Thank you to all those who attended the third SPA and Omnia Consulting Solent Speed Networking Event on the 29th November 2023, kindly sponsored by Dutton Gregory Solicitors. The event was held at the Grand, Southampton, which was decked out with Christmas decorations and feeling very festive. We had around 60 property professionals at the event, who were all enthusiastic to make new connections and boost their networking skills. As in our previous events, the session started with networking tips from leadership coach, Astrid Davies, followed by two hours of structured networking. We were thrilled with the response and hope all those who attended enjoyed it as much as we did. Having had some excellent feedback once again, we hope to see both new and familiar faces at the next event!
2024 Southampton Property Association Committee
Dear Member Applications are invited to serve on the 2024 Southampton Property Association Committee. Committee members assist one another in organising events throughout the year and a committee meeting is held in Southampton on the first Wednesday of each month at 12.30pm, usually lasting for about one hour. Committee members are not paid for their time, but there is an annual committee lunch by way of thanks. In the event of more applications being received for the committee places than are available, a secret ballot will be held of those SPA members present at the Annual General Meeting, which is to be held on the evening of Monday, 22nd January 2024 at The Southampton University Officer’s Training Corps, 32 Carlton Place, Southampton SO15 2DX, full details of which will follow. The window for applications to the join the committee will remain open until 5.00pm on Friday, 29th December 2023. Please email applications to me, chrisclark@elgsurveyors.co.uk Yours sincerely Chris Clark SPA Honorary Secretary Christopher Clark BSc FRICS MCIArb
Another successful Friday Frolics Event
Another large attendance last Friday, 24th November, at the ever popular SPA Friday Frolics sponsored by Eddisons incorporating Daniells Harrison at The Grand. Plenty of good networking conversations and our thanks go to the sponsors for a splendid event.
SPA Charity Ball Raises Much Needed Funds For Scratch
Over 200 revellers from the property business sector donned their best bib and tucker at the annual SPA Charity Ball on Thursday 9th November held at The Grand. A night packed full of entertainment and fun raised a huge amount for the very worthy charity Scratch, the SPA’s chosen charity for the year. The evening kicked off with the traditional game of Heads and Tails, and raffle compared by George Long. The 3 course meal was followed by dancing by the fantastic live band Ruby Entertainment, with the evening finishing of downstairs at Ruby’s nightclub. The final total raised is still being totted up but early estimates are over £2K.
October Friday Frolics
The SPA hosted Octobers Friday Frolics at Bar Terminus with over 60 guests in attendance enjoying the plentiful buffet on offer. The next Frolics, sponsored by Eddisons incorporating Daniells Harrison, will be held at Grand Cafe on Friday 29th November 2023. If your company would be interested in sponsoring any SPA event including Friday Frolics please contact a member of the committee.
The SPA Celebrates 75th Anniversary
The SPA hosted their 75th Anniversary Summer Party, in collaboration with RICS Matrics, last Thursday 6th July 2023 on the John Lewis Roof Terrace, the weather held strong with a balmy evening, kindly sponsored by Lester Aldridge and Bargate Homes. Around 130 property professionals from across Southampton attended the event, with all tickets sales going to the 2023 SPA Charity, Scratch. Attendees heard from Mike Smith, Senior Manager (Operations) at Scratch to share a little of the work the charity does in the Southampton area, followed by SPA Chair, Emma Bartlett. Items were available to purchase throughout the duration of the event for attendees to donate to Scratch for their ‘home packs’. Read more about the fantastic work Scratch do here: Scratch Fighting Local Poverty Introducing Scratch and their Projects The SPA Charity for 2023 – Southampton Property Association. The event raised a grand total of over £800 for the charity, which will be gratefully received. The committee would like to thank the sponsors and attendees for a fantastic atmosphere at a new, unique venue which was the perfect way to celebrate the SPA’s 75th Anniversary! The next event will be our Friday Frolics on July 28th, at Figurati, Southampton. Hope to see you there!
