better Colchester campaign.

Quick Crossword Puzzle

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