Frequently Asked Questions

Colchester's Famous People

When in comes to people who have made their mark on history, Colchester actually has quite a few that orginate or have strong associations with it. From famous painters, musicians, warriors and kings to nursery rhyme writers, television presenters, scientists and Baptist Pastors. Click on the 'Famous People from the Past' or 'Famous People from the Present' links below to see who they are!

>> Famous People From The Past

>> Famous People From The Present

Colchester: Did You Know?

1. It was the capital of Roman Britain when London was just a trading post
   
   
2. It has the largest surviving Roman gateway in Britain.
   
   
3. It has 1½ miles (2½ km) of Roman wall, the oldest town wall in Britain.
   
   
4. It has a large number of ancient mosaic floorings, one of the largest concentrations for a town of its size. Some remain untouched in the ground under modern day buildings in and around the town. Others are now the responsibility of Colchester Museums and are either in storage or on display in Colchester Castle Museum, such as the Middleborough Mosaic unearthed in 1979.
   
   
5. Colchester Castle is the largest surviving Norman keep in Europe.
   
   
6. Colchester Castle pre-dates the Tower of London and was in fact the blueprint for it.
   
   
7. Colchester Castle was the first Royal Castle outside of London.
   
   
8. Colchester Castle is built on the massive foundations of the Roman Temple of Claudius.
   
   
9. Colchester was under siege for 11 weeks during the English Civil War in 1648.
   
   
10. The town’s skyline is dominated by two Victorian masterpieces - the Town Hall and ‘Jumbo’ a water tower built in 1882-3. It became known as Jumbo after the famous elephant in London Zoo which had then just been sold, amid national protests, to the American circus showman, P. T. Barnum.
    
    
11. Colchester was the location for a major British earthquake in 1884.
    
    
12. Colchester has one of the country's few Frisbee Golf courses which has hosted the European Frisbee Golf championships. Its located at the University of Essex.
    

Colchester Today

...is home to around 156,000 people.

...has a thriving arts scene with 4 museums, many galleries and 4 theatres.

...is planning a contemporary visual art gallery, firstsite to be opened in Summer 2011.

...has excellent shopping combining big name stores with quiet lanes of smaller specialist shops as well as Williams and Griffin, award-winning independent department store.

...has more quality assured visitor attractions than any other English town.

...offers a balance between providing significant opportunities for new economic development whilst retaining its distinctive heritage and a special quality of life (a 1998 MORI poll showed that Colchester is one of the best places to live in the country regarding quality of life).

...is ideal for connections to the Continent, London and the rest of the region.

...boast the region's premier business centre - the Colchester Business Park, home to many internationally operating companies.

...is home to the University of Essex, Britain's most international university. It hosts students from over 125 countries and is recognised as 'the most academically distinguished university in Britain for its size'.

...is home to the Colchester Institute, part of the University of Essex. Its new call centre campus is the first of its kind in Essex and will enhance the town's inward investment portfolio by supplying skills in this high-growth employment area.

...is home to Colchester United Football Club

Colchester Museums

Find a wealth of information about Colchester Museums on their own website! In addition, the questions and answers page Q&A can answer frequently asks questions about local history, practical information if you are thinking of visiting, school visits and events and activities they regularly run.

www.colchestermuseums.org.uk

Community Sports & Sports Development

What is Community Sport in Colchester?
Community Sport is the establishment and development of quality sports programmes, structures, activities and pathways. Within this, individuals of all ages and abilities can be encouraged and guided towards participating in community sport at a level that meets their needs. It also involves the effective management of the joint use sports centres and working with other partners to ensure access to facilities for the local community.

Community Sport in Colchester is part of the Sport and Leisure Service area, which sits within the department of Leisure Services. The need to develop community sports was identified in 1999 when the post of community sport manager was created with the aim of co-ordinating and overseeing the three current joint use sports centres, developing a community sport vision including creating specialist sports facilities in Colchester with clear pathways and exit routes and developing a community sport programme for the borough of Colchester.

What can you expect if you want to work in Community Sport?
The nature of the work is pre-dominantly sports centre based and involves shift work, evenings, weekends and holiday activities. The hours of work vary according to the needs of the programme and you may be asked to work at other sites to deliver the community sport programme. These sites could include school, playing fields, parish halls and other facilities within the borough.

The work is varied and can be demanding. You may be involved in running children’s activities, setting up relevant equipment, supervising parties, cleaning, bar work, arranging notice boards, reception work to name some of the tasks needed.

Training offered on site includes basic first aid, child protection, activity planning for holiday and children’s programme, manual handling and some basic health and safety information. Uniforms are provided which include polo shirts, t-shirts for holiday activities, tracksuit bottoms, sweatshirt and fleece if needed. There are different levels of clothing standards depending on your role within the team.