Progress So Far

Well we have to date recieved  fabulous support from lots of different parties in Chester’s business and tourism community.  Its two weeks to go and we still need to find £1500.00.  To think that if each business in the city centre had been willing to contribute just £10.00 then we would already have succeded.  Tomorrow we present to the big business breakfast in the hope to encourage a few more contributions to close the gap on our funding needs.  Lets hope there in a generous mood eh!  It still surprises me what a big difference even the smallest contributions add up to.

The team have all worked really hard for this trip giving up there time and hard earned cash to take part in this amazing opportunity to celebrate Chester’s unique Roman heritage.   Some people have very annoyingly suggested that this is a bit of a jolly.  so lets just outline to the reader what they are doing for this.  Lets start with many hours of work creating, improving and adding to what would normally be sufficient equipment.  Time given to present media oppertunity’s with journalist and film crews.  Hours of organisation. Days of training,  A day given to presenting before the lord Mayor and people of Chester on the 13th April at 2pm.   Then when we leave on our promotion of Chester trip at around 1am on the 17th April, its a straight drive to lorrach our twin town arriving around 6pm on the same day.  Time for bed then a 7.30am wake up before donning 65lb of armour and a 4km march into the town to present to the Mayor.  Then the march back before tea.  Next day 6am departure for Rome (12hr drive)  then to bed with a 7.30 wake up.  9.30 am muster at the circus maximus a pre parade 1.5km march past the palatine followed by the big procession (7.5km)  then back for dinner and bed.   Oh yes here’s were the holiday starts we get a day of on the 21st.  7am start on the 22nd april as we head for home via Lorrach our twin town.  23rd earley start on the way back to Chester.  I forgot to mention even if we succeed with our required amount of sponsorship those takeing part still have to pay a contribution for coach,  all their accommodation and food costs.

I thought it usefull to use this space just to educate the very small minority of critics.  Yes we are enthusiast, yes we are passionate about the promotion of the heritage of Chester.  Chester is our base its a beautiful city and we would love to see it have the success it deserves.  More visitors will come to Chester, but only when we promote our successes our uniqeness.  Chester is a heritage city and the only city I have heard of were you can see full and authentically dressed romans all year round.  We are supporting the commercial and tourism interests of Chester its a shame thats not more readily encouraged.

Ocratius Maximus Gittus Cen Dec Pil Pos LEG XX v.v

aka Paul Harston