Meet the BID Board of Directors

I run my family Business S C Fullers on South Street Dorking which is the oldest family-owned Independent retailer having been established in 1892. I have worked here for 37 years and as a result, have great experience in responding to the ever-changing retail environment, tenacity is key! I have excellent negotiating and communication skills and work best as part of a team. I have been an integral part of the BID tender process as Chairman and so offer consistency as well as a clear vision for the BID in Dorking and its future.

I am the owner of Deepdene at the eastern end of town and Theodore and Sephone’s Sweet Shop on Pump Corner. I bring a unique perspective as someone that operates both in hospitality and in retail.

I am keen to help develop Dorking’s evening economy so that we may become more competitive with other towns to the benefit of every business here in Dorking.

We have lost some major players from the town, not because of Covid but a failure to foster the right environment where these businesses can not only exist but thrive.

Dorking is full of potential but too often held back from reaching the heights we all know it can. I am keen to help promote the town and I am experienced in planning, organising and running events. I also have experience in bookkeeping and in the preparation of management and year-end accounts.

I consider myself a creative thinker and a problem solver with a broad skill set, capable of turning my hand to most things.

I look forward to working with the fantastic business minds of Dorking.

Mayflower Spa opened in October 2019, but we are not originally from Dorking and have been so impressed by the welcome and support that we have received from the local independent business and our customer base.

I think that Dorking is a great town and has so much potential, I have experience that I feel is relevant to the role.

I have strong marketing, commercial, PR, and strategy experience over the last 20+ years that would help Dorking get back on its feet during and after COVID.

A large part of my experience has involved working out how to succeed in very complex and challenging environments but keeping the solutions really simple.

Over the last 8 years, I have run a marketing consultancy often going into companies when there is a problem that needs solving or where people outside the organisation need influencing which is where Dorking is today.

The success of Mayflower shows that we have a fundamental understanding of what Dorking needs and wants so would love the opportunity to be part of the next phase of Dorking’s future.

I think being relatively new to Dorking allows me to see new ways of doing things.

I have run Mullins Coffee shop with my wife Susan since 2016.

It has been a privilege to operate our business in such a historic building and beautiful town. Since we took over Mullins we have worked effortlessly to promote the history of William Mullins as a Pilgrim Father and his Mayflower journey to the New World and Priscilla & John Alden story and her founded fame as Mother of a Nation. In 2019 on our visit to Plymouth & Duxbury I initiated talks for a likely twinning of our towns.

I have been a great abdicate of the BID, as I believe together as a business community we can achieve more to improve our town and attract more visitors.

I have a background in engineering and have a wide range of experience in retail & hospitality, which I feel has given me excellent skills in negotiation, communication, and decision making.

I have been in the hairdressing industry for 30 years.

I own an award-winning hair salon, Teresa Weller HairArt, on Dorking High Street. We have just won the best bridal hair salon in Surrey for a second year running (2019/2020) and have been the finalist for best salon and best team, also a runner up in the Surrey business awards for the best new startup 2019.

I have been on the High Street for two and a half years and lived in Dorking for five years.

I’ve also enjoyed being the Lead Stylist for Pride in London which has lead to many creative projects, managing teams of stylists for their main events for the LGBTQ community, and have worked on exciting projects in film, theatre, and the music industry. I have had a lot of my work published in magazines.

What I bring to the BID is that I’m a great communicator and team player, I have a passion for social media and a huge passion for our wonderful community, environment, and the people that live here in Dorking set in these beautiful Surrey Hills.

Bullimores have offered to prepare the company management accounts. It is important to have a treasurer on the board and I believe that I am best placed to help with financial decisions.

I am currently the General Manager of the White Horse Hotel located in the heart of Dorking. I have spent the last 15 months re-opening and re-positioning the hotel after a 4 million pound renovation. I very firmly believe that our success is linked closely with the town and our obligation to not only support the town but also source where possible local products, and employ local workers of all ages.

I feel that being part of the BID Partnership will give me the opportunity to not only help drive business from out of town but also directly support local businesses. I am keen to work with and contribute towards the long term vision of the town. I have recently moved back to the area and live just outside Dorking having lived and studied in Surrey in the past. Whilst in London I was a trustee for a local charity called NOVA, and have worked with Colleges on Hospitality training and have been on the board of several Hospitality organisations.