Margaret Johnston Obituary - ex-Vice-Chair - Progress Residents Committee Association

Margaret Johnson: in memoriam

Miles Davis died on 28 September 1991, a Saturday. I heard the news on the radio on the Sunday morning, a lovely, sunny Autumn day. I was living in North Somerset at the time. Our house was on the top of a hill looking towards the Severn Estuary. I put my 1959 Fontana LP of Kind of Blue on the deck, turned up the volume, opened the French doors and stood outside to listen to the music. That unmistakeable Harmon mute was now forever silenced.  

Kirsty McGrath (PRA Secretary) wrote to me soon after Margaret Johnston died and asked if we had heard the news. I said we had; it was as though a piece of the Estate’s living history was no longer with us.

...And so it will be with us all. Each of us is the sum of a unique patchwork of individual experiences that will die with us. But because Margaret lived on the Estate for so many years, (and was heavily involved in the running of the PRA), and so many of us are thankful that we knew her, her passing will be collectively mourned by many.

Keith Billinghurst

Progress Residents' Association needs you!

Progress Residents' Association is managed by a volunteer committee, we are looking for residents of the estate who have a genuine interest in:
• Representing the views and interests of the residents of the estate
• Promoting and encouraging a sense of community
• Monitoring proposed planning applications regarding alterations to the estate
• Supporting Residents to receive the best possible housing, environmental and community-related services

What’s in it for you?
• Making a difference within the estate for yourself and other residents
• Use your skills and interests where they are really needed
• Meet new people from the estate
• Contribute to the decision making of the association

What’s in it for us?
• Committed individuals
• Your skills and enthusiasm
• New ideas
• Your attendance at a minimum of 6 committee meetings (generally every 4-6 weeks) and the AGM in December

We are particularly interested in hearing from Residents who are interested in:
social event planning, developing publicity, contributing to the newsletter and monitoring proposed developments within the estate.

If you would like further information and you are over 18 years of age and live in Progress Estate, please express your interest via email to theprogressestate@gmail.com or text 07852 888992 providing your details and the best way to contact you.

Progress Residents Association Annual General Meeting 2014

Minutes of the Progress Residents Association’s Annual General Meeting held at 2 p.m. on Saturday
6th December 2014 in The Progress Hall, Admiral Seymour Road

1. Chair’s Welcome
The Chair, Rita Billinghurst, welcomed everyone to the AGM and thanked them for coming. She announced thanks to Hyde Housing for its continuing support of the Association.  In addition she thanked the Coop, Conran Estates, David Evans, Gordon and St Thomas More Primary Schools, the Priory Players and John Webb and Mark Wall from SE9 Magazine all of whom had contributed to the preparation of our 2015 Centenary Celebrations.

2. Apologies 
Robert Ledgerwood, Pat Murr, Julie Townsend, Eltham West Safer Neighbourhood Police Team.

3. Minutes of the 2013 AGM
Copies were available at the meeting and the Minutes were approved.

4. Annual Reports
Annual Reports from the Treasurer, the Sub- Committees, including a Planning Report, and the Safer Neighbourhood Police Panels had been printed in the December Newsletter which had been distributed to every household on the Estate.

5. Resolutions
The Acting Secretary had received a communication, with due notice, prior to the AGM from a resident of Congreve Road.  The following resolution was therefore put forward and agreed “This meeting notes the belief of Shane Cassells, who resides in Congreve Road, that additional traffic is being routed along this and possibly other roads running parallel to Well Hall Road as a result of software utilised by the Waze app and therefore requests that a committee member of the Progress Residents Association reports his concern at the traffic meeting of the South Greenwich Forum to be held on 25th January 2015.  The Committee to inform all potentially affected residents of developments by email.”

A local Councillor, Wynn Davies, who was present at the AGM, stated that he had already looked into this matter and was advised by the relevant council officers that although the whole area was eventually to be a 20 mph zone, Arsenal Road and Congreve Road were not in the scheme until 2017 at the earliest.  The fact that these particular roads were being used as rat runs would not affect the decision.  He also mentioned that there were not enough reported incidents/accidents to make these roads a priority.  He had however asked Len Duvall, the GLA member, to take up the issue.  A brief discussion followed with the point being made that drivers were driving far too fast along these fairly narrow roads and also highlighting the absurdity of accidents having to take place before there was any action from the authorities.

Councillor Davies also urged Progress residents to respond to the consultation exercise currently being carried out by the Royal Borough regarding the extension of Controlled Parking Zones.  This message was endorsed by Committee Member Keith Billinghurst.  Draft plans will be exhibited at the Eltham Centre in Archery Road from Thursday 8th January to Saturday 10th January between 10 a.m and 8 p.m (4 p.m on Saturday).  The closing date for responses to the consultation to be received by the Royal Borough of Greenwich is 23rd January 2015. 

6. Election of Officers and Committee Members
The Chair pointed out that, in accordance with the Constitution, she was putting herself forward again as Chair having already served for 2 years in that position.  She was duly nominated, seconded and elected by those members present as were all those named below. 

Chair: Rita Billinghurst
Vice Chair: Robert Ledgerwood
Secretary: Margaret Oliver
Treasurer: Lisa Jonker
Committee Members: Keith Billinghurst; Jon Boulton; Rui Dias; Margaret Johnson; Pat Murr

7. Election of sub-committee members
Those members putting themselves forward to be sub-committee members were duly nominated, seconded and elected by the members present at the meeting.

