2000-present

Date	Details of the Event
2001	The 2001 census put the population of Verwood at 12,069.
2001 - Sept 9th	The new guides "Verwood District Headquarters" was opened with a speech given by the district Commissioner Mrs Peggy Ganderton. Ray Reeks unveiled a plaque naming it "The Paddy Reeks Verwood Guide Headquarters" in memory of his wife, a guide leader for many years who had been instrumental in initiating and raising money for the new headquarters. Paddy sadly died before its completion. It is situated in Manor Road alongside the Scouts Headquarters.
2003 - Feb. 28th	The Initial Phase of the Verwood Heathland Heritage Centre (museum and Coffee shop) was officially opened by the Rt. Hon, the Viscount Cranborne.
2005 - Jun. 13th	Phase II of the Verwood Heathland Heritage Centre which was extended for further Exhibition Space and Research Centre, was opened by the Marquess of Salisbury (previously the Rt. Hon, the Viscount Cranborne).
2005	Verwood's Safeway's Supermarket becomes a Morrison's Supermarket.
2005 - March 16th	The Verwood Day Centre in Dorset will provide services, including a multi-sensory room, for 25 people. Toni Coombs, local county councillor for Verwood, said: "I'm delighted that the centre is open.
2005 - Sept.	Hopkins Newsagents - The longest surviving shop in Verwood closes.
2005 - Dec.	Verwood & Three Legged Cross Twinning Association visit to to Liederbach in Germany - Report.
2005 - Dec.	The Rotary "Christmas Extravaganza" took place on Ferrett Green. - Select the info button for pictures.
2005 - Dec 11th	Local Mayors from the area at the Civic Function held in the Verwood Heathland Heritage Centre and the Memorial Hall.
2006	The Building of Verwood's new community Centre at Bakers Farm commenced. It became know as the HUB shortly after.
2006 - Mar 3rd	The magnificent quilt made over a period of two years by the Crane Valley Quilters and donated to Verwood Memorial Hall, raised £470. Edna Cutler, aged 81 and one of the quilters, drew the raffle on 22nd February.
2006 - July 9th	Forest FM ("East Dorset's first Community Radio Station") broadcasting from Ebblake in Verwood had their Official Launch at 10 am Sunday when the Member of Parliament Chris Chope OBE, officially opened the station. Tune in or go to their Website at http://www.forestfm.co.uk/.
2006 - Aug 25th	The Heathland Heritage Heritage hosted the 1st "Tales at the Pottery event" as part of East Dorset Councils "Sting In The Tale" Festival of Stories with Michael O'Leary.
2006 - Aug 28th	"Classic Pam & Ron" - Retirement of PAM & Ron Reeks form the organisation of the Vintage Vehicles displays at the Rustic Fayre (Aug 2006).
2006	The extension to the Three Legged Cross Recreation Ground was opened.
2006 - Nov 30th	"The Golden Oak" tree commemorating the Silver Jubilee of King George V & Queen Mary, planted by Harvey Sims (aged 5) and Lady Limpus in 1935, was removed in August 2006 for road improvements. A new Japanese Oak replacement was planted by an older Mr Harvey Sims and the 2006/7 Mayor - Jane Russell. Harvey worked in the family building firm (Sims Brothers) based at Eastworth Farm all his life. He was presented with a wooden bowl made by Chris Albray. The picture shows Mr Harvey Sims and the 2006/7 Verwood Mayor - Jane Russell.
2006 - Dec 3rd	Local Mayors from the area at the Civic Function held in the Verwood Heathland Heritage Centre and the Memorial Hall on the 3rd December 2006.
2006 - Dec.	The Rotary "Christmas Extravaganza" took place on Ferrett Green. - Select the info button for pictures.
2007 - Jan 22nd	Mr Chris Cheesman, who was previously the Manager of the Barrington Centre in Ferndown, took up his post as the manager of The new Verwood HUB.
2007 - Mar 12th	The new Verwood HUB is officially handed over to the Trustees by East Dorset District Council
2007 - May	"April Cottage" situated between the URC Church and the Heritage Centre was demolished for flats and shops. This site had previously been the site of the Crossroads Pottery Kiln and an Archeological dig was organised. Mr. Fred Thorne who worked at the pottery said that he made perfume pots for the London store of Liberty's, but there was no evidence, till one was found during this dig.
2007 - May 22nd	For a full report (and pictures) on the twinning visit by our friends from Champtoceaux then please select the LOGO to visit the Twinning Website.
2007 - June 4th	On the 50th anniversary of the European flag, through the Twinning Association, "Verwood & Three Legged Cross" was the only UK municipality in Europe to be awarded the "European Flag of Honour" in 2007 along with 23 others in Europe. Rushmoor in Hampshire was the only UK town to be awarded the "European Diploma" which "Verwood and Three Legged Cross" was awarded in 2005. Nuremberg won the overall 2007 "Europe Prize".
