Neighbours' shock at violent tragedy

3:20pm Monday 1st December 2008

SHOCKED neighbours of the Toop family are today trying to come to terms with the fact that the elderly couple have been killed and their daughter is under arrest.

The tragic incident, which occurred at around 9pm on Friday, sent shockwaves through the community at Uplands Road, Charminster.

There, Bob and Joan Toop were known as a quiet couple, who lived with their daughter Susan and their two dogs.

They moved to the bungalow around five years ago because they could no longer cope with the stairs at their old house in Capstone Road, Charminster.

Diana Tuppin, who lived near the couple at their former address, said: “I don’t think I saw him much but I remember her as a short little lady with dark hair.

“Their daughter was quite tall and she lived with them. She was a nurse at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital the last I heard. They all seemed to get on well.

“I’m absolutely appalled to hear what has happened, you can’t believe anything like this could happen.”

Since moving to Uplands Road, Mrs Toop, a retired carer, was often seen tending her hanging baskets at the front of the house while her husband, a retired carpenter, was a regular sight walking the dogs early in the morning.

One neighbour told the Echo: “They were both very nice. He was a dear old gentleman.”

But it’s believed their health had recently deteriorated and that Mr Toop had undergone open heart surgery, which limited his activities. It’s also thought the couple had no family other than their daughter.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “This is the sort of road where you know people and are friendly to them, even if you don’t know their names. I would often say hello to them.

“I did hear sounds in the night but it just sounded like people coming home and taxi doors slamming so I didn’t get up and check. I got quite annoyed with all the noise.”

When asked what sort of health the Toops were in, she said: “As you would expect for their ages. Everyone has problems, don’t they?”

Police said they were called to the scene by “concerned friends and neighbours” but nobody the Echo spoke to knew who had raised the alarm.

One man said he heard bangs at around half past eight, which he originally put down to fireworks. “Next thing we knew there were police everywhere,” he said. “It made us wonder whether the bangs were fireworks or something more sinister but we really don’t know.”

Peter Hearn, who lived opposite the couple, said: “We came back from an evening with friends at around 12.15am to find police all over the place.

“As soon as we saw the police tent we knew it was more than just a burglary.

“We’ve been here 20 years and it’s a very pleasant, quiet area so it was a complete shock.”

And Tim Clarke, 67, added: “This is shattering news. Most of us here are in our 60s or over and it’s such a quiet road.”