Sophie England

Colchester nurse Sophie Phillips is preparing to take part in Cancer Research UK’s 10km Shine Night Walk in Cambridge on October 17, raising money in memory of her father, Austen, who died from stage-four glioblastoma in May 2022. Phillips hopes the fundraising will support brain-cancer research and improve outcomes for people facing similar diagnoses.

A new memorial has been unveiled at Colchester Cemetery for Thomas Bolton, a cordwainer from Winsley Square almshouses who became the cemetery’s first burial on May 2, 1856. Historian Sharon Mooney’s research, supported by Sir Bob Russell, identified Bolton and connected the project with his descendant Kathy Dathan. Cemetery staff also discovered Bolton’s original headstone beneath the ground while preparing the site. The memorial was unveiled by Colchester’s mayor, Andrew Ellis, with supporters describing it as a lasting tribute to Bolton and an important way to preserve the cemetery’s history.

The Essex Golf and Country Club held its annual Ladies’ Club Championship over 36 holes in hot conditions. Marilyn Adams won the Nett Championship with a total of 141, while Olivia Savage became Ladies’ Club Champion in the Gross Championship with 171. Christine Curtis and Emma Rowe placed second and third in the Nett competition, while Sue Ballard and Kwai Lin Ngai finished second and third in the Gross event. Organizers praised the club’s staff and greenkeeping team for helping deliver a successful tournament, which concluded with a clubhouse prize presentation.

The Mercury Theatre in Colchester has renewed its partnership with John Fowlers Solicitors, which serves as the venue’s Access Sponsor. Funding from the partnership supports captioned, relaxed, audio-described and British Sign Language-interpreted performances, as well as touch tours for blind and partially sighted visitors. Both organizations say the collaboration helps remove barriers and widen access to theatre and arts activities across Essex.

Colchester Events has been shortlisted in two categories at the Colchester Business Awards: Contribution to Theatre & Arts for Charter Hall and Live Entertainment Venue for Charter Hall and Castle Park. An independent report says the team generated almost £24 million for the local economy in 2024/25 and attracted more than 293,000 attendees, including over 179,000 visitors from outside the city. Public voting remains open until September 17, with winners to be announced at Colchester Town Hall on October 8.

Gemma Zweck, the new director of fundraising at East Anglia's Children's Hospices, describes the motivation she draws from supporting children and families receiving hospice care. After previously working at St Helena Hospice and in the commercial sector, she moved into charity work to pursue a stronger sense of purpose. She says EACH faces a difficult fundraising climate because of rising living costs and declining charitable giving, while receiving only around 15 per cent of its income from government funding. Zweck also discusses her breast cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy, saying the experience has deepened her empathy with the families supported by EACH.

Birch InSpire is marking three years of efforts to save the Church of St Peter and St Paul in Birch from demolition. Public support has remained strong, with 88% of survey respondents backing preservation of the church or its spire. The registered charity plans to convert part of the building into a heritage café, shop and community space, and is seeking funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Chelmsford Diocese has pledged £300,000 in matching funds if the main bid succeeds, while Historic England and The Victorian Society have also offered support. The group is now seeking a smaller grant for surveys and feasibility work ahead of a major funding application.

Cadent will replace 320 metres of gas mains installed in the 1930s along Church Road in Elmstead Market, near Colchester. The work is due to begin on August 17 and take about six weeks, requiring a road closure and signed diversions. Gas supplies will generally remain available, although a small number of properties may experience brief interruptions. The project is part of Cadent’s wider East of England investment programme to modernize the network and maintain safe, reliable service.

Jo Hillyard and Hayley Jones are celebrating 19 years of friendship after meeting as colleagues at New Copford Place care home in Colchester. Together, they have worked at the home for 46 years, with Hillyard serving 20 years and Jones 26 years. Both say their shared humour, commitment to residents and supportive workplace have strengthened their bond, while registered manager Daniel Sabau praised their long-standing dedication to providing high-quality care.

Youth Fest will return to Colchester on August 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering free music, art, skateboarding, sports, entertainment and information about local services. The event is being delivered by the Colchester Community Safety Partnership, with Colchester Council encouraging young people and families to attend and try new activities.

