AT OUR meeting on April 7, President Brian Ireland on behalf of all members extended our best wishes to David Lee who remains in Evesham hospital and to his wife Jean. We greatly miss his quick wit and dry sense of humour.

Brian then introduced Ian Hughes, the Group Chief Executive of the Rooftop Housing Association. Ian explained how the Evesham and Pershore Association had been formed in 1994, now has over 6,500 homes, a turnover of some £35 million, over 200 employees, is very heavily regulated and covers housing and a variety of support and care services.

He described many of the notable successes of the Association, the numerous national awards and public recognitions, the partnerships with other private and public building projects (including hospitals) and showed us slides of some of the properties and retirement accommodation.

He responded openly and positively to our questions and comments, particularly in relation to tenants who cause serious problems for their neighbours and those who fail to pay their rents.

George Bourne thanked Ian on our behalf for a very full and clear explanation of the work of the Housing Association.

On April 14 we shall hear a talk entitled Round the Horn followed on April 21 with John Cotton’s life story.

CHRIS DONOUGH