13th December 2013:

The project Romans of Fane Road community heritage was launched on Saturday 30th November. In the lead up to the launch, posters and project information were sent to over 200 venues, including all schools, community centres, youth groups, churches and local businesses. In addition, 1,900 leaflets were delivered to the local community, and flyers were placed in Peterborough central library and museum. Volunteers also gave out flyers to Christmas shoppers in the centre of Peterborough a week before the event. Project co-ordinator, David Crawford-White, also appeared on Radio Cambridgeshire to advertise the event and the project as a whole.

Mr Stewart Jackson MP and Mr Philip Venning (Committee Member, East of England, Heritage Lottery Fund) launched the project at a community centre close to the allotment site. Besides the management committee, twenty other invited guests attended, many of whom will give talks and guided walks later in the course of the project.

Over 260 people attended the launch and general archaeology activity day, which was supported by 16 volunteers and other exhibitors from English Heritage, including Vivacity-Peterborough, the Archaeology Department of University Centre Peterborough, and Wendy Gamble, a local potter who having volunteered on the Itter Crescent, displayed a range of pottery inspired by the excavation. All her pottery was made from clay from the site.

After the welcome by David Crawford-White and short speeches by Mr Jackson and Mr Venning, visitors had a chance to see a range of artefacts from the Itter Crescent excavation. While some talked to the organisers, others listened to talks by the re-enactors or had a go at the many ‘hands on’ activities or viewed the various artefact displays.

The launch event was an ideal opportunity for the local community to find out more about the project and to collect information and booking forms for the future talks, walks and community excavation.

The day went very well, with many local residents visiting the event and leaving with a better understanding of the project and how they could get involved. Media interest included Peterborough Telegraph, who sent a reporter/photographer, and Clare McGlasson (Anglia TV) who interviewed the organisers, volunteers and visitors.

Click here for more information about the Romans of Fane Road community project