BROADSTONE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Denis Phillips. Denis joined Broadstone Neighbourhood Watch on retirement in 1992 and became chairman in 1994. Under his leadership the Watch has grown to be one of the largest in Dorset.

Denis always attended the initial setting up meeting of each new group. He represented Broadstone at the Poole Community Safety Co-ordinators monthly meeting and through regular meetings maintained a strong working partnership with the Police and Poole Borough Council. He is also a volunteer guide & helper at Streetwise Interactive Safety Centre.

In 1998 Broadstone received a CGU Insurance Neighbourhood Watch Certificate of Excellence and in August 2000 Denis was awarded the John Jay Shield for Community Safety (presented to a person or organisation for their efforts in the prevention of crime in the Borough of Poole). Denis has said that he got involved in Neighbourhood Watch because he wanted to put something back into the community. This he has certainly done the very good relationship established by Denis between Neighbourhood Watch and the Police has been a key factor in helping to achieve a consistently low level of crime in the Broadstone area.

We are all very sorry that Denis has had to stand down as Chairman through ill health but fortunately his experience will still be available to us in his role as Life President. The contribution of his wife Gladys must not be underestimated - she has worked tirelessly in the background to support Denis in Neighbourhood Watch and Streetwise. Our thanks and very best wishes go to them both for the future.

The New Chairman - David Williams. David was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire. He attended Stamford School 195 1-58. He enjoyed a varied career in the insurance industry before taking early retirement in 1992. He is married to Pam and they have two children, a son living in Wimborne & a daughter living in Worthing - who this year presented them with their first grandchild. Pam and David finally moved to Broadstone in 1997 having visited the area regularly since 1969 (Pam's parents and her sister live in Broadstone).

Shortly after moving here David set up a Watch group in his road, became Vice Chairman in 1999, and then Chairman from August this year. He is also now the Poole representative on Dorset Watch Liaison Group, a member of the project team set up by the Police to tackle Distraction Theft and Bogus Callers and represents Broadstone at the Poole Co-ordinators meetings on Safety and Security. He is an aviation enthusiast, and a member of Broadstone Music Club; sporting activities include sailing, swimming and keep fit.

Broadstone Neighbourhood Watch is now one of the largest in Dorset with some 2700 members involving 26 Co-ordinators and 225 Contacts. Its aims are to help prevent crime, to help residents feel safe and secure, and to promote good neighbourliness. We have an excellent working relationship with the Police and this undoubtedly contributes to an overall low level of crime in the Broadstone area. However it is vital that we do not become complacent! There are still too many residents who are negative in their outlook. Be positive - look after your neighbours and take an active part in reducing and preventing crime in your district. Neighbourhood Watch gives local people the opportunity to work in partnership with each other and the Police: help to make your neighbourhood a safer and better place for all.

We need to develop a higher profile in the community, increase our membership through expanding existing groups and setting up new groups, and we need more people to help with the organisation. The greater the membership the more effective we can become and the more influence we can exert.

If you would like to help, require further information or have any suggestions or comments, then please phone David on 695341.

David Williams, Chairman.

Archive Winter 2002 | next

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