The Naze is a valuable national asset for many reasons. The Naze is a vital stopping off place for migrating birds, and has a nature reserve. The unique Naze Tower is part of our national heritage and must not be lost. The Naze protects Hamford waters, a vast area of outstanding importance to wildfowl. Both the Naze and the backwater are home to rare plants and insects. If the Naze went Hamford water would become sea and Walton town would be under threat. Last, but not least, the Naze is an internationally known area of outstanding beauty to be enjoyed by us today and hopefully future generations. However, as the Naze cliffs are a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), English Nature who are responsible for overseeing this status is properly maintained, has sole authority in determining what is done regarding the erection of sea defences. They are adamant that the cliffs should be allowed to erode to expose the geological strata used as a reference by academics. We have written to our local MP, Ivan Henderson, asking him to request the government to see that all interests are given appropriate consideration in determining the fate of the Naze.

The local Council recently opted for the most beneficial option open to them regarding Saving the Naze. English Nature will not permit a sea defence along the entire Naze cliffs but it is hoped they will at least permit the proposed scheme to proceed, which will at least take erosion away from the Tower and hopefully save it. The local Council has a statutory obligation to authorise and maintain existing sea defences. To achieve this they need to add piecemeal to the end of the existing sea defence and the picture of Option 1 shows the projected effect of this. The picture in Option 2 shows the effect of creating an extra 200-yard length of rock emplacement parallel to the cliffs now and then extending on this as required.

Part of the conditions English Nature want for entertaining the idea of Option 2 is that the cliff face adjacent to the proposed rock emplacement should be kept exposed and not be allowed to become covered with vegetation, which it would be when the cliff eventually became stable. Why they should make this condition on a 200-yard length beggars belief when one kilometre still remains exposed beyond it.

Save the Naze shop The picture shows two volunteers, Gladys and Annie, arriving for their turn in running our charity shop which provides the major part of the Society's income. The current shop managers, Paul and Mary, freely dedicate many hours of their time to the cause as did their predecessors. The managers and the band of volunteers are a super team who at Christmas enjoy a get-to-together as guests of the committee who personally provide the Christmas punch and buffet.

These now stand at well over 000. The shop takings have increased from 000 in 2001 to what will be over 000 this year, a remarkable achievement for a small band of volunteers.

Judy O'Connor, a well-known activist and supporter in the local community, sadly died of cancer recently after a short illness at the age of 60. All who knew her will sadly miss her. She was a Trustee of the Society and a hardworking committee member who was Secretary for a time and more recently raised funds by organising boot and tabletop sales.

Our Caravan on the Naze acting as an information centre manned by Mike Todd and Sue has continued to be of tremendous interest and success throughout the summer and autumn. However, in October it was broken into through the skylight, the windows having securing bars. The caravan was trashed and Mike's lifetime collection of fossils was taken. This was an appalling act of vandalism which was reported to and acted on by the police.. The skylight was repaired the next day only to have the caravan broken into again that night. Further damage was done and in trying to wrench the van round the stabilising legs were twisted making it necessary to cut them off in order to remove the van to a safe haven. The future of the caravan on the Naze and the public service it provided is now in question.