successful Friends of Trust meeting for 2014

On Saturday (8th February), the Friends of the Trust (FCAT) held their AGM and annual meeting for 2014. The AGM was in the morning, at Roman Circus House, followed in the afternoon by the meeting at Lion Walk Church in the town centre. At the meeting, at least 70 enthusiastic FCAT members were given short illustrated talks by Trust archaeologists Ben Holloway and Adam Wightman, and by Trust director Philip Crummy. The talks were illustrated with digital images from our photographic archive. Then the members were able to look at some selected small finds which have recently been returned from conservation with Trust archaeologist Emma Holloway.

The talks were on the Trust’s recent work at Brightlingsea quarry, Shoebury garrison, and on the site of St John’s abbey in Colchester, and included an update on the Roman circus and the Trust’s future plans for the circus centre. At Brightlingsea quarry we discovered evidence of two Anglo-Saxon huts, domestic pits and a field system and, at Shoebury garrison beside the Thames, evidence of an Iron Age hillfort, including ditches and the ditch of a round-house. The small finds on display included an Anglo-Saxon sickle from Brightlingsea quarry and, from the Butt Road car-park site in Colchester, remarkable Roman finds such as a snake-headed bracelet, a candlestick and a hand-mirror.

The meeting was rounded off with home-made cakes and tea, when our archaeologists enjoyed meeting and chatting to FCAT members. (Many thanks to our volunteers for providing the cakes.)

Two of the Trust’s renovation volunteers are also members of FCAT: Maureen says that the meeting was very enjoyable and very interesting. Shirley agrees, and says that she will definitely be going to the meeting again next year!

If you would like to join the Friends of the Trust, then please contact David  Walton, Membership Secretary, Friends of the Colchester Archaeological Trust, c/o the Colchester Archaeological Trust, Roman Circus House, Circular Road North, Colchester, Essex CO2 7GZ or ‘phone 07518 854 149 or send an email to davidpatrickwalton[at]gmail.com . See the Friends of the Trust section on this web-site at www.thecolchesterarchaeologist.co.uk/?cat=27

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