Colchester Festival 2005 was held over the weekend of 9th, 10th and 11th September

SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, HERE ARE SOME PICTURES

from the Sixth Colchester Festival's

Please click on any of these underlined headings.

Thank you everybody who helped to make the event such a success. With special thanks to the following people and organisations, for believing in us, for essential sponsorship, advertising, use of facilities, props, help with marshalling, etc.

WITH HUGE THANKS TO

OUR WONDERFUL SPONSORS

AND VOLUNTEERS

Stena Line (Tent of Dreams), Lion Walk Shopping Centre (street entertainment), Culver Square Shopping (street entertainment), Boydens (printing of brochure), Miller Stationery (general funding), Bowcott (general funding), Evening Gazette (printing of posters and programme coverage), Mail Boxes Etc (MBE) (for contributing to the printing of the daily programme), Illuminati (general support).

Our event stewards Nathan, Richard, Jan, Bekki, and Alice Nevard, Daniel, George Christopher, Alex, Shane, Leanne, Amanda, Karl, Crystal, Mick and Hazel.

Councillors: Terry Sutton, John Jowers, Kevin Bentley, and many others of all political persuasions.

White Farm Willow, Minories Art Gallery and the Friends of the Minories for the classical music at the Minories. CJW Upholstery (all for materials for the costume workshops), Matt from Culver Precinct for help with the posters, etc.

Angela Castagnoli for our generic festival artwork, Christine Mabbett, Peter Ward and the Town Watch, Catherine Clements, Sass Morgan with her 'Beads Needs' contribution, Phil Reeve for loaning us the Hutton chariot.

Colchester Borough Council, Colchester Museums, the Community Safety Officers and Street Wardens, Eld Lane Baptist Church, Unison, the Gilberd Society, the Green Badge Guides (not Blue any more!), the Red Lion Hotel (for allowing us to meet there on many occasions), the Hippodrome (for allowing us to play jazz on their steps), Ian Baalham and the Park Rangers (specifically Will, Kirsty and Ben), Rotarians of all denominations, Saffron Walden Building Society for the use of their caravan, etc.

John and Sarah Morgan and all the bar staff and to all our volunteers and helpers who lent a hand in all sorts of ways; Alice and Janet Nevard being two of our superb collectors.

The Worshipful, the Mayor of Colchester, Councillor Terry Sutton, and Madam Mayoress, Mrs Wilma Sutton - Boadicea herself, aka Barbara Jones - Colchester Co-operative Society - Friends of the Minories and The Garden Cafe - the Visitor Information Centre - Red Lion Books - Derek Wray and the New Route Theatre Group for the Promenade Plays - Abby Cheverst - Jackie Mallet and her team at FACETS - the Colchester Academy of Modern Music - Christopher the Samba Man, to name but a few.

The Essex County Standard and our local radio station, SGR, for their brilliant coverage of the event, our local farmers and land owners for allowing us use of land for signs - our library, various shops for leaflet distribution facilities - to name but a few of the hundreds of sponsors, people and organisations who made it all possible.

Many thanks also to Colchester Borough Council for allowing us the use of our wonderful castle and the castle park.

..and, all the members of the public who came from far and wide to support their Colchester Festival. 

..and, of course, everybody who took part in the Great Samba Ramble. What a wonderful display yet again - our best yet!

....and to Mr Rob Brown whose dream, determination and sheer hard work started the whole thing in the first place.    

Please. If you took any pictures of your own, could we please see them, or have copies, as we like to build up a record of events of performers. Also, your views and suggestions as to what was good (or bad) about the festival, would be gratefully received. All we want is to make the next Colchester Festival the best there is - for you.  Please also note that there is no magic pot of gold. We are entirely reliant on sponsorship and donations from businesses and private individuals. Without this, the festival cannot take place.

 Some of the team who produced the festival this year were -

Dorian Kelly, Jo Edwards, Beth Hull, Iain Hull, Addrian Hutson, Satish, Sam Kelly, Jess and Theresa Jephcott.

Here follows some of the entertainments that were to be seen.

The Opening of the Festival and "The Fair and Funky Market" by the Mayor of Colchester, Cllr.Terry Sutton. Green organic and fair trade stalls. Clothes, jewellery, crafts and food from around the world - all fairly traded. Plus traditional Edwardian fairground. Walkabout entertainers, historical crafts and demonstrations throughout the day.

Mixers Music presented - on the SUSTRANS Stage - a programme of up and coming solo artistes and groups including Michael Hinchcliffe, Flying Heroes, Spitfire, Alive, Pierre, Francesca Berlin and others.

