A GRAND National winning jockey and leading lights in education will be part of Colchester’s traditional Oyster Feast.

The event, which dates back to 1845, is one of the top dates in the town’s civic calendar.

Colchester mayor Gerard Oxford, who is a former jockey, has secured Grand National winning jockey Bob Champion to be one of the speakers.Mr Champion won the world famous race in 1981, two years after he was diagnosed and treated for testicular cancer.

His victory on Aldaniti, in the face of adversity, won them the BBC Sports Personality of the Year team award.

The story was recreated in the film Champions, which starred John Hurt.Mr Champion, who also won the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 1982.

Other speakers at the celebratory feast will include Sally Leung, the long-serving head teach-er of Montgomery Infants School and Nursery in Colchester who is also the musical director and inspiration behind the Colchester Military Wives Choir and the Colchester Military Children’s Choir which is made up entirely of children of servicemen and women.

Historian Trudie Mundell, who taught at the Gilberd School in Colchester for more than 20 years, will also speak at the ceremony which aims to celebrate Colchester’s rich heritage and sense of community.

Among the mayor’s other invited guests are representatives from Colchester’s twin town in Germany, Wetzler, and Lord Lieu-tenant of Essex Jenny Tolhurst.The High Sherriff of Essex Simon Hall and the High Steward of Colchester Sir Bob Russell will also be present along with the Garrison Commander Lt Col Stephen Caldwell.

The Town Watch will greet arriving guests and, in time-hon-oured custom Mr Oxford and the diners will sample Colchester’s famous oysters.

Mr Oxford said: “The annual Oyster Feast is a wonderful day for Colchester.

“It is an honour to be part of the event and we look forward to sharing and celebrating with our invited guests representing local and overseas connections to the town.”

The feast will take place at the town hall on October 27, the same day as Colchester’s Alternative Oyster Feast is held.The alternative feast will provide a slap up meal of fish and chips to 120 pensioners.

It is being held this year at Greenstead Social Club and has been organised and funded by the Colchester Retired Residents’ Association and the National Pensioners Convention.

Dave Harris, who helps to organise the event, said: “I am really looking forward to it. It has become a great tradition. There will be bingo and music and dancing in the aisles.”