Helpline 24/7, a round-the-clock telecare monitoring and rapid-response service in north east Essex, is helping elderly residents after falls and other welfare alerts, potentially reducing avoidable ambulance call-outs and hospital admissions. Its teams respond to pendant alarms and no-voice-contact alerts, provide reassurance and assistance at home, and work with health and care services to help residents remain independent. Service leaders say community-based support will become increasingly important as the population ages and pressure on the NHS grows.

Sixth Form College Colchester has secured Post-16 Capacity Fund support to build a four-storey teaching block at its North Hill campus, adding nine classrooms and capacity for about 270 students by September 2028. The building will primarily serve geography and geology students and include staff, breakout and storage areas. Colchester Institute has also received £4 million from the Department for Education’s Construction Skills Capacity Fund, supplemented by £500,000 of its own funding, for a new workshop and classrooms. The projects are intended to expand education access and train workers for industries linked to Sizewell C, the Lower Thames Crossing and offshore wind developments.

Colchester-based freight company Speedy Freight has been shortlisted for the Established Franchisor of the Year award at the 2026 British Franchise Association Awards and the Customer Service Award at the 2026 Supply Chain Excellence Awards. Group franchise director Michael Wilson credited the company's franchise network, technology, expertise and operational support for its growth while maintaining personalized customer service. Winners will be announced at ceremonies in London on November 5 and Telford on November 12.

Essex Pedal Power marked another successful year with the Big Ride Out, bringing together 44 cyclists, staff and volunteers across community rides. Participants ranged in age from four to 85, while five riders completed an 85-mile challenge. The event highlighted the scheme’s role in helping people learn to cycle, build confidence, improve wellbeing and strengthen community connections across Essex.

Paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, based in Colchester, are trialling Sting electric bikes during Exercise Rhino Bizz in Canada. The bikes allow small anti-tank teams to travel farther and faster, engage targets and relocate more quickly, while quad bikes carry missiles, batteries and heavy weapons. The exercise also tested operations in drone- and electronic-warfare-dominated conditions, as well as parachuting bikes alongside troops. The unit has trained with e-bikes for about a year and says the technology improves mobility and survivability on modern battlefields.

A live concert inspired by the Moon will take place at Colchester Castle on August 12 beneath Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon installation. The Abbeygate Concert Band will perform moon-themed music, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the concert beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets cost £13.95 for adults and £8.50 for under-16s, and early booking is advised because seating is limited.

A new £90,000 playground has opened at Monkwick in Colchester following a public consultation led by Colchester Council. Residents selected the final design, which includes wheelchair-accessible and inclusive equipment, toddler and junior play facilities, sensory panels and adventure equipment. The project is part of the council’s wider programme to improve accessibility, safety and play value across the city.

Colchester Institute has secured £4 million from the Department for Education’s Construction Skills Capacity Fund, supplemented by £500,000 from its own reserves, to build a 723-square-metre extension at its Colchester campus. The facility, scheduled to open in early 2028, will include a construction workshop, classrooms and training capacity for bricklaying, retrofit, trowel trades and plant driving. The expansion is intended to address demand linked to projects including Sizewell C, the Lower Thames Crossing, Freeport East and offshore wind developments, while supporting apprenticeships, higher education and employment. Sustainable features will include insulation, electric heating, solar panels and rainwater harvesting.

A new Twinkle Star Trail has opened at High Woods Country Park in Colchester, inspired by local sisters Jane and Ann Taylor, who wrote “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” The family-friendly route features five nature-themed markers, while a £3 activity booklet offers poems, puzzles, games and recordings performed by young people from Mercury Young Company. The project was developed by historians Peter Jones and Sir Bob Russell with support from Colchester City Council, combining local heritage, outdoor recreation and educational activities.

Colchester City Council planning officers have recommended removing the fountain in Culver Square and replacing it with movable seating, planters, street furniture and an interactive play surface. The fountain, installed nearly 40 years ago, was decommissioned in 2011 because of safety and maintenance problems. Residents are divided, with objections focused on the loss of a landmark, seating and public art, while supporters say the redesign would create a more flexible space for events and markets. The bronze Sea Holly sculpture by artist Tim Holding would be relocated to the Minories Garden, and the planning committee is expected to decide the application on July 30.

