I have only lived in Southampton for two years. I am a retired Physics teacher who currently works in Admissions for Southampton University. I am still trying to get familiar with the city and enjoying exploring it and the surrounding area. I love being able to walk on the Common, to work and into the city.

I am concerned about the, at times, excessive litter that affects our streets. In addition, I would also like to support local community activities and encourage our student residents to participate more fully in them.

I am a retired head teacher and since retirement I have led a successful campaign to persuade the council to maintain a branch of out-of-school educational provision. I have also managed to get double yellow lines in our section of Avenue Road. I am a musician playing a number of instruments. I also run a ukulele group. Having lived here for 35 years and loved the area, I am keen on helping to make it a better place to live for the whole community.

I came to Southampton in 1987, moving here to be with my now husband and becoming a Saints' season ticket holder in the process. We have lived in Gordon Avenue since 1990. I retired as a secondary headteacher in 2013 and since then have enjoyed having more time to join in with community life, including through OARA and as a governor at Bevois Town Primary School.

I am Sustainability Manager at the University of Southampton Students’ Union (SUSU) and lead on SUSU’s environmental projects.

I love the sense of community that OARA has developed and am keen to help foster good neighbourly relations, especially between students and longer-standing residents.

I've lived in the OARA area since 1983 and my husband since 1970. In 1989 the first residents' association was set up of which I was a member; at that time we were mainly concerned with planning applications and parking problems. I'm happy to be involved again, particularly as the aims of the Association now include all aspects of the community. My particular concern is the cleaning up of the area and encouraging our changing population to become involved.

I have lived in Southampton for over 40 years, not that I expected to be here for so long! I moved from Shirley to Portswood and Gordon Avenue in 1992 and enjoy the mix of people and proximity to the Common. I have worked in many parts of the city and surroundings as a locum Pharmacist but was glad to retire and concentrate on the garden! The OARA has been a great way to meet people.