I am sad to report that Sheila died today the 24th of December 2023 but as previously reported she did manage to reach her 100th birthday last October. Sheila was involved in many organisations in Verwood over the years and was the the minute secretary of the Twinning Association until she retired.

I am sad to report that I have recently been informed by our chairman that Audrey Palmer died about 2 weeks ago and her funeral service occurred on the 21st of December 2023 . Audrey and her husband David were responsible for organising the twinning Companion Dog Shows in 2011 and 2012.
A report on the Dog Shows she organised in 2011 and 2012 can be found here.

 An ex-committee member and minutes secretary of the Twinning Association has received a very special card from the King. Congratulations to Sheila Hollingsworth who has celebrated her 100th birthday on the 20th of October 2023. The picture shows Sheila with our current chairman Clive Grove at the celebrations.

It is with sadness and deep regret that I have to advise you that Ron Reeks has passed away in a nursing home on the 9th November 2023. Ron and his wife Pam were extremely well known in Verwood. They had been members of  the Twining Association for many years and had often visited France on organised visits. Ron loved his old vehicles and was often seen riding round in his Bullnose Morris and over the years he had many other cars including 3 wheel Morgans and a Steam Car. Back in 1982 Ron (who was an engineer) and Pam, were asked if they would bring their vintage vehicles to a Rustic Fayre being held in Reg. Day's field down at Ebblake. So Ron and Pam Reeks turned up with a car, motorbike and lawnmower. This event was such a huge success that it was decided to continue with the Fayre on the following year with Ron and Pam organising a display of Stationary Engines and vintage Vehicles. That is how their association with the Rustic Fayre began and by 1995 they had organised a display of 37 Veteran & Vintage cars with 21 Stationary Engines. The number of Vintage displays at the Rotary Clubs Rustic Fayre continued to grow till Ron and Pam retired in 2005.

Royston Slade has passed away on the 19th of October 2023. Roy had been a member of twinning, was on the Verwood Town Council and also the Mayor of Verwood in 2001. Many will remember him as the voice on the PA at previous Rustic Fayres and also the voice of Remembrance Sunday. Roy was involved in many other parts of the local community for over 50 years including Age Concern, Verwood Carnival, St Michael's Church   and West moors army cadets. He was also an inaugural Governor at Emmanuel Middle School. Roy was awarded the "Freedom of the Town" in 2023 for his services to the community. He was also the British Legion standard bearer for Verwood.

Pam Reeks Freeman passed away on the 5th November 2018.

Pam Reeks  BEM died in Bournemouth Hospital on the 5th of November 2018 after a long illness. The Service of remembrance was held in Verwood Methodist Church on Wednesday the 21st of November 2018 with over 300 people attending.

Pam Reeks had lived in Verwood since she was 12. She had always been keen on this area'shistory and wrote her first thesis in 1968, this has been reproduced on this site and can be read if you visit "The History of Verwood".  She then went on to publish further books called “Verwood – Village Days” and “A Brief History of Verwood”. She also collaborated in the publication of “Village to Town” written by Jill Coulthard.

Pam was a founder member of the Historical Society and was the Trustee/Archivist of the "Verwood Heathland Heritage Centre". She worked at Hillside First School for many years as a class teacher and specialised in Music and became the schools tennis coach. She was also involved in the schools BBC Doomsday project. Pam was one of the founding members of the Rustic Fayre and from 1982 with her husband Ron organised the display of Stationary Engines and Vintage Vehicles until they retired from it in August 2006. A full report is at "Retirement of PAM & Ron". She became Organist in her local Congregational Church at the age of 16, and later provided accompaniment for Verwood shows (like the Gang Show). She was heavily involved with Verwood Concert Brass where she  played 2nd Horn, becoming  the Training Band conductor, and later president. She was also involved with many other elements of town life including the Train Girls and Twinning Association, etc, etc. Pam was honoured with the title "Freeman of Verwood" in December 2012 and was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community in the 2014 Honours List.

photo Stuart Clifton

Bill served on the committee and was our Membership Secretary for many years until he moved to Fordingbridge. He is  remembered for holding some fun quiz evenings for the members with his classical music questions being rather taxing if that genre of music was not familiar to you! 

A private family funeral at the crematorium was held for Bill with a celebration of life service at The Hub on Wednesday 3 June.

Most of you will be aware of and saddened by the passing away of Brian Bowey, a very popular and respected member of the Twinning Association. Brian and his wife Barbara became members many years ago and were both active and hard working committee members. They remained on the committee until the meeting on the 2nd February 2015 when they both resigned due to Brian’s ill-health.

Brian was the chairman at one time plus he helped out at many events. He organised a variety of enjoyable trips over the years including his signature Wareham boat trip; the last trip being the visit to Windsor Castle in 2014. Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with his widow Barbara and his family.