Rhos Ladies

Dawsons-sponsored Rhos Ladies enjoy impressive first season

In only their first season Rhos Ladies, whose training tops were sponsored by Dawsons Property, finished runners up in the West Wales League.

In a fine season they also only just lost out in the final of the West Wales Cup losing to Dafen 4-3 at Britton Ferry.

In the cup final Rhos dominated for large periods of the game but were denied by the Dafen goalkeeper who pulled off a number of excellent saves.

Rhos have now been promoted and are just below Swansea City Ladies in the Welsh League.

L-R Naomi Webborn, Dawsons’ Lettings Department Coordinator, Chris Hope, Dawsons’ Senior Partner, and volunteers at Swansea Foodbank at City Church in Dyfatty.

Dawsons supporting national food collection campaign

Dawsons Property is supporting a week-long campaign to collect items for Swansea Foodbank next month.

The special collection, which is part of Relocation Agent Network’s national fundraising event called #OneThousandItemsofFood, will take place between June 14 and 21 in conjunction with the Trussell Trust.

During the week there will be collection points in all of Dawsons’ branches across Swansea & Llanelli with special bins to be provided by their Dawsons’ reward card partner Exall & Jones.

The foodbank has become part of the social landscape of society with one in five people living below the poverty line in the UK.

Chris Hope with Kristina Williams of Swansea Foodbank
Chris Hope with Kristina Williams of Swansea Foodbank

“We are very grateful to Dawsons to their commitment to this food collection campaign,” said Kristina Williams, Assistant Manager at Swansea Foodbank.

“We tend to have a lot of contributions around Christmas time and harvest festival, but contributions tend to tail off a bit during the spring and summer so Dawsons’ commitment is both timely and welcome.”

Swansea Foodbank, which provides emergency food and support to local people in crisis, is open in several locations around the city on different days and times.

Swansea Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust’s national foodbank network and is supported by churches across the city to help people in times of crisis.

Swansea Foodbank volunteers
Swansea Foodbank volunteers

Dawsons is asking customers and staff to donate two items each of non-perishable food such as tins and packet food.

Chris Hope, Senior Partner at Dawsons, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be part of this campaign as part of the Relocation Agent Network which is running #OneThousandItemsofFood throughout the UK.

Unfortunately, we live in times when foodbanks have become a necessity for a part of our society, so we are determined to make this campaign as successful as possible, therefore all our branches will be collecting items between June 14 and 21.”

To find your local foodbank visit www.trusselltrust.org. Find out what supplies they are currently in need of and what items they have enough of.  Foodbanks also accept essential non-food items such as toiletries and hygiene products. They also accept clothes and toys.

 

Kingsley Amis's old house in The Grove, Uplands

Dawsons to put Kingsley Amis’s blue plaque house on the market

The Swansea house where writer Kingsley Amis wrote his world-renowned novel Lucky Jim is going up for sale.

The house, which has a blue plaque outside with Amis’s name on, is in The Grove in Uplands and is due to go on the market for £259,999 with Dawsons Property.

Amis lived in the house between 1951 and 1956 during which time he was a lecturer at Swansea University. Lucky Jim was published in 1954. In total Amis was a lecturer at the University for 12 years until 1961.

Amis said that his days in Swansea were among his happiest and referred to Swansea as: “a place of earth I know best, better than any part of London and the place I feel most at home in.”

The blue plaque on The Grove, Uplands
The blue plaque on The Grove, Uplands

The house is currently owned by retired teacher Paul Thomas and his head teacher wife Kerry.

Mr Thomas said: “The fact that Kingsley Amis once lived in here was definitely one of the selling points.”

The blue plaque was unveiled at the front of the house, commemorating Amis’s time there in 2015. Amis also wrote That Uncertain Feeling while at The Grove which was turned into a Swansea-set movie starring Peter Sellers.

The property comprises of three reception rooms, kitchen and utility room with WC to the ground floor. To the first and second floors there are five bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Dawsons’ Senior Partner Chris Hope said: “This is an exceptional chance to own a house with a lot of history. It’s not very often that properties come on the market adorning a blue plaque. I expect it to be a sought-after property.

“Kingsley Amis is one of the UK’s literary giants and the fact that the house is in Uplands, not far from where Dylan Thomas was born in Cwmdonkin Drive, just goes to show the cultural history Swansea has to offer.”

Caroline Pritchard

Caroline gains Relocation accreditation after just months on Dawsons’ staff

Caroline Pritchard from Dawsons in Llanelli is celebrating after becoming an accredited Relocation Agent Specialist.

Caroline only joined Dawsons in Nov’ 2017 and only began her RAN training in Feb 2018, so it is a significant achievement.