A planning application has been submitted for a new community centre at Kingswood Heath in Colchester, on land beside Camulos Academy. The facility would include a flexible 100-person hall, kitchen, meeting rooms, offices, accessible facilities and a Changing Places toilet, alongside parking, bicycle storage, landscaping and solar panels. Funding would come from Section 106 developer contributions and £130,000 from Myland Community Council. The plans follow strong public support, and construction is expected to take about 12 months if approved.

Residents can attend a public drop-in session at St Botolph's Church on August 6 to learn about the £15.2 million redevelopment of St Botolph's Circus in Colchester. Jackson Civil Engineering will explain construction phases and traffic-management arrangements, with work expected to finish in autumn 2027. Preparatory activity has begun, and the contractor aims to maintain two traffic lanes during peak periods while coordinating with the nearby East Hill project.

Advance Teacher Training celebrated its Class of 2026 at an event for newly qualified primary and secondary teachers working across Colchester and Tendring. Trainees received certificates and special awards, with Harry Bouchard, Viviana Tif and Natashia Wenman named Inspirational Trainees of the Year. Additional awards recognized rising stars, resilience and mentor contributions, while Laura Reynolds and Liz Bartholomew were honored for long service. Programme director Dr Sarah Alix praised the cohort and expressed confidence in its future impact on classrooms across the region.

Researchers from the University of Essex are working with around 30 farmers in Namibia’s Omaheke region to develop affordable tools for monitoring crop and soil health. Through the PhenoCoLab project, farmers identified low rainfall, limited soil testing and pest outbreaks as major agricultural challenges, helping shape PhenoKits and training sessions involving soil testing kits, thermal cameras, chlorophyll meters and drones. The researchers hope to develop digital tools that provide timely advice as climate pressures intensify.

Thomas Lord Audley School in Colchester has trained more than 1,000 pupils in CPR and automated external defibrillator use after a Year 7 student suffered a cardiac arrest at school. Staff used CPR and the school’s defibrillator before emergency services arrived, prompting headteacher Simon Essex to launch a fundraising appeal that raised £4,600. With support from the Essex and Herts Ambulance Service, staff delivered training across all year groups, and the school plans annual refreshers and first-aid training for new Year 7 pupils.

Colchester-based crane hire company Cadman Cranes has become one of the first businesses in its sector to receive B Corporation certification from B Lab. The accreditation recognizes standards in governance, worker treatment, community impact, transparency and environmental sustainability. Managing director Matt Waddingham called it a major milestone, while B Lab UK chief executive Chris Turner said the company was helping demonstrate that responsible and commercially successful practices can coexist in construction and heavy industry.

Wheatfield Road play area in Stanway will be refurbished with a wider £51,000 investment, including up to £40,000 from Enovert Community Trust. The existing equipment will be replaced with an accessible play ship, slide, swings, climbing and balancing equipment, sensory features and educational facilities. Work is scheduled to begin on July 31 and take about four weeks, subject to weather and site conditions.

A temporary engagement space has opened in Colchester Library to help residents understand ongoing city centre regeneration plans. The exhibition presents visual materials and technical drawings for projects such as St Botolph’s Circus improvements and the Jumbo restoration. Project teams will be available weekly to answer questions, and feedback collected will help develop a future permanent engagement hub. Councillor David King emphasises that the space is intended to make redevelopment plans clearer and more accessible to the public.

Colchester residents are being offered discounted personal training sessions throughout July at Leisure World and Colchester Sports Park, including a buy‑one‑get‑one‑free deal and reduced rates for block bookings. The initiative runs alongside a no‑joining‑fee promotion and is intended to encourage people of all fitness levels to improve health and wellbeing. Colchester Council emphasises that personal training can support motivation, long‑term fitness goals and confidence.

A community celebration at Colonia Court Bupa Care Home in Colchester brought together residents, military veterans, serving soldiers and local leaders to mark Armed Forces Day. Attendees, including the city’s mayor and members of 16 Air Assault Brigade and the Fijian Parachute Regiment, shared stories, viewed wartime memorabilia and enjoyed period music and refreshments. The event honoured both former and current service members and fostered connections between the armed forces community and care home residents.