Colliers Wood Arts Festival founder on a mission to make his community happy

Keith Spears, 62, was inspired to set up the group in 2006 after seeing a BBC programme entitled Making Slough Happy about his former hometown.

Colliers Wood Arts Festival launches with pop-up gallery, jazz orchestra and ballroom dancing

Mr Spears said: "I was intrigued and I thought ‘if that can work in Slough then why not in Colliers Wood?’

"At our first meeting 30 people came and we proposed singing for all which led to Community Choir, and also dancing for all, and we now have four different dance classes."

Mr Spears, of Cavendish Road, estimates that around 500 people attend community events related to the organisation every month.

Whilst the Community Choir and ballroom dancing are the most popular clubs, Making Colliers Wood Happy has also spawned a rambling club, a ukulele orchestra, book club and the Colliers Wood Arts Festival, amongst others.

"It is about bringing the community together and for the past nine years I’ve been co-ordinating all the different groups and people are still contacting me with new ideas."

Mr Spears, a part-time gardener, is a prolific volunteer and also founded Friends of Donald Hope Library which helped prevent its closure and now runs as a community library.

He is currently in the process of trying to create a remembrance woodland in Wandle Park to honour the 240 young men from Colliers Wood who died in the First World War.

The plans are currently subject to a council consultation.

Mr Spears’ latest project involves co-ordinating and maintaining the Christ Church community garden. The group meet on a Friday morning and are actively seeking more volunteers.

Keith said: "I’m delighted to have been nominated, and although I have been nominated before it is always good news."

The 2015 Colliers Wood Arts Festival runs until Sunday, April 5. 

There is still time to nominate someone for a Merton Civic Award. Visit the website for more details.