2007 - August	East Dorset were invited in to run the Verwood Hub on a short term basis due to the retirement of the previous manager due to Ill health. Tracy Cooper became the temporary Marketing Manager.
2007 - sept	A new book "VERWOOD VILLAGE TO TOWN" written and compiled by Jill Coulthard was published under the auspices of the Verwood Historical Society.
2007 - Oct 19th	Verwood extended a warm welcome to The Hon. Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of Europe, Kerstin Eckman who presented Verwood and 3LX with the European Flag Of Honour at a Civic Celebration held at the Verwood Hub..
2007 - Oct 20th	A Special Fun Day was held in the Centre of Verwood to celebrate the awarding of the European Flag of Honour to Verwood & 3LX. "FLAGFEST"
2008 - April	A new manager was appointed to run the HUB taking over from the temporary management of EDDC.
2008 - May	The new row of shops facing Ferrett Green and ajacent to the Heritage Centre is inaugurated with the opening of the new SPAR store. This was the site of April Cottage which previously had been the site of the kiln for the Crossroads Pottery.
2008 - May	Verwood Carnival - For the first time in its history this was cancelled due to bad weather. (it rained and rained and rained.)
2008 - May 19th	New finger post on Ferrett Green. The sign situated near the new "Spa" shop shows the distance and direction of Verwood's Twin Towns of Chmptoceaux (246 mls) & Liederbach (485 mls). It was presented by Mr Terry Bright (centre), the chairman of the Verwood and 3LX Twinning Association to The Town Council represented by incoming Mayor Cllr. Lucy Clark (L) and its outgoing mayor Cllr. Alec Nicholls (R)
2008 - June 20th	The Pavilion in memory of Teresa Tanner (The Deputy Head who died of Cancer) was opened at Hillside 1st School. Allan Wells & Harold Foster from Verwood's Rotary Club presented a cheque for £500 (raised at the Rustic Fayre) as a contribution to the cost.
2008 - Sept	Verwood's record breaking paralympic cyclist Darren Kenny, who has cerebral palsy after an accident during a tour race has, since winning 1 silver and 2 gold medals at the Paralympics in Athens, gone on to increase his medal count at the Paralympics in Beijing with 1 Silver and 4 Gold Medals. (Select for welcome home photos at the VHHC.)
2008 - Nov 23rd,	Verwoods Mayor Cllr Lucy Clark and the Town Council welcomed dignitaries from the local areas with a visit to the Verwood Heathland Heritage Centre and Verwood HUB
2009 - Jan.	The new "Tesco Express" store opened, which replaced the "One Stop" shop, purchased by the Tesco Group a few years earlier
2009	Verwood Methodist Church Celebrates its 100 year anniversary.
2009 - 13th April	Well known resident Brian Hall died aged 77. Brian lived his entire life in the village/town, serving on the council and being involved in many local charities including the annual carnival. He was also a strong supporter and later president of Verwood "Rugby Union Football Club" as well as the local cricket club. He was also the owner of the the local Estate Agency that bore his name untill its sale.
2009 - July	Verwoods New British Legion was threatened with Imminent Closure and attempts to revert to a British Legion Club allowed an initial stay of execution till December 31st.
2009 - 9th May	Verwood MemorialHall celebrates the Jubilee of its opening, It was opened on the 9th May 1959 after many years of gestation. Select here for an article on its history.
2009 - 14th Sept	Mr William Wells (who retired as a councillor in 1993) opened the new extension to Verwood Town Council's Offices to contain their help centre (which was originally opened in 1996). Attending the ceremony were Cllr Michael Dolan (Mayor), Cllr Mrs Pauline Reynolds (chairman of EDDC) and Mr John Wilson (chairman of DCC).
2009 - 26th Sept	Past members and their partners held a re-union in Verwood Methodist Church where they enjoyed a meal and presentation.
2009 - 11th Oct	Dorset Dignataries joined Verwoods Mayor Mike Dolan and residents for a civic service held in St. Michaels and All Angels church. They included the Deputy Loeutenant Professor Gillian Slater and her husband, Councillor Pauline Reynolds (chairman of EDDC) and mayors from Bridport, Chickerell, Ferndown, Gillingham, Lyme Regis, Poole, Portland, Ringwood, Shaftesbury, Swanage, Wareham, Weymouth and Portland, Wimborne and Yeovil. Chairman from Colehill, St. Leonards * St. Ives, and West Moors parish councils.
November	Railway history was made when the first steam train ran from Swanage to London since the Swanage line was closed in 1966. The 11 coach train was pulled by "Tangmere", a Bullied Pacific steam locomotive which had been rescued from the Barry scrapyard in 1981; its long restoration was completed in 2003.
2009 - Dec 6th,	Mayors Reception - Verwoods Mayor Cllr Mike Dolan and the Town Council welcomed dignitaries from the local areas with a visit to the Verwood Heathland Heritage Centre where they enjoyed an illustrated talk on the area given by Pam Reeks and later enjoyed a reception and meal in the Verwood HUB.
