"I ALWAYS want to be the best," says CHP bungalow tenant Ursula Heelis firmly, "If I know I am not going to be the best at something I will not pursue it."
It's that no-nonsense approach, competitive nature and hard-working attitude that has resulted in the mother-of-four being appointed the first ever female chairman of Communities, Homes, People – formerly the Chelmer Housing Partnership.
Ursula, 72, will now oversee all decisions made for CHP's 8,000 properties across the county, with the support of her 12 board members.
Ursula, the former manager of a hugely successful England indoor hockey team, said: "I really think I was chosen for chair because I make decisions and get things done.
"When I came here I knew nothing about housing issues, but the fact that I live in Chelmer Housing, that I get on the bus and I hear what residents have to say, really helps.
"This is a responsible position and I know I've got the support, but it doesn't stop you thinking, 'oh God what have I done'," she adds with a smile, realising she now makes decisions that affect more than 17,000 CHP tenants.
Ursula was appointed after a recent meeting at the housing association's head office at Myriad House, in Chelmsford, and replaced Martin Dean, who was chairman from 2006 to 2012.
As the first woman to take on the role, Ursula, a former teacher and university tutor, said she feels privileged to be chosen for the position.
She said: "It is an honour. I did think to myself at points, why me, but other people must have confidence in my abilities.
"I have been on my own for 20 years, and it was only by being single that I've done the things I really want to do, not having the pressures of staying at home and looking after the family.
"A lot of women are often in the same dilemma, they do not have the finances, time or inclination to do it, but I am lucky in this sense."
Ursula moved into her CHP bungalow in Great Baddow when her son Adrian needed to sell the house they were sharing.
She said: "I was very fortunate living in a house, which was my son's, but he needed to sell it because he was moving to the Channel Islands and places there are not cheap.
"I had to leave and find my own accommodation, so I signed on at the council.
"I loved gardening at the time, so although I would love to say I chose CHP, I really just chose the bungalow with the garden."
Ursula has spent most of her life living in Great Baddow, where she brought up her four children, Debbie, 52, David, 51, Andrew, 47, and Adrian, 46.
After leaving school she worked in Westminster Bank before putting her career on hold for the children, but she could not give up her first love, hockey, and has been a member of Chelmsford Hockey club for 55 years.
Ursula's achievements include serving as vice-president of the Eastern Hockey Association and chairman of Chelmsford Hockey Club, as well as managing the England indoor hockey team for four years.
She even coached London 2012 Olympic hockey bronze medallist Chloe Rogers, and was responsible for securing the £1.2 million lottery-funded project in Chelmer Park to build a state-of-the-art pitch.
"It was at Chelmsford High School where I fell in love with the sport," said Ursula, who has also worked as a PA at the London College of Fashion and as a teacher at Sandon School.
"Even though the PE teacher, with her long socks and skirt, only let us pass the ball to each other, I knew I loved it.
"I left school at 16 years old but was still playing hockey at Chelmsford Hockey Club.
"I went to work in Westminster Bank, and I only agreed because they said I could join their hockey club and have one day off in the week. I have always been competitive, so in every sport I tried to do my best and I did."
Looking to the future, Ursula is under no illusions about the difficulty of the task ahead of her, and admitted she wouldn't have taken it on if she didn't have the support network.
She said: "It is rare to find a housing association which has such active involvement of its residents.
"As chair I have to make sure that CHP stay good and strong.
"I have to prepare lots of strategies to make sure we are ready for the future.
"But I do not want to look too far ahead because with all the government legislation changes, particularly welfare reforms coming in next April, we will surely have to deal with different issues, but we have to stay strong."
