
October 2023 News letter

Red Lion Coffee Morning Wednesday 4th October Our Artist of the Month appearing at the Red Lion on Wednesday 4th October is Pavel Kricka, who has been working locally and displaying at our annual Art show and other local art events, becoming well known and selling well. His work is very appealing. Pavel said: ” Lock down has a lot to answer for but for me it was very positive to be forced to slow down, it was during this time I restarted my interest in ceramics. I began hand building sculptural pieces and refreshed my throwing skills. My inspiration in ceramics is Lucy Rie, Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada. I’m also have a photographic practice that started with sport and has branched out into events and interior photography, you can see some of my work on my web site, and on Instagram. Press this button to see Pavel Kricka’s website SAVE THE DATE: Red Lion Saturday 9th December Our December coffee morning at the Red Lion will be a Christmas special, so please save the date. 2024 Shotley Heritage Calendar Thank you to June Lawford-Randall who has been collating the photos sent in by so many local enthusiasts. It will be ready for sale very soon for £8 It will be the same size as last year which made it easy to post as a gift, will be on sale at Shotley Post Office thanks to Mr Manish Patel. To get this support in the local business community is so helpful, Manish has sold the calendar on our behalf for several years and we are very grateful. We have been fundraising for the new gates to the pier, and we are now over halfway to the amount we need. Some has been donated at local coffee mornings, some direct online.The blue button below is proving a great easy way to send donations, and PayPal adds a donation each time it’s used. Press this button to donate and PayPal will add to your donation ! Podcasts have become a good way to spread the word about all sorts of subjects. Some time ago, Suffolk Money invited us to talk about the pier, hope you have time to listen, it’s part of a series they made about local causes. Podcast about the pier group
Read MoreHappy Christmas 2022

Why not sponsor a plank as a Christmas gift ? Immortalise a loved one for £100 and get this personalised gift token to email or post. Email shotleypier@gmail.com for the order form. Plaques to be installed in January 2023 (weather permitting)
Read MoreBirdwatching from Shotley Pier

Welcome to our information site linked to the display board on Shotley Pier! This has been made possible by a grant from the Coasts & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Community & Conservation Fund, awarded in 2022. Shotley Pier is ideally placed to observe both native and migratory birds who flock to the estuary and tidal margins of this special region. The AONB is active in protecting species such on the Red list and this site is designed to help the public observe and learn more about this very special region. The information panel is a small introduction to some of the birds that can be seen from the pier throughout the year. Please feel free to follow up your interests with either the AONB, the Shotley Pier Group or simply record your sightings on the chalk board on the Pier. Artwork by : Peta Hillier Contacts at : https://www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org/ www.shotleypier.co.uk SHORELINE BIRDS BRENT GOOSE: A small dark goose with a black head, rear end white. Large flocks between October and February from their Artic breeding grounds. Feeds on estuaries and mudflats, sometimes arable grassland. Often take to the air when disturbed. UK conservation status: Amber OYSTERCATCHER: Striking black and white plumage, red eye and an orange bill. Common on shorelines with molluscs such as cockles, mussels, and marine worms. Migrate from northern areas and breed in shallow scrapes in the open. UK conservation status: Amber CURLEW: A large wading bird with a long downward bill with a distinctive sound. Winter habitat of upland moors and in summer on seashores for worms and molluscs. UK conservation status: Amber BLACK HEADED GULL: One of the most common European gulls able to live in most habitats. An opportunistic feeder but marine invertebrates and molluscs are favoured on the shoreline. Adults have a distinctive dark head in summer with a white plumage. UK Conservation status: Amber CORMORANT: A large, hooked bill and a dark appearance, Cormorants are often seen diving under water then perched on posts with wings stretched out to dry them off. Cormorants live around sheltered coasts and eat flatfish and eels. UK Conservation status: Green REDSHANK: Found in estuaries and shores in the winter and coastal marshes in the summer this wading bird has red legs and bill with a grey, brown plumage and pure white underside. Feeds on marine invertebrates and insect larvae. UK conservation status: Amber…
Read MoreClosing the Gap! Fundraising via PayPal

Charitable fundraising just got easier with the help of PayPal. As a charitable society, we are able to receive payments through Paypal without fees, PLUS they add 20% Giftaid immediately so every time kind donors give to the pier renovations, an immediate extra 20% is added, Please help us get to the next stage of our renovations, having achieved the complete renovation of the first 100 feet of the pier, we hope to renovate the next stage in 2022 Donations can be made via our PayPal fundraising link https://www.paypal.com/gb/fundraiser/charity/3340411
Read MoreCelebratory Railing Plaques
Celebratory Railing Plaques slideshow loop 2
Read MorePier filmed by drone

Steve Trumm Film Productions has kindly filmed the pier by drone, which shows the completed pier decking as well as the gappy next section which we are raising funds to renovate.
Read MoreSponsor a Plank

“Sponsor a Plank ” is now open for a limited period. Phase One planks can be labelled with your name at £100 per plank as shown in the photo. There are only 200 planks at this stage and we have already taken orders for 55 planks, so if you are interested, drop by Pierside Snacks for a form on Fridays between 9.30am and 2pm, or Saturday / Sunday 9.30am – 3pm Or Email shotleypier@gmail.com for a form to be emailed to you. The funds raised by sponsoring planks will pay for the new railings. Your name will remain on the plank until it is replaced, which could be up to 100 years, a wonderful way to support the pier.
Read MoreRestoration Work has Started at the Pier
Work about to start at Pier

The Directors of Shotley Pier are delighted to announce the start of renovations from Wednesday 17th June 2020. This follows three years of community fundraising to restore the popular Pier in Shotley Gate, Suffolk, built in 1894, and which has a rich local history. Work was due to start in March, but national lockdown emerged to delay the start. Contracts had already been awarded with Amicus Civil Engineering appointed as the main contractor, and Ashwells Tropical Timbers as supplier of reclaimed timbers. A central feature of the refurbished pier will be durable 17 metre Greenheart piles reclaimed from the Woolwich Ferry Terminal and decking boards reclaimed from a pedestrian footbridge over the River Cam. Pier volunteers visited Ashwells timber yard in Upminster, and selected the reclaimed timber, being attracted to its strength, beautiful character and sustainable credentials. The timber is currently at Thorogood Timber in Ardleigh, whose expert team is milling bespoke grip grooves before it starts its new life on the pier (see photo of timber on truck). Janine Davies-Tutt, Managing Director of Ashwells Timbers said: “We’re thrilled to be providing a selection of FSC certified reclaimed Greenheart for the rebuilding of the historic Shotley Pier.” Dave Gibson, Managing Director of Amicus Civil Engineering said: “Amicus Civil Engineering are very proud to be involved in the first phase of renovations to the historic Shotley Pier. Having worked on Ha’Penny Pier for the past few years, just across the water from Shotley, it is especially pleasing to be continuing the preservation of other important local landmarks. We are looking forward to being part of the team and seeing the pier open to the public in due course. “ The pier team deferred starting to the new date of 17th June to allow Malcolm (Malcy) Pridmore’s funeral cortege to pass undisturbed, as he previously owned the popular pierside burger van. The funeral procession is planned to visit the riverfront on Tuesday 16th June from 11.30 so people can have their chance to say goodbye and Malcy can be near the river one last time.
Read More