Feast celebrates Colchester's oysters

Oysters aplenty at the feast

THE highlight of an Essex town's social calendar was celebrated yesterday as dignitaries, MPs, councillors and guests enjoyed the historic Colchester Oyster Feast.

Members of the Town Watch, bearing ceremonial pikes and wearing armour, guarded the entrance to the town hall as the diners entered the Victorian building before being greeted by civic staff bedecked in traditional uniform.

After a reception in the Mayor's Parlour, hosted by the present incumbent Henry Spyvee, the 240 guests then assembled in the Moot Hall where, after the town mace was brought in, those to be seated at the top table paraded in to take their places.

They then enjoyed a sumptuous five-course meal, opened with the traditional starter of Colchester Native Oysters accompanied by a glass of Guinness.

The feast is an historic event in Colchester

Among the local dignitaries attending the feast were Neil and Shirley Lodge, the Mayor and Mayoress of Wivenhoe, and West Mersea Mayor and Mayoress Peter and Liz Clements.

The chairman of Tendring District Council, Nick Turner, also attended the feast as did the Lady and Deputy of the Cinque Ports Liberty of Brightlingsea, Patricia Gardner and Michael Penrose.

The theme of this year's feast was “Colchester- its fascinating past - its exciting future”.

Speaking at the feast was Andrew Phillips, local historian, who said: “Just think - Colchester is 2,000 years old. That is older than Christianity. Older than Europe. Older than London. And older than the Archers and Desert Island Discs.”

Organic gardener and radio personality Bob Flowerdew said: “I'd like to think Colchester could be such a wonderful place where there would be more hanging baskets, more flowers, more bedding plants - let's start in our own back yard and maybe the world will follow.”

Musical entertainment at the feast was provided by The Colne Valley Youth Orchestra, conducted by Nigel Hildreth.

All 60 Colchester borough councillors have the right to attend the Oyster Feast, but to do so they must pay for their own tickets, which cost £90 a head.

Around 50 places at the gourmet lunch are reserved for members of the public in order to open up access to the historic event.

The Colchester Oyster Feast is thought to have its origins as far back as the 14th century, when on October 9 the town would celebrate St Denis' Fair.

But the modern form of the banquet dates back to 1845, when traditionalist mayor Henry Wolton renamed the annual corporation lunch the Oyster Feast and invited 200 diners.

The feast is held in honour of the world-famous Colchester Oyster, grown off Mersea island, which has been a renowned delicacy since Roman times and is still shipped daily internationally to top restaurants.

n Meanwhile more than 120 pensioners took part in their own answer to the Moot Hall event yesterday as they tucked into a special fish and chip lunch.

The “alternative oyster feast” was held at the Arena on the town's garrison to highlight the plight of the less well off in the town.

Funded by trade unionists and the Labour party, after the slap-up meal those assembled enjoyed informal speeches, games, a raffle and some musical entertainment.

Organiser Dave Harris said: “This is the 30th alternative oyster feast - it started in 1980. Over the last few weeks pensioners have been ringing me to ask where their tickets are. This year's is the most popular yet, with 125 people coming along.”