The 2015 Group
       
Rita Billinghurst
Keith Billinghurst
Jill Holmans
Lisa Jonker
Avril Martin
Lynn Bennett-Usher

The Social Media Sub Committee
Rita Billinghurst
Keith Billinghurst
Rui Dias
James Garner

The Chair ended the formal part of the afternoon by pointing out to residents some of the successes of the Association during the past year, e.g. the repaving of a large section of Granby Road; the agreement of Hyde to replace and repair the fencing initially on the west side of Well Hall Road, hopefully followed by repairs on the east side of Well Hall Road; Hyde and their contractor Mears, under pressure from the Association, had agreed to apply for retrospective planning permission for all works they had carried out on the Estate for which they had neglected to obtain planning permission in the first place.

Members of the 2015 Sub-Committee who had won a Volunteers Award from St Mary’s Community Centre were congratulated. 

The Chair also said we were looking for volunteers to help with the planned 2015 events and we would be grateful if those willing could contact her.  She advised that we were using a company called Eventbrite to deal with ticketing of the 2015 events.

The formal meeting closed and the Chair announced the arrival of the choir from St Thomas More Catholic Primary School who were going to entertain us with a performance of Christmas songs and carols.  The children sang beautifully and were a credit to the School and its teachers and, of course, to their parents.  The children and their parents were then invited to join us in the Christmas Social event and a good time was had by all. 

Vacancy for a Committee Member Designate to take Responsibility for Planning Applications

Responding to planning applications from our Estate is a core function of the Residents Association.   Typically, 45-50 are submitted to Royal Greenwich each year.   About half are for work which will not be visible from the public highway so we do not comment on these.   As to the remaining 20-25, it is usually clear whether or not the proposed works fall within planning guidelines for our Estate.   We support those that do and object to those that do not.   Very occasionally we notify residents who will be able to view the proposed works from their houses if we think they are especially contentious.    This has only happened two or three times in the past four years.

Keith Billinghurst, the committee member who currently reviews planning applications, would like to hand the duty over to someone else by the end of 2015.   The intervening time will allow sufficient time for whoever takes it over to become accustomed to it and for him to be on call if required.

Under our constitution the Committee can co-opt up to two people between one AGM and the next.   This has already happened since our 2013 AGM, which is why we are referring here to a ‘Committee Member Designate’.   The existing two co-opts will stand for election at the AGM in December, 2014.   The person who takes on planning matters needs to be a full committee member because of the importance of the task.   We are therefore looking for someone who will be willing to stand for election this coming December. 

Committee meetings are held on the Estate on a weekday evening every 4-6 weeks.   However, planning work can be carried out at whatever time suits the individual concerned, because the need to meet with others is very unusual.   A reasonable level of computer literacy is a pre-requisite.

Estate Residents who are interested in applying for the role, or those who would like additional information about what is involved, are invited to contact Keith Billinghurst by email at keith.billinghurst@btinternet.com.

Progress Estate Centennial Memorabilia Price List

Limited Stocks
(Free delivery in SE9 – order on 07947 043479)

Bone china centennial mugs
£8 or £15 for a pair

Tea towels
756 x 470 mm
(approx. 29¾" x 18½")
£5 each











Chutney

205 gm (approx. 7¼ oz)
£3.25 a jar








Montage of our Progress Estate

Cards: 177 x 127 mm (approx. 7" x 5")
Supplied with envelopes (basic rate postage size)
£2.50 each or £12 for 6

Mounted prints: 510 x 410 mm (including mount) (approx. 20" x 16")
£50



"Write Home Soon"

£35 per Print (16" x 12")
£50 per framed Print (17" x 13")

Do You Have Some Secretarial Skills and a Little Time to Spare?

The Progress Residents Association needs a new Secretary, following the
resignation of Lesley Cooper who has held the post for the past 13 years.

The Secretary’s duties are to take and then circulate the minutes of its committee meetings which are usually held 9 or 10 times a year on a weekday evening at the home of one of the committee members.   The circulation of minutes is by email.

The Secretary also takes the minutes at the AGM.   These are approved by the Committee at its next following meeting.   Residents may request printed copies and these are also made available at the following year’s AGM.

If you would like a no-obligation chat about this interesting vacancy, please contact:

Rita Billinghurst

Chair, Progress Residents Association

rita.bygrave@btinternet.com

Tel: 07947 043479

Newsletter Editor Required

The Residents Association is looking for a Newsletter Editor.   

As a result of our gradual transition from print to electronic formats, the style and frequency of this publication is currently undergoing consideration.   The primary required skill is familiarity with Microsoft Word and/or Microsoft Publisher.   The Social Media Group undertakes the task of publishing each final Newsletter on its receipt from the Editor as a .pdf file.

Whilst the Editor may include material generated by him or herself, (s)he is not required to generate all the content. If you would like a no-obligation chat about this interesting vacancy, please contact: Rita Billinghurst Chair, Progress Residents Association rita.bygrave@btinternet.com

Tradesmen Database

The Progress Residents Association is developing a project to create a list of craftsmen that have developed their work within the estate with the final goal of making this information available to its residents: a list of reliable repair and construction professionals with experience of operating in this area and that can be recommended to all residents. 

 We require therefore that the residents within the Progress Estate share with their Association information on DIY and construction professionals (carpenters, plumbers, etc..) that have made house repairs and improvement works and that deserve this recommendation by the high level of quality and standard of their work.

So that we are able to compile the database of professionals and perform the needed checks, please drop us an email on theprogressestate@gmail.co.uk with the following information: 

• Type of work done, 
• Contact details of professional (phone, email), 
• Date of work done, 
• Contact details where work has been done (address, email and phone), 
• Relationship with the professional. 

 Many thanks! Progress Residents Association