July 2005

Neville's publication, Coast, was launched on June 25 with a breathtaking, symbolic pilgrimage to the military base of Foulness Island.

More than fifty people from across the UK attended the event, which saw delegates arrive by land and sea. First, a group walked the ancient Broomway onto the island: until 1920 the only access to Foulness. Only revealed at low tide this partially cobbled track way dates to the first medieval reclamation of the island from the sea. It's geography demanded the walkers went barefoot on the mud flats beneath an enormous sky.

At the same time, another group of invited guests were arriving on the other side of the island in a retired lifeboat. Both groups then walked the final leg to converge at the George and Dragon pub. Built in the centre of the island's largest village, Church End, the George and Dragon is the one remaining pub on the island, serving the 1500 population still resident behind the MoD lines. It was this focal building Neville chose as the venue for his publication's launch.

After inspecting Neville's films in the pub's bars the invited guests heard Neville introduce his work, describing the "absolute wilderness" of the island.

He described how en route to the pub the walkers had reinstated footpath signs across the restricted island, opening the way for other visitors in future.

And he concluded by saying how the island had inspired him.
"I will miss coming here," he said.

'Coast' publication cover

Delegates arrive by land and sea

Guests arriving in a retired lifeboat

Reinstating footpath signs