Today, on the first day of spring (20th March, the vernal equinox), the Trust is already looking ahead to the summer here at the Roman circus centre and site… We are delighted to announce that there will be a summer programme of guided tours of the circus centre and site, starting on Saturday 11th June 2016. The tours will be led by two Colchester Blue Badge Guides – Jonathan and Dinah are both so interested in and enthusiastic about Colchester’s Roman circus that they have generously volunteered to lead guided tours for our visitors on selected Saturdays throughout the summer. Colchester Blue Badge guides belong to the Colchester Tourist Guides Association (TGA). Jonathan is also a member of the Trust’s Council of Management and a member of the TGA’s Colchester History Alive! group.
From the TGA web-site: ‘… The Colchester Tourist Guides Association provides a range of tours and events which bring to life the long and fascinating history of Colchester and district in a friendly and accessible way.
The Association was founded over 25 years ago and now includes over forty members and associate members. All our members are professionally qualified Blue or Green Badge Guides …
We emphasise professional standards in all aspects of our work and provide for our members regular opportunities for updating of knowledge and exchange of experience through talks and visits …’. The TGA presents an annual programme of tours of historic Colchester and the Castle, and themed tours, as well as private tours.
*** The summer programme of guided tours at the Roman circus centre and site in 2016 will be:
* Saturday 11th June – 12.30 & 13.30 – Jonathan
* Saturday 25th June – 12.30 & 13.30 – Dinah
* Saturday 9th July – 12.30 & 13.30 – Dinah
* Saturday 23rd July – 12.30 & 13.30 – Jonathan
* Saturday 6th August – 12.30 & 13.30 – Dinah
* Saturday 20th August – 12.30 & 13.30 – Jonathan
* Saturday 27th August – 12.30 & 13.30 – Dinah and Jonathan
The guided tours will cost £2.50 per person, with children under 11 free. The Roman circus centre, site and cafe are wheelchair-/pushchair-accessible.
The Trust is very grateful to Dinah and Jonathan for offering their tours of the Roman circus centre and site. We are really looking forward to them – and we hope that our visitors will really enjoy them!
Visit the TGA web-site at http://colchestertouristguidesassociation.co.uk/ and follow them on Facebook and on Twitter @TourColchester .
The images show the north-western end of the Roman circus site from the circus centre, with our visitor walkway and the seating-stand profile, and the reconstructed stumps of the starting-gates in the background; and tour guide Jonathan discussing the circus super-model with two of our visitors.
.
