The dinner is one of the highlights of the BHEAA’s social calendar where the assocaition members welcome in the newly elected President for the year.  This year’s President elect is Victoria Alderton of Barrie Alderton Estate Agents.

The Dinner is open to all members of the association as well as any company or persons who are connected with the property industry.  Tickets are still available and cost £55 per person, tables of 8 -12 are catered for.

If you would like to attend please contact The Assication Dinner Secretary Andy Garth or Victoria Alderton on 01273 570242 or sales@barriealderton.co.uk

The President’s Cup 2011 was held at Brighton & Hove Golf Club on 8^th September.  Many of the victorious stalwarts who handed out a crushing defeat to The Law Society were present.  In kinder conditions than on Monday the Association and guests gathered on this exposed part of the Downs to see who could stand up the longest in the buffeting winds that ceaselessly blew and blew and blew.  Be under no illusion, this was a real test of expert shot making and course management.

The event was blessed by many guests/friends of the Association most of whom were invited by our President, Lindsay Duff who provided the prizes for the putting competition proceeds from which went to Cystic Fibrosis.  The winners, Bob Thatcher and Andy Lees, both holed out across the entire length of the practice putting green and richly deserve their bottles of fizz.

As for the day’s other competitions, the winners included Mike Davis who with a ‘walk of shame’ took the shortest drive on the first.  As his ball did not pass the ladies’ tee he duly dropped his trousers during the prize giving to show all his bare faced cheek.  Our very own President won the nearest the pin prize on the sixth hole whilst Andy Lees lent heavily on his driver to produce a shot which nearly made the fourth green and bagged him longest drive.

As for our guests, we had a few celebrities including Paul Newman and Banksy.  Indeed Banksy was runner up to the winning guest Duncan George.  As many will already have recalled Duncan won this event last year at East Brighton.  It was a case of déjà vu all over again.

Turning now to the main event, the winner of The President’s Cup was last year’s President with the best round of the day of 38 points off a handicap of 9, Mr Phil Graves.  To the relief of all present during his after dinner speech he managed to keep his trousers on!  Second was Mike Davis and third Mr D R Aspey.  Typical of Mr Graves’ generosity he has proposed that the cup be modified so as to bear the names of previous victors.  We would therefore be grateful if those that have previously lifted the cup would drop me a line for the sake of posterity and adding further to the heritage of the Association.

D R Aspey

Sussex Surveyors

Afterwards all sat down for a convivial meal with wine and prizes courtesy of the generous captain of The Law Society, Richard Dyson, a gentleman.

I shall finish with a Roll of Honour for those in the face of high winds and seasoned campaigners from The Law Society defended the good name of the Association.

Association Stalwarts

1 Steve Pook (Stuart Radley)

2 Phil Graves – Ex President (Graves Jenkins)

3 Brian Woodiwiss (former winner of The President’s Cup) – (Parsons Son & Basley)

4 Tony Uden (Udens)

5 Andy Lees (Graves Jenkins)

6 Derek Took

7 Mike Davis (Welbeck Properties)

8 David Aspey (Captain) – (Sussex Surveyors)

The victorious BHEAA 2011 golf team

The Brighton & Hove Estate Agents Association (BHEAA) are continuing their pledge to raise money to donate to local charities by handing £710 to the Sussex Cancer Fund. The money has been directly spent on two specialist reclining chairs for patients when visiting the treatment centre at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Phil Graves, BHEAA President 2010, commented,

“the further recent finance cuts announced by the Government in connection with NHS Trusts has placed great pressure on them to provide services to the standard that the specialists and nurses would like to offer. The patients being treated are sometimes at the hospital for many hours and they deserve a comfortable chair to sit on at least. We are pleased to play a very small part in assisting with the care that they provide.”

Emma Sayers, Fund Administrator, added,

“it has always been a difficult task to raise sufficient monies for the Trust as there are so many worthwhile causes in the Sussex area. In recessionary times, the challenge is even greater and we are extremely grateful to Phil and his colleagues for the kind donation. The chairs are virtually in full time use and we are planning for more in the near future.”

Every year, the BHEAA raises and distributes over £10,000 t

o local charities and projects. For more information on what they do you can view their website www.bheaa.co.uk

As always the evening was a chance for the new President for 2011 Lindsay Duff to make his first public appearance.

