Norwood, Vera

   England. Contemporary political activist. For many years, she was a member of the Stow Parish Council (now called Town Council) and later the mayor of Stow. She was a longtime active member of the Conservative Party but like all other Stow Councillors, Norwood stood as an independent. Disillusioned by the Conservative stance on Romanies and some other issues, she stood in 2001 for the District Council against the official candidate and won. This is possibly the first time when someone who was refused an official candidacy for being too pro-Gypsy has gone on to win an election. She also joined the Gypsy Council and has campaigned for the retention of the Stow-on-the-Wold Fair.