Colchester is to host a unique music event that will be the first of its kind in Essex. The Musicircus celebration is set to be first large-scale public event in the newly appointed City of Colchester.
As the first large public event since the city status announcement, Colchester is set to host a unique symphony of music performances in a dramatic live event on Sunday 12th June from 1pm to 3pm in the city centre. Hundreds of musicians from across the county will come together to be a part of Musicircus, a free event that will immerse Colchester in sound.
From local professionals within the music industry to young schoolchildren taking part, musical artists will take to the streets to perform in locations across Colchester, sharing their music from different locations, all at the same time.
Creating a crescendo of sound from Lion Walk to Culver Square, Musicircus will enable visitors to the newly named city to be able to simply sit back and let moments of musical inspiration wash over them or pick out the performer that piques their interest and zone in on what they love most.
The first event of its kind in the county of Essex, the Musicircus concept has its origins in the United States, giving a platform for artists of all kinds to perform in unison whilst allowing audiences to discover new sounds, as well as enjoy old favourites.
Carla Hales, the event’s founder said, “It’s a wonderful opportunity for people to have access to lots of different musical instruments and performances they might not necessarily have been exposed to before. We’re excited to get the local music community involved.”
Colchester’s Musicircus will be working alongside partners including Colchester Lion Walk, Essex Music Service and In Colchester.
If you love a good thriller then Sitting Down With Evil by Colchester’s newest author could well be the perfect holiday read for you.
Synopsis
West Belfast, 1972. The government has lost control. The streets of Northern Ireland are on fire, with violence escalating on both sides. Lance Corporal Owen Twill is snatched up by the IRA and held captive for ten days. On his release he leaves the army and returns to England, a broken and bitter man, obsessed with visiting revenge on the Provo commander responsible for his injuries.
It’s 2016, and one by one, members of Owen Twill’s old unit are dying in suspicious circumstances. When he learns the dark secret behind his betrayal, a chain of events is set in motion, the aftermath of which is felt from Belfast to New York City.
As he tracks down former colleagues, he uncovers a powerful cabal with tentacles that reach to the corridors of Westminster. A conspiracy that pitches friend against friend in a battle to be the last man standing.
About the Author
Charlie Palmer
Charlie Palmer is a 52 year old voluntary worker. Born in Brixham, Devon he has lived and worked in Kent, London and the United States before making North Essex his home 23 years ago.
Charlie started a career in the City young, foregoing university for real life experience. At one point the youngest Director in the city, his motivation waned after nearly three decades and he took a step back to spend more time with his family. This freedom allowed him to indulge his love of travel, following F1 around the world and visiting family in Portugal and Singapore.
Married to Emma, his two sons are finishing their studies at university.
Although Sitting Down With Evil is his first novel, he had a short story published in 2017.
Sitting Down With Evil is available in hardback, paperback and Kindle from WH Smith, Browns Book and Amazon and other good bookstores.
At 11am on Monday 6th June morning the 2022 Women’s Tour, the biggest all-female cycle race in the world, began at the Colchester Sports Park at Northern Gateway.
The Women’s Tour attracts Olympic and world champions, as well as the most elite British riders and stars of the future, so it was an honour for Colchester to be chosen to play host to the Grand Depart opening stage taking place between here when over 100 of the world’s best riders set off on the 88 mile ride to Bury St Edmunds.
Women’s Tour Colchester
The route brought the riders into our historic town centre, taking in landmarks including the Jumbo water tower, the Town Hall and the Natural History Museum before heading out to Layer-de-la-Haye and Abberton, before heading back through Old Heath and Greenstead then heading north towards Manningtree and over the River Stour.
Once over the boarder into Suffolk the route goes under the Orwell Bridge before passing through Bildeston twice as part of an anti-clockwise loop through Mid-Suffolk, then onwards to the finish line on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds via Lavenham.
Subsequent days see the riders racing through Gloucester before two stages in Wales. The latter including an elevation gain of 2065 metres of any stage in this year’s race owing to the summit finish at the top of Black Mountain in the Brecon Beacons.
On Saturday 10th May 1992 Colchester United beat Witton Albion in the FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium in front of a crowd of 32,254 containing an estimated 20,000 Colchester United fans.Simon Crow writes about the 30th anniversary of Colchester United’s Boys of ’92reunion.
The U’s 3-1 victory, on their first ever visit to Wembley in the club’s history, came at the end of a season which saw them clinch promotion back to the Football League from the GM Vauxhall Conference on the final day of a campaign the like of which the town had never seen before.
30 years to the day later, the Conference and Cup winning team were back together in the Town Hall’s Moot Hall for The Boys of ’92 anniversary reunion dinner for a night of memories, and one or two tears of joy.
