Colchester City Council celebrates 50 years

Colchester City Council is marking its milestone golden 50th anniversary this year.  

We share this milestone with many other councils established after the Local Government Act of 1972 came into force in April 1974, which saw Colchester borough merged with West Mersea urban district, Wivenhoe urban district, Lexden and Winstree rural district to form a new Colchester district.  

Throughout 2024, we will use a special 50th anniversary artwork with a golden theme on some of our communications, so that the community can celebrate this milestone together.

We will be updating this page throughout the year with your stories, community celebrations and more information. 

Read about some of Colchester’s milestones from the last 50 years.

How can you get involved? 

The half century will be marked by celebrating and sharing ‘your stories’ from employees, volunteers and residents – all who make huge and often unseen contributions to Colchester – over the next ten months. These stories will celebrate the hard work of employees, volunteers and residents, all who have a passion for our great city in the past, now and in the future.  

Residents and businesses are also encouraged to get in contact if they are celebrating a special 50th anniversary this year. We would love for you to be part of our celebrations. Whether your business launched in 1974, you were born in Colchester or got married in April 1974, we would like to hear your story. 

Get in touch by emailing communications@colchester.gov.uk. 

Your stories 

• Paul Lind, Town Serjeant
• Nikki and Armin, Colchester Foodbank
• RAMA (Refugee, Asylum seeker and Migrant Action)
• Active Essex: The Active Partnership for Essex
• Clare McKeever, Contact and Support Officer
• Michelle Tarbun, Head of Health Partnerships & Wellbeing
• Lucie Breadman, Strategic Director
• Peter Chillingworth, mayoral year dates: 2018-2019
• Gerard Oxford, mayoral year dates: 2017-2018
• Sonia Lewis, mayoral year dates: 2010-2011
• Richard Gower. mayoral year dates: 2006-2007
• Nigel Chapman, mayoral year dates: 2002-2003
• Graham Womack, Volunteer Ranger, High Woods Country Park
• Elizabeth Appleby, Litter Warrior Co-ordinator for Layer de la Haye
• Paul Horwood, Committee Treasurer for Colchester Countryside Volunteer Rangers (CCVR)
• Alex Harris, Disabled Facilities Grants Caseworker
• Zoe Punchard, Business Development Manager
• Lisa Hinman, Operations Manager for North Essex Parking Partnership
• Tim Pickard, Neighbourhood Warden, Street Care and Safety Team
• Glen Tokley, Telephony and Customer Contact Technology Lead
• Yovone Cook, Community and Partnership Officer, Resettlement and Diverse Communities