From the Essex County Standard, Friday 18th December 2009

by Wendy Brading (wendy.brading@nqe.com)

TV presenter: “I am totally behind this campaign.”

CELEBRITIES are backing a bid to buy a piece of Colchester’s Roman heritage. A consortium, made up of Colchester Archaeological Trust and community group Destination Colchester, is trying to raise £200,000 to buy the Sergeants’ Mess. The listed buildings gardens house the starting gates to the Roman chariot racing circus – the only one found in Britain.
The consortium hopes to buy the building to use it to create a visitor centre and ensure the starting gates’ site is saved forever. Now celebrities and history lovers have offered their support. Comedian and TV presenter Tony Robinson and architectural historian and television presenter Dan Cruickshank have agreed to be patrons of the Save the Roman Circus charity.

Mr Robinson saw the remains of the circus first hand when he presented a special edition of TV’s Time Team. He said: “We have to find the money to save the Roman circus. Please donate.”

Prominent historian, writer and TV presenter Mr Cruickshank. also gave his backing to the campaign. He said: “I am totally behind this campaign. It is so important. I will do anything I can to save the Roman circus.” Mr Cruickshank is due to visit Colchester next month to look at the site and meet historians and fund-raisers.
The group also has the support of comedian and presenter Griff Rhys Jones, who unveiled the mosaic at Abbeyfields last year.
So far, more than £30,000 has been raised through donations. The building will cost £750,000 in total and £530,000 has been sourced. Two potential partners want to buy part of the building and the archaeological trust is to get a mortgage. If the sale is completed, it will move from its base in Lexden Road, Colchester, to the Sergeants’ Mess at the former Cavalry Barracks.
A grant from the county council is also included and fund-raisers have until the end of January to raise the remaining money.
Wendy Bailey, chairman of Destination Colchester, said support had flooded in from around the world, with 500 names on the Facebook page. But she said more money was needed. Fund-raising events in the pipeline include a reception at the Mayor’s Parlour, and Mrs Bailey said she would also like to recreate Claudius’ entrance to Colchester with elephants in an effort to raise awareness of the campaign.
Isobel Merry, head of the fund-raising team, appealed to Colcestrians to give their backing. She said: “If everyone in Colchester who buys a lottery ticket could give £1 instead to the appeal for the rest of the year, it would be great.”