Riots Rebellions and Protests – A Walk around Colchester town

The walk on Sat 2 May 2015, 2pm-4pm, was led by Dorian Kelly and started at Slack Space, Old Police Station, 35 Queen Street, Colchester CO1 2PQ. It was part of janeswalk.org 2015, which is hosted locally by Walk Colchester.  It featured the High Street (Castle Park Memorial end, scene of the Poll Tax riots in 1990) and a speech by John Ball and a song about him (both now on my Youtube channel) and much more. Here is the ad for the walk:
Riots, Rebellions and Protests - from poll tax to poll tax. A walk around some of the locations that have changed Colchester and a chance to meet some of the amazing people throughout its turbulent history who have stood up and said “enough, no more...”

• The woman who struck terror into the local MP and started a revolution 
• The local man who persuaded people to leave their land to march on the King (JB) 
• The man who stepped out of his back gate and into history in 1642 
• The two-day battle at St Botolphs and its aftermath 
• Colchester’s own not–so-holy wars 
• Police horses in the High Street 

This Jane’s Walk is led by local arts and history enthusiast Dorian Kelly with some readings, surprises and music from some special guests. If you remember his “Lost Theatres” Janes Walk, you will know what kind of thing to expect.

Jane’s Walk is a movement of free, citizen-led walking tours inspired by Jane Jacobs. The walks get people to tell stories about their communities, explore their cities, and connect with neighbours. Join the global festival on May 1st, 2nd & 3rd, 2015. Learn more.

Tim Oxton writes,

What do Copenhagen, Kolkata and Colchester have in common?  In the entire world, they are the three cities with the best-developed series of Jane’s Walks.  These are named after the legendary Jane Jacobs.  Topics for this year’s guided historical walks in and around Colchester, between 1^st and 4^th May, include Colchester in the Civil War, Colchester’s water supply, the Poll Tax from 1381 to 1990, the Hythe, the Garrison, Secrets of New Town, Trees in Castle Park, and several more.  They are all listed and described here:

http://janeswalk.org/united-kingdom/colchester/walks