In time for Christmas or an important birthday here is your chance to buy the 2010 Birds Of Mistley Calendar.

The calendar is A4 and contains 14 full colour images.

Protest has never been sexier!

 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230385998514&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT 

On 17th September 2008, amid choatic scenes of public protest, a 2-metre high, 130-metre long fence was erected across the historic public quay at Mistley, Essex. It is designed to block access to and from the River Stour and ends 500 years of free access to the water. Action group Free The Quay aims to have the fence legally removed, and to preserve Mistley Quay for the continued enjoyment of all.

All proceeds from sale to to Free the Quay.

Hurry while stocks last.

Free the Quay has issued a challenge to Mistley Quay owners TW Logistics – talk to us, or we'll see you in court.

One year since TWL erected a fence on Mistley Quay to block access to the River Stour – provoking a storm of public protest – opposition has not flagged.

At the third FTQ boat rally on Sunday 4 October, FTQ chairman Simon Bullimore addressed hundreds of supporters partying in the sunshine on Mistley Quay.

Mr Bullimore urged Mr Parker, who runs TWL: 'We would like to break this deadlock. We would like you to come and talk to us about the fence to see if we can find some amicable solution to the dispute 

between us.

'If you do not come and talk to us we will go to Court. We already have a very strong case. We have been collecting more evidence over the summer and the case is getting stronger every week.'

And he ended with a warning: 'If you do not go along with a reasonable solution for the people of Mistley and others who enjoy this wonderful place then we will go to Court; and we will win. We do not want to do that, it’s expensive, will take time and it’s unnecessary. But we will do it and we will win.'

Over 30 vessels moored at Mistley Quay for the end-of-season rally, despite sailors having to scale the two-metre-high steel fence by ladder. The Golden Rivets sang rousing shanties round the swan fountain, which served as a 'pop-up bar' for ales from the Harwich Town Brewery.

The Mistley Thorn provided chowder, burgers and hot dogs, Free the Quayers sold cake and coffee and tea, and local children ran a popcorn and soft drinks stall. Copies of the latest FTQ calendar Birds of Mistley were also on sale. All proceeds go directly to FTQ's fighting fund.

Saturday’s “moveable feast” fundraising event had to be cancelled when the organisers discovered that they should have applied for drinks licenses in order to sell the £25 entry tickets, which had been advertised to include wine as well as food.

On arrival a refund was given to every ticket holder but the event was able to go ahead because of the generosity of the people of Mistley.  They opened their doors and dinner tables and invited the 70 or so supporters and wined and dined them free of charge.

Although there were fears by the local police that the event might cause disorderly behaviour and damage to property, the villagers, mostly over fifty, who had dressed up to the nines to eat canapés in Mistley Lodge's walled garden before dinner and who returned there afterwards for cheese and pudding, had a great time and gave no cause for concern.

All the supporters wanted to express their gratitude for a splendid evening and made generous donations to the funds, which are going to be used to have the fence removed by legal means.

No doubt the local police enjoyed their quiet evening too.