Former mayor of Verwood donates gazebo to Ferndown charity

Cllr Toni Coombs, former mayor of Verwood, has donated a new gazebo to the Ferndown-based John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF), using funds from her charity.

Cllr Coombs said: “I am thrilled to be able to help this small but important local charity as I have seen the benefits their grants have made to our local young people. They have turned a personal tragedy into a force for good and ensuring that John is never forgotten.”

Linda Thornton, secretary of the JTYAF, said: “This stunning new gazebo will really help the charity to get noticed at fundraising events and it would never have been possible without the kind support of Cllr Coombs. We can’t thank her enough. It is going to make a real difference to us.”

The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation was established in 2008 to honour the memory of John Thornton, a young Royal Marines Officer from Ferndown who was tragically killed at the age of 22, whilst serving in Afghanistan.