News
Book sales boost for Jumbo
The project to restore and repurpose Jumbo has received a £9,000 boost from the group set up to save the tower 25 years ago.
The Balkerne Tower Trust (BTT), which was formed by concerned Colchester residents to save Jumbo from developers, has donated profits from its book to North Essex Heritage.
BTT Chair Brian Light published Jumbo, The Water Tower in 2019 and copies are on sale at Red Lion Books, Waterstones and The Mercury Theatre.
Brian, who is also an advisor to North Essex Heritage, said:
“We are delighted to give North Essex Heritage this money. It is nice to know that things have worked out so well and we can all look forward to late 2027 when Jumbo will open to the public.”
Sir Bob Russell, Patron of the BTT since its inception, said:
“Our mission was to save Jumbo for Colchester and indeed the nation. Our lobbying of councillors worked, otherwise this wonderful building would not be here. Thanks to Brian, Jumbo’s Grade ll listing was upgraded to Grade ll* which made it almost impossible to disfigure this unique building. So we achieved our goal and thank goodness North Essex Heritage can deliver what we hoped would happen 25 years ago. We don’t have the capacity, the skills the expertise that North Essex Heritage have; they can count on my total support.”
Accepting the cheque, Simon Hall MBE DL, Chair of North Essex Heritage said:
“I want to say a special thank you to Brian and the BTT for everything they have done for this wonderful building. It is a great privilege for North Essex Heritage to take on the battle and pursue this great project for the community of Colchester. It is the most wonderful building, and it would not be where it is today without the support of Brian and his colleagues from the Balkerne Tower Trust. We, and all Colchester, should be eternally grateful.
“The Balkerne Tower Trust’s vision is something we have very fixed in our mind. The Jumbo Project is for the community and will be financially sustainable. It will be an exemplar of a conservation and heritage project.”