THERE was an "electric buzz" about Colchester with both the town centre and Upper Castle Park filled with live comic characters and living history.
For the first year Invasion Colchester met Invasion Colchester 1648, where costumed war heroes brought to life the town's involvement in the English Civil War.
While across enemy lines, crowds of excited shoppers and families were awestruck at their favourite heroes and villains.
It was a successful collaboration between Ace Comics' Simon Leonard and Kerrie Williams, who pulled of an eighth year of Invasion, and Food and Drink Festivals UK director Don Quinn, in aid of St Helena Hospice and Colchester Hospitals Charity.
Co-organiser Kerrie Williams held captive
Don said: “My business partner Terry Croucher and I are in total awe of Invasion Colchester.
“We’re very proud to be just a small part of it and are hopefully going to be a big part next year.
“We were feeling pretty smug with the weekend. The park was absolutely rammed and we’ve had a wonderful time.
“So it’s hey-ho for next year when we’ll be doing Romans, then Boadicea, building up towards the final one which will be history from all different periods.”
Terry Croucher and Don Quinn
The Sealed Knot led the grand re-enactment over two days, making Invasion 1648 a difficult event to miss in Castle Park.
The free event was sponsored by Don and Terry, as a gesture to celebrate a good year.
A few famous faces also got themselves into an amusing predicament.
“Will Quince was a star, not only him but labour candidate Tina McKay was fabulous. We had both Labour and Tory in the stocks, and I was busy trying to paint bricks to make them look like sponges,” Don joked.
“Both of them and Darius Laws were good sports, they’ve all absolutely super.
Colchester Tory party leader Darius Laws and MP Will Quince
“The people of Colchester have responded by enjoying themselves which we’re actually very proud of.
“The town is so rich in history and has so much to offer, and yet most of what happens doesn’t reflect the status of the town.”
Over at the comic book invasion, an interactive Star Wars shop let the public take photos on a replica film set, the Batmobile proved popular again as well as Deadpool, who had a queue of fans waiting to meet him.
Zakary Wheater, four. Submitted picture.
"Just putting smiles on faces makes the day really special," said co-organiser Simon, who is always too busy to dress up but would opt to be a Stormtrooper.
He added: “It was an amazing day. The people of Colchester were really generous by the weight of the buckets.
“The main goals were always to raise money for the people who saved my life and to bring people into the town to show them what Colchester has to offer, give families a fun, free day out.
“We achieve that each year and Invasion Colchester just gets bigger and better, so now the question is, how do we improve on that for next year?”
The final fundraising total will be announced at the end of September.
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