Stella Collard retires

Stella Collard, one of the longest-serving and most active members of the Executive Committee of Usk Civic Society, retired at the Annual General Meeting on 14 March. Presenting her with champagne, flowers and a print by a local artist, Chairman Ann Morse reminded members of Stella’s tireless work over many years. Apart from serving as Chairman from 2003 to 2006 and subsequently as Membership Secretary, Stella, with former Chairman and Secretary John Barrow, organised and in some cases physically installed the many plaques and fingerposts marking places of note around the town. In partnership with Janice Cook she re-edited the Usk Town Trail. She was part of the project-working group, which installed maps of Usk showing places of interest. She and her husband David recently installed at the Woodland Trust site at Cefn Ila near Usk an oak post in memory of the late Lord Raglan, the Society’s first President. She represented the Society on the Local Access Forum for nine years. And she was always ready to help in less visible ways, such as mail outs to members and catering for parties. Her many contributions will be much missed.