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Officers

Chairman: Ray George             75 Bassett Green Road
Secretary: Denise Fenwick         7 Leaside Way
Treasurer: Nicola Farnell          58 Ethelburt Avenue

Street Representatives

Bassett Green Rd:
            Mike Farrelly                59 Bassett Green Road
Ethelburt Ave:
            Verity Robson              32 Ethelburt Avenue
            Robert Williams           74 Ethelburt Avenue
           Benjamin Davey         107 Ethelburt Avenue
Field Close:
            Elizabeth German          7 Field Close
Leaside Way:
            Valerie Laurent             43 Leaside Way
Stoneham Lane:
            Margaret Lane              25 Stoneham Lane
Summerfield Gardens:
            Angela Cotton                 8 Summerfield Gardens

Dates for Ethelburt Avenue working parties are confirmed as:

Saturday 20th November 2021
Saturday 19th February 2022
Saturday 21st May 2022

All are welcome to attend any (or all) of the sessions, with works commencing at the top of Ethelburt Avenue at 9am on each date. Wheelbarrows and shovels are good to bring, if you have them – but don’t worry, if you haven’t. If you’re not up to wielding those tools, help with drinks around 11am would be much appreciated. If you have any queries or suggestions, contact the Road Improvement Group (RIG) on rig@herbertcollins.co.uk.

Help us give the area a clean. We are borrowing litter-pick equipment from the Council for Friday November 12th to Remembrance Sunday, 14th November. Please email HCERA to volunteer to take part.

The band Ocean Brass is booked for Thursday 16th December from 7pm to 8pm. It will be on the top green again. You will of course be sent a reminder nearer the time.

We are currently seeking further members for our Tree Committee. Ideally, we would like some people who are either qualified in this area or have a strong interest and knowledge of trees.

We would also like to hear from people who might be willing to assist in planting new trees every now and then. Send emails to HCERA

About 40 residents attended the 2021 HCERA AGM at St George’s School on 19th October. The Chairman reported a successful year, with all the usual events of Carols, Open Gardens Day and Summer Party. Denise Fenwick and Nicola Farnell were confirmed as secretary and treasurer and existing Committee members reappointed. Benjamin Davey was also elected as an additional street rep for Ethelburt Avenue. The membership subscription is to remain at £5.
In his report on the Road Improvement Group, Dan Hopgood asked that the Road Repair Contribution increase to £35 to protect the reserves and this was agreed.

Andy Fisher’s report on the Tree Committee gave an opportunity to raise a resident’s unhappiness with the pine trees in the corner of the Large Green in Ethelburt Avenue. Andy said Abri are responsible for these trees but that upon receipt of written complaints, he would liaise with Abri. It is likely that any potential danger would be a concern, but nuisance from pine needles and sap dropping on cars would not be.

John Green said that the Company was preparing for a meeting of members in Feb/March. In the meantime, the directors were producing a draft of the new management policy. John also explained that the Company intended to involve members in its work.

In AOB, the question was raised of the chairman of the Residents Association being a director of the Company. Was there a conflict of interest? Dan Hopgood suggested it was the other way round: Why are all residents not Company members? HCERA had set up a company because a company can be the legal owner of land.

Basi was my partner and best friend who sadly died from her dementia earlier this year.
Whilst a somewhat private person, as a Collins resident of 30 years, many of you will have seen or met her – probably when out walking our greyhound, Winnie.

Basi was a successful artist. Entirely self-taught with no formal art education, her skills were innate and honed through hours of practice.

Her professional drawing career started in 2000. By the time she was no longer able to work she had completed around four hundred commissions for customers around the world.

In around 2013 we started noticing difficulties with her memory and cognitive ability. Her last drawings were completed in 2014-15 exhibitions at Hilliers Arboretum and Hampshire Open Studios.
She passed away in March of this year.

This August, I exhibited her work one last time as part of Hampshire Open Studios. Examples of her drawings are still visible on her website at www.portraitsinpencil.co.uk

This had to be postponed until 7th August, after Step Four Out of Lockdown. There was panic early in the morning, as the weather was so terrible. The meat was being delivered and we had little option but to go ahead. As so often happens, the rain cleared away and although the weather for the rest of the day was not good, it did not spoil our enjoyment. 110 people said they were coming, but the actual numbers were down on that.

Verity Robson did a very professional job organising the children and Ken Hickling tirelessly kept everyone fed from the barbecue.

Why not become a member of the Company? It’s free.

Please email the Company: hcel@herbertcollins.co.uk with your name and address, to get a membership application form.