Chartered surveyor Tom Holloway has been re-elected for the second consecutive year as Chairman of Portsmouth Property Association (PPA).
He takes the reins again for 2018/19 for the association, which was established 98 years ago, covers the Solent region and has more than 150 members.
Tom, a director at independent chartered surveyors and commercial and industrial property consultants Holloway Iliffe & Mitchell in Portsmouth, is only the third person in over half a century to hold the chairmanship for back-to-back years.
Chris Green, manager at the regional office of nationwide conveyancing search group PSG, was elected Vice Chairman at the association’s annual general meeting.
As a former semi-pro rugby player, Tom’s main charity focus for the year will be a special initiative set up by ex-England rugby union star Lawrence Dallaglio, who was part of the team which won the 2003 World Cup against Australia.
Dallaglio RugbyWorks is an intensive, long-term skills development programme based on rugby – the aim is to get teenagers who have been excluded from mainstream education into sustained education, employment or training.
“The PPA could help turn lives around if we can help bring Lawrence’s inspirational programme to the Portsmouth region,” Tom said.
Another charity to benefit from Tom’s chairmanship, in conjunction with Southampton Property Association (SPA), will be a campaign called Pledge 150.
This sees the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors partnering with LandAid, the property sector’s charity, to raise £2.25 million for the provision of 150 bed spaces for youngsters at risk of homelessness.
Tom’s main beneficiary for 2017/18, thanks to the PPA’s generosity, was Cosham-based Elizabeth Foundation, which helps pre-school deaf children learn to listen and talk.
The PPA has raised around £100,000 for local charities in the past 13 years, with the association’s annual black-tie fundraiser a key driver.
February’s sell-out event – tickets were snapped up within a week of going on sale – saw 200 guests raise £8,000 at Portsmouth’s Royal Maritime Club, where former world champion snooker professional Steve Davis was guest speaker.
Rob Marchant, the Hampshire auctioneer with Clive Emson Auctioneers and a long-standing PPA member, organised the event.
Clive Emson, the firm’s founder and chairman, was guest auctioneer, helping increase the prices paid for star auction prizes with his trademark wry comments.
Reflecting on the first year in office, Tom said: “As an association, we achieved a lot, including raising thousands of pounds for the Elizabeth Foundation and showing how the PPA is an active part of the community.
“A calendar highlight was the first joint-hosted event for the PPA and SPA, where nearly 200 agents, developers, lawyers and occupiers heard from seven local authorities about long-term investment and infrastructure plans for the South Coast.”
Held at The Forum, Solent Business Park, the event in February raised £1,500 for the Elizabeth Foundation and the same amount for SPA’s chosen charity, Yellow Door, which supports people affected by sexual and domestic abuse.
Tom said he will continue to build membership, grow networking occasions and opportunities and hold events which count towards continuing professional development (CPD), the industry standard.
PPA members include estate agents, lettings and property management agents, commercial property agents, chartered surveyors, developers, accountants, solicitors and bankers.
