FOLLOWING a summer of shows and festivals, Colchester's Castle Park is about to do what the park does best - put on a spectacle.

And in its 125th anniversary year, what better way to enjoy one of the best public parks in the country than by watching one of our greatest sporting events.

This year's Summer Screen goes live on Monday, July 3, when people will be able to start watching from their very own 'Henman Hill' this year's Wimbledon Championships.

But as well as the tennis, as in previous years, there's a whole host of movies to catch over the middle weekend as part of the council's Pictures in the Park.

Heading up the team who help to put on the event is Colchester Council's Outdoor Events Manager, Will Jenkins.

Originally from the Thames Valley, Will moved to Brightlingsea in 1999 when he joined the council as a park ranger.

Before that he had worked for the Duke of Norfolk at Arundel as a fishery bailiff and then at Goodwood as a sculpture technician installing and looking after sculptures by the likes of Anish Kapoor, David Nash and Andy Goldsworthy.

"I didn't know Colchester at all," Will says, "but this was just the job I was looking for.

"The first thing that struck me about the place was the history popping up all over the place, literally out of the ground. It's everywhere.

"But what I soon discovered in the years that I started working here was just how well loved the place is and I've really enjoyed opening it up for the various people, groups and organisations that use the park throughout the year.

"Although I got the position of outdoor events manager only last April, the job had evolved into that in recent years."

Gazette:

Events manager - Will Jenkins

In his role Will is the 'go to' man for anybody organising an event in the park from the Medieval Oyster Fair, the recent Food and Drink Festival and of course the popular fireworks display run by King Coel's Kittens every year in November.

He adds: "I think my very first job was helping out with the fun days and circus skills workshops that ran in the park during the summer.

"Since then I've been involved with all sorts of things like Scotland in Colchester, now Pipes in the Park, to the Colchester Free Festival and all the music events we've held here.

"What I really love is being a part of each team putting on the individual events and helping them out with things they might not have thought about.

"Only the other day we managed to organise an event for Eid, really last minute, and a bit of a logistical nightmare but we got it sorted and everyone had a great time. When that happens it's a great feeling."

Like many others Will believes Summer Screen and Pictures in the Park are the venue at its best, packed full of people having a great time enjoying the tennis or movies but also the picturesque park its set within.

Councillor Tim Young, Portfolio Holder for Business and Culture and Deputy Leader of the Council, agrees.

He says: "Summer Screen has always been about utilising our greatest asset. I've been to lots of other towns and none of them can match the kind of public park we have here in Colchester.

"It's magnificent, especially with its natural amphitheatre, it seemed a ridiculous thing not to do it.

"We have been very lucky with some of the Wimbledon finals but the choice of films have been a real crowd puller too.

"I have a little input to what's chosen but it's mainly done by a committee that looks at something for everyone and I think we've done that again this year."

Gazette:

Pictures in the Park 2017 line-up

  • Dirty Dancing (12) - Friday, July 7, gates open 6.30pm, film starts 7.30pm.

YOU'LL have the time of your life as this year's Pictures in the Park kicks off with a summertime classic.

Watch as Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey strut their stuff in this coming-of-age retro favourite that will get you dancing on the grass. Watch out, there's a slope you know.

  • The Jungle Book (U) - Saturday, July 8, gates open 1pm, film starts 2pm.

FANCY yourself as the king of the swingers, then start early on the Saturday with this stalwart of the Disney stable jam packed with such sing-a-long tunes as I Wanna Be Like You, Trust in Me and of course The Bear Necessities.

  • The Sound of Music (U) - Saturday, July 8, gates open 5pm, film starts 6pm.

YOU'LL only have to climb the Castle Park hill rather than a mountain to watch Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical starring the brilliant Julie Andrews. I defy anyone not to 'Doe a Deer' or 'Whisker on Kittens' or for that matter boo the Nazis at the end - wonderful.

  • ET The Extra- Terrestrial (PG) - Sunday, July 9, gates open 1pm, film starts 2pm.

IT'S Sci-Fi Sunday again and what better way to start the day than by catching Stephen Spielberg's weepy tale about a guy from a galaxy far, far away, who just wants to go home.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (12A) - Sunday, July 9, gates open 5pm, film starts 6pm

BUT don't go home, stick around for a trip to a galaxy far, far away with this very smartly made addition to the Star Wars franchise.

Tickets in advance are available from the Mercury Theatre box office on 01206 573948 and are £5 for adults, £3 for children (3-14 years), with under 3s free but still needing a ticket.

There's also a special family ticket for two adults and two children or one adult and three children priced £12.

On the day it's £6, £4, but no family tickets.

Throughout Pictures in the Park there will also be a licensed bar, popcorn, ice cream, pizza and many more pop-up food kiosks to add to the party atmosphere.