A POPULAR New Year heritage walk hosted by Colchester's High Steward will take place next week. 

On January 1, Sir Bob Russell will be welcoming the start 2024 with a walk from 10am.

Now in its 16th year the two-hour walk will start at Butt Road's car park and keen ramblers will take on a three-mile circular walk which takes in some historic sites.

It will feature Colchester's military presence, and the group will walk the entire length of the Roman chariot circus. 

Gazette: Known figure - Sir Bob RussellKnown figure - Sir Bob Russell (Image: Newsquest)

A spokesman commented on what you can expect from the event.

They said: "Historic army buildings from the 19th century will form part of the tour, including the former garrison church which is the oldest surviving military building in Colchester and the largest wooden church in Britain.

"The route around Abbey Field goes past Merville Barracks which are the most modern in the country having been built about 15 years ago.

"There are also some military buildings from the last century.

"There is no need to book, people can simply turn up, stout footwear is recommended."

Gazette: Ramble - An individual walking down a scenic roadRamble - An individual walking down a scenic road (Image: Pixabay)

In January this year, the hike travelled along a four-mile route which started and finished at the war memorial in the High Street.

Anyone attending the walk is invited by Sir Bob to donate £5 to be put forward to the fund-raising of a new statue in Colchester.

Sir Bob is hoping for a statue of sisters Jane and Ann Taylor to be erected along the city's High Street.

The pair were prolific writers of children stories, Jane even penned the world renowned nursery rhyme, “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, in 1806.

The Taylor family lived in West Stockwell Street in the city’s Dutch Quarter during the siblings’ childhood years.

Gazette: Exciting - Sir Bob Russell and mould maker, Des Stanley, with the statueExciting - Sir Bob Russell and mould maker, Des Stanley, with the statue (Image: Newsquest)

Currently, the statue has been completed and is due to be unveiled in April, however, funds are needed for the paving and the installation of it.

Donations can be made with cheques payable to “Twinkle Star Fund”, and sent to Sir Bob at 35 Catchpool Road, Colchester CO1 1XN.

Alternatively, online donations can be made to https://gofund.me/c1bfae10.