The accreditation was awarded by Relocation Agent Network and is achieved by completing a comprehensive online training programme, The Importance of Service.

Dawsons’ Senior Partner Chris Hope said: “We take staff development very seriously and Caroline’s Relocation Agent Network accreditation is a great example of what can be achieved when staff are supported properly to improve their skill set.

“Of course, having a Relocation Agent Specialist in the team is also great for our relocating customers.”

A national network of independent estate agents (of which Dawsons is a member), Relocation Agent Network introduced the training programme to ensure each of their members provides the very highest customer service to those relocating around the UK.

To be successfully accredited, participants must complete three phases of learning, which begins with four training sessions on the importance of customer service. This is followed by three online seminars covering the Relocation Agent Network Referral Process and how best to help customers who are relocating around the UK. Finally, participants must convert their theoretical learning into a practical skill set by delivering assistance to three relocating customers.

By working with fellow members across England, Scotland and Wales, Relocation Agent Network members provide an exclusive relocation referral service to customers. For those relocating to Llanelli, Dawsons guides their customers through the daunting task of moving to an unfamiliar location. This includes local area information on schools and amenities, popular neighbourhoods and (of course) finding the right property for them. The introduction of a Relocation Agent Specialist to the Dawsons’ team, ensures that this process is made even smoother.

Relocation Agent Network’s Managing Director, Richard Tucker said: “Selected by us as the best independent estate agent to represent the Network in Llanelli, Dawsons have proved themselves as the area’s Local Expert. So with the addition of an in-house Relocation Agent Specialist, they have gone one step further to provide relocating buyers and sellers with the very best customer service.”

 

Natalie Dare

Natalie celebrating after becoming a Relocation Agent Specialist

Natalie Dare from Dawsons’ branch in Sketty is celebrating after becoming an accredited Relocation Agent Specialist.

The accreditation was awarded by Relocation Agent Network (RAN) and is achieved by completing a comprehensive online training programme, The Importance of Service.

A national network of independent estate agents (of which Dawsons is a member), RAN introduced the training programme to ensure each of their members provides the very highest customer service to those relocating around the UK.

Dawsons’ Senor Partner, Chris Hope said: “We take staff development very seriously and Natalie’s Relocation Agent Network accreditation is a great example of what can be achieved when staff are supported properly to improve their skill set.

“Of course, having a Relocation Agent Specialist in the team is also great for our relocating customers.”

To be successfully accredited, participants must complete three phases of learning, which begins with four training sessions on the importance of customer service. This is followed by three online seminars covering the Relocation Agent Network Referral Process and how best to help customers who are relocating around the UK. Finally, participants must convert their theoretical learning into a practical skill set by delivering assistance to three relocating customers.

By working with fellow members across England, Scotland and Wales, Relocation Agent Network members provide an exclusive relocation referral service to customers. For those relocating to Sketty, Dawsons guides their customers through the daunting task of moving to an unfamiliar location. This includes local area information on schools and amenities, popular neighbourhoods and (of course) finding the right property for them. The introduction of a Relocation Agent Specialist to the Dawsons team, ensures that this process is made even smoother.

Relocation Agent Network’s Managing Director, Richard Tucker said: “Selected by us as the best independent estate agent to represent the Network in Sketty, Dawsons have proved themselves as the area’s Local Expert. So with the addition of an in-house Relocation Agent Specialist, they have gone one step further to provide relocating buyers and sellers with the very best customer service.”

Rotherslade beach hut

Rare beach hut lot to go under hammer at Dawsons’ auction

Dawsons is delighted to be handling a beach hut at Rotherslade which is to go up for auction in June  with a guide price of £20,000. 

It is situated on one of Gower’s most popular beaches and is just a shot walk away from Langland Bay, which itself is famous for its row of beach huts overlooking the beach. 

The timber-constructed hut is privately owned and it is rare that something like this comes on to the market. 

Chris Hope, Senior Partner at Dawsons, said: “Unique is a word that is overused, but this is a slice of history. The pitches in Langland started to be built in the 1860s, and were built up in the 1920s. 

“But they really came into their own in the 1950s, when families would go down to the beach huts to enjoy a day at the seaside. 

“I can’t remember the last time one of these came onto the market, and I believe the owner has no family to pass it down to. 

“I am sure there will be interest from all over the UK, with perhaps the greatest interest from people living in or with a connection to Swansea or South Wales. 

“We are hopeful with the reserve, but it will get what it will get. I’m sure the bidding will be busy.” 

The beach hut will go under the hammer at Dawsons’ next auction at the Marriott Hotel, Swansea on Wednesday, June 13.