The evening began with a drinks reception and then guests gathered in the main ballroom for a three course dinner followed some fund raising for the Presidents charities and the Awards.  The first of the money raising events began with Heads or Tails competition sponsored by the Latest Homes, with the winner receiving a Golden Ticket kindly donated by The Brighton Centre that included 12 pairs of tickets to event throughout the next 12 months.  A sum of £1500 from this event was donated to The Chestnut Tree Hospice.

After the dinner it was the Presidents turn to make his speech to the gathered guests.  Then came the time for the awards presentation.  First off was the award for Raising Professional Standards which The Argus sponsored and presented.  This year the recipient was Leaders with Jane Wilkinson accepting the award.

This year The BHEAA made a special presentation to Hugh Tucknott in recognition of his work concerning the board ban and his services to the BHEAA. 

The final award of the evening The Lifetime Achievement which was kindly sponsored & donated by The Latest Homes and awarded by Andrew Kay was presented to Andy Garth.   Andy is not only the Dinner Secretary but also the keeper and holder of all things BHEAA.

The main event of the evening was the Charity Auction which raised money for The Sussex Air Ambulance and The Edward Starr Trust which are the Presidents charities this year.  In total the evening raised just over £7000.

This year’s dinner was a roaring success with the great and the good from the worlds of Estate Agency, Law, finance, and media.  After the evenings events the guests were set loose to enjoy a spot of dancing, drinking and networking until the early or late hours in some cases.

Images courtesy of Patrick Kneath at www.bespokephotography.net 01273 900330/ 07540184768

The money is financial support toward childcare, course fees and travel costs whilst seeking work or college placements. 110 people have so far benefitted from donations totalling £6000 in order for them to seek more independent lives. Phil Graves, 2010 President commented, “the application from The Whitehawk Inn fitted perfectly within our working remit for charity donations in that they directly assist people who require help in getting their lives back on track and are based in our immediate area. It is important that such people are given the chance to find jobs and college placements.”

The BHEAA estimate some £15,000 was pledged to local charities throughout 2010.

Kemp Town client Anthony Brazier made an excellent decision when he appointed Brand Vaughan to sell his unique period property on the Seafront.

The sale of his property coincided with the New Year launch of Brand Vaughan’s exclusive brochure service for superior properties: 53 Marine Parade was the first property to benefit from a superbly produced 8 page brochure with professional photography and copywriting, detailed floor plans and local information – all of which showed the property’s full potential. As Jason Brand says,  “The property was so outstanding, it was a pleasure to deal with and to find 2 buyers resulting in such a speedy sale in the current economic climate is both impressive and encouraging.” From the start, negotiations were extremely competitive with two prospective buyers, both equally enthusiastic and both offering the full asking price. What to do? The decision was to run a Contract Race, where interested parties are issued with identical contracts and the “winner” is the first person to Exchange Contracts. This is something Jason Brand can’t remember doing for years: he says “ The Sale was agreed on Thursday pm (13^th Jan), paperwork was with Solicitors by 10am the next day and the successful purchaser Exchanged Contracts at 4pm on Friday 14th. Phew..” Brand Vaughan have never before sold a property so fast – let alone a premium property such as this (their previous record was a sale that took a mere two days).

So, a fantastic result for a client who achieved the best possible price and a very positive pointer to a prosperous New Year for Brand Vaughan. We’ll drink to that!

Lindsay Duff and Victoria Alderton

Following the AGM on Monday 17th January, Lindsay Duff of Flude Commercial was unanimously elected to the position of BHEAA President 2011.  Victoria Alderton of Barrie Alderton Estate Agents will become the Vice President, Richard Payne of Parson Son and Basley has taken the position of the Association Secretary while James Epps of Oakleys Residentail is now the BHEAA Treasurer.

Please put this date in your diary and if you are unable attend please send your apologies in the usual way.

A copy of the minutes and Agenda will be circulated closer to the date so please bring along to the meeting as there will be only a few spares available on the night.

The group provides breakfast and a three-course lunch and is open each day. Toiletries and clothing are also distributed depending on donations received.

Richard Acklam, the centre co-ordinator, commented, “We benefit from the Fairshare food arrangement in the city and try our best to serve good healthy food to those in need. It’s our way of putting something back into the local community.”

Phil Graves added, “It was quite humbling when the announcement was made to the group and those taking lunch all applauded our efforts. We are pleased we can make a small difference, especially as winter approaches.”

(Pictured is Richard Acklam of St Anne’s Day Centre for the Homeless and Lonely, accepting a donation of £500 from Phil Graves, President of Brighton & Hove Estate Agents Association)