FA Trophy Final 1992
The reunion was the brainchild of lifelong U’s supporter Steve Green who wasn’t willing to let this landmark anniversary go by uncelebrated.
I’ll let Steve tell you how it all came about:
“I was approached by Roy McDonough in January asking me if I knew of a restaurant or bar in Colchester where the 1992 non-league double winning squad could meet up for an informal reunion. I suggested a couple of places but it got me thinking that something more deserving of their achievements would be a better idea. I reached out to Ray Hollingsworth who was a major sponsor of Colchester United during the late 80’s and early 90’s, for support, who in turn reached out to super fan Sir Bob Russell, and the three of us met at the The Old Siege House to discuss how a proper celebration might work. Francis Ponder was the Colchester Gazette’s sports editor during the years we were looking to celebrate and he got wind of the meeting and joined us, so we had our own Gang of Four. Jeff Dewing, who owns Cloudfm, made a significant financial donation which enabled us to aim higher in terms of venue hire, quality of catering, audio visual support and giveaways etc. It was quite stressful and time consuming but I think what transpired was befitting of the incredible journey we were taken on back in 1992.”
Ray Hollingsworth, Steve Green, Francis Ponder and Sir Bob Russell
Together they booked the Moot Hall, organised audio-visual equipment and lighting with the help of Steve’s son Ben, catering from The Old Siege House Restaurant which included, unusually for the Town Hall, draught lager. Well you can’t hold a football event without the lager flowing freely!
The Moot Hall bedecked in blue and white to celebrate The Boys of ’92
Scott Barrett, Tony English and Nicky Smith
In the culmination of a remarkable feat to track down and contact all the Colchester United Boys of ’92, on the night almost all the squad attended. Player Manager ‘Big Roy’ McDonough, American striker Mike ‘The Big Yank’ Masters and World Cup hero Mark Kinsella jetted in from Spain, New York and Dublin respectively. They were joined by Nicky Smith, Jason Cook, Steve Restarick, Paul Abrahams, Tony English, Scott Barrett, Paul Roberts, Dave Martin, James Goodwin, and Steve McGavin. Only Eamon Collins, Gary Bennett, Martin Grainger, Ian Stewart and Julian Dart (Hazel) were missing.
Open Top Victory Parade
The Boys of ’92 in ’92
After gathering in the Mayor’s Parlour they took it in turns to enter the Moot Hall’s one by one to take the stage where they were introduced by Peter Sleigh, the club’s matchday announcer. They were met with cheers and applause from the delighted fans before eventually taking their seats at the top table.
Big Roy Tells All
Steve and the team had kindly seated Paul Dundas and myself as outgoing Leader of the Council and outgoing Council Cabinet member respectively, with Mayor of Colchester Cllr Robert Davidson and James Bowbridge, the club’s chairman back in 1992. I introduced myself to James saying that even though we’d spoken a few times 30 years ago I didn’t expect him to remember me. He replied “Wasn’t it you that went to prison?” Err, no. Not guilty guv.
In pride of place on our table was the match ball from that historic Wembley final. Across the room from us sat the town’s ex MP Sir Bob Russell, and at a nearby table was former Chief Executive Marie Partner, just a couple of the many familiar faces that night, some of whom I hadn’t seen in many years.
FA Trophy 1992 Matchball
Throughout the evening a big screen treated us to a video of every goal the U’s scored during that never to be forgotten second, and final, season in the Conference, including one of the most iconic moments in Colchester United’s history when goalkeeper Scott Barrett scored a goal that established him in U’s folklore.
In a crunch top-of-the table clash at Adams Park, Barrett’s long punt bounced, sailed over the head of Wycombe keeper Paul Hyde into the net to give the U’s a last gasp 2-1 victory over promotion rivals Wycombe Wanderers.
Other entertainment included a lively and fun Q&A session with players and fans, and an auction of U’s memorabilia followed by a £1000 donation to the Red Cross Ukrainian Appeal.
Q&As with Roy McDonough and Paul Roberts
The lager continued to flow for the rest of the night but sadly it was all over far too quickly. But it was truly a night to remember as we relived such happy memories created by The Boys of ’92 team three decades ago. It seems like they only happened yestererday.
Simon Crow and Roy McDonough at the Boys of ’92
I’ll let Big Roy have the last word:
“The whole night was emotional and also magnificent, great seeing how well my old teammates looked, also watching the true supporters mixing side by side with the players they watched and idolised, that’s what the game is all about, Steve Green, Jeff Dewing, Ben Green, Peter Sleigh, Sir Bob Russell and Ray Hollingsworth all take a bow.“