Ridge Rises To The Top at the Annual SPA Golf Day
Basking in glorious sunshine the course at Meon Valley Golf & Country Club was all set up for the Annual SPA Golf Day with 76 players battling to become champions for 2023. After some great golf and some not so good golf 2 teams came out tied on top with 90 points with the eventual winners being the team from Ridge & Partners LLP by virtue of countback on a better back nine. Following golf there was a chance to network, enjoy a 2 course buffet and prize presentation. Our thanks must go to our sponsors Vision Architects, RB Private Finance and the South Coast Commercial Property Show. Full Results: Winners – Ridge & Partners LLP – Steve Cross, Will Wyley, Libby Hillings, Ryan Greenhalgh. Runners Up – Scot White Hookins – Nick Groves, Tony Deacon, Justin Galloway, Paul Conway. 3rd Place – Simpson Hilder Associates – Dan Preddy, James Thompson, Pete Smith, Rob Horton. Nearest the Pin 7th – Rob Cude, Highwood Group Nearest the Pin 12th – Roy Partridge, SPA Longest Drive – Dan Preddy, Simpson Hilder Associates Winners – Ridge & Partners LLP Runners Up – Scot, White & Hookins £rd Place – Simpson Hilder Associates Nearest the Pin 7th – Rob Cude Nearest The Pin 12th – Roy Partridge Longest Drive – Dan Preddy
ANNUAL CLAY SHOOT 2023
After a 3-year Pandemic gap, SPA held their 2023 Clay Shoot on Friday 19th May. The venue was Beacon Hill Farm, the new home of the long-established Acorn Shooting School, owned and run by Des Sturgess. The threatened rain never happened, although at one point there were thunderstorms all around, and the shooters enjoyed dry weather shooting, with ample refreshments provided all afternoon. 15 Teams of 4 turned out, shooters varying in ability from complete novices to Olympic Standard. Acorn provided an excellent, and at times challenging, variety of clays from 7 different stands, over which each shooter attempted 50 clays. In addition we had the Team Flush, and this year thanks to the generous sponsorship of Simpson Hilder, each Team had the excitement of a 100-clay flush. The scores were totalled at the end of the day and the team prizes went to: TEAM FLUSH (sponsored by SIMPSON HILDER) was won by BADDOW’S BANGERS, Mike Pennock, David Allsop, Alex Foster and Paul Dunlop. RUNNER- UP TOP TEAM (sponsored by SPA) was GUNS AND DOZES, Jonathan Brown, Alice Toop, Jennie Cartwright and Andrew Watling. THE DAVID OLDS MEMORIAL PRIZE along with prizes provided by DUTTON GREGORY went to this year’s TOP TEAM, which was BLAZING SADDOS, Mark Hiskett, Howard Jenkins, Harry Cliffe-Roberts and Alan Sydney. This year we decided to make the awarding of the Top Gun prize (a magnificent glass trophy and magnum of wine both provided by E3 Consulting) more of a “spectator sport” and the four highest individual scorers of the afternoon were entered into a shoot off, watched closely by all of the other entrants. The four highest scorers were Jennie Cartwright, Ollie Noble, Harry Cliffe-Roberts and Mark Hiskett (scores 45,37,39 and 37 respectively). The shoot-off comprised 3 pairs each of very difficult clays. The first round eliminated Mark, but Jennie, Ollie and Harry drew with 5 out of 6 clays hit each. The second round eliminated Harry, and the third round produced a winner by one clay – Ollie. RUNNER-UP TOP GUN (sponsored by 820 GIN) JENNIE CARTWRIGHT TOP GUN (sponsored by E3 CONSULTING) OLLIE NOBLE Full results table: TEAM TOTAL TEAM SCORE (EXCLUDES FLUSH) TEAM FLUSH HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL Baddow’s Bangers 108 73 29 Blazing Saddos 122 63 39 Shoot Happens 75 55 33 Clays of Glory 97 58 34 Guns and Dozes 115 68 45 The Hammer Falls 93 68 35 Clay Protection Society 64 65 20 Triggernometry 66 40 24 Darcy 45 NS 17 Send the Dog 91 49 37 Banditos 102 69 35 Pooping Pigeon Poppers 69 66 24 Blazing Bullets 99 55 34 Shotguns, Bricks & Mortar 75 56 24 Last Blast 101 62 29 A HUGE thanks again to our sponsors: Top Team BLAZING SADDOS Runners Up Top Team – GUNS & DOZES Team Flush Winners – BADDOWS BANGERS Top Gun – Ollie Noble Runner Up Top Gun – Jennie Cartwright Team Flush in Action
Fantastic Feedback from Speed Networking Event
The SPA and Omnia Consulting hosted the second Solent Speed Networking Event on the 20th April 2023, sponsored by Paris Smith LLP. The event was held at the Ageas Bowl, with sunny views across the pitch. Around 40 property professionals attended the event to make new connections and learn some key networking skills for their future careers. The session started with networking tips from leadership coach, Astrid Davies, to set the room at ease before the structured networking began. Over 90 minutes of fun and relaxed networking followed, which allowed each delegate to meet up to 28 new people across the session and engage in meaningful conversations to get to know other local property professionals. We have received fantastic feedback following the event, with many requests for further events such as these in the near future…… watch this space!!
Scratch Fighting Local Poverty Introducing Scratch and their Projects The SPA Charity for 2023
The main work of Scratch is to provide housing packs to support families and people who are suffering the effects of poverty due to various issues including forced relocation due to domestic violence and other issues. They do this by providing furniture and household equipment including white goods in combination with various local organisations. As an offshoot from this Scratch are able to offer positions to asylum seekers and other refugees who are otherwise unable to work while their applications are being considered. This allows those people to bolster their future employment options and also helps them find meaningful activity when they would otherwise be isolated. This has a beneficial effect on their mental health. As an aside they also run a Christmas toy appeal enabling local families to give gifts to their children when they would otherwise be unable to afford to do so. Last year nearly 3000 children were helped in this way. Donations of toys are received all year round with extra volunteers needed in the months leading up to Christmas to help package and distribute the gifts to families. It is hoped that SPA can assist with both financial help by way of our fundraising events and also by asking our members to provide items either for the housing packs or toys and games to be donated at Christmas. Storage of items can also be an issue so it is possible that our members can assist with logistics. We will be publicising Scratch at our Friday Frolics and at other events during the year. We would be interested to hear from our members with any ideas they may have around supporting this worthy and local cause.