Colchester's New Town community gathering back with a bang

Organised together by Wimpole Road Methodist Church and St Stephen’s Church, children enjoyed merry-go-rounds, inflatables, and dance performances, whilst residents from New Town and the Hythe set up stalls selling home bakes and other crafts.

Awestruck – two toddlers stand amazed at the old steam tractor (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Colchester Cycling Campaign were also in attendance, allowing people to try out new-fangled e-cargo bikes on Old Heath Recreational Ground, which was busy all afternoon until events started packing up at about 3.30pm.

Much of the work in organising the event started several months ago, with the churches drawing up the plans for the event in March.

Bumpy ride – youngsters have a go in a cargo bike (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

The day was by no means confined to churchgoers, however, with organiser Andrew Topple, 56, explaining the event refashioned itself some years ago so it could be open to all members of the Hythe and New Town Communities, as opposed to only church groups.

Fine tuning – youngsters received some beginners' tips for different instruments (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

He said: “This is probably the fifth time we have run it as more of a community day on the rec – in the past, it was mainly run as a fundraising day for the church.

“It’s a joined up collaborative community event and has input from loads of other people.”

Freshly made – Maria Vanrooyen had home bakes on sale (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Although the day does act as a fundraiser for a charity of the churches’ choice – in this case Donate to the Disaster Fund Appeal – Saturday was as much about offering families from the community an affordable and enjoyable day out, with some stalls offering people the option of making a small donation instead of selling goods for a fixed price.

In sync – young dancers enjoyed some moves in the sunshine (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

There was plenty of visual and musical entertainment on offer too, with Boxted Methodist Silver Band performing throughout the afternoon, and two dance groups also taking centre stage in the middle of Old Heath Recreational Ground.

Logic – players contemplate their next move on the chess board (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Mr Topple added: “It is a privilege to work with people who want to get involved in this kind of stuff., and we are already starting to talk about what is going to happen next year and when.”