Dewlands South Ward

Toni Coombs

ROLES: Councillor, Dorset Councillor, Verwood Youth & Community Centre Management Committee ( Chairman)

01202 827376

cllrtoni.coombs@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Toni has represented Verwood on the Town Council since 1999. She also represents Verwood on Dorset Council (previously East Dorset District Council since 1999-2019 and Dorset County Council since 2001-2019). Since moving to Verwood in 1991 she has seen the Town’s population double and has been instrumental in obtaining the funding for many of the developments in the town over the years. She cares passionately about the town and the need to keep that village feel, that we all treasure; and is happy to roll her sleeves up and get involved in the community volunteering.
Her two adult sons went through our local school system each attending one of our Upper Schools after leaving Emmanuel.
Outside of her council responsibilities she enjoys photography and gardening – when time allows.

Spencer Flower

ROLES: Councillor, Dorset Councillor

01202 821231

Born in Dorset, Spencer spent his working life in engineering, taking him to London where he became Managing Director of an American owned Engineering Company. Returning to Dorset 32 years ago he became Managing Director of an Engineering Company in Poole. Spencer served as a County Councillor between 2005 and 2019 (2 years as leader), an East Dorset District Councillor between 1999 and 2019 (8 years as leader) has been a Verwood Town Councillor since May 2007 and following the May 2019 Dorset Unitary Council Elections he became a Dorset Councillor for the Verwood Ward. Spencer became the Leader of Dorset Council in May 2019.
Using his business experience Spencer has dealt successfully with many local issues and is renowned for his support of your Town Council and the general wellbeing of the Town.
Married, he has two grown up children and two grandchildren.

Sandra Grove

ROLES: Councillor, Bournemouth International Airport (alt), Citizens Advice, DAPTC Eastern Area, DAPTC Larger Councils,Twinning Association, Trees Liaison Councillor

01202 826449

I was born in Hayes Middlesex in 1951 and was educated at Townfield Secondary Modern School in Hayes.
I am married to Clive and have two Children Johanna and Matthew.
We have lived in Verwood since 1989 when it was still very much a village and have watched it grow through the years into the town we have today. Although we are now called a town Verwood still has a wonderful village feel.
After moving here I took advantage of the excellent adult education system and passed City and Guilds - Maths and IT and Computer Studies at Ferndown school.
I have owned my own Restaurant in Ringwood and am now retired doing voluntary work.
I am on the Finance and General Purposes and Amenities committees for Verwood Town Council, and am Councillor for Bournemouth Airport Consultative Committee. I was privileged to be Mayor of our Town for 2015/2016 & 2018/2019 and am also Vice Chairman of Governors for Hillside School.
My voluntary work involves Treasurer of the Verwood and Three Cross Twinning Society, Treasurer of the Heathland Heritage Centre where I also work every other Thursday serving our community. I also help to run a Community Group for people over 55.
My interests are cooking, gardening, travel, fundraising and looking after our grandchildren.

Philip Mann

ROLES: Councillor, Environment Councillor, Police Liaison Councillor

01202 820866

Cllrphilip.mann@verwood.gov.uk

I moved to idyllic Verwood after a successful career as a procurement executive for a large company in the mail order industry buying ladies and men's fashion clothing. My career then extended to head of their import supply chain operations.
This was followed in a senior position within a leading Home enhancement retail company with over 360 stores. The role covered Operational, tactical and strategic responsibilities. My job took me on many overseas business trips to numerous countries allowing me to gain an understanding of various cultures. My skills include project management, performance monitoring, managing budgets and negotiating multi million pound contracts combined with a close working relationship with HMR&C and customs legislation.
I have been a Verwood Town Councillor since 2015 and in 2019 became Deputy Mayor and again in 2020. My interests are in the environment and its biodiversity representing the Council on the East Dorset Environmental Partnership (EDEP) and also being involved as a Police Liaison Councillor.
My continuing ambition is to listen and serve the community, to not only maintain but help enhance Verwood as a great place to live for all.

Kate Stephens

ROLES: Councillor, Internet Councillor, Press & PR

01202 940456

Cllrkate.stephens@verwood.gov.uk

I have lived in Verwood since I was born in 1983 and now live with my partner who has also lived in Verwood all his life. We were both educated at Hillside, Emmanuel and then Q.E. I have been a member of many community groups including Brownies, Guides, Verwood Concert Brass, The Pantomime Society and Verwood Town Netball club for which I was a committee member for several years but unfortunately I was forced to ‘retire’ due to injury. Through working at Bradfords Building Supplies in Verwood for 10 years I gained a real sense of the community that lives and works in and around the town. Having lived here for so long I have witnessed a lot of change and I was motivated to become a councillor to help ensure that further developments and improvements reflect the needs and vision of Verwood’s residents.

Mark Thorpe Deputy Mayor

ROLES: Councillor, Verwood Youth & Community Centre Management Committee (Treasurer), Verwood BID

07483 213309

Cllrmark.thorpe@verwood.gov.uk

I was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent but I have owned a house in Three Legged Cross for over 20 years. For 13 years of that time I was working in the Middle East and I returned to the area in 2018 when I took up my current position with the RNLI. I enjoy the local countryside and am often out walking in the forest with my Golden Retriever. I joined Verwood Town Council in May 2019 as part of my commitment to the local community.

Charmaine Crossley

ROLES: Councillor

01202 826050

Cllrcharmaine.crossley@verwood.gov.uk

I was born in Laleham-upon-Thames, but our family moved to Surrey where I spent most of my young years. I attended St John Bosco's Grammer School for Girls, now The Salesian School and did a course in shorthand and typing whilst studying for my foreign language A-Levels.
I worked initially as secretary to the Director of a construction company and as he was promoted within the organisation I accompanied him, taking on new challenges and responsibilities along the way as his Personal Assistant. My boss, I and one other director were the founding members of a new international branch of the company for which I worked for many years in London until my boss was promoted to Chairman of the entire corporation and also member of the P & O Main Board of Directors.
I was married for a few years but, very sadly, found I had made an unfortunate mistake and therefore have now been divorced for many years.
After many happy years but tired of commuting to London every day, I found myself a more local job working for the President of an American company which entailed arranging and attending conferences overseas and liaising with the staff of the many overseas companies based in Europe, the Middle East and Africa who reported to our Surrey based HQ. After seven extremely busy and challenging years I decided to make a move to Dorset. My parents had retired from Surrey to Woodlands and on frequent visits to them, I realised that I really liked the quality of life and friendliness that I found in the area.

I moved to Verwood in 1992 and held various local PA and administrative roles until my retirement at the end of 2019. I have always very much enjoyed life here in Verwood and the fact that, although technically a town, it has very much the heart and soul of a village which I should like to see preserved for the benefit of all. I joined the Town Council with a view to assisting in this aim and to endeavour to give something to the community in which I live.