25/08/2010 by Suzanne.

Because of my continuing ill health and lack of support I will be trying to get out Naturist Life magazine, but there may be delays. If I decide that I cannot continue everyone will be repaid outstanding subscriptions from my own pocket if necessary.
Suzanne

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20/08/2010 by Suzanne.

Just a reminder this is tomorrow - the days really do speed by.
Weather forecast Ok so why not come along
A big crowd this year means more visits next when the biome will be completed

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20/08/2010 by Suzanne.

Now in stock at the Shabden shop.
£7 inc p&p

cheques/POs payable to SLC
49A Spielplatz
Lye Lane
Bricket Wood
St Albans AL2 3TD

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03/08/2010 by Suzanne.

Some more details.

If you would like to arrive early and explore and find out more you are most welcome and if you tell the staff on the reception that you are there for the special evening they will let you in at the discounted rate.
But please do not take your clothes off until after 6pm and we do want to return next year when the biome will be available.

It was suggested that you bring a towel or cushion to sit on in the restaurant as the seating is rather hard! I told them it was naturist ethic to always sit on something.

Hot and cold food will be available and we can recommend it as it is home made and not purchased in and reheated. And supporting the restaurant will also help ensure a welcome return.

Camping/caravanning available at Spielplatz - contact them direct www.spielplatzoasis.co.uk The sauna will be on at Spielplatz afterwards and also bar and music to dance to.

Any queries please contact editor@naturist-life-magazine.co.uk

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02/08/2010 by Suzanne.

About 37 minutes in

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tc8yz#synopsis
make a date for 21st August

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30/07/2010 by Suzanne.

Duncan Heenan is a shareholder of QuinetiQ - he went to the AGM.
This is his report.
I attended the AGM of QinetiQ Group Plc today, to represent the views of Eastney Beach Liaison Group and Naturist Action Group in the dispute over QinetiQ’s blocking of access to the beach. I did this by asking the following question when shareholders were invited to put questions to the Board (the question had been drafted in consultation with the groups represented, and comments from BN)

“Are the Directors and shareholders aware that Company staff have mishandled a simple sale of land, at Fraser Range, Portsmouth, so spectacularly badly that local residents & the local council are increasingly united in opposition - to the extent that senior members of that council’s cabinet referred to QinetiQ in open session as ‘blackguards and corporate bullies’? 
This incompetence and antagonism of the local community has cost the company dearly in that the land could have been sold at a handsome profit, but is rapidly becoming a liability and an embarrassment. Land and property prices have dropped significantly during the avoidable delays and now money is being further squandered on never ending legal costs, plus security guards for an otherwise empty stretch of beach. The Company’s reputation is at rock bottom in the Portsmouth are, as well as in the City of London.
Will the Directors please take immediate action to control Company staff in this matter for the good of all. ”

The answer was given by the relatively new CEO , Leo Quinn. He held strongly to the company’s public stance, that it owned the land and was merely defending its rights and maximising the development value for shareholders. I was not allowed a follow up question.

At the short reception after the AGM, I managed to button-hole Quinn, to see if he would unbend at all off the record, but he would not. He said they were determined to take the legal battle ‘all the way’, and he blamed Portsmouth Council for spending Council tax Payers’ money on opposing them. He accepts that they have no rights over the beach below the high water mark, and says people are welcome to walk along the beach from below that level for access. He would not undertake even to review the Company’s stance on the issue, and he seemed to accept what he is being told by his staff and advisors without question. Even if he had doubts, I don’t think he would have shared them with me, least of all in this forum, but at least I made our view known to all listening. There were several people present who looked as if they could be journalists, but that is only my speculation.

I also spoke to 2 of the non-executive directors, both retired admirals; Sir James Burnell-Nugent (UK) and Edmund P.Glambastini Jr (USA). The former knew of Fraser Range but did not know any of the details of the dispute, the latter did not even know of Fraser Range! I appraised them of the issues and pointed out (as I had done to Leo Quinn), that a policy of confrontation and antagonism towards Portsmouth Council and local people could count against the Company in the future, and even if they won a legal battle, the victory could be phyric, and cost the company heavily in the longer term. I encouraged them, in their non-executive capacity of ‘oversight’ to try to get a review of the Company’s approach with a greater degree of objectivity, and a more conciliatory and compromising approach. I expressed the view that allowing the traditional access to the beach would not harm the development value of the land, and would be more likely to find favour with the Council’s planning committee.

I will follow up my meeting with letters to the 3 directors I spoke to individually, to put the conversations on the record, in the hope that it would encourage them to do something about it.

QinetiQ are a company with a lot of commercial problems, currently making 300 people redundant at a cost of £20m, with another 300 announced to be needed to go. They need cash so the development of their properties will be a high priority, though they have no scope for ‘goodwill’ gestures if it costs them anything. This did not stop the directors getting a share option/bonus incentive deal which will make them all multi-millionaires if they can turn the company around (and no penalty if they don’t) – as usual in the City !

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28/07/2010 by Suzanne.

was posted yesterday so some may have even received it today

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22/07/2010 by Suzanne.

This appeared on Facebook today.

Lisa Love
Lisa LoveJuly 22, 2010 at 3:04am
Subject: Hello
Thank you for joining my usergroup for the closure of Holkham Naturist Beach.
I’m organising a clothed demo which will take place fairly soon. It’ll be 100% peaceful and so far I have 36 attending. I’m in contact with Radio Norfolk who’ve expressed an interest to interview me. I have contacts at Anglia TV who are pushing for the campaign to be mentioned on ‘About Anglia’.
Once again thank you for joining.

Regards

Lisa Casarari

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13/07/2010 by Suzanne.

There is a clothes optional evening organised at Butterfly World on Saturday 21 August 2010. The evening starts at 6 PM and ends at 9 PM.

We are being charged the group booking rate which is adults £5.00, concessions (over 60s/students with valid ID) £4.00, children (3-16) £3.00, under 3s free.

See the web page on the NL main site for more information..

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04/07/2010 by Suzanne.

Despite a number of no-shows, and sustaining a loss we all enjoyed ourselves so much last night that we have booked for next year. Catering will again be by the Southern Comfort people - the buffet last night was excellent. And as usual Trevor kept us well entertained. The extra half hour meant there was time to explore a little more of the Broads.

So the date for your diary is 2nd July 2011
Time 19.00 until 22.30.
Place Mississippi Paddle Steamer, Horning (Near Wroxham) Norfolk
Price £25 per person (Shabden members £20).
At this price we need 66 people to break even.

Tickets available now
send cheques payable to SLC

to
SLC
49A Spielplatz
Lye Lane
Bricket Wood
St Albans AL2 3TD

Will we see you there?
Suzanne and David

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