Fair Trade and World Textiles exhibition from the staff and students of St Benedicts School.

In Town Without My Car day - the Great Samba Ramble was living proof of what a joy Colchester could be without cars on the road! This tent gave lots of ideas about how you could support In Town Without My Car day and leave your car at home on 22nd September.

The arrival of the riders on the SUSTRANS National Bike Ride - a celebration of the completion of the first 10,000 miles of the cycle path network. Bike sculptures and derring-do from "Tricky Trikes" fun for all the family.

 

The

"Colchester International Street Arts Festival"

(including the Great Samba Ramble)

The annually held Colchester International Street Arts Festival aims to be the greatest street celebration in the region. Interlinking thrills, creativeness, colours, sounds, costumes and plenty of dreams in a town centre wide explosion of merry-making. The festival involves street entertainments, multicultural spectacle, art, music, comedy, theatre, literature, magic and above all, life itself. The centrepiece is the free day of world music and dance, complete with all kinds of street entertainment all around the town and in the park.

The fabulous foot parade down the High Street on Saturday is always one of the highlights of the day - a fantastic parade from Headgate to the Park, via the High Street. This year the Great Samba Ramble included six world class samba bands, marching bands, fabulous costumes and a fantastic Brazilian - style carnival atmosphere.

 

The Salvation Army Band - A Street Service

Comedy and Mime from Anton Mackman

Salsa! with Colchester Salsa.

The Famous Kathakali dancers - Indian Dance.

Balakalunya: African and world percussion.

Hot Ashes- high energy comedy and percussion.

The Fantasy Arabian dancers.

Chris Steinhauer - one man blues band.

Ceroc - high energy dance demonstration.

 

Mozart at the Minories / Haydn in the Garden

Classical music with Interlude Clarinet Trio in the delightful setting of the Minories Cafe garden.

in Culver Square

Hot Ashes High Energy acro-percussion.	The Street Organ Entertains.
The Arabian Fantasy Dancers.	The Ilaz School of Dancing.
Anton Mackman: Juggler	The Ilaz School of Dancing.
Angela Humphries: Hula Hoop artist	Traditional Clog Dancing with Bows 'n Belles, Annies Fantasies, Priory Morris, Rising Larks & guests.
The Kathakali Dancers - Indian dance troupe.	Flamenco Dancing with Las Palomas.
Dave Solo - all round comic performer	The Egyptian Dancers.
David Kent - close up magic and entertainment.

 

in the Eld Lane Baptist Church Forecourt

'The Children's Area'

Including: Punch and Judy, arts and crafts, parachute games, face painting, Indian hand painting, etc.

Salsa dance originated in the middle of last century in Cuba and has rapidly spread around the world and become one of the most popular dances of the moment. It has been influenced by several other latin countries, Africa and U.S.A and there are several different styles.

Salsa is a partner dance based on upbeat music.

Salsa is a fantastic way to meet new people, get fitter and have fun.

Salsa arrived in Colchester in 1997 and currently "Colchester Salsa" has one of the largest salsa classes & clubs in East Anglia, attracting up to 115 people each week at classes, and 200 people at its regular dances.

Salsa dancers are from all age ranges and backgrounds.

Festival in the Park

was sponsored by STENA LINES

please click on the above Stena Line logo to visit their website.

in the

STENA's TENT OF DREAMS

(Where the dreams begin...)

 

In the Stena Line Tent of Dreams

'STAGE ONE'

The best of up and coming young musical talent.

	Rhythm Rats
	Desolate Faces
	Electric Mistress
	Echo One
	Splattered Apple
	Mark Balgarnie
	Bryony Benson
	Mike Last
	Missed fee
	Parma Violet
	The Mick Hutton Jazz Quartet

On the Sustrans Stage by the Castle:

"STAGE TWO"

Mixers Music presented more music from up and coming bands.

	The World Famous JIVE ACES - Europe's No 1 Swing Band - Free Concert.
	The Great Encontro - all the samba bands played together, competing for the title of "Batteria of the Festival"

AROUND the CASTLE

• The Fair and Funky Market around the Castle and the traditional fair in the Upper Castle Park.
• A full mini free festival programme of bands and solo artistes.
• All around the park - dance, entertainments and demonstrations.
• This was the Tai Chi Awareness Day worldwide and Moira Jackson and colleagues from the Taoist Tai Chi Society were there all day to give demonstrations and answer questions.
• On the Bandstand: The Colne Endeavour Band
• Colne Endeavour Band are a lively and exciting wind band, who love to entertain! A selection of music from Gershwin to the Carpenters, from spirituals to pop.

