Date issued: 16 October 2019
Colchester’s traditional Oyster Feast returns to the Moot Hall, on Friday 25 October 2019.
Since it was first held in 1845, the Oyster Feast has celebrated Colchester’s rich heritage and sense of community and is now a major event in the town’s civic calendar.
This year the Mayor and Mayoress of Colchester, Cllr Nick Cope and Mrs Elizabeth Cope, will be joined in the Moot Hall by special guest speakers Dan Cruickshank, Art Historian and BBC presenter, local author Liz Trenow, musician Nigel Hildreth MBE, and Sally Leung, retired headteacher and Military Wives Choir.
Among the Mayor’s other guests are representatives from Colchester’s twin town, Wetzlar, the Lord Lieutenant of Essex Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, the High Sheriff of Essex James Bettley, Colchester High Steward Sir Bob Russell and the Chairman of Essex County Council, Cllr John Jowers.
The Colchester Town Watch will greet arriving guests and in time-honoured tradition the Mayor will join them in sampling the borough’s famous oysters. Grace will be said by the Mayor’s Chaplain, the Revd Canon Paul Norrington, Area Dean of Colchester and Rector of Christ Church, Colchester.
The Mayor and Mayoress said: “Colchester’s world-famous Oyster Feast is a wonderful occasion to celebrate the borough’s rich history and heritage.
“It is our immense privilege and honour to host this year’s pageantry, which we look forward to sharing with our guests in celebration of the best of Colchester.”
The Oyster Feast banquet will be provided by Le Talbooth Dedham and the music performed by organist Ian Ray, Jane and Elizabeth Hammond, Nigel Hildreth, Moriarty Owen and the Colne Valley Youth Orchestra, Saint Botolph Music Society and Countless Ukes.
For more information on civic events in the Mayor’s calendar, visit: www.colchester.gov.uk/mayor
Page last reviewed: 16 October 2019