2018 has been dominated by Brexit, Government cuts and "garden communities".

But there has been plenty of positive news in Colchester too.

Gazette editor Dom Bowers talked to Essex University journalism course leader Tim Fenton about his highlights of the year and what's in store for 2019 in the latest Colchester Chat podcast.

2018 highlights included....

  • Long-serving community stalwart Sonia Lewis receiving the British Empire Medal in the Queen's New Year's honours,
  • Colchester Hospital's cancer centre campaign hitting its £3m target, with work set to start in the New Year,
  • Sarah Freeman's one-woman-stand against travellers in Hilly Fields,
  • World Cup fever taking hold in Colchester,
  • The fantastic sci-fi event Invasion Colchester attracting thousands of visitors to the town centre,
  • Colchester United's fantastic start to the 2018/19 season. 

Here is last week's podcast with the Bishop of Colchester, and previous Colchester Chats with Anthony Roberts, Tim Young, Mark Cory, Darius Laws, Jason and Anne Khan.

The podcasts are also available on iTunes and Spotify.