onionbagblog

To @firstsite! …on Thursday evening for a bit on the side. Not that sort Madam, but a bit of moonlighting mixed in with some Colchester social history. The event traded under the grand name of Camulodunum: Image and Reality. In short it was time to put up or shut up with all those long held myths about Sunny Colch.

A slight confusion ahead of the moonlighting and the setting up of my tech gear – apologies to the good Lady Mayor of Colchester for gate crashing a slightly over running local ding dong.

Whoops.

With the auditorium vacated of local civic ding dongers, soon it was time for the main event. How apt that the inaugural firstsite lecture should so proudly address a local theme of identity. It is a theme that firstsite itself is fast coming to terms with, but under consideration on Thursday was Sunny Colch itself.

Local historian Andrew Phillips was invited to deliver the inaugural address, and proved to be a popular choice. The auditorium was close to capacity with a more mature crowd coming out to enjoy the social space that firstsite is now able to offer to the town.

Amongst his many local historical achievements, Andrew fronts up the Colchester Recalled oral history project. He is probably the town’s leading local historian, and if he put his time to it, could also probably cut it as a leading local stand up comedian.

The focus for Camulodnum was for a social history of Sunny Colch with some added twisted social humour to bring to life all those ancient artifacts. We’re talking about the Roman relics here, and not the fine folk that had filled the firstsite auditorium.

And so in the week that the Stone Roses reformed, it is perhaps appropriate that Andrew led with its not where you’re from, it’s where you’re at. The self-image of Sunny Colch is steeped in all things Camulodunum, which unlike the Romans shows no sign of retreat.

But truth and fiction can become inbred. Don’t even talk about Humpty Dumpty, you numpty – well, not yet, anyway.

From Helena to Henry VIII, Andrew elaborated on how Britain’s Oldest Recorded had been in search for a martyr. I nominate Saint Bob.

The English Civil War did bring celebrated warriors in the Siege of Sunny Colch. All of that muscular (and slightly sexy) Colchester conflict came to a halt with the Victorian re-writing of the public persona of Sunny Colch.

Out went aggression; in came a wider High Street, fresh air and clean water. But no Aldi. Which is why the Victorians represent my least favourite personal period in history.

Antiquity and museums were back on the agenda, an austere image that can still be found in the town today. In the absence of a local Cathedral then the civic Town Hall was constructed, rich on symbolism, not so when it comes to historical accuracy.

Andrew explained how the “groping Victorians” were busy dig, dig, digging and doing their best to try and capture some form of romanticised Roman identity for the town. It may be a funny man dressed in a skirt and sandals, but at least he’s *our* funny man dressed in a skirt and sandals.

St Helena was once again celebrated along with oysters. Tasty. The Oysters are rather nice as well.

And then the Humpty Dumpty moment came, with the great Sunny Colch myth being de-mythicised. No one likes a fat bastard as a hyperlocal hero.

We had a back to the future rational explanation as to why Britain’s Oldest Recorded is so inaccurate – it’s all about definitions: What is meant by recorded, and what does a town mean?

Basildon wins hands down with that tag apparently.

Only joking.

Andrew argued for the Arts Capital of Essex as a better chest beater to take us forward for the next one thousand years. Camulodunum has become a town of newcomers, all sucked into the estuary and looking to create a new shared sense for Colchester, without pissing all over the past.

I’m paraphrasing here, Comrades.

The inaugural firstsite lecture concluded with the paradox of how the quest to build a new town has led to a continued passion for archeology. This sentiment is captured perfectly when you consider that the centerpiece of the golden Goose of firstsite is the most splendid Berryfield mosaic.

Q & A’s followed, showing a wonderful passion for local history. All shared knowledge has to be good knowledge.

The scepticism of the firstsite cynics was answered by the inaugural lecture. This is a social space that is not elitist, not anti- mainstream and most definitely not empty given the packed auditorium.

Andrew Phillips was tremendous fun as well.

The image of Camuldunum may be one of adventure and silly sandals, but the reality is something ever changing and adapting, much like firstsite itself. But without the silly sandals.