Thank you to all of you who worked so hard to prepare your gardens for our “Open Gardens Day”. Unfortunately it was in a period of very unsettled weather. At 2 pm it was pouring with rain from a dark cloudy sky, so we cancelled the event. But like Schrödinger’s cat, which was both dead and not dead, the Open Gardens was cancelled and not cancelled. Those who had obtained programs in advance went round anyway and others followed in their footsteps. Happily, this confusion has resulted in our being able to send £25 to Tools for Self Reliance.

St George College celebrated their 50th anniversary with a Flower Festival on 23rd to 26th April. The two organisers, Tina Leng and Kate McEwing, were undeterred by the fact that it’s a boys’ school. After an initial meeting with a bemused headmaster and the College Committee, “The Friends of St George” were given the go-ahead. Slowly, a team of flower arrangers and other friends, all connected with the college in some way, came forward and nine months later the festival was a reality.
The theme of the festival was the decades from the fifties to the present. A floral display captured the spirit of each decade from the Feisty Fifties, the Swinging Sixties to the Newsy Nineties (should that be the Naughty Nineties?).

There was of course a display depicting St George slaying the dragon.

by Liz Hudswell, HCERA Secretary

This year’s summer party must rank as one of the most successful in recent years. The wonderful weather certainly contributed to the atmosphere and it was great to see over 100 residents come and join the fun.

The bouncy castle was, as ever, a great success and the face painting and games also proved to be extremely popular; it was great to see the adults take the tug of war competition so seriously. A great time seemed to be had by all.

Thanks must go to all those who ensured that the party ran so smoothly: to Ken Hickling and Ian Jarvis for cooking the barbecue which was supplemented by a range of delicious salads and desserts, to Izzie and Anna Hammett for face-painting, to Sue Mellett for giving up her time to organise the games, and to those members of the Residents’Association, particularly Lizzie Cox, Angela Gilbert, Michelle Hickling and Ray George who worked quietly behind the scenes to ensure that the food and entertainment were all there on the day for the rest of us to enjoy.

If there are any residents who have never been to the Summer Party, can I encourage you to come along next year, enjoy lots of fun and have the chance to get to know other residents.

by Ray George

The Southampton Federation of Residents’ Associations held an open meeting on 27th May 2009. The main item was “The Policing Pledge and What it Means to Communities”. Chief Inspector Jon Malley, Commander of Shirley District said the Pledge made commitments for 10 key things the public can expect from the police. The Pledge was something that arose from the report to the Cabinet Office by Louise Casey on “Engaging Communities in Fighting Crime”. In September, there will be a leaflet drop throughout the City on the Pledge. As an illustration, pledge 7 is “Arrange opportunities to meet your local Safer Neighbourhoods Team at least once a month to agree your neighbourhood priorities”. The current priority for the Leaside Way Estate and Bassett Green Road is “Reduce anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in the area of St George’s School and Bassett Green Road between 2pm and 4pm, Monday – Friday”.

By Ray George

Once upon a time, when the City Council was Labour controlled, we had Community Action Forums, ours was the Swaythling and District Community Action Forum.

The Liberal Democrats abolished these and replaced them by five Neighbourhoods Partnerships. But the Bassett and Highfield Community Action Forum refused to die and continued as a private enterprise. The Conservatives, in turn, abolished the Neighbourhoods Partnerships. The Bassett and Highfield Community Action Forum has seen this as an opportunity to metamorphose into the North Neighbourhoods Community Forum and we have been invited to participate. The HCERA Committee was not entirely convinced of the need for this organisation but has agreed to be a member.

The Forum has obtained a £5,000 “Grass Roots Grant” from the Government Office of the Third Sector. Some of this was used to produce a letter which was recently delivered with the News Extra. The letter concerned consultation on Houses in Multiple Occupation. The closing date for the consultation is 7 August 2009.

Alan Twigg, late of 39 Ethelburt Avenue, who died intestate, featured in an episode of the BBC1 series “Heir Hunters”. This is being broadcast on weekday mornings at 9.15am. Alan Twigg’s episode (Series 3, number 11) was on 13 July. It is available on BBC iPlayer until 8.59am on 30 July.It is well worth watching.

Now that impervious driveways and car parking areas constructed with tarmac or paving slabs require planning permission, consider a green alternative. A plastic grid, for example Joosten GS-Panels , is laid on a suitably prepared base. The holes in the grid are filled with topsoil and sown with grass seed. This can be seen outside 16-30 Wide Lane.

The Association’s AGM will be on Tuesday 22nd September at the Hardmoor Early Years Centre, Leaside Way starting at 7.30pm.

Mik & John the builders - Garden landscaping, decking, patios, brickwork, turfing. Beautiful quality work (an example can be seen in Ethelburt Ave). Very reliable, trustworthy and friendly. Please contact Mik on 07856 104500.

Stonewood Builders - Extensions, garages, garden offices etc. all within Collins guidelines. Stunning work, reliable and efficient (example can be seen in Ethelburt Ave). Please call Guy on 07915 069448.

Rod Varley for painting and decorating, telephone 07989 210748. He is very sympathetic to the special requirements of Collins houses having lived in one himself.