Members at the HCERA AGM learnt that Julie Ozwell, the daughter of Herbert Collins, had made a gift, in memory of her father, equal to the cost of the land which Herbert Collins Estates Limited had purchased.

Herbert Collins 1885-1975
This means that all those who pledged money to pay for this purchase will be asked to contribute much less than they were expecting. All that will need to be paid is for the legal costs plus some minor expenses.
The meeting agreed that a bouquet of flowers should be sent to Julie as a token of our appreciation and this has been done.

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Officers
Chairman:      Ray George      75 Bassett Green Road
Secretary:    Elizabeth Cox     11 Stoneham Lane
Treasurer:     Sue Kench     82 Bassett Green Road

Street Representatives
Bassett Green Rd:     Mike Farrelly     59 Bassett Green Road
Ethelburt Ave:     Anne Dempsey      66 Ethelburt Avenue
                            Robert Williams          74 Ethelburt Avenue
Field Close:     Elizabeth German     7 Field Close
Leaside Way:     Valerie Laurent     43 Leaside Way
Stoneham Lane:     Elizabeth Cox      11 Stoneham Lane
Summerfield Gardens:     Angela Cotton     8 Summerfield Gardens

by Nic Monks

If you would like to help pay for this sign please email HCERA

Most of us won’t be aware of a hidden bit of history on our doorstep.From August 1914, the vast Swaythling Remount Depot was constructed to collect, sort and supply horses and mules for war service. Up until 11th December 1918, the Depot received 390,741 animals, of which 386,194 passed out. After the war, about 95,000 horses were returned to the UK.

Other than residents finding occasional artefacts like horseshoes in their garden, no indication of the site and its activity remains.

Ray George led a small project to research and create a memorial sign which has now been installed on the lower half of Bassett Green Road in Southampton.

As a local resident, I had no idea of the extraordinary scale of work that took place here in such a relatively short time ago. It’s remarkable how soon we forget. If you’re coming down Bassett Green Road, please do stop to find out about the Depot.

Nic Monks designed the board and the frame; for more, see the report on the AGM – Ed

The AGM was so well attended that we had to move from a classroom to the school hall. The chairman’s report contained two important additions to the usual, both in August. One was the completion of the purchase of the Estate.

The other was the installation of the Swaythling Remount Depot memorial sign on August 6th. The chairman said the sign would not have been possible without Nic Monks. He produced the artwork and the layout and made suggestions about content. He had unlimited patience to make endless changes as we dithered and to meet the needs of the manufacturer, who was also very patient.

Geoffrey Williams, who became treasurer in 2015, presented his last accounts. We wish him all the best for the future in his new home. At the meeting, Sue Kench agreed to become the treasurer and was duly elected.

After a coffee break, John Green presented news on the Company (see elsewhere in this Newsletter). Time ran out for any other business. But don’t wait until next year. Please raise issues by emailing HCERA so the Committee can look at them.

There will be a litter-pick in the roads of the Conservation Area and surrounding roads on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th November from 10.30 to 12.30, other times by prior arrangement. The equipment is to be collected from 75 Bassett Green Road after 10.15.

We hope you will participate. Please email HCERA to tell us.

by John Green

At the HCERA AGM, it was reported that the purchase from Woodhill Properties Limited of the freeholds of all the long lease properties and the privately maintained roads and greens in the Conservation Area had been completed on 13th August 2019. Herbert Collins Estates Limited is now the new owner.

While the company was involved in buying the freeholds it was decided that we should adopt the policy of Woodhill Properties, and normally only approve alterations that match the original building in scale, design and materials. We will now concentrate on how we take forward the management of the Estate, and whether we need to make any changes to the Woodhill policy. At the AGM, a number of members of the company asked about how they could be involved, and suggested a meeting of members and directors might now be appropriate. The directors promised to look at this.

by Michelle Hickling

Do come to the Christmas Carols on the top corner green in Ethelburt Ave: Thursday 19th December 7 – 8pm.

Ocean Brass Band will be leading us in the festive sing song. Bring along your family and friends and some food/drink to share!
Donations go towards their chosen charity, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.

This is advance notice that the provisional date for the Swaythling Lawn Tennis Club annual quiz is Friday 21st February 2020. Further details will be published in the new year, but in the meantime contact John Green on 8067 1016 for information, or to register your interest.

The dates for the next three road maintenance working parties are as follows:

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Upper Team: 23rd November 2019 (Houses 58 to 102 and 67 to 111)
Middle Team: 15th February 2020 (Houses 30 to 56 and 41 to 65)
Lower Team: 9th May 2020 (Houses 2 to 28 and 1 to 39 ).

Reminders will be sent out for each team a week beforehand. If you are not on the current mailing list and wish to be so, please contact John Dixon at 34 Ethelburt Avenue,(tel: 8055 0064 or email: jdd at soton.ac.uk).