2009 - 8th Dec	On tuesday the 8th Dec 2009 at 1 p.m. the funeral of Rifleman Philip Allen from Verwood took place in Wimborne Minster. The soldier who was 20 years old died in Afghanistan in November 2009 where he had been serving in Helmand Province when he was killed by an IED. He left behind his Family and his fiancee Karina.
2009 - 21st Dec.	The Royal British Legion announces the sale of the Verwood Legion Branch which it is now planned to close in February 2010.
2010 - 19th Feb	Lionel Jeffries Dies in Poole. BRITISH actor, screenwriter and film director Lionel (Charles) Jeffries, who had life-long links with Dorset, died at the age of 83. He was born in Forest Hill, London, on June 10, 1926, but lived most of his life in Verwood and Bournemouth (Westbourne). While in Verwood he lived in a house near the Crossroads and attended Wimborne Grammar School. In later life he deeply regretted the loss of the old school buildings in Wimborne and branded their replacement “like something out of Belsen.” He was awarded the Burma Star for his World War II service, before training at RADA. For a time he was also president of the "Verwood Dramatic Society". He made his screen debut in 1950 appearing in over 70 films, as well as television in his later years (including Inspector Morse) and famously directed “The Railway Children” in 1970. William Allison, his great grandfather had a barbers’ shop in Bournemouth Square which displayed the royal standard as he had cut the hair of King Edward VII, the Prince of Wales, during a stay at the Royal Bath Hotel. His grandmother was born in Bournemouth and his mother lived in Charminster. He married Eileen Mary Walsh in 1951 and had a son and two daughters. He died in Poole after a long illness. The picture shows Lionel Jeffries with Aubrey Barrow in Verwood Memorial Hall.
2010 - 13th May	In 2010 Verwood Celebrated 25 years of twinning with Champtoceaux in France. Over 70 friends from Champtoceaux arrived and stayed until Sunday morning the 16th of May. They were welcomed with a cream tea at the HUB by the Mayor of Verwood. While in Verwood they were taken on a coach outing to Lacock Village, the Fox Talbot Museum and Stonehenge. On the saturday evening a soiree was held in the HUB.
2010 - 17th July	Club 31 launched - The Old British Legion club complete with all its fixtures and fittings,was bought by a Cambridge developer and ownership transferred. It is run as a separate company limited by guarantee so all profits are ploughed back into the club.
2010 - 13th Aug	Memorial Hall Porch opened. The new Memorial Hall Porch was inaugurated by Verwood's mayor Cllr Jean Hazel Photo l to r: Peter Hancy, Eric Burton (chairman), Cllr Jean Hazel (Mayor), Ernest Whatmore & Barrie Collins.
2010 - 5th Dec.	Mayors Christmas Reception 2010 Verwoods Mayor Cllr Jean Hazel and the Town Council welcomed dignitaries from the local areas with a visit to the Heritage Centre where they enjoyed an illustrated talk given by Pam Reeks. Later they were entertained by Verwood Concert Brass and "Jubilate" before enjoying a reception and meal in the Verwood HUB.
2011 - January	Verwood Pantomime Society presented Peter Pan by Ron Hall The Society has been running for 27 years and performed most of the many traditional pantomimes, many of them 2 or 3 times. With the improved facilities at the HUB used since 2008 (Previously the Memorial Hall) made the Peter Pan production possible.
2011 - January	The New Co-operative food store built at the junction of Ringwood Road and Blackhill opened for business.
2011 - April	JC's Video store in Ringwood Road which had been closed, opened as an Italien restaurant. It was originally Barrow's Grocers which then became a SPAR Grocery Shop.
2011 - 6th June	Verwood and Three Legged Cross Twinning Association returned from France on the 6th of June 2011 after their visit to Champtoceaux. Please select here for a full report.
2011 - June	The SPAR Grocery shop situated next to the Heritage Centre closed and re-opened for business as a Costa Coffee shop.
2011 - June	VERWOOD Leisure Centre in Chiltern Drive sold to make way for a Morrisons supermarket extension and a petrol station. At the time of writing it is intended to move the Leisure Centre’s fitness equipment to the Hub community centre, in Brock Way, Money will also go towards a public sports hall at Emmanuel Middle School and the Verwood HUB will be extended.
2011 - 4th Dec.	Mayors Christmas Reception 2011 Verwoods Mayor Cllr Toni Coombs and the Town Council welcomed dignitaries from the local areas with a visit to the Heritage Centre where they enjoyed a talk given by Sue Gardiner on the "Origins of Pantomime". They were entertained by the Dorset Junior Jazz Band before enjoying a reception and meal in the HUB.
2011 - 27th Dec	Verwood's new Club 31 which took over the British Legion premises, ceased trading. At the time of writing the buildings future is not known.