Colchester residents have their say on who should have a statue built

This was a question we asked our readers at the start of the week to get an idea of who the public thinks has made an invaluable contribution to the city.

Were they a famous historical figure? A public servant? A politician? A philanthropist? Or are they still alive?

Here are some of your suggestions.

John Ball

Hero – John Ball has a street named after him, but doesn't have a statue (Image: Newsquest)

One of the inspirations for the Peasant’s Revolt, John Ball was a parochial chaplain at St James the Great Church in East Hill.

John Ball was a major force in initiating the Great Revolt in 1381, before he was arrested and hanged two weeks later.

Choc ‘n’ Gilly

DJs Choc ’n’ Gilly are well known to those who partied in Colchester in the 1980s.

It was then that these two played memorable sets at Colne Lodge, the Embassy suite, the Copford Windmill, and Mersea beach.

Philip Crummy

Pioneer – Philip Crummy has been at the forefront of Colchester's archaeological research since the 1970s (Image: Newsquest)

A hugely respected archaeologist, Philip Crummy has held the post of director and principal archaeologist at Colchester Archaeological Trust since 1971.

Mr Crummy has played a huge role in excavations at Essex County Hospital, Butt Road, Balkerne Hill, Culver Precinct and, more recently, Lion Walk.

Peter Dutch

Hands on – Peter Dutch started the Anti Loo Roll Brigade in 2020 when people panic bought toilet roll before the coronavirus lockdown (Image: Newsquest)

It was in the run-up to the infamous coronavirus lockdown that it became impossible to buy toilet roll as people ravaged the shelves at supermarkets and stockpiled whatever they could find.

Toilet roll became particularly hard to come by, and so Peter Dutch started the Colchester Anti-Loo Roll Brigade, a group designed to help and support the vulnerable and elderly in the early days of lockdown.

The Anti-Loo Roll Brigade announced in March it was going to move into Stanway’s new community centre to provide free therapy and counselling services for children who have experienced trauma.

Anyone else?

Colchester does have the odd statue already, of course, and we are due to have a new statue in the form of Jane and Ann Taylor, who grew up in the city and penned the famous nursery rhyme “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”.

The First World War Memorial, designed by sculptor H. C. Fehr, is perhaps one of the most imposing sculptures in Colchester, and there is also the Boudicca statue on North Station Roundabout.

Here were some of your other suggestions…

Frank Nouble

The jury is out on that one...

Julius Caesar

There must be plenty of statues of him around, mustn’t there…?

Damon Albarn

You never know – maybe one day!