A COMMUNITY group which has supported the Colchester Archaeological Trust for more than 40 years could fold next month after a string of departures, the Gazette understands.

A letter which has been seen by the Gazette was sent to members of the Friends of Colchester Archaeological Trust (FOCAT) earlier this week.

In it, membership secretary Frank Black told members the group could dissolve if volunteers don’t come forward to fill key positions.

The roles of chairperson, minutes secretary, membership secretary, events and trips organiser, and newsletter editor must all be occupied for the organisation to operate.

Should those positions remain vacant by the time a special general meeting is held at Roman Circus House at 3pm on Sunday, August 4, the society’s fate could be sealed.

If the group is indeed shut down – and insiders fear it will – it is expected assets will be transferred to Colchester Archaeological Trust (CAT).

The letter read: “Unfortunately the Friends has become inactive during the last year.

“Sadly we lost our chairperson when Mark Davies died in April last year.

“Howard Brooks stood in for a while but had to return to the Trust as Acting Director when Philip Crummy retired in October. 

“Unfortunately our founder and latest chairperson, Mike Corbishley, and his wife Gill, who had been our Minutes Secretary, are in the process of leaving the area and no longer able to carry on their roles.

“At the last committee meeting Frank Black tendered his resignation as Newsletter Editor and Membership secretary and John Sherman resigned as Trips Organiser.

“This leaves the Friends committee with only one post holder, our treasurer Nick Hines.

All of our recent attempts to arrange coach trips have unfortunately failed through lack of support, as have activities.”

The letter continued by saying FOCAT does not owe any outstanding debts and will honour refund annual fees to its 200 members, should they request them.

Members – who pay annual subs of £6 per year – have also been told to cancel any standing orders, and any personal data will be disposed of.

The letter concluded: “I am so sorry to have to write to you with this sad news and would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the committee to thank all those hundreds of members who have supported the work of the Trust over the last 48 years.”