Colchester’s traditional Oyster Feast returns to Moot Hall on Friday, 28 October 2022.
Since it was first held in 1845, the Oyster Feast has celebrated Colchester’s rich heritage and community ties and established itself as a major occasion in the town’s civic calendar.
This year, the Mayor of Colchester, Cllr Tim Young, and Mayoress Ms Nicola Goodchild will be joined in the Moot Hall by three specially invited guest speakers: Chris Bryant MP, Member of Parliament for the Rhondda; Rakie Ayola, BAFTA Award-winning actor currently starring in The Pact on BBC1, and poet and performer John Hegley.
Among the Mayor and Mayoress’s other invited guests are representatives from Colchester’s twin towns, Wetzler and Imola, the Lord Lieutenant of Essex Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, the High Sherriff of Essex Nick Alston CBE DL, High Steward of Colchester Sir Bob Russell, Garrison Commander Lieutenant Colonel Ed Rankin, Member of Parliament for Harwich and North Essex, Sir Bernard Jenkin, and Commonwealth Games medal-winning boxer Lewis Richardson.
The Town Watch will greet arriving guests who will also be treated to the sounds of the Pantasy Steel Band outside the Town Hall, The Wild Arts Quartet during the Feast, and Black Elvis afterwards.
In time-honoured custom, the mayor will join attendees at the feast in sampling the borough’s famous oysters.
The Mayor and Mayoress, said: “It is our great honour to be hosting this year’s Oyster Feast, which we look forward to sharing with our invited guests in celebration of the best of Colchester.
“We are also delighted to welcome this year’s special guest speakers. Through their varied knowledge and experience covering politics, the Arts, and more besides, they are certain to offer something to entertain and inspire this year’s attendees. We are sure they will be entertaining, informative and challenging in almost equal measure and certainly chime with our mayoral theme for the year: Celebrating Diversity – Challenging Prejudice.”
Dinner at the Oyster Feast will be provided by Milsom Catering and The Moot Hall organ will be played by borough organist Ian Ray
For more information on civic events in the Mayor’s calendar, visit: www.colchester.gov.uk/mayor
Page last reviewed: 19 October 2022