Here you can find out about the LEAF committee, made up of Christians and church leaders from across the New Forest.

Phil Cole (Chairman)
Phil is the leader of Bransgore Community Church. After starting his working life as an auctioneer and then becoming an accountant he trained at Moorlands College (1996-1999). After leaving college he became Pastoral Director at Greyfriars, a large Anglican church in central Reading, before returning to the New Forest area in 2004 as leader of BCC. He is married to Shirley and enjoys most sports (when his body allows him to!) and has a real passion to see people reach their full potential in Christ.

Derek Copley (Church Liaison)
Derek has been training people for service at home and overseas since 1970. He served as Chairman of the national EA for 7 years. He is a missionary, working for the European Evangelical Alliance as its Consultant. He specialises in helping to form networks in the Turkic-speaking region (the 35/45 Window) stretching from from Bulgaria to Western China, particularly Turkey, where he frequently works. He is also on the International Committee of the World Evangelical Alliance. Although he travels extensively, he is firmly committed to the local area, and attends Burton Community Church, and is the Church Liaison Officer for LEAF. He keeps fit by cycling around 4,000 miles per annum and his interests include hybridising and exhibiting orchids. He is the Chair of the Bournemouth Orchid Society. Derek is married to Nancey. They have two adult children, three grandchildren, and live near Bransgore.

Dave Gooderidge (Chairman, Forest Fire)
Dave is the pastor of Lymington Baptist Church. He and his wife Louise have three children, Thomas (11), Jack (9) and Caitlin (8). They moved to Lymington in the summer of 2001 from Hertford where Dave had been the assistant pastor for 5 years. Before studying theology at London Bible College Dave and Louise lived and worked in Birmingham. Dave has a deep concern to see the Bible well taught and applied as well as to see believers released into their areas of giftedness. He enjoys films, PS2 and Chinese food.

Jonathan Wallis (Editor LEAF Newsletter, Diary and Website)
Jonathan and his wife Sylvia (see below) were part of the Community Church in Southampton for many years before moving out into the Forest. They lead OK New Forest, a church based in Sway and Tiptoe, and have a passion to see revival and unity among the churches in the New Forest area. Jonathan is an actuary by profession and works as an independent consultant. His interests include all types of music and he is also a keen cyclist.

Sylvia Wallis
Sylvia and her husband Jonathan (see above) live in Sway and lead OK New Forest church. Their elder daughter died in her teens and their younger daughter is married and they now have three grandchildren. Sylvia is involved extensively in the creative arts, particularly dance.

Tim Lockwood
Tim is the pastor of New Hope Community Church, in Hardley on the Waterside. He works part-time in the Police force as well as leading a growing church and looking after a young family. Tim grew up as a pastor’s son in Wellingborough, Northants before moving to the Southampton area. At 19 years old, he felt the call of God on his life and traveled to South Africa to study at Rhema Bible College. After graduating at the end of 1994, he returned to Southampton where he became a part-time youth and children’s leader at a local church. In 1996 he married Danni, and they have two children, Acacia (6) and Joseph (4).

Sharon Prior (Youth Work Liaison)
Sharon trained as a Medical Microbiologist before taking a two-year Diploma at Birmingham Bible Institute. She then worked with Crusaders for five years before moving to Moorlands College as a lecturer in community and family Studies. She left Moorlands in 2003 to become Head of Voluntary Ministry at Scripture Union and then in 2006 felt led by God to set up a ministry of training, coaching and mentoring which she calls Catalyst Training. This involves running training sessions, but also coaching and mentoring people involved in youth and children’s work. Sharon has a passion to see children and young people grow in their faith. She worships at Bransgore Community Church and works with the 11-14 year olds in the church. Sharon is also an aerobics instructor and enjoys reading and cooking.

Helen Burch (Prayer Co-ordinator)
Helen and her husband Peter are part of the leadership team of the New Forest House of Prayer. They started as the Hephzibah Prayer House in Newbury before moving in 2002 to their current home in Ashley Heath, near Ringwood, and in 2007 merged this ministry into New Forest House of Prayer. They also use their home as a quiet place of refreshment, retreat and healing for church leaders and others in Christian ministry. Helen has a natural gifting as a carer. She was trained in the Anglican church as a licensed lay reader in the Oxford diocese but gave up this role to undertake full time ministry in the Prayer House. She has a passion for prayer and intercession and is experienced in counseling and inner healing. Helen and Peter have two adult children.

Peter Rawson (Treasurer)
Peter and his wife, Phyllida, live in Milford on Sea and worship at All Saints Church. They have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Peter, a chartered secretary and accountant by profession, was group company secretary of Prudential plc before retiring in 1997 to get more involved in Christian charitable trust work and mission support. He has wide experience of running charitable trusts and has a heart for mission, both within the UK and overseas. Peter has particularly strong connections with India, a land he regularly visits. He retired in 2004 as chairman of FEBA RADIO and is currently serving on the international council of LIFEWORDS (formerly Scripture Gift Mission).

John Currin
John has been Rector of Dibden since 2006 having previously been responsible for two parishes in Derbyshire. He is married to Jill and they have two grown up sons Dan and Joe. John is deeply committed to the local church, its mission and service to the wider community. In his spare time he enjoys walking, sailing and photography. He has had a lifelong interest in mountaineering and having once been part of an Everest Expedition he is again visiting Nepal in 2008 leading a trek in the Annapurna region in support of Nepalese Christian Ministers.

Dominic Furness
Dominic is the vicar of All Saints’ Milford on Sea. Prior to coming to Milford he was vicar for over 16 years in Guildford, where he also chaired “Good News in Guildford”, a grouping of evangelical churches and church leaders involved in town wide mission. He has also worked for churches in Bristol, Cambridge and N. Ireland and is currently developing personal links with part of the Anglican church in Burundi. He is married to Alyson with two grown-up sons. Interested in contemplative prayer and in the finding of God in stillness and silence, his passion is that Christians should grow in their knowledge and love of Christ so that the world might come to find Him as their Lord and Saviour – another passion is rugby, in particular Harlequins!