Colchester Castle's Free Day for one day only!

Costumed guided tours started at the War Memorial with Green Badge Guides.

An intercultural bazaar with fabrics, foods and crafts from all over Asia. Last year's 'Dreaming of India' was such a huge success we thought we would expand it to the whole of Asia! Chinese and Indian hot and cold foods, try on a sari or learn to wind a turban, have your hands beautifully decorated with henna and learn Chinese calligraphy.

Indian dancing from the Kathakali Dancers, and the Madhurang Dance Company. Thai performers, Chinese traditional musicians, etc.

Crafts and Activities for Children Arts and Crafts activities for children of all ages around the Castle and by the big tent.

THE FAIR AND FUNKY MARKET, with new craft stalls entertainments and historical re-enactments.

The Creative Academy of Modern Music (CAMM) from presented, 'Music in the Moat' from these talented newcomers.

Indian head massage, ayervedic medicine, holistic treatments, meditation tents of all sorts, Churches Together, Thai foot massage, reflexology, reiki and all kinds of other ways to look after the human body and spirit.

Traditional Fair.

Fitness area and other sports on Hollytrees Meadow, near the fair.

Loads of fun from the team from Fitness First inc. rowing and football competitions, children's face painting, music, demonstrations, etc.

Karate and other fitness demonstrations. Also softball golf.

Red Lion Bookshop held storytelling, games and fun with books near the big tent.

By the Bandstand - LR Danceworks with Disco Freestyle and Street Dance

The 'Speed Test' inflatable football game. Shoot a football into the inflatable cage while a police radar tests your speed.

The CBC Sports Development Team offered a chance to try your hand at Tri-Golf- using soft balls and a target. In association with the National Golf Foundation.

Festival History Lectures

were held in the Charles Gray Room at Colchester Castle

	Gosbecks Archaeological Park - The Way Forward?	with David Barber, Mark Davies, Gary Bell, John Hannington	Explaining how the park was founded, what exists there and how the park could be developed for the future.
	Colchester's Roman Circus - A Remarkable Discovery	Ben Holloway of the Colchester Archaeological Trust	This year, the circus was revealed during an archaeological dig. Ben explained the findings and discussed how it has been interpreted.
	Witchcraft in and around Colchester	Chris Etheridge and friends from Stepaside Tours	The bloody work of Matthew Hopkins in the 17th century was explained in its gory detail, with the effects inflicted on communities in our area.
	Life on the Home Front in WWII	Patrick Denney	In this 60th year since the end of the war, Patrick talked about life in Colchester during the war.

The Colchester Promenade Play

You were met outside the Castle on Sunday and taken to a nearby secret location for the theatrical experience of a lifetime! You were able to find out about the ethnic cleansing that went on after the Norman Conquest and what the Castle is really made of!

 

MUSIC IN THE "MOAT"

Colchester Academy of Modern Music (CAMM) presented "Music in the Moat" a day-long presentation of performances of contemporary music from some of its students as well as other local young musicians, playing everything from standards and blues to rock.

 

Free Guided Tours

	Colchester under Siege: A free tour by fully costumed Green Badge guide Ann Turner.
	Roman Colchester: a free tour by Roman soldier and Green Badge guide Ian Baalam.

Stories, games, readings, face painting, history tales, activities and entertainments for all ages.

 

Heritage Open Days

An independent event on both Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th, open various times. Historic buildings in and around Colchester were open to the public, including Colchester Castle's Free Day.

It must be remembered that, without sponsorship, we are unable to do what we do. We are all indebted to all our sponsors who make the festival possible.

PLEASE give a donation to our funds if you believe in and enjoy what we do. We are wholly dependent upon good will, donations and sponsorship from you. Cheques should be made out to the Colchester Festival Association.

If you would like to sponsor a particular aspect of the festival, please contact us through the contact details at the foot of this page.

If you would like to donate direct to our bank account, please make payments to:

The Co-operative Bank PLC

PO Box 101

1 Balloon Street

Manchester

M60 4EP

 

Colchester Festival Association

Sort Code 08-92-99

Account No 6506304000

 

Thank you!

 If you have any comments or require further information or would like to get involved in next year's festival, please email us at:

Festivius@aol.com  

 or contact:

Mr Dorian Kelly,

Projects Director Colchester Festival Association,

3 Gladstone Road, Colchester CO12EB

01206 798076 / 07770 950964

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Last updated 3rd October 2005