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How story of legendary warrior Queen Boudica inspired women's march in Colchester

Boudica - Elizabeth Pickering Hopland who will represent the Warrior Queen <i>(Image: Newsquest)</i>
Boudica - Elizabeth Pickering Hopland who will represent the Warrior Queen (Image: Newsquest)

QUEEN Boudica died almost 2,000 years ago after losing her war with the Romans.

But the flame-haired warrior remains a feminist icon.

Today ‘Boudica’ will be back at the location where she famously led the Iceni in rebellion.

In 59AD she attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands - and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside.

Ultimately, Boudica - who was flogged by the Romans and witnessed the rape of her two young daughters - did not have the firepower to match the might of the invaders.

She died in 61AD, probably from taking poison to avoid capture, having overseen the killing of an estimated 80,000 Romans.

Actress and model Elizabeth Pickering Hopland in her modern-day personification of Boudica is helping to fight a battle of a different kind today - drawing attention to the continuing harassment and abuse of women.

At 6pm today the 24-year-old - in the guise of Boudica - will lead a march “to celebrate the women who roar, as part of International Women’s Day”.

Meeting at Firstsite from 5.30pm, the march will begin outside the war memorial - just yards from where Claudius’ temple stood - at 6pm and go along the High Street, finishing at the Mercury Theatre, where evening events are planned.

“Rebekah Wallace-Brown runs eye of Eye of Boudica, which is a charity which spreads awareness for domestic abuse and sexual harassment,” explained Colchesterbased Elizabeth.

“There are so many cases still of harassment of women, and Rebekah organised the International Women’s Day March last year and she had all these little candles which represented women who had been killed.

“There were about 100 of them and that was just in Essex. We also re-enacted the flogging of Boudica by the Romans in Colchester Castle and all the candles were in there.

“That was in September and she asked me if I was free in March as she wanted me to play Boudica, and I said ‘yes’.

“Obviously, Boudica was a redhead like me but also she doesn’t just represent one person - she represents the modern women.

“She was a feminist icon and yes, she was savage, but she had to be savage.”

Women on the march can have their faces painted with blue, to match the woad markings Boudica famously wore.

At the Mercury, learning support assistant at Colchester Sixth Form College, Rebekah will give a talk, along with five students.

The inspiration for The Eye of Boudica came from Colchester students “who reported street harassment on an almost industrial scale”.

“I am quite a confident, intimidating woman so I don’t get too much harassment any more,” said Elizabeth.

“But when you are younger - like between 15 and 18 - you are more preyed upon. Unfortunately, that is when you get the most amount of abuse, because that is when you are more vulnerable and impressionable.

“There needs to be education and more awareness - and just showing up when it matters. It’s 2023 and there are still too many cases of abuse and harassment.

“That is the main thing for this march - just to come together. Anyone is welcome and hopefully we can get a